Zen Mongo, located on one of the quieter spokes of Addison Circle, boasts a hip, industrial setting. A courtyard patio gives a more tranquil al fresco option. The food setup here is similar to other local spots, and posted instructions keep things user-friendly.
Diners grab a small bowl at the first of two raw ingredient stations.
Choose your protein from diced bins of beef, lamb, chicken, pork, whitefish, squid, faux crab and tofu. When you've chosen your veggies, ladle on your pick of sauces, from simple lemon water or white wine to more complex flavors such as Asian chili or hoisin. Add a dash of spice from the crowded spice rack, then move down to the cooking area where an employee mans the circular grill, dumping your culinary creation onto its 650-degree surface, where it cooks up in minutes. Grab some tortillas and a bowl of rice, and it's dinner time. Though our servers didn't have much to do but clear our spent bowls and refill beverages, it was all done quickly and unobtrusively.