Category Archives: Asian food

A big batch of new Asian eateries

April 23, 20132:53 p.m.

I leave town for a month, and suddenly, my Asian dining options multiply.

I’m good with that.

Three new Asian restaurants recently have opened in different spots around Wichita, and I’m eager to try each one. Here’s a look at them:

1. Pho Mc, 1675 S. Rock Road, 316-440-5859: The new Vietnamese restaurant opened a couple of weeks ago. It serves pho, Vietnamese sandwiches known as banh mi, Chinese dishes and more. It’s owned by Minh Tran and his wife, Kim Chi, and is open daily for lunch and dinner

2. Koi Fusion, 6605 E. 37th St. N., 316-260-8218: This new restaurant, which specializes in Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese food, opened on April 15. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays. The menu includes dishes such as pho, teriyaki bowls, hibachi grill meals and curry dishes.

3. Ninza Sushi Bar, 8428 W.13th St., 316-558-5111: The sushi restaurant opened in March and features lots of creative sushi rolls, including the popular honey stone — a piled high roll made with deep fried crab, avocado, shrimp tempura and cream cheese and topped with a sweet honey sauce. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; from 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and from noon to 9 p.m. Sundays.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , , Filed under Asian food, Just opened | Comments

Now open: Teppanyaki Grill & Sushi Buffet

Feb. 12, 201310:12 a.m.

Friday was the opening day for the giant new Teppanyaki Grill & Sushi Buffet, which is now operating inside a 12,000-square-foot space at 6710 W. Kellogg, right next door to Best Buy.

The restaurant, owned by  a company that runs super buffet restaurants in nearby states, can hold about 400 diners. It specializes in Asian and American cuisine, with lots of sushi and Japanese style teppanyaki dishes.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays an 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The lunch buffet price, which is $6.95, is offered until 3:30 Mondays through Saturdays. The dinner price, which is $9.45, is available from 3:30 to close Monday through Saturday and all day on Sunday.

For more information, call 316-942-7777.

By Denise Neil | Tags: Filed under Asian food, Buffets, Just opened | Comments

Lunar New Year: Time for dancing and dining

Feb. 7, 20134:36 p.m.

The Lunar New Year is nigh, and a couple of local Asian restaurants will be celebrating with colorful, dance-y displays. (It’s the year of the sssssssssssssnake, by the way.)

On Saturday, Oh Yeah! China Bistro at 3101 N. Rock Road will be putting on a traditional lion dance.

Traditional dancers at Saigon.

It’ll start at 1:30 p.m. and is believe to bring good luck and fortune to the business. Call 316-425-7700 for more information.

Also, popular local restaurant Saigon at 1103 N. Broadway, which specializes in Vietnamese and Chinese dishes. The restaurant will have cultural dancers in the restaurant at 11:30 a.m. and again at 6:30 p.m on Sunday. Admission is free. For more information, call 316-262-8134.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , Filed under Asian food | Comments

Gindi now specializes in Asian burgers

Aug. 28, 20124:48 p.m.

Gindi, the Asian food/ sushi place at 7010 W. 21st St. N. that opened in January of 2009, has a new owner — and a new concept.

Phillip Say said he recently bought the restaurant from Roungaroon “Lou” Kumgool, who opened Dawn Thai Steakhouse & Sushi Bar at 1220 N. Rock Road in Derby earlier this year.  He’s changed the name, slightly, to Gindi Asian Gourmet Burgers, and he’s populated the menu with burgers made with Asian flavors and toppings. Monday was his first day executing the new concept.

Say has kept a few of the Thai dishes and sushi items previously available at Gindi, but he wants customers to try his Asian burger concept. He makes his own buns and makes his patties from fresh beef, topping them with ingredients such as wasabi, kimchi, cilantro, green onions, fried eggs, Sriacha sauce and more. He also has salmon burgers and serves fries. The burgers average around $5, he said.

Say is a little concerned that people won’t know that the concept has changed, since the name and signage remain mostly unchanged, and will miss out on trying his Asian burgers, popular in the big city but unknown here, he said.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. For more information, call 316-729-5855.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , , Filed under Asian food, Just opened, New owners | Comments

Cafe Asia nixes lunch — sort of

July 19, 20122:07 p.m.

Cafe Asia, the restaurant tucked away in the corner of Normandie Village at 6546 E. Central that’s popular with fans of Chinese and Malaysian food, has stopped serving lunch — at least in the restaurant.

