QUICK BITES: New Asian Cuisine, ‘Custard Corner,’ and More

As of late July, Chako Korean BBQ & Hot Pot is open at the Oakwood Mall. (Photos via Facebook)

Chako is officially open.

It finally happened: Oakwood Mall’s long-anticipated Korean barbecue and hot pot restaurant, Chako, is open (4800 Golf Rd., Eau Claire). The new all-you-can-eat joint is located in what was formerly T.G.I. Friday’s and brings a true sit-down restaurant back to the Eau Claire mall. Patrons can enjoy Korean barbecue or hot pot – or both options, for $3 more – for lunch (Monday-Friday, open to 4pm) and dinner (Monday-Friday, 4pm-close). The barbecue menu features beef, pork and chicken, vegetable, and seafood sections to choose from, while the hot pot menu features sliced meat, seafood, soybean, additional meats/sides, vegetables, and noodle/rice sections. So, go ahead and dive into Chako – we’ve been waiting!

Gyro King’s new ownership – a team of three, two of which are UW-Eau Claire students or graduates. (Photos via Facebook)

And so is Gyro King, now with new owners.

About a year or so ago, longtime Water Street joint Gyro King went up for sale. You can still enjoy the gyro goodness – Gyro King (320 Water St., Eau Claire) now has new local ownership (three individuals, to be exact). Boasting a “freshened up” space – a renovation resulted in new flooring, a new ordering counter, and a finished bathroom – and slightly changed menu, the owners say the same beloved gyros and rice bowls are still up for grabs. Check it out yourself on Thursday and Sunday from 11am-9pm, and Friday-Saturday from 11am-3am.

Hug-in-a-Roll opened its first storefront this summer over on Gateway Dr., Eau Claire. (Photos via Facebook)

Asian cuisine on a roll.

Formerly known for its pop-up-only presence at various Chippewa Valley events, Hug-in-a-Roll has officially secured its first brick-and-mortar location. After a soft opening in early August, at its 3577 Gateway Dr., Eau Claire location – last occupied by Papa Murphy’s, which still operates its Brackett Ave. shop – is now open Thursday-Monday from 11am-7pm. The sit-down and take-out Asian cuisine restaurant’s menu features various egg roll and steamed bun choices, mochi cupcakes, fruit drinks, and more.

Cast Iron Pizza Co. is now scooping up custard and toppings galore. (Photo via Facebook)

See ya at the ‘Custard Corner?’

While the fro-yo boom came and went (too quickly, in my opinion), there’s at least a new custard option town! Cast Iron Pizza Co. (329 Riverfront Terrace, Eau Claire) is now home to ‘Custard Corner,’ offering up pints of custard and Italian ice to go or freshly scooped. There’s even a toppings bar with maple bacon bits, sprinkles, candy crumbles, and more, so get creative!

Eau Claire has a new-to-town bakery.

While small, locally-owned bakeries have popped up in Eau Claire a few times in the past couple of years, we’ve said goodbye to most that opened a storefront (including The Ice Cream & Bakery Shoppe, formerly home to Sue’s Bakeshop). After about two years of success in Cadott, Wicked Sweet Bake Shop officially opened the doors to its second location – in Eau Claire. I tried to pop over last week but found a “sold out” sign on the front door, a regular occurrence for the homemade donut shop and bakery. Consider this your sign to get there early – the Eau Claire shop’s (3192 London Rd.) hours are Wednesday-Sunday from 6am-Noon or until sold out.

Talk about Wicked Sweet! (Photo by Andrea Paulseth)