Hakkachow

Located at 615 St. George Square Court in Winston-Salem, Hakkachow offers Asian fusion cuisine for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. There is a full bar as well as daily drink specials. Online ordering and online reservations are available.

 

Much like Phoenix Asian Cuisine in Greensboro, Hakkachow calls to mind a non-corporate P.F. Chang’s, only better. The restaurant is modern and spacious with plenty of seating to go around. The menu skews Chinese though there are Korean and Thai offerings as well as a sushi/poke menu as well. While there is something to be said for the comfort of familiarity, that menu, save for a few of the sushi rolls, offers no surprises. Everything you’ll find here, you’ve likely already had elsewhere.

 

My wife and I opted to start with one of the unique rolls (Cajun Revolution: tempura shrimp, cream cheese, and jalapeno inside/Cajun salmon, tuna, yellowtail, crispy shallot, aioli, and eel sauce outside), followed by a veggie fried rice (with homemade chili oil) and Singapore noodles, respectively. Our app came quickly, and we didn’t have long to wait for our entrees either though service slowed considerably as the restaurant got busier. However, our server remained courteous, apologetic, and unflappably professional through it all.

 

The kitchen proved to be on its game as well. On paper, the Cajun Revolution seemed almost too much, but it made for a tasty bite: spicy, crunchy, and flavorful. Singapore noodles are one of my go-to dishes for Chinese and Asian fusion, and Hakkachow’s version didn’t disappoint. While not the best I’ve had, the composition, flavors, and aroma were all there. The fried rice was likewise well-executed, and it contained a variety of veggies, but it wasn’t leaps and bounds ahead of what you can get elsewhere.

 

Hakkachow’s entrees run large, which helps take the sting out of the mid-teens pricing. On the one hand, that is hardly unreasonable for a nice meal out. On the other hand, depending on how you feel about your favorite Chinese takeout joint, the extent to which Hakkachow’s food surpasses it may or may not justify the extent to which Hakkachow’s prices do.

 

All told, Hakkachow promises competently made food in a pleasant environment. It might lack a distinctive “wow” factor, but it doesn’t seem likely to let you down, either. 

68 Bagel & Grill

 

Located at 1116 Eastchester Drive Suite 112 in High Point, 68 Deli Bagel & Grill serves breakfasts, bagels, and sandwiches. It is open from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. Online ordering is available.

 

The newest addition to Centre Stage plaza, 68 Bagel & Grill is a bit of a headscratcher. The name suggests a location further up Eastchester past the Palladium, and a more established bagel shop is less than a mile away. This bafflement aside, 68 Bagel & Grill does have several things going for it. It’s spacious and clean, the staff is courteous, and there are more menu options than you’d expect. Like the other are bagel shops, 68 offers bagels with various spreads, breakfast sandwiches, and lunch sandwiches. To those, they add French toasts (including stuffed), pancakes, and omelets. The ability to get a more-than-a-sandwich breakfast without the bustle of a diner is a definite draw. The fact that they use Giacomo’s meats is another perk in their favor.

 

For my first visit, I picked up a Jersey Shore (Taylor ham/egg/cheese) on an everything bagel to go. The sandwich was prepped quickly, and the pricing was fair. The melty cheese/salty meat combination hit all the right flavor notes. The bagel, however, was chewier and breadier than a true New York style, and the texture seemed a bit off. They make them in-house rather than using New Garden as a supplier, so they get points for effort at least.

 

If getting your hands on a great bagel is your only concern, you’re probably better served going down the street. However, if you value ambiance, customer service, variety, or aren’t seeking bagel supremacy, 68 Bagel & Grill makes for an attractive breakfast or lunch option.

Inka Grill

 

Located at 214 South Elm Street in Downtown Greensboro, Inka Grill offers Peruvian cuisine for lunch and dinner. It is open from 11-9 Monday-Thursday, 11-10 Friday and Saturday, and 11-8 on Sunday. Alcohol is available, and tables can be reserved online.

 

Inka Grill had been on my to-try list for some time, but my wife and I ended up here almost accidentally when the last food truck festival proved to be too chaotic. I’m glad that we did as it made for a good though not outstanding meal.

 

Inka Grill’s menu boasts traditional Peruvian steak, seafood, and chicken dishes, chaufas (fried rices), and ceviches as well as a few Italian-inspired items. There’s a lot to choose from if you’ve an omnivore, but vegetarians may be at a loss here. A complementary offering of toasted corn for the table was a nice touch.

