Head over to the Monument for unique Asian entrees
CONCORD, CA (Oct. 12, 2021) — From the Visit Concord folks to Yelp, there is no doubt that the local Taco Trail flows through the predominantly Latino Monument corridor.
With Mexican restaurants on virtually every corner, the Monument has evolved into the center of South of the Border cuisine.
But it’s not as well-known that this same district is home to some of the finest Asian restaurants in the region. One of the best is Korean BBQ Plus at 1450 Monument Blvd. The owners of nearby Hancock Market ran the eatery until 2011, when they sold it to then-waitress June Eim and her family.
With limited capital, this out-of-the-way place made a reputation for serving excellent food while gaining patrons from word-of-mouth advertising. From the kimchi to the unique sauces, every item on the menu is house-made.
You can get your meal started with the presentation of 10-12 small plates of banchan. June’s husband Yoshi prepares it daily. Each item is unique, ranging from kimchi to beans sprouts, pickled Daikon radish, broccoli, fish, potatoes or marinated cucumbers.
For appetizers,you can’t go go wrong with Jab Chae featuring low-calorie yam noodles with beef and vegetables. For larger parties where food is shared, the Hae Mul Pa Jeon pancakes with green onions, scallops and oysters are an excellent choice. Served like a small pizza, this dish is full of exotic flavors not easily found elsewhere. For more conventional tastes, the pot stickers are good as well.
Short ribs sensation
When it comes to the main course, the most popular choice is the short ribs. Served on a sizzling hot stone platter atop sautéed onions, this signature dish is not to be missed. A marinade that includes fresh kiwi and pear brings this dish a delicate quality.
We also sampled the Kim Chi Dol Sot Bi Bim Bob, comprised of a variety of vegetables and mushrooms resting upon a bed of rice with a fried egg underneath. Served on highly heated stoneware, the rice is crispy on the bottom and diners at my table mined scraps from the bottom of the terrine.
Korean BBQ Plus also offers a wide selection of soups and stews that you can eat as a meal. They utilize a variety of fish, shellfish, beef, pork and poultry. This results in multiple choices for their loyal customer base.
“The majority of our clients are Asians and lovers of Korean food who live outside the Monument area,” noted general manager Yuna Takeda.
A blend of Laotian-Thai flavors
A similar scenario exists at Stix Eatery, close by at 1500 Monument A-2. The restaurant recently relocated from Park and Shop.
“We moved over to the Monument because of having to lower our overhead,” said owner Nam Ing, who added that many office workers who used to frequent Stix at Park and Shop now work from home. “Thus far, the gamble has paid off as our loyal customers have followed us.”
Stix offers a unique Laotian twist to Thai food, and their authenticity reminds one of food served in their homeland.
The menu, which lends itself to take-out and delivery, features a unique papaya salad that is tarter than the Thai version. Other dishes feature spicy Lao sausage. The coarsely chopped fatty pork, seasoned with lemongrass, galangal, kaffir lime leaves, shallots, cilantro, chilies and garlic, is a winner.
Stix serves many traditional Thai dishes, including crispy drunken noodles and Pad Thai, while keeping their flair from Laos.
Also located in the neighborhood is Sushi Momoyama, at 1800 Monument. As the oldest Japanese restaurant in Concord, they have found continued success with a combination of high-quality food, large portions and fair prices.
As these Asian restaurants can attest, there is much more in the Monument than tacos.
Rich Eber
Rich Eber is a local journalist and long time resident of Concord. His diverse topics covered go from politics to gourmet food. He can be reached at rjerje@pacbell.net