Favorite: Asian

Let's face it: many of us have a tendency to lump Asian cuisine into one big heap, thinking that they all contain soy sauce, rice, and some kind of spice. While that may be true to an extent, the variances over different regions, different countries, or even different cities can be extreme. Unfortunately, it would be hard to explore all those differences when your city only has a few offerings of each type. So here it is, the combined Asian list, exploring the entire southeast of an entire continent.

Best Chinese
  1. Fantastic China-- One of the best places to sit down and order. Good service, great food.
  2. Pei-Wei-- Although I hesitate to place a chain in the list, the consistency is amazing.
  3. Chi's Chinese Cuisine-- Chi's has great food. Unfortunately, it suffers from terrible service.

Best Japanese (see separate Sushi Favorites)
  1. Mt. Fuji-- great prices, excellent service, good Japanese dishes as well as sushi.
  2. Osaka-- Have you ever wanted to sit around a Japanese style table and enjoy a teppanyaki? You can at Osaka. Great sake selection as well.
  3. Shogun-- fun hibachi, great service, a little pricey.


Best Thai
  1. Chang-- One of my favorite restaurants alltogether. Order according to the 1-10 heat scale (10 will blow your face off). Get the coconut soup. Try the whole fish. Just enjoy (avoid the buffet). This little Thai woman can cook it all, and it's worth the drive. What are you waiting for?
  2. kBird-- a lovely little food truck parked behind Ciao Baci. Once you start, you won't stop.
  3. Saigon-- long a Little Rock staple. A good and varied menu. Closer to home.

Best Indian
  1. Taj Mahal-- Hands down the best place to get your Indian on. A fantastic daily buffet with all the traditional dishes, and some new experiments. If you want to experience Indian food for the first time, this is your place. Be adventurous, get the goat masala and eat the green sauce that you have no idea what it is.
  2. Banana Leaf-- Another food truck? Heck yes. This family is flipping out dosas and samosas that will knock your socks off. A great lunch location. Usually located behind the Exxon on Fair Park near UAMS.
  3. Star of India-- Fantastic service and a family atmosphere. Unfortunately, they tone down the spice for the western stomach-- a tragedy! They'll figure it out soon, though, and we'll have a third thrilling Indian location.

Best Buffet
  1. Panda Garden-- With a massive display of fried brilliance, Panda Garden is my first choice if attacking an all-you-can-regret dining experience.
  2. Other buffets-- let's face it, they're all about the same.

Other places to try (that I haven't yet!):