 

My wife and I went with a yucca starter, a frijol con seco, and a lomo saltado. The yucca came in rolls that were nicely browned and crispy on the outside. The accompanying huancaina sauce was creamy and added a welcome bit of spice (which was disappointingly missing from an aji verde sauce). The steak in the lomo saltado was perfectly cooked and flavorful, and its accompanying vegetables were vibrant and nicely grilled. The tacu tacu (a Peruvian take on refried beans) in the frijol con seco was a first for us, and we enjoyed it. However, the meat in that dish was more akin to pot roast than steak, which we were not expecting. Both dishes were also quite salty.

 

Our visit occurred at an off-peak hour (before 5 on a Sunday), and Ismael provided excellent service at the start of the meal. Once 5 p.m. arrived and the restaurant began to fill, however, staff began to seem a bit overwhelmed.

 

All told, Inka Grill, while solid, wasn’t quite the “wow” I was expecting. However, the steak at least did reach that level for me, and the breadth of the menu suggests that there are other dishes that can as well.

La Cocina de Mama

Located at 1002 Gardner Hill Drive in Jamestown, La Cocina de Mama serves Dominican cuisine. It is open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 8 to 8 on Sunday.

 

I was thrilled to see La Cocina de Mama open up right near my work. Having tried them for both lunch and breakfast, I can easily see myself becoming a regular here. Like any brand new restaurant, they are still ironing a few things out, but on food alone, they are off to a very strong start.

 La Cocina de Mama’s offerings run the gamut from breakfasts (egg/fried cheese/salami paired with different sides) to sandwiches, empanadas, and mofongos (fried and mashed plantains) to beef/chicken/fish entrees and more. They offer several juices and coffees as well.

 

So far, the food has been very good. I stopped by for lunch to go on my first visit and had a Cuban sandwich and a morir sonando (orange juice, milk, and ice). The Cuban was not the traditional Cubano, and if you come looking for pickles and mustard in a sandwich pressed on a plancha, you may be disappointed. Taken on its own terms, however, the sandwich was still quite tasty. The pork was tender, and the thicker bread held everything in nicely. It came with a side of thin, well-salted fries that were miles ahead of a frozen offering. The morrir sonando was creamy and refreshing. 

For my second visit, I dined in for breakfast and went with a mangu (the aforementioned breakfast ingredients with mashed plantains and pickled onions) and a passionfruit juice. Though I might request eggs scrambled rather than fried in the future, everything on that plate was delicious. The plantains were hearty without feeling heavy. The Dominican salami reminded me of Taylor ham, only better (sorry, fellow New Jersians). Juices seem to be a house specialty here as the passionfruit did not disappoint.

 

The folks who run this place are friendly, and the pricing is quite reasonable given the quality and quantity of the food. That said, “good food takes time” definitely applies here, so you may be in for a bit of a wait. If dining in, you can at least take in some of the ambiance (interesting wall art and a pool table in a corner) while you do.

 

All told, La Cocina de Mama is a welcome change of pace for not only the cuisine that it offers but also the care with which it is made.

Island Fest

 

Located at 130 West Lexington Avenue in Uptowne High Point, Island Fest serves Jamaican cuisine for lunch and dinner. It is open from 11-7:30 Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, 11-9 Friday and Saturday, and closed on Monday. Online ordering is available through Uber Eats.

 

While the Khrissy’s Kitchen truck makes its rounds at Brown Truck fairly regularly, High Point was without a Jamaican restaurant until Island Fest recently opened its doors. It’s a welcome addition, and while it has room to grow and improve, there’s reason enough to be hopeful.

 

Housed in the former Lone Star Burger (they kept the cow out front and adorned it with a Jamaican flag), Island Fest is geared toward takeout and quick service. Dining in is an option, and the folks here seem friendly, but you’re coming for the food, not the ambiance.

 

Speaking of the food, the offerings here aren’t as extensive as they are at Da Reggae Café, but if you have a Jamaican craving, you’ll likely find something that can satisfy it. Entrees range from jerks and curries to fried fish to brown stew beef, quick bites include various patties and coco bread, and sides cover the requisite rice and peas, cabbage, and plantains as well as mac and cheese.

 

They were out of curry shrimp when I placed my order, so I went with fried red snapper in its stead along with jerk chicken, a beef patty, and coco bread. The entrees are available in smaller and larger sizes and include rice and plantains. My wife and I were hoping to get several meals out of our order and did so for under $50. While Island Fest’s early reviews complained about portion sizes, the larger-sized entrees left no room for complaint on that end.

