PAN-ASIAN
ASIAN PACIFIC CAFÉ
3125 Esplanade Ave., 945-1919
This onetime Esplanade Avenue cottage is now a haven for sushi and plenty of cooked Asian dishes. Take a table on its beautiful deck or side garden for dishes like the Bayou Delight, made with crawfish and snow crab in a pineapple and mango mixture with special sauce. For sushi, sample the mango blue crab roll, a soybean wrap with Romaine lettuce, blue crabmeat chunks, mango and cucumber with sweet chili sauce. No reservations. Lunch Tue.-Fri., dinner Tue.-Sun. Credit cards. $$
BAMBU AT HARRAH'S CASINO
4 Canal St., 533-6000; www.harrahs.com
Bambu has a winning combination of Asian-inspired specialties from sushi to hot entrées. The menu combines standards from Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese and Japanese cooking, plus specialties like Cantonese barbecued duck and pecan-battered shrimp. No reservations. Lunch Fri.-Sun., dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
CAFÉ EAST
4628 Rye St., Metairie, 888-0078; www.caféeastnola.com
Café East crafts an upscale and creative take on many traditional Chinese and southeast Asian dishes, complementing them with an extensive wine list. Entrées include sesame-seared tuna, honey-walnut shrimp, marinated and wok-seared duck served with ginger-soy glaze, and Thai-style red snapper. The menu takes cues from Japan, Mongolia and many Chinese regional cuisines. Reservations accepted. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
HIP STIX ASIAN FUSION RESTAURANT & BAR
870 Tchoupitoulas St., 581-2858; www.hipstixasianfusion.com
Discover the Far East in the Warehouse District with dishes like Siam Street Noodles: stir-fried rice noodles with a coconut curry sauce, green onions, julienne bell peppers, bean sprouts and your choice of beef, shrimp, chicken or tofu. Another tasty Vietnamese option is the Stir-Fried Beef Vermicelli Bowl, with beef marinated in Asian spices and served over vermicelli rice noodles and crisp greens. No reservations. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$
HOSHUN RESTAURANT
1601 St. Charles Ave., 302-9716
Hoshun draws on the cuisines of China, Japan, Vietnam and other south Asian countries. There is pho soup and Vietnamese spring rolls, pad Thai, sushi and more. For entrées, try dishes like General Tso's Chicken, Hunan steak, Kung Pao shrimp and other regional Chinese specialties. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
KING BUFFET
601 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 837-4383
This bustling buffet restaurant offers many dishes from a wide variety of Asian cuisines. Chinese standards comprise the greatest number of dishes with regulars like beef with broccoli and sweet-and-sour chicken. There also are dishes from Thailand, some Japanese specialties and plenty of sweet desserts. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $
PANASIA
500 St. Charles Ave., 525-4555
Panasia bridges the gap between Thai, Vietnamese and American cuisine. Favorites include pad Thai, Thai-style curries and spicy soups. Vietnamese vermicelli noodle dishes and rice plates also are available. A marinated and grilled pork chop is served with a horseradish sauce, sautéed mushrooms, onions, rice and salad. More Louisiana-inspired dishes include the seafood, shrimp or fish platters, which offer fried seafood plus French fries, hushpuppies and steamed vegetables. The café has scenic views of St. Charles Avenue and Lafayette Square. Reservations recommended. Breakfast daily, lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$
SARA'S
724 Dublin St., 861-0565; www.sarasrestaurant.com
A fusion of Creole and Asian cuisine sets Sara's apart. The menu starts with appetizers like crawfish egg rolls, samosas, hummus and Korean-style barbecue beef. Entrées include Indian classics such as shrimp vindaloo and saag paneer made with spinach and cheese, plus sesame-crusted salmon and Muscovy duck served with a port-plum wine reduction sauce. Reservations recommended. Lunch Tue.-Fri., dinner Tue.-Sat. Credit cards and checks. $$
STREETCAR BISTRO
201 Baronne St., 565-5455; www.streetcarbistro.com
"The Pacific Rim meets New Orleans" is the motto of this downtown restaurant, which offers breakfast, lunch and dinner options daily. The weekday "executive power buffet" is popular, and has choices ranging from etouffée to a Chinese hot pot station. Filipino dishes are offered everyday, and on Sunday afternoons the kitchen prepares an entire Filipino buffet. Reservations accepted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$
INDEX:
African
American
American Contemporary
Bar & Grill
Barbecue
Belgian
Brewpub
Burgers
Café
Cajun
Caribbean
Chinese
Coffee & Dessert
Creole
Deli
Diner
Fondue
French
Gourmet to Go
Greek
Indian
Italian
Japanese/Sushi
Korean
Latin American
Louisiana Contemporary
Mediterranean/Middle Eastern
Mexican/Southwestern
Music and Food
Neighborhood
Pan-Asian
Pizza
Sandwiches and Po-boys
Seafood
Soul Food
Steakhouse
Tapas/Spanish
Thai
Vietnamese
