Barb and I had dinner this weekend with her sister, Sharon, and brother-in-law, Rick. Rick and I were both celebrating our birthdays which were one day apart. They are pretty easy to please with restaurant choices, as long as Rick’s food is well-done, not spicy and lands in his comfort zone. Being a Brooklyn boy, he’s always up for Chinese food.
I’ve been wanting to check out Asian Bistro nextto the Princeton Junction train station. They have a selection of many different Asiancuisines including Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese and mostly Korean. The restaurant looks like a small box from the outside, but is neatly arranged inside and surprisingly spacious. The place is very clean. They have just a few servers who are very welcoming and efficient. Most of their business is takeout. Almost all of the clientele was Asian and most greeted the owners in Korean. The great majority of the dishes are, in fact, Korean.
Rick and I, the birthday boys.Barb and Sharon, the sweetest sisters ever.The best thing about dining with our family is that we share everything. This is an order of Korean Chicken wings. They are double fried and marinated with a garlic sauce. We could have had them sweeter or spicier, but Rick would not have liked them. This dish was enjoyed by all of us.I’m a huge fan of Seafood and Scallion Pancakes. They most commonly show up in Korean restaurants, but can appear on any Asian menu. These were very tasty and we all liked them. I’ve had them a little thinner in other places, which I’ve preferred, but these were the best I’ve had locally.Beef short ribs, know as Kalbi, are probably the favorite of every Korean person I’ve ever dined with. They are cut thinner and perpendicular to the usual direction we are used to. They are always tender and nicely marinated. These were very good. Rick, our beverage aficionado, enjoyed his Diet Coke and approved the vintage. He is a world class designated driver.This Pinot Noir was a bottle I picked up on Wine Slash. It’s a website that offers good buys and interesting picks. It was about $19 and tasted great. Matched well with all of our meals.Korean restaurants commonly serve anywhere from 3 to 6 small tastings of savory items that I liken to “amuse bouches”. This little plate had bean sprouts gently coated with a nice sauce.This small plate had Zucchini chips marinated in a spicy Kim Chee type dressing. Spicy and garlicky. Wonderful.This little dish had fishcake which tasted neither fishy nor cakey. I’ve had it many times. It was slightly pickled. Dont let the name put you off. It’s got a nice flavor and consistency.Rick and Sharon ordered the Drunken Noodlesv with Chicken and mixed vegetables. That both enjoyed it. Rick was a bit put off when he discovered that he was also eating some pieces of tofu. Such is life. Barb ordered the Hot Stone Bowl Bibimbap with brown rice. She enjoyed it. I loved the Spicy Pan Fried Pork with mixed veggies. The pork was perfectly spicy and it came with a bowl of white rice. I’m accustomed to eating this dish with romaine lettuce leaves and wrapping it up into little packets with rice and spicy sauce. The hostess said she’d do that for me next time we come.
All in all, I’d say that Asian Bistro is an excellent restaurant and I would recommend it for people who enjoy a variety of Asian cuisines. It’s especially good for groups of people who have different preferences, but love chowing down with friends. The food is all freshly prepared and portions are pretty generous, great for sharing and tasting. The ladies who serve you are busy, but never negligent. I’ll be back to further explore the menu and suggest you give it a try.
JoshEatsandDrinks 