DINING FEATURE The Deck Food Park Magnolia dining hub brings cuisines together S alley Chung said she wanted to build something for the community. So using shipping containers, Chung opened The Deck Food Park in October. Taqueria No. 21 and Yummy Pho & Banh Mi—guests at The Deck can try a variety of dishes, from Korean crispy fried chicken and ceviche to tacos and pho. There is also one more kitchen BY LIZZY SPANGLER
Made with Conex shipping containers, The Deck features several food concepts and a large outdoor seating area.
“I said, ‘I would love to see some- thing in the community that has a air,’” Chung said. “We came up with this design where we turned Conexes into kitchens.” Chung said the permitting process was tough because of the uniqueness of the venture. “I know in Montgomery County, we were the rst because, during permit- ting, it was really, really tough because they did not know what to do with us,” Chung said. “They never had a
LIZZY SPANGLER COMMUNITY IMPACT
available for another concept to use. “Di erent people can come and do their food,” Chung said. “That’s what my vision is. They can come, introduce their kinds of food.” Open seven days a week, The Deck Food Park is pet-friendly, with a yard space with games. “It’s a very relaxing, very family-ori- ented [place],” Chung said. When it comes to the concepts, some of the restaurants, like Ceviche Ria,
Rafael and Atenas Michel, co-owners of Taqueria No. 21
Salley Chung, owner of The Deck Food Park
Sung Park, owner of Ninja Chick’n
place like this before. … We’re like a cross between a brick-and- mortar and a food truck.” Made with Conex shipping containers, The Deck Food Park features a large outdoor seating area. Stacked Conexes
have locations else- where while others only have a location at The Deck. “Let’s say you want to open a restaurant, but you want to test sample a menu,”
Thao Huynh, owner of Yummy Pho & Banh Mi
Jessica Gonzales, operator of Ceviche Ria
“ MONTGOMERY COUNTY NEVER HAD A PLACE LIKE THIS BEFORE. … WE’RE LIKE A CROSS BETWEEN A BRICK AND MORTAR AND A FOOD TRUCK.” SALLEY CHUNG, THE DECK FOOD PARK OWNER
LIZZY SPANGLER COMMUNITY IMPACT
Ceviche Ria’s Campechana Cocktail ($14.99) features seafood, cilantro, tomatoes, cucumber, onions and a red sauce.
A Ninja Chick’n combo meal ($8.89-$9.89) comes with bone-in or strip chicken with fries, sauce and a regular drink.
A torta ($14.99) at Taqueria No. 21 is handmade bread with cheese, cilantro, onion, a choice of asada, al pastor or chicken, with guacamole $2 extra.
Chung said. “This is a great place—[it’s] small, easy. You can put a new recipe out and then test it out.” Chung also said much of The Deck’s business is to-go orders through services like Grubhub and Uber Eats. Chung said the plan for The Deck is to keep the momentum going. “I always get that—when people stop here for the rst time, they say, ‘Oh wow,’” she said. “I get that ‘Oh wow’ a lot. And I love that. I love … hearing that [people] actually appreciate the food that’s here, enjoy the environment.”
create a second level that has more seating and rooms available for rent.
“To build a house like this kind of a shape and structure, it would be very, very di cult,” Chung said. “But with Conexes, you could. You can stack them, you can do all kinds of stu with them, make it a little bit more di erent.” With separate concepts housed in colorfully painted shipping container kitchens—Ceviche Ria, Ninja Chick’n,
COURTESY TAQUERIA NO. 21
COURTESY CEVICHE RIA
COURTESY NINJA CHICK’N
The Deck Food Park 5802 FM 1488, Magnolia www.thedeck1488.com Hours: Mon. 11 a.m.-7 p.m., Tue.-Sat. 11 a.m.-8 p.m., Sun. noon-6 p.m.
WESTWOOD DR.
2978
1488
N
Trusted by local physicians since 2005
Delivering the most advanced audiological care in North Houston by: • Comprehensive hearing assessments • Hearing aids • Cochlear implant consultation
Schedule your appointment today! 8515 Spring Cypress Road, Suite 105, Spring, TX 77379 NorthHoustonHearing.com 281-444-9800
• Tinnitus treatment • Dizziness & Balance • Wax removal and MORE
23
TOMBALL MAGNOLIA EDITION • JUNE 2023
Powered by FlippingBook