Sister-owned Sabor Express bring a variety of treats to downtown Parkville
Sabor Express // Photo by Nancy Le
If you’re walking around downtown Parkville and looking for a cold drink or a quick bite, keep an eye out for Sabor Express.
Located at 115 Main St., the walk-up spot officially opened in June and is owned by sisters Mari Chau and Naydelin Chau. The sisters wanted to create a place where they could have fun with food and drinks without limiting themselves to one type of cuisine.
The idea came together after they had the opportunity to take over a small walk-up location in downtown Parkville. With Mari’s experience working at her family’s restaurant, K-Tacos & More, the sisters already knew a thing or two about the restaurant business. But Sabor Express gave them a chance to try something different.
“Sabor” means “flavor” in Spanish, while “Express” comes from the walk-up style of the business. The name also leaves plenty of room for the sisters to change things up.
And they definitely do.
Sabor Express // Photo by Nancy Le
The menu includes boba, matcha, dirty Red Bulls, and smoothies, along with street corn, dumplings, Sabor Fried Rice, and a teriyaki chicken bowl. The sisters also rotate in new drinks and food specials, giving customers a reason to come back and see what’s new.
“We don’t want to put ourselves into one specific category,” Mari says. “We like experimenting and giving people a reason to come back and see what we’re creating next.”
Sabor Express is a second business for the family behind K-Tacos & More. Mari’s experience there — from bartending and management to social media, menu development and events — played a big role in shaping the new concept.
Sabor Express // Photo by Nancy Le
Parkville also felt like a natural fit. The sisters already had ties to the community through K-Tacos and liked the small-business feel of downtown, where visitors can walk around, shop, and grab something to eat.
The location is a little tucked away at the top of the hill, but the sisters say customers have continued to discover them through social media, word of mouth, and while exploring downtown.
Their goal is for Sabor Express to become part of a Parkville day — whether that’s grabbing a boba while shopping, picking up a snack with the family, or stopping by to try one of their latest drinks.
There’s more on the way, too. The sisters are planning seasonal specials, new matcha and milk tea creations, food specials, collaborations, and community events. “We don’t want our menu to ever feel completely finished,” Mari says. “Part of the Sabor Express experience should be wondering what we’re going to come up with next.”
For now, Kansas Citians can find Mari and Naydelin at Sabor Express, 115 Main Street in Parkville, experimenting, serving up drinks, and figuring out what they’ll come up with next.
