Ba Jang
Bamboo leaves wrap the rice into a pyramid that’s stuffed with pork, sausage, salted boiled egg and rich sauce. Top that with crushed peanuts, herbs, sugar and a touch of salt. Incredibly good. In fact, it was so good we ordered more to-go. And, the to-go version was adorably packed with all of the components in their own little packages with step-by-step instructions!
We’re in love with this place.
Bento Nuggets with Fried Herbs & Red Pepper
Crispy and light, we loved these little nuggets of fried chicken.
As you can see from the red pepper coating those crisp herb leaves, we specifically ordered ours very spicy. The staff was happy to oblige any request. They offered mildly spiced, spicy or pepper on the side.
Squid Balls
The crisp exteriors yeild to sweet, tender squid in the middle. The burst of sweetness was so bright and vivid. At first bite, we almost thought these were deep fried scallops. The spicy pepper rounds out the flavor nicely.
Jab & Devour Via Bamboo Skewer
Plenty Of Snacks
Light & Crisp Pork Chops
But, it’s not all about snacks. These two pork chops were more than a meal. Tucked under those pork chops was a mound of dressed bean sprouts. We weren’t really crazy about the corn with the school cafeteria vibe. But, everything else was very nice.
Snack Or Meal? You choose.
How about bubble or jelly tea? We added aloe cubes to our honey lemon tea. It was divine. There are so many juice and tea options. Another favorite of ours? Tart passionfruit juice with lychee jelly, we really loved it. And, we want more… right now actually.
Bento Cafe
5495 Jimmy Carter Blvd
A-4
Norcross, GA 30093
770 300 9798
Fried Artichokes
Deep fried artichokes under a light coat of seasoned breading, these were so very good. There was no need to touch the accompanying container of dip. Tender leaves were fried up to a crispy golden crunch. The hearts and stems were creamy and satisfying. If we were vegetarians, this would be our go-to bar snack.
Cheddar, Bacon, Fried Egg Burger
Nothing fancy, this is just a nice burger with gorgeously crisp bacon.
Crispy Sweet Potato Fries, Too
Mason Jar Margarita
If we were in the area, we’d go back for another basket of fried artichokes any day.
Local 7
(The Local No. 7)
2316 Main Street
Suite A
Tucker, GA 30084
770 674 1782
Boudin Balls
We were starving when we stumbled upon Frank’s by sheer luck. On this very long day of driving and hiking, we were in desperate need of sustenance.
Those balls might look like giant hush puppies. But, they’re so much more. Fried to order, it’s not just that they’re stuffed with such a rich variety of rice, pork & spices. They’re clearly made with care and a love of food that is unmistakable.
Deep Fried Porky, Spicy Goodness
We could have easily stopped after the boudin balls. They really were that good. All of the rest that follows is just that much more icing.
Ribs, Jambalaya, & Collard Greens
We’re not normally big fans of saucy ribs. But, the flavor of the pork shines through that thick glaze of sauce. That’s what counts. Variety is the spice of life, right?
The jambalaya looks and feels a bit more like dirty rice to us. But, what do we know? Whatever you want to call it, we call it good food. It was loaded with spicy black pepper and full of flavor from shredded chicken and a rich stock.
Pulled Pork & Seasoned Fries
A generous amount of tender pork and sweet, (barely) spicy sauce make up for that very ordinary un-toasted sesame seed bun.
Look for the little white building with red awnings!
(There is no indoor seating. You order at the take out window. There are a couple tables under a small tent for spontaneous picnicing.)
Hours:
Noon to 9pm — EVERY DAY Except Tuesday
Frank’s Cajun & Soul Kitchen
FranksCajunSoul
11175-B Powder Springs Street NW
Marietta, GA 30064
678 383 6703
Bean Paste Doughnut
After our Le Mekong meal, we were looking for some evening snacks/treats. (This Vincent Bakery shares space in the same strip mall.) We arrived late in the day. So, this was the soul surviving doughnut at the end of a very long day. It might not be as fluffy as it should be. But, it was still divine. There’s a comforting blend of sweet, savory and barely there richness. We’re loving snacks that could double as meals lately. And, this one fits that bill beautifully.
Chestnut Manjoo
Sweet, tender pastry stuffed with chesnut paste (or a mix of white bean paste and chestnut?), these are always a favorite of ours.
Generously Filled
We love these. They’re sweet, but, not too sweet.
Chestnut Bread
Not as rich or sweet as panettone, it’s almost a guilt free treat.
Vincent Bakery Cafe
10900 Medlock Bridge Road
Suite 106
Johns Creek, GA 30097
770 476 7534
Goi Dac Biet
Le Mekong’s house salad of julienned green papaya, green mango, green apple and carrot, all of that fresh goodness is topped with a mix of chopped herbs, fried shallots and roasted peanuts. Or, as we like to call it, this is what to eat every day of your life. It’s so very good.
Halving the shrimp is very smart move. It’s a feast for the eyes. And, more importantly, it allows you to get a taste of perfectly tender shrimp with almost every bite.
