Copa Kitchen to open next month

A favorite Maricopa food truck trades four wheels for four walls to serve customers at a new location.

Asian Seoul owner Charlotte Stessel plans to open her newest venture, Copa Kitchen, next month in a renovated storefront on John Wayne Parkway. It will sit inside the old Dickey’s Barbecue Pit next to Earthwise Pet Supply.

Stessel said after more than four years in the food truck, the time finally felt right for more space and an expanded menu.

“This spot came up and we just jumped on it,” she told InMaricopa.

The food truck is long gone — Stessel sold the cherry blossom-spangled vehicle two weeks ago — but Asian Seoul fans can still expect to find some familiar fare.

Stessel said patrons will continue to enjoy most of their favorite food truck menu items, such as the loaded bulgogi fries and crab rangoon eggrolls.

“People would be mad if we didn’t keep those,” she laughed. “We’re pretty much keeping almost everything.”

The new menu will shift away from exclusively Asian fusion cuisine. Stessel plans to add some American favorites like chicken and dumplings and meatloaf, as well as Italian American dishes in honor of her husband’s heritage.

Why the change?

“I like variety and sticking to one cuisine can get tiring,” she said. “With this bigger space, we’re able to expand the menu and offer more.”

Other additions include a create-your-own salad, a soup flight and, eventually, a wine and beer menu.

For the most ravenous customers, there’s the mega platter: a massive plate overflowing with one pound each of ribeye beef, teriyaki chicken, spicy pork and sauteed shrimp served with roasted seaweed, kimchi, rice and a few other sides that can feed up to eight people.

Stessel said although an exact date is not set, the restaurant will open in April. She plans a soft opening followed by a grand opening once inspections are completed.

“I’m just excited,” she said. “We’ve been working on this since December when we signed the lease. We’re so close to opening and everything is pretty much in place.”