Original ChopShop — Restaurant in Phoenix

I come in to this location pretty often and honestly was coming mainly for the steak. I've had many poor experiences here with the management and food quality consistency at this location as it seems there can be overwhelming apathy when it comes to customer service.

However, this review is meant to be positive. I returned last weekend as I was house hunting and needed a quick breakfast and we were greeted and helped by Evan. Evan was truly kind and attentive. While the food quality was not the greatest, Evan made the best juice for me and also helped me with any concerns.

Today, I brought some estranged family in for lunch and he was there again and was so kind and helpful. He even remembered my juice. I felt really bad for the experience he had with my family, and hope that he knows that it was not reflective of me or my wife's experiences. I am embarrassed by it. I did go to say goodbye and thank him for everything on the way out and was approached by a pregnant manager who tried to intercept me, which felt oddly abrasive.

However, I didn't let that stop me from giving him the appreciation he deserves. There was another male manager and female with glasses that were super kind and helpful too. If anything, I really came back for Evan's service (and the juice!). I noticed that he helped everyone with the same kindness and professionalism as he did with me. He is an example to those around him....

Every time I'm anywhere at all close to this Chopshop location ("32nd"), I make it a point to go in. Consistently awesome food aside, this location in particular - with Kat at the helm - has a team of extremely kind and considerate employees that always go above and beyond, every. single. visit. I've had 4 back surgeries since C-19 started, my kids are older (I live alone) and also have a rare immune deficiency. Suffice to say, I don't get out much. So, the infrequent, face-to-face, human interaction I experience makes the behavior and treatment of those in customer service all the more impactful (good or bad, depending...). Maybe its hard to understand what a difference it all makes unless you've walked in shoes like mine. But, trust me - to be SEEN, acknowledged, called by my name, asked genuinely caring questions, given eye contact and a smile...like they do at 32nd, isn't something I take for granted anymore. In fact, it makes a significant impact on my day. And, lastly, for the record, I'm a Phx native & have been to nearly every other Chopshop valley location over the last few years. They're all good. But, at 32nd, they're most certainly set apart in the very best ways. Sending a big "thank you" you to...

The food was not great. The restaurant asked me to provide specifics (fair request) so I will here:

I had the Korean steak bowl. The meat was lukewarm. Neither cold nor hot, but not a temp or flavor that made me excited to finish it. The overall flavor of the bowl was also just…not 5-stars. Or even the 4.7 stars that got us to the ChopShop in the first place. It wasn’t particularly distinctive or well seasoned. The rice was drier than I like. Does that mean other people won’t like it? No idea. I didn’t love it. That’s my review on my bowl.

My wife had a salad with beets. There were surprisingly few non-lettuce items in the salad - both by type and quantity. The dressing was pretty neutral and the salad was actually well dressed (not too much, not too little dressing).

Both bowls were maybe 85% of what I would have expected on quantity for the price we paid. Just a little underwhelming on flavor and amount. The ingredients all seemed very fresh, though, to ChopShop’s credit.

We went with the recommendation of the gal taking orders. We weren’t ecstatic about the food. Totally understand that we’re not the only patrons or reviewers and that there are other folks who love this place. We...