Little Saigon

As I have said before you really can’t go wrong when dining on North Broadway, unless of course you suffer a momentary lapse of reason and wind up in the Spangles drive-thru. Little Saigon is a newer addition to the street and is located just down the block from the venerable grandaddy of Vietnamese restaurants, Saigon.

The owners of Little Saigon have done a nice job of updating the interior with plenty of seating and a clean dining room. Unlike several of the Vietnamese restaurants in town, Little Saigon features a full service bar with daily specials.

Doughy Pork Goodness

The menu covers all the essential dishes expected at Vietnamese restaurants including several varieties of Pho, noodle dishes, and rice bowls. There are also some Chinese and Korean dishes as well as exotic smoothie flavors. On our visit one of the daily specials were steamed pork dumplings and being a person that finds it hard to pass up any pork containing food, we ordered some. For our main course I went with a Banh Mi sandwich and Steph ordered a noodle bowl with shrimp.

The pork dumplings were a doughy treat. Served with a sweet dipping sauce, they were quickly consumed. My Banh Mi was filled with thinly

The Banh Mi

sliced pork, cucumbers, cilantro and julienned carrot and was served on a generous half loaf of French bread. The meat was tender and well seasoned, while the veggies were crisp and fresh. My only complaint  was it seemed there could have been more sandwich fillings to compete with the thick loaf of bread. The noodle bowl was filled with thin rice noodles, stir fried veggies, and shrimp with crushed peanuts and a sweet and savory sauce topping it all off. The dish was simple yet satisfying, which is something that the Vietnamese cuisine excels at.

Noodle Bowl with Shrimp

Little Saigon is a solid and acceptable addition to the North Broadway dining scene. Since they are open seven days a week you can get your Vietnamese fix any time.

Big B’s Beef

Previously published in the Wichita Eagle:

Wichita has many types of food in our city but there are still plenty of cuisines we are missing. Big B’s Beef is aiming to fill one of those voids by providing a Chicago style option.  Big B’s Beef , who just recently opened, is located close to 47^th and Seneca in SW Wichita and is owned and operated by a family that came to Wichita from the Windy City. The menu has traditional Chicago style food including Italian Beef and Sausage, a Chicago dog, and Gyros. Sides include hand-cut fries, onion rings, fried mushrooms, and a soup of the day. Big B’s sources all of their meats and breads either locally or from Chicago.

The “Beef” Sandwich

On our visit we decided to try the Poor Boy, the Italian Beef Sandwich, and the Chicago Dog with a side of fries. The Poor Boy is a 100% Angus beef patty on a grilled French Hoagie with garlic butter, B’s own red sauce, grilled onions, and provolone cheese. The sandwich was delicious. The meat had great flavor but was a bit over done. The red sauce was a great compliment to the meat and a nice break from ketchup. The Italian Beef sandwich also had great flavor and the beef was extremely tender. We however made the mistake of ordering it without peppers and the sandwich appeared to be too simple. Make sure to get the peppers. The star of our lunch was the Chicago dog which comes with a side of fries. It included an all beef Vienna dog in a poppy seed bun and topped with onion, mustard, green relish, tomato wedges, a pickle spear, sport peppers, and a dash of celery salt. This was probably the best hot dog I have ever eaten. The toppings were all fresh and accentuated the flavor of the beef hot dog. The bun also was great. A trip to Big B’s Beef requires a Chicago dog. The side of fries were hand-cut and thick but could have been more crispy.

The Perfect Hot Dog

Big B’s Beef has several tables set up for dining in but also has a drive-thru and will deliver to close-by businesses. The staff was friendly and we enjoyed the young girl who was eager to take our order and double checked to make sure she asked all of the right questions. We enjoyed our meal at Big B’s Beef and now we have a much shorter drive to enjoy some authentic Chicago style food.

http://www.bigbsbeef.com/

Pho Hien

There is nothing like a big bowl of steaming Pho to take the chill off on a winter’s day. Thankfully Wichita is blessed with a bevy a places that you can get a good authentic bowl of this delicious Vietnamese soup.

Our destination this day was  Pho Hien, located at Broadway and 17th St. On a side note, this particular stretch of Broadway is a “Murder’s Row” of great local places to check out, there is everything from a classic steak joint, to Mexican food trucks, to great Vietnamese and Asian venues.

