Master Kong’s Breakfast

Now that the weather is cooling off, just a friendly reminder that there is more to breakfast and brunch options then fried chicken and waffles, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, and the like. There is also Asian breakfast! One hole in the wall spot which has already gotten much media love and foodie love last year (including WW’s newcomer of the year for 2018) is Master Kong’s. Have you been recently? Here’s a look at some of the items I recommend to warm you up at a Master Kong’s Breakfast.

The location of Master Kong’s is where most of the homey Chinese restaurants are now – SE 82nd, specifically at 8435 SE Division St, 9:30 AM – 9 PM Tuesday-Sunday. You’ll find parking along the streets. Keep your eyes out – the Mr. Kong in the sign name is not that big and there is more emphasis listing some of the food they offer instead on the signage.
Master Kong's Breakfast - Chinese breakfast in Portland

Nothing fancy looking inside in terms of decor, you may even find yourself at communal seatings. Because of the press despite the non-descript exterior Master Kong’s has a reputation so there may be small wait during peak hours. Service can sometimes be a bit languid and require you to flag someone down, but once you put your order in the food is appears quickly, steaming, fresh, comforting.
Master Kong's Breakfast - Chinese breakfast in Portland with steaming dumplings

I’m a fan of wonton noodle soup – it has the best of all worlds, soup, noodles, and dumplings right?
Master Kong's Breakfast - Chinese breakfast in Portland with wonton noodle soup

Don’t miss out on the sauces on the counter by the kitchen to add a few layers of flavors to the soups and dumplings, and especially the congee (like this salted rib congee). Congee is an Asian rice porridge which like oatmeal or grits, benefits from additions. I like additionally ordering the youtiao or fried dough bars to dip into the congee.
Master Kong's Breakfast - Chinese breakfast in Portland with salted rib congee

If you want to eat something with something other then a spoon, get the jianbing – generally like a stuffed crepe but crispier, and here filled generously almost like an Asian burrito.
Master Kong's Breakfast - Chinese breakfast in Portland with jianbing

Have you had Asian breakfast or brunch before?

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Boke Bowl Dim Sum

I only visited once so I don’t think I’m ready to really review the new Boke Bowl dim sum service, which is only a month or so old at this point. However, I thought I’d share a few photos of what some of the possible offerings you would see. Dim Sum is only available at the Boke Bowl West location, which is at 1200 NW 18th (cross street is Northrup, right along the trolley line), and is only served from 11 AM – 3 PM on Saturday and Sundays.

Although dim sum is available, you can also still choose to order from their regular ramen menu and such as well. For a winter special they are offering a duck ramen (which you see here with the add in of fried chicken and their orange dot sauce, a pickled mustard seed in aioli base) and they have a vegetarian ramen option with Caramelized fennel dashi and add in of brined smoked tofu).
Boke BowlDuck ramen which is a winter special ramen, seasonal veggies are the Brussels sprouts and butternut squash. I upgraded the ramen with the add in of fried chicken with their orange dot sauce, pickled mustard seeds in an aioli base sauce .Boke Bowl vegetarians ramen bowl with Caramelized fennel dashi and add in of brined and smoked tofu Boke Bowl Duck ramen which is a winter special ramen, seasonal veggies are the Brussels sprouts and butternut squash. I upgraded the ramen with the add in of fried chicken with their orange dot sauce, pickled mustard seeds in an aioli base sauce

If you haven’t experienced Boke ramen yet, I think it is very tasty especially if you want to take a vegetarian and if you are ok and even want to try a fusion style that is not traditional ramen in any way and set your expectations accordingly. For instance, I always always get the fried chicken add in, not just for the chicken protein but to add the ODS sauce flavor to the bowl.

