Tuesday, August 31, 2021

Shouk "coming soon" to Westwood Shopping Center in Bethesda


Shouk
has posted coming-soon signage at its future space at 5436 Westbard Avenue, in the Westwood Shopping Center in Bethesda. The globally-inspired, plant-based street food chain is also opening a Rockville location at 5568 Randolph Road, in the Montrose Shopping Center. Both locations are expected to open this fall.

Shouk's future Rockville location

The Bethesda location will initially be carry-out only, as it is moving into the small China Cafe space. At a later date in the redevelopment of the Westwood Shopping Center, it will move to a larger, newly-constructed space in the new Westbard Square development that recently began construction. The Rockville location will be full-service with indoor dining.

Shouk Burger

Shouk's most famous menu item is the Shouk Burger, a veggie burger that has won several awards. Celebrity chef Carla Hall called it "the best dang burger I've ever tasted," and "mind-blowing" on the Food Network. Pita bread sandwiches, bowls, hummus and salads round out the menu.

Vacant former China Cafe space

Both the Rockville and Bethesda locations will be constructed of reclaimed materials, and will be 100% wind-powered. Shouk uses renewable packaging from plant sources, such as wooden utensils and biodegradable materials.


One piece of interesting trivia: Shouk's arrival will give the Westwood Shopping Center two eateries in its 62-year history that served dishes named "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" on the Food Network. Mo Rocca chose former tenant Farrell's' Gibson Girl Sundae as the best thing he ever ate. Rocca originally ate the sundae at the Westwood Shopping Center Farrell's location in the 1970s.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

That's actually a thing? Sounds disgusting. Shake Shack much better choice.

Anonymous said...

100% wind power? I do not remember seeing the giant windmill that would be required to power even a small restaurant on the Westbard renderings. Even then they would require massive storage batteries for calm days. Perhaps they might pay into a fund that creates energy from wind farms and delivers it to the grid, but its a real stretch to claim that they are only using wind power for all of their energy.

Anonymous said...

Huge mistake to not open this location on Bethesda Row. Guess I won't be going that often then....

Anonymous said...

@6:38 AM - That wind power is in reference to the by-product produced from consumption of the vegetarian foods served here. It's capable of creating enough turbulence to turn power this place for a full day.

Kalnel said...

Darn, I didn't realize China Cafe had closed. The owners are lovely and the food was excellent.