Category Archives: Asian

Santouka Ramen Chicago

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Santouka Spicy-Miso Ramen

I can’t seem to get enough Japanese food of late—I blame Raku for reminding me just how delicious it can be. Corey and I recently went to Mitsuwa Marketplace, the largest Japanese grocery store in the Midwest. It’s located in Arlington Heights, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.

This market is a gem for Japanese food enthusiasts—chefs and diners alike. It boasts a wide selection of sushi-grade seafood, fresh produce, and dried goods and snacks, as well as a liquor store, bookstore, bakery, video store, and various food vendors. read more

Raku Las Vegas

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Agedashi Tofu Raku Las Vegas

Agedashi Tofu at Raku in Las Vegas

I’m so glad that Corey and I ventured off the Las Vegas strip on our recent vacation to try Raku—an authentic Japanese restaurant located in the heart of Chinatown. That day we had completed an 11.6-mile hike in the blazing desert sun at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, and we were very tempted to lounge in our hotel room and get room service.  But I knew I couldn’t pass up the chance to eat at Raku, especially after reading all the rave reviews. read more

Crunchy Shrimp Balls

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crunchy shrimp balls

Crunchy shrimp balls are fun to make and incredibly tasty. Their unique, satisfyingly crispy texture contrasts nicely with the shrimp filling. Spring roll wrappers—similar to wonton wrappers, but thinner and made with rice flour—are the secret to this delicate texture. They’re sold in the refrigerated or frozen aisles and are not to be confused with the dried rice wrappers used in Vietnamese spring rolls.

This recipe comes from Bee Yin Low’s cookbook, Easy Chinese Recipes. Her blog, Rasa Malaysia, is one of my favorites. She features authentic Asian recipes, with a particular emphasis on Chinese and Malaysian cuisine, but also occasionally dapples in Western baking. The stunning photography, frequent giveaways, and easy-to-follow recipes make her blog worth checking out. read more

Chinese Lettuce Wraps

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Chinese Lettuce Wraps, Chinese appetizer, authentic Chinese appetizer, hoisin sauce

I love Chinese food, especially appetizers! I get hungry just thinking about crispy wontons, fried shrimp toast, savory spring rolls, and the endless varieties of delectable dumplings. The flavor combinations, textures, and delicious sauces of Chinese cuisine make it one of my favorites.

Oftentimes, American Chinese restaurants poorly represent the fare, offering unhealthy and/or bland dishes. Today I present you with an authentic Chinese appetizer that’s both healthy and delicious: Chinese lettuce wraps. read more

Krab Salad with Spicy Mayo

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Krab Salad with Spicy Mayo

Krab salad with spicy mayo makes for a wonderful appetizer or light entrée. It’s made from imitation krab sticks, which are composed of precooked fish with crab flavoring. Krab sticks have a slightly sweet taste with a hint of crab. They’re low in fat, easy to prepare, and inexpensive, making them an excellent item to have on hand. If you’ve ever tried a California roll, then you’ve had imitation krab.

Imitation Krab, krab sticks, imitation crab, krab salad, crab salad

The spicy mayo adds a nice kick to the subtly sweet krab. The krab’s delicate texture, which mimics actual crabmeat, gives the meal an airy lightness, balanced with the richness of Japanese mayo. The spicy zest of the mayo and the thick, sweet eel sauce add waves of flavor to this salad and really takes it to the next level. read more