Rice Box Kitchen -- Reno, NV (Asian-Inspired Comfort Food)

As a lover of all types of cuisine, my nearest and dearest is Asian food, because that is the food I grew up eating. I am always happy to see variety and different options of Asian cuisine wherever I travel and where I live, as there is so much to learn and enjoy in this one category alone. 

Located at 555 South Virginia Street, #103 is a very approachable, Asian fusion establishment that is inspired by the cuisine of Thailand, China and Japan. This is my newly discovered option for a quick in house or to-go meal that is made by warm, friendly, always smiling and incredibly welcoming staff in a design-centric space with elements of light and dark. 

During my first visit for a to-go meal, I ended up chatting with the very down-to-Earth and San Francisco transplant owner, who reminded me of the fun and friendly people I grew up with during my time living in San Francisco. After this pleasant exchange, I left with my food and a smile on my face.

https://www.riceboxkitchen.com/

Here are some of the things I've enjoyed.

Chicken Dumplings. Only available on the weekend Dim Sum menu, these were filled with ground chicken and seasoned with green onion and ginger. The wrappers were thin and chewy, as they should be, and the fillings were juicy and satisfying. These were savory and addictively pop-able. 

Pork Dumplings. Also only available on the weekend Dim Sum menu, these little morsels were filled with succulent ground pork. This can work as a wonderfully flavorful appetizer or as part of a weekend brunch meal.

Thai Tamales. This is the first time I've seen tamales made with Asian flavors. There was a lovely coconut fragrance, and I can only guess that coconut milk was used in the masa and/or to cook the moist, shredded chicken encased inside. The red curry sauce was a little sweet, a little savory, a little spicy and did a wonderful job to enhance the flavor of each bite. I very much enjoyed this.

Khao Moo Dang. A generous portion of pork and rice, smothered in a sweet and savory sauce. The pork was expertly roasted until tender but still toothsome and the sweet jasmine rice soaked up the sauce very nicely. The side of black vinegar mixed with soy sauce and chili can be used to add dimension to the dish and I also enjoyed it as a dip for my perfectly medium-boiled egg and fresh cucumber between bites of rice and pork.

Mochi Bars. Great as a teatime snack or after dinner treat, the ube (left) and vanilla (right) mochi bars were perfectly sweet without being overpowering, chewy and moist. These would be wonderful for a party.

The expanding menu and fun presentations keep me coming back to see what may have changed and also for the standard items that I now need as staples in my regular meal planning. I would encourage anyone to visit for what I would consider comfort food.

Los Chilaquiles Mexican Breakfast -- Reno, NV (Mexican cuisine)

When I want to feel nurtured, visiting a family owned and operated restaurant like this one, makes me feel warm and refreshed. It's evident that "care" and "love" are key ingredients in all the dishes here and there are no details overlooked, even down to the earthenware serving dishes and painted coffee mugs. 

It is also nice to see the workers hug each other when they arrive to start their shift. I love noticing these little things. A great place to work usually indicates happy workers, which results in good food and happy customers. 

Located at 3380 South McCarran Blvd., this is another establishment to add to Reno's growing list of wonderful places to experience.

http://orderloschilaquilesmexicanbreakfast.com/

Here are some of the things I've enjoyed.

Molletes. Soft but sturdy house made telera bread was smeared with savory refried black beans, then topped with queso fresco, pico de gallo, Mexican crema, and a colorful dot of fresh chili. This was placed on our table before we ordered any food and was a nice start to the meal.

Cafe de Olla. A charming setup with a vintage enamelware pitcher full of hot, freshly brewed coffee, an adorable painted coffee cup, along with hefty sticks of real Mexican cinnamon and sugar. Once I added the cinnamon to my cup and poured the hot coffee over it, the cinnamon-infused coffee had a wonderful warm flavor and comforting aroma.

Salsa Verde & Salsa Roja. These house made salsas were automatically placed on the table once we were seated, so there was no need to ask for salsa. The green one was tangy and fresh from the tomatillos and the red one was a little spicy and savory. Both added dimension and variety to each bite of the dishes we ordered.

Burrito, picture 1. Customizable, this became a breakfast burrito stuffed with scrambled eggs, chorizo, black beans and melted, gooey cheese. The homestyle potatoes were a nice touch, albeit unnecessary, given the enormous size of this burrito. Leftovers were very much enjoyed later.

Burrito, picture 2. Every fork full was magic.

Black Beans. The accompaniment to my Chilaquiles Los Moles. One can always tell the pride of a Latin restaurant by the quality of their refried beans. These were savory, but also a bit sweet, aromatic and balanced with a small dose of pickled onion, pico de gallo and cheese. Simple to look at but complex in flavor. This bowl was scrapped clean.

Chilaquiles Los Moles. This hearty portion had crispy tortilla chips, smothered in a mildly sweet, earthy, complex and comforting mole sauce. The homestyle potatoes were savory and the over easy eggs (customizable) were cooked perfectly. I was very impressed with the freshly made cheese, which had a nice squeaky texture but tasted a bit like feta. As their namesake dish, I will definitely order from their many chilaquiles options again. 

Tamales. This was the cheese and jalapeno filling. Other options were pork or chicken, which I'm sure would have been delicious as well. The presentation was beautiful, the lettuce leaf acting as a bowl for the tangy and fresh pico de gallo was a nice touch, and the tamale itself was exceptional. The masa was moist, tender, full of flavor and could have been eaten con nada (with nothing). But the enhancements of the savory verde sauce, gooey cheese and slightly spicy jalapenos made this plate divine. 

Conchas. As if all the food from the meal was not enough, we were given one last parting gift of a sweet treat of Mexican bread. It was just as it should be, a bit crumbly, buttery and not too sweet. This was great the next day with my leftover coffee.

There are quite a few Mexican/Latin American options in the Reno area, but not all are created equal. I felt great after leaving here, both in my soul and my stomach. I would recommend this place to anyone who enjoys good food and good vibes.