Options for Indian and Asian food are growing this summer in downtown Southern Pines.
Bambu Boba Café is combining its operations with Steve’s TK Pizza & Subs and moving to the space that once housed Meat & Greek, under a new concept called The Block.
When Bambu moves out of its Broad Street space, Jaya’s Indian Cuisine will move in, expanding its take-out only restaurant to dine-in service.
Bambu Boba Café
The family behind Bambu Boba Café on Broad Street and Steve’s TK Pizza & Hot Subs on Morganton Road plans to combine their efforts into one location — a concept at 290 West Pennsylvania Ave. called The Block.
“The popularity of our Asian menu has picked up quite a bit, and we hear a lot about people choosing it as a healthier option,” says James Lam, who owns both restaurants along with his wife, Keena Lam and sister-in-law Vivi Vonghom.
While the menu and concept are yet to be finalized, the family is toying with an East / West concept that would host pizza, subs and wings on one side and items like boba, pho, potstickers and bahn mi on the other — as well as some items from Mai Phi, a restaurant on U.S. 1 the family also owns.
During the transition, Steve’s will remain open. Bambu Boba will shut down on May 1. Find BambuBoba’s website here.
Jaya’s Moves to Broad Street
When Bambu moves out, Jaya’s Indian Cuisine will move in. Three years after opening their takeout-only location at 1020 N. May Street, Ekambaram Elamaran (Maran, for short) and Jayarani Elamaran are expanding to dine-in service at 169 NE Broad St.
Maran and Jaya, who’ve been working in Southern Pines for 25 years, have been looking for the right place to offer dine-in service for several months.
“I’m very excited to get in this place and offer food that people can enjoy here or to-go,” Maran says. Plans include expansion of the much-loved lassi lineup and a continued focus on daily specials, but “not a big menu — just simple, and great.”
Maran plans to be open for lunch and dinner, and serve a limited menu in between. Look for a grand opening sometime in July; Jaya’s will remain open in its current spot in the meantime. Oh, and yes, the food truck is here to stay.
