Best Asian Restaurants In Sacramento
Au Lac Veggie
3500 Stockton Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95820
(916) 451-6842
Neighborhood: South Sacramento
Clean, affordable and tasty is a common description of the small, unassuming location. Luncheon specials, which feature a variety of entrees with soup and a spring roll ($4.95) get rave revues. Eggplant with basil sauce is a favorite as is Mongolian beef with basil and curry beef. The decor is simple and there aren't many tables. But the portions are big and the price is right.
Boon Boon Cafe
3022 Stockton Blvd.
Sacramento, CA 95817
(916) 456-4647
Neighborhood: South Sacramento
www.boonbooncafe.com
Despite being tucked behind a Subway, a hard-to-see small front parking lot and an oddly painted pastel exterior, Boon Boon is family run and attracts fusion food enthusiasts who know what they like.
Fried crab rice, Tom Yum soup and mango sticky rice are often requested. Owners and staff are friendly and service is prompt. MSG is not used.
Joe Panda
2201 Northgate Blvd. Suite C
Sacramento, CA 95823
(916) 993-6072
Neighborhood: Natomas
www.joepanda.com
Asian fast food is everywhere, and Joe Panda does it right. Three luncheon combination plates range from $4.50 to $5.95, with orange chicken, pot stickers and cream cheese wontons among the most popular items. A huge offering, the Family Pack, costs $23.99, and will feed a large gathering. California rolls and springs wraps are favorite to-go choices.
Kamon Sushi
2210 16th Street
Sacramento, CA 85818
(916) 443-8888
Neighborhood: Midtown
Away from the central location of several midtown sushi bars, Koman is housed between a tire store and pizzeria. Its plain exterior opens into a vast eating area where regulars flock toward bento boxes and a house specialty, yakisoba. Portions are generous and Tuesday nights are popular for the special on sushi rolls: Buy one and the second roll is half price.
Lemon Grass
601 Munroe Street
Sacramento, CA 95825
(916) 486-4891
Neighborhood: Arden-Arcade
www.lemongrassrestaurant.com
Often cited as among Sacramento's best restaurants, Lemon Grass combines great service, clean and casual décor, and innovative Vietnamese-fusion cuisine. Monk's curry, catfish in a claypot, Siamese seafood bouillabaisse are among favorites. Desserts are equally good, including Saigon by night and mango coconut sweet rice. Celebrated owner Mai Pham is often around and mingles with diners. Reservations are recommended, particularly on weekends.
Mikuni
1530 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 447-2111
Neighborhood: Midtown
www.mikunisushi.com
Arguably Sacramento's most popular sushi bar, it's often crowded and attracts a younger crowd that fancies sake bombs and Red Bull creations from the bar. The sushi and sashimi get stellar reviews, from the Nigiri to BBQ Albacore and the soft shell crab roll to the spicy Johnny roll. It's one of Sacramento "to-be-seen" places.
Noodle House
5800 Madison Ave., Suite X
Sacramento, CA 95841
(916) 344-5769
Neighborhood: Foothill Farms
As its name implies, Asian noodle dishes are the house specialty, not the least of which include: rice noodle combo with feature grilled chicken, carrot salad, cucumber salad and an egg roll. Hot and sour soup is also popular. Regulars praise the appetizers, particularly ginger fried wontons, crispy breaded shrimp and calamari. Lemon Grass BBQ is among the popular main dishes.
P.F. Chang's China Bistro
1530 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 288-0970
Neighborhood: Downtown
www.pfchangs.com
Across the street from Memorial Auditorium, P.F Chang's is a regional chain with diverse Chinese fare. It's hard to beat the lettuce wraps, with the Chinese chicken wraps a close second. Asparagus beef is another favorite in the spacious and historic locale. More than 50 varieties of wine are served by bottle and glass and there's full bar service and a popular daily happy hour.
Thai Basil
2431 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95816
(Three other locations)
(916) 442-7690
Neighborhood: Midtown
www.thaibasilrestaurant.com
A Midtown stalwart several times named the area's Thai restaurant of the year, it's family owned and operated with indoor and outdoor seating. It features standard soups and entrees and its signature dishes include yellow curry with potatoes and drunken noodles. Thai Basil is also renowned for its specialty desserts. The tropical grill is a sundae-style mixture of soft bananas, bright pineapple and mango and there's also coconut rice pudding layered with magenta bean paste, dull-purple black rice and white rice finished with pineapple bits.
Trada's Asian Kitchen
1616 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 446-1616
Neighborhood: Midtown
Located inside Azukar Lounge, Trada's is expansive with dramatically decorated (stonework and a water wall) large front and back dining areas. It serves Hong Kong, Thai and Vietnamese fusion cuisine. Pork and shrimp spring rolls are popular appetizers as are Hong Kong street noodles and Pho noodle soup. House favorites include orange chicken
and sizzling filet mignon cube steak.
- James Raia is a freelance journalist living in Sacramento. His work can be found at byjamesraia.com.