Reservations and take out are not available for dim sum- and just like most dim sum service, there are carts (two that I saw) that are wheeled around the dining space and as you select from what they have, there may be more replenished into the cart at any time.
Boke Bowl dim sum at Boke Bowl West, only on Sat and Sun 11 - 2, this cart is being pushed and serviced by Boke man Brannon Riceci himself Boke Bowl dim sum at Boke Bowl West, only on Sat and Sun 11 - 2, this cart is being pushed and serviced by Boke man Brannon Riceci himself The steamed dim sum cart at Boke Bowl dim sum at Boke Bowl West

The food plates are simply priced by the size of Small, Medium, and Large, and so a stamp on a dim sum card is how they count and calculate the price of what you have eaten. There is a whole page of cocktails as well.
Menu at Boke Bowl dim sum at Boke Bowl West, only on Sat and Sun 11 - 2 Menu at Boke Bowl dim sum at Boke Bowl West, only on Sat and Sun 11 - 2

And that cocktail list includes this amazing Boke Bloody Mary, which includes Baiju, fennel dashi, fish sauce, lime, tomato, and Boke fried chicken
Boke Bloody Mary with Baiju, fennel dashi, fish sauce, lime, tomato, fried chicken at Boke Bowl dim sum Boke Bloody Mary with Baiju, fennel dashi, fish sauce, lime, tomato, fried chicken at Boke Bowl dim sum

For a simpler cocktail option, you might consider the refreshing Boke Buzz, house bottled and carbonated highballs. There are a few to choose from- this is the Whiskey Coco with bourbon, coconut, lime, and palm sugar
Boke Buzz, house bottled and carbonated highballs, this is the Whiskey Coco with bourbon, coconut, lime, and palm sugar from Boke Bowl

Unlike many dim sum restaurants though, I was really pleased to see there were several dim sum options that are marked as being vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free, which you will not always see! I can never get F to dim sum because there are literally only a handful of options for him usually at a traditional dim sum, but at Boke Bowl Dim Sum half the options are fair game for a vegetarian. Many popular dishes, such as hum bao, lotus wraps, sui mai etc. have both a meat version and a veggie version so your vegetarian can also have a full dim sum experience.

As they wheel the carts around and tell you their options, remember that not all the options may be at one of the carts at once so you probably want to check out the carts more than once to see what is new. You can also ask if there are certain dishes you are looking for and if they are not too in the weeds they may be able to bring it directly to you.

Their take on Chicken and Waffle (gluten free) with yeast rice cake and Boke fried chicken, these disappear quickly from the carts!
Their take on Chicken and Waffle (gluten free) with yeast rice cake and Boke fried chicken at the Boke Bowl dim sum at Boke Bowl West, only on Sat and Sun 11 - 2 Their take on Chicken and Waffle (gluten free) with yeast rice cake and Boke fried chicken at the Boke Bowl dim sum at Boke Bowl West, only on Sat and Sun 11 - 2

Super chubby sui mai dumplings, these are with pork and shrimp, but there is also a vegan vegetable version
Super chubby sui mai Dumplings at Boke Bowl dim sum at Boke Bowl West, only on Sat and Sun 11 - 2

Turnip cakes can either be vegan and gluten free, or get it with ham like this version
Turnip cakes with ham at Boke Bowl dim sum at Boke Bowl West, only on Sat and Sun 11 - 2

Shrimp rice noodles, there are also options of pork or gluten free vegetarian for the filling. On my visit the rice noodles were thick and still tough like they hadn’t been fully cooked, but it was their first weekend of service so I would try it again. There is a tray of various sauces you can add to your food- make sure you are not shy about using it.
Shrimp Rice noodles at Boke Bowl dim sum at Boke Bowl West, only on Sat and Sun 11 - 2 Shrimp Rice noodles at Boke Bowl dim sum at Boke Bowl West, only on Sat and Sun 11 - 2

Lotus Wraps that are streamed and inside have rice and spicy pork, there is also an option with squash that is vegan and gluten free, with mushroom and black bean sauce. They come in square bundles of leaf and string that you unwrap to see this rice and protein mixture inside. The version I had with spicy pork really had a nice kick of heat and I enjoyed it.
Lotus Wrap with spicy pork at Boke Bowl dim sum at Boke Bowl West, only on Sat and Sun 11 - 2

Fried potstickers of pork, cabbage, and ginger
Fried potstickers of pork, cabbage, and ginger at Boke Bowl dim sum at Boke Bowl West, only on Sat and Sun 11 - 2

What do you think of having a dim sum brunch instead of a western brunch – do you do it? What sort of dim sum items do you like to look for? And would you believe I was so into dim sum that I made a photo checklist once (including Cantonese syllables for saying them and a picture from Google images so I could ask for it in case the server didn’t know the English description of it?) here in this a google doc? Food dork alert…

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