Asian Food and Cooking

Soi 4 Bangkok Eatery Brings Authentic Thai to Scottsdale

Coming Soon: Otaku Sushi in Chandler

​It looks like East Valley sushi geeks will be getting a little gift after the New Year -- Otaku Sushi, a restaurant that's currently under construction at 2430 S. Gilbert Rd. in Chandler. The restaurant's name translates to "geek" or "hardcore fan" in modern Japanese sla ... More >>

New in Arcadia: SaBai Modern Thai

​Two restaurant industry vets have just opened a sleek new Thai restaurant in an Arcadia space that used to be a fast food joint.SaBai Modern Thai, at 4121 E. Thomas Rd., is owned by husband-and-wife team Eric and Atchara (Holly) Willis. He was a manager at Wrigley Mansion for a decade, while she ... More >>

Wildfish Seafood Grill Hires Sushi Chef

The raw bar at Wildfish Seafood Grille​Already a reliable spot for a good crabcake or a big platter of raw oysters to slurp, now Wildfish Seafood Grill is bringing sushi and sashimi into the mix with the hiring of sushi chef Stephan Martin.It's a natural evolution for the Waterfront restaurant, wh ... More >>

Fragrant Pho at Viet Kitchen

If only you could smell how delicious this pho is . . .​If first impressions mean anything, then I expect to put Viet Kitchen in my regular rotation. The new downtown Vietnamese restaurant (on 1st Ave. at Adams St.) was a bright and cheerful stop for this curious and hungry reporter ... More >>

Meeting Rick Moonen, and Other Las Vegas Adventures

​Some friends have asked for a food report on my recent weekend jaunt to Las Vegas, so here you go, foodniks. First off, here's proof (um, not really) that I met chef Rick Moonen, who almost immediately asked me if I do my job anonymously, and later joked that he could make a killin ... More >>

Cherryblossom Noodle Café: Lunch $10 & Under

When we heard about the lunch specials at Cherry Blossom Noodle Café, we had to check it out. Nearly 20 options for less than $10 each on weekdays? Yes please.

New in Downtown: Viet Kitchen

​I love it when this happens. I wish for something long enough, and then it comes true. So far, I haven't made it to Spain, and nobody's come to my door with a million-dollar check from Publisher's Clearinghouse, but at least there's a brand-new Vietnamese restaurant in Downtown -- the first ... More >>

Chicken Tikka Masala at Zam Zam World Foods

​The luscious lunch buffet at Zam Zam World Foods' in-house cafe is no more -- although it might eventually make a comeback, says a kitchen employee.In the meantime, there's still plenty of tasty Pakistani and Indian food that won't break the bank. Walk past aisles of rice, oil, canned vegetables, ... More >>

Sunshine Moon Peking Pub Coming Soon to Scottsdale

One of the creators of P.F. Chang's China Bistro is about to bring a new Asian restaurant called Sunshine Moon Peking Pub to the Old Town Scottsdale space that previously housed Bacon.Rich Sullivan -- who was behind the original P.F. Chang's concept, is an investor in the original Humble Pie pi ... More >>

Last Meal: Local Artists and Scenesters Pick Out What They'd Eat For Their Final Feasts

Wikimedia Commons What would you pick for your last meal?​It's estimated that the average human will consume more than 85,000 meals in his or her lifetime. And some are inevitably more important or memorable than others (such as Thanksgiving or Christmas dinners, wedding feasts, or at impor ... More >>

Sushi Roku at The W Scottsdale: Lunch $10 & Under

Okay, so you can't really do lunch at Sushi Roku at The W Scottsdale for less than $10, but you can get a lot of bang for your buck with a $10 Express Bento Box, which is nearly a square-foot of Japanese food.

