Asian street food unlike any other is served at Fresh Out the Box. Here's what to order
I first met Dung Tran, owner of Fresh Out the Box in Logan Street Market, in March 2021. It had been a year since COVID-19 restaurant shutdowns and restrictions began, and I was excited to be dining out again.
I was also thrilled to discover a place that served loco mocos. Just one bite of the dish made with white rice, a hamburger patty, a sunny-side-up egg, and brown gravy instantly takes me back to Hawaii — and until Tran’s version, I had yet to find one outside of the Aloha State that hit close to home.
A lot has changed since then, so I decided to chat with Tran about everything he’s been up to over the last few years, and what else he has planned. Here’s what I found out.
Fresh Out the Box's newest location is in Beechmont
Tran, whose family emigrated to the U.S. from Vietnam when he was 4 years old, started Fresh Out the Box as a food truck, using a play on the term “fresh off the boat” to name his business.
In June 2021, he opened a physical space in Logan Street Market, and by 2022, Tran had created The StrEatery — a food hall in Beechmont — and opened his second Fresh Out the Box location within it.
“I got the blessing of the owner of Logan Street Market (when) I told him that I planned to open a food hall,” Tran said, adding that the second Fresh Out the Box spot is essentially an extension of the first.
It shares a space with other vendors, all of which are owned by people who live in or are from the neighborhood. These vendors include Str8 Drop Wings, Mochi Dog, Da Tea, and the newest addition, Anko Japanese Kitchen & Sushi.
The bulgogi bowls at Fresh Out the Box are not to be missed
The restaurant’s Asian fusion/street food menu features everything from bibimbap and Buddha bowls to crab rangoon and gyoza. But Tran says customers especially like the garlic noodle fried rice and bulgogi bowls.
“Building your bulgogi bowl is everybody’s favorite,” he told The Courier Journal. “Everybody loves (having) the power to pick what they want.”
The popular bowls can be made with beef, chicken, spicy pork, or tofu, with a choice of up to three sides. Options include kimchi, broccoli, jalapenos, and avocado, to name a few. Guests then select one of seven sauces, plus at least one topping.
Tran adds that though poke bowls are still offered at his Logan Street Market location, they are not available at The StrEatery.
“We don’t have poke bowls here because we have (Anko Japanese Kitchen & Sushi),” he said, “and you can’t beat the sushi that (owner Anh Le) makes. … He has over 10 years of experience in sushi.”
Keep your eyes peeled for specials — including spring roll nights
Monthly spring roll nights give guests the chance to craft their take on the common appetizer dish.
“It’s a version of Vietnamese barbecue — similar to Korean barbecue, where you cook your food,” Tran explained. “The only difference is, ours is based on sauce you dip, rather than marinating the protein. Then you wrap it in rice paper with herbs and everything.”
There are also rotating specials offered weekly — one of which includes my favorite, the loco moco. But Tran says if a guest has a hankering for the savory, hamburger patty dish when it isn’t technically available, they can always ask for it.
“As long as we can (get) the gravy (together) quick enough for them,” he added, “we can probably do it.”
He adds that they also offer loco moco burgers, replacing the traditional two scoops of rice with a bun.
“You get your eggs, (and) the only difference is I (add) sauteed onions — and the gravy just sets it all off. And we add a little pineapple circle to make it nice.”
Order this secret menu item at Fresh Out the Box
Speaking of unlisted menu items, Tran suggests ordering the jerk chicken fried rice, a secret dish that is a collaboration between two vendors at The StrEatery: Fresh out the Box and Str8 Drop Wings.
“Str8 Drop Wings provides the jerk chicken that they marinate,” Tran said. “They always have that, so if somebody comes in and asks, we’ll combine (our dishes). We take a little bit of Caribbean flair (and add it) to traditional fried rice.”
Get ready for The StrEatery's grand opening
Though The StrEatery technically just celebrated its second anniversary on April 1, Tran says he is planning to have a grand opening celebration soon. “Everything was just a project (up until this point),” he said.
In addition to a grand opening bash, Tran is looking to offer other unique specials — including one of which I’m particularly looking forward.
“I want to do a Hawaiian brunch soon,” he said, adding that the mid-morning feast would include Hawaiian fried rice, Spam and eggs, a loco moco, and Hawaiian French toast.
I absolutely love the idea of a Hawaiian brunch and plan to be the first in line when it gets served.
“We get a lot of Hawaiians over here,” Tran said, adding that he and the other vendor owners at The StrEatery are just a group of neighbors trying to support the community.
“One of the fun things that we do is shut down the street for block parties,” he said, explaining that they’ve done it for Halloween but are looking to branch out into other themes.
“We’re (also) trying to do a little Saigon night market for the community,” he said. “This is one of the most diverse neighborhoods, and the Vietnamese community here was one of the (most important) things for me when I grew up — so we’re going to try to get a night market (together) for the (that) community.”
Know a restaurant that would make a great feature? Email writer Lennie Omalza at aloha@lennieomalza.com or Lifestyle Editor Kathryn Gregory at kgregory@gannett.com.
Fresh Out the Box
WHAT: This Asian fusion/street food restaurant serves rice, bento boxes, noodles, and more. It has locations in Logan Street Market and The StrEatery.
WHERE: 1001 Logan St. and 304 W. Woodlawn Ave.
LOGAN STREET MARKET HOURS: Dine-in and carryout; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday; closed Monday
THE STREATERY HOURS: 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday
CONTACT: facebook.com/FOBfoodtruck and louisvillestreatery.com
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Asian fusion street food at Fresh Out the Box restaurant in Louisville
