New Jersey's Best Asian Cuisine

Top 7 Picks of Asian Food in the Garden State

May 31, 2008

The following restaurants focus on the best of Asian cuisine including, Thai, Indian, Vietnamese and Japanese. Several focus on specific dietary requirements.

Located in Jersey City’s ‘Little India,’ China Spice offers a variety of Thai appetizers, soups, entrees and desserts. With an extensive menu and friendly prices, one can feast on an appetizer, entrée and dessert for under 20$. Appetizers include sesame potato toast, or papaya salad. Entrees range from ginger chicken to Thai vegetable. Desserts consist of date pancakes, lychees and ice cream, and more. Lunch specials offer smaller entrée portions coupled with soup and jasmine rice for $7.95.

Dosa Hut

Serving only the traditional Southern Indian Dosa, a large rice crepe-like pancake stuffed with fillings including spiced potatoes, cheese, and onions, Dosa Hut is THE place for anyone looking to enjoy what often left off of other restaurant’s menus. Dosa Hut offers entrees for 5$, served with accompanying sauces a side of spicy vegetable soup. Many dosa selections are vegetarian by nature, gluten free, even vegan, for anyone adhering to specific dietary restrictions.

Thai Chef

Perhaps the best Thai Cuisine in New Jersey, Thai Chef’s vegetable spring rolls are a ‘must have’ starter. Fried until golden and crisp, you will look for something to dip in the remaining dipping sauce once the rolls are gone. The unmatched Pad Thai consists of subtle peanut flavor, a bit of heat, and a touch of sweetness. For an ending, the chocolate soufflé is made to order and presented with a tiny pitcher of chocolate sauce to drizzle over your dessert.

Viet Ai

This establishment serves a variety of Vietnamese selections to please any palate. The summer rolls, a medley of vegetables, rice noodles and fried tofu, tightly wrapped in rice paper make an excellent beginning to the meal. For an entrée, the orange glazed tofu is a fine selection. Chunks of tofu are lightly fried and steeped in a zesty orange sauce, served with broccoli and a side of rice. The menu is also compatible with the vegetarian, gluten free or vegan diet.

Saffron

Saffron’s lunch buffet leaves nothing to be desired. Naan, a warm, soft traditional Indian flatbread cooked in a Tandoor oven, begins the buffet table. Main courses include vegetable biryani, basmati rice and vegetables flavored with traditional Indian spices, chicken tikka masala, chunks of white meat chicken cooked in a tomato cream sauce, and daal, a spicy lentil soup. Be sure to choose a side of raita, a yogurt and cucumber sauce commonly served with spicy dishes. To end your meal, sample the rice pudding made with basmati rice cooked in sweetened condensed milk.

Bengali Sweet House

Bengali Sweet House serves a sumptuous selection of Indian desserts including milk cakes, and date cakes. With much to choose from, Bengali offers take away service; customers can purchase ½, 1, 2 or 5 pound boxes. All confections are hand made on the premises and sold by the pound, so one can ‘mix and match’ the sweets they purchase. A box of mixed sweets makes an excellent gift choice for those looking to offer a more exotic present.

Zen Japanese Cusine

Begin your meal with a small house salad; the ginger dressing will beckon your return. For sushi selections, don’t skip the Philadelphia Roll, a combination of smoked salmon, cream cheese and scallions. Another ‘must have’ is the Dragon Roll, an eel roll covered with slices of avocado. Sushi and sashimi selections are accompanied by pickled ginger, a palate cleanser, and wasabi, the spicy green paste that brings tears to your eyes, but nonetheless fantastic. Reservations are a must.

The copyright of the article New Jersey's Best Asian Cuisine in Asian Cuisine is owned by Lisa Cucciniello. Permission to republish New Jersey's Best Asian Cuisine in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.