It doesn’t take much to convince me to try a new Asian restaurant, and Rollin had me at “combo boxes.”
There’s a philosophy that some people “eat to live,” and some people “live to eat.” Personally, I identify as the latter — I literally get happy thinking about trying new foods.
So when I saw an Instagram ad come up on my feed for the new Asian fusion Detroit eatery Rollin ahead of its July 10 opening, I knew the place was going to be taking my money. Plus, Asian cuisine is probably one of my favorites, and Rollin’s menu features combo boxes that let you sample a variety of Asian small bites — bao buns, crispy rice, sushi hand rolls, chicken karaage, and more — all in one order.
My love for food came from my mom, and she was down to try this new spot with me. Our favorite way to eat together is ordering different dishes and sharing everything.
Even just with the combo boxes, there were so many choices that it was hard to choose. But, they had a big shareable option, called “The Buddy Box,” for $50 with a good mix of items we decided to get. It includes a Spicy Tuna Hand Roll, a Hamachi Scallion Hand Roll, a Spicy Salmon Hand Roll, a Crispy Rice Mongolian Beef, a Crispy Rice Spicy Tuna, a Pork Belly Bao, a Ginger Chicken Bao, Chicken Karaage, golden curry chickpeas, and two choices of sauce.
One unique thing about Rollin is that it is not a sit-down restaurant; it is takeout-onl, housed in Motor City Food Co., a place where you can pick up food from many restaurants under one roof.
We ordered ahead and when I got in, it was super quiet and no one was at the counter. I scanned my phone on a tablet, my order popped up, and a locker next to me opened with my bag of food inside.
A sit-down restaurant would be cool, but this experience was definitely unique, and I had never heard of the concept until now. It felt futuristic.
When I got home and opened my bag, there was a handwritten notecard with my name on it that said “Layla! Thank you so much for trying our flavor! We appreciate you and KEEP ROLLIN!”
I thought this was so cute, especially because I’ve seen them posting about how busy they’ve been. That kind of thoughtfulness and intentionality can often leave even more of an impression than the food itself, so is was both smart and sweet.
There was also a card explaining how to open your handrolls and how to order directly from Rollin and earn rewards.
When I opened the boxes, the food presentation was also very well put together.
The proteins were all flavored well — even the chicken, which isn’t usually my favorite, was a great balance between juicy and crunchy. The golden curry chickpeas were a little too salty, but still made for a nice side. The crispy rice had an almost hash brown-like crunch that I really enjoyed, though it relied on its toppings and the sauces to bring most of the flavor.
My favorite items were the pork belly bao which was rich, tender, and subtly sweet, the Mongolian beef over crispy rice with a great mix of texture and flavor, and the spicy salmon handroll (minus the seaweed — it’s one of the few food items I don’t like).
Overall, Rollin offers a fun experience paired with thoughtful branding and a menu that’s perfect for sharing. While not every item was a standout, there’s enough variety that I would happily order again, especially when I’m craving sushi. I also want to check out some of the other restaurants housed in Motor City Food Co.
I hope Rollin keeps rolling and is successful!
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