Peking Chinese Restaurant, a Bellevue eatery well-loved for its homemade noodle dishes (like Takana Soup Noodle, for example) has been family-owned and operated since 1983. The team says, "Our customers are a part of our family. Our food is always made from the freshest ingredients, the lowest amount of oil and is also low in cholesterol and fat. Because we believe that we are responsible for our customers' health, we strive for the finest quality in our foods." Check out the venue's lunchtime deals as well as chef specials that range from Hot & Sour Soup and Kung Pao Chicken to Mongolian Beef.
Recommended for Bellevue's Best Asian Restaurants because: Peking Chinese Restaurant, a Bellevue eatery well-loved for its homemade noodle dishes, has been family-owned and operated since 1983.
Corinne's expert tip: Check out the venue's lunchtime deals as well as chef specials that range from Hot & Sour Soup and Kung Pao Chicken to Mongolian Beef.
When you're in the mood for tasty, cozy food in a pleasant atmosphere, be sure to check out Pho Express and Specialties. The restaurant is located in Kirkland, and the venue was recently remodeled. The menu at Pho Express and Specialties features a wide array of great selections, made from only the freshest and highest quality ingredients, with something certain to please every member of a dining group (vegetarians, too!). Pho Express and Specialties claims to have established itself "as one of the area's favorite culinary destinations and is sure to offer you a pleasant and unique dining experience every time you visit."
Recommended for Bellevue's Best Asian Restaurants because: In nearby Kirkland, enjoy tasty, cozy food in a pleasant atmosphere; try the vegetarians options, too!
Corinne's expert tip: Vegetarians give the tofu dishes here two thumbs up.
Ask around, and you'll quickly discover that Wild Ginger is a definite Seattle favorite. The James Beard Award-winning restaurant that introduced the satay bar to the US also welcomes an eclectic mix of business people, families and celebrities. Fragrant Duck is the signature dish, but Pow Wok Lamb and Drunken Quail are excellent choices as well. At the lively bar, enjoy a vibrant buzz, an award-winning wine list and great happy hour specials. (The downtown Seattle location, attached to popular, subterranean music venue Triple Door and its Musicquarium Lounge, proves the perfect spot to grab a delicious meal before hearing live tunes.)
Recommended for Bellevue's Best Asian Restaurants because: This popular Asian restaurant (in Bellevue and Seattle) features authentic, fresh fare that spans the Pacific Rim from China to Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam.
Corinne's expert tip: Have one of the restaurant's sommeliers choose a wine pairing for your meal from a temperature-controlled cellar holding more than 30,000 bottles from around the world.
Din Tai Fung was founded in Taipei, Taiwan, in 1958 as a cooking oil retail shop, before transitioning in 1972 into a full-fledged restaurant. It has since become world-renowned for its soup dumplings and noodles, and Seattleites are thrilled to have two outposts of this delectable, raved-about restaurant here in their fair city. (The tradition of Din Tai Fung continues in global locations like Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, China and Thailand.) Guests laud the shrimp and pork shao mai dumplings, as well as other, noodle and rice dishes.
Recommended for Bellevue's Best Asian Restaurants because: This storied venue has become world-renowned for its soup dumplings and noodles, and Seattleites are thrilled to have two local outposts of this raved-about restaurant.
Corinne's expert tip: Check out their other regional outpost in Seattle's University Village. Believe us; it's worth the wait!
The stylish, romantic Flo Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar caters to all the senses and proves perfect for a first date or taking the family out for a nice dinner. Known for its freshly prepared sushi, Flo also features a variety of hot selections, such as the shrimp and vegetable tempura and chicken teriyaki. Visitors can even opt to let the chef decide with a specially-prepared featured meal. No matter the occasion, you can expect the finest service and food at Flo Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar in Bellevue. Check out happy hour specials that include house sake or saketini cocktails.
Recommended for Bellevue's Best Asian Restaurants because: The stylish Flo Japanese Restaurant and Sushi Bar caters to all the senses and proves perfect for a first date or nice evening with friends.
Corinne's expert tip: Check out happy hour specials that include house sake or saketini cocktails.
