An acclaimed New York-based restaurant that’s best known for its Southeast Asian-style sandwiches officially opens its doors within Boston’s Prudential Center tomorrow (Wednesday, May 10). Num Pang, which has a number of existing locations in New York City, marks a bit of a triumphant homecoming for co-founder Ben Daitz, who attended Clark University in Worcester with co-founder Ratha Chaupoly. (Chaupoly has since taken a step back from Num Pang’s day-to-day operations; Daitz is behind the expansion to Boston.)
Daitz and Chaupoly launched Num Pang in 2009, focusing on sandwiches, bowls, salads, soups, and other dishes that draw inspiration from Southeast Asia. Featured prominently on the menu is the classic Num Pang sandwich — “num pang,” in fact, is the word for “sandwich” in Cambodia’s language, Khmer — with cucumbers, pickled carrots, cilantro, and chili mayo atop a choice of proteins. Num Pang debuts in the Pru with a limited-time sandwich that’s inspired by Boston: The pork belly & lob-stah num pang has crispy pork belly and lobster chunks with Thai basil-chili mayo, green apple slaw, and the usual cucumber, cilantro, and pickled carrot toppings.
The menu also features grain and rice bowls topped with everything from coconut tiger shrimp to roasted chicken and glazed pork belly, plus soups, salads, and seasonal vegetable sides.
The Prudential Center restaurant carries on the signature wall graffiti art from the other locations, featuring a large mural by NYC-based Serve (who created murals for the New York locations of Num Pang) in collaboration with Boston’s KEMS. The new location also carries on the growing chain’s hip hop and reggae soundtrack. There’s seating for eight, along with standing room for another eight or so diners at a communal high-top.
Num Pang’s Pru location is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., beginning on Wednesday, May 10. Lunchtime visitors on the 10th can get a free lunch (one entree per person; the lob-stah is excluded from the deal) and a free house drink (blood orange lemonade, iced black tea, an “Arnold-Panger,” or cold brew Cambodian iced coffee). The deal runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. tomorrow only.
Here’s a peek at the food:
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Num Pang’s limited-time pork belly and lob-stah sandwich
Evan Sung for Num Pang
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Num Pang’s coconut tiger shrimp sandwich
Evan Sung for Num Pang
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Num Pang’s limited-time portabello mushroom sandwich with roasted beet vinaigrette
Evan Sung for Num Pang
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Num Pang’s peppercorn catfish salad
Brian Samuels for Num Pang
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A Num Pang grain + rice bowl
Evan Sung for Num Pang
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A Num Pang grain + rice bowl
Evan Sung for Num Pang
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A Num Pang grain + rice bowl
Evan Sung for Num Pang
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Num Pang’s grilled corn with coconut and lime
Brian Samuels for Num Pang
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Various Num Pang sides
Evan Sung for Num Pang
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Num Pang’s house-made beverages, including an “Arnold-Panger” and limited-time cold brew Cambodian iced coffee
Evan Sung for Num Pang
Correction: This piece has been updated to reflect that co-founder Ratha Chaupoly is no longer active in Num Pang’s day-to-day operations; co-founder Ben Daitz is the driving force behind the expansion to Boston.
• New York City’s Num Pang Is Coming to Boston [EBOS]
• Num Pang Coverage on Eater New York [ENY]
• Num Pang — The Prudential Center [Official Site]
