Taste of Asia is a little different. It’s a total restaurant operation located within a full-size supermarket. The Asian Supermarket is a 40,000 Sq. ft. retail store open to the public every day. Taste of Asia is accessed from within the store itself. Other than kitchen and emergency exits, this is the only source entry.
The entrance looks like a regular restaurant – free standing or within a mall. This one is beyond stacks of rice, over from the produce and in front of the seafood market. Look up and there’s Taste of Asia.
Specializing in Cantonese and Szechuan Dishes
The cuisine here is focused. Not just Asian but Chinese. In fact, they specialize in Cantonese and Szechuan dishes. The food is not absolutely limited to these areas but close enough. Lunch is more familiar.
The Taste of Asia menu is a big one – like 7 long pages. Lots of dishes in many categories. A certain number of the offerings are based on uncommon ingredients. Things like tripe, pork intestine, kidney, pork trotters, chicken feet and congee. Not often seen items such as live fish, lobster and Dungeness crab. Remember that seafood market just outside.
Otherwise – simply a large variety of dishes using meats, poultry, fish, seafood plus an assortment of vegetables. Yes, the list goes on.
Every menu division contains what we consider regular or expected offerings. Some are quite unusual to many of us. Plenty lie in between. The delivery menu from FetchMe is just as easy to understand.
Appetizers like Rolls, Dumplings and More
Several eggs rolls are on the appetizer menu. Also dumplings – sometimes known as pot stickers or gyoza. The crab Rangoon is rich with cream cheese but as expected uses surimi.
Soups – Noodles – Rice Dishes
Asian soups are always interesting. One of our favorites is hot and sour soup. Theirs is spot on. Hot from a hit of mustard. A touch of vinegar for sour. Plus lots of goodies inside. We also had the egg drop soup.
Noodle soup, fried noodles, and lo mein – are served with various meats and seafood. Same is true with classic congee.
It’s really nice that there are lots of different rice options as stand-alone dishes. Sure – pork, chicken and beef. There’s also duck. They also serve seafood with that special XO sauce. Plus special Yangzhou fried rice. It’s got a little bit of everything in it. One of the best rice dishes at Taste of Asia.
There’s a BBQ section. Well, not really. This is roasted pork and duck. Taste of Asia also serves the unusual Peking duck.
Classic Pork , Shrimp, and Beef
As to pork – the usual too. The double cooked pork has real pork belly. We enjoyed ours. Lots of exotic dishes likely left for the experienced.
There’s a big selection of shrimp and several fish dishes. Hot and spicy prawns lives up to its name. Kung Pao shrimp is another option and so is fish filet with Szechuan sauce. My favorite is called spicy crab. A flavorful bonanza.
If you are a lamb fan, you’ll find some a Taste of Asia. The lamb rack is a special dish. Also plenty of beef selections. The familiar Mongolian Beef is just right – a perfect lunch choice. Shredded beef with chili is a Szechuan classic.
Veggie and Tofu Creations
If you are a veggie and tofu fan, Taste of Asia is your restaurant. It’s easy to see the variety at hand as you walk by the bounty in the produce department. Eggplant with garlic sauce is very tasty. So is one I really like – traditional Ma Po Tofu.
Plenty of Chicken to Please
As expected, there’s an extensive choice of chicken dishes. All the names you recognize. Give 3 cup chicken a try sometime. Share it. It features sesame oil, soy sauce and rice wine. A very satisfying dish. Chengdu chicken will please the hot and spicy crowd. Not often seen Da Pan chicken is also perfect for sharing.
Lots of Lunch Specials
We’ve had some meals off the special lunch menu. There are 25 options. 25! Each comes with a soup, egg roll, white or fried rice plus the main course. Chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, and veggies are represented. A few of these are marked as hot and spicy. Unfortunately, lunches are served weekdays only.
Taste of Asia’s street address is 3750 Pepperell Parkway. You can give them a call about any of the dishes at 334 203-1547. Service is offered every day from 11:00 am till 10:00 pm.
Take Out and Delivery
Take out and delivery orders are available through FetchMe. You can go directly to FetchMe’s website and place your order there. Taste of Asia deserves a spot on your list.