I tried this new addition to the Square One food court yesterday after seeing it come up on Yelp. Koha Pacific Kitchen has a few dining options that I think would satisfy a range of cravings. The prices range from $5 for baos and about $10-$13 for bowls depending on which one you pick. They have some baos, preset Korean bowl options, preset poke bowls and a build your bowl option. I chose the last option after seeing the size of the baos, which looked like a decent size if I were to get two but it was hard to resist the idea of picking the toppings and sauces that I wanted.
I picked purple rice for my base (you can pick 2 kinds if you want), ribeye steak bulgogi for protein, then 3 veggies (edamame, kimchi, pineapple salsa), toppings (sesame seeds, crispy onions, cilantro), as well as spicy mayo and some kind of sweet chili sauce. It was about $13 something including tax for a decent portion. It was presented nicely inside the takeout box and looked really appetizing. Upon taking my first few bites of it, I noticed right away how fresh it all tasted. The different flavours worked well together from the sweet marinade on the bulgogi, to that distinct kimchi flavour, the tanginess of the pineapple salsa, crisp of the onions, to the blend of the sauces. I was definitely happy with my dinner choice!
In terms of portion size that you get, I was really hungry so I found that it was enough for me but it may not be filling enough for someone that eats larger portions (ex: hubby dearest). I think that the one con in terms of portions is that Basil Box has the same concept of building your own bowl but their portions are almost double this place's bowl portions for the same price and you can pick more than 3 toppings. Just something to keep in mind for those who consider value when deciding what to eat from the food court. This place is great though if you want something different than some of the other standard food court offerings which was the case with me yesterday evening.
The verdict? Worth trying if you're at Square One! I'll definitely be back to try some more of their other offerings. read more