Dine & Dash: A Space Village Ave. cluster 🍽
Mini reviews of Rocky Bowl Bistro, Somjai Thai and Masala Bites (with a shout-out to Daniel's Taco Shop)

Rocky Bowl Bistro
Rocky Bowl just opened in early December at 6821 Space Village Ave. in the former Thai Guy space (which closed at September’s end). I attended a low-key media invite day to meet the owners and try a couple of dishes. So consider this more of an informed preview plus an early mini review (given I’d normally give them way more time to get on their feet.)
Co-owners Reese and Kate Sattler and Minnie Farrier tell me they decided to open a restaurant because they want to work for themselves and “Kate is a phenomenal chef,” says Reese. He’s still selling medicare and life insurance on the side and all three formerly worked at Thai Mint together (which they speak very fondly of), and they were former roommates. Reese is from Illinois and Kate and Minnie are from Thailand. When it came to picking this location for Rocky Bowl, Reese says they liked the existing military and nearish-neighborhood support for neighboring SomJai Thai, Masala Bites, Daniel’s Taco Shop and a Dairy Queen location. And they saw an available niche with Asian fusion, to bring together limited items from Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese and Chinese cultures, as well as some American plates like a burger bowl, chicken sandwich and a panini-pressed UFO Burger. “Let’s bring all the all the best flavors together” he says. “Fresh, fast, fantastic food — that’s Rocky Bowl Bistro.” (Which, in case you’re wondering, isn’t a build-your-own-bowl place; these are pre-designed dishes.)






For our sampling, we get an iced matcha latte and Thai tea ($3.95 each), both unique due to added ingredients from mixes sourced from Thailand, I’m told. I do taste jasmine noticeably in the matcha. Each has more a perfume-y quality and rank on the sweeter side for sure, so they’re a treat unless you’re trying to avoid sugar. We don’t try their rendition of a Vietnamese coffee (pictured bottom right, above) nor the Rocky Lava Toast dessert — that was just me invading another media member’s space for a moment to snap a shot of what they ordered. (Looks yummy though.)
For our mains we order a chicken katsu Japanese curry (option for pork or tofu) garnished with pickled red cabbage, green onion and sesame seed. It’s mild but highly flavorful and on-point. And the Yum Gai Saab is a Thai bowl with crispy fried chicken slices (or it can be made vegetarian or vegan) seasoned with a “tangy Thai-style sauce.” Those similarly come over rice but with a topping of shredded carrot and other veggies plus Thai chiles and a side iceberg salad. I opt to add an egg for $1.50 (atop the $13.45 base price; everything’s affordable) and pop the yolk to make it bleed over the other ingredients and coat bites. It’s a thoroughly pleasing dish, and nice snapshot of early potential for Rocky Bowl Bistro.
Before we depart, Reese brings over a basket of house fries for us to try because they’re uniquely spiced with a Thai salted egg powder that’s zesty and full of umami. He also delivers samples of each of the daily-made house sauces that inform the bowls, for us to dip in. They’re diverse and widely interesting, from pineapple-sesame and peanut sauce to thick teriyaki, cilantro and spicy mayos, and a new-to-me, Thai nam jim jeaw. That one, made with galangal, tamarind, longan, lime leaf, cilantro, onion and dried rice powder, is my favorite. It comes on the pork belly bowl on the menu if you wish to try it, and in Thailand they say it’s used on a variety of meats.
Masala Bites
This Indian/Pakistani place opened around a year ago and hosts a huge menu broken into all the categories you’re probably familiar with by now (from vindaloos to curries, etc.), with all the protein options to cater to all diets. It smells absolutely wonderful when we walk in, and I inquire about a Pakistani dish since I can’t say I’m super acquainted, other than I know it’s obviously similar to Indian. A quick online search says in-brief that it’s generally meatier with bolder flavors and even spicier.
From a “chef’s specials” section of the menu I’m guided to the Goat Karachi (which has lamb and goat options as well). Because I haven’t seen it before that I can recall, I order a honey-ginger naan as well for accompaniment. I take the food to-go, and the wonderfully fragrant rice permeates the air in my car as much as the entrée. I bite into some naan first when home, curious if this is going to be a mistake: too sweet like a sopapilla. But they’ve used only a touch of honey that’s not significantly sweet so it still pairs nicely with the savory food. The minced ginger has a nice, bright rawness to it still, basically zingy where typical garlic would be sharp and biting. As for the goat, watch for bones of all sizes (as expected) and chew the tender meat carefully. The garlic-ginger-tomato sauce has a nice medium-level spice, and is deep and muddy with layered spices and flecks of cilantro. It’s great. And for a one-dish review, I’m satisfied Masala Bites rates worthwhile, and potentially a little ahead of the pack.
Somjai Thai Cuisine
Somjai, named for its owner, opened in mid 2023 and all the neighboring businesses speak very highly of it to me. Including the folks at Rocky Bowl Bistro, who let’s remember worked at Thai Mint (one of our finest Thai spots in town no doubt) and are Thai (well, two of three).
I check out the full menu, but am drawn to a special dish advertised on a handwritten sign at the register as I’m seeking to grab to-go: pumpkin curry. Yes, please. I ask what pumpkin they use and am told a Japanese squash which they describe as green on the outside and yellow inside. (Ah, kabocha.) The staff says it has been selling so well as a special they’ll likely keep it on the menu. I order it three out of five for spice level, which delivers a nice forward spice and lingering smolder.
Otherwise the dish holds a mild sweetness from the highlighting starch (and I’m guessing a touch of added sugar), and its soft texture contrasts well with a little snappiness from somewhat al dente veggies which include green beens, carrots and baby corn. There’s nothing not to like from the whole experience, so again, for a one-dish review, I’m convinced Somjai should be on your list if you’re seeking a Thai spot in the area that you haven’t yet been to.


Daniel’s Taco Shop (shout-out)
Due to a time constraint I wasn’t able to duck into Daniel’s, but I did end up chatting with the owner’s brother, who was over buying a meal at Rocky Bowl Bistro. His name is Alan Pineda and when I ask his title he says “all things” — meaning chef plus-plus around the place. He reminds/informs me that this location is 15 years old, and the sister location on B Street outside Fort Carson is eight years old. They run a good delivery business and the burritos are big and affordable. When I ask if there’s a particular style to the place, Pineda says “Cali-Mex.” I’ll have to get back out to try them sometime. It’s been years since I was last out while reviewing for the Indy.