Owner Yook Gan said she stopped opening the doors for lunch last month, though patrons still can get lunch to-go from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays.

Gan said she’s picked up a strong catering business, which she wants to concentrate on during daytime hours. Dinner still is served from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays and from 4:30 to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. The restaurant is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

For more information or to place lunch orders, call 316-685-8818.

By Denise Neil | Tags: Filed under Asian food, Uncategorized | Comments

Wichita Eagle Dining Panel review: Thai House

June 1, 20124:07 p.m.

Deliciousness from Thai House. Photo by Ching Brubaker.

I’m continuing to love the work of the members of the Wichita Eagle Dining Panel. They’re enthusiastic, smart and — BONUS — it turns out they’re great food photographers.

Today’s Go! section was too full of River Festivalness to fit in Ching Brubaker’s first effort. We’ll publish her review of Thai House on Sunday. You can take a look at it now online, but I warn you, don’t read hungry.

I also failed to point out last week’s review of Paleteria La Reyna by Philip Warren and the previous week’s Pho Chopstix review by Natasha Creasman. These both are places I can’t wait to visit in the very near future. They sold me, for sure.

Also, watch the paper this week for reviews of River Festival food court food from panel members Warren, Andrew Gough and Jeff Christensen.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , , , Filed under Asian food, Mexican food, Wichita Eagle Dining Panel | Comments

Happy New Year

Jan. 23, 20122:40 p.m.

Here’s my friend Jaime Green’s annual video created from the colorful and noisy New Year’s celebration at Saigon, 1103 N. Broadway. Enjoy…

By Denise Neil | Tags: Filed under Asian food | Comments

Year of the Dragon starts with free, discounted food

Jan. 23, 201210:58 a.m.

A couple of Asian chains are offering free food and discounts in honor of the Chinese New Year, which is today.

Panda Express is offering a pretty amazing deal, though I predict you’ll stand in a long line to get it. If you go to the restaurant’s website and print off a coupon, you can redeem it today for a free order of Firecracker chicken breast. The coupon is good only today, and no other purchase is required.

And starting today through Feb. 6, patrons who visit P.F. Chang’s at 1401 N. Waterfront Pkwy will get a red envelope that contains either a discount coupon or a coupon for a free appetizer or dessert to be used on a future visit.

Happy New Year!

By Denise Neil | Tags: , Filed under Asian food, Restaurant specials | Comments

They’ll dance while you dine

Jan. 19, 20121:54 p.m.

If you click on this picture and blow it up, you will see my friend Nancy's head in the upper right hand corner. Jaime Green shot this last year at Saigon, 1103 N. Broadway.

A couple of local Asian restaurants will soon be offering traditional cultural dancing to entertain their diners.

One is Sit @ Thai Bistro, which has recently begun an every-Friday-night traditional dance show. From 6 to 7 p.m. at the restaurant’s west side location, 7603 W. 21st St., a professional Thai dancer from Bangkok performs.

Monday is the Lunar New Year, also known as the Chinese New Year, which is celebrated by many countries. It’s the Year of the Dragon, and local Vietnamese restaurant Saigon, 1103 N. Broadway, will celebrate as it does every year with traditional Dragon Dancers in the restaurant around noon. Check out the picture above if you doubt how well this spectacle accompanies a #45.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , Filed under Asian food, Vietnamese food | Comments

Restaurants open on Christmas

Dec. 14, 201110:37 a.m.

Syed Abbas plans to open his Middle Eastern restaurant Zaytun on Christmas Day.

It might seem a little bit early, but I’ve compiled my list of restaurants planning to be open on Christmas Day. The more time you have to plan, I figure, the better. Plus, I’ve already received about a dozen e-mails from people wanting to know.

As usual, the list includes an interesting mix of Asian eateries, family buffets and a few random restaurants willing to give Christmas hours a go.

There are a few new players this year: Zaytun owner Syed Abbas is planning to open and serve a Middle Eastern brunch from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Christmas Day. And the Starbucks at 29th and Rock will open from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Christmas. It’ll be the only Starbucks in town that will be open.

Follow this link to see the full list, and if you see that I’ve missed a restaurant, e-mail me. I can still add it between now and Dec. 25.

By Denise Neil | Tags: , Filed under Asian food, Holiday buffets, Holiday meals | Comments