Bo La Lot
Betel leaf rolls stuffed with seasoned beef, this generously-sized appetizer could easily be a meal for a light eater. Or, it makes an extremely generous appetizer for two to share.
Ca Kho To
Catfish in a clay pot…
Great! Here’s yet another dish that we want to eat every day of our lives. A reduction of fish sauce and black pepper makes a sweet, salty savory caramel that borders on food genius.
Eat Me! It demands.
This must be one of the best uses of catfish, ever. And, do you see those little crisp bits of onion and some form of crackly crisp pork cubes? They’re too good for words.
Mango Salmon
There was a slight miscommunication. They thought we wanted the salmon well done. You know what, it came to the table tender and flaky even cooked to well done. So, we’d be willing to place bets that this would be an incredibly awesome dish cooked the way we really wanted it. As is, it was very tasty.
Le Mekong
10900 Medlock Bridge Road
Suite 105
Johns Creek, GA 30097
770 622 5000
Super Thin House-Made Potato Chips Dusted With Fresh Dill
It took just one bite of these super thin, super crisp chips and we’re happy.
Roast Pork “French Dip”
One look at that gorgeous pink color tells you the pork will be tender. And, it was. Perfectly tender and touched with hickory smoke, this was divine.
Tucked in between the sandwich halves you see the modestly titled “pork drippings”. Those drippings deserve equal billing. And, they’ll have you wishing for extra slices of bread to dip.
The Filet ‘O Fish
This was one beautiful (GIANT) monster of a sandwich. Flakes of smoked haddock and potato are formed into a crispy cake and topped with smoked egg tartar and baby lettuce, this was another winner.
More, please…
So Much Smoked Haddock, Potato Plays Backup
This sandwich was so gigantic it takes two bites to taste it all. The first bite gives you a taste of the smoked fish cake in its crispy shell and buttery bottom bun. The second bite gives you that smoky egg tartar, lettuce and top bun.
Wood Roasted Artichoke With Anchovy Aioli
This was our start to the meal. Half an artichoke makes a perfect size to share for two. Alone or paired with another vegetable, it could easily be a meal for one light eater.
King + Duke
King And Duke
3060 Peachtree Road NW
Atlanta, GA 30305
404 477 3500
The Yearling
Bulleit Bourbon, Art in the Age Rhubarb Tea, Florida Strawberries, & Lemon
Full of fresh strawberry flavor with the tart kick of rhubarb… The sweetness is barely there. Gorgeous balance makes this a drink to crave.
This is someone’s new favorite summertime cocktail.
“I do not understand how anyone can live without some small place of enchantment to turn to…”
Next Time:
The rest of our lunch
To Valet:
Follow Seasons 52 signs to valet. Or, valet at Chops. Both will work perfectly fine, Seasons 52 offers a slightly more convenient walk.
King + Duke
King And Duke
3060 Peachtree Road NW
Atlanta, GA 30305
404 477 3500
Coxinha
Bigger than a drumstick, this Brazilian version of a croquette was closer in size to a baseball or Asian pear. It could easily be a meal. It was pleasantly crisp on the outside and stuffed with nearly equal parts tender, shredded chicken and mozzarella. A touch of scallion was hiding in there, too.
Kibe Up Front, Coxinha In Back
Both snacks were incredibly good, toasty warm and extremely filling. For just over $2 each, they were a hearty bargain. (A bargain is only a bargain if it’s something you want to eat. We definitely enjoyed our snack. And, we’d want to eat both of them again… if we’re in the area.) We went halvsies and shared the two as a late day snack. We were so stuffed to the gills, we could barely touch our dinner.
Brazilian Bakery Cafe
1260 Powers Ferry Road
Marietta, GA 30067
770 818 0088
Ackee & Saltfish
Do you ever secretly wish you had a Jamaican granny or mom? We sure do.
…Just go to Tropical Cuisine and pretend.
Tucked underneath that delicious mountain of ackee and salt fish, there’s a boiled green banana and two steamed dumplings. Add to that a big chunk of yellow yam and sweet fried plantains. This was more of a Jamaican feast than a meal.
Jerk Chicken Breast With Rice & Peas
This was a lovely version of the dish. The sauce might have dominated the chicken. But, when the sauce is this good, who cares? Those are candied yams hiding in the back. The sweetness of those yams were divine comfort with the spicy jerk sauce.
This is one shiny little diamond hidden in the rough. In this case, the rough is a quiet corner tucked way (WAY) back on one side of an old strip mall.
Tropical Cuisine
4899 Old National Highway
College Park, GA 30337
404 767 7421
Raspberry & Black Currant Preserves
Someone’s a sucker for pretty packaging.
We bought a jar of the Sea Buckthorn.
Nuts soaked in honey make a lovely accompaniment to a mug of tea and a wedge of pound cake or cornbread.
Buford Highway Farmers Market
(www.aofwc.com)
5600 Buford Highway NE
Doraville, GA 30340
770 455 0770
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