Asian Restaurants Archives ~ NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

April 2, 2019 by Ron Wen

First Take: H Mart Food Court in Cary for Authentic Asian Eats, Produce and Groceries

H Mart in Cary - nctriangledining.com — H Mart in Cary – nctriangledining.com

When it comes to food courts, I’m usually not a huge fan but if you enjoy Asian eats, you’ll really like the H Mart out in Cary. This single, Triangle location for a chain of Korean supermarkets has a large Asian food court. From Korean to Japanese, Taiwanese, and Thai I’m pretty sure something here at the H Mart food court will tickle your fancy.

Grocery area at H Mart in Cary - NC Triangle Dining — Grocery area at H Mart in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

Seafood area at H Mart in Cary - NC Triangle Dining — Seafood area at H Mart in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

Head on over to High House and Davis Road and in the same plaza as Doherty’s Irish Pub, you’ll find the huge H Mart store. Focused on Korean groceries, you’ll find a tremendous variety of fresh produce, seafood, and meats that will make Grand Asia’s selection pale in comparison. From Asian pears to rambutan, sugar cane, and more, the produce section at H Mart rocks. Admittedly, it may be a bit pricier than Grand Asia Market but what can you do?

Produce area at H Mart in Cary – nctriangledining.com

Sliced short rib at H Mart in Cary - nctriangledining.com — Sliced short rib at H Mart in Cary – nctriangledining.com

Over in the meat area, you’ll find all sorts of pork and beef cuts that would be hard to find anywhere else. Including pre-sliced meats for Asian specialties like hot pots, bulgogi, and galbi. The seafood section is wonderful and includes live lobster, giant prawns, and much more. And while I haven’t tried the in-house bakery, Tous Les Jours, they have beautiful cakes and macarons, I’ve heard it’s an excellent option for French-style sweets and cakes.

Cakes at Tous Les Jours at H Mart in Cary - nctriangledining.com — Cakes at Tous Les Jours at H Mart in Cary – nctriangledining.com

Sweets at Tous Les Jours at H Mart in Cary - nctriangledining.com — Sweets at Tous Les Jours at H Mart in Cary – nctriangledining.com

But we’re all about the food court which is conveniently located on the right hand side of the H Mart entrance. In this authentic, ethnic food court you’ll find a variety of storefronts with all sorts of interesting names: Sogongdong Tofu House, Soo Carolina Chicken, Mat Jib, Love Bao Taiwanese Kitchen, Don-Don Udon-Donburi ring the food court. There’s a final option, Koon Nine Thai on the other side of the produce area, to the left, don’t miss it!

Food court at H Mart in Cary - nctriangledining.com — Food court at H Mart in Cary – nctriangledining.com

Front of the new Mat-Jib food stall at H Mart in Cary - nctriangledining.com — Front of the new Mat-Jib food stall at H Mart in Cary – nctriangledining.com

Korean hot dog display at the new Mat-Jib food stall at H Mart in Cary - nctriangledining.com — Korean hot dog display at the new Mat-Jib food stall at H Mart in Cary – nctriangledining.com

Korean hot dogsat the new Mat-Jib food stall at H Mart in Cary — Korean hot dogs at the new Mat-Jib food stall at H Mart in Cary

Each food stall has its own cash register and menu overhead or on HD panels. Take a walk around to see what your food options are, the menus are H Mart’s food court is super diverse. You can get pad thai, drunken noodles, curry, General Tso, udon noodles, donburi, bibimbap, galbi (short ribs), Korean hot dogs just to start. Note that while the food court here is not expensive, it’s not cheap either with most item prices ranging from $8 to $18. It’s all pretty casual and delicious here, a common dining area jammed with diners makes you believe the food here has GOT to be good.

While the food court is pretty large at H Mart, the seating/dining area is a bit small and crowded for the number of patrons it handles. And since the food is to order, it takes some time. At the end of the meal, each food stall has its own waste area and spot to return plates and dinnerware. There are also some vending machines for water and soda if you don’t grab a drink from the stall you order your meal from.

