I love it when you can go out for a seriously delicious meal that’s quick…and it’s even more exciting when you can eat for under $10. Since FOO Asian Street Food opened a few months ago, I’ve found myself there over and over again for dinner or for lunch eating happily out of my little white box. The only problem is that I can’t seem to get beyond this one menu item because I love it so much. One of the owners was making fun of me because I wouldn’t try anything else, but I see I’m in good company. In the March edition of EAT Magazine, the Vietnamese Ginger Caramel Chicken ranked in the top three of the Reader’s Choice Awards for Best $10 or Under Menu Bite. Apparently I’m not the only one who voted this dish to the top! It is so good. Sitting atop white rice is crispy chicken bites and baby bok choy in a sweet and spicy sauce. It’s just a little spicy with amazing flavour. It’s making me hungry just thinking about it.
Green Papaya Salad
Now if you want to splurge and burst the $10 budget, start with a Green Papaya Salad. It is shaved green papaya in a lime chili dressing with cilantro, mint and spiced peanuts. I’ve got a pretty good appetite, but I can’t get through the salad plus the Vietnamese Ginger Caramel Chicken (and I have a rather healthy appetite). So it’s best to take a friend and share the salad. But I don’t share the chicken…no way!
Before I found the chicken, I did work my way through several other items from the chalkboard menu. The Prawn and Pork Lettuce Cups have the most wonderful flavours of lemongrass, kaffir lime leaf, cilantro, Thai basil and coconut cream. They are really delicious, though the same FOO person made fun of me that day because I made quite a mess assembling my lettuce cups and scarfing them down. The Butter Chicken is also a hit as is the Beef Short Rib and Broccoli Chow Mein with ginger black bean sauce.
The FOO food is incredible especially considering the price. It’s just a small spot in the parking lot beside the Dalton Hotel at 769 Yates Street at Blanshard Street. It gets busy in the evening with both movie theatres just across the street and at lunchtime it can also be standing room only. I’m okay to wait especially since I always see people I know when I’m there. Whether it be other food writers, chefs or concierges, lots of people I know who appreciate good food have been spotted in line awaiting their Asian street food.
FOO is open for lunch Monday through Friday and dinner only Saturday and Sunday.
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