Asian Food and Cooking

New Korean Barbecue Spot Opens in Glendale

West Valley residents looking for Korean barbecue and other specialty dishes can now head to Koryo Korean BBQ at 10040 North 43rd Avenue in Glendale (inside the Great Skate Mall). See also: - Bao Bing, the Cool and Fruity Asian Treat, Gets Its Own Shop in Central Phoenix - New Conveyor Belt Sushi S ... More >>

Miu's Cuisine: Sichuan Food That's Anything but Familiar

New Conveyor Belt Sushi Spot Opens in Gilbert

Since Chandler's Sushi Eye in Motion closed last fall, all's been quiet on the kaiten-zushi, or conveyor belt sushi, front -- at least until now. See also: - Postino Owners to Open Joyride Taco House in Gilbert in June - Hot Dogs & Pie: Mamma Toledo's to Open Space Inside New Short Leash Hot Dogs R ... More >>

Chanpen Is Back in the USA. Lucky Us.

Ramen Rematch: Republic Ramen vs. Sushi Ken

When you've had ramen done right, you just know. It's a shame it's even referred to by the same name as its Styrofoam cup counterpart. The base is always a flavorful, unique broth with an extra boost from added traditional Japanese veggies like seaweed (Japan's bay leaf) and kamaboko. All that's pou ... More >>

Lee Lee Oriental Supermarket in Chandler: What We Bought, What We Skipped, and What We're Still Lusting Over

The Spot: Lee Lee Oriental Supermarket in Chandler, Open daily from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. See Also: - Downtown Phoenix Public Market: What We Bought, What We Skipped, and What We're Still Lusting After - Owners of Lee Lee International Supermarket Talk History, Journey, Future in New Video - My Mini ... More >>

The Secret Is Out on New India Bazaar & Cuisine

New India Bazaar & Cuisine: Shedding Light on a Grocery Store's Secret Restaurant

New India Bazaar & Cuisine didn't always have a secret restaurant. For four years, it was strictly an Indian grocery in a strip mall on Seventh Street in Central Phoenix. It wasn't until January 2012 that its Punjabi-minded eatery opened, ever so quietly, for business. And for those in the know, th ... More >>

Nightmare Fuel: Ramen Ice Cream Is A Real Thing

As Wake Up Call has frequently highlighted, the Japanese and Asia on the whole are fearless culinary travelers, nomnauts if you will. But even by the most generous of standards, miso ramen flavored ice cream is pretty strange and apparently not exactly delicious. See Also: --Wendy's Japan Presents ... More >>

See, We Told You Rice Cakes Are Dangerous

As was noted in a previous story, one of the most hazardous parts of the holiday season for Japanese are the days directly after New Years when pounded rice cakes known as mochi are consumed in great quantities. The Tokyo Fire Department is reported to have transported more than 17 people to the hos ... More >>

Pho Fight in Phoenix: Pho Thanh vs. Da Vang

There are few things more comforting than a big bowl of soup on a cold(ish) winter night. The great thing about pho (pronounced like fuh, not foh fo' the n00bz) is that you don't have to sacrifice flavor and spice for that comfort. This Vietnamese staple has blown up in the Valley over the past few ... More >>

A Culinary Crossroads at Khyber Halal

J.K. Grence: Pei Wei Makes the Best Beef and Broccoli in Phoenix

The Guilty Pleasure: Ginger Broccoli Steak Where to Get It: Pei Wei Asian Diner, locations Valleywide Price: $8.75 What It Really Costs: Admitting you ate at a national chain and liked it. Oh yeah, that plate you polished off? It's supposed to serve two. I love lots of authentic Chinese joints arou ... More >>

Hue Gourmet: Vietnamese Cuisine Fit for Royalty

Pork Belly and Chawanmushi for Bento Box Brunch at Nobuo at Teeter House

Welcome to Brunched, where Chow Bella samples local restaurants' offerings for our favorite meal. Hey, you get to sleep in and eat breakfast -- what's not to like? See also: Clove-Scented Ham and Baked Pancakes at Wy-Knot Cafe See also: Frescas and Pozole at Distrito What: Nobuo at Teeter House Wh ... More >>

Here's the Menu for the New Dhaba Cafe: Serving Up Street Food, Indian Style, in Tempe

Looking for a primo parantha? How about a terrific tawa aloo? If you're in Tempe you can get them both, as well as several other types of Indian street food, at the Dhaba Cafe, the new fast-casual eatery from The Dhaba, the Indian restaurant specializing in the foods of the Punjab region of Norther ... More >>

