Adobo Dragon Blends Asian and Latin Cuisine in Downtown Phoenix

By admin July 1, 2015 12:34

Warning: explode(): Empty delimiter in /home/arizonalatinos/public_html/wp-content/themes/allegro-theme/includes/single/image.php on line 35

AZLatinos.com

By: Jessica Danielle Ramirez

If you’re a fan of First Fridays then you must be familiar with the building that is home to a variety of shops and restaurants. If you’re a true foodie on the prowl in Downtown Phoenix, or maybe you’re just in the mood to test your pallet, Adobo Dragon is the place to do so.

The restaurant has been in business since April, and is now home to a fusion of Asian and Latin ingredients, creating a unique and tasty food concept. Chef Allan Inocencio is the Filipino behind the food and he had the idea to incorporate some of his favorite Asian food to another one of his favorite cuisines: Latino.

“There is something beyond the Latino from tacos and burritos,” said Inocencio. “We wanted to also go beyond the Asian food that you see aside from stir fried noodles and teriyaki”

Customers can expect influences from Korea, China, the Philippines, and various parts of South America. The menu offers a few basic concepts with a full on twist, which should pique the interest of foodies.

If ceviche is your absolute favorite, customers can select from a variety of ceviche types. Pineapple, Aji Amarillo (a Peruvian chili), and lime ceviche – it’s a seafood lovers paradise!

One interesting item to try is the bao, which are the steamed buns.

“The bread is a combination of all-purpose flour and rice flour,” he said. “It looks like a marshmallow without the sugar.”

The entrée comes with two baos per order. Whether beef, chicken, pork, or fish is your preference, it comes shaped like a taco and it’s a taste of multiple cultures. Can’t decide which type of bao you’d like to try? No problem. Mix and match or choose the vegetable bao, which has mushrooms, rajas, and soy adobo.

Foodies may find themselves surprised to see their favorite ingredients incorporated in an unfamiliar dish. The pork bao has carnitas and curry, while the chicken bao offers mango salsa and chimichurri.

And if you’re heading out to First Friday, make sure to stop by Adobo Dragon and try their version of empanadas, which is something you can get that day.

“We put in our empanadas Thai chicken, shrimp, and serve it with chimichurri on the side,” stated Inocencio.

Bringing well-known Latin ingredients to the traditional Asian dishes is a new and exciting concept that is definitely becoming more popular. It’s only a matter of time until more traditional favorites are elevated to a new concept and continue to spread throughout the Valley of the Sun.

Adobo Dragon