Asian or Cajun? You won’t have to choose at new Stanislaus County fusion restaurant
A new Stanislaus County restaurant eliminates the need to choose between two seemingly different types of cuisine by offering them both in one place.
If you can’t decide whether to get Asian food or seafood boil, Cajun Bento has the answer.
The new Turlock eatery, across from CSU Stanislaus, was established by Crawfish Noodle & Grill owner Jason Nguyen and entrepreneur Jack Wu.
The two met at Nguyen’s Modesto restaurant eight years ago and have since formed a friendship and a business partnership.
“I wanted to use his concept and bring it to Turlock,” Wu said. “We have a bigger goal. If this concept works out, you never know. I’m just being ambitious but it could be like the next Panda Express or Chipotle.”
Because fusing different types of cuisine can lead to extensive menus with a lot of options, Wu said he and Nguyen took the concept and simplified it “in a way that it’s not intimidating.”
The menu includes customizable bento boxes, banh mi, soups and seafood by the pound.
Bento is an Asian-style lunch box, Wu said. “You should have two main ingredients,” he said. “One is a protein and one is a carb. Then you get sides and that kind of creates the concept of bento.”
There are two types of bento boxes. The Cajun-spiced rice box is served with a choice of protein, a side salad and fries for $13.50. The garlic noodle box comes with the same options for $14.50.
Protein choices are chicken, beef, pork chop and pork. Korean short rib and Cajun shrimp are $1.95 more.
Tip: The Korean short ribs are worth the extra two bucks.
Customers can choose between chicken, beef, pork, shrimp tofu or veggies for their banh mi, which is topped with cucumber, onion, jalapeno, cilantro and pickled daikon and carrots. The Vietnamese sandwich is $9.25.
Noodle soups and ramen range from $12.50 to $14.50. The combo Cajun ramen is a must-try. It comes with shrimp, mussels, clams and chicken.
Unlike traditional seafood boils, Cajun Bento sells their seafood by the pound so patrons can customize their bag.
“We don’t pre-set it for you,” Wu said. “We give you the option to pick and choose.”
Half pounds or pounds of crawfish, shrimp, mussels, clams, snow crab legs, king crab legs, and whole Dungeness crab are offered. Prices range from $10.50 to $36.50 for half pounds (king crab costing the most) and $17.50 to $66.50 for whole pounds.
Add-ons including sausage, corn, potatoes and boiled eggs are $1.50 to $2.25.
Sauce flavors include house special Cajun, lemongrass Cajun, Thai curry and tamarind. They can be ordered mild, medium, spicy or extra spicy.
Wu and Nguyen plant to create specials, including combo meals for students and a happy hour. Beer, wine, soju and sake are sold at the restaurant.
Cajun Bento, at 3821 Crowell Road in Turlock, opened Tuesday, Jan. 21. Its hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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