Dish & Drink KC: Bunuelos at La Bodega and pork rolls at Paris Bánh Mì
Ensalada De Mariscos At La Bodega. // Photo By Lauren Textor
All good things must come to an end. This was the theme of my heavenly dinner at La Bodega and it’s the motif of this column, as it’s my last for Dish & Drink KC. I’m sincerely grateful if you’ve read my writing here at The Pitch for the past year (or even since I was an intern in 2022). It’s time for me to move on—literally. I’m departing for my master’s in journalism at Dublin City University in August. If you’d like to keep up with me, you can follow my LinkedIn or soon-to-be-published Substack at laurentinaandfuzz.substack.com.
La Bodega
You’ve probably passed by it—The gorgeous Spanish restaurant shaded by the bridge on Southwest Blvd. You might’ve seen the spacious patio outside and wondered if it was similarly pretty within. It is.
Your next concern will likely be parking. I asked myself (out loud, repeatedly) if parking under the bridge was free, if I could park anywhere, and if it was safe. In this instance, it turned out to be fine. Due to the high-traffic nature of the area, you’ll want to pull fully into the space and watch yourself as you’re backing out, but at least you don’t have to worry about street parking.
La Bodega is a cheerful, colorful, mosaic-covered space. It can get a little loud with flowing drinks and full tables, but you can still carry a conversation, and it has a warm, community feel.
Papas Fritas Con Ajo At La Bodega. // Photo By Lauren Textor
I was already hungry when my sister and I arrived on a busy Tuesday night, but my mouth watered as I read through the menu of carefully constructed small plates. I’ve never been to Spain, but I have been to Portugal. La Bodega is the closest I’ve come to the fresh, seafood-centric dining that I experienced over there.
The Ensalada de Mariscos immediately caught our attention. The seafood salad mirrors my favorite dish from Lisbon with citrus-marinated shrimp, scallops, and squid. The plate is a visual delight with pops of color from cilantro, jalapeños, and diced tomatoes.
Bunuelos From La Bodega. // Photo By Lauren Textor
Our next tapas was las papas fritas con ajo. One of the biggest culinary truths that I’ve learned in my travels is that you should never dismiss a potato dish, no matter how exotic everything else on the menu seems. The refried roasted potatoes are perfectly crispy and the parsley and garlic-cumin aioli are masterful. I’m sure it’s made in-house, but I still considered asking our server where to get a bottle.
Last but certainly not least: the bunuelos. Is fried dough ever not delicious? They were listed on a smaller rotating menu of the chef’s picks, sprinkled with powdered sugar, and served with a bowl of warm chocolate. I’ll dream of them often.
La Bodega is located at 703 Southwest Blvd., Kansas City, MO 64108.
Pate Pork Roll With Milk Teas At Paris Banh Mi. // Photo By Lauren Textor
Paris Bánh Mì
Paris Bánh Mì is a new addition to the Westport food scene. The chain has over a dozen locations across the U.S., but this is its first anywhere near KC, and it’s poppin’. The bright, clean space has several fake plants, including a cherry blossom tree by the door. Fittingly, there’s also a statue of the Eiffel Tower.
Despite the long lunch line, I soon had my food: A pâté and pork roll to split with my mom, and a drink for each of us. She got the coconut milk tea, and I got the strawberry milk slush. Thinner than a milkshake, but less icy than your typical slushy, it’s a refreshing drink even without adding boba. If fruity flavors aren’t your thing, try the taro slush or the Paris by Night specialty drink instead.
The roll is pork bologna, pâté, jalapeños, mayonnaise, cucumber, pickled daikon and carrot, and cilantro on a French baguette. The pork bologna was definitely a first for me—I can’t even bring myself to eat the Oscar Mayer kind—but it’s a solid enough sandwich meat. One of the many reasons that I love Vietnamese food is its clever mix of textures. The right texture can be even more important than the flavor. This sandwich takes both into account.
Paris Bánh Mì is located at 1106 Westport Rd., Kansas City, MO 64111.
