Janay Wright writes about food, events and the outdoors for The Bend ÅÝֱܽ²¥. As the company’s Audience Engagement and Features Reporter since 2021, she also runs The ÅÝֱܽ²¥’s Instagram account. Read her work in The ÅÝֱܽ²¥’s free print GO Magazine or stay in the know on Instagram @bendbulletin. And if you’re not sure where to eat in town, she likely has a recommendation.
Before establishing Dear Mom Cafe along Century Drive in Bend, owners of the Thai restaurant dreamt of opening a grab-and-go breakfast joint inspired by Southeast Asian street food.
On Memorial Day, Jattalee (JJ) Chalernhinthong and Ash Horachaikul brought the idea to life, launching in NorthWest Crossing’s The Grove to waiting customers. The husband-and-wife team were shocked by the initial level of support and sold out in under two hours, Chalernhinthong said.
The sandwich joint combines Asian flavors with locally sourced ingredients for a breakfast option that rounds out other offerings at the market hall.
“I wanted to create a place where people could experience the vibrant flavors of Asian street food in a familiar format like sandwiches,†Chalernhinthong said.
Husband and wife team Ash Horachaikul and JJ Chalernhinthong are the creators behind The Good Egg and Dear Mom Cafe in Bend.
Courtesy Tina Paymaster Photography
Asian street food influences
Chalernhinthong makes regular trips home to Thailand, where the long journey requires connecting flights During her travels, she took notice of countries fluent in the language of street food culture such as Taiwan, Korea, Japan, China and Hong Kong.
“It’s not just the taste anymore. It’s a shape. It’s a presentation. It’s everything,†she said, referencing current food trends.
Elements of the street food concept are present in the oversized breakfast sandwiches, which are wrapped in yellow wax paper and positioned in a small cardboard box that keeps the sandwich upright, displaying the upper half.
The Good Egg is located in The Grove market hall in Bend's Northwest Crossing.
Janay Wright/The ÅÝֱܽ²¥
The bacon sandwich ($13) and Korean spicy pork ($15), drizzled with sriracha mayo and sprinkled with fresh herbs, caught the interest of two groups passing my table as I sat outside The Grove. It piqued their interest enough that they stopped to inquire where I bought the sandwiches from.
Brioche from Big Ed’s
Supporting fellow Bend businesses is important to Chalernhinthong. Locally sourced eggs, brioche bread and vegetables make up 80% of ingredients. Eggs are purchased from Goodspeed Family Farms and Well Rooted Farms, resulting in a fluffier and fresher scramble compared to the liquid eggs products used by some restaurants.
Chalernhinthong said The Good Egg's breakfast sandwiches will always be prepared on brioche bread from , made with butter and eggs, which resembles the soft and fluffy milk bread popular in Southeast Asia.
“We are proud to tell everybody that the bread is from them, instead of keeping (it) a secret,†Chalernhinthong said. “There’s no secrets here and I’m very proud of that.â€
Eggs sandwiches all day
The Good Egg’s number one seller is a simple, straightforward bacon sandwich. It sells over 100 every day, Chalernhinthong said.
Those interested in more robust flavors should try the Korean spicy pork ($15). Although Horachaikul encourages trying all the different sandwiches, the spicy pork is his favorite menu item.
Smoky pulled pork is paired with kimchi for a bold combination of flavors. The pork begins with a hint of sweetness, followed by spice. Tangy kimchi cuts through the fat and spice in this umami-rich sandwich.
Another treat is the NWX Coconut Cloud slushy ($12). It’s vegan and on the healthier side, blended with sea moss, a boost of vitamin C and spirulina powder that swirls in variations of blue. It tastes similar to a piña colada.
As parents of a 6-year-old, the restaurant owners created the eatery they were looking for, a grab-and-go breakfast establishment where kids are welcome. The average cost of the breakfast sandwiches is about $13, a price point the owners hope will allow patrons a few extra dollars to spare a cup of coffee.
In addition to Thump Coffee in The Grove, The Good Egg joins Sebastian Seafood, Jackson’s Corner, Elly’s Ice Cream, Shimshon Israeli Street Food, Waypoint and Asian-inspired concepts ThAiPAS and Pho Viet & Cafe.
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Location: The Grove, 921 Northwest Mount Washington Drive, Bend
Janay Wright writes about food, events and the outdoors for The Bend ÅÝֱܽ²¥. As the company’s Audience Engagement and Features Reporter since 2021, she also runs The ÅÝֱܽ²¥’s Instagram account. Read her work in The ÅÝֱܽ²¥’s free print GO Magazine or stay in the know on Instagram @bendbulletin. And if you’re not sure where to eat in town, she likely has a recommendation.
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