a rice bowl topped with marinated beef and pickled ginger
— 1 Comment

Review: West Brew Izakaya – West Reading

exterior of a building with picture windows on either side of the front door - one of the windows is painted with anime characters

When you visit West Reading, most don’t venture far from the avenue. In 2022, Takkii Ramen bucked the trend, opening in a space a block away on Reading Avenue. Despite being away from the crowds, Takkii stuck around and ultimately expanded. 

In 2025, the restaurant made the move to the Avenue, opening in the former Broken Chair Brewery. Not only did they take over the location, they also took over brewing. With the expanded concept came a name change to West Brew Izakaya. West for West Reading, Brew for the brewery and Izakaya for a style of Japanese pub.

restaurant interior with brick walls and a tv playing Pokemon anime

The new West Brew opened in September 2025. Julie and I made a lunch date to get our first visit a few months later in February 2026. 

Not being a drinker, I never made it into Broken Chair before they closed in 2024. My only reference points are photos of the previous business. The core components of Broken Chair are still visible: exposed brick walls and a bar fronted with corrugated steel. 

rectangular bar with lights above - one row is yellow globes the other is red, blue and green boxes in the style of paper lanterns

But West Brew has added some unique flairs. Lights in the form of paper lanterns – yellow globes beneath a row of box lights in red, blue and green – hang above the bar. On the walls, the flatscreen TVs play anime favorites Pokemon and Dragon Ball Z. 

Much of Takkii’s menu has been brought over to the new spot. Ramen and rice dishes make up most of the menu. While I like ramen, I gravitate to the rice bowls, and on this trip I ordered the sukiyaki beef don. 

a rice bowl topped with marinated beef and pickled ginger

The bowl came with white rice, marinated beef, scallions and pickled ginger. The marinated beef had a very good flavor on its own, deeper than a standard soy or teriyaki sauce – but the tanginess of the pickled ginger is what sets it apart in my book. It made for a delicious lunch, though I would have been satisfied with a smaller portion. 

Triangle-shaped dumplings on a bed of greens with a small bit of teriyaki sauce with scallions for dipping

At lunchtime, West Brew runs a special combo of an entree, appetizer and drink so we decided to share an appetizer of chicken gyoza – Japanese-style dumplings with soy dipping sauce. They were a very good start to the meal with the soy sauce giving a bright pop to each bite. 

two tall cups filled with milk tea and boba pearls

In addition to the beers, West Brew is also serving boba drinks from their other business, Winnie Tea Bar. I ordered my favorite – brown sugar milk tea – to accompany my lunch.  

Julie got a taro milk tea, which is her favorite boba drink. Taro is a purple cousin of the potato with a slightly sweet profile. I don’t know how much of the real vegetable is involved in creating the boba, but it makes for a good drink. 

bowl filled with broth, noodles, corn, beansprouts, bamboo shoots, scallions and a marinated grilled chicken breast

For her entree, Julie ordered the teriyaki chicken ramen. The bowl was filled with a pork-based broth with noodles, bamboo shoots, beansprouts, corn, and scallions. On top with a grilled chicken breast marinated in a teriyaki glaze. 

It was a delicious meal. As she ate it, Julie decided she liked the heartiness of the broth more than the lighter pho we had a few weeks before at Saigon Banh Mi (though that meal was still very good). The chicken was nice and flavorful with sweet and salty notes from the glaze. But it was too much to finish, especially at lunch. 

brick wall with a mountain design in wood and a long high-top bar for eating

Overall, it was a great meal. Service was a little slow on the day as the restaurant was full at the lunchtime rush, but our server was attentive (and had great recommendations for the flavor of bubbles to match our tea). But we were still done in a little more than an hour.

Our total bill came in between $50-$60 which was expensive for lunch, but we were also enjoying dinner-sized portions and splurging on boba. 

And we really did enjoy our meal and our time at West Brew, and we will be sure to be back. 

BCE Rating
Food: Very Good
Service: Good
Ambiance: Very Good
Price: $$

West Brew Izakaya
424 Penn Avenue
West Reading, PA 19611

More Asian Restaurants in Berks County

More Restaurants in West Reading, PA

Asian & Pacific Islands Lunch & Dinner Reviews
bowl filled with broth, pieces of meat, bamboo shoots, and a spring of basil from Saigon Banh Mi
— Leave a Comment

Review: Saigon Banh Mi – Exeter Township

strip mall restaurant space with a white overhang with red letters reading "Saigon Banh Mi"

Berks County may not have an abundance of Vietnamese restaurants, but what it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality. We’ve enjoyed delicious meals at Lang Restaurant in Reading and Vietnamese Delights at the Fairgrounds Farmers Market. 

