Chowing through my combination platter I got through take-out this evening. I am thinking to myself, something is missing. What is missing? Beer? No. Hot sauce? No. I was wondering what is missing. After biting into my Nime Chow again, I finally realized the Nime Chow has no shrimp. WTF? It is my own fault that I didn't read all of the reviews before I placed my order tonight. Bad choice of combination platter appetizer - the Nime Chow, the f..king Nime Chow, the stable of any respectable Thai, Cambodian, Vietnamese place, was missing shrimps. The amount of Thai basil was so little I couldn't taste them. Then things went downhill, the chicken fingers were inedible, the outside was hard and the inside were chewy. (threw them out), the spare ribs were mostly bones and the meat that were on them, tasteless. I am so pissed that I was cheated out of shrimp in my Nime Chow that I haven't even touched my entree and decided to pen this review. Add salt to the wounds, seeing these photos posted by other yelpers of the Nime Chow they got with some big f..king shrimps. Not very happy right now, hence the 2 stars. Summary - The service was good, but the f--ked up Nime Chow and lackluster combination platter are enough to make me think twice about coming back. Definitely won't go out of my way to come here. read more

Why I have never been here before this week is a COMPLETE AND UTTER MYSTERY. It really does not look like much from the outside, but the food was AMAZING and really, really reasonably priced. Bordering on too cheap for what it is. I had the bagh mai -- simply put -- Asian tacos with lettuce as the shell. If it would have not embarassed me, I would have picked up the plate and licked it all clean. Ready for my next visit to try something else. Finally a decent Asian place! read more

Apsara is amazing! The pad thai is some of the best I have ever had. Chicken Nim Chow? I have never seen it on a menu, but Apsara has it, and it is awesome! There can be a wait, but if you get there at the right time, it is quiet and you can grab a booth. The staff is super friendly and the prices are some of the cheapest around. Combine that with HUGE portions and this place is a MUST! read more

When I moved back to RI, I was so disappointed to find that my beloved Asian Paradise on the East Side of Providence had closed. Luckily, I found Apsara Palace. They have a very large, very similar menu with lots of great vegetarian and seafood options and I LOVE the hot and sour soup. I've never had a bad meal here and it's BYOB. My one gripe? White rice is merely a recommendation; it doesn't come with your meal. I'll deal with it though, even with the charge for rice, it's still a bargain because of the large portions. read more

Apsara Palace - Crispy tofu with black mushroom satay sauce - Chinese Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

Aspara is a place I'm always happy to head over to whenever I'd like an unusually large amount of food for pretty much no money (e.g. anytime I want Asian food). Parking can be a bit of a problem, but there's plenty of it outside of their small (~8 spaces?) lot. Inside you'll find an open space with plenty of rows of booths/tables. Each table is adorned with a variety of sauces and condiments- from soy to sriracha. Service is good, but sometimes you can run into the problem of things missing from the table (e.g. chopsticks, sauces, cups, etc.). That's easily fixed though! The timing of food is sometimes a little off too - sometimes apps come out first, sometimes entrees. It's all food to me, though. For food, the menu is huge but manageable. There's a variety of noodle dishes and stir-frys available in chicken, shrimp, pork, or beef. Lots of vegetarian and fish options are available too. I've never had a bad thing here- just lots of good Asian food. A note though- rice is "recommended" with the stir-fry dishes but not included, so make sure you order it! It's BYOB too, need I say more? read more

I love this place!!! I always get the seafood soup. My fiancé didn't have a good time though. She tried the noodles and it had a strain of hair in the soup. They took it off the bill and they brought us springs rolls. I ordered the orange chicken. It was really orange. We also tried the fried chicken wings. They were ok!!! All in all not a bad place. read more

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Love, love, love. I have been going to Apsara for almost 8 years and have never had a bad experience. The staff is always super friendly and the nim chow is the best I have ever had! I always take out of town guests to Apsara! The lines are always long, but they do take reservations for large parties. I wish they would move to a bigger location because the wait can sometimes be crazy but it is ALWAYS worth it. If you live in Providence and haven't been to Apsara yet, I'm not sure what you are waiting for- try it tonight, you can thank me tomorrow. read more

If you live close by, you're just better off ordering to go on a busy night. The atmosphere is nothing special to need to wait for a table when it's packed. Liquor store conveniently across the street for emergency BYOB occasions. Food isn't consistent, my usual complaint being overzealous use of oil. When my nime chow is greasy/oily, it makes me sad. My go to dish is drunken noodle, almost always executed with perfection. Orange tofu is really delicious when I want something different. Scallion pancakes are yum. However they cook their tofu is just magical, I can never recreate it. A big plus: their reasonable prices. read more

