Asian in South Florida

4040 Galt Ocean Dr., Fort Lauderdale Beaches

954-566-7500

American, Asian, Bars and Clubs, Music Venues, Best Of, Menu

Drinker, partiers, and tiki bar lovers rejoice. Ocean Manor Beach Resort's Bamboo Beach Tiki Bar has been the longtime go-to for Fort Lauderdale residents who want to daytime drink near the pool and in the sand. What more could you possibly want in life? As long as the sun is out -- or there is no hurricane, really -- the bar is packed. Every Sunday the bar features a Caribbean pig roast--not Polynesian, but close enough--for $15.95. Hey, you can always pretend you're in Maui.

3 articles

Basilic Vietnamese Grill

14734 Biscayne Blvd, North Miami Beach North Dade

305-944-0577

Asian, Vietnamese, Sandwiches, Recommended, Menu, Takeout-Home, Takeout-Cuisine, Takeout-Neighborhood

Basilic is a small Vietnamese joint serving pho, banh mi & other classic mains.

3 articles

Cafe Emunah

3558 N. Ocean Blvd., Fort Lauderdale Beaches

954-561-6411

Asian, Asian Fusion, Japanese, Kosher, Seafood, Sushi, Vegetarian, Recommended, Best Of, Menu

If you can get past the overwrought, New Agey pseudomysticism that infects Emunah (which means "faith"), you'll find a top-quality neighborhood café serving seafood and sushi. Everything on the menu is kosher, and most of that is organic. Enjoy an excellent array of Mediterranean and Caribbean-influenced sushi rolls. These contain ingredients like orange, mint, taramasalata, eggplant spread, cilantro, and pineapple along with sweet and melting yellow tail, white tuna, and salmon. The herbs in the garden salads are locally sourced; entrées are occasionally stunning - like Mystical Sea Bass served with creamy hummus, heirloom tomato and cured olive salad. Soups, made fresh daily, are equally inventive.

4 articles

Cafe Sharaku

2736 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale Wilton Manors

954-563-2888

Asian, French, Fusion, Japanese, Recommended

This boutique, six-table restaurant located off of Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale takes French technique and merges it with the ingredients of Japanese chef/owner Iwoa Kaita's homeland. The result is as enticing as a well-written line of poetry. A specials board denotes what's fresh daily and includes offerings like vibrant Florida stone crab baked with wasabi/garlic aioli and slender enoki mushrooms and New England clams sautéed gently with spinach, butter, and yuzu, a tart variety of Japanese lemon. Not everything works perfectly, as with the cold dishes like chilled deep-fried salmon with sour lemon sauce. But thanks to a competent, friendly staff and a broad menu, Café Sharaku is a charming and pleasant experience.

4 articles

Chakra Asian Cuisine & Lounge

15th St. and Ocean Dr., Ste. 203, Miami Beach South Beach

305-672-2001

Asian, Asian Fusion, Sushi, Thai, Bars and Clubs, Music Venues

China A

811 E. Commercial Blvd. Oakland Park

954-616-2266

Chinese, Asian, Best Of, Menu

It's been an awful day. Now, it's getting dark. The rain is coming down. The exhaustion settles in. Those two rental movies on your passenger seat look awfully enticing. At times like this, the difference between good Chinese takeout and bad Chinese takeout is based on three factors: taste, price, and speed. China "A" aces the trio. Nestled in a no-frills spot in Northridge Shopping Center, Oakland Park, China "A" serves up about 100 dishes under $10 -- from the classic General Tao's chicken to moo shu shrimp . Have a bunch of mouths to feed? Try the Super Family Pack; it includes three egg rolls, wonton soup, fried rice, and three entrée selections. Walk-in orders are filled in about ten minutes, while deliveries take about 20 minutes if you live nearby. Plus, you won't get MSG-laden dishes at China "A." Remarkably, the food is as good as any restaurant in New York's Chinatown. Free delivery is available to select areas.

2 articles

China Grill

1881 SE 17th St. Causeway Fort Lauderdale

954-759-9950

Asian, Asian Fusion, Contemporary, Sushi, Critics' Pick

Jeffrey Chodorow's famed China Grill waited 20 years to land in Fort Lauderdale, but now that it has, this glitzy pan-Asian fusion eatery is attracting the young and beautiful in droves. From the infused saketinis and Poire cocktails to the giant platters of spareribs, moo shu duck, overwrought sushi rolls, mountains of toro and Kobe, and bananas in a tuile "box," the food at China Grill is excellent even if the flavors, like a decorating scheme that relies on special effects such as a pair of glow-in-the-dark bars, can sometimes seem a little too outrageous.

