Audio By Carbonatix
There are plenty of spots in north Scottsdale where you can get a hoagie or a BLT. But there’s probably only one place in the entire Valley where you can also get a bowl of bibimbap. That is Croque Famous Sandwiches, a counter-service sandwich shop with Korean connections. Owner Lilian Park came to Los Angeles from Korea when she was 19 years old and moved to Gilbert in 2003. For four years, she operated a Chandler bagel shop (it’s since closed), and bought Croque six years ago after taking a year off to be with her daughters.
You probably won’t notice the Korean side of the restaurant right away. The logo — a smiling crocodile with a knife and fork — is no indication and the interior, with photos of European settings on the walls, doesn’t advertise it either. Nevertheless you will find Korean dishes on the menu, including a moderately spicy cabbage kimchi and the Korean mixed rice dish bibimbap. If Park’s husband is the one behind the counter, he may even mix the dish up for you, to ensure you get perfect spiciness in every bite.
See also: The Henry Brings Excellent Service and Acceptable Food to Arcadia
Here’s an except from this week’s review:
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There is an excellent Korean pork sandwich as well. Spicier than the beef, the grilled and marinated meat, made with Park’s chili pepper paste, is layered with onions and cheese for a hearty sandwich with a kick. And although Park makes her own teriyaki sauce, you can’t help wishing that the meat it clings to in the chicken teriyaki sandwich came from the more traditional skin-on, pan-fried chicken thighs and not the less flavorful (albeit healthier) strips of grilled white breasts.
Hungry for more? Read our full review of Pho A.V.
