Dining guide: Asian restaurant sampler includes Chinese, Thai, Korean, pho and poke

If you consider just the sheer number of Chinese restaurants alone in Lexington, it’s clear that we love the flavors of Asia.

When you factor in the cuisines of Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Laos, Korea and even Mongolia, it’s pretty obvious that Lexington foodies have an ongoing love affair with pan-Asian food.

Here’s a sampling (a very small one) of places where you can indulge in the tastes of the Far East. All offer takeout to go and most are open for dining in again as well.

Try these and then start tackling all those other places that time and space didn’t permit us to include. Did we leave your favorite off the list? Let us know what we are missing. Email suggestions to jpatton1@herald-leader.com,

The list doesn’t include chains, which might also have great food, or sushi, which has its own list.

Chinese

Asian Wind

3735 Palomar Centre Drive Suite 40, asianwindky.com The original owners retired in 2011 but the restaurant has continued, serving Chinese and Asian Pacific specialties. Besides a range of Chinese favorites, they have vegetarian, Vietnamese, Thai, curry, and Hawaiian dishes. 859-223-0065

Peking Bistro Chinese Restaurant

3181 Beaumont Center Circle No. 104, facebook.com/newpekingbistroky/ This Beaumont location has a large and varied menu featuring all the usual dishes as well as some unusual ones, including Mongolian chicken and chicken with string beans. 859-223-8688

Foliage Restaurant

3650 Boston Road, foliagelexingtonky.com/ A family-run spot on Boston Road off Man O’ War. Go at lunch for one of the inexpensive combination platters such as sweet and sour chicken and shrimp with lobster sauce for $7.75. 859-223-3099

Cheng’s

3101 Clays Mill Road, facebook.com/Chengs-Chinese-Restaurant This restaurant in a shopping center on Clays Mill Road offers traditional dishes which can be spiced to order for any palate (hot and spicy dishes are noted on the menu.) The crab Rangoon appetizer is a must. 859-223-9212

J2C Asian Bistro

561 South Broadway, j2clex.com They have all the usual beef, poultry and seafood dishes, but offer vegetarian options as well. For your carb fix, get the dumplings as they come five to an order and are huge. 859-303-8330

Panda Cuisine

2358 Nicholasville Raod Suite 115, pandacuisinelexington.com Not to be confused with the chain Panda Express, Panda Cuisine is a casual eatery in Malabu Heights Plaza off Nicholasville Road. Hot pots and other fiery Sichuan dishes are a specialty, and they have vegetarian options such as Kung Pao tofu. But many fans come for the Dim Sum as it is one of the few places in Lexington where you can get it. Small portions of traditional Chinese dishes come in steamer baskets which range in price from $1.95 to $5.25. 859-479-0953

Golden Wok

3101 Richmond Road, goldenwoklexington.com/ Keep your ice water glass filled at all times as this place has some of the hottest, spiciest food in Lexington – just look for the red chili pepper symbol. If you want the Hunan beef or chicken, but your palate can’t handle the pyrotechnics, they will adjust the spice levels to suit you. 859-266-0958

Lee’s Garden

680 Lima Drive No. 110 Nothing too avant garde here, but they are a good choice for familiar Chinese fare such as chow mein, moo shu and General Tso’s chicken or shrimp. They also have a lunch special Tuesday through Sunday. 859-629-4426

Shanghai Bistro Tates Creek Center

4101 Tates Creek Centre Drive Nothing will surprise you here, as they offer all the familiar Chinese dishes, plus several Pan-Asian options. Their Low Mein gets high marks, while vegetarians might like the Family Style Bean Curd with Vegetable. 859-272-0588

Thai

Archa Nine Thai Kitchen

162 Old Todds Road, archaninethai.com/This tiny spot in a strip mall is the place to get traditional street food the way they prepare it in Bangkok. If you want something other than Pad Thai, go for the Chicken Satay, marinated with coconut milk, curry powder and Thai herbs and served with a spicy peanut sauce, or Ho-Mok Talay, seafood steamed in red curry sauce, with eggs, coconut cream, bell peppers and basil leaves served on a bed of steamed cabbage and banana leaf. 859-309-2726

Jasmine Rice Thai & Vietnamese Restaurant

911 Winchester Road, facebook.com/JasmineRiceThaiRestaurant This one has all the flavors of Indochina – not just Vietnam but Laos as well (the latter available Friday, Saturday and Sunday only). 859-246-0200

Mai Thai Restaurant

304 Southland Drive, facebook.com/MaiThaiLexington/ Located in a charming bungalow on Southland Drive, Mai Thai offers some unusual dishes such as Chicken Bamboo Soup and Yum Nua, a salad of sliced beef mixed with onions, tomato and lime juice. 859-231-0366

Vietnamese

Pho BC

171 West Lowry Lane This casual bistro in a strip mall off Nicholasville Road, offers traditional noodle soups and other Vietnamese dishes. If it’s available, try the Vietnamese Beef Stew (beef muscle with carrots and white onions stewed in special sauces.) If it’s not, go for the grilled beef in betel nut leaves. As it’s only available during the summer months, now is a good time to try it. 859-276-0557

Pho Saigon

Woodhill Circle 1555 East New Circle, phosaigonky.com/ Vietnamese home-style cooking is the thing here. If you are unfamiliar with Vietnamese cooking, Pho, a thick soup of noodles, broth, herbs and meat, is Vietnam’s national dish, served in homes, restaurants and street stalls throughout the country, but Lexingtonians only have to travel as far as New Circle Road to become a Pho fan (Pho Phan?) 859-244-8989

Korean

Arirang Korean Barbecue

109 Mount Tabor Road, arirangky.com/ Yes, they like barbecue in Asia too. At this restaurant they use only the finest cuts of meat and freshest ingredients. Their full menu of more than 50 items is always available. 859-269-8273

Han Woo Ri

371 South Limestone, as4.com/hanwoori.html A fairly new addition to the Lexington restaurant scene, the menu is eclectic, with something for everyone. If it’s meat you crave, try the Dol Sot Bi Bim Bab (rice with sizzling bits of meat, seasoned vegetables and egg with a hot pepper sauce and sesame oil served in a hot stone pot). Seafood lovers should try the Pajun, a Korean pancake with seafood, onion, garlic and green onions. Each day, two dishes are chosen to be the daily special for $5.99. 859-258-2208

Hawaiian

Okay, I know. Hawaii is only half-way to Asia, but it’s included because it claims to be the birthplace of poke, one of the trendiest dishes currently around. So, hopefully, you’ll forgive our geographical blunder.

Miyako Poke Bowl

867 South Broadway, miyakopoke.com/ This is Lexington’s first poke restaurant. You can order from the menu or create your own poke (diced raw fish) bowl, with sushi or proteins and up to 10 toppings and sauces, starting at $9.95. Be sure to try one of the four flavors of bubble tea, traditional milk tea served over ice. 859-469-9098

This story was originally published July 16, 2020 at 6:00 AM.