12 articles

China Grill

404 Washington Ave., Miami Beach South Beach

305-534-2211

Asian, Asian Fusion, Music Venues, Recommended, Menu

This SoBe pioneer is still bold, boisterous, big on a grand scale. Let's use one dish to illustrate: Sake-marinated chicken was a half-bird crisply grilled and sliced into thick, moist wedges imbued with smoke and spice. A mound of vinegary napa cabbage salad countered with an acidic tang, as did a thin, dark sauce based on rice wine vinegar, miso, and soy; thick tempura onion rings were a nice touch on top. This one meal contained enough heft to be tasted by the whole table, and also served to remind that while the food here isn't as exquisite as the elite handful of our best New World/fusion restaurants, China Grill does serve fresher, lighter, smarter cuisine than the glut of muddled global eateries that regrettably followed in the wake of its success.

1 article

Chow Sushi BBQ Bar

210 SW 2nd St. Fort Lauderdale

954-523-1213

Asian, Asian Fusion, Readers' Choice

1 article

Dapur

1620 N. Federal Highway Fort Lauderdale

954-709-1092

Asian, Asian Fusion, Best Of, Slideshow

Dapur is the place to be when the scene over cuisine is what you crave. A chic waitstaff wearing heels and silk shantung sheaths and a dining room as elegant as orchid accents offer visuals that sate an appetite for style. No decorative detail is unattended, right down to backlit Asian antiques, a giant golden Buddha, and gossamer drapes that flutter in a breeze. A pair of twin speakers that would dwarf a small child pumps beats so loud they eclipse any chit chat, so best if you talk with your hands and your eyes. Despite a laundry list of grilled, crispy, and cold small plates, soups, sides, sushi rolls, and big plates, the menu at Dapur is a minefield. Instead, stick to sushi rolls or snacks such as edamame. The cocktail menu is ambitious, though their execution leaves something to be desired.

7 articles

Hong Kong Market

5371 Florida 7 Lauderhill

954-485-6688

Asian, Market, Retail, Best Of

Owner Benjamin Wong is big into numbers. Ask how many Chinese videos he has available for rental and he'll quickly inform you, "More than 100,000." (That's including the ever-popular Kung Fu Hustle.) If you inquire about a special type of teapot, he'll invite you to choose from more than 100,000 of them. OK, so perhaps they are not all to be found in his market, but he really seems eager to help customers find whatever Asian product they have a yen for. Never tried a sweet yet salty dehydrated plum or dry shredded pork? Just request Wong's opinion on the product and he'll likely split a bag with you. Wondering what kind of pudding is actually stored inside the oversized plastic kitty heads? He may bust one open to show you. Of course, he can't really share some of the teas he carries -- especially since they are used to treat maladies like gall bladder and liver dysfunction -- but you would probably feel comfortable talking about PMS or erectile dysfunction with Wong, and he'd provide just the tea for the job. And since teas start at only $2.95 a box, you'll find them much cheaper than a box of Midol or a blister pack of Viagra. If you have never set foot in an Asian market, stroll into Lauderhillâ??s Hong Kong some evening. You'll get an instant education and possibly even some samples.

3 articles

Kyojin Buffet

3485 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale Wilton Manors

954-568-2208

Asian, Japanese, Best Of, Menu

2 articles

Lemon Grass Asian Bistro

3811 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale Beaches

954-564-4422

Asian, Japanese, Thai, Best Of, Menu

Lemon Grass is swank, but the price is right. The menu at this Fort Lauderdale spot verges on gigantic, but it?s easy to navigate, and your bill will be just as easy on your wallet. And unlike other multipage menus, this one hangs together beautifully and never loses focus, effortlessly drawing out Vietnamese, Chinese, Hawaiian, Thai, and Japanese threads. From the sushi bar, a gorgeously designed plate of tuna tataki is arranged like a Chinese fan; a plate of tiny whole baby octopuses slathered with a sweet and rich deep-red marinade pop when you chew them -- a visceral effect that takes some getting used to, but they?re wonderful. Vietnamese-style summer rolls are a perfectly balanced ode to the season; won-ton soup with asparagus floats puck-sized homemade chicken dumplings in a clear broth festooned with napa cabbage. The chefs? lightness of touch extends from the homiest of soups to the fanciest entrée, and it?s hard to imagine anything more pleasant than sitting at a sidewalk table over a plate of ?Mama?s lobster.?

