The Steamin’ Demon

Stopped by the Demon last night outside Larimer Lounge as I was on my way home. Friendly guys, decent food. I had a banh mi, which was alright, but slightly overpriced at $ 7. The bread makes or breaks a banh mi for me. One of the guys mentioned that they get their rolls from Ba Le — I’m not sure if this is true or not, but it sure didn’t taste like a Ba Le roll. While theirs are nice and crunchy like a French baguette should be, the roll I got last night from the Demon was soft like an Amoroso Philly roll. The bacon was good, cucumber fresh and pickled carrot mixture was also tasty. Overall I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them as an after hours food spot, but I don’t suggest you go too far out of your way to check them out.

Come steam my demon! God, I love these guys. No longer am I a veg, however I spent many years of my life living the veg lifestyle, but did the dreaded cross over after moving to CO. Lately I have been goin back to my old ways and doing my best to be veg again.
The Steamin’ Demon makes it so easy to do so! These guys are so friendly. It’s great to chat it up with them while they prepare you a super fantastic meal. The flavors are awesome, I never expected you could get food like this from a cart on the street. Everything is so fresh. Everything is so scrumptious. This is not a shocker though, coming from the creative minds of City O City and Watercourse. I recommend everyone out there give the Steamin’ Demon a chance, you will not be disappointed, I promise you that. You might even consider choosing veggie dishes more often once you see how awesome it can be!
You can find the Demon at the Pearl St Farmers Market and at the Justice League events. Come on summer!
Don’t be Scared-​Go Veg!

Their Banh My is as good as it gets. Its reputation was expounded upon since the last JLoSF. How can you resist tempeh cooked in bacon grease (is that a vegetarian sin?)?
Served in a baguette with a crunchy base and chewy top, it was pipin’ hot deliciousness. Fresh cut jalapenos, pickled dikon and carrots, brussel sprouts, the crunchy tasty tempeh, other greens, garlic sauce — the guy serving me was excited that this was my first time trying one.
It rocked. I wolfed it down. Well done, Demons.

i love you, steamin’ demon.
you’re everywhere i want to be. and with you, you bring a cart ‘o vegetarian deliciousness that can’t be beat.

I think about the bánh mì at least once a day. It’s so great. So are the tempeh tacos. Every time I’ve been the food and service have been awesome. The Steamin’ Demon is vegan food cart perfection.

Finally tried the Steamin’ Demon food cart, and really enjoyed it. I enjoyed the Loco Moko, which is a bowl of rice with a veggie patty, gravy, an egg or avocado, and some chili. A serious portion of chow for a reasonable price (I think $ 5). I also tried the tempeh tacos, which were surprisingly spicy, even without the extra hot sauce. Good greasy street food for the vegetarian set. The two guys running the cart were funny and genuine. Hopefully I’ll see this cart again soon.

I’m pretty sure the creative geniuses (yeah, I said it, they’re GENIUSES) behind Watercourse and City O City crept into my food dreams one night, Inception style, and extracted the Loco Moco right out.
Okay, okay, I’m fully aware that it’s actually a Hawaiian plate lunch dish… not something that I would ever conceive of. But could a veggie version seriously get more perfect? I can’t stop thinking about it or about how I can get some more.
I finally got to check this place out at the Justice League for Street Food party over by the Metro apartments. I had the idea of it in my head all day the day before (I was hungover, it happens) and was first in line when the carts started serving food.
It was more than I hoped. Every bite was amazing. They take a bowl, put in a scoop of sticky rice, a perfectly crispy on the outside pinto bean/​quinoa patty, a generous amount of their delicious gravy, an overeasy (and perfectly runny) fried egg, a dollop of guac, and hot chile paste to your prefence. It reminds me of something I’d do at home only they get every element down perfectly (sometimes my veggie gravy is too sweet… theirs is not… as I mentioned before, they are geniuses).
The chile paste provided just enough burn when incorporated into every bite and I ate way too much before I knew it.
Since then, I’ve managed to commit their daily schedule to memory so I can figure out where to stalk them next. I’d like to try the bahn mi someday, I really would… but I can’t stop thinking about the Loco Moco.

«It has MUSHROOM GRAVY what could be better?!»
Well sir, I’ll take your word for it. And although it’s over one hundred degrees outside I’ll order one Loko Moko to enjoy in pleasant Civic Center park on this Tuesday afternoon.
Never having been to Civic Center EATS before I did not know to expect a food stand heaven! I warned my dining partner beforehand that I would have to peruse each one and weigh my options before settling on a meal. While a light sandwich sounded a little more appropriate on this hot summer’s day, we ended up devouring Steamin’ Demon. We weren’t quite sure what to expect but decided to be adventurous! What we got was a bowl filled with white rice, a quinoa and pinto bean patty, guacamole, sriacha, a fried egg, and yes… gravy.
Thank goodness we split this because I was so full after eating my half. Their other sandwiches looked tasty and I would probably opt for that next time but this protein-​packed meal was just what I needed to power me through the rest of the day!
I loved the creative vegetarian-​friendly combos being served up by this friendly staff and this food stand can be found all over town depending on the day of the week! I’d definitely check it out if it’s ever near you!