And we can now add Saigon Banh Mi to that list. 

wall covered in oversized black and white photos for Vietnam

Saigon Banh Mi opened in late fall of 2025 in the Shelbourne Square Shopping Center in Exeter Township. Giovanna’s Pizza is two doors down while Best China Chef sits at the opposite end of the strip. 

Julie and I made our first visit in early February 2026, arriving around 5 for an early dinner on a Saturday. We had our choice of table from the surprisingly spacious dining room. 

man wearing a winter hat and a heavy blue coat standing next to a large lighted standup in the shape of a drink cup with boba on top

The strip mall space has been given plenty of decorative touches. On one side of the front door, small red decorations hang from a pink tree. On the opposite side, a human-sized cup of boba tea is the perfect selfie stand. 

The long wall lined with booths features black and white images of Vietnam while the back wall features the Saigon Banh Mi logo surrounded by three LED streaming lights on either side. 

restaurant dining room full of tables, each one with a red balloon

While we dined in, others came in and out for takeout and DoorDash deliveries at the counter in front of the partially-open kitchen. 

The menu features banh mi, Vietnamese hoagies, along with a variety of traditional Vietnamese dishes like broken rice, pho and vermicelli. 

bowl filled with broth, pieces of meat, bamboo shoots, and a spring of basil from Saigon Banh Mi

On a frigid evening, Julie decided to warm herself from the inside with the filet mignon pho. 

The bowl came filled with broth, rice noodles and beef – also scallions, cilantro and onion – with a side plate of bean sprouts, basil and jalapeno. (Julie skipped the jalapeno).

It was a hearty dish with plenty of noodles and beef. Julie alternated between chopsticks and a spoon as she worked through the dish, enjoying both the meat and the veggies. The broth, itself, had a nice flavor. Everything hit the spot. 

plate with grilled chicken brushed in honey with whtie rice and pickled carrots and daikon

I was in the mood for a rice dinner so I ordered a broken rice platter with grilled honey chicken. 

The chicken was simple, but good. It had the right amount of sweetness to it without being drenched in a sauce. The broken rice – with its tiny, broken pieces – helped to soak up the flavor. The scallions were a cute touch but didn’t add much in terms of flavor. 

I wasn’t expecting much from the pickled carrots and daikon on the plate. But while the cucumber and tomato were basically just garnish, there was actually a nice sweet and sour play happening with the pickled veggies that I enjoyed. 

purple drink in a plastic cup with a sticker showing a woman with black hair and the words "Saigon Banh Mi"

Along with my meal, I couldn’t help myself from indulging in milk tea. I got the taro which has the distinct purple color of the root sweet root vegetable. I love my boba, and this did not disappoint. 

Not only was the food good, but it was fast. We were done with our meals 30 minutes after we sat down. Because they weren’t in a rush to turn our table around, we hung out a little longer before paying our $41 bill and heading back out into the cold, warm, full and satisfied after a very good meal at Saigon Banh Mi. 

BCE Rating
Food: Very Good
Ambiance: Very Good
Service: Good
Price: $$

Saigon Banh Mi
5464 Perkiomen Avenue
Reading, PA 19606

More Vietnamese Restaurants

More Exeter Township Restaurants

Asian & Pacific Islands Reviews
oval-shaped pink plate with a crepe drizzled in ranch dressing
— Leave a Comment

Review: Smoothie Social

two pink couches in front of a large floral mural at Smoothie Social in Kutztown

Every review I do includes at least a paragraph about the ambiance of the restaurant or eatery that I’m visiting. It’s part of the story, but it’s never the whole story. 

The most important thing is always the food, but the location is what makes the first impression. They say we eat with our eyes first, and that first sight isn’t the food, it’s the restaurant. That first step gives you the vibe. 

And Smoothie Social in Kutztown definitely has its own vibe. 

wicker chairs by the window with pink chairs and tables in the background at Smoothie Social in Kutztown

Stepping through the front door is like stepping into the Barbie universe. The aesthetic is pink on pink on pink – pink chairs, pink cushions, a pink wall with pink butterfly mural.

After a minute, you become acclimated to the surroundings and it just feels like another cozy cafe. 

menu board at Smoothie Social in Kutztown

The menu is focused but still has variety to it. There are acai bowls, crepes, smoothies and boba tea. But the acai bowls have 30 ingredients to choose from, and there are more than 15 crepe options across breakfast, savory and sweet options. 

I first visited during their grand opening celebration. That day, I tried the spinach and cheese crepe with a mango smoothie. 

plate with a savory crepe next to a mango smoothie at Smoothie Social in Kutztown

Smoothie Social is owned by the same family that has Casa de Empanadas in town, and I absolutely love their spinach and cheese empanada. The crepe from Smoothie Social uses the same filling and is just as good as its Latin counterpart. 

