Saucy Porka Owner Opens Spotted Monkey Asian-Latin Fusion in Loop

The owner of weekday lunch fave Saucy Porka continues to expand with the opening of Spotted Monkey, a new fusion lunch spot in the Financial District. Chef Amy Le once more brings together Southeast Asian and Latin American flavors, combining baos and tacos, and pho and pozole.

Five-spice duck baoco [Photo: Spotted Monkey]

Le's calling the first combination a bacos, a rolled up version of an open-faced bao stuffed with ingredients including duck, shrimp, tofu, chicken and pork. Le, born in Malaysia, is of Vietnamese heritage. She also worked in her mother's Chinese restaurants. She's also serving the Phozole, merging Mexican and Vietnamese broths. Some will remember Le from DuckNRoll, the defunct food truck. The new restaurant is the former Haute Sausage spot, for more food truck synergy.

Saucy Porka endeared itself to Loop workers with a similar set up, also combining cultures and flavors. Will the 30-seat, 1950s-era Cuban decorate space become another lunchtime hit? Menu items cost $8 to $13. They'll also serve breakfast.

Spotted Monkey, 335 S. Franklin St., (773) 415-1786. Open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekdays; closed on weekends.