We all have one. That take out place that you frequent when you’re:
A. Too tired to cook
B. You’re downtown and hungry for a bite
C. It’s 9pm at night on a Monday and nothing is open that’s tasty, healthy and quick
D. You’re craving a comfort food dish that you always order that’s always dependable and never lets you down
Right?
For me, that place is Foo Asian Street Food.
Interestingly, their street food feel is cemented by their permanent location in a shipping-stall container feel tucked into the back of a parking lot in downtown Victoria. Stroll up to the counter and place your order for takeaway or patio seating, or take a seat at the bar and watch chef Patrick Lynch and his sharp staff chop, toss, season, sear and present fresh, flavourful and tasty Asian influenced dishes—all extremely reasonably priced from $8-13.
Chef Lynch, along with his business partner and well known front of house personality Sterling Grice, have spent time living, working and eating throughout Asia. Their love of fresh, simple and honest street food inspired them to create Foo in downtown Victoria, utilizing flavors and techniques from overseas with local and seasonal produce and proteins. Earlier this year, the duo opened their second restaurant in downtown Victoria, Foo Ramen Bar, where diners can tuck into steaming and scented bowls of brothy noodles—and was bourne from wanting to make use of the savory pork broth created daily by the original Foo. Like Foo Street Food, Foo Ramen supports the local environment and community, striving to ensure that nearly all of the components used are local and sustainable.
Barely a week goes by where I’m not—for reasons A through D above—digging into a takeout box. In the summer, my go-to is the Tuna Tataki + Soba Noodle Salad, with perfectly seared rare Albacore tuna, buckwheat noodles & cucumber ribbons with miso vinaigrette, alongside the crunchy, bright and healthy Papaya Salad, where fresh green papaya, mint, cilantro and spiced roasted peanuts are tossed with lime chilli dressing. When the weather cools, I might slide over to the heady Sweet + Sour Pork Belly (crisp and tender pork belly, chilli fried green beans, sweet soy & tamarind glaze with steamed rice) or Red Coconut Curry (seasonal market veg and puffed tofu in spicy coconut curry broth over steamed rice). Ever-changing daily specials are posted on their website and facebook pages every morning – a dedicated and smart move that often seals my lunch or dinner fate.
A short and simple drinks menu (local beer, soda or house Chai) complements the similarly concise menu (a dozen standard items plus the rotating specials) and the entire aesthetic and ethos – simple, paired down and accessible. And delicious.
Follow on Facebook: Foo Asian Street Food
Track on Twitter: @FooFoodVic
