Bites Nearby: Dim and Den Sum

Dim and Den Sum is one of those new gourmet food trucks that are recently all the rage — and it’s located, well, all over Cleveland.

Follow them on Facebook or Twitter, or just look at their website, to find out where they will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. every day.

The phrase gourmet food truck may be an oxymoron to some of you, but it is just what it sounds like: a trained chef with lots of high-end experience putting some entrepreneurial spirit to work, bringing his cuisine to a new locale every day.

This impromptu way of eating fine food is fun — it's not available close-by all the time, but it is cuisine and it is fresh, local and excellent — and such a nice alternative to the franchise around the corner from your office…

Orders are placed in the doorway of the truck — frosty all-natural drinks handed over after payment is made; the food is made to order and ready within moments- this is an efficient business. During the few minutes that I was there I must have watched 25 people come and go- many were obviously repeat customers.

The “Dim” part of the menu is sandwiches with an Asian twist; “and Den Sum” is sides like curried potato salad or cold noodle bowls… and the food portions are generous. Prices range from $3.50 to $8, and desserts are $2.

We tried the house-made (vegetarian) Black Bean Burger with garlic scape pesto, spiced crème fraîche, house-made pickles and mixed greens, and the Chipotle Chicken Sandwich with barbeque sauce, onion relish and Korean popcorn. Both items were substantial, but not weighty or over-filling... and we loved them both.

Unfortunately for us, they don’t come to Lakewood (yet), but I’ve been curious about them for a while, so I drove into Cleveland when I learned they’d be at West 6^th and St Clair:  I left at 11:30, parked in an Austin Powers-sized parking spot (with a free hour already on the meter!), walked about a block, placed my order, took pictures and chatted—all with my 7-year old space-shot in tow— I was back home by noon and my food was still hot... It was totally worth the jaunt downtown.

They do take credit cards — Visa, Master Card and Discover — and of course, cash.

Outdoor seating only.

216-246-1330