13 November 23 - 29, 2023 dallasobserver.com DALLAS OBSERVER Classified | MusiC | dish | Culture | unfair Park | Contents sandwiches — from local bakeries such as La Casita and Reverie Bakeshop. The other, quirkier breakfast option is found at the cereal bar. This includes a selec- tion of single-serving boxes of most major cereals as well as large tubes of cereal ready to dispense right into your bowl. The setup is fun and eye-catching, but we have to nit- pick the mechanism that dispenses the ce- real, which does so in a way that is time-consuming and appears to be grinding up the cereal more than anything else. An adjustment to this would make the cereal bar a much sweeter experience. Like we said, the menu is simple, but the owners are clearly aiming to build community. When you walk in for the first time, the envi- ronment is welcoming and the setup is intui- tive and familiar. You already feel like a regular. The Rolling Stones’ Their Satanic Majesties Request was the music selection the day we were there, and the barista was more than happy to chat with us about the album as well as the merits of ‘60s Stones versus ’70s Stones. The Spin also has a decent selection of board games to play while you’re there. You can obviously bring a friend with you to play, but it also feels like the kind of place where you can link up with a stranger and it wouldn’t be awkward. Conversely, it’s not a spot where it’s easy to hole up in a corner and hide behind your laptop. The space is designed to be inherently social and almost compels guests to engage. As for the record selection, it’s fun to browse but it may not meet everyone’s stan- dards. This section of the store is fairly small, and while there’s a solid collection of popular artists and albums for sale, there are few surprises that would catch a more seri- ous collector’s eye. In fairness, that was never really the point anyway, so manage your expectations accordingly. Coffee shops are a dime a dozen and the industry is crowded with businesses bend- ing over backwards to stand out. The Spin’s whole “coffee shop with a record store in- side” schtick may seem like just another gimmick, but it sticks because it comes from a genuine love for music and bringing peo- ple together. We’ll be back for another cup of coffee and conversation soon. The Spin Coffee and Vinyl, 17290 Preston Road, No. 106. Tuesday – Saturday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. ▼ EAT THIS EAST MEETS WEST TEXAS GOGOGIRI BRINGS ASIAN ONIGIRI AND KOREAN CORN DOGS TO DALLAS. BY ANISHA HOLLA I n 2021, newly graduated duo Ian Green- berg and Harrison Nguyen brought GoGogiri to life as a food truck in their college town of Lubbock. Their love for Asian onigiri, combined with an appreciation for bold Texan flavors, birthed a fast-food idea: a chain that blends onigiri, a traditional Japa- nese snack, with Texan tastes. Dallas marks the pair’s newest location. In a modest shopping complex in Far North Dallas, the shop has generated considerable buzz. The Dallas restaurant is simple, with a small takeout counter, unfussy menu and no- frills dining room. The understated ambiance allows the spotlight to focus on the food. The highlight of the menu is an extensive selection of onigiri, a simple layer of salted rice with grilled, fried or cold fillings. Options in- clude the President’s Rice Ball, which comes almost over-stuffed with a mixture of katsu chicken and wagyu beef. The traditional SPAM onigiri has a fried mixture of teriyaki pork. There’s also a katsu chicken onigiri and shrimp tempura, to name a few more. While onigiri is the shop’s specialty prod- uct, Gogogiri has since broadened its menu to include other Asian specialties like bao buns, dumplings and scallion pancakes. Don’t miss out on the sweet purple bao bun: a fluffy, pur- ple-tinted dumpling filled with a sweet taro paste. Other buns, filled generously with chicken or barbecue pork, come wrapped in the same melt-in-the-mouth dough. Grab a to-go order of GoGogiri’s scallion pancakes, flaky dough with chopped green scallion, or beef dumplings, pan-fried to a satisfying crisp. Pair any item on the menu with GoGogiri’s signature GoGo sauce, which — theoretically — is designed for moderated dipping. Some may argue that it’s good enough to savor on its own. This week GoGogiri is launching GoGo Korean Corn Dogs, which are popular at their original locations. GoGogiri, 17421 Preston Road. Tuesday – Sunday, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. and 5–9 p.m. Anisha Holla Onigiri is a typical Japanese snack, coated in sticky white rice and wrapped in seaweed. overset