Drink vending machines at H Mart food court dining room in Cary - NC Triangle Dining — Drink vending machines at H Mart food court dining room in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

H Mart food court dining room in Cary - NC Triangle Dining — H Mart food court dining room in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

Love Bao at H Mart in Cary - nctriangledining.com — Love Bao at H Mart in Cary – nctriangledining.com

Braised pork belly bao from Love Bao at H Mart in Cary - nctriangledining.com — Braised pork belly bao from Love Bao at H Mart in Cary – nctriangledining.com

Fried chicken at H Mart food court in Cary - NC Triangle Dining — Fried chicken at H Mart food court in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

Secret, sweet and spicy fried chicken at H Mart food court in Cary - NC Triangle Dining — Secret, sweet and spicy fried chicken at H Mart food court in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

If you’re into Korean fried chicken, Soo Carolina chicken serves about 8 or so types, my sweet and spicy chicken is wonderful. Korean fried chicken is double-fried resulting in a thick, dense crust smothered in a mostly sweet sauce. And it’s a huge portion with 10 or so pieces for the half order ($13). The chicken is tender and perfectly cooked, I only take a couple of bites because I want to save my appetite for the main meal. The entrees at H Mart are served up on plastic trays and pretty basic dinnerware! Taking food home if you don’t finish your meal is not necessarily an easy option.

Bulkogi plate at H Mart food court in Cary - NC Triangle Dining — Bulkogi plate at H Mart food court in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

Next up is bulkogi from Kang Nam Town and at $16, it’s not a cheap plate. But H Mart serves it up sizzling on a thick ceramic platter with banchan (pickled sides) and a nice portion of short grain rice (sticky). The beef is sauteed ribeye with the sweet tinge from a great soy-sesame-sugar marinade. It’s all a nice contrast from the savory onions and part of why I love this classic Korean dish. Paired with the rice, it’s a very tasty treat and very well-done. I wolf down as much as I can but it’s a lot of food, especially since I snuck in some chicken beforehand.

don-Don Udon Donburi at H Mart in Cary - nctriangledining.com — don-Don Udon Donburi at H Mart in Cary – nctriangledining.com

Pork katsudon at don-Don Udon Donburi at H Mart in Cary - nctriangledining.com — Pork katsudon at don-Don Udon Donburi at H Mart in Cary – nctriangledining.com

On another visit, I tried out the pork katsudon which was quite good. A large, sliced, pork cutlet/chop is simmered with egg and laid over a bowl of rice. True comfort food in my eyes. Paired up with some shrimp gyoza and you’ve got yourself an excellent Japanese meal. Thai Koon Nine does some super authentic Thai eats and has some items on their menu that I barely recognized. But I’ve been able to try their Basil pork and rice along with their pad kee mao which had a real kick.

Thai Koon Nine stall at H Mart in Cary - nctriangledining.com — Thai Koon Nine stall at H Mart in Cary – nctriangledining.com

Basil pork and rice from Koon Nine at H Mart in Cary - nctriangledining.com — Basil pork and rice from Koon Nine at H Mart in Cary – nctriangledining.com

As you finish up your meal and given the shared communal dining area, any clean-up is appreciated. H Mart suggests self-busing your tray and plate back to the stall you get it from. So overall I was pretty happy with H Mart’s food court but there are definitely some imperfections. They are super skimpy with their napkins and a lot of the food is served in styrofoam, ugh. I’ve found some of these same challenges at the food court at Grand Asia Market but it’s compounded here at H Mart.

