Printed takeout bags for Convoy's ramen, boba and barbecue.

A street where every block is a different kitchen

Convoy Street runs north through Kearny Mesa, and for years it has been where San Diego goes for Asian food. Ramen counters, Korean barbecue, Taiwanese boba, Chinese hot pot, Vietnamese pho, dumpling houses, Japanese bakeries and late night karaoke all sit in strip malls a few doors apart. The lots are packed on weekend nights and a lot of what leaves those kitchens goes out the door in a bag.

That is a lot of nearly identical takeout walking around the same few blocks. When ten spots on one street all hand out the same plain sack, a printed bag is the simplest way to make yours the one people remember the next time they are hungry and pull up to the parking lot.

Ramen and pho to go: broth goes down first

Soup orders only work if the broth stays level. Pack it in a deli container with a tight lid and set it flat in the center of the bag. Noodles go in their own container on top or beside it, and the toppings, chashu, egg, green onion and sprouts, go in a third so nothing gets mushy before the customer gets home.

Our bag has a square bottom, 12″ by 7″, so two soup containers sit side by side and stay flat. The 110 GSM paper stands up on its own while you pack, so one hand stays free for the next lid.

Korean BBQ and hot pot: the heavy orders

A Korean barbecue order for four is a lot of weight: trays of galbi and bulgogi, rice, lettuce and a row of banchan cups. Hot pot to go is even heavier, with raw meats, vegetables, noodles and a quart or two of broth packed separately.

This is where a thin bag fails. Ours carries 22 lb with flat paper handles taped inside, so a whole family dinner leaves in one bag. Banchan and dipping sauces fit in the 3.5″ side gussets, so they ride upright in the corners instead of tipping under a hot tray.

Boba and dumplings: small, light, and easy to forget

Boba shops and dumpling counters sell lighter orders, but more of them. Drinks ride in a carrier on the flat base of the bag, with a box of dumplings set beside or on top of them. Fold the top and seal it with one of the 100 food tamper-evident stickers in every box, and a delivery driver can't get into it without it showing.

For a shop that does a lot of small orders, the price per bag matters more than anything. On a subscription a full box is 150 bags for $85, about 56.7¢ a bag.

Logos that work on kraft paper

Many Convoy restaurants have logos with two scripts, English plus Korean, Japanese or Chinese characters. That works well on our bags, as long as the characters are thick enough to read. Thin brush strokes can disappear on brown kraft, so use a heavier version of your mark or pick the bright white bag.

Red, black and dark green are safe on brown. Pastels, common for boba brands, look best on white. Your logo gets the whole front, up to 12 × 14 in, at a $0 setup fee. See more on our printed kraft bags in San Diego home page or check the bag size.