Mima’s Cafe

Mima’s Café is a small sandwich shop caters to the working-​class crowd in the business park it’s situated in (on Palm River Rd, ½ mile or so from Falkenburg). They mainly serve American food but because it is Korean-​owned, they also serve a few Korean dishes (bulgogi, japchae and spicy pork).
I got the bulgogi in sandwich form. The flavor of the beef was OK but the bread didn’t seem the freshest. What really bothered me about this place is that the owner (?) seemed very unfriendly and unhappy, like it would have caused pain if she tried to crack a smile. No small talk with customers to ask them if everything was OK or if they needed anything else. Almost seemed like she preferred if no one was in her restaurant. Blah. One of those places that could put you in a depressing mood. Even the décor is depressing. Oh, and no free refills on drinks. Not recommended unless it’s your mission to try every place that has Korean dishes.

This was a Business lunch on the way into the office on Falkenberg. I discovered this place from a quick search on the GPS. It is located in a strip center in the heart of an industrial section. It appears to be Korean owned and influenced. Walking in there is a counter and placed on the counter are pictures of about eight specials. They have hot and cold sandwiches Korean dishes, wraps, salads, and breakfast sandwiches and platters. I opted for the special listed as Philly cheese steak and fries with a drink for $ 9.99. I was told they typically make it with lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, and onion. I opted for a more traditional method of onions and mushrooms no mayo. My business partner decided to try a Korean dish served on steamed rice called Bulgogi. It was served in a Styrofoam to go box even though we were eating in. It’s basically wonderfully flavored steak cut in strips with some onion, and other spices. It has sort of a sweet taste and is actually quite good. It is served with a side of flavored small pickles and some sort of flavored cabbage. The pickles were interesting but the cabbage lacked the excitement of the rest of the dish. My cheesesteak was not too bad. It was served on a Cuban style bun which was unique. The meat was decent for this type of sandwich the onions and mushrooms tasted well and there was an average amount of cheese. I got quite a large portion of fries, which are the thick kind. So overall the food was decent. Although, I feel like my business partner actually got the better of the two lunches as hers was priced conservatively at $ 6.99.
The largest negative of this establishment reared its ugly head when we went to get our drinks. There is mold growing in every single one of the soda dispenser nozzles. Clearly they’ve never been cleaned. The restroom in this establishment is also a wreck, and the overall décor is uneventful, at best. As we watched the lunch crowd arrive, I noticed a growing trend of people ordering the Cuban sandwich to go. As they did so they opted for a bottled soda and a bag of chips, probably a smart idea.
So in summary, I would have to say that if you’re looking for a place to grab a quick lunch at average prices then this is the place for you. But please steer clear of the soda fountain until they get it cleaned. And if I were chef Ramsey, I would tell this place to trim their menu back to the one or two items they do extremely well, and concentrate on cleaning and decorating instead.