Mobile Flavor on the Streets of Medford

By: Cheri Browne | June 25 2011
Posted in Rogue Valley - Find It - Rogue Valley

Pick up some street teriyaki at Bento Central! All photos by: Cheri Browne

The culinary movement of street cuisine has been growing by leaps and bounds in recent years. Ready-to-eat food and drink that is made and sold from portable sidewalk kitchens have captured the hearts and taste buds of many. Whether looking to grab a quick bite on a short lunch break, stumbling home from a late night out, or just in the mood for something quick, inexpensive, and tasty, food carts are the way to go.

On the streets of downtown Medford, it’s hard not to be drawn to the smoky, teriyaki aroma of Bento Central on the corner of Main and Riverside. It might be easy to become discouraged by the crowd this tiny cart has gathered around it at all times, but stand your ground! The long lines moves quickly, and that many people waiting for a bite can only mean one thing—this is seriously delicious food.

Tender chicken covered in Bento's tasty secret sauce.

The menu has been kept very simple with just two items—Chicken and Rice, and Steak and Rice, both priced at $6.50 each. The meat is marinated in a “secret sauce” daily and their two grills have a constant rotation of chicken going, while the steak is cooked to order. The meat is put on a bed of white rice and served with your choice of sauces—Teriyaki, Sweet Chili, Soy, or Sriracha. A combination of the Teriyaki and Sweet Chili is highly recommended by many Bento-goers.

Wasana's serves up traditional Thai flavors.

Just a few blocks away, on 8^th and Riverside, Wasana’s Thai Food is beginning to attract a following of its own. Wasana’s serves a variety of traditional Thai dishes all under $6, such as Phad Si-ou (strips of chicken on top of rice noodles and vegetables), Chicken or Vegetable Pineapple Fried Rice, Sweet Thai Chicken with Peanut Sauce, and Yum-Nu (barbequed sirloin, onion, cilantro, and lime, with Thai spices and curried rice). They also have refreshing smaller appetizers to choose from such as Cucumber Salad and Vegetable Fresh Rolls with Peanut Sauce. Don’t forget to try a delicious Thai iced tea, which tops the lunch off beautifully.

Wasana’s is open from 10 am until 4 pm Monday through Thursday and 10 am until 2:30 on Friday, and Bento Central is open Monday through Friday from 10:30 am until 3 pm and again at night from 9:30 pm until 3 am. Pull up a spot on the warm curbside this summer and try these Medford gems!

Sweet thai chicken with peanut sauce from Wasana's - definitely finger-lickin' good.

Cheri Browne is a writer, photographer, reveler of Southern Oregon and enamored connoisseur of all things West Coast.