SuBo Sushi Burritos

I swung into SuBo after running a few errands. Conveniently, I was the only one in the restaurant, given that it was just after 2 p.m. on a Tuesday. SuBo is operated by owners Toby Helms and Abigail Kasel, who aim to serve a quality, healthy alternative to typical fast-casual food joints. I had never had a sushi burrito before, so I was a little worried about getting a roll that would fall apart quickly.

What I got was a pleasant meeting of my expectations, which was wanting a wrap that didn’t make me feel like taking a nap afterward. I wouldn’t have the full experience of eating at a Sushi restaurant without getting some sides and appetizers.
To start, I had some edamame and pork gyoza, which were wonderful vessels to try out each dipping sauce SuBo offers. The sweet and sour sauce, spicy mayo, and sweet soy sauce each added a unique flavor to the gyoza. Because of that, each bite of my classic #2 burrito (with shrimp tempura and surimi crab) was doused with each one of the dipping sauces. What surprised me the most was the sweet soy sauce, which has that thicker consistency of teriyaki sauce but with the tanginess of
soy sauce.

The gyoza isn’t just a meager appetizer, either. The crust had a balanced level of crispiness with a soft inside. The Philly Roll, which comes with fresh salmon, cream cheese, and shrimp tempura, was tightly packed and held together surprisingly well. A healthy dosage of sweet soy sauce complemented the Philly Roll best.

So, if you’re running errands around South Eugene, you must try SuBo. It’s great for all levels of sushi enthusiasts, and its menu includes classics like California roll wraps and the uniquely SuBo Black Widow and Lucky Cat burritos.

Albee’s Authentic NY Gyros

Albee’s has two locations in town — one on West 11th and the other on West 18th. Albee’s is a great place to pick up a quick bite at a reasonably affordable price. For just under $10, you can get a decently sized gyro pita.

The classic gyro pita contains Albee’s signature lamb and beef blend with lettuce, tomato, onions, olives, feta, and tzatziki, all wrapped in warm pita bread. One of my main gripes with gyros is how salty the lamb or beef tastes. Luckily, Albee’s lamb and beef blend is the perfect level of salty and tender. When I make gyros, I don’t load them up with all the fix-ins that Albee’s does, but the olives, onions, and tomatoes add a cool sensation to offset the beef and lamb. Even if you don’t like Feta Cheese like me, it gives the gyro the New York authenticity they’re going for.

Albee’s has the true spirit of a classic New York City hole-in-the-wall, fast-casual joint. There isn’t much room inside, but the gyros are prepared quickly to get you on your way. It doesn’t hurt that you’re given a punch card, so if you go enough times, you can get a free gyro. The menu also has only one variation of the classic gyro pita, which is a falafel substitute.

Albee’s also has a New York hot dog with ketchup, yellow mustard, brown mustard, mayo, cheese, jalapenos, sauerkraut, onions and bacon bits. For just $7.50, Albee’s has a gyllies cheesesteak, which is a Greek take on the Philly cheesesteak. The gyllies cheesesteak marinates the lamb and beef meat in Au-Jus sauce, served with green peppers, cheese, and onions on a warm bun. I was a bit skeptical at first, but the lamb from the classic gyro blend is complimented by the peppers and onions. Get the cheesesteak if you don’t mind a little bit of a mess.

Albee’s is the perfect hole-in-the-wall spot that won’t break the bank. I know the punch card will definitely have me coming back in the next couple of weeks.

Za Cart Pizza

Za Cart Pizza is the spot I’d recommend if you have the most extreme case of the munchies. Huge portion sizes, lots of toppings, and generous servings of ranch make Za Cart the perfect munchie meal. If you’re craving something that will just zap your munchies, Za Cart is perfect for sharing among friends on a Sunday night to cap off the weekend.

I had the pleasure of sampling the classic pepperoni pizza and the meat lovers pizza. The meat lovers pie includes bacon bits and ham. If you get Za Cart, come prepped with a healthy serving of napkins. That said, Za Cart’s pies are worth the mess.

Tacos Mex

Out in the Whiteaker, Tacos Mex might seem hard to find, but in my opinion, this is one of Eugene’s best taquerias. Growing up in a Mexican family, my childhood was defined by the various dishes of tacos, sopes, and enchiladas my Mom and Grandma would make. Not only does Tacos Mex have killer street tacos and burritos, but they also specialize in having Eugene’s best options for all things Birria.

If you’re not familiar with Birria, it is a Mexican meat stew of either goat or beef cooked in broth and spices. The meat is often served in tacos or in various forms of tortilla. At Tacos Mex, you can order the classic Quesabirria, which comes with two tacos and a side of broth, or you can go for Tacos Mex’s most popular item, the Quesapizza. A Quesapizza is what it sounds like, a pizza-shaped, and sliced piece of Quesabirra.

The Quesapizza is a great meal to share with friends in really any social setting. For $27, you get a pizza from our friends south of the border. The flour tortilla comes with cheese, onion, cilantro, and sour cream. The dish is so juicy that it comes with two sides of consommé, which is the broth that, when dipped, enhances the flavor of the birria.

I remember, during my freshmen year, seeing a Snapchat story about Quesapizza and wanting to know where it came from. The dish is so good my own friends gatekept it from me, saying that it was too good
to be leaked.

Looking for something maybe a little less messy? Grab an order of the birria fries topped with cheese, sour cream, onion, and cilantro.

You really can’t go wrong with anything from Tacos Mex. If you grew up with really good Taquerias around, like in Southern California or the Bay Area, this taqueria nestled away in the shadows of Eugene will remind
you of home.

So, if you’re looking for a new restaurant to try or maybe just a new dish, check out these Eugene fast-casual restaurants. They won’t break the bank and are best shared with friends and good company.