UtahDinersGuide.com

During the summer, at one of the festivals in Provo, I ran across a little booth for a new local restaurant called Rooster Dumpling and Noodle Bar. I absolutely love Asian food, but it can be a real challenge to find a place that has tasty, authentic food that isn’t loaded with MSG.

Stemming from my love of food is my love of cooking, and my favorite Asian dish to cook has always been pot stickers. Since dumplings (pot stickers, wontons) are the specialty at Rooster, that is what I decided to try. Let me just say, I was very pleased.

Rooster is located at 163 North University Ave in Provo, right across the street from Communal, and just south of Spark Restaurant Lounge, putting it in the vicinity of some stiff competition, albeit in different cuisine styles. Nevertheless, I think they can compete.

Their dumplings are steamed, and then given a quick pan fry for a nice golden finish. Since I am by no means a vegetarian, I tried two varieties of dumplings, both of which were deliciously meaty.

First up was the Traditional Pork and Chive dumplings served with a delicious dipping sauce, and an apple and red pepper salad with a nice vinaigrette dressing ($9, includes a dozen dumplings and the salad). The sauce was soy based, with a bit of sweet and some spice mixed in. Heavenly!

I also got an order of the Bulgolgi Beef dumplings, served with a thicker, sweeter dipping sauce, and a side salad of cucumbers and red peppers (also $9, includes a dozen dumplings and the salad). You can add an additional 1/2 dozen dumplings to any order for $4 more, which is a great deal.

Everything was delicious, even the cucumber salad (I normally hate cucumbers). The dumplings were perfectly cooked and wonderfully flavorful, though perhaps a tad on the greasy side. The price for the portion size was just right, and a dozen dumplings plus the salad was perfectly filling.

In addition to their dumplings, they also serve a variety of noodle dishes, from Chicken Curry Noodle Soup, grilled lemongrass chicken with pickled greens, chili oil and coconut curry broth ($12), to Zha Jiang Noodles, sweet and spicy pork over wonton noodles with a side of chicken broth ($12).

They also serve a variety of specialty drinks and desserts which looked incredibly tempting. Next time I go, and there will be a next time, I’m definitely giving the Pok Fu Lam Village French Toast a try.

If you love good Asian food, then Rooster Dumpling and Noodle Bar is the place for you.

Guest review by Dan Purdon, Vicarious Gourmet

I recently got the chance to check out Cafe Trendz on Provo’s Center Street.  It’s a new cafe that is actually fused together with Pioneer Bookstore.  It’s a great example of a mutually beneficial business relationship; Cafe Trendz gets that “smart” feeling from the rows upon rows of books that sit on dark wooden shelves all around the walls, and Pioneer Book gets its coolness quotient dramatically raised by the scent of fresh coffee and bistro food that now waft through the halls.  It’s like the feeling you get at Barnes and Noble or Borders, but without the guilt of shopping at a multinational big-box store!

The owner, Tara, greeted me with a smile as I stepped up to the counter and looked over the menu.  Soups, salads, paninis, wraps, and breakfast sandwiches all beckoned to me from the board.  And as if their tempting voices weren’t enough to choose from already, the drink menu added another dilemma for an indecisive person like myself.  There were smoothies, lattes, espressos, hot chocolates, teas, Italian cream sodas, iced everythings, milk steamers, and of course the normal array of bottled drinks.  Wow.  Well it is a cafe, after all.

With some helpful tips from Tara, I finally decided on a Chicken Pesto Panini with a Caesar salad.  Again, being the most indecisive person on earth, I ended up going with two different drinks - a latte and a peaches and cream smoothie.  I watched them grind up the coffee beans and grill the panini behind the counter, my anticipation mounting all the while.  I got my meal and sat down at a table across from a couple of women playing chess.

