Darrin's Dining Guide : Asian

Asian Restaurants in the Phoenix East Valley Area

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Indian Restaurants

Taste of India
1609 E Bell Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85022
602-788-3190

While Taste of India isn't in the East Valley I still manage to make the trip once in a while because I enjoy the food so much. I also find it novel to hear the Indians speaking with a British accent. Yes, they're Londoners. I recently recommended this place to one of my English friends who was complaining that he couldn't find good “London Indian” food anywhere.
Pasand [Web Site] [Menu]
1801 E Baseline Rd, Tempe, 85283
480-730-2555

After reading a fairly glowing review on Chowhound's Southwest Message Board I decided I had to try this place. My disappointment started almost immediately with our waiter seating us and trying to take our orders right away. Since it was our first visit my wife and I thought it might be nice to look at the menu first. Our waiter seemed a little put off. Then there was the busboy wiping down a table with a used napkin. My wife went to the restroom and came back looking aghast at the filthy conditions there. Not to be put off we ordered anyway. The food wasn't horrible, but it wasn't especially good, either. I have no reason to give this place a second shot.
Udupi Cafe
1636 N Scottsdale Rd, Tempe, 85281
480-994-8787

Review by Darrin Chandler — July 19, 2005

Always on the lookout for close, good Indian food, when I heard a recommendation for Udupi I just had to try it. Yet another unassuming strip mall restaurant with typical Indian decor. We arrived early and the place was almost empty.

Udupi sports a decent sized menu, but even so I recognized only a few things for two reasons. They specialize in Southern Indian cuisine, and they are completely vegetarian. In fact, more than half of the items qualify as Vegan.

We ended up ordering way too much food, but we got a fair sampling of their menu by ordering the sampler appetizer, a Thali combo, and an entree. Everything was fresh and seasoned well, and the service was quick and polite. The only gripe I have is that they rushed the entrees out before we had got even half way through the appetizers, which I find very annoying.

Since I'm not a vegetarian I wouldn't have minded seeing some meat on the menu, but I didn't really miss it. If there's one cuisine that's good at vegetarian then it's got to be Indian. They've been doing it a long time and they've got it down, and Udupi is a fine example of rich and hearty dishes.

However, the lack of beer and wine is a setback for some. It certainly is for me. I'm sure I'll return to Udupi, but there will be times when I dismiss it due to the lack of beer.

Thai

Royal Thai Grill
321 W. McKellips Rd.#103, Mesa, AZ 95201
480-733-9025

“This is one of the East Valley's best kept secrets.”
Read my review of Royal Thai Grill…
D's Thai Food
2431 E. McKellips Rd., Mesa, AZ 85213
480-969-0087

“I've read high praise in reviews, but the cuisine just doesn't support it.”
Read my review of D's Thai Food…

Korean

Hodori Restaurant
1116 S Dobson Rd, Mesa, AZ 85202
480-668-7979

“I'll recommend Hodori to anyone who likes Korean food. Period.”
Read my review of Hodori Restaurant…
Korean Garden
1324 S Rural Rd, Tempe, AZ 85281
480-967-1133

“Under new management and renamed to Seoul Garden Korean BBQ Restaurant. Haven't been there since this happened…”
Read my review of Korean Garden…

Chinese

Kwan's Sampan Restaurant
1927 N Gilbert Rd., Mesa, AZ 85203-2851
480-962-6655
Yen Ching Restaurant & Cocktails
126 S Power Rd, Mesa, AZ 85206-5213
480-985-4801

“…the best Chinese I've had in Mesa in years”
Read my review of Yen Ching Restaurant & Cocktails…

Vietnamese

Pho Mesa
502 S Dobson Rd, Mesa, AZ 85202
480-733-6640

“I'll write more after I try some Pho!”
Read my review of Pho Mesa…
Cyclo Vietnamese Cuisine
1919 W Chandler Blvd, Chandler AZ 85224
480-963-4490

“I'm going to give them another chance, since it ain't easy to find such good Vietnamese fare in this part of town.”
Read my review of Cyclo…

Japanese

Sushi Kee
6825 E Main St, Mesa, AZ 85207
480-654-1306

After trying the Tempe location I found that there's one only a few miles from my house. Needless to say I was eager to eat there. The Mesa location has the same strip mall store-front presence as the Tempe location. The interior wasn't quite as charming, and the clietele wasn't nearly as Japanese. The service was prompt and friendly. The menu seemed more limited, but they had a couple of unlisted things I requested (yellowtail belly, etc.). While everything was good, all aspects of the Mesa restaurant seemed a half notch down from the Tempe location. I'll go there again because it's close. When I don't mind the extra few minutes drive time I'll head to Tempe.
Sushi Kee On Tempe
1006 E Warner Rd 113, Tempe, AZ 85284
480-839-3924

From the outside it looks like a little dive in a strip mall. My wife didn't want to go in. Once inside the decor was charming enough to convince her to give it a try. We sat at the sushi bar and ordered sashimi. The selection of sashimi is wider than most sushi places, and everything we tried was good. The sushi chef was very competent and friendly, and the fish was very fresh. We didn't have any sushi or anything from the kitchen, but we saw many dishes come out and they looked stunning. The clientele was largely Japanese, which is certainly NOT true of most sushi places I've been. Service was polite and prompt. It's a bit pricier than most but not extremely so, and the food was well worth it. Highly recommended!
Kyoto
7170 Stetson Dr, Scottsdale, AZ 85251
480-990-9374

All in one Japanese cuisine: sushi bar, teppanyaki, or regular seating.
Ichi Ban Restaurant
2015 S Alma School Rd, Mesa, AZ 85210
480-777-8433

Darrin's Dining Guide : Asian

Contact Info

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