Chego!
I never had the chance to visit Roy Choi's original Chego! restaurant in Palms. This first sit-down location was closed for renovation, according to the sign, the day I went for lunch though the Kogi BBQ truck was parked and taking orders on the street out front. Days later I read that Choi and his team were busy putting the finishing touches on its new location in Chinatown's Far East Plaza, and it is here I have certainly come to love the procurer of epic, stoner-envy rice bowls on lazy weekend visits. Chego's "L.A. in a rice bowl" concept has been brought to successful fruition and these culture-spanning bowl offerings are a perfect amalgam of powerful yet varied flavors and combinations. Case in point, the "Chubby Pork Belly" bowl pairs unctuous pork belly with kochujang (the red chili-fermented soybean Korean condiment), along with Chinese broccoli, cotija, and peanuts. Ingredients like perfectly fried eggs and kimchi spam make equally delicious and potentially unexpected appearances in these clever bowls, and charred seasonal vegetables allow for a brief respite within these gargantuanly calorie-heavy dishes. Grab a communal picnic table in the center of the plaza, load up on decadent fare like the ooey gooey fries (which frequently top "best loaded french fry" lists!), and work your way through the menu, one creative culinary leviathan at a time!
Shirt: Mantrap 1989 Sex Kitten Tank
Shorts: Loft
Lips: MAC Pro Longwear Lipcolour in Lasting Lust
Ooey Gooey Fries - beer-battered with sour cream sambal, monterey jack and cheddar cheese, cotija, chilies, cilantro, and pickled garlic.
Chubby Pork Belly bowl with kochujang-lacquered Kurobuta rice bowl with fried egg, pickled radishes, water spinach, Chinese broccoli, cotija, and peanuts.
Seasonal vegetables - charred zucchini with salsa verde, salsa azul, parmesan, fried shallots, lemon, and toasted sesame.
Kimchi Spam Bowl with scrambled eggs and baby bok shoy with a touch of butter and toasted sesame.
Sour Cream Hen House - marinated grilled chicken rice bowl with fried egg, Chinese broccoli, sour cream sambal, Thai basil, toasted sesame, and red jalapeño.
