Filling You in on the Egg Rolls in South OC You Didnāt Know You Needed
What do you get when you combine crispy fried wonton wrappers with juicy, tender spiced birria beef? A Craft House favorite that keeps locals coming back for more. Approachable yet upscale, Craft House in Dana Point serves homestyle Southern cuisine with an innately California flair thatās reflective of owner and Chef Blake Mellgrenās Orange County roots. The savory Birria Egg Rolls have been making quite the name for themselves in the restaurant scene. We unwrapped the recipe to find out how Chef Mellgren turned Craft Houseās ābest mistakeā into their top selling appetizer.
This unique twist on traditional Mexican taco meat is one of Craft Houseās specialties that drives people to the Dana Point hub. Birria is traditionally served in soft-shell tacos or quesadillas, but Craft Houseās crisp egg roll wrappers add a satisfying crunch to the smoky beef blend. Chef Mellgren describes this sublime juxtaposition as āmodern-day Kogi truck style,ā referring to the infamous Kogi Korean BBQ food truck fleet. The fried egg roll wrapper adds that necessary texture, which makes the birria appetizers the āthe egg roll you never knew you needed,ā vows Mellgren. Inside the flaky shell is a melting pot of braised short rib, peppers, spices andĀ Oaxaca cheese makes these six-inch cylinders so flavorful.
Top Dish
Craft Houseās Birria Egg Rolls have been at the top of the establishment’s menu for the past two years, but this craveable appetizer wasn’t always at the forefront of Chef Mellgrenās mind. It all started one morning at Craft Houseās Sunday brunch. In attempts to rescue leftovers from the morningās Birria Short-Rib Hash menu item, Mellgren and fellow Chef Keene Vasquez experimented with all kinds of birria dishes, including pasta.
Getting creative in the kitchen is not something Mellgren is afraid ofāin fact, he relishes any opportunity to do so. āWhat we do differently than most is that we let people create. We push them out of the starting blocks and force them to create. Then, I will see how something was done and tweak from there,ā explains Mellgren. The Birria Egg Roll was born out of experimentation. Now Craft House braises over 100 pounds of birria a week.
Prior to hitting guestsā plates, the Birria Egg Rolls are a labor of love that start with the filling. Short rib braises slowly with dried guajillo peppers, cinnamon, garlic, and spices. After three hours, it turns into a tender, juicy birria base. The broth becomes a rich consomme dipping sauce for the egg rolls, while the meat gets shredded and fried with peppers, onions, and potatoes. Grated queso Oaxaca and a special housemade chili spice mix in to complete the bold, flavor-packed filling before everything gets tightly rolled in an egg roll wrapper. The last step is to deep fry until golden and crispy.
What we do differently than most is that we let people create.
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Hot from the fryer, the egg rolls arrive with a trio of savory dipping sauces: thick avocado crema for a California twist, roasted tomato salsa for a refreshing bite, and rich consomme broth you definitely wonāt want to waste. They’re sliced at an angle to create extra surface areaāperfect for dipping and devouring.
The craftsmanship behind Mellgrenās innovative egg rolls can be seen throughout the restaurantās entire menu.
āA lot of people think of craft beer when they hear our name. That’s the simple connotation. There’s more entendre in the name than there is anything. Craft refers to the craftsmanship that’s required to be a restaurant. The craft of the kitchen, the bar, even the craft of hospitality and serving. Craft House is that warm, comfortable environmentālike you’re going over to your friendsā for dinner,ā explains Mellgren.
This idea of going over to a friendsā place is reflected in the industrial design of the parlor-like dining room. Vintage mirrors and paintings adorn the walls and surround dark wooden tables and upholstered leather booths. The scene could be straight out of Shakespeareās living roomāif it were modern day. On the interior bookshelves are bottles of wine from around the globe intertwined with vintage artifacts, but the wine collection isnāt the only alcohol inventory to marvel at. Craft Houseās bar is stocked with over 100 premium whiskeys. This curated collection includes rare and local finds, some of which Craft House only receives one bottle of per year.
When it comes to the cocktail menu, itās all about bold sips and perfect pairings. A seasonal margarita or mezcal-based elixir? They pair perfectly with the Birria Egg Rollsāspicy, crispy, and indulgent in all the right ways. But letās not forget the Craft House Old Fashioned. This one deserves its own standing ovation. This bittersweet beauty mixes Four Roses bourbon with house-made bitters and arrives in a delicately smoked glass. The brĆ»lĆ©ed orange garnish? Pure dramaāin the best way.
Behind the scenes and sometimes front and center, youāll spot Mellgren. Heās everywhereāgreeting guests, checking on dishes, and making sure the whole Craft House experience runs like a well-oiled (and well-shaken) machine. Find him and Craft Houseās Birria Egg Rolls, featured on their brunch and dinner menu, any time of day!
Birria Egg Rolls Ingredients:Ā
Birria (short rib, guajillos, spices, stock)
Queso Oaxaca
Bell Peppers
Poblano Peppers
Red Onion
Potato
Consomme (braising liquid from birria)
Avocado Crema (avocado, cilantro, serrano, lime, sour cream)
Roasted Tomato Salsa (tomato, onion, garlic, jalapeƱo, cilantro)
Craft House
34094 E Pacific Coast Hwy
Dana Point, CA 92629
949.481.7734
@eatatcrafthouse
