Adventurous Eating in KC

[Volker Dad]

I just listened to an interview of Tyler Cowen, author of “An Economist Gets Lunch,” and now I feel inspired to seek out authentically ethnic restaurants and grocery stores.

Does anyone here regularly shop at any of the ethnic grocery stores in the River market area? Also, there appears to be some ethnic restaurants in the Northeast that have little to no information online. Anyone frequent those?

I know KCK has many good Mexican restaurants. What about groceries?
What about the suburbs? Tyler suggests that some of the best ethnic food is actually found in the burbs these days due to low cost. I’m not convinced that’s true in KC but I do know there are some excellent Indian restaurants in JC.

The best ethnic food I’ve ever had was in San Francisco. I stepped into a Middle Eastern for dinner in the Tenderloin district. Pictures of Mecca on the wall. Dirty floors. People yelling at each other in Aramaic. The place was awesome, but not quite as awesome as the garlic studded naan they served me. I dipped it in a spicy curry and found myself in heaven.

[loftguy]

I have, and continue to shop at all the grocers in the RM. 20 years ago, when they first started opening, I didn't have a clue what the asian products were that colorfully lined the shelves and confused my nose. Some wonderful discoveries have come from these shops.

In the NE hood, I have eaten at many of the restaurants. My most recent adventure was to dine at Mesob Pikliz at 3405 Independence Avenue, just up from the coin laundry. Hole-in-the-wall, white tablecloth heaven! My first experience with either Eritrian, or Haitian foods. This is the basis of the menu, and it was among the finest meals in memory. We asked for favorites, and ordered an array of the suggestions. Everything, every bite, then and leftover, was extraordinary!

Just go, and try to tell me you didn't love it.

[smh]

What are you interested in? We frequent Hien Vuong quite a bit and occasionally the Chinatown Food Market. It is also my understanding that the suburbs boast an ever increasing variety of ethnic restaurants...though the only one I'm currently interested in trying is El Salvadoreno.

[KCMax]

JoCo has a lot of the good Korean spots. Sobahn on Shawnee Mission Parkway, just east of I-35 is owned by some friends of ours and IMO is the most authentic (I grew up eating Korean food). I think there is a small Korean grocer in that strip mall (I think all the businesses in that strip-mall are Korean-owned). Choga at 435/Metcalf is also good. There is also a sushi place called Haru at 135th and State Line that actually has great Korean food.

There's also supposed to be a really good authentic Chinese (not American Chinese carryout, not even Bo Ling's type food) restaurant called Jen Jen's over on 90th and Metcalf, although I can't say I've gotten a chance to try it yet.

I'm interested in hearing about some authentic Middle Eastern food. Where can I find some?

[brewcrew1000]

In the Burbs, there is that large Asian Grocery Store off of 69 and 119th called 888 International Market, there is also the Brazilian Supermarket in Overland Park, http://www.yelp.com/biz/brazil-supermar ... rland-park as well as a bunch of Indian grocery places scattered around Johnson County.

[KCMax]

That No Reservations also made me eager to try the Savoy again to try some of the wonderfully outdated dishes that now seem exotic because no one makes them anymore.

[brewcrew1000]

In the NE hood, I have eaten at many of the restaurants. My most recent adventure was to dine at Mesob Pikliz at 3405 Independence Avenue, just up from the coin laundry. Hole-in-the-wall, white tablecloth heaven! My first experience with either Eritrian, or Haitian foods. This is the basis of the menu, and it was among the finest meals in memory. We asked for favorites, and ordered an array of the suggestions. Everything, every bite, then and leftover, was extraordinary!

Just go, and try to tell me you didn't love it.

Wow, that menu looks amazing, I am going to try to make it for lunch tomorrow.

There is this really good Jamaican place on 39th and Main like right next to the Bike Shop called Island Spice, they make some excellent Jerk Chicken, the steamed cabbage is amazing.

[loftguy]

In the NE hood, I have eaten at many of the restaurants. My most recent adventure was to dine at Mesob Pikliz at 3405 Independence Avenue, just up from the coin laundry. Hole-in-the-wall, white tablecloth heaven! My first experience with either Eritrian, or Haitian foods. This is the basis of the menu, and it was among the finest meals in memory. We asked for favorites, and ordered an array of the suggestions. Everything, every bite, then and leftover, was extraordinary!

