Just what the Dr. ordered: Fresh, yummy hibachi while you wait | Local Flavor on Wheels

Show Caption

• Dr. Hibachi food truck has relocated its base of operations to Medina.
• The food truck’s owner, Kitsada Hongsakrai, purchased a building to serve as a commercial kitchen and future takeout location.
• The menu remains largely the same, with hibachi dishes priced between $15 and $20.
• Hongsakrai plans to expand the menu with wings and appetizers, and is also working on a new truck.

Local Flavor on Wheels: This summer, we’re trying area food trucks for our Local Flavor series instead of sit-down establishments. We hope you’ll come along for the ride!

The food and menu are the same that legions of fans have come to expect and love.

But there have been some big changes afoot for a popular Greater Akron food truck.

For one, the Dr. Hibachi food truck is no longer calling Cuyahoga Falls home − although he can still be found some days in the parking lot outside of the Target on Howe Avenue.

Owner and chef Kitsada Hongsakrai moved to Seville in Medina County a year or so ago.

And his bright yellow truck that urges customers to “Make me happy, Eat all my food” made the trek too – although for now it is temporarily parked in a garage for engine repairs.

Hongsakrai, who is known as Chef Ice in restaurant circles, has purchased the former Ohio Valley Pizza building just south of Medina’s historic square as a new home base for his hibachi food truck and his newish venture the Dr. Boba drink van.

Both vehicles still make the rounds at events and festivals, but Hongsakrai said the new spot offers a spacious commercial kitchen for prep in the summer months.

He has been serving up a fresh hibachi for about five years now.

“It has gone so fast,” he said.

And the prices have pretty much stayed the same, too.

A generous vegetable entree with rice along with onion, mushroom, zucchini, carrot and bell pepper is $15.

The chicken hibachi is $15 while steak or shrimp goes for $16. And if you want scallops or salmon it will run you $18.

A combo with three meat choices costs $20.

You can also get noodles instead of rice for an additional $2.

The boba drinks that come in a variety of flavors including Thai tea and honeydew and milk tea are $8.

What’s next for Dr. Hibachi?

Hongsakrai has big plans.

Hibachi will always be at the yummy heart and soul of the business, but he is experimenting with adding wings to the menu in the near future.

In the winter months, he plans to offer takeout from his Medina location on South Court Street to serve customers, some of whom travel from far and near until food truck season returns.

There is no seating inside of the former pizza place.

Hongsakrai said with the larger kitchen there, he might even add appetizers to the hibachi menu.

And he is also working on a new truck to replace the original one by next summer.

The new truck can’t be ready soon enough.

The popular food truck is temporarily sidelined while a new engine is installed.

“I am so happy to see all my regular customers,” Hongsakrai said. “Some come two or three times a week.

“We have our fans.”