CLOSED: Lunch Ladies: Mobo’s Express
Here are the four meals enjoyed by the Lunch Ladies at Mobo's Express in Provo.
The Curse of the Curry. It seems like every place I can get a dish of tasty curry that I don’t shell out an arm and a leg for has to close down.
Curryosity, Thai Mango, even Teriyaki Stix. I call it the Curse of the Curry. So when our good friend Phil suggested we try out Mobo’s Express since its online menu said it had a variety of curries at a great price, I was hesitant. Hesitant that either I wouldn’t like it or that I’d get attached, only to have it fall prey to the curse.
You see, I love curry. A delicious Japanese or Thai curry is something to marvel at. The sweet, mild flavor when well-made is an art, and not something I can easily replicate. Over the years I’ve ordered it at countless restaurants and had a variety of experiences. This one was a tiny portion, this one was unnecessarily over-complicated, that one too spicy, these ones over-priced. (Apparently I am channeling a little Goldilocks with this food review.)
And then of course there were the places where I thought, “Ahhh, this curry is JUST RIGHT!” Can I get an “Amen!” from my girl Goldi? (I couldn’t resist.) But these places are often few and far between and sadly seem to close down all too soon. However, the pursuit of delicious curry is, of course, worth the possible pitfalls, so we decided to give Mobo’s a try.
We headed over to the small restaurant that I hadn’t honestly noticed before, being tucked behind the glitz of Fat Cats. We parked and entered the open layout, taking in the natural light from the windows and simple, relaxing décor.
We had checked out the menu online via Facebook, but I still had a few questions about the variety of curries, wanting to make sure I avoided any Katsu (breaded and fried) meats. The friendly staff politely answered my questions, and we were ready to order and give this new place a try.
Here is what the Lunch Ladies ordered:
Lyndsi: Teriyaki Chicken Bento Box, $6.99
I had never heard of Mobo’s before it was suggested for our lunch spot this week. Now it will be one that I suggest we visit on a regular basis. I am a fan of bento boxes so I decided to try it with the teriyaki chicken and was very happy with my decision. It came with miso soup, edamame, pot stickers, white rice and teriyaki chicken. The pot stickers and the dipping sauce were perfect, great flavor and cooked just right. The edamame was a great fresh side to pop in my mouth between bites of chicken. The teriyaki chicken was delicious with the sticky rice. The sauce was so good I wish I had more to cover my rice with. If you want a little variety for lunch, stop by Mobo’s Express for a bento box.
Sylvia: Shrimp Tempura Veggie with Miso Soup, $5.78
Tempura vegetables, one of my favorite foods of all time … well tempura anything really, and this à la carte mix were quite tasteful. It came with a couple of pieces of shrimp, sweet potato, squash and carrots. The miso soup with its seaweed and tiny bits of tofu was the perfect finisher.
Jennette: Shrimp Tempura Rice Bowl, $5.99
I got to bring my two young nieces with me to lunch today. I was a little nervous about them trying different types of food because they can both be pretty picky eaters. I didn’t need to worry. They both loved their lunch choices and so did I. My rice bowl was a very generous portion of rice, tempura shrimp, and vegetables. The bowl came with three pieces of tempura shrimp, as well as tempura carrots, sweet potatoes and squash. They were all cooked to perfection! My nieces can’t wait to go back. Side note, only Pepsi is served here.
Gabby: Thin-Sliced Beef Curry, $5.99
When a server brought over the large bowl of curry, I was very pleased; such a generous portion for only $5.99! Everyone noted how delicious it smelled, and I quickly became very eager to try it. One small taste of the sticky rice, one small taste of the sauce, and I knew victory had been achieved! I mixed it all together, ruining the beautiful display, but quite satisfied that there was plenty of sauce to properly coat the ample amount of rice. And then I dove in. The thinly sliced onions were cooked thoroughly allowing them to absorb the sauce. The shaved beef was tender and soaked in the curry sauce that was strong in flavor, but not overpowering, mildly sweet, and perfectly delicious. The meal was topped off with a delightful accent of a sweet pickled red pepper. I’m all ready to go back!
Clearly Mobo’s Express was a success for the Lunch Ladies. We can’t wait to go back and try new menu items and each other’s recommendations. The quality and portions for the price was outstanding in our book, so we are definitely hoping this is one local restaurant which does NOT fall victim to the Curse of the Curry!
Mobo’s Express. 1175 N. Canyon Road, Provo. Open Monday to Saturday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Closed Sundays.