Dish and Drink KC: Mommy-daughter date at BobaRun and Hunan Garden Chinese Restaurant

BobaRun KC // Photo by Tiffany Watts

Boba Run

If your kiddo is anything like mine and loves boba, there’s a newish boba cafe in Gladstone that you need to add to your list of places to visit. 

Last week I wanted to take some time to hang out with my daughter before heading out of town so we made our way to the Gladstone area for a little mommy-daughter date. 

First stop, BobaRun. 

BobaRun is an adorable hidden gem in the northland that offers bubble/milk tea, coffee, and baked treats that will take your tastebuds on a delicious adventure. To boot, their customer service is impeccable, the decor is charming, and the atmosphere is welcoming.

They even created an adorable playroom for younger children who want to play their hearts out. I love a place that’s thoughtfully designed and inclusive. 

As I mentioned, my kiddo loves boba, and because BobaRun has such a tantalizing array of options on the menu to choose from, each sounding more delicious than the last, she had to think long and hard about what she wanted

After much deliberation, she ordered the Strawberry Peach Slush with whipped cream ($6.25) mixed with the Mango Popping Boba ($0.95), the Mango Crystal Boba ($0.95), and the Tapioca Boba ($0.95). She didn’t stop there, though. 

BobaRun KC // Photo by Tiffany Watts

She also ordered a Chocolate Nutella Croissant ($4.75) which was larger than life and smelled like what I imagine has to be the aroma of the heavens.

For myself, I ordered a freshly brewed iced peach oolong tea.

We took our first sips, and the cool, sweet drinks washed over our taste buds. We just looked at each other and shook our heads yes as we savored our delicious drinks. 

Every sip was a refreshing escape, the perfect antidote to the summer heat.

In between sips, the croissant quickly began to disappear. Honestly, once you start taking bites, it’s really hard to stop. The bread was just too soft and buttery, and the Nutella was just too nutty and chocolatey to ever think about saving anything for later. 

Before I knew it, our cups were empty, the croissant was gone, and we were already talking about what we should try on our next visit to BobaRun. 

BobaRun is located at 6415 N Prospect Ave, Gladstone, MO 64119.

Hunan Garden Chinese Restaurant // Photo by Tiffany Watts

Hunan Garden Chinese Resturant

As luck would have it, one of the owners of BobaRun also owns the Chinese restaurant next door that we were talking about while we sipped and snacked. 

She suggested we try it out, and since our tummies still needed more fuel—even after our huge croissant—we decided to head next door to Hunan Garden Chinese Restaurant for stop number two.

As we made our way inside,  the soft glow of the restaurant’s lights and the inviting aroma of freshly made food made for an irresistible combination. 

Since we made it in time to indulge during lunch hours, we got to take advantage of their lunch special that is offered every day except Sundays from 10:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

With the lunch special, you’re served an egg roll and crab rangoon, a choice of soup, and an entree, all for $8.69. Yes, all of that food for less than $10. That’s a deal!

After we were seated, we were handed menus and decided to opt for a few classics: hot and sour soup, spicy shrimp and chicken fried rice, and lo mein with shrimp and vegetables.

The hot and sour soup arrived first, and we clinked our spoons and dug in.

Our first spoonfuls were met with a perfect balance of heat and tanginess that started our meal off right. As we talked and giggled, dipping our egg rolls and crab rangoon into our soup, we tried to guess which dish we were going to like the most: the fried rice or the lo mein.

As our server brought our entrees to the table we were surprised by how much food was on the plate! I still haven’t accepted that all of this food really costs less than $10 per meal.

After taking bites of each other’s food, we agreed that we couldn’t choose a favorite. They were both delicious. However, had the fried rice been spicier, it would’ve been the winner, hands down. 

While we swapped notes on what we loved most about our mommy-daughter date, we noticed the cozy restaurant gradually filling up and the staff moving gracefully between tables. We weren’t at all surprised by the staff’s grade-A customer service skills after our visit next door at BobaRun.

They’re quite the charming duo.

Feeling satisfied and content, we left with happy hearts and full bellies, grateful for the unexpected culinary experience that turned an ordinary day on the town into a delightful memory.

Hunan Garden Chinese Restaurant is located at 6409 N Prospect Ave Gladstone, MO 64119.