Pho-king Amazing Pho

Pho Hien has a large and open dining room with plenty of seating for busy lunch time crowds. The menu consists of Pho, Pho, and more Pho. For those of you unfamiliar, Pho is a broth based Vietnamese rice noodle soup that features a protein(typically beef of some sort), onion, and garnishes of bean sprouts, basil, lime wedges, jalapeño,  hoisin, and hot sauce. There are several different variations of meat offered with the Pho. You can choose between thinly sliced steak, brisket, tendon, tripe, as well as pork balls, and some seafood variations. Feeling a bit bold I ordered my Pho with tendon, tripe, and thinly sliced steak. Looking around I noticed that some of the bowls coming out appeared to be about the size of a 10 gallon aquarium, so I wisely went with a medium/regular bowl. Less than 5 minutes after our order was placed we had good sized bowls of steaming Pho sitting at our table.

Our service was so fast that the thinly sliced steak was still medium rare in the middle as it came to the table. The meat was tender and unlike some Pho places, had its excess fat trimmed off. Due to some nice slow braising the tendon and tripe were both tender and did not require much chewing. The Pho broth had a wonderfully rich and complex flavor. With a little Hoisin and Sriracha it was some of the best I have had in Wichita.

If you are in the mood for some authentic Pho look for further than Pho Hien. Their high quality food is Pho-king delicious (its funny if you know how to pronounce Pho)  and at $7 for a medium bowl is a solid value as well. Make sure you bring some cold hard cash though, because none of that plastic stuff is taken here.

Bionic Burger (Home of Six Million Dollar and Calorie Burger)

Bionic Burger is right up there with Nu-Way when you talk about iconic burger places in Wichita. They have been in operation for over 30 years and currently have four locations in the area. Luckily for us, the newest location on East 21st near Woodlawn is rather convenient when we are in the mood for a fast and tasty meat disk.

The menus at all four Bionic locations are essentially the same and quite expansive for “just a burger place”. They offer several different burgers, plus a who’s who of classic comfort foods including: a pork sandwich, hot dogs, chicken fingers, grilled cheese, chili, o-rings, etc. Shakes and malts are also available in case you have any room for dessert.

The Epic Burger Combo

The Six Million Calorie Double in All Its Glory

On this visit I was feeling bold and decided to go with the Six Million Dollar Burger along with some of their fresh cut fries. I was under the impression I would be getting a half pound cheese burger with some veggies, instead I unwrapped a monster. Apparently when my sister had placed the order at the drive thru, she had ordered a double, leaving me with the most intimidating 1lb burger I had ever laid eyes on.

The first order of business was to bisect this mass into edible pieces. Once that was accomplished I was able to enjoy this pretty solid burger. The patty, while a bit thin for my liking, was properly seasoned and surprisingly juicy. Plenty of gooey cheese, lettuce, and tomatoes were icing on this protein based cake. Sadly the bun was not quite up to the challenge of supporting all of this deliciousness. After a few bites, it quickly deflated and broke into pieces, no doubt the victim of too much grease and the basic principles of physics. I pride myself in being able to finish just about anything I order at a restaurant, but it was not happening on this day. I doubt whether the bionic man himself would have been able to finish off this bad boy.  Did I mention the burger came with a far too generous serving of delicious fries? These thick-cut, crispy fries were top notch.

For a quick burger you can’t go wrong with Bionic Burger. Their large portions and tasty food is tough competition for any fast food joint in town.

http://www.bionic-burger.com/

Lalo’s Express

Words you will never hear on a Taco Bell commercial: “Try our new pork stomach tacos!” While most people would probably not jump at the chance to try a pork stomach, there is a place in Wichita that serves them along with other delicious Mexican fare. Lalo’s Express is located at the NW corner of Seneca and Harry in a small space that offers a wide variety of quick service Mexican food. It’s kind of like Taco Bell except that their food does not suck.

Behold: The Awe Inspiring Chimichanga

Inside Lalo’s there are a few tables for dine-in customers, but it seems most of their business is carryout. On the menu are all those typical Mexican dishes you have come to love, including burritos, tacos, enchiladas, and chimichangas. There are many other menu

Simple Yet Delicious: Barbacoa and Buche Tacos

options as well ensuring that anyone will be able to find something to enjoy.

