Eat This Now: The Cuban at The Hungry Hatch
The Cuban bowl at The Hungry Hatch // Photo by Tiffany Watts
I couldn’t afford a food coma. My schedule was packed and I needed a good lunch that wouldn’t take seemingly forever to wait on. To add to my panic, I was hangry. It was 11 a.m. and because I’m that friend who religiously skips breakfast, I needed to eat soon or bad things would happen.
Luckily, The Hungry Hatch opened at 11 a.m. and was serving up nutritious street food like rice bowls, wraps, and salads.
As I pulled up to park in front of the cute little City Market restaurant, I was thrilled to find the area much calmer than on the weekends. Inside, the restaurant was filled with bright colors, tasty-looking food pics, and an ever-so-lovely menu.
Since I browsed the menu before I arrived, it was down to two options: The Cuban bowl or the Carribean Tacos. The Cuban bowl includes sliced plantains, seasoned sweet potatoes, and black beans over jasmine coconut rice. The Caribbean Tacos are stuffed with jerk chicken or spicy shrimp and topped with avocado, cilantro slaw, mango salsa, and cotija cheese. I was craving sweet potatoes so I chose The Cuban, and opted to add chicken for protein to further address my hanger.
As soon as the cook began preparing my order, the fusion of savory and sweet aromas filled the air. I didn’t add any sauces to the bowl, which may have elevated the flavor, but I wanted to really taste the food since it was my first visit. I’ve got to say, the sweet potatoes and plantains made the dish.
The naturally sweet flavors of the sweet potatoes really came through and settled my craving while the crisp, sweet taste of the plantains left my tastebuds pleased. The black beans in the dish had a soft, creamy flavor and seemed like a tasty addition to the bowl. The chicken was nice for protein but didn’t have a big impact on the dish.
Overall, the food was delicious, came out fast, and hit the spot. I appreciate that it is open daily, and naturally, it is quicker and less crowded during the week. Plus, you’re able to drive right into City Market and park just steps away when the weekend farmers market isn’t buzzing. For further inclusivity, there is a great selection of vegan and gluten-free options.
The Hungry Hatch is at 23 E 3rd St, Kansas City, MO 64106.