Plastic utensils, chopsticks and napkin at H Mart food court dining room in Cary - NC Triangle Dining — Plastic utensils, chopsticks and napkin at H Mart food court dining room in Cary – NC Triangle Dining

But even with all those challenges, I’d come back to try out more food and more stalls. Dealing with all these service quirks is the price you pay to get authentic Asian eats here. You’d be best off coming with 2 – 4 people so you can divide and conquer on the food and seating. So thank you H Mart for bringing more options to the Korean and Asian eats table. It’s hard to get more authentic eats than what you are serving here. It

H Mart Cary

1961 High House Road

Cary, NC 27519

919.535.5900

Location on Google maps

July 12, 2017 by Ron Wen

MOFU Shoppe Serves Up an Urban Asian Dining Adventure for Raleigh

MOFU Shoppe in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — MOFU Shoppe in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

It’s always exciting to see a food truck transition from its mobile roots into the more committed and secure status of a bricks and mortar establishment! It’s usually a testament to a lot of hard work, commitment and passion from the owners and its offerings. And if you’ve followed the food truck scene, you may be familiar with the Pho Nomenal Dumpling truck which won the 2015 Great Food Truck Race on the Food Network. Known for its authentic Asian eats, this team of young women were now ready to take the next big step in their culinary careers with the new MOFU Shoppe down by City Market. I had heard some buzz online but wasn’t really sure what to expect given I had never eaten at their truck. So I made some time to visit during their opening weekend and had a lovely first dinner…

Community table at MOFU Shoppe in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Community table at MOFU Shoppe in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Heading on down to City Market, I admit I had no idea what MOFU’s exact address was (I’m usually more prepared) and criss-crossed the cobblestone streets looking for their storefront. A quick check on Facebook and voila! MOFU may officially be part of City Market but it sits a bit further south on Blount, about a half block further than I expected. Located in what used to be Triangle Glides-Segway tours, just look for the white brick face and black-white painted signage.

Dining room at MOFU Shoppe in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Dining room at MOFU Shoppe in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Inside MOFU I’m greeted by the host and since I’m waiting for my friend grab a seat at the bar. The decor at MOFU Shoppe is fantastic and a bit more urban and gritty than what I expected. The space is large and open with an exposed ceiling 20′ overhead along with iron I-beams. On the left side they have some communal tables with patio lights overhead while the main dining room on the right includes a second floor landing for a raised dining area, very nice! At the bar there are frosted hanging lamps overhead along with a cool plate glass structure in a metal frame. What really makes the MOFU Shoppe space work is the abundance of natural light and air. The whole front face of the dining area is open to the street including some very cool arched cut-away windows above the main windows. And of course there are a couple of garage doors that look like they can be opened for additional fresh air on nice days, phew!

Cool urban space at MOFU Shoppe in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Cool urban space at MOFU Shoppe in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

MOFU Shoppe menu - NC Triangle Dining — MOFU Shoppe menu – NC Triangle Dining

My guest shows up and we grab a small 2-top on the side wall. Given it’s MOFU Shoppe’s opening weekend, they are offering a complimentary cocktail-drink for diners, very nice touch. I go with a sparkling rose for the meal and it’s time to dig into the menu. MOFU’s menu is small and focused with 20 items in total ranging from small and large plates, soup-salads and desserts all with an Asian-fusion twist. There’s a good mix of proteins to choose from and the menu is pretty gluten-free friendly if that’s your thing. We go with the crispy smoked pork belly, roasted chicken and 5 spice duck.

Smoked crispy pork belly at MOFU Shoppe in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Smoked crispy pork belly at MOFU Shoppe in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

There’s a bit of a wait for our food but no big deal given opening week, our crispy pork belly appetizer comes out of the kitchen first. It’s an interesting looking dish served in a shiny stainless steel bowl. Steamed jasmine rice and basil corn are layered underneath shredded chunks of pork. It reminds me of tea-smoked meats which are not uncommon in Chinese cooking. The pork is flavorful and tender with a deep richness to it. And contrasts well against the mellow corn and rice base. I enjoy a couple of bites but the rest of the dish goes to my hungry table-mate who raves about it.

