Chego | Los Angeles

I have recently hopped aboard the Roy Choi Express. Don’t know what the heck I’m talking about? Well let me explain. My dear friend Cathy and I are making our way through the slew of Roy Choi restaurants scattered around West Los Angeles. Why? Well, we like to eat and we like Roy Choi.  Having both tried his famed Kogi truck many moons ago , we recently came upon the realization that both of us still had yet to explore the Kogi masters brick and mortar restaurants. Cathy was planning a “Roy Choi Restaurant Tour” and I decided to join her journey. And so the Roy Choi Express’ first stop was Chego.

Tucked away in an unassuming strip mall on Overland Blvd in Palms, Chego is a fast casual rice bowl joint. Seating is limited to a few communal tables. They do not offer alcohol but you can bring your own beer and/or wine just be sure to bring your own bottle opener and cups (or be ready to fork over a couple bucks at the liquor store next door). The food is homey and filling. I highly recommend the Chubby Pork Belly, the 5 Flavor Kimchi Sampler and the Ooey Gooey Fries.

When checking out the dessert menu online, I was intrigued by the creative offerings. With names like Pina Krackalada, Rock Yer Road and Siracha Candy Bar how could one not get excited? I was eager to see what playful desserts awaited us. The Pina Krackalada is a spin on Thai mango sticky rice. It is warm, gooey, sweet rice swims in coconut goodness with caramelized pineapple on top. It is sprinkled with crisp rice cereal with gave it a nice light crunch. Everything about this dessert was enjoyable and satisfying. Who doesn’t love sticky rice?

Rock Yer Road was a creative spin on classic rocky road flavors. Chocolate ice cream is covered with brownie bites, caramel and a smathering of whipped marshmallow fluff and topped with a Luxardo cherry. The multitude of textural contras was amazing.

I’m not a big tres leches cake fan so I wasn’t jumping out of my seat when we were gifted Tres Leches cake from Chef Roy Choi. But after one bite I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this tres leches cake. There was nothing boring about this dessert. A confluence of different flavors, some hard to pinpoint but all thoroughly pleasing. In essence it tastes like a lovely Mexican hot chocolate with aromatic cinnamon and plenty of subtle spices. Chocolaty too the core.

Next stop A-Frame.

 

CHEGO 

3300 Overland Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90034
Tue-Sat 5:30PM-11:30PM
(310) 287-0337