East Side King
Thai Chicken Kara-age – Fried Thigh, Sweet and Spicy Sauce with Thai Herbs and Jalapeno
Beet Home Fries
Tako Taco – Butter Poached Octopus, Tobiko, Moo Shu Wrap, Vegetable Ceviche
Still perplexed by the praise for Qui but hoping to better understand the chef’s roots it was to the South Lamar location of East Side King that I turned, an off-hours visit finding the small space a quarter full with music pumping as staff went about routine tasks while I perused the menu – an eye on signatures, but also on location-specific novelties from the multi-site former food truck. Featuring an eclectic mix of haute-street foods, many a hybrid of philosophies East and West, it was to the tune of three savories that my order eventually settled and delivered all at once a mere fifteen minutes after I took a seat the first question was where to begin – the answer found in the poignant aromatics emitted from fatty Japanese fried chicken rife with heat but tamed by sweet which was immediately more interesting than anything savory I’d experienced for twice the price at Qui just 24 hour prior, a sentiment carried over to the bright and tender octopus in a shell that literally shattered to the tooth if not to the underseasoned and underwhelming fried beets, though a touch of sweet chili tinged fish sauce did help. Perhaps not in tune with Paul Qui’s concept of fusion or perhaps simply expecting too much given his elite status amongst Austin’s best chefs I really can’t say, but left to my own devices I can’t say I’d return to either East Side King or Qui for a full meal – though I’d certainly not turn down a Tako Taco followed by an Aged Cheddar Ice Cream Sandwich provided service was up to snuff.
http://holeinthewallaustin.wordpress.com/esk/
