Tired of always going to CPK, BJ’s, or Taco Bell? Are you up for a unique and exotic culinary adventure that won’t break the bank? Well, look no further than Westwood’s newest restaurant—ShopHouse. Nestled right among the restaurants on Broxton Avenue, Shop House presents the spicy, the savory, and the bold taste of Southeast Asia in a bowl. The Shop House bowls are made to fit each and every person’s unique tastes. Diners are allowed to choose what they wish to add to their bowls from a variety of different options. Diners are allowed to choose a base (rice, salad, or noodles), a protein (chicken satay, meatballs, organic tofu, or grilled steak laab), vegetables (charred corn, broccoli, eggplant basil, or green beans), a sauce (red curry, green curry, or tamarind vinaigrette), and a garnish (green papaya slaw, pickles, or herb salad). Inspired by local street food shops in Southeast Asia, Shop House delivers the complete culinary experience—complete with a welcoming staff, a warm ambiance, and delicious, healthy food—at a reasonable price. So Osmara, Katie, and Ekta from your HC UCLA staff decided to give it a try! And here’s what they had to say:
HC UCLA Ekta:
For the base, I decided to go with rice noodles. They were soft and didn’t overshadow any of the other flavors I added into the bowl. For the protein I went with half chicken satay and half organic tofu. The chicken had a wonderful smokey flavor and the tofu was a good mix of sweet and spicy. Then I added the charred corn and the tamarind sauce since I’ve never been very good at dealing with spicy. And finally I topped it all off with the green papaya slaw. Overall I think all the flavors in my bowl complimented each other very well. It ended up being a great combination of sweet and spicy which was perfect for me. I also had a chance to try the coconut rice and mango parfait which was fantastic! It reminded me of a quick version of my favorite Thai dessert—sticky rice and mango. The food was great, the staff was extremely welcoming, and the restaurant seemed like a wonderful place to grab dinner with friends. Overall, eating at ShopHouse was a great experience. In fact it was so good, I’ve been back twice already!
HC UCLA Osmara:
The people behind the counter had positive energy when serving my food. The first piece of food I asked for were Chilled Rice Noodles along with steamed Jasmine Rice. This was followed by pork and chicken meatballs and topped with crispy garlic. The server in the end even presented me their Coconut Rice and Mango Parfait, which comes in a small portion, yet very fulfilling. I would definitely recommend the meatballs for their sweet and impeccable taste, really a must have item for every mix you choose. If you have not had Shophouse yet, go with your family and friends to have a great food experience!
HC UCLA Katie:
ShopHouse has a really familiar and friendly environment; laid out in a similar fashion to Chipotle, you can build your meal any way you like.The selection of meats might have been my favorite part. The meatballs were amazing and not too dry, while the chicken was flavorful without being overpowering. There was a TON of food in my bowl – I went in starving and came out stuffed. Everything was packed with flavor (spicy, tangy, or sweet), and the staff was wonderful about recommending different combinations of food.
For more information check out their website: http://shophousekitchen.com/
Pay them a visit (you won’t regret it!): 1059 Broxton Ave Los Angeles, CA (Right next to Ami’s Sushi)