Kolachi Wa
Posted on | March 22, 2007 at 5:44 pm | 3 Comments
I likes me my food. When I find something good, I stick with it. I’m not big on variety. Two of my current obsessions on the restaurant scene are two localized mini-chains.
First up is Tokyo Joe’s (nsfw warning: music plays automatically on web page). Like fellow “fast-casual” eatery Chipotle (which I also love), it was born in Colorado. But unlike Chipotle, the chain has yet to expand beyond the state, even though it’s been around since 1996 and new locations are opening up all the time in Colorado. I used to have to get my Tokyo Joe’s fix by going to the one next to the movie theater I frequent (about 10 minutes away or so), but TJ outposts have recently opened up near where I work and where I live. It’s almost too much – the temptation to eat there all the time is overwhelming. On the surface, TJ’s appears to be a typical Japanese rice/noodle bowl type place, but it’s really so much more, as detailed in this Westword review. The ingredients and food are fresh and of very high quality. The menu has a lot of variety and is pretty good for the health-conscious consumer. I am addicted to the regular White Chicken Bowl with curry sauce, broccoli and udon noodles, and a side of gyoza. Though I will occasionally sample other items. It appears that you must have piercings, tattoos, and a willingness to wear all-black clothing in order to work at Tokyo Joe’s, though I’m not sure that’s a bad thing. It makes a trip down there even more entertaining.
Second is Kolache Factory. This is actually a Texas-based chain that has a few locations outside of the Lone Star State, including one in the Denver metro area. The main draw here is the titular pastry, which is a slightly sweet roll filled with any number of interesting fillings (meat, cheese, egg, fruit, etc.). They are wonderful. It’s a good place to go for breakfast, though snacks, lunch and dinners are not out of line there. I love the Ham & Cheese Kolaches, where the ham consists of soft, flakey chunks (though not spam-like) and the cheese appears to be in the dough of the roll rather than as a separate filling. The perfect breakfast food. I also like that they have a number of selections containing jalapenos, since I do like my food spicy. They will frequently be out of the most popular items in the morning (like the sausage, egg & cheese ones), because people will come in and buy a dozen for their office.
Luckily, the Kolache Factory is not really on my usual way to work, so I’m not tempted to stop there every day. However, it is close to a highway that is my main route downtown, and I do occasionally have reason to go that way on some mornings and at those times I’m likely to stop there. And DANGER DANGER the office I work in is moving downtown in a few weeks. How am I going to be able to resist on the daily commute? Guess I’ll have to take the bus. (And yes, there’s a Tokyo Joe’s near the new office.) The solo KF location also shares a building with a Starbucks, so the facility and access to it is extremely crowded in the morning, though most of the people are patronizing the Starbucks instead of the KF. That’s okay – more pastry-y goodness for moi.
I hope that you people in other states get to experience these chains soon!
Latre.
Comments
3 Responses to “Kolachi Wa”
March 23rd, 2007 @ 10:09 am
Kolache Factory sounds like it’s worth the trip, but my commiserations on your new commute. Looks like the 2X would take you from Yale and Bear Creek to the Civic Center Station, but the last one is at 6:53 and that may be too early (Yes, I’m a bus geek).
March 23rd, 2007 @ 10:18 am
Yeah, that’s a bit early for me, especially if I still want to run. I’m thinking of taking the 6X from Cold Springs at 6th & Union (and either driving there or taking a local from Yale & Bear Creek). My ultimate destination is near 5th & Sherman.
March 23rd, 2007 @ 10:41 am
I am automatically prejudiced against any eatery with the word “factory” in its name.