On our visit I wanted to try several different items so I went with a shredded beef chimichanga, a barbacoa taco, and the intimidating pork stomach taco, called “buche”. Steph went with one of the combination plates that included a beef burrito, beef enchilada, and beans and rice. After ordering at the counter, we sat  down and prepared ourselves for a feast. Even with several other orders in front of ours, we only had to wait 5 or 10 minutes for our food to come.  The chimichanga was a sight to behold with its crispy golden tortilla covered in sour cream, guac, and cheese. Luckily it tasted as good as it looked. The shredded beef was tender and well seasoned and the peppers added additional flavor to the dish. It was one of the best chimichangas I have had in Wichita. The barbacoa and buche tacos were served the traditional way, open faced with cilantro, onion, and lime. The barbacoa was wonderfully tender and full of flavor. Looking at the buche taco I had my reservations, as the bits of grey meat did not look that appealing. Nonetheless I added a bit of salsa to the taco

The Burrito and Enchilada Meal

and dove in.  The buche was surprisingly tender and I enjoyed the earthy taste. Both of these tacos were rich and greasy so with a side of rice and beans you could have a cheap and tasty meal. Steph, being the enchilada connoisseur, rated hers as good, but nothing special. It must not have been that bad, because it was gone before I even had a chance to sample. We both took turns trying to finish the large beef burrito. The beef was well seasoned, but I would have liked more cheese, lettuce, or other fillings inside the burrito. The refried beans were fresh and flavourful, while the rice was just average. All of the food is served on styrofoam plates with plastic utensils, so eating something like a burrito can be a challenge especially when you have a squirming baby in one hand.
Lalo’s offers very good fast service Mexican food. Their tacos are especially worth trying, and at $1.95 each they are a good value. With dine-in, carryout, and drive thru options Lalo’s is also very convenient, especially late at night because they are open till 1 am during the week and 3 am on weekends.

Fusa/Red 8 Chinese/Chill Gelato(Sushi and Gelato Under One Roof)

Lured in by a coupon offering free gelato with the purchase of a meal we tried the 3 in 1 eatery Fusa/Red 8 Chinese/Chill Gelato the other day. Fusa is located in a strip mall just north of Kellogg and Greenwich. Apparently its original location was in the Towne East Mall, but since I try to avoid that place at all costs, it’s new to me. The owner of Fusa is the same person who opened the iconic Kwan Court and luckily he brought back an old favorite to serve at Fusa. I speak of the honey crispy walnut shrimp, one of my all time favorite dishes.

The Famous Crispy Walnut Shrimp

Fusa is set up much like a mall food court, with several counters offering different cuisines. There is Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, sushi, pasta, burgers, and last but not least, Gelato to top it all off. If you have picky eaters in your group there should be something at Fusa that will satisfy their needs. Ordering was a no brainer for Steph and I, we went with the honey crispy walnut shrimp and the honey crispy walnut chicken. Both dishes came served atop a bed of steamed rice(fried rice available upon request), with plenty of shrimp/chicken. The honey walnut sauce, while not quite on par with the Kwan Court version, was still very good. Coupled with some decent fried shrimp and chicken it was a satisfying meal.

After finishing our lunch we walked to the back of the restaurant where the coolers of gelato( Italian ice cream) are located. Unfortunately there were many delicious flavors, so making a decision was rather difficult. I finally settled on pistachio and Steph was won over by the salted caramel. Our single serving cups were piled high with the creamy frozen treats. We were both pleased with our respective gelato, although it was not as good as Caffe Moderne’s.

A Heaping Cup of Caramel Gelato

If you are looking for a place where you can get your teriyaki chicken and quesadilla fix at the same time Fusa is a good option. Even if you’re not interested in multi-ethnic dining, the large gelato selection is worth checking out.

M&M Bierocks

If you drive past the 2000 block of east Central on a regular basis you have probably noticed the large black and white sign that proudly proclaims “Bierocks”. Located next to a somewhat questionable looking building, many people probably pass by just assuming it is the remnants of what was Wichita’s booming bierock craze. Yes, before Hot Pockets were widely available in supermarkets  the noble bierock restaurant is where people went to get their meat filled pastries. But upon closer inspection you will find that M&M Bierocks is actually open for all your bierock needs.

