I used to be an avid food truck chaser. Through that experience I got familiar with Twitter and learned about the foot truck community. Some of the trucks focused on gimmicky food like fried cheese balls, but others had bonafide chefs onboard and were trying to make a difference. A handful of trucks caught my attention. One of them was The Slummin’ Gourmet.
The Slummin’ Gourmet featured items not seen on other trucks. They served sliders such as Cali Diver Scallop, Lamb Al Pastor, and Polynesian Pulled Pork. Other popular items included their walnut shrimp tacos and their lobster corn dog. They also had a delicious housemade watermelon hibiscus limeade.
Owner Tony Lu recently opened a brick and mortar restaurant in downtown Pomona. It is located on 2nd Street on Historic Antique Row. The block used to be lined with antique stores and the makeup is slowly changing. Quite a bit of people walk this street due to nearby Western University.
The interior of Slummin’ Gourmet is both attractive and inviting. A menu is posted to the wall and ordering is done at the counter. The menu is seasonal and occasionally changes. During my visit, I was happy that they had their breakfast, brunch and lunch menus posted.
Along the counter there are a number of fresh pastries, cookies and brownies. A few things caught my eye: the Farmer’s Market Crostada, the Bombolini, and the Nutella Croissant. They also feature a muffin of the day and a vegan carrot cake.
Stumptown Coffee is proudly featured as their in-house brew. On tap is their original cold brew as well as their nitro cold brew. In addition to fountain soft drinks, they have a number of popular bottled and canned beverages. My cup of drip coffee was extremely smooth and satisfying.
Slummin’ Gourmet’s Avocado Toast is quite unique. A thick slice of multigrain sourdough bread is toasted in the salamander. Avocado schmear is applied and Chef Lu’s Asian influence is represented here. Crispy seaweed (a.k.a. crispy kale) and Japanese furikake seasoning transform this into a umami tasting experience nicely paired with the multigrain sourdough.
One of my favorite dishes from their food truck is their Walnut Shrimp tacos. It was exactly the same as I remembered it to be. The shrimp was crispy shrimp with candied walnuts, melons, crispy rice sticks, and honey lemon dressing all wrapped in butter lettuce as a taco made for a delicious beginning.
The Chick-A-Dee BLT Sandwich features a free range chicken breast, smoked applewood bacon, house mayo, butter lettuce, and sliced tomatoes. The quality of the ingredients was evident in the taste of this sandwich. They also have a southern version of this sandwich featuring buttermilk fried chicken thigh, cabbage slaw
The menu has many items that I would consider ordering. If I visit during breakfast hours, I will either try the Nutella Brioche French Toast or the Short Rib Hash with Fingerling Potatoes. While I was there, I saw both of these dishes and they looked quite appealing.
Because their Passion Fruit Ice Tea is fresh brewed, I had to try that. The drink was tasty and I like that they left the ice tea unsweetened. Customers that want that extra boost can add simple syrup, which is available at the counter.
The Slummin’ Gourmet is currently open for breakfast and lunch during the week. On Saturday, they feature selected brunch items like a huevos rancheros with sauteed shrimp, short rib hash made with fingerling potatoes, and a nutella brioche french toast. Lu envisions extending into dinner on Fridays and Saturdays.
Pomona isn’t known as a destination for gourmet good. Hopefully, The Slummin’ Gourmet will help change that perception.
The Slummin’ Gourmet, 224 E 2nd St, Pomona, CA 91766; 909.469.6464
theslummingourmet.com