Build your own bowl at Bolay, a picky-eater paradise

Few things make picky eaters as happy as build-your-own meal restaurants. You can order the food you actually want minus the ingredients that you were going to eat around anyways (looking at you, olives).

During hot Orlando summers, it’s easy to find yourself craving something fresh, light, and cold. But, like, not with mushrooms, please.

Enter Bolay, a fast-casual eatery serving crisp build-your-own bowls with healthy ingredients that you can choose yourself. 

Similar to Cava and Chipotle, you build your meal on a line. Bolay offers a vibrant selection of seasonal veggies, proteins, and sauces, so you can create something different each time you stop in…which will be often. 

It’s worth noting that the interior itself warrants a return visit: it’s light, airy and CLEAN. No greasy tables here. Just a feel-good vibe accented by teal and wood tones. Because dining out isn’t just about the meal, but the whole experience.

Design aside, let’s talk food:

Build Your Bol

Depending on how hungry you’re feeling, you can opt for a small bol (1 base, 2 veggies, 1 protein, 1 add-on, sauce) or a large bol (2 bases, 2 veggies, 2 proteins, 1 add-on, sauce). There are also premade dishes if you’re in a rush, but as a picky eater, I opted for the former. 

Step 1: Base

To start, you pick a base, which will act as a cozy little home for all of your veggies, proteins, and add-ons. There’s hearty options like basmati rice and cilantro noodles or lighter bases like kale salad and spinach.

Step 2: Veggies

To offer fresh ingredients, Bolay’s veggies are seasonal, which means you’ll have different options each time you go. That said, you’ll likely find some variation of broccoli, beans, and mushrooms. And if the herb roasted potatoes are an option, they’re the way to go.

Step 3: Protein

Whether you want a bowl full of meat or prefer a vegetarian or vegan option, there’s something for everyone. Selections include chicken (lemon, barbecue, teriyaki), pulled pork, spicy Thai shrimp, and miso-glazed tofu. 

Step 4: Add-Ons

After you’ve selected your protein, you can opt for add-ons like fresh cilantro, parm cheese or avocado — which is more of a given than an option, because I can’t imagine a world where I don’t opt for parm cheese.

Step 5: Sauce

Finalize your masterpiece with sauce: spicy Thai, creamy garlic and herb, cilantro pesto, sriracha.

*chef’s kiss*

Tip: Grab a couple of snickerdoodle cookies at the checkout. They’re gluten-free, but one of the most buttery cookies I’ve ever had. And since your dinner was healthy, what’re a few extra calories?