I bit into the panini and felt the nice crispness of the grilled bread contrast with the warm-and-cheesy filling.  The cheese, chicken, and pesto blended together nicely to deliver a great flavor.  My latte was strong and fresh.  The Caesar salad was a great accompaniment to the sandwich with its tangy dressing and garlic croutons.  And for dessert, my smoothie was nice and balanced - not too sweet, not too bland, and very creamy.  Delicious.

If you’re anywhere in the Provo area for breakfast or lunch, definitely try this place out!  With a relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere, this is a great place to do a business lunch or just read a book with a cup of your favorite beverage. (And trust me, whatever your favorite beverage is, they have it!)

Cafe Trendz - 135 W Center St, Provo

Pricing: Inexpensive, $5-$10 per person.

Guest review by Darlisa Riggs

Tokyo is a new restaurant located right on Lehi’s Main St, just one block West of the post office. It features teppan-style grilling and fresh sushi.

On our first visit to Tokyo (my sister and I), we opted for Jumbo Shrimp and Scallops with fried rice ($18) and Chicken and Scallops with noodles ($18). Not long after we ordered, bowls of a very lightly flavored onion soup were placed in front of us followed by a small salad with a seseme ginger dressing. At our grill was a family of four who were soon served with sushi, freshly made and looking absolutely delicious. There were a couple of other diners at the restaurant and one carry-out, but overall it was quiet. The chef was accomplished and had a good patter which we all enjoyed. We decided that the fried rice was good enough to eat for breakfast and the noodles (which I rarely like) were flavorful and even I liked them. Be prepared to catch flying shrimp at the end of the meal!

On our second visit, which was about two weeks later, all three grills were full with several diners at the sushi booths. Obviously, word is getting out about this place! The chefs and the servers remembered us from our previous visit which was a nice touch. This time we tried the Kani (crab) sushi ($6) which had at least a 4″ piece of crab on it … delicious! For an appetizer, we tried the Chicken Yakitori ($4) which is skewered chicken breast with teriyaki sauce - tender and yummy. For our main course, I chose the Filet Mignon with Shrimp ($20) while my sister had the New York Steak and Scallops ($19). The steaks were tender, perfectly cooked, and melt in your mouth while the shrimp and scallops were tender and juicy. I had the noodles and my sister had the fried rice.

By this time, we were so full that we had to ask for to go boxes but sometime I’m going to have to go back just to try some of the desserts. The Pyramid Noisette is calling my name with chocolate ganache, hazelnut mousseline, and a marble chocolate shell for only $6. Although the ice cream in flavors like green tea, guava, mango, and papaya for $4 sounds good too. Then there’s the cheesecake for $5 and the Chocolate Trilogy for $6. I’m so glad I didn’t make a New Year’s Resolution to go on a diet this year.

The Tokyo has a well rounded menu with sushi prices ranging from $4 to $13 and combos at $18 and $30. The entrees range in price from $10 to $49 (lobster tail) while combination entrees range from $17 to $45 (lobster tail, filet mignon and king crab leg). In addition, there are specials for two that can probably feed four for $53 and $55. There are four items named for local cities, the Lehi Special, the Lehi Roll, the American Fork’s Roll, and the Lehi, Jr.

The children’s menu has smaller sized portions for kids under 12 and includes veggies, soup, and rice from $8-$11.

If you decide to go for lunch, there are several sushi lunch specials with miso soup and two sushi rolls for $9 or you could go for a Bento lunch special with a pot sticker, california roll, rice, and soup of the day with prices ranging from $8 to $10.

Check out Tokyo’s web site for specials and come join in the fun and good food. Let’s keep this wonderful place available for years to come!

Tokyo Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar
127 E Main St Suite G
Lehi, UT
801.768.8875
http://www.TokyoUtah.com
Open 11am-10pm daily

Guest Review by Dan Purdon of Vicarious Gourmet

I recently had the pleasure of trying out family-owned Ernie’s Sports Deli in Orem, a straight-up sports deli with a huge selection of sandwiches.  Sports memorabilia and pictures decorate the walls, and a big-screen TV looks over the dining area, broadcasting the game.  (Whichever one happens to be going on at the time).  Most everyone behind the counter belonged to the same family, who has owned and operated the restaurant for over 10 years.  I had no idea!

