'Street food' stars at Boca eatery
The Palm Beach Post, FOOD & DINING section (02-19-2006)
‘Street food’ stars at Boca eatery - Table Talk by Jan Norris, Palm Beach Post Food Editor
5-Spice opens in Boca
A new type of Asian eatery has opened in Boca Raton, serving what is known as authentic ‘Asian street food.’
5-Spice Asian Street Market is the creation of Sam Hua, who designed this concept. His family has done the traditional Chinese cuisine, he said, but he wanted to do something more authentic.
"This isn’t Asian fusion food. What we’ve done is chosen the most popular street foods in several Asian countries," Hua said.
"For example, from China, the roast meats are the most popular items - so we have flame-roasted chicken and pork; we’ll be adding others. We also have stir-fry noodles − they are very popular street eats. We have ‘river noodles’ − that’s the authentic translation for chow fun − rice-like pasta that’s stir-fried. Singapore noodles are a thin rice noodle, stir-fried with a little curry and lemongrass seasonings; it has a Malaysian and Indian influence."
Several "noodle bowls" represent other countries: pad Thai from Thailand, a soba soup bowl from Japan and Vietnamese Pho.
Some other favorites are made in front of the guests at the cafeteria-style restaurant. "We’ll assemble fresh roast-pork buns, steamed and fried, as you watch. It’s an open kitchen, so you see it all being made in front of you."
Other menu items: Starters of steamed and fried dumplings, lumpias (Filipino spring rolls), and samosas; Vietnamese iced coffee and a variety of loose teas.
Prices are street-food thrifty at $5-$8 for a complete meal. There’s seating inside and out, but no servers − only food runners. Takeout is also available.
5-Spice Asian Street Market
1200 Yamato Road, Boca Raton
(561) 989-1688
Open daily, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