4 articles

Mama Asian Noodle Bar

4437 Lyons Rd., Ste. E-108 Coconut Creek

954-973-1670

Asian, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, Best Of, Menu

The menu at Mama Asian Noodle Bar in the Coconut Creek Promenade doesn't stop at noodles. In fact, its list of Thai-, Chinese-, Japanese-, and Vietnamese-inspired dishes is more extensive than restaurants that focus on just one country. It's the third restaurant from Mike and Lisa Ponluang, who previously ran Coral Springs favorite Thai Pepper and now entertain nightly at Coco Asian Bistro in Fort Lauderdale. Try Ponluang's famous spring rolls, fried-chicken-and-shiitake-mushroom bites he's been making since 1991. Or Chilean sea bass, moist and supple atop a pool of spicy red curry lined with fresh asparagus and kafir lime leaf. The modern digs are comfortable and attractive, and the reasonable prices make Mama a great everyday destination.

5 articles

Moon Thai & Japanese Restaurant

2818 Weston Rd. Weston

954-384-7275

Asian, Japanese, Thai, Best Of, Menu, Slideshow

4 articles

New Hong Kong Chinese Foods

1303 SE 17th St., Ste. C Fort Lauderdale

954-728-8807

Asian, Chinese, Best Of

Experienced Chinese food consumers can get soy sauce stains out of their undershirts, and they never let the faded photos of Hunan beef above the counter of a takeout eatery deter them. If the grub is going to be consumed elsewhere anyhow, atmosphere doesn't matter; the truth is in the General Tso's sauce. Leave it to the fine, fast, and affordable New Hong Kong Chinese Food to minimize the MSG hangover and coat every surface of the inside of your mouth with more than 100 variations of savory happiness. Even a risky item like cornstarch-battered crispy orange flavor beef leaves a wealth of East Asian spots in their greasy tracks. Do it for lunch, do it in large quantities, and do it late-night (till at least 10:30 daily) and these chefs with New York City experience have you covered.

1 article

New York Mart

10065 Sunset Strip, Sunrise Plantation

954-748-0065

Asian, Retail, Best Of

1 article

Nu Sushi

1312 N. University Dr. Coral Springs

954-755-5211

Asian, Japanese, Sushi, Thai, Recommended, Menu

Nu-Sushi has been operating silently in the same dim spot on University Drive for going on 20 years now. In that tiny space that seats about 30, chef-owner Yuji Azuma turns out fresh sushi culled from local and international waters, as well as an extensive array of authentic Japanese dishes that you won't find in many other restaurants. Saying Nu-Sushi's menu is extensive is sort of like saying Tolstoy was a bit long-winded. There are a good four dozen items in Azuma's appetizer section alone - dishes such as thin-sliced octopus salad, deep-fried pork skewers with caramelized onion, and yamakake, tuna sashimi served with slivers of raw potato. Add to that a long list of bento boxes, donburi rice bowls, soba and udon soups, tempura, and katsu (Japan's answer to KFC), plus a whole other mini-menu of about, oh, 40 more authentic Japanese small plates, and you start to get a glimpse of just how varied a meal there can be.

1 article

P.F. Chang's China Bistro

2418 E. Sunrise Blvd. Fort Lauderdale

954-565-5877

Asian, Asian Fusion, Chinese, Best Of, Menu

For the longest time most people tended to think of all Chinese food in the same greasy, all-night delivery sort of vein. That started to change when somewhat swanky P.F. Changâ??s jumped into the mall-side dining scene. The restaurants specialize in not-so greasy elevated Chinese-inspired cuisine. While the regular calorie-rich fare is still featured on the menu, P.F. Changâ??s also features healthier options--including brown rice, vegetarian, and gluten-free options. And to make the chain that much more appealing, there is an extensive cocktail and wine menu. Try finding that in your local delivery spot.