Just go, and try to tell me you didn't love it.

Wow, that menu looks amazing, I am going to try to make it for lunch tomorrow.

There is this really good Jamaican place on 39th and Main like right next to the Bike Shop called Island Spice, they make some excellent Jerk Chicken, the steamed cabbage is amazing.

If you do make it for lunch, please share your opinion. Note that the owner told me that he provides a lunch buffet.

My favorite dish was the Gabrit Taso, fried marinated goat. And in full-disclosure, my inner squeemish little girl totally wanted to reject the idea of eating fried goat.

[Volker Dad]

I have, and continue to shop at all the grocers in the RM. 20 years ago, when they first started opening, I didn't have a clue what the asian products were that colorfully lined the shelves and confused my nose. Some wonderful discoveries have come from these shops.

In the NE hood, I have eaten at many of the restaurants. My most recent adventure was to dine at Mesob Pikliz at 3405 Independence Avenue, just up from the coin laundry. Hole-in-the-wall, white tablecloth heaven! My first experience with either Eritrian, or Haitian foods. This is the basis of the menu, and it was among the finest meals in memory. We asked for favorites, and ordered an array of the suggestions. Everything, every bite, then and leftover, was extraordinary!

Just go, and try to tell me you didn't love it.

I very much like this post. Thanks for sharing.

[mean]

Mesob Pikliz is awesome. Go. Seriously. Every one of you. I haven't tried the fried goat, but it sounds excellent. Definitely have to try that next time I'm in.

[WSPanic]

Bonito Michoacon is a great Mexican restaurant/butcher/grocery store in KCK - 1150 Minnesota.

[bobbyhawks]

Bonito Michoacon is a great Mexican restaurant/butcher/grocery store in KCK - 1150 Minnesota.

Seconded.

It has been mentioned numerous times, but I still always recommend Los Alamos in the Westside. The owners are really nice, the food is great, and they always have a random assortment of knick-knacks, liquor, and random grocery items.

[kboish]

Bonito Michoacon is a great Mexican restaurant/butcher/grocery store in KCK - 1150 Minnesota.

Seconded.

It has been mentioned numerous times, but I still always recommend Los Alamos in the Westside. The owners are really nice, the food is great, and they always have a random assortment of knick-knacks, liquor, and random grocery items.

thirded. love this place. one of my favorite mexican joints.

[loftguy]

Just came from Mesob Pikliz lunch buffet. Under $10 all in.

A tastebud vacation to places unknown.

Took a friend who is pretty white bread, Johnson County, but with a pretty open mind. He has now annointed himself with the responsibility to fill this place.

A dozen items which they say change daily.

Warning: Lentils expand relative to the volumes of liquid consumed. My friend is thumping his growing watermelon as I'm posting.

[mean]

Holy crap, they have a lunch buffet!?

[brewcrew1000]

Just came from Mesob Pikliz lunch buffet. Under $10 all in.

I really wanted to for the buffet today but I wanted to try the lunch only place called Orange Box on westside cause I don't get to eat lunch in the core since I work way out in Eastern Jax. The orange box is really good, yummy pork tenderloin, excellent customer service as well.

[loftguy]

Holy crap, they have a lunch buffet!?

Yep, I'm still basking in the afterglow.

Will someone please smoke a cigarette for me and complete this picture?

[taxi]

Will someone please smoke a cigarette for me and complete this picture?

What??? Quitter!!!

[IraGlacialis]

Kim Long is a pretty good grocery store, as is Hung Vuong. Kim Long also has the benefit of having a la carte restaurant (one of the best places to get chitterlings).

For authentic Cantonese fare, besides Jen Jen, there is also Pine Bamboo Garden in Shawnee Mission Parkway.

[kansas]

KC is becoming a great place for Mexican food. There is a new birria place at 78 N. 10th in KCK (a few blocks north of Central Ave). It's good. Also I may have previously mentioned my devotion to El Pollo Rey at 900 Kansas Ave KCK, just the best smoky perfectly marinated and grilled chicken EVER.

Another really excellent Cantonese place is ABC Cafe on 87th St in joco, just west of the central library. The mango pudding is utterly delicious, they have a variety of hot pots and dim sum is served by the order from noon to midnight. Try the appetiser fried turnip cake with hot peppers and fried shallots & garlic, to die for. It's a tater tot from fryer heaven, basically.