This fashionable Chinese bistro gets high marks with Seattle's trendier diners, who adore the contemporary interior and eclectic menu. Start with do-it-yourself lettuce wraps; these alone are worth the trip. Afterwards, choose any route you'd like, from Szechwan to Hunan, Cantonese to Shanghai. Chang's daily specials are always worth considering–keep your fingers crossed that they include Szechwan shrimp or pan-fried noodles. According to owners, "Many guests don't realize that P.F. Chang's has a scratch kitchen...We hire chefs, not kitchen managers. Even the simplest tasks, like julienning carrots, are done with passion. The pinches and folds in the dim sum must be perfect." This attention to detail has helped the restaurant gain longstanding popularity.
Recommended for Bellevue's Best Asian Restaurants because: This fashionable Chinese bistro gets high marks with Bellevue diners who adore the contemporary interior and eclectic menu of this popular chain eatery.
Corinne's expert tip: Also try their location in downtown Seattle in Westlake Center.
Your search for the perfect sushi joint ends at the Tokyo Japanese Restaurant in Bellevue. Serving fresh, quality sushi, Tokyo Japanese Restaurant features all the favorites, including California rolls, tempura, scallops and more. At lunchtime, try the Bento Box special with sushi, sashimi and sunomono, served with the "freshest ingredients" and miso soup. For dinner, try one of the restaurant's many Japanese platters and combination plates. Try the seafood combination or ginger pork with their homemade ginger sauce. They also offer a variety of combination plates, which include a house salad, soup and rice, with your choice of two items.
Recommended for Bellevue's Best Asian Restaurants because: Enjoy fresh, delectable sushi and lunchtime bento box specials at Tokyo Japanese Restaurant in Bellevue.
Corinne's expert tip: At lunchtime, try the Bento Box special with sushi, sashimi and sunomono, served with the "freshest ingredients" and miso soup.
Surprising flavor combinations and innovative dishes break the mold of traditional Chinese eats at Shanghai Cafe, making it a welcome departure from the norm. The restaurant's strip-mall facade and casual decor belie the food's quality and presentation. Try an appetizer of chili-spiked cucumber or the "vegetarian goose," which pairs shiitake mushrooms and tofu. Enticing entrees include sautéed sugar peas, a cilantro-tinged dish that combines chicken and jellyfish and the house specialty: addictive, hand-shaved barley green noodles with your choice of meat. For dessert, try the pan-fried red bean cakes, among other delicious dishes. The restaurant is closed on Tuesdays.
Recommended for Bellevue's Best Asian Restaurants because: Don't be fooled by Shanghai Cafe's strip-mall facade and casual decor; enjoy tasty Chinese dishes served here at reasonable prices.
Corinne's expert tip: Note that the restaurant is closed on Tuesdays.
Admittedly, picking one or two top-notch restaurants from the many located throughout Seattle can be a daunting task. Top Gun, though, makes at least one of the choices a no-brainer; its famously tasty dim sum and traditional Chinese fare attract a large number of fans every day, especially at lunchtime. White linens and friendly service are added perks. Best of all, prices won't send you running. Well-known for their dim sum menu, served daily until 3 p.m., Top Gun also features perks like food with no MSG added, a premium selection of Chinese teas and a full-service bar, among other draws.
Recommended for Bellevue's Best Asian Restaurants because: This informal Chinese restaurant serves popular dim sum dishes and à la carte Cantonese meals in Bellevue.
Corinne's expert tip: The restaurant is open until midnight every day of the week.
Expertly prepared Vietnamese cuisine consistently draws a hungry crowd to this family-run restaurant in Bellevue (with another popular location in a quiet stretch along Capitol Hill). The menu changes seasonally and offers an extensive selection. Vegetarians relish the lemongrass tofu, while omnivores delight in the rich flavors unleashed in banana leaf-wrapped halibut and tamarind soup. Efficient service and reasonable prices add to the appeal, as does a rocking weekend dim sum brunch that takes place on Saturdays and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (The Capitol Hill outpost features a stunning rooftop deck, perched high in the trees above 19th Avenue East.)
Recommended for Bellevue's Best Asian Restaurants because: Expertly prepared Vietnamese cuisine consistently draws a hungry crowd to this family-run restaurant in Bellevue; check out the happy hour deals and dim sum brunch.
Corinne's expert tip: The restaurant has two locations--one in Capitol Hill and one in Bellevue. Be sure to check out the dim sim brunch and twice-daily happy hours!