Kimchi-Kimchi-Coo

Get your international cuisine-loving booty down here

Tempe's Little India Has a Lot to Chaat About

Get your international cuisine-loving booty down here

Hiro Sushi: Mouthwatering Sushi From a Neighborhood Mom and Pop

Get your international cuisine-loving booty down here

Chef Kazuto "Kaz" Kishino of Hana Japanese Eatery, Kitchen

Born, raised, educated and trained in Japan, Chef Kazuto "Kaz" Kishino, the man running the behind-the-scenes show in the kitchen of Hana Japanese Eatery, is about as old school as it gets in Japanese cooking. Kaz is a man of few words and little English, but Lori Hashimoto plays translator to unvei ... More >>

Chef Rick "Koji" Hashimoto of Hana Japanese Eatery, Sushi Bar

Chef Rick "Koji" Hashimoto rocks and rolls as he prepares sushi at Hana Japanese Eatery, dressed to the nines and showing off his skills. Today, we pick Koji's brain about his sushi technique, the brown bag lunches he couldn't escape, the best bone-removal method and if any deadly catches will be hi ... More >>

Guru Palace's Chicken Tikka Masala

We named Guru Palace's Chicken Tikka Masala one of our "100 Favorite Dishes," and today, Rana Singh Sodhi and Surinder Singh (no relation) share the mouthwatering Indian recipe.

Teharu Sushi Just May Be the Fastest Food

We named Guru Palace's Chicken Tikka Masala one of our "100 Favorite Dishes," and today, Rana Singh Sodhi and Surinder Singh (no relation) share the mouthwatering Indian recipe.

Rana Singh Sodhi and Surinder Singh of Guru Palace

Rana Singh Sodhi and Surinder Singh (no relation) joined forces to transform a strip mall restaurant space into an Indian oasis: The Guru Palace, complete with floor seating and wall murals of the Taj Mahal.

Nobuo at Teeter House Proves Izakaya Dreams Really Can Come True in Downtown Phoenix

Rana Singh Sodhi and Surinder Singh (no relation) joined forces to transform a strip mall restaurant space into an Indian oasis: The Guru Palace, complete with floor seating and wall murals of the Taj Mahal.

Indian Opulence and Tandoori Treasures at Mesa's Guru Palace

Rana Singh Sodhi and Surinder Singh (no relation) joined forces to transform a strip mall restaurant space into an Indian oasis: The Guru Palace, complete with floor seating and wall murals of the Taj Mahal.

Cafe: Guru Palace

​What's the cuisine guaranteed to get our salivary glands working over time? Indian food. Just check out what this week's Cafe column has to say about Guru Palace and you'll see what we mean. Food Critic Michele Laudig on Guru Palace: Chewy, blistered rounds of naan bread were tasty naked o ... More >>

Banh Mi: What is the Nom Nom Truck Selling and Where Can I Get Some?

Food Network Nom Nom Truck​Earlier this week we mentioned four Arizona food truck companies that are season 2 nominees for The Great Food Truck Race on The Food Network. We hope you follow the link to vote for your local food roadsters and a chance for you to win a trip to NYC for The Food ... More >>

Ewha Korean Restaurant Is More Delicious with Friends

Food Network Nom Nom Truck​Earlier this week we mentioned four Arizona food truck companies that are season 2 nominees for The Great Food Truck Race on The Food Network. We hope you follow the link to vote for your local food roadsters and a chance for you to win a trip to NYC for The Food ... More >>

Stingray Sushi: Happy Hour Report Card

Erica O'Neil Warm sake and cold Sapporo at Stingray Sushi's happy hour.​The Spot: Stingray Sushi, 2502 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, (602) 955-2008, http://www.stingraysushi.com The Hours: Between the hours of 3 and 7 pm, Monday through Friday. The Details: $5 sake bombers, $4 wine by the gla ... More >>

Rockin' Ramen: Sushi Ken, Republic Ramen, and More Fill You Full of Noodles and Broth

Erica O'Neil Warm sake and cold Sapporo at Stingray Sushi's happy hour.​The Spot: Stingray Sushi, 2502 E. Camelback Rd., Phoenix, (602) 955-2008, http://www.stingraysushi.com The Hours: Between the hours of 3 and 7 pm, Monday through Friday. The Details: $5 sake bombers, $4 wine by the gla ... More >>

Latitude Eight vs. Flo's Kitchen: Baby, Please Satay With Me!