6 articles

Pho 79

6451 Stirling Rd. Davie

954-797-9700

Asian, Vietnamese, Best Of

1 article

Poke House

666 N. Federal Highway Fort Lauderdale

754-200-4555

Asian, Sushi, Slideshow

1 article

Red Ginger Asian Bistro

9710 W. Sample Rd. Coral Springs

954-752-1850

Asian, Chinese, Japanese, Sushi, Thai, Best Of, Menu

Red Ginger covers all bases with a pan-Asian menu that stretches from China to Thailand. The spacious restaurant is draped in steely grays with lipstick-red accents. The food showcases similar contrast. Chinese classics like kung pao chicken and Szechuan beef share space with wok-fried Thai soft-shell crab and spicy beef and lime salad. Sushi from the bar is fresh, and an assortment of specialty rolls showcases a creative touch. Some of the options are pricier than you'll find in similar restaurants, but the overall quality is higher as well.

1 article

Saigon City Vietnamese Restaurant

4301 N. State Road 7, Fort Lauderdale Lauderhill

954-731-6478

Asian, Recommended

Tucked in a suburban strip mall, this modest Vietnamese restaurant offers an extensive list of authentic dishes in a bright, spartan dining room, coupled with friendly, efficient service. Go for a refreshing starter, such as spring rolls in rice paper, stuffed with pork, pickled vegetables, and cilantro. Or if you're inclined, segue right to a giant bowl of pho: beef broth laden with rice noodles, meatballs, flank steak, or brisket. The fun of pho isn't just the composition, it's the condiments. Each bowl is paired with a plate of Thai basil, bean sprouts, jalapenos, and lime. Don't be shy about tearing herbs to release their fragrance, or dousing your soup with chilis if you like your soup hot. Sriracha and fish sauce are also options, though be sure to add sparingly and taste as you go. A banh mi here is a delicious deal, a traditional pork sandwich heaped with vegetables and herbs. The key is the bread: a French demi-baguette with a crusty exterior and an airy, flavorful crumb. Wrapped like a package in waxed paper, circled with a rubber band, the sandwich and its presentation will not disappoint.

3 articles

Sasaya Japanese Market

1956 E. Sunrise Blvd. Fort Lauderdale

954-761-8010

Asian, Japanese, Best Of

Sasaya is a small and quaint Japanese market, located in the busy Gateway Plaza, that sells Japanese and Asian groceries, cookware, gifts, snacks, beverages, and sake. All of its offerings -- from sushi bowls to decorative chopsticks, from Japanese magazines and videos to a cooler full of tasty imported treats -- are little treasures, but the real deal is found in the back, where you can order cheap and fresh sushi takeout from a small counter. (You can also eat in the store, but there are only about six stools at a cramped table.) There are also Japanese appetizers such as steamed edamame, miso soup, and seaweed salad. Gets busy during lunch hour and Friday nights.

7 articles

Shin Ju Japanese Buffet

1269 N. University Dr. Coral Springs

954-752-3406

Asian, Buffet, Japanese, Sushi, Best Of

Let's put this out here right away: Shin Ju is not trying to break records for the most amazing Asian food on the planet. But for about $10 at lunch and less than $20 for dinner, diners can get their fill of tasty sushi, along with items from the hibachi and raw bar, including oysters and crab legs. Choices change regularly, but diners can always expect to see about 50 sushi or sashimi offerings, along with dozens of Chinese and Japanese selections. Shinju also has a fun dessert selection. Don't have time to sit and chow? Order takeout and pay by the pound. But you know it's better to get your money's worth by staying inside. Besides, this place is easy to enjoy, with paper-lantern lights, tall booths with Asian lettering on the tabletops, and televisions typically tuned to sports. But make sure you arrive before 9:30 p.m. to get your eat on — otherwise, they may say sayonara to you and your hungry belly.

1 article

Shin Ju Japanese Buffet

3305 S. University Dr. Davie/West Hollywood

954-472-3666

Asian, Buffet, Japanese, Sushi, Best Of, Menu

Let's put this out here right away: Shinju is not trying to break records for the most amazing Asian food on the planet. But for about $10 at lunch and less than $20 for dinner, diners can get their fill of tasty sushi, along with items from the hibachi and raw bar, including oysters and crab legs. Choices change regularly, but diners can always expect to see about 50 sushi or sashimi offerings, along with dozens of Chinese and Japanese selections. Shinju also has a fun dessert selection. Don't have time to sit and chow? Order takeout and pay by the pound. But you know it's better to get your money's worth by staying inside. Besides, this place is easy to enjoy, with paper-lantern lights, tall booths with Asian lettering on the tabletops, and televisions typically tuned to sports. But make sure you arrive before 9:30 p.m. to get your eat on -- otherwise, they may say sayonara to you and your hungry belly.

