Out and About: The Box (Food Truck)

I'm not a fan of the food truck concept.  Yes, I get it.  As a business owner myself I totally understand the concept - but it doesn't mean I have to like it.  The food truck dining experience is something I do not appreciate.  I hate standing around to order my food, to wait for my food and to eat my food.  I'm definately a restaurant girl.  However, I make an exception for The Box.

For starters, Owner & Executive Chef Reis Llaneza along with his peeps in the truck are very friendly.  In addition to great food, you will also receive great service.

The Box offers Asian fusion cuisine.  A quick glance at the menu and you'll find Chinese, Korean and Japanese inspired dishes to combine with Chef Reis' Asian background.

I mainly visit The Box on Thursday's at the Bellevue Farmer's Market.  Although I've had everything on the menu at least once, I find myself regularly ordering the Chicken Karaage Plate (my husband's favorite) and the Mini Bagel Burger (my son's favorite).  I personally enjoy the Chop Chop Salad which is included with the Chicken or can be ordered a la carte.

No matter what you order, I would bet that you would be pleased.  Food is cooked to order.  Ingredients are fresh, especially the veggies that are part of or garnish your food.  Flavors and textures "almost" make you forget your food was cooked on a truck.  Overall, The Box really does deliver (excuse the intended pun) on really good eats.

The Box roams around the Eastside, but sometimes ventures around the Puget Sound.  Mainly serving up the lunch crowd you may find them at your local street fair or events around town.  Check their Facebook page for details on their upcoming locations.

The Box offers catering services and can customize a menu based on your event and your budget.


Their menu as posted on their Facebook page (subject to change at any time):
~Pork Belly Hum Bao $2.50
Slow braised in soy and mirin topped with a fresh slaw, served on a
Chinese steamed bun

~Kalua Pork Hum Bao $2.50
Hawaiian style roasted pork with a lomi lomi tomato relish, served on a
Chinese steamed bun

~Mini Bagel Burger $3
Charred mini burgers topped with an Asian slaw, and pickle, finished
with a hoisin and siracha ketchup, served in a toasted mini bagel

~Pomme Frites (french fries) $3
Served with a yuzu aioli

~Chop Chop Salad $3 (half) / $7 (full)
Romaine and Iceberg lettuce, ham, apples, and provolone cheese, served
with a creamy sesame dressing

~Chicken Karaage Plate $8
Tender pieces of fried chicken served with a house sauce, steamed
rice, and side of Chop Chop Salad

~Kalbi Yakiniku Plate $9
Korean marinated beef skewers with namasu (Japanese style cucumber),
served over steamed rice with a side of Chop Chop Salad

Dining Out: CHA:N, Seattle WA (PIKE MARKET)

 

Note: Their website has an incredible photo gallery. I would encourage you to look, the food styling and photography is phenomenal.

 

Tucked away off Pike Street in a small area known as Inn and the Market lies Cha:n.

Cha:n is a Korean fusion restaurant that is small and intimate.

Being near the market, parking is challenging.  We ended up valet parking, which Cha:n doesn’t validate (note that other restaurants validate parking).   There is obviously street parking and lot parking in the area, but be prepared to search out for it.

As I entered the restaurant, I noticed the small space and low ceilings.  Being it was somewhat in a basement of a building natural light was limited.

We sat in a table set for two, where on one side was a chair and the other was a long stretch of a booth that accommodated other tables.

We picked up the menu and noticed the humble offerings.  On one side of the menu was traditional Korean dishes and on the other were selections a bit more creative – Korean inspired dishes.

Our server was prompt and attentive.  Our small table didn’t offer much room for the dishes we ordered, so our server was constantly at our table clearing and replenishing.

One thing that stood out – banchan and kimchee came at a modest price.  I’ve been to several Korean restaurants around the country and for the most part, these items are free.  They are small dishes that offer diners a little nibble and accompaniment to their meal.  Similar to an amuse-bouche, they are usually a gift from the chef.  Just note that at this restaurant, you’ll have to pay additional for these items.

Definitely this restaurant offers innovative Korean dishes that pushes the envelope when it comes to traditional Korean cuisine.  It’s not at all a bad thing, it is just different.  I appreciate the step that Chef Heong Soon Park to take Korean dining to another level.

I would recommend dining here – but if you have any preconceived notions of Korean dining, leave them at the door and enjoy what Cha:n has to offer.

Dining Out: Stone Korean Restaurant, Redmond WA

Korean in downtown Redmond?
Stone Korean Restaurant has (IMO) the best Bibim Bop in the area.  What is that?  It's a traditional Korean dish that is served in a HOT clay bowl.  Inside you'll find rice (that is sizzling from the intense heat) topped with a variety of veggies like bean sprouts, carrots, shitake mushrooms, zucchini, dried seaweed.  Some may have beef.  And it's all topped with a raw egg which gets cooked by the hot clay pot.  You are also given a bottle of hot sauce that is a combination of heat and fermented soy beans.  You pour so you determine the heat.

Preparing to eat - stir you ingredients, hear the sizzle and notice the crust that is formed on the rice.  Steam rises.  The smell of all the flavors just blend in together for a fantastic one pot dish.  It's fantastic.

In addition to this lunch special, I enjoyed a bowl of miso soup (nothing special) and a great assortment of side dishes the Koreans call banchan.  It rotates but on this day I got pickled cucumbers, kim chee, peppered bean sprouts, potato salad, colesalw, and fishcake.

They have an extensive menu - every Korean dish you can think of.

Tip: It's located in the Value Village shopping plaza.  It's way in the back.  Big parking lot but seems to be always full.  Service can be a little slow.  Clip the coupon from the Community Shopper.