I looked over the menu.  They had a large variety of ham, turkey, roast beef, and breaded chicken sandwiches, along with grilled and breakfast sandwiches to choose from.  I finally settled on a classic mix of ingredients in the All-Star: turkey, provolone, bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayo.  There was a mighty tasty-looking chocolate mousse cake beckoning to me from the cooler next to the cash register, so I had to throw a slice of that on, too.  (Don’t judge me).

The hoagie roll was nice and soft.  The warm turkey, melted cheese, and bacon made for a savory combo.  I ordered the half-sandwich, and that together with the chocolate cake filled me up just fine.  The cake was great, too - not too sweet, not too rich, just fluffy chocolaty goodness.

I would definitely recommend Ernie’s as a place for locals to come and chill out with friends while watching the game.  (And eating some all-American sandwiches).  Try the Grilled Steak, the Catcher in the Rye, or the Full Nelson.

Pricing: inexpensive, $5-10 per person

Ernie’s Sports Deli, 182 W Center Street, Orem UT

Here are the top 10 most popular genres of cuisine from 2009 on Utah Diner’s Guide:

1. Italian

2. American

3. Mexican

4. Chinese

5. Japanese

6. Steak Houses

7. Seafood

8. Thai

9. Greek

10. Buffets

Guest review by Dan Purdon, Vicarious Gourmet

I waltzed into the Hot Dog King on State Street in Orem last Saturday evening, ready for some tubesteak smorgasbord.  I was greeted first by the cartoon dog painted on the front window, then by the Hot Dog King himself as I stepped inside.  “King” Charles has been behind the counter every single time I’ve eaten at the Hot Dog King, and he is really the icing on the cake.  (Or the mustard on the hot dog, in this case).  He is one of the friendliest people I have ever had the pleasure of meeting.  He greets everyone who comes in like an old friend, inviting them to kick back at a table and look over the extensive menu.  I get the feeling that he really cares about his craft and his customers.

Now, on to the hot dogs!  You may be asking yourself, “how can you build an entire restaurant around hot dogs?”  Well my friend, I once wondered the same thing!  But one look at the 25+ dogs adorning Hot Dog King’s menu shut me right up.  You have traditional American favorites like the Chicago dog.  Then there are German dogs.  Then add some Brazilian dogs.  Throw in some Mexican and Italian and Greek dogs.  There are even Venezuelan dogs, for crying out loud!  Whatever you are hungry for, you’ll probably find it.

This time I decided to go with the Oklahoma Spicy Dog.  It’s a spicy beef frank adorned with pastrami slices, bacon, jalapeno peppers, chili con carne, cheddar cheese, and BBQ sauce.  This hot dog does not mess around!  By the time I got to the end of this lovely collision of savory-spicy deliciousness, I had chili, cheese, and BBQ sauce all over my hands and face!  Maybe this one is a knife-and-forker.  I got it on a hoagie bun, which had a great chewy texture that I enjoyed a lot.  You can also get it on a “regular” bun, which is shaped like a normal bun, but sized large enough to accommodate the King’s large gourmet dogs.  (You know the dinky hot dog buns you get at the store?  Hot Dog King uses those in kid’s meals - right where they should be!)

So next time you’re milling around State Street in South Orem, drop in and give them a try.  But go for the whole experience, not just for a quick bite of “fast food”.  (You’ll be selling yourself short if you do.)  Go at a time when you can kick back, enjoy a nice bottled soda and savor a tasty gourmet dog.