Satay is my go-to dish at any Thai or Pan-Asian restaurant. Made with chunks of chicken or beef broiled in spices and served with the crack of condiments -- peanut sauce -- it's a dish everyone from picky five-year-old Susie to granny will adore. Yes, I am a peanut sauce addict, but I've been g ... More >>

82: Okonomiyaki at Hana Japanese Eatery

​Hungry yet? We're working up our appetites for our huge Best of Phoenix issue, out September 30, with daily servings of Chow Bella's 100 Favorite Dishes from across the Valley -- in no particular order Leave your suggestions for upcoming favorites in the comments section. Visit our sister ... More >>

Bento Boxes, Beer and Cheese, Plus Homemade Ketchup in Today's Eater's Digest

souvlakiforthesoul.com​Hungry for for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives? Bento Lunch This summer, check out Sushi Roku for lunch. The swank Scottsdale sushi spot has their Bento Box lunch on special. The Bento Box features teriyaki chicken, a spicy ... More >>

Pho Thanh Takes Over for Pho Bang

souvlakiforthesoul.com​Hungry for for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives? Bento Lunch This summer, check out Sushi Roku for lunch. The swank Scottsdale sushi spot has their Bento Box lunch on special. The Bento Box features teriyaki chicken, a spicy ... More >>

Loving Hut's Vegan Cuisine Is Deceptively Delicious

souvlakiforthesoul.com​Hungry for for your early morning serving of food news, with no preservatives or additives? Bento Lunch This summer, check out Sushi Roku for lunch. The swank Scottsdale sushi spot has their Bento Box lunch on special. The Bento Box features teriyaki chicken, a spicy ... More >>

Radio Cafe: Happy Hour Report Card

The Spot: Radio Cafe602-956-6600 ​www.radiocafeaz.com/ The Hours: Happy hour is 5 p.m. till 7 p.m. daily. They are open until midnight Sunday through Thursday and till 1 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays for late night eats. The Details: Half off all specialty cocktails, draft beer and wine by the gl ... More >>

Chef Talk: Takeshi Hosoda of Radio Cafe

photo by Claire Lawton​"Trust Me," says the sign above Chef Takeshi Hosoda's head in Radio Cafe as he busily chops ginger for tonight's sushi orders. You can trust the sign. Hosada was raised in a suburb of Tokyo and moved to Phoenix because he needed a change of scenery ... More >>

Where Am I Eating?

​ While a friend was knee deep in a Japanese conversation lesson from the owner (he says "you're welcome" in Japanese sounds a lot like "don't touch my mustache") a chorus of edamame, yakitori, tonkatsu and gyoza demanded my undivided attention. The tiny place has been serving Japanese comfor ... More >>

New in Scottsdale: Lao Thai

​Could Thai food possibly get any more popular? The last few years have seen a boom in Thai food across the Valley, and still more new restaurants are opening their doors. ​The newest is Lao Thai, which opened last week in the former Kam's Garden space on Scottsdale Road at Oak (2200 ... More >>

Thai E-San Brings the Heat, but It’s the Pickled Crabs That Might Get You

​Could Thai food possibly get any more popular? The last few years have seen a boom in Thai food across the Valley, and still more new restaurants are opening their doors. ​The newest is Lao Thai, which opened last week in the former Kam's Garden space on Scottsdale Road at Oak (2200 ... More >>

Battle of the Curries

There's no absolute definition for curry, but suffice it to say it's Pan-Asian/Indian comfort food. Roughly translated as "gravy" or "sauce," traditional curry dishes from Thailand to India have found their way into the hearts and tummies of Americans. We do love comfort food, after all. What better ... More >>

