A growing trend taking place is the number of second and third generation immigrants that are following in the footsteps of their parents’ restaurant livelihood. The generation raised here is influenced by modern cooking techniques exhibited by many LA restaurants. An example of this is Rice Box, a modern Cantonese BBQ restaurant located in downtown LA.
Rice Box opened inside downtown’s Spring Arcade Building in Sep. 2018. That prime location already was home to Guisado’s and Blu Jam Cafe and the Cantonese BBQ spot immediately caught the attention of LA foodies. You won’t find whole roast duck with its head intact hanging in the front window here.
Consistent with trends is to source from farms that raise animals that are free of antibiotics and raised without hormones such as Mary’s Ducks, Mary’s Organic Chicken and Duroc heritage breed pork. Chef Leo Lee discovered that Duroc pork had the perfect fat-to-meat ratio for what he was trying to achieve.
Rice Box’s signature item is the char siu barbecue pork ($14.50). The Duroc pork ends up tender with far less fat than char sui at many other BBQ shops. Lee uses a family recipe that’s been passed down for more than three decades and finishes it off with a honey glaze. Lee is proud that none of us food contains MSG.
Siu Yuk (roast pork belly) is named “Porchetta Crackling” ($15.75) and in doing so creates an interest to non-Chinese speaking customers. Lee marinates duroc pork belly in Chinese spices such as five spice and triple roasts it to obtain the crackling skin. It is topped with their housemade ginger chimichurri.
In preparing the Roast Duck ($17), it is placed in a blend of Chinese spices. Because of the multi-day prep involved, Rice Box only offers their duck dish on Saturdays. The skin was crisp and the flavorful marinade made it down to the bone. The duck was both lean and moist.
BBQ Pork Fried Rice (+$2 in a combo lunch box) is not the typical pedestrian variety. It is mixed with their tasty char siu meat that is chopped, bits of shredded omelet, finely chopped stems from Chinese broccoli and scallions.
Due to the recent lifting of the outdoor dining ban, customers may take their to-go food and eat it at one of the many tables placed outside. While I was there, there were lots of people smiling and active in conversation. Hopefully, outdoor dining is back to stay.
Rice Box, 541 S Spring St #131, Los Angeles, CA 90013; 213.988.7395
ricebox.net