As a regular who has eaten at Apsara Palace every few weeks since the day it opened I obviously like the place, For Asian food (which in RI usually means Cambodian/Vietnamese/Thai with some fake Chinese thrown in for good measure) I doubt there's a better place to go food-wise. I'll try to just give you some of the high and low points to guide you towards the best meal. As other reviews no doubt will tell you their Nim Chow is legendary and always fast to come out which is nice. Otherwise, their appetizers are probably their strongest suit. I know you probably think Crab Rangoon is for sissies but you must try these. Just get over your preconceived notions and get them. They are really amazing - huge and crispy and creamy and yum. Other great appies include the scallion pancakes, the ribs (very unusual... not at all Chinese style) and their wings - no matter how you order them. Their appetizer combo is a real bargain - actually a great meal for two... and they allow substitutions! As an alternative to appetizers, try ordering a Bahn Hoi. It's basically a huge deconstructed Nim Chow that you wrap in lettuce leaves. Very fresh, tasty, healthy and fun - plus a real bargain that the whole table can share and still have leftovers. Their soups always sound good but rarely ever make me happy. Always too sweet or sour or brothy or odd tasting. I'd suggest skipping them unless you are from that region of the world and used to these unusual flavors. And if you're looking for wonton or hot and sour they have it but it probably won't be the kind you're hoping for. There are lots of noodle dishes. They're all good. Just pick one and you'll be happy. Most entrees are very good and sometimes great with the best ones containing peapod leaves or baby bok choi. It's worth spending a little extra to get these dishes. Their duck is awesome if you like duck. You also can't go wrong with anything in their lemongrass sauce or anything with fresh ginger-garlic sauce (try either with tofu... there's is unusually good whether steamed or fried). The service is generally excellent but the ambiance leaves a lot to be desired. There is no vestibule despite the fact that there's room for one (Owner... wake up and take care of this already!). Thus you must insist on being seated away from the door on most cold or hot days. The booths have very low backs so there's no privacy and it's noisy. The lighting and colors are harsh. When you walk in - every customer checks you out. If the owner invested in higher back booths, and more intimate lighting they'd get the 5th star out of me. Bottom Line: Apsara is great for casual but not romantic dinners - especially on days when it's not too hot or cold out. If you can forgive those shortcomings, you'll love the food, the prices and the fact that they are BYOB! They also have a great lunch menu that's a real bargain but you have to have some extra time as it's always packed and services tends to be slow. Give yourself an hour and a half. read more

Staff makes a difference! Food is great specials can offer exciting fresh options. Good to excellent write on the tables! community asset B.YOB Wheel chairs beware of the tight fit during busy times read more

Squeeze: I think I'll get the tofu basil. Me: Honey, that's really spicy... Squeeze: It doesn't have the hot-and-spicy chili pepper, so I think I'll get it. Me: No. Trust me. It's spicy. I'll get it and you can try it. How does the Thai Pineapple Fried Rice sound? I think you'll like it. Squeeze: OK. [time passes] Me: How's your fried rice? Squeeze: Really good. Can I try your tofu? Me: Sure. Here's a piece. [pained silence as Squeeze's eyes start tearing and sinuses start clearing] Squeeze: I don't know how you can eat that! It's blazing hot!!! Me: [deviously] It's awesome! This place is almost always packed for dinner, and even takeout can get chaotic here, but the food's really good. I'll second the reviewer who loves the chicken basil! The tofu basil is also amazing, even though it's not marked with a hot-and-spicy chili pepper. Nime chow are also great, and the vegetarian appetizer platter is great for a group who's in the mood for fried stuff but can't make a group decision. Baby bok choi also delightful. I'm not a big fan of their Chinese dishes, but the Thai and Cambodian options are very good. read more

Ok I definitely have thoughts on Apsara! Haha! First let me say that I am leaving 2 stars because of everything BUT the food. The food is absolutely fantastic and I love it every time I get it. I am probably up to like 30ish times now. I have dined in probably 10ish times and every time I do I regret it. Let's start from the top.. First of all I consider this to be the best Asian in the state. So I go out of my way to get their take out and occasionally dine in.. We went on a Sunday night, I always expect it to be busting at the seams because it always is busting at the seams. We walked in and there was a 20 minute wait. No big deal, except - there is nowhere to wait and no way for them to really get in contact with you. This leaves you standing outside on the sidewalk or in the parking lot looking in like a puppy that has been left out in the cold. Other people began to pile up and it just became awkward. It's basically people staring into the windows looking at other parties eating. So I am noticing that tables are finishing up - and employees began to clear the tables. I knew where we were on the list and I saw that booth that was supposed to be ours. It was ready for 15 minutes before anything happened! And here's what happened... An older woman walked into the restaurant just sat down at the booth, extremely shady looking. Five minutes later a man came in and sat. Now the woman behind the register (that is mentioned in so many other reviews) walked over and started talking and laughing with these seeming regulars - then 2 MORE PEOPLE COME AND SIT WITH THEM! The line started building at the register and a patron waiting in line asked her to come over and help them. She TOLD THE PATRON TO WAIT A MINUTE BECAUSE SHE WAS TALKING! The woman had a flabbergasted look on her face, as did I. These people just CAME IN AND JUMPED IN FRONT OF AN HOUR WAIT WORTH OF PEOPLE! Other people noticed, it was so rude! They also were greeted, served and waited on before us or any of the other parties that sat around the time they did. I was so pissed I was paying attention to everything at this point. We finally sat at another less desirable booth that was located in the center of the restaurant. The table was wet and soaking through the new paper table cloth they put across the top. It was all over our hands and arms, it was unpleasant. It was HOT and HUMID in the restaurant which made the hot tea they brought over just too much to handle. The restaurant is far too small to handle the amount of people that want to eat there. Also, and this usually doesn't bother me BUT it just adds to my fury. The place needs a face lift, it just us so drab and old! The FOOD IS INCREDIBLE! Come on! I almost feel like they know they are the best - so they just do what they want. I think the wait staff is really nice - but that "woman at the register" needs to get her attitude under control. Honestly they could tell me off and I would still go back, the food is that good. But everything else about this place really stinks. My advice - get takeout and NEVER eat there. You'll regret it every time. read more

