Chow Down Atlanta

This one’s for my good friend B who loves boba as much as I do.

If you’re like me who scouts streets looking for new places to try then I’m sure you’ve noticed this plaza across from Walmart on Pleasant Hill Road. There was a sketchy restaurant in there that had dark tinted windows called Folk House that only opened late at night. It looked like a scary place catering to men only so I never ventured in there. Late in September, a new bubble tea joint opened in its place. It’s a super cute space where you can hang out, snack, and get your fill on bubble teas.

There aren’t as many flavors of bubble teas as other places but they have the staples. I like that the flavors taste real. And the boba? Sweet and chewy.

Taiwanese snacks cost a mere $2.99 per order. Taiwanese nuggets, chicken wings and sweet potato fries are good options.

Daily specials include sandwiches and rice plates.

They also have Chinese pastries including Wife cakes and buns with savory and sweet fillings. Wife cake, you ask? They’re flat, thin pastries with flaky crust. The inside resembles chewy, dense, firm, mashed potatoes. It’s a traditional cake in Hongkong and mainland China and comes with an assortment of fillings. I have always loved the wintermelon or pork fillings which you can find in Chinese bakeries in town. Here, at Boba Mocha, they usually have pineapple flavor.

It’s a mish-mash of a place that serves Korean pastries supplied by White Windmill, cheesecakes from Cheesecake Factory, ice-cream, and other desserts. If nothing else, it’s a nice and quiet place to sit down.

(Be sure to check-in on foursquare to get 50% off your entire bill.)

Boba Mocha
2628 Pleasant Hill Rd.
Duluth, GA 30096
(678) 367-3757

Technorati Tags: bubble tea, boba, Duluth, Taiwanese, Korean

I started writing the draft for this post five months ago. Got lazy and completely forgot about it. There’s just so many snack houses/bakeries/bubble tea places these days it’s difficult to play favorites. But Lattea is among top on my list.

Open til 3AM on weekends, Lattea provides hungry, bored night owls a place to hang out. And eat. Or drink. What sets this place apart from the rest is one thing: taro bubble tea made from FRESH taro. For those who aren’t familiar, taro is similar to a (purple) potato except a lot starchier. Used in dishes, it makes sauces very thick. I’ve loved taro, oh I don’t know, since I was born maybe? It explains why I’ve visited a popular bubble tea place for taro drinks 44 times in the past 6 months. And that’s not the only bubble tea place I visit on a regular basis! Here at Lattea, fresh taro is boiled for 3-4 hours, mashed, strained, then blended. The taro bubble tea, while ultra thick, starchy, and gritty is so good. So good. You can really taste fresh taro in the drink. I usually call ahead to make sure they process fresh taro before I come in. Like I said, it takes 4 hours.

All the smoothies here are also made with nothing but fresh fruits. Avocado, Watermelon, Kiwi, Mango, Strawberry, Peach are just some of the flavors they come in. Of course, availability depends on what’s in season. They have plenty of avocados and strawberries right now.

There’s another thing you must get here. The Mango Dessert. It’s a syrupy concoction with fresh mangoes, tapioca, and shaved ice. So refreshing and so very good.

There are snacks and hot pots if you need food with your fun drinks. Hot pots include meats of your choice and veggies and noodles in a soothing broth. Snacks include typical Taiwanese snacks: chicken nuggets, fish balls, wings, sausages.

I suggest pairing your drinks with the nuggets and some fries plus the mango dessert. You’ll come out full and refreshed.

Located in the Mall Corners Plaza. Next to Ming’s BBQ 2.

Lattea
2131 Pleasant Hill Rd.
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 622-7613

Technorati Tags: bubble tea, Duluth, hotpot, snacks, Taiwanese

I have been a long-time fan of Quickly ever since I discovered it in Asia many summers ago and in California a few years ago. Quickly first came to Atlanta (inside the Gwinnett Place Mall) in the early 2000s. Much like the first froyo seven years ago, it was ahead of its time and never took off. So I was really happy to see it come back to town. This location is the younger (open since June) but much bigger sister of the original one on BuHi. It has a full kitchen serving Taiwanese snacks, ramen, and stir-fried noodles, in addition to the bubble teas that made it famous.