The base is spinach with ricotta, mozzarella and Parmesan cream cheese. It’s rich and creamy and very filling. It works just as well in the crepe as it does in the empanada, definitely a winning combination in my book. 

I paired it with a mango smoothie. Their smoothies are made with almond milk so it’s a little lighter but still sweet and satisfying. 

oval-shaped pink plate with a crepe drizzled in ranch dressing

My most recent visit came in May. I was again surrounded by pink but it eventually faded into the background as I sat at the table enjoying my chicken bacon ranch crepe with boba tea. 

The crepe was stuffed with shredded chicken and had just the right amount of bacon. It also featured mozzarella cheese, which I think is the perfect choice to fill a crepe. The ranch was drizzled over the top. It looked pretty, but for me, I would have traded the presentation for a little more ranch dressing. It was still good, but a little more ranch would have gone a long way. 

purple colored boba tea on a table next to a pink chair

I really enjoyed my boba tea. I had the taro which is one of my favorite flavors. I’ve also had the same thing from Casa de Empanada and enjoyed it there as well. 

My first visit was during their soft opening when they were offering special pricing on all menu items. But my second visit was less than $15 for the crepe and large boba which felt like a good deal to me. (A crepe, by itself, is less than $10). 

The pink decor may not be my favorite – I prefer the faux street scene at Casa de Empanada – but I appreciate the uniqueness of it. And the food is good, which is more important than what color the seat cushions are. So don’t be surprised if you see me enjoying a crepe at Smoothie Social in the future. Because I’ll definitely keep coming back. 

BCE Rating
Food: Good
Service: Very Good
Ambiance: Very Good
Price: $

Smoothie Social
314 W. Main Street
Kutztown, PA 19530

More Kutztown Restaurants

Breakfast & Brunch Smoothies & Bowls
wall painted to look like the doorways of three houses on a street in San Juan - one orange, one green and one painted in the Puerto Rican flag
— Leave a Comment

Review: Casa De Empanadas

brick facade with full glass windows and banner flag reading "empanadas"

Some restaurants are very traditional with their offerings. They stick to their grandparents’ recipes. They make familiar food the familiar way. 

But then there are those that dare to take chances – to take the traditional and turn it on its head.

Casa de Empanadas opened in early 2024 along East Main Street in Kutztown. Before branching out on their own, their empanadas could be found at another Kutztown spot, Hazel’s Cafe. 

wall painted to look like the doorways of three houses on a street in San Juan - one orange, one green and one painted in the Puerto Rican flag

Walking through the doors, your eye is drawn to the back wall which has been painted to look like a row of brightly colored houses reminiscent of San Juan. 

But the empanadas on the menu are likely not going to be found in Puerto Rico. Traditional empanadas are usually filled with beef and cheese or chicken and cheese. And while there is a beef and cheese on the menu, there’s nothing traditional about empanadas fillings like chicken bacon ranch, pizza, or shrimp and crab. 

There’s also nothing traditional about an empanada place serving boba tea, but I wasn’t mad at it. The taro boba was deliciously sweet, and the purple color seemed at home among the decor. 

purple boba tea on a table at Casa de Empanadas

My boba came first, and about 10 minutes later I got my empanadas – one spinach and one meatball parm – served on a bed of rice and peas. 

The spinach empanada was an absolute home run. Filled with a mixture of garlic sauce, cream cheese, ricotta, mozzarella, spinach, and cream, it was indulgently creamy. But it was never too much, thanks in part to the deliciously crispy pastry shell. 

styrofoam container with two empanadas on a bed of fried rice

While still good, the meatball parm came up a little short of the spinach. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the marinara sauce. A little change and I probably would have loved it like my other empanada. 

I got the two empanadas as part of a meal so they came served over a bed of rice and peas. This was the most traditional item on the menu, and it was very good. The rice was well seasoned and nicely done. I didn’t really need it on top of the empanadas though. Next time, I would probably just get the empanadas and not do the meal deal. 

brick wall with a banner reading "empanadas" behind a table and charis

I look forward to my next visit when I promise to get one of their dessert empanadas – caramel apple or chocolate chip brownie. Both sound amazing. 

And the price is right, too. The two-empanada meal was $13 (empanadas are $5 each otherwise). The boba was a splurge that added $7 to the meal. Still, I felt like it was a very reasonable price to pay for everything. 

Overall, it was a very good first impression. The food was good – and unique – and I look forward to more empanadas in the near future. 

BCE Rating
Food: Good
Service: Good
Ambiance: Good
Price: $

Casa de Empanadas
9 E. Main Street
Kutztown PA 19530

More Latin American Cuisine in Berks County

More Restaurants in Kutztown, PA

Caribbean & Latin American Reviews