 

The food was a bit uneven, but there were more bright spots than disappointments. Thankfully, Island Fest does not tone itself down for mass appeal: the beef patty and jerk chicken brought a welcome bit of heat. The snapper was nicely breaded and paired well with a peppery barbecue sauce. Speaking of sauces, Island Fest lets you pick a gravy for your rice. We got to try both the curry and the oxtail gravies, and both were delicious. While the rice was a top-tier side, the cabbage and coco bread were forgettable, and the sweet plantains weren’t particularly sweet.

 

Island Fest’s early offerings are promising, and more may be on the horizon. As-is, this probably isn’t the best Jamaican food you’ve had, but the entrees and sauces can hold their own.

California Burritos

 

Located at 2107 Kirkwood Drive in High Point, California Burritos offers Mexican cuisine from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily. Online ordering and delivery (via DoorDash or Uber Eats) are available. Three for $9.99 tacos are offered on Tuesdays.

 

The High Point offshoot of a Burlington eatery, California Burritos calls to mind the apex version of a national chain. Like a Chipotle or a Moe’s, it offers convenient ordering and lots of customizability. However, its ingredient quality and Californian branding help set it apart.

 

Though its concept is straightforward, California Burritos offers more than its namesake. You can get a burrito with your choice of meat and fillings, but you can also get bowls, tacos, quesadillas, and even carne asada fries. The offerings extend beyond the expected beef/steak/chicken/carnitas to include birria, shrimp, and even crispy fish tacos.

 

My wife and I opted for a carnitas quesadilla and a steak burrito for pickup. I was greeted upon arrival, and my order was ready to go. Though I didn’t linger long, I can say that the restaurant seemed bright and clean. The sound of sizzling meat made me feel like I’d made a good decision.

 

Indeed, the food did not disappoint. Both items were generously sized and well put together. I got a good two-thirds of the way through the burrito before it neared collapse. The ingredients tasted fresh.

 

At $11 and $12 (before factoring in a guac upcharge), California Burritos runs a bit higher than its competition, but it’s a worthwhile tradeoff for the portion and quality of the food. It probably won’t supplant your favorite Mexican spot, but as fast casual options go, you really couldn’t ask for better.

Aqui es Mexico Cocina Mexicana

 

Located at 1800 Westchester Drive in High Point, Aqui es Mexico offers Mexican cuisine for lunch and dinner. It is open from 11-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday and 11-2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday. There is a full bar, food specials change daily, and both outdoor seating and online ordering are available.

 

When Aqui es Mexico succeeded Guacamole at this location last year, one thing became clear not long thereafter: this place is different. Aqui es Mexico offers both traditional dishes not always available elsewhere as well as interesting fusion offerings such as Mexican sushi. Add to that an active social media presence and some tantalizing specials (i.e. $5 Wednesdays or half-priced app Fridays), and if nothing else, Aqui es Mexico deserves credit for trying to separate itself from the pack.

 

My wife and I visited on a Friday night to find the place busy, but given how big the restaurant is, we had no trouble getting a table. Colorful murals adorned the walls, and the atmosphere can best be described as lively. The music is loud, but unless someone is celebrating a birthday (they go all-out in recognizing that here), it isn’t overwhelming.

 

The menu is extensive, and I appreciated the page’s worth of seafood offerings. Whether you’re in the mood for the tried and true (burritos/tacos/fajitas) or want to try something different (the aforementioned sushi, several different molcajetes, more margarita variations than you knew existed), Aqi es Mexico has you covered. Hungry and eyeing leftovers, we went with an empanadas starter, carnitas, and cochinita pibil.

 

Beto provided excellent service throughout the meal, and the kitchen was impressively fast and efficient. Though it was a busy night, we got our food quickly. The pricing was moderate – entrees in the teens – and we got a good amount of food for our money.

 

For as much thought went into the menu and décor here, it’s unfortunate that the food wasn’t as impressive. Our empanadas (two beef and two chicken) looked great as they were fried to a golden brown. The beef were tasty, but the chicken were decidedly bland. The cochinita pibil was nicely sauced though not as intensely flavored as I’ve had elsewhere. Ditto the carnitas, which were appealingly crispy on the outside but underseasoned. The sides were your standard rice/beans/salad, akin to what you’d find in many Mexican restaurants in the area.

 

Because nearly everything else – service, ambiance, menu variety – was a plus here, I definitely wouldn’t rule out a return to Aqui es Mexico. Here’s hoping they can up their seasoning game.