Yen Sushi and Sake Bar Rocks Their Rolls

There's no absolute definition for curry, but suffice it to say it's Pan-Asian/Indian comfort food. Roughly translated as "gravy" or "sauce," traditional curry dishes from Thailand to India have found their way into the hearts and tummies of Americans. We do love comfort food, after all. What better ... More >>

Cafe: Yen Sushi

​We weren't always into sushi, but we loved Japanese fried chicken. During a year-long stint in the land of the rising sun, we would often drive our Daihatsu Mira (think of it as a mini Mini) to this tiny sushi shop to order karaage, which this particular shop served with a tiny saucer of cru ... More >>

Watch Football Tonight, Get Sushi for a Buck

​At the start of the 2009 football season, Kabuki Japanese Restaurant in Glendale and Tempe introduced a Game Day promo where sushi slash football fans could take advantage of "buy one, get one for a dollar" sushi and drink specials while watching a Cardinals game on Kabuki's flatsc ... More >>

Soup's On!: Pho from Khai Hoan

Even temperatures in the 80s can't stop the feeling of fall. Slowly but surely, we find our tastes drifting from cold to hot, casting aside our iced coffee for a steamy cappuccino. And this time of year always makes us crave a big bowl of hot, homemade soup.Heather HochSoup made just the way we like ... More >>

A Sneak Peek at Kabuki's New Arizona Sushi

Phoenix can be a much divided town. There are the Scottsdale types and the West Siders, the conservative natives and the influx of liberals, the sushi eaters and those who would rather chug a live goldfish than eat sashimi. We doubt that the bridge between Arpaio supporters and detractors will ... More >>

Efes Turkish Cuisine and Golden Buddha Serve Up Free Entertainment on the Side

Amy Silverman​These days, satellite radio passes as live entertainment in many eating establishments. So it was refreshing to stumble recently on two musical dining experiences. By now it's practically become cliche that the worst Chinese food in town can be found at the restaurants at the C ... More >>

Ra Sushi's New Dishes

Jonathan McNamaraRa appetizers.​Let's just get this out of the way: Ra Sushi is not Japanese cuisine. Not proper Japanese cuisine anyway. That being said, it can be delicious as I found out at a new menu tasting at Ra Sushi in North Scottsdale last night.

Woodlands Vegetarian and Café Krishna Pack Chandler With Ethnic Vegetarian Specialties

Jonathan McNamaraRa appetizers.​Let's just get this out of the way: Ra Sushi is not Japanese cuisine. Not proper Japanese cuisine anyway. That being said, it can be delicious as I found out at a new menu tasting at Ra Sushi in North Scottsdale last night.

Battle of the Pad Thai

Yupha's Thai Kitchen vs. Wild Thaiger Visit even a semi-authentic ethnic restaurant -- Thai, Indian, Vietnamese -- and you'll generally find two types of dishes on the menu: traditional specialties with unpronounceable names and flavors that pay homage to the homeland, and bastardized vers ... More >>

Chef Talk: Shin Toyoda, Sushi Roku

Heather Hoch Sushi Chef Shin Toyoda tending his sushi bar at Sushi Roku.​Armed with a super sharp sushi knife and some of the freshest fish to be found in a desert, sushi chef Shin Toyoda takes Arizona tastebuds to Tokyo, one happy customer at a time.Toyoda got his first job in a restaurant ... More >>

Making Lamb Curry is Easy, Thanks to Ethnic Market "India Plaza "

Spice packets range from various meat curries to tasty vegetable dishes. Indian food is always fun to eat. Making it, on the other hand . . . well, let's just say it's not for the inexperienced cook. For us, the hardest has always been the spices. For any one Indian dish, you need a whole ars ... More >>

Beach Bites: The Fortune Cookie Chronicles

 So, you've read Julie & Julia and all of Ruth Reichl's books, but you're hungry for more? Fear not, summer reader. We've got a week's worth of book recommendations for you, all food-related in one way or another, starting today with The Fortune Cookie Chronicles by Jennifer 8. Le ... More >>