5 spice duck at MOFU Shoppe in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — 5 spice duck at MOFU Shoppe in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

Malaysian roasted chicken at MOFU Shoppe in Raleigh - NC Triangle Dining — Malaysian roasted chicken at MOFU Shoppe in Raleigh – NC Triangle Dining

My 5 Spice duck is up next, it’s a wonderful looking plate full of rich hues of magenta and greens from lima beans. Drunken cherries are plated around the duck which sit on top of a enoki mushroom patty. The duck is fork tender and there’s plenty of delicious breast meat here with a hint of the 5 spice (anise, clove, fennel, cinnamon and sichuan pepper). I also love the mushroom patty which is deep and flavorful, it would do well as a base for a vegetarian plate. Unfortunately the drunken cherries didn’t really stand out for me. I was hoping for some tangy fruit pop to work against the rich duck but it wasn’t there. The roast Malaysian chicken across the table looks great but I think I made out well with the 5 spice duck!

Service throughout the meal was excellent and well-informed, the staff is very well-trained which is impressive given MOFU Shoppe’s food truck origins. So it’s great to see that the gals from the Pho Nomenal Dumpling food truck have made the leap to bricks and mortar successfully. It’s still very early for MOFU Shoppe but color me impressed. The bar has been raised for the Triangle so all these great new restaurants that are opening up are much better prepared than I’ve seen in the past. MOFU Shoppe has done a stellar job with interesting urban decor, an Asian-influenced menu with good portion size and excellent service right out of the chute. I’m sure they’ll tweak the formula even more as the first couple of months go by so I’m expecting even better in 2017 from them! So stop on by for a visit and dinner if you’re up for something new. We’ve got a phonomenal new restaurant for downtown Raleigh, bon appetit!

MOFU Shoppe

321 S. Blount Street

Raleigh, NC 27601

919.301.8465

Location on Google maps

June 23, 2019 by Ron Wen

Media: M Pocha Offers Up Some Culinary Magic for Durham

Front of M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Front of M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

When it comes to chefs in the Triangle, I’ve always enjoyed what comes out of the kitchens from Chef Mike Lee. Since his days as owner-chef of Sono in Raleigh to competition cooking events, I’ve watched him grow in the Triangle as he’s built his group of M Restaurants in Durham to much acclaim. And now the Bull City has M restaurant #4, M Pocha (short for pojangmacha – street food). Sitting on a corner of Five Points, M Pocha will be bringing some foodie magic in the form of Asian small plates! I was lucky enough to get an invite to M Pocha’s friends and family preview dinner before they soft-opened. Here’s what to expect!

Cocktail menu at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Cocktail menu at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Mezcal cocktail at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Mezcal cocktail at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Heading on over to M Pocha, it’s a bit inconspicuous from the outside with shaded, plate glass windows (it’s a sunny spot) and a slightly, narrow triangular feel to the space. If you had been in the old Cupcake Bar space before, you won’t recognize it anymore. Inside, M Pocha has a minimalist, darker decor focused on metals and woods. A bit different then the other M Restaurants which usually have featured a lot of exposed brick. The seating is also different here with bar seating at the front and side along with one large communal table down the middle. M Pocha’s space is probably best suited for 2 to 4 people along with solo diners given the seating setup. M Pocha offers up a short selection of beers, wines and cocktails to get your meal started!

Hungry diners at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Hungry diners at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Chef Mike is in back, busily working the kitchen while about sixteen of us sat at the communal table, eagerly awaiting what was to come. The meal opens up with a spicy kimchi soup filled with napa cabbage, smoky sausage and tender fall-off-the-bone pork ribs. The soup has got some great depth and texture, it reminds me of a classic Chinese soup and is gobbled up by the table. While I think kimchi can get really strong and pungent, the presentation of that fermented flavor is balanced well in this soup!

Nasi goreng at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Nasi goreng at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Seared brussels sprouts at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Seared brussels sprouts at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

The table moves on to nasi goreng, an Indonesian fried rice served up with some fried shrimp. The fried rice is moist and tasty with a bit of soy sauce, garlic and more. It’s a very comforting dish for me, something that mom might put on the table. Served up with some nicely pan-friend brussels sprouts makes for a great starter for the meal.