The Old Bierocks Sign On A Rainy Day

Once you pull into the parking lot at M&M remain in your car  and head for the back of the building because this place is drive thru only(Probably because they cannot allow anyone to observe their secret bierock making process). At the drive through window there is a small menu posted that consists of bierocks, pickles, chips, and a few sides including baked beans. The bierock options include meat and cheese, meat with no cheese, and ham and cheese. Steph and I both went with the meat with cheese option. We tried to order two ice waters as well, but were told the only water offered was in bottled form. It seems somewhat strange to me when restaurants won’t give you free ice water. If it’s about the cost of the cup then why not just charge people $0.10 to cover the cost? Anyway, we just decided to upgrade to the meal which included a drink, small pickle spear, and off-brand potato chips.

So Big You Need Both Hands to Safely Consume

Our bierocks  certainly hit the spot on a cool and rainy day. They were good sized and tasted fresh. The filling of ground beef, cabbage, spices and cheese had good flavor, although I would have liked a bit more cheese in mine. Both of us thought that the meal deal wasn’t really the best way to go and next time we would  just order two bierocks instead. At around $3.50 a pop you can’t beat the value of these blue-collar pastries.

If you are in the mood for a drive thru meal and don’t want to waste 3 hours sitting in line at Chick-fil-A then head over to M&M Bierocks. Their quick and tasty bierocks are sure to satisfy.

Southeast Carryout

In need of a quick and convenient lunch I stopped by Southeast Carryout the other day. This simple burger joint has been a staple in SE Wichita for over twenty years. Their original location was right across the street from Southeast High, but now they reside on the northeast corner of Harry and Oliver.

The Cleanest Burger Stand in Wichita

Although the name  implies it is strictly a carryout operation, there are a few tables if you would prefer your car to not smell like a cheeseburger for the next week. Unlike some small burger joints, SE Carryout is impressively clean and tidy inside. So much so that I am going to award them, “Cleanest Burger Stand in Wichita”.  The menu consists of burgers, sandwiches, hot dogs, fried sides, and snow cones. Coke AND Pepsi products are both served in harmony here as well.

I went with the 1/3 lb double cheeseburger meal with fries and a drink for the low price of $4.20. There is certainly no debate that they make their burgers fresh to order as I watched them slap a couple of patties down onto the flattop grill. I was a bit disappointed that they appeared to be preformed thin burger patties though. For the price I got a decent amount of french fries, although they were nothing special. The burger came fully loaded with ketchup, mustard, pickles, tomatoes, and onions. Despite all the added condiments I thought the burger was average. There was nothing wrong with it, but then again I wasn’t blown away. It was certainly a better burger than most fast food chains.

Your Average Burger

In an age when it is hard to find a basic hamburger for under $5, SE Carryout makes it possible. While I would not put it on my list of top burgers in Wichita, you won’t be disappointed with the value at Southeast Carryout.

Southeast Carryout

Cafe Asia

Tucked away deep in the far corner of Normandie shopping center at Woodlawn and Central lies a literal hidden gem, Cafe Asia. Without much signage, it is entirely possible for one to circle the strip mall endlessly searching in vain for the Asian restaurant. I’m sure many a hunger-crazed soul has given up their search and opted for the highly visible Little Caesars. Luckily my internal GPS came through for us and we were able to enjoy the delights of Cafe Asia.

Inside you will find a small dining area that looks similar to many of the family run Asian restaurants around town. They are very proud of Malaysia as evidenced by the numerous travel posters that adorn the wall. Once seated our party was quickly served baskets of fried wontons and a delicious sweet strawberryish dipping sauce. It was a solid way to start off our meal. The menu is good sized for a small place and has something for everyone. If you are just looking for good ‘ol Chinese dishes they have those, you can get your Thai fix with some curries and Pad Thai, and they also offer Malaysian dishes.

