Soho Gastropub

BY JOSHUA HOCKETT

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OK folks, let me tell you right now that you’re in for a roller coaster ride for this one! When I saw fusion, I mean not just a place that offers two types of menu items from two different cuisine as often can be found. That’s not true fusion as I see it! A place like SOHO—now that defines the term! Your eyes and tongue will tell you the same! A place that is truly fusing 2-3 different types of traditional cusines into dishes that are starkly different. They are familiar enough to know what you have in front of you and you are more than eager to dive in and try it out! That was my experience with my recent visit to SOHO. One moment I am seeing and tasting Korean food and the next, I taste a bit more Mexican food. Then Its Chinese food with a classic gyoza only to leap over to a Mexican/Korean plate of what looks like carne asada fries. But it is so much more!

Fried Chicken Sandwich

I lock and load in my seat ready for what Chef Anthony tells me will be a meal unlike any I have had before! Obviously, he sets the bar high! He delivers on that promise with my first plate. A Korean fried chicken, garlic aioli, fried egg, apple brined kimchi slaw, fries, and cheese sauce on a soft baked bun. Stunning job with this one! The batter is amazingly well flavored with moist chicken. But the apple brined kimchi will get you saying…wow that’s different!

Pork Belly Bahn Mi

I figured this would be like any other banh mi I have had before—good but not anything crazy! I was wrong! The simple garnish to this already well prepared flavorful meat is all it took to make this sucker work magic in my mouth! Braised pork, pickled veggies, and Jalapeño cilantro on a crunchy roll.

SOHO Fries

A mound of fries, tots, bulgogi braised beef short rib, bourbon blue cheese, spicy aioli, and cojita. It may look like your typical carne asada fries, but do not let that fool you. The cheese sauce and short rib topping set this one far apart! The short rib melts in your mouth with a sweet flavor blast. The tots and fries add a nice salty kick! The cheese sauce balances out both. Trifecta!

Oaxacan Drunken Noodles 

Let me say that I am a big drunken noodle fan! I have had and loved many! This one looked the same as any other good dish. However, that changed! Upon my first bite! The unique mole sauce Anthony uses in this dish has you tasting Mexico while you’re eating a Korean staple noodle dish. Its wack in a god way! A must try for the Korean noodle lover! A Masterful blend of ground pork and beef, baby corn, bok choy and an outstanding mole sauce!

Pho Burger Sliders

Blend of ground chuck/brisket/short rib patty, garlic hoisin aioli, pickled cucumber, Thai basil, bean sprouts, cilantro, and Jalapeno. They may look cute, but boy do they deliver like a boss on flavor! The super tender and flavorful meat patty garnished with just the right types of items to bolster flavor but not get too complicated. They go down so easy that it may be the best appetizer to get with a good drink at the bar as I see it.

Papaya Salad

A heap of shaved green papaya, shredded carrots, celery, cucumber, all topped with fried tofu and shallot and peanuts. This dish not only looks awesome with its bright colors, but it tastes every bit as refreshing and healthy as it looks as well. A great light option packed with flavor to start off a series of appetizers or to prime yourself for a main entrée. Perfect blend of sweetness, tartness and citrus done in a unique Korean way with the peanuts and fried onion garnish.

Salt & Pepper Calamari

Lightly fried with a perfect blend of scallion, ginger, garlic, red chili, and preserved lemon. If I was not careful I could have made a meal of this dish alone. No joke! Addicting does not qualify how good these are! Super tender calamari are perfectly battered with an amazing salt and pepper blend. Not overly salty or oily!

Mushroom Gyoza

Pickled mushrooms, coconut poblano puree, chili threads. This was my FIRST time ever having gyoza before. I just never had interest in trying it. Let me say that I do now! These things are awesome! Texture, flavor—all of it is amazing! Melt in your mouth bite sized morsels of Chinese goodness. I am told that if I like the mushroom version I will go bonkers for the meat filled types. Guess who is coming back for those asap!?

Overall, I found this place to be truy unique in its vibe, menu and its Chefs intent. Chef Anthony could walk me through every single dish I had regarding what was in it, how it was prepared, and why it was prepared that way…  Chef Anthony is truly in touch with his menu! You won’t find anything typical about SOHO. You’re going to find what looks and sounds pretty traditional, but your tongue and nose are gonna get a few surprises for sure! So what ya waiting for? Go on and see for yourself as these Good Eats await you!

 

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Mains
Fried Chicken Sandwich
Marinated chicken, thai basil goddesss gressing

Pork Belly Bahn Mi
Cola braised pork, red cabbage slaw, hoisin aioli

SOHO Fries
Fries, tots, braised short rib, bourbon blue cheese, spicy aioli

Oaxacan Drunken Noodles
Ground pork and beef, baby carrot spigarello, mole sauce, comichon corn

Pho Burger
Japanese wagyu beef patty, garlic hoisin aioli, bean sprouts, cilantro, onion

Bar Menu
Togarashi Calamari
Preserved lemon, kimchi remy, garlic chips

Mushroom Gyoza
Pickled mushrooms, coconut poblano puree, chili threads