"Grass Roots" Pakistani Cuisine at Zaidi's Grill

Josh Hebert Makes Japanese Street Food for Late-Night Dining at Posh

See also: Posh Chef Josh Hebert to Host Traditional Japanese Sake Dinner Josh Hebert, chef-owner of Posh Improvisational Cuisine knows more about Japanese street food than the average gaijin. After all, he's a chef (which means he pays attention), and he lived in Tokyo for a year, eating his way th ... More >>

Lay Waste to the Forces of Hunger With the Sushi Bazooka

See Also: We Welcome Our (Sushi) Robot Overlords See Also: Watch This: The Story of Sushi Making sushi is hard and time consuming. There's the monumental amount of prep work, the difficulty in making tender sushi rice, the actual hassle of rolling the sushi by hand. Professional sushi chefs use a " ... More >>

Johnny Chu Dishes on Hong Kong Street Food and the Questionable Authenticity of Local Chinese Restaurants

See also: Johnny Chu Opens SoChu House with a Hip Ambiance and Plenty of Cocktails Johnny Chu SoChu House Neo Asian Martini Bar 2801 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix 602-340-9777 This is part one of my interview with Johnny Chu, chef-owner of the just-opened SoChu House Neo Asian Martini Bar. Come b ... More >>

Palee's Crown in Mesa Is Fit for a Thai Queen

AndyTalk: Sushi for Dessert

Whether it's a feint by a quarterback, an improvised musical riff, or a magic trick, everyone appreciates a good fake-out -- especially when the end result is a success. The first time I served sushi for dessert I had a goal. Actually, I had two goals: First, make a great dessert and, second, make m ... More >>

Point-Counterpoint: Is Pho King or Is It Pho-King Awful?

We had so much fun chucking Chow Bella contributors Ando Muneno and Lauren Saria into the ring over Alton Brown, food trucks and movie theaters with food, we put them back at it again. This week's topic: Pho, Vietnamese beef noodle soup. Pho joints have been growing in popularity throughout the Va ... More >>

Round Two with Lori Hashimoto of Hana Japanese Eatery

Lori Hashimoto Hana Japanese Eatery 5524 N. Seventh Avenue 602-973-1238 www.hanajapaneseeatery.com This is part two of my interview with Lori Hashimoto, co-owner and sushi chef at Hana Japanese Eatery. In case you missed it, part one ran yesterday. Favorite Metro Phoenix restaurants other than yo ... More >>

Hana's Lori Hashimoto Dishes on Brazilian Lobster, Magic Knives and Keeping It All in the Family

Lori Hashimoto Hana Japanese Eatery 5542 N. Seventh Avenue 602-973-1238 www.hanajapaneseeatery.com This is part one of my interview with Lori Hashimoto, co-owner and sushi chef of Hana Japanese Eatery. Part two of the interview will run in this space tomorrow. To understand Lori Hashimoto, you m ... More >>

India Grill Explores the Richer Cuisine of the Country's Northern Region

Café Ga Hyang: Fantastic Korean Food -- And It's Open Late

Sushi Station at Desert Ridge Has Decent Sushi at a Great Price

When a new spot opens in town, we can't wait to check it out -- and let you know our initial impressions, share a few photos, and dish about some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that have just opened, sampling a few item ... More >>

Battle of the Banh Mi: Da Vang vs. Pho House

Ahhhh, the banh mi. Such a tasty and cheap little Vietnamese sandwich. Soft French bread filled with carrots, jalapeños, cilantro, and a delightful meat. It's one of our favorites, but we tend to overlook the little guys when we are at our favorite Vietnamese spots because, well, because there are ... More >>

We Welcome Our (Sushi) Robot Overlords

First cupcake ATMs, now a small army of sushi making machines? If the retro "News of the World" style music doesn't get you then just wait until the 0:40 mark, whoever edited this video wasn't afraid to lay down some funky beats. The sushi making machines featured in this video are the products of ... More >>

Nobuo Will Offer Omakase-Style Bento Brunch!

Chef Nobuo Fukuda, the James Beard winning proprietor of Nobuo at Teeter House, is poised to serve what will probably be the classiest bento boxes the Valley has ever seen. An email sent last week promises a $50 Sunday brunch, starting April 15, featuring "Omakase-style bento boxes" and a compliment ... More >>

Punjabi Spices at The Dhaba

Trying to follow spices in an Indian kitchen can get complicated real fast, and it gets even more difficult when breaking apart the vast regional differences. We're breaking it down at The Dhaba with Punjabi flavors from North India.