Steph ordered a combination plate of Lo Mein with shrimp, chicken, and beef, while I opted for something called Chow Kueh Teow, which apparently is a “famous Malaysian” dish. The Chinese dishes on the menu are served with an egg roll and crab rangoon. Being a connoisseur of crab rangoon I thought Cafe Asia’s were just ok, but their egg roll was good.  When the main dishes came out, we were both greeted with a large amount of food.

How About a Big Dish of Chow Kueh Teow?

The Chow Teow was a tasty dish that consisted of wide rice noodles, sprouts, egg, and plenty of beef, chicken, and shrimp. The ingredients were coated in a brown sauce that was well seasoned, but not overpowering. The chicken and veggie Lo Mein did not disappoint either. The thick noodles were cooked perfectly with no mass of clumped up noodles that one can sometimes get when ordering Lo Mein. Once again they did not skimp on the various parts of the meal. The sauce was a bit on the bland side, but tasted much better than when Dillons drowns their Lo Mein in soy sauce.

After our experience at Cafe Asia, we decided it will become our new place for Chinese/Asian take out. So farewell Great Wall and Dillons, we will no longer need your services, except maybe when we have a crab rangoon craving. If you are in the mood for some type of Asian dish and lots of it, look no further than Cafe Asia.  If you didn’t already jump in the car immediately at the mention of fried wontons with dipping syrup then now is your time.

I attempted to take a picture of the hours of operation at Cafe Asia because it was the only way I would remember them. Unfortunately I took the picture with a phone camera, leaving much to the imagination. Here is my interpretation: Basically they are closed on Sunday and Monday, closed for lunch on Saturday and Tuesday, and then there is a break between 2:30 and 5 on the other days(Although it could be 4:30 or maybe 6pm?). During the week they close at 8pm, but on Friday and Saturday they don’t close till 9pm. Got all that? Just go around noon for lunch and around 7 for dinner and you should be ok unless of course its a leap year and then you’re out of luck.

Tell Me What the Hell This Says and Win A Prize

Garcia’s Tacos

Another week and another hole-in-the-wall Mexican joint. It’s actually been awhile since we have reviewed a Mexican restaurant, so it worked out that Steph and I both had the hunger for south of the border fare. Garcia’s is a real small place located on Market, just south of 21st St. Luckily they had a nice yellow sign outside to draw your attention to what is mostly a stretch of run down buildings along the east side of the street.

The Yellow Sign Directs You to Tasty Goodness

Inside you will find a small, clean dining area with perhaps 8 tables available. The staff is small, consisting of two waitresses and one cook, but very friendly. Since it was our first time at Garcia’s our server offered several suggestions to us. The menu at Garcia’s is small, so small that it is actually just displayed on the wall. And just in case you are easily confused with Mexican cuisine several cartoonish-like pictures accompany the menu mural. What tasty selections are plastered on the wall you ask? Well, there are tacos of course, tostadas, burritos, enchiladas, tortas, as well as menudo soup. With each menu item you have your choice of several meats including  carne asada, barbacoa, chicken, and pork.

Chips and salsa were quickly placed on our table as we mulled over the menu board. The chips were fresh and warm and both salsas were good. The red salsa was the milder of the two and had a rather unique taste. It was pureed and had a vinegar taste to it. Although different from most salsas, we both liked it. The second salsa had a bit more kick to it and featured tomatillos and cilantro.  Steph decided to go with a basic carne asada taco meal and I went with the torta meal with pork. With only a few other patrons in the restaurant our food came out very quickly. My torta was large with plenty of pork and lettuce inside. Although I would have liked a little cheese on my torta, the abundance of delicious pork made me very happy. Steph’s tacos were of the authentic variety and consisted of flat corn tortillas with carne asada, lettuce, and tomatoes. Notice that they were not smothered in cheese like many places like to do. Both of us enjoyed these simple yet satisfying tacos. Our dishes were also served with ample portions of beans and rice which were good as well.

Tasty Pork Torta

Carne Asada Taco Sans Piles of Cheese

So what could top off this great lunch you ask? How about the fact that it only cost us about $14 and both of us left stuffed. Garcia’s is a friendly place where one can come to enjoy a simple and cheap good eat. Unfortunately Garcia’s has limited hours and is only open till 3 pm daily. But that still gives you plenty of time to drop by for an enjoyable lunch off the beaten path.