Quickly is famous for its bubble teas. Although bubble teas have been around Asia forever (I first tasted it when I was 4 in some obscure Asian town being peddled on the streets), the concept of using fancy flavors and adding custard and different kinds of jelly then having the cup sealed is a Taiwanese invention. There are 22 main flavors of bubble teas here. You can mix and match as you wish. Bubble tea is a sweet, flavored, black tea-based drink with tapioca pearls in it. Good bubble tea must be creamy yet light, milky, and with flavors really standing out — a refreshing drink. The tapioca pearls must have a soft exterior and a chewy interior. They must not crumble when you bite on them, and neither should they have a hard, gritty center. Think of the concept as al dente pasta. Oh and by the way, the tapioca pearls at Quickly are boiled with honey instead of just plain water so they have a sweetish flavor as opposed to flavorless tapioca pearls. This is the difference between Taiwanese-style bubble teas versus other versions like the Korean or Vietnamese ones made from powdered flavorings.

my bubble tea collection

While most people have a coffee habit, I have a bubble tea one. I drink it once or twice daily, every single day without fail. All flavors are good here. Current favorites are tapioca, lavender, taro, jasmine, caramel mocha, pudding, and Thai tea. For slush, you have to get the watermelon slush. It’s made with fresh watermelons. Add lychee jelly to it and you’ve got an awesome fresh fruit shake on steroids. Fresh watermelon juice (with pulp) is also a must-try. The flavored black and green teas tend to be cloyingly, syrupy sweet so if you’re not into that like me, I’d completely avoid it.

Now the food. There are only three things you must, must try at this place: first, the Taiwan chicken nuggets. These tender nuggets of chicken are seasoned with a blend of Taiwanese spices (including five-spice), coated with a thin layer of cornstarch, then fried golden. They are the perfect snack and so delicious. A basket for $2.50 can’t be beat either. Get the spicy kind that’s sure to keep you dreaming for more. Add to that some fried sweet potato prepared the same way and you have a perfect pair.

The third thing that you must eat here is the fried rice. This, by far, is the best fried rice in the whole of Atlanta. Surprised? So was I. The rice is moist and very, very tasty. I love the diced napa cabbage in it that creates a wonderful crunch in your mouth. Tender, juicy pieces of meat complete this one-dish meal. Unbelievably good is all I can say.

If you’re looking for mind-blowing ramen, you won’t find it here. What they do have is a will-do-since-you’re-already-here kind of ramen. The broth is thin and bland and the ramen tend to clump to each other. If a quick fix is all you need, then that’s all you’ll get.

This place has a cult following and teens tend to make it a hang out as soon as the sun comes down. As such, expect very long lines once 4PM hits and never lets down til it closes at midnight. Table service is always prompt, attentive, and very courteous. Cash only for bubble teas/drinks. Debit cards accepted for table service/food (upon request).

Quickly Ramen Noodle and Boba Tea
3780 Old Norcross Rd. Ste. 304
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 476-5988

Technorati Tags: tidal, bubble tea, Taiwanese, ramen, noodles, Duluth

I am off to the beach as you read this. Funny, because I don’t really like the sun — I count the freckles on my face everyday and I don’t want to add any new ones– so I’m under a tent wearing a huge hat and caked-on SPF 1,388 all over. I really prefer cold weather, remember? Anyway… there’s this new Taiwanese place on Pleasant Hill right next door to SunO. It opened a little over two weeks ago. It’s a small, nice space with a small menu.

Snacks. Taiwanese restaurants are known for snacks. The snacks here are fantastic. First, the bread. I.LOVE.BREAD. I’ve said it over and over on this blog. I love bread. I spend an obscene amount of money weekly on my ridiculous bread habit. I like yeasty, doughy bread slathered in butter. I forgo desserts for the bread basket. And I love Korean white bread because it’s chewy. Imagine my surprise when I saw three kinds of toast on the menu. I eat their Condensed Milk Toast everyday. Yes, everyday. It’s a thick slice of Korean bread (from the bakery next door) which is baked (not toasted) then topped with the perfect amount of condensed milk. It is heavenly.

But wait. There’s also the Milk toast, topped with butter and condensed milk. And the Chocolate toast, topped with, yes, you guessed it… Nutella!!! So while most people go to a coffee shop to get through the 2PM slump, I come here for a toast. Or two.

Confession: I’ve been eating my toast with a side of Fried Corn The sweet corn here is sooooo good. It’s slightly fried so it has that crunchy exterior. They are then lightly sprinkled with a very subtle five-spice powder. I’m not a fan of five-spice but this one doesn’t have that offensive taste. Winner!

These Fried Sweet Potatoes will blow you away. The sweet potato pieces are lightly battered with tempura batter then fried golden. They are dusted with crack a sweetish-salty, red powder from Taiwan. Omg. So good.

