Tomo Japanese Street Food - Evanston
Based on the long lines out the door at Tomo Japanese Street Food, apparently Evanston has been waiting for the food served in the street and casual restaurants of Japan. And why wouldn't they? Dumplings of octopus, pork and shrimp, as well as ramen and udon noodles, are the kinds of foods that are going to make people of all ages very happy.
Penny Mohr and husband Chris opened Tomo Japanese Street Food in Evanston on April 19, but they've been perfecting their ramen recipe for years. In 2018, they worked at the Forum55 Food Hall in Chicago, but due to COVID-19, the food hall shut down...and the Mohrs decided to open their own place.
Many of the street food items they now serve at Tomo Japanese Street Food, like edamame and dumplings, are meant to be eaten with the hands. But other dishes are more suitable for a sit-down scenario. There are many crowd-pleasing noodle dishes besides ramen, including udon, yakisoba and stir-fried. A particular crowd-pleaser is the chicken karaage, a traditional Japanese preparation that involves light breading and quick frying. There's a range of rice bowls, including butanon (pork belly on rice), pork and kimchi, tofu and vegetables. This is the kind of food that makes you feel very good to be eating it.
For those who prefer salads, there are some traditional Japanese options like the seaweed salad, but many of the entrees come with a salad on the side. For lunch, you cannot do better than a bento box of beef, panko shrimp or the chicken karaage -- each comes with a side salad, a a bowl of miso soup, rice and a veggie gyoza (dumpling).
Although for beverages they currently serve water, tea and soda (check out the Premium Japanese Sodas!), Chris told the Evanston Round Table that he hopes to get a liquor license soon, which will make Tomo Japanese Street Food an even more attractive spot for lunch or dinner.