Grilled short rib at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Grilled short rib at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

The highlight for me is next, the seared short-rib served up yakitori-style (barbeque) on a ceramic grill. Thick, succulent pieces of short-rib showing off great char and beefy chew. Mike is serving them boneless which makes for easier eating. A follow-up dish of spicy pork belly served with greens, pickled veggies and steamed buns offers up a great mix of textures and colors for the palate. A fun take on the traditional bao with some acid and greens to brighten the dish up.

Spicy pork belly bao at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Spicy pork belly bao at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

And finally the closing small plate, perfectly fried pork dumplings (gyoza)! The skin on these dumplings were thicker but still tender and as you can see by the picture, very nicely pan-fried to a deep brown. The crunchy bottoms make for a nice contrast to the soft tops of the dumplings, dee-licious!

Pan-fried gyoza dumplings at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Pan-fried bacon gyoza dumplings at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Chef Mike at M Pocha in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Chef Mike at M Pocha in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Over the course of the dinner, Chef Mike comes out several times explaining the origins and ingredients of each dish, along with his career and path as a chef. Like many chefs, he started out formally trained to do one thing and pivoted when he discovered his love of the culinary arts and food. I’ve always appreciated his menus and cuisine from Sono to M Sushi, M Kokko and more. His dishes stay true to the authenticity of Asian cuisine while taking some light liberties with ingredients and preparation. I wouldn’t call it Asian fusion, more like Asian uplifted, similar to Brewery Bhavana. But always delicious and balanced for flavor!

And I think he will have some fun with the broader menu options here at M Pocha, offering up small plates of his favorite Asian cuisines across the region. So here’s to more and better at M Pocha and from Chef Mike. We’ll know more of what to expect from the restaurant in upcoming months as they get into a groove after their soft-opening, cheers!

M Pocha

101 E Chapel Hill Street

Durham, NC 27701

M Pocha menu

Location on Google maps

November 23, 2013 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Tangerine Cafe, Cary for Inexpensive and Tasty Pan-Asian Eats

Front of Tangerine Cafe, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

Way out in Cary by the Apex border is a little strip mall cafe called Tangerine Cafe. I had been out here a long time ago because it’s one of my co-worker’s favorite lunch spots and I finally got back for a return visit. Covering a breadth of Vietnamese, Thai and Asian eats, it’s sort of a mini and local PF Chang’s but does a good job with keeping the flavors real and prices low. Perfect for a delicious and inexpensive lunch!

Lettuce wraps app at Tangerine Cafe, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

You might have to look a bit to find Tangerine Cafe’s it’s in a dark corner of the strip mall but once you step inside, your retinas are hit with the brightly colored walls and spartan space. Asian Cafe decor all the way, it’s all about the eating here! The lunch menu gives you 10 or 20 apps and entrees to choose from ranging from Thai to Vietnamese, Malaysian and more. Let’s call it a pan-Asian menu and leave it at that. We order up the Imperial rolls, chicken lettuce wraps along with a honey walnut chicken and crispy catfish for me.

Imperial rolls at Tangerine Cafe, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

Tangerine Cafe is a small space so you may not want to hit it up during busy periods but it’s not too bad for a Tuesday lunch. Our apps show up and I’ve got two thick rolls filled with pork and some noodle. The nuoc nam on the side is fine for dipping and it’s a heavy and dee-licious appetizer which I finish off. The lettuce wraps is a large pile of leaves with a slightly spicy minced chicken which goes great with a ginger soy sauce. There is plenty of food here already, even without the mains!

Crispy catfish at Tangerine Cafe, Cary- NC Triangle Dining

My spicy catfish is a decent looking dish. Fried filet covered with a tangy sauce with a bit of basil for flavor. It’s a flavorful fish dish and reminiscent of other Thai dishes I’ve had. With the side of rice and braised veggies, it’s a great lunch. Service in this small cafe is decent, two gentlemen dressed in black take care of our table. We can’t make it to dessert so it’s time to leave! And here’s where the story gets better. While I think the food at Tangerine Cafe is a bit Americanized, it’s still very tasty and delivers the necessary flavors. And for the price, this place can’t be beat, our meal with two apps, two entrees and two drinks comes out to about $26. Really a great deal for this quality and quantity of food. So let’s just say that Tangerine Cafe is a bit of an Asian-eatery gem. If you’re ever in the hood, stop on by and let your tastebuds be dazzled and surprised!

