What has three letters, four wheels and scallion pancakes? Of course, BOP does!

In November 2022, two TESD residents — Sung Jung, a New York City chef, and Joseph Chang, a Conestoga parent — launched BOP, an Asian-influenced food truck in Devon. The name BOP originates from the Korean word “Bap,” which translates to “rice.” Jung and Chang believe the name is appropriate because, along with meat, drinks and dessert, BOP primarily serves hand-crafted rice bowls.

“We created dishes that are hopefully reminiscent of home, comfort, warmth and with a modern, fresh flavor,” Jung said. “Proteins over rice is our one-line. The breakdown of a single (rice bowl) would compose of a main component, a protein — beef, chicken or pork — (and) two veggies sitting over rice.”

The creation of the BOP bowl originates from Jung’s and Chang’s experiences decades earlier. The pair first bonded over their passion for cooking while attending college. After graduation, Chang entered the business field, while Jung pursued his hobby further. He took culinary classes, worked for New York City’s ABC Kitchen and eventually worked his way up to a renowned restaurant in South Korea.

For Chang, however, the hobby never died. Utilizing the skills he gained from studying business, Chang formulated an idea with Jung that reconciled their two skills — business and cooking.

Initially, the two wrestled amongst several options that served food, including opening a restaurant, starting a home-delivery service and catering for large parties. However, given their physical surroundings, the evolution of a food truck seemed natural for them.

“I talked to (Jung), saying ‘Hey, you know what? I’ve been here for over 35 years, and I’ve never seen a food truck in the suburbs. It’s always in the cities, but there are really none of them in the suburbs,’” Chang said. “Because the demographic has changed so much since I first moved here, I feel (a food truck) would provide things that were just never available here.”

According to Chang, among these benefits include serving food fresh to customers rather than from a pre-packaged container. Yet, for Jung and Chang, opening a food truck had its challenges. Shipping the truck from Florida to Pennsylvania and receiving licenses of approval from counties were among the few hurdles they had to overcome before starting their business.

Once they retrieved their truck and began serving customers, they appreciated the benefits of the business. Jung and Chang receive a sense of fulfillment from operating a food truck. They attend multiple events, do what they love and serve hot meals, providing them with a sense of satisfaction.

“This is what I love,” Chang said. “I love cooking (because) you see people enjoying the food. And that makes me happy.”