Asuka Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi
Chinese, East Asian, Japanese, Sushi
318 S. College Mall Rd.
812-333-8325
Asuka shares space with the Chinese restaurant Noodle Town, giving diners the option of Chinese food, hibachi, or sushi. Chefs become showmen at their hibachi stations, tossing knives and spatulas and flipping bits of food into diners’ mouths. Sushi is reliable with a variety of standard and specialty rolls available. • Prices: $–$$$ • Hours: Mon.–Th. 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–11 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.–10 p.m. • Bar: Beer, wine • Credit Cards: Visa, MC, AMEX, Disc. • Outdoor Seating: No
Best Taste
Chinese, East Asian
109 W. 4th St.
812-822-1737
Find this unassuming Chinese spot just off of the downtown Square near the 4th Street parking garage. The dining room doesn’t look like much but there’s plenty of spicy Szechuan flavor inside. If you can handle the heat, start with the dandan noodles or pork wontons, both slicked with mouth-numbing chili oil, then cool down with an order of garlic-smashed cucumber. Other notable specialties include bubbling hot pots, cumin beef or lamb, and spicy dry-fried string beans. • Prices: $–$$$ • Hours: Mon.–Fri. 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sat–Sun. 11:30 a.m.–10:00 p.m. • Bar: No • Credit Cards: Visa, MC, AMEX, Disc. • Outdoor Seating: No
Chow Bar
Chinese, East Asian, Indonesian, Japanese
216 S. Indiana Ave.
812-336-3888
Chow Bar’s prime location on Indiana Avenue makes it a popular spot for students and faculty. The lunch buffet isn’t huge, but it offers more than the standard sweet & sour chicken and fried rice. The menu focuses on Taiwanese specialties but also features Japanese and Indonesian-style entrées. • Prices: $–$$ • Hours: Mon.–Fri. 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sat. noon–10 p.m.; Sun. noon–9 p.m. • Bar: No • Credit Cards: Visa, MC, Campus Access • Outdoor Seating: No
Dragon Chinese Restaurant
Asian, Chinese, East Asian, Soup, Vegetarian
3261 W. 3rd St. • 812-332-6610
Dragon Express
1400 E. 3rd St. • 812-331-7030
The décor in these tiny Chinese restaurants may not be much to look at, but the food is quick and cheap, and it’s good. The Dragon makes great twice-cooked pork, excellent moo shu dishes, and a mean steamed whole fish. If you are in the mood for noodle soup, try the Yat Ka Mein, and slurp to your heart’s content. • Prices: $–$$ • Hours: Restaurant: 11 a.m.–11 p.m. daily; Dragon Express: 11 a.m.–9 p.m. daily • Bar: No • Credit Cards: No • Outdoor Seating: No • Accessibility Decal
Mandalay Restaurant
Asian, Burmese, Chinese, East Asian, Indian, South/Southeast Asian, Thai, Vegetarian
413 E. 4th St.
812-339-7334
This tiny 4th Street gem serves Burmese food — an exotic mix of Chinese, Thai, and Indian with a savory character all its own. Lots of curries and noodle dishes and many vegetarian options. Try the paratha with yellow chickpea curry and the tea leaf salad! • Prices: $–$$ • Hours: Tu.–Sun. 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. and 5–9 p.m.; Closed Mon.• Bar: No Credit Cards: Visa, MC, AMEX, Disc. • Outdoor Seating: Yes
Mr. Hibachi
Asian, Chinese, East Asian, Japanese, Sushi
4400 E. 3rd St.
812-339-6288
Mr. Hibachi puts on a massive spread and the crowds line up to fill up. Buffet fixtures like crab rangoon and General Tso’s crispy chicken are abundant, along with Japanese offerings in miso soup and a variety of sushi rolls. For a more personalized meal, fill a plate with noodles, raw meat, and veggies, then head to the hibachi station where the chef will stir-fry your food while you wait. • Prices: $–$$ • Hours: Sun.–Th. 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m.; Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m. • Bar: No • Credit Cards: Visa, MC, AMEX, Disc. • Outdoor Seating: No
Noodle Town
Asian, Chinese, East Asian, Japanese
318 S. College Mall Rd.
812-333-8325
Attached to Asuka Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi, Noodle Town fulfills the Chinese half of the dual restaurant equation. The Hong Kong-style menu includes salt-and-pepper seafood and spare ribs with black bean sauce. Lunch and dinner specials include fried rice and an egg roll. • Prices: $–$$ • Hours: 11 a.m.–10 p.m. daily • Bar: Beer, wine • Credit Cards: Visa, MC, AMEX, Disc. • Outdoor Seating: No
Oasis
Asian, Chinese, East Asian
2652 E. 10th St.
812-339-3999
Ideal for carryout or delivery, this Chinese restaurant is tucked into the 10th and the Bypass strip of shops and restaurants. Specialties include bowls of Cantonese style noodle soup and sizzling claypot entrées; sample the gingery eggplant and chicken. Fruit smoothies and milky bubble teas help cool down spicy mouths. Karaoke and party rooms are available for groups, open late on Friday and Saturday. • Prices: $–$$ • Hours: Sun.–Th. 11 a.m.–midnight; Fri.–Sat. 11 a.m.–3 a.m. • Bar: Beer • Credit Cards: Visa, MC, AMEX, Disc. • Outdoor Seating: No
Peach Garden
Chinese, East Asian
536 S. College
812-332-3437
This small but colorful restaurant is tucked into the side of the Seminary Square Park Kroger supermarket. As one of only a handful of Chinese restaurants offering delivery in Bloomington, Peach Garden does brisk business dispatching food to customers in and out of the dining room. Szechuan and Kung Pao specialties are sneakily spicy, with heat that creeps up the back of your throat. Try pan-fried Szechuan wontons filled with pork or chicken. • Prices: $–$$ • Hours: Tu.–Th. 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m. and 5–10 p.m.; Fri. 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m. and 5–11 p.m.; Sat.–Sun. noon–11 p.m.; Closed Mon. • Bar: No • Credit Cards: Visa, MC, AMEX, Campus Access • Outdoor Seating: No
Red Chopsticks
Asian, Chinese, East Asian, Japanese, Korean, South/Southeast Asian, Sushi, Thai
1420 E. 3rd St.
812-331-6898
At this one-stop Asian restaurant, choose from Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Korean, and Vietnamese options. The sushi menu is extensive, with rolls to fit any budget. Bento boxes allow for variety; try one with sashimi, tempura, and a California roll. The contemporary dining room is full of cozy, private booths. • Prices: $–$$ • Hours: Mon.–Th. 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Fri. 11 a.m.–11 p.m.; Sat. noon–11 p.m.; Sun. noon–10 p.m. • Bar: Beer, wine • Credit Cards: Visa, MC • Outdoor Seating: No
Sunny Palace
Chinese, East Asian
1143 S. College Mall Rd.
812-333-5533
Dine-in or carryout, the east side’s Sunny Palace (find it near Kroger in Jackson Creek Shopping Center) offers a tempting array of Asian cooking — mostly Chinese but with a smattering of Thai, Cambodian, and Vietnamese. Try the delicious scallion pancakes, the boneless spare ribs, and the fried dumplings. Kung pao chicken and orange beef are also good choices. • Prices: $–$$ • Hours: 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m. daily • Bar: Beer, wine • Credit Cards: Visa, MC, Disc. • Outdoor Seating: No