Hot Dog King - 1708 S. State Street in Orem

Guest review by Dan Purdon, Utah Food Maven

I walked into Shoga this weekend with my wife and some friends, ready for some sweet sushi goodness.  I had been there once before when they first opened, and I thought they had some nice rolls.  Evidently I was right, because they have gotten a lot busier since then!  Because of that, the service was a little slower than our first time, but it still was within reasonable limits.  Here’s a play-by-play of what we got:

Spicy Calamari appetizer - a big, big basket of tempura-style calimari and sweet potato with a sweet chili dipping sauce.  The squid wasn’t rubbery or chewy, and that’s a good sign!

Black Eye Roll and Mango Tango Roll - some tasty and creative sushi rolls.  The “black eye” comes from black tobiko (fish eggs) piled on top of the spicy tuna and unagi roll.  The mango on the other roll added an interesting touch that blended surprisingly well with the unagi, bell peppers and cucumber.

Beef Teriyaki - I was pleasantly surprised when this one came out.  Instead of little scraps of sauce-doused beef over rice (the traditional “American Teriyaki”), it came out as an entire medium-rare steak cut into nicely-sized strips and served over marinated veggies.  And these veggies were GOOD.  Not the normal “I have to eat some of these so the waitress won’t look at me funny” veggies.  These things were so flavorful and savory, I had to eat every last one.  This entree also came with a tasty oriental salad.

Oh, and lest I forget, my friends got a pyramid-shaped hazelnut ganache dessert that looked like a piece of art.  It was beautiful and delicious.

The atmosphere at Shoga is modern yet cozy, and the food is skillfully presented on some very interesting and unique dishware.  (Where do you do your dish shopping, Shoga?  I must know!)

The sushi prices at Shoga are similar to Happy Sumo’s, anywhere from $6 to $15.  I recommend doing what we did - mix up some sushi rolls and entrees to ensure that you leave with your wallet intact and your stomach full and happy.

Pricing: Moderate, $8-20 per entree.

Shoga - 374 East University Parkway in Orem (kitty-corner from University Mall)

Here is an informative article at the Mayo Clinic about how to recognize food poisoning symptoms, and what to do about them: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/food-poisoning/DS00981/DSECTION=symptoms

1. Magleby’s Grill & Oyster Bar
2. Dormie Grill
3. In N Out Burger
4. Pirate Island Pizza
5. Ernie’s Sports Deli
6. Terra Mia
7. Jimmy Johns
8. Brick Oven (St. George)
9. El Pollo Loco
10. Purple Turtle
11. SKipper’s
12. Bombay House
13. Downtown Philly Cheesesteak
14. Applebee’s
15. Guru’s
16. Tacos y Marisco
17. Hapa Grill (Park City)
18. Five Guys (St. George)
19. Nico’s Tacos
20. Sandella’s Flatbread

Sensuous Sandwich is a nice, chill sandwich shop with locations in Orem and Provo.  I go here when I’m in the mood for a straight-up, American style submarine sandwich.  Nothing too fancified, no funky experimental stuff, no vegetables that I’ve never heard of, just tasty subs.  It’s great for when I just need some time to kick back with friends in a casual atmosphere.  And you order by the inch, so you’ll find something to fill you up no matter how hungry you are.

If you find yourself in the mood to go out and prove your carnivorous prowess, you can tackle their 24-inch sub challenge.  If you can finish it in under a half hour, you get your photo taken for the wall of fame, and you receive a T-shirt that entitles you to free drinks whenever you wear it there.  Prices are reasonable at about 5 or 6 dollars for a medium size sandwich and a drink.  To top it off, all of the tables have comics all over them! Under plastic, of course, to avoid inevitable sauce-splashing.  So even if you’re there all by yourself for a lunch break, you’ll still be plenty entertained.

Oh, and it’s a good date place, too - chill, casual, and it has plenty of conversation starters.  In fact, my very first kiss resulted directly from a olive and cream cheese sandwich that was purchased from here.  (Um, long story.  I’ll save that for another time.)
So anyway, yeah, give em a try.

Pricing: Inexpensive, $5-8 per person.

Sensuous Sandwich - 163 West Center Street in Provo, Burlington Coat Factory Center in Orem.