Pho House Is Your New Favorite, Er, Pho House

When a new spot opens in town, we can't wait to check it out -- and let you know our initial impressions. Share a few photos, some menu items. First Taste, as the name implies, is not a full-blown review, but instead a peek inside restaurants that have just opened, sampling a few items, and satisfyi ... More >>

Watch This: The Story of Sushi

The Story of Sushi from Bamboo Sushi on Vimeo. Clear four minutes of your day and hit play on this amazing little video. The Story of Sushi tells a sad tale of the sushi industry and the future of our oceans if we continue on the same commercial fishing path. Created for Portland's Bamboo Sushi, ... More >>

Top Five Japanese Restaurants in Phoenix

Jamie PeacheyCherryblossom Noodle Cafe.​When many people think about Japanese food they immediately snap their fingers and say, "Oh! You mean like sushi?" They are not wrong of course, but Japanese culinary traditions stretch far beyond raw fish on rice. Luckily for us the Valley is home to so ... More >>

Five Favorite Thai Restaurants in Metro Phoenix

​The Valley is home to more than a few Thai restaurants. Grabbing a mediocre plate of pad thai is easy enough, but finding quality Thai is another matter entirely. Below are some of our favorites. They run the gamut from an upscale Scottsdale joint to a Mom and Pop eatery closing in on its third d ... More >>

Masala Dosa from Woodlands Vegetarian South Indian Kitchen

​ ​Tired of the same old tired orange chicken and California rolls? Want to venture beyond the standard suburban-stale take-out? Here comes Chop PHX, with the Valley's rarer Asian offerings. This Week: Masala Dosa from Woodlands Vegetarian South Indian Kitchen The Basics:Imagine an unsweetened ... More >>

$10 Lunch at Delhi Palace Cuisine of India

​​Buffets can be hit or miss, and we've had far too many bland entrees overcooked under a heat lamp to claim the title of buffet buff. But one of our favorite lunch time destinations just happens to be a buffet that's finger lickin' good and easy on the wallet. Delhi Palace Cuisine of India off ... More >>

10 Chinese Restaurants in Metro Phoenix Open on Christmas Day

Ando Muneno Peking duck (sans head) for Christmas dinner? Check out our list of places to get your fix.​ Peking duck, the holiday classic from "A Christmas Story."​Nothing beats kvetching about holiday commercialism over a plate of orange chicken and fried rice. To honor this grand ... More >>

Rice Paper's Pricey Vietnamese Food Could Use a Touch of Soul

Panang Chicken with a Bang at Thai House

Amy Morris​If you find yourself near the 101 and Frank Lloyd Wright Blvd in Scottsdale, Thai House is a good bet for a filling Asian meal under $10. Lunch specials are only $6.95. There are several main courses to choose from when creating your own lunch. Some of the options are familiar, ... More >>

Pearl Sushi Lounge: Chic Ambiance and (Mostly) Flashy Food in Scottsdale

Nobuo Chef Fukuda Joins Chef Jason Alford for Omakase Experience at Roka Akor

Fans of omakase, the expression used at sushi restaurants to leave the menu to the chef, have an opportunity to treat themselves to an early holiday gift thanks to a unique event at Roka Akor in Scottsdale. On Monday, December 12, Roka Akor will bring together chef Nobuo Fukuda, James Beard Award-w ... More >>

Woodlands Vegetarian South Indian Kitchen in Chandler

It's tough to find a restaurant that's 100% vegetarian, but when in doubt, look for a place that serves authentic Indian food. Why? India has the highest population of vegetarians worldwide. For a spicy vegetarian fix, look no further than Woodlands Vegetarian South Indian Kitchen in Chandler, AZ.

Murg Makhani, or Butter Chicken to You and Me

Ando Muneno​ ​Tired of the same old tired orange chicken and California rolls? Want to venture beyond the standard suburban-stale take-out? Here comes Chop PHX, with the Valley's rarer Asian offerings. This Week: Murg Makhani from India Oven (1315 S. Gilbert Rd., Mesa) The Basics: Mur ... More >>

Pete's Thai Cuisine: Bold Flavors and More from a Longtime Valley Thai Chef

Lunch for $10 at Nobuo at Teeter House

Courtesy of Justin Eats​A common misconception seems to be that delcious -- as in, James Beard-award winning delicious -- food will never  be reasonably priced. Not true, and we've got proof! For this week's $10 lunch, we enjoyed the charming digs of the Teeter House at Heritage S ... More >>

Lunch for $10 at Republic Ramen and Noodle Bar

Lauren Saria​Ramen (when it doesn't come in noodle-brick form out of a package from the grocery store) is a Japanese dish made of wheat noodles served in a flavored broth. The dish has been a part of both Chinese and Japanese cultures for decades and thanks to Nissin Foods, in the early 60s it mad ... More >>

Lunch under $10 at The Siamese Cat Thai Restaurant

​Located just up the strip mall from the Department of Economic Security office, The Siamese Cat Thai Restaurant doesn't exactly scream, "Great food, here!" But take a step inside (no really...hurry on in, no need to dally in the parking lot) and you'll find some delicious food at great ... More >>