Tangerine Café

2422 SW Cary Pkwy

Cary, NC 27513

919.468.8688

Tangerine Cafe menu

Location on Google maps

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February 11, 2015 by Ron Wen 2 Comments

Juju in Durham for Asian Tapas in a Beautiful Setting

Front of Juju Asian Tapas in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

After spending two years in Chapel Hill for school, I don’t get back to the Thrill as much as I probably should and miss some classic spots in the area like Jujube. A small Asian fusion eatery, it piqued my curiosity to hear that they were putting up a sister restaurant, Juju on Ninth Street in Durham, deep in Duke territory. But hey, outside of basketball season, Durham is my second home when it comes to eating and dining out so I was glad to check out Juju for an informal dinner. Here’s how it went down…

Bar at Juju Asian Tapas in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Located in the Shops at Erwin Mall, Juju strikes a modern and delicious stance. Slick-looking logo, the brick front wraps around the front and side of Juju to a large patio area complete with gas fire pit. Inside we’re greeted by a young hostess and surprise, we’re told that seating is limited on a cold Monday night. Sorta odd because there seemed to be plenty of empty tables but I guess Juju must be popular already. Beautiful bar in the center, Juju is a mixture of modern and elegant Asian decor and details. Rustic and stylish wood chairs, interesting overhead lighting, we grab two seats at a community table and peruse the menu. Thankfully it’s not too long with a selection of small ($6 – $9) and large plates ($9 – $16), with a Peking duck priced at $65. Suggested serving per diner is to go with two or three a person, we order up some chicken-kale crispy dumplings, steamed pork buns, noodles bolognese and short rib for our meal. A small list of beer, wine, sake and dessert completes Juju’s tight menu.

Chicken-kale dumplings at Juju Asian Tapas in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Short-rib with pear plate at Juju Asian Tapas in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

The crowd is pretty young and heavily female, which is sort of typical around Duke University. With the plush and rich decor at Juju I can see the place being great for a date or girls night out. After a short wait, our plates start coming out. First the crisp, chicken-kale dumplings which are perfectly pleated and fried. Quite good even though the stuffing is non-traditional. Next comes the short rib and bolognese. The grilled short rib is thinly cross-sliced and tender, layered with pear, citrus slices and parsley! Yum, probably my favorite dish of the night with a hit of savory, sweet and citrus, nice. The bolognese is a dish I’ve tried before at Jujube but this version is new and improved. Modern take on red-roasted pork, it’s savory and the rice noodles are cooked just right with a touch of firmness, al dente. And finally the pork buns which are tasty but not as good as what you can get at Sono. Plus the buns are sort of falling apart, I’m used to a more artful presentation of this colorful dish.

Pork belly buns at Juju Asian Tapas in Durham- NC Triangle Dining

Service over the course of the evening was professional, team service with a primary order taker. Waters were filled and timing was quite good overall but it’s hard to go wrong with small plates since you just eat as things show up at the table. And while I’m tempted to try the Momofuku crack pie ice cream sandwich, I’m still recovering from the holidays so we pass! But overall I was pretty impressed with Juju, especially since it’s only been open a short while. Prices are a touch high but about right for this level of service and ambiance, I’d expect to drop $25- $35 per person with a drink before tip and tax. And you know what? It’s worth it since I had a good meal and enjoyed everything around it. There is definitely some juju going on in Durham’s newest Asian fusion restaurant, check ’em out when you get the chance!

Juju Asian Tapas

737 9th Street, Ste 210

Durham, NC 27705

919.286.3555

Location on Google maps

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First Take: H Mart Food Court in Cary for Authentic Asian Eats, Produce and Groceries