Adam & Eats: Chop Sticks

On this week’s adventure, we will return to Greenwood. Two years of eating together and we’ve barely scratched the surface of this part of the area. So much to do, so little time. Anyway, you’d better start exercising your hand muscles because we’re heading off to eating Vietnamese food in a strip mall.

Located along the main strip in Greenwood, in a tiny strip mall, located ironically next to a nail salon, is Chop Sticks. This place looks much smaller from the outside, but is surprisingly bigger inside. Maybe it’s trick of the lights glinting off of the mirrorball.

Yes, they have a mirrorball. Apparently, the place gets hoppin’ every weekend when they offer karaoke. I can’t even imagine the fun times that must happen there. My brain cannot fathom them. Ahem, moving on. The place is decorated pretty much like any other Vietnamese restaurant in the area. It’s relatively sparse décor wise, simple colors with accents of red and gold, a tank with a terrifying eel in it. You know, the usual.

The staff at Chopsticks is very kind and accommodating. But what about the food?

Well, I’ll get my rant out of the way first thing. It’s not on the menu, but they have a sign that advertises their burger and fries special. (Insert sigh of disappointment here.) I’m sure it is difficult having a Vietnamese restaurant in Greenwood. Hell, it’s pretty hard to have an ethnic restaurant in this entire area. We’re not well known ‘round these parts for being adventurous eaters. But, I beg you restaurant owners out there, hold fast to your heritage and serve us something other than burgers and fries.

Okay, I’m done ranting now.

This is the part where I encourage you adventurous eaters in Greenwood to go eat at Chop Sticks. Everything I’ve tried there is great. The fried eggrolls are friggin’ meaty stellarness. That first bite gives you a shock of how different these eggrolls are compared to other places in the area. It’s not that they are just meatier, but richer and more savory. That’s probably just the MSG talking. Whatever it is, it’s delicious.

Also, if you are in the mood to wear your food, I highly recommend the fried noodles. What you get is a boat of fried rice noodles floating on a sea of gravy-like juices. What’s aboard this sexy crunch vessel? Only a buttload of perfectly seasoned and sauced beef, chicken, and shrimp with baby corn, carrots, bamboo shoots, and broccoli. Holy crap it is addictive. Even after your stomach begins threatening to divorce you, you keep having the urge to take one more bite.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you about the pho at a Vietnamese joint, and theirs is pretty friggin’ good. I recommend the P8, the shrimp, “crab”, and pork. If you haven’t been on a desert island for three years with only coconuts to eat, I’d recommend ordering the small portion. It’s still huge.

Okay, well that it for this week’s adventure. If you haven’t visited Chop Sticks yet, you should give it a try.

And for Batman’s sake, don’t order a burger and fries.

Until next week, good eating to you and yours.