Guam Grub located in Everett Mall Food Court serving up island favorites

It's a place you probably wouldn't expect to find island favorites like chicken kelaguen, tatiyas, and shrimp patties. A food stall located in the Everett Mall Food Court in Washington, where its owner is also wearing the chef's hat.

Bringing people home without having to go home. It's a place in the 425 dishing out the flavors of the 671. Since July of this year, Washingtonians have been making their way to the Everett Mall Food Court to check out what Guam Grub is serving up. Owner, operator, and chef Julita Atoigue-Javier says opening up a restaurant has been something she has been pondering for awhile.

"When I was in Long Beach, I was catering for a little bit, and when I moved up here I was catering part-time because I was also working full time. It's just been something that has been in my heart for awhile now," she said.

Atoigue-Javier, who was born on Guam, said an opportunity presented itself and she grabbed it. Looking at the menu of Guam Grub, you can't help but feel suddenly transported to a village fiesta, with offerings of everything from lumpia, empanada, red rice, BBQ, to kelaguen and even shrimp patties. These dishes bring up memories for this former Harmon resident.

"We had a nobena every December and we would always have a funatput nobena, I grew up basically exposed and immersed in all of this and as I grew older and my mom passed away, cooking was something that was very therapuetic for me.  I would cook when I would get mahalang, it would remind me of a time when my family was complete," she recalled.

For first-timers and non-Pacific islanders who stop by Guam Grub, this is what she tells them: "I let them know this is not something we eat everyday. This is basically party food! We would have them at these big parties called fiestas."

As Atoigue-Javier is plating their food, she will give customers a rundown of what every dish is. And it seems the flavors of the island are a big hit, selling out so much they have had to increase the amount of food they prep daily.  She says that an article on Guam Grub was in one of the local papers in Everett and it peaked the interest of those wanting to know and taste what Guam is all about!

"They're coming in and inquiring and it's such a great opportunity because it allows me the time and the energy to communicate and educate about Guam because a lot of them don't know about Guam...I take it as an opportunity to put us out there," she said.

Since opening, the response has been incredibly heartwarming. "It definitely motivates me to put my best foot forward. To do my best to represent not just myself and my family, but also my island. It's definitely that good pressure that makes you perform well," she said.

And she acknowledges that none of this would be possible without the support and hard work of her family.

To show some love and to keep updated, follow the food stall on instagram: @_guamgrub_. You can also like their page on Facebook.