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AN ASIAN SAMPLER
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By Christine Imbs
James Beard once said, “Food is our
common ground, a universal experience.” But when it comes to Asian food most of
our experience is too often all-you-can-eat buffets of Americanized eastern cuisine with a little spaghetti and meatballs thrown in for the kids. But if you’d like to taste true Asian cuisine (without the addition of fried chicken and tater tots), then pull up a chair and give this sampler platter a try:
If you’ve never tasted Vietnamese food, then Pho Grand on South Grand Boulevard is a good place to start. The menu has about 80 entrees to choose from, grouped into soups, thin or pan-fried noodles, crushed or fried rice, rice-flour crepes, and beef, chicken, seafood and vegetarian specialties. And with most items priced below $7, two people can enjoy a complete meal for less than $20.
Pho Grand
Owners Tammy and Michael Trinh. |
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For the novice to Vietnamese cuisine, it’s suggested you start with one of the staples, goi cuon. This is basically a fresh spring
roll with a thin slice of jumbo shrimp, shreds of pork, carrot and cilantro wrapped in rice paper. Regulars to Pho Grand enjoy the restaurant’s signature dish, pho dac biet.
It’s an oversized bowl of rice-noodle soup packed with a variety of meat, noodles and seasoned with fresh cilantro and basil. For groups of two or four there’s the “campfire pot” for $12.95, a medley of fish, beef, herbs and vegetables cooked and served in a pot with hot coals. And to finish off your meal, try the Vietnamese coffee. It’s strong and cut with chicory, flavored with sweetened condensed milk, and served iced as café sua da, or hot as café da.
Sen Thai
Owners Andy Hogg and Tammy Seemasinn. |
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For a Thai food experience there’s Sen Thai on Locust Street downtown. According to its menu, at Sen Thai they are “committed to making your dining experience memorable and your life more like a noodle: simple,
natural and long.” And they do a good job. The atmosphere is cheerful, the staff friendly, and Sen is the Thai word for noodle. So it all ties together quite nicely. But if you’re not
prepared, once you take a bite of the
complimentary toast strips served with a chile-enhanced peanut sauce, you might
wonder about the long life part. But don’t let the heat scare you away. The food is delicious, and if hot flavors are simply not your cup of tea, there are plenty of milder items to choose from on the menu.
Like Pho Grand, the prices at Sen Thai are reasonable. Entrees will cost between $3.80 and $8.90. Customers particularly like the roast-duck curry. And if you’re looking for the perfect light meal, there’s the Sen Salad, a large portion of shredded cabbage and carrot, fired with chiles, and served with cucumber and red bell
pepper. But if
it’s noodles you want, it’s suggested you try a dish called pad thai, available with chicken or shrimp, or vegetarian.
The shrimp pad thai comes with
shredded carrots, chopped peanuts, and a lime quarter surrounding a noodle centerpiece—which includes turnip, egg, tofu, bean sprout, and sweet and
sour tamarind.
Last but not least in our Asian sampler
platter is the Japanese grill, SanSai. It’s
actually a national chain restaurant developed by St. Louisan Dan Burns, with locations in California and Oregon, as well as Webster Groves, Clayton and Kirkwood. It’s billed as “a high quality, fast-casual” restaurant for
people on the go, wanting a healthier and tastier meal. And SanSai delivers. Everything is cooked fresh to order, and all of the sauces and dressings are made fresh daily.
SanSai
Owner Daniel Burns and Manager Cassie Swaim. |
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The menu at SanSai has a
little something for everyone. There’s a sushi and roll combo, served with gourmet salad and miso soup for $8.99, or for $10.99 there’s the Sushi Special Box, which includes ten pieces of nigiri sushi. If you prefer something charbroiled, the SanSai plates offer your choice of chicken, steak, pork loin, shrimp or salmon. These signature dishes cost between $6.99 and $8.99, and come with your choice of two gourmet salads, white or brown rice and a veggie skewer with onions, mushrooms, zucchini, and red and yellow peppers. They’ve even got three kids’ plates for $3.99, served with a side
order of egg rolls or potstickers. It’s fast food without the fast food guilt. And best of all, no tater tots.
TALKINGPOINTS |
Pho Grand Restaurant
3195 South Grand Boulevard
St. Louis, MO 63118
(314) 664-7435
Hours: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday: 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Friday–Saturday: 11 a.m.–11 p.m.; Closed Tuesdays
Sen Thai
1221 Locust
St. Louis, MO 63103
(314) 436-3456
Hours: Lunch: Monday–Saturday,
11 a.m.–2:30 p.m.;
Dinner: Monday–Sunday,
5–9:30 p.m.
SanSai Japanese Grill
39 North Central Avenue
Clayton, MO 63105
(314) 727-1621
130 S. Kirkwood Road
Kirkwood, MO 63122
(314) 821-1221
20 Allen Avenue
Webster Groves, MO 63119
(314) 968-8484
Hours: Monday–Saturday,
11 a.m.–9 p.m.;
Sunday, 12–8 p.m.
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