Tigawok Mini Bowls, 132 E Palm Ave, Burbank, CA 91502
Tigawok is LA’s first eatery with robot chefs (the food is cooked in automated woks and rice cookers). I was expecting to order from a kiosk, but they do have human staff (and great service too). The portions are smaller (hence the name mini bowls) and the dishes are Chinese (e.g., orange peel chicken, kung pao chicken, wagyu mapo tofu, pepper Kurobuta pork, garlic eggplant & green beans). The most expensive bowl is the hunan spicy beef, which is $7.58.
Grab a tray, choose a base (rice, noodles, wagyu & kurobata rice bowl), and choose your mini bowls. You can also add a drink. The food is already cooked and kept warm with steam trays. Pay after you get your food.
Don’t forget to visit the condiment bar which has their signature wagyu spicy sauce (yes, it has bits of beef), marinated white radish, soy sauce, and vinegar. Pick up a breath mint and toothpick, water, utensils, etc.
Braised pork & wagyu beef rice bowl ($5.98): Mixing beef and pork seems wrong to me. The pork was very fatty but it did have the Chinese five spice and soy flavor that I expected. It was too sweet though and in small pieces. I didn’t really notice the beef. The steamed white rice was fluffy and cooked well. While the pork was too sweet and fatty, once I added the condiments and mixed everything, it tasted really good (better than I expected). The condiments are really good. The radish is crunchy. There was a great balance of flavors (sweet, salty, acidic, spicy, umami) and textures (soft, crunchy, chewy).
Dry-pot brussels sprouts ($3.98): loved these, soft and savory
Oolong iced tea ($2.99): unsweetened with refills, very nice.
The packaging also stands out because you can easily take it to go and reheat it in the microwave. And there’s a rewards program. The dining room is clean and attractive. The meal was filling for a light lunch or dinner, and if you’re hungrier, choose another bowl.
I went back and didn't enjoy the mapo tofu. The dish was too oily and the ground beef they added on top was super dry. The chow mein was decent. The eggplant and green beans were okay, but also oilier than they needed to be.
Free public parking is plentiful.
