The Lone Crow -- Union City, CA (Island-inspired cuisine)

A fantastic local hangout spot in this small city. Located at 3821 Smith Street, this small kitchen is attached and partnered with Birdhaus, an outdoor beer garden that slings local craft beers from a modified shipping container, in a relaxing sandy space with picnic tables and string lights. Great for a casual outdoor gathering or a quick and tasty weeknight dinner to go.

https://www.birdhausbeergarden.com/

Here are some of the things I've enjoyed.

Furikake Fries. Crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside, with a dusting of salty, savory seaweed flakes and toasted sesame seeds. These are also normally drizzled with their "haus" chili aioli, but I asked for it on the side. These were highly addictive.

Mochiko Chicken Plate. This was a healthy portion of steamed rice, crunchy, juicy morsels of chicken, kale salad, macaroni salad and house pickles. The sauce over the chicken was a sweet and savory seasoned mayo blended with a bit of chili and, of course, other secret ingredients (their "haus" aioli). The chicken was air dried, then brined with garlic and ginger, fried until crackling crunchy, and had an incredible flavor. The kale salad was lightly dressed in a slightly sweet and vinegary dressing. The macaroni salad had just the right amount of mayo and had a nice creamy texture without being mushy. The "haus" pickles were red peppers, cucumbers and carrots and acted as a fresh, crisp palate cleanser. Definitely a winner.

Garlic Shrimp Plate. Another winning dish of steamed rice, topped with nine jumbo shrimp marinated in white wine, garlic, paprika, chili and onions. The same sweet and savory seasoned mayo dressed them up and the same delicious sides of kale salad, macaroni salad and "haus" pickles were the accompaniments. The shrimp were lightly battered, pan sauteed in flavorful ghee, and required the fun interaction of self-peeling which resulted in finger-linking good flavors. 

Adobo Loco Moco "The Lone Crow". I'm not sure if I've ever met anyone who did not like adobo or loco moco (a Hawaiian favorite). The Lone Crow decided to add their own spin to this dish by marrying the two together in a mashup of savory flavors. It was topped off with a 1/4-pound beef patty, umami-rich sauteed mushrooms, a fried egg, "haus" pickles, and dinner was served. I really enjoyed mixing everything up and devouring each bite with a little of everything. 

This has quickly become a regular spot for me. The balanced dishes, casual location, easy going and friendly service all make this a comfortable lunch or dinner option.