Westchester’s Humble Potato reopens its doorways
Westchester’s beloved Humble Potato has reopened for enterprise after well-liked demand and remodeled into what proprietor Eric Ong has known as a extra “mature” model of the unique. What as soon as was a self-service, over-the-counter burger joint is now an in-house, full-service eating expertise with beer on faucet.
Humble Potato has areas in Westchester and Culver City, and each are wonderful spots for a traditional burger and beer. The Hambaga, Ong’s hottest menu merchandise, comes with all of the consolation of a traditional hamburger with a Japanese twist. For the extra adventurous eater, the Kare Baga burger comes with Japanese curry, a fried egg and yuzu-jalapeno slaw. Other must-try menu objects are the Shichimi garlic parmesan fries and the choco avocado shake.
“When we first put the choco avocado shake on the menu people were [hesitant to try it,] so we gave them some samples and everybody said, ‘This is so good!’” Ong stated. “It’s just avocado, crushed ice and simple syrup. Then we add a little bit of Hershey’s chocolate sauce to add a flavor twist that makes it a great combo with burgers and fries.”
When Ong deserted his company job and opened Humble Potato 12 years in the past in Westchester, he had no thought the group would fall in love that rapidly. Within a pair years, Ong had the income and recognition to open a second location in Culver City. He credit his success to the standard of his meals and working his enterprise by the e book.
Ong additionally has a 3rd location in Palms known as Mee & Greet, which he opened in 2018. That location focuses on extra conventional Southeast Asian meals impressed by Ong’s childhood in Southeast Asia.
“I would credit [my love of food] to a multicultural kind of life because I was born and raised in Southeast Asia,” Ong stated. “We’re not a technology-driven country. We are Third World…so everything revolves around food.”
In 2019, Ong determined to take an opportunity by altering the idea of Humble Potato in Westchester to concentrate on an identical idea to Mee & Greet.
“It was a spur of the moment decision [that I decided] to do something similar,” he stated. But the pandemic made his community-focused menu troublesome to promote.
“I think the food was not perceived as valuable when it became takeout,” Ong added. “It was meant for sharing.”
During the pandemic, Humble Potato’s Culver City location thrived, so Ong settled on bringing again what Westchester eaters had been craving with a brand new and improved menu and inside.
“I want to re-introduce ourselves,” Ong stated. “We made some tweaks to the menu and we introduced some plant-based options. That’s what everyone is looking for now.”
Even as Humble Potato, Ong’s imaginative and prescient for his eating places have at all times been to create an unpretentious group oriented restaurant.
“When I was on the grill, I would know every single customer’s name,” Ong stated. “I wanted to adopt that type of [philosophy.] It’s not the typical LA [restaurant] where it’s an hour away, you have to make a reservation… I wanted the anti-stereotype of the obnoxious, snobby LA eatery, so I called this place the Humble Potato.”
The recognition of Humble Potato has sparked the curiosity of buyers who wish to assist Ong increase into a bigger chain, however he rejects that path for Humble Potato’s future. Ong doesn’t need a third social gathering to come back into the enterprise and attempt to change the right down to earth, group nature. He believes that’s what makes Humble Potato particular.
“We do have an expansion plan,” Ong stated. “We’re going to grow, but we’ll wait until the [Westchester] location is perfect.”
Humble Potato
8321 Lincoln Boulevard, Los Angeles
310-910-0367
humblepotato.com