The Dinky Dau serves affordable Asian style eats with a specialty in Banh Mi and fermented foods. 

Food

My vegetarian friend and I were headed to our planned lunch destination on Irving Avenue when we stumbled upon the Dinky Dau, and its charm drew us in. On the spot, we decided to eat there instead.

My friend spent a month traveling throughout Vietnam years ago, so we were intrigued by the food cart and its specialty in banh mi and fermented foods.

The graphic menu was easy to read and laid out in two steps. No. 1: Choose a protein. No. 2: Decide if you’d like it on a Vietnamese style sandwich or a rice bowl. All five of the protein options were gluten-free and two were vegan.

The rice bowls are served with the choice of two sides including kim chi, fermented fruit salads or a soy egg.

My friend ordered the banh mi over rice with sweet and sour tempeh while I gravitated towards the tangy meatball rice bowl with jicama pineapple jalapeño slaw and the Dinky Kim Chi with shrimp.

When I opened the to go container, the food inside was full of color. I took a bite into meatballs rich in umami. They were juicy and satisfying. The slaw and Dinky Kim Chi were bright and tangy.

Small pieces of crispy goodness with bubbles inside added a light crunch. The woman who prepared our food explained

that the crispy pieces are sometimes referred to as tofu skin, yuba or dried beancurd and are prepared by lifting the skin that forms on the top of heated soy milk.

Not only does this food cart hit the mark when it comes to customer service and doing Asian fusion well, it’s affordable. The banh mi sandwich rings up at just $10 and the rice bowl is $12.

But since the Dinky Dau doesn’t have the same shelter as a food truck, it’s open seasonally. Be sure to schedule a lunch date in your calendar now before you miss your chance.

Service

The service couldn’t be any more on point. The staffer was welcoming, friendly and knowledgeable about the food.

Atmosphere

There’s plenty of outdoor seating next to a small public garden with benches. If sitting outside on the corner of Oregon Avenue and Irving Avenue, street art can be enjoyed on the parking structure across the street.

But don’t allow poor weather to stop you from ordering banh mi. All orders are prepared in takeout containers, making it easy to grab and go.

More info

Location: 264 NW Irving Ave., Bend

Contact: www.dinkydaubend.com, 541-610-4655, @dinkydaubend

Hours: Monday-Thursday 11-3 p.m.

Price Range: $10-$12

Cuisine: Pan Asian