1 article

Shin Ju Japanese Buffet

14838 Pines Blvd. Pembroke Pines

954-538-9696

Asian, Buffet, Japanese, Best Of

1 article

Siam House Thailand Restaurant

1392 SE 17th St. Fort Lauderdale

954-763-1701

Thai, Asian, Best Of, Menu

1 article

Sukhothai

1930 E. Sunrise Blvd. Fort Lauderdale

954-764-0148

Asian, Thai, Recommended

One of the oldest Thai restaurants in Fort Lauderdale and still deservedly popular with everyone in the animal kingdom, from early birds to hepcats. Mother Susie and son Eddie have made themselves and their place a local institution by providing excellent service and reasonable prices in a handsome setting accented with Asian sculpture and bright flowers. Red, green, panang, and basil curries, pad Thai, oodles of noodles, and a longish lineup of vegetarian dishes should please just about everybody who has a hankering for coconut milk or the flavors of lime leaves and lemongrass.

5 articles

Sushi Sake Biscayne

900 Biscayne Blvd., Miami Central Dade

305-285-3232

Asian, Japanese, Sushi, Menu

Tee Jay Thai Sushi

2049 N. University Dr. Coral Springs

954-752-9993

Asian, Japanese, Sushi, Thai, Recommended

Tee-Jay Thai Sushi has a menu as big as the Gulf of Thailand: There are six or so sections of Thai and Japanese appetizers like summer rolls wrapped in rice paper, salads with beef and lime, gyoza filled with minced meat, and tataki tuna seared on the grill; a huge selection of stir-fried noodle dishes with shrimp and chicken, some spicy some sweet; more than a dozen designer house maki rolls done up to look like sea monsters; and enough classic dishes like pad Thai and mee-krob to keep you occupied for days. Service is informal and often hurried, and consistency varies, but for an all-purpose Asian joint, Tee-Jay delivers.

1 article

Vix at Hotel Victor

1144 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach South Beach

305-779-8888

Asian, Contemporary, Indian, Latin American, Middle Eastern, Recommended

Chef James Wierzelewski has cooked in exotic locations for 20-some years, gathering gastronomic ideas from places the way tourists collect T-shirts. The menu at Vix, however, is no hodgepodge homage to his travels but rather a short, sensible compilation of mostly Mediterranean and Asian dishes, with a few tips of the toque toward Central and South America. The arrival of a basket brimming with fresh-from-the-tandoor-oven naan bread is the first sign Vix is paying attention to details. A ceviche of tequila-and-lime-soaked saltwater prawns exudes pristine quality, while grape-leaf-encased sausages of minced Moroccan-spiced Merguez lamb let you know this chef isn't afraid to heat things up. Full flavors and sharp contrasts are displayed in entrées such as Basque-style loup de mer, a firm-fleshed white fish fillet seared and dressed with chorizo-fortified tomato bouillon; fresh, meaty artichoke hearts; and a sweet red pimiento polenta. Risotto was also exemplary. No such luster brightened a dull "chow mein" of Hong Kong barbecued duck and lobster, but we didn't say Vix was perfect.

Wings Chinese Restaurant

3750 SW 64th Ave. Davie

954-584-7511

Chinese, Peruvian, Asian, Recommended, Menu, Slideshow

After operating for about 25 years in a sleepy shopping center across from the Broward Community College Central Campus, Wings Chinese Restaurant started serving chifa, a Peruvian version of Chinese food, around 2010. The tiny dining room offers a selection of the Peruvian Chinese fare and regular American Chinese cuisine. Try the Arroz chaufa con pollo ($8), a dish that’s like the American version of chicken fried rice, but firmer and with a stronger umami flavor. It is composed of mostly rice with egg, large chunks of chicken, and some freshly chopped green onion. Tallarín saltado ($11.95) is a heaping plate of soft noodles with roasted pork, shrimp, and vegetables in a thick soy and oyster sauce. The pork is encircled by a red ring from the sweet and spicy five-spice rub; earthy notes of ginger infuse the dish. With flavorful food, large portions, and low price points, it’s worth the trek out west.

2 articles

Asian in South Florida

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