Fried Chicken. The tender, super moist pieces have a very thin but crunchy batter then finished with the same subtle five-spice powder. Perfect snack or appetizer. The Pork is just as good.

There are only two types of main dishes here. The mini shabu-shabu (hotpot) costs $12.95 to $14.95 with your choice of meats or seafood. I’m a big eater so I can finish the entire thing including an appetizer and a toast. But I would think two people can share this and come out really satisfied if they add an appetizer. There are two kinds of broth: the regular and the kimchi. The kimchi broth has a tangy flavor. It is on the watery side which makes it a great version of the real Korean kind — good for the summer as it is not too thick and rich. The pot of broth comes with a huge plate of fresh vegetables: corn, Asian cabbage, Asian broccoli, tomato, mushroom, taro, potato, plus tofu, a meatball, and glass noodles. As with any hotpot, don’t dump everything into the pot so nothing overcooks. Place some of the veggies a bit at a time and add as you eat them. This is a great deal for hotpots considering Korean versions start at $29.

The hot plates, the other main dish, are the perfect lunch option. Sizzling plates with meat and veggies are typical Asian mall food. You can find it in every single mall in Asia. The hot plate consists of a choice of meat topped with light gravy, a side of veggies (corn, peas, carrots, green beans, lima beans), and an egg. Plus a bowl of steamed rice. For $7.95, this meal can’t be beat. Daily hot plates specials only cost $5.95. The Fried Chicken is my favorite here. The cutlet is juicy and tender. The batter is crunchy. The gravy is light and tasty.

Did you know? The bubble teas are also very good here. They are more creamy and have the right amount of sweetness. The tapioca pearls are slightly smaller than other places but they are chewier. I’ve been here four times and I like that you can hang out and drink bubble tea while you work or play on your Mac (or whatever toy you have). Definitely a great addition to the neighborhood.

Special thanks to X1 for the heads up on this place

Mr. Tea House
2570 Pleasant Hill Rd., #104
Duluth, GA 30096
(678) 900-9728
Closed on Tuesdays

Technorati Tags: Taiwanese, Duluth, bubble tea

I’ve been disappointed with Taiwanese places in Atlanta. One serves very inconsistent food and the other one is, well, totally forgettable. When Kan Pai opened, I went a couple of times and tried the meat bowls. I never liked any of them and I still don’t. These bowls are confused — they’re a cross between Japanese and Taiwanese/Chinese flavors and, for me, they just don’t work. Avoid them at all costs.

What is really, really good here, however, are the small plates. The street food items that are common in Taiwan. The Taiwanese sausage is my favorite here. It is slightly sweet and salty, with the texture of firmer kielbasa. It’s served warm, sliced, and with a side of fresh garlic. Skip the garlic and savor the flavor of the sausage. It’s best eaten with steamed rice. Oh, so yummy, I could eat three orders of this.

The Beef Wrap is fantasticness in chewy bites. They come in these thick, chewy, rice flour wrap that’s lightly fried and filled with loads of tasty stir-fried beef, cilantro, and lettuce. It’s like dim sum on steroids.

A Taiwanese street food staple, the Taiwanese Glutinous Meat Ball will make your taste buds so happy. It’s a meat ball — in the sense that the meat is encased in a ball. The ball, a dumpling of sorts, is an extremely sticky, extremely chewy, extremely gelatinous, translucent tapioca flour dough that’s filled with stewed beef. It is topped with sweet chili sauce and a drizzle of sesame oil. The stew is salty-sweet with tender chunks of beef. Aah, this is one tasty street food. And fun to eat, too.

The skewers are Taiwanese style. The meats are lightly flavored with five spice powder and basted with chili-soy sauce similar (but not the same) as teriyaki sauce.

The Braised Beef Noodle soup, the national food of Taiwan, is very good here. The deep broth is the result of many hours of boiling beef. Thick, flat noodles are used which have enough texture for the broth to cling to. Yummy.

Lastly, did you know? Taiwan claims they invented the popular boba aka bubble tea in the late 80s. But I disagree because similar drinks with tapioca balls have been around for ages all over Asia. In any case, I’m warning you. Under no circumstances should you make a mistake in getting a boba here. Don’t. Ever. You’ll regret it. There, I warned you.

Now go get some sausages and beef wraps.

Kan Pai Cafe
3466 Holcomb Bridge Road
Norcross, GA 30092
(770) 840-8999

Technorati Tags: Taiwanese, Holcomb Br, Norcross