Stop Bye Cafe is a popular Indonesian fusion gourmet food truck co-owned by Justin Tulus and Tom Tee. I first learned of them when I visited their brick and mortar in Lawndale and I’ve frequented them ever since they transitioned to a food truck. Since that time, they have taken their food to the hungry street customers in LA.
Tulus and Tee began their Indonesian fusion food truck in Aug 2017. They describe it as a “Journey Through Indonesian Fusion”. They began with a modest white food truck and now they proudly enter the designated location with a beautiful Indonesian design wrap on their truck. The bright orange color is definitely attention-grabbing.
Tulus hails from Indonesia and worked in kitchens from Indonesia to Taiwan, Australia, and the US. Locally, he has worked with chefs like Sang Yoo (Lukshon) Wolfgang Puck (Spago), and José Andrés (Bazaar).
Food trucks often partner with craft breweries because the combination of both provides a better customer experience. I caught up with the Stop Bye Cafe truck at the Strand Brewing Company in Torrance. They were parked directly in front of Strand Brewing’s outdoor patio which made it easy for customers to frequent.
Stop Bye Cafe recently introduced a new menu and I was there to try out some of the new items. Chicken tenders ($10) are marinated with lemongrass and a dairy product, then breaded and fried. This is the perfect dish to pair with a beer. It is served with jasmine rice or fries and a tangy dipping sauce. I opted for the garlic fries at an additional $3. The lemongrass chicken is also available as a chicken sandwich.
Spice Island Chicken replaces Justin’s 18 Spice Chicken on the menu. A half chicken is marinated in citrus, sauce, and butter. It is chopped Chinese-style resulting in bite-sized pieces and served with a thick black tangy sauce. Jasmine rice pairs nicely with this dish.
Garlic noodles are trending in LA and Tulus prepares his Kemangi Garlic Noodles with grilled shrimp, Thai basil, soy sauce, fish sauce, cucumbers, and pickled carrots. The combination of fish sauce and Thai basil nicely elevates the flavor profile of this dish. For my side, I selected their popular Jajalo Brussels Sprouts.
Co-owners Justin Tulus and Tom Tee make a perfect duo. Tee often greets the regulars by their first name and frequently engages in extended conversation. He’s friendly, helpful and exhibits outstanding customer service. Tulus ably runs the kitchen and if he’s lucky, he has an assistant.
Stop Bye Cafe
stopbyecafe.com