Apsara Palace - Seafood fried Udon noodles. To die for! - Chinese Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

This is a tricky review to write because I feel like this place has a split personality. I go here a lot, and most times the food is awesome, five-star quality. Portions are large, and prices are extremely reasonable. Occasionally though, and it's happened more times than I care to remember, the food is just wrong. For example, I order the noodle dish Pad See Uiw almost every visit. Usually it's great, but there are times when the taste is horrendous. It's like the cook produced the exact-looking food but doused it in a diarrhea sauce. When I called the waiter over to complain, the explanation I received was very peculiar. He said that there are several cooks, and each one has his own unique recipe for the items on the menu. That seems insane to me. There should be a unified house recipe so the food is consistently the same. Another time, I ordered crispy wings that were inedible for the same reason. That oddball flavor was present and menacing. Maybe it's only one errant cook who thinks everything should be drenched in his trademark special sauce. Whatever the cause, it's enough to make me reconsider going back. Other reviews mention the chaos of dining in. I think that's part of the unique charm, but I can see where it might be frustrating if you think life has some deeper meaning. read more

Apsara Palace, a perfect blend of Vietnamese, Cambodian, Thai, and Chinese cuisine all under one roof. This small yet quaint restaurant is a popular local attraction that remains immensely visited throughout the week and weekend. Their dishes are all very authentic and all equally delectable. I think it's safe to say that you could choose anything on the menu and not be dissatisfied. The selection is wide with their six-page menu and all of the dishes stay true to their original origin. I specifically had the Mongolian Beef with a side of white rice and was impressed with the overall smell, appearance, and taste. I also asked my server for his favorite poultry dish and he suggested the Spicy Chicken with Eggplant. I must say I really enjoyed the tangy flavor of the sauce with the perfectly cooked eggplant, which complimented the chicken nicely. The staff is very friendly, speedy, and provides consistent service. The facility can get a bit crowded at times, but the food is well worth the wait. They have good take out service, which you will notice is very commonly used if you are dinning in. The only negative drawback is the parking situation, which is small and full all the time. I suggest parking residential in the surrounding neighborhood and walking up to the establishment. Overall, I had an amazing dining experience. I can see why people always like to visit and recommend this resultant. I will definitely be returning. read more

The egg rolls are good and crunchy (good kind of crunchy! meaning fresh!) but when they're paired with Apsara's delicious duck sauce they're AMAZING! Must try! I'm pretty sure i saw a pineapple in the sauce!!!! You have to try it!! I also ordered the chicken lo mein. YUM! Lots of yummy vegetables and delish chicken! The lo mein was FAR FROM DRY! Very scrumpscious. I ordered for pick up and somehow ordered at a place different from the Hope Street location? I didn't even know there were two locations! Anywho the lady really helped out and rushed my order so I didn't have to drive all the way to the other place! I wish I got her name but she's the cute Asian lady in the front with the bubbly attitude! She was running around working hard! THANK YOU! Hint/Note: -Make sure you if you're picking up an order you add an additional 20 minutes to the time they say. At least this stands true for Friday night. While I was waiting for my order several other guests said they were waiting longer than expected. -Also i'm pretty sure you can bring your own wine to this place (dine-in). I saw more than one party walk in the door with their own bottle. CHEERS TO THAT! ...last but not least, - ENJOY read more

It is not that good. I don't mind the hectic quality: phone ringing, the door that opens right to the outside, and the Buddhist offering on the floor that I almost step on. I actually like that, because it makes it informal. I like how the girl at the counter calls everyone "honey". I also like the fast takeout speed. However, the food is not that great. The chicken is tough and many of the dishes are mushy. There is not a lot of attention to balancing spice/texture/ flavor. I have been fortunate to live in San Francisco where even the "fast food" Thai is good. There is another place in Providence, Sawadee, that is much better. read more

It's unfortunate. Service and food has declined a bit. Still some great dishes, but not the same. Came here the other day and my food came out cold. Told them. They took it back. Food came out cold again. They didn't even ask how the food was the second time. I paid for it and took it home, but should've just made them comp it. Of course they didn't care that the food was cold enough to offer me something or even check on me. When I complained again at the end, the server just kept blaming the kitchen saying this has been happening for a few days now. That's not my problem. Wow. read more

Holy moly cannoli. So, since I've moved away from the Apsara (on the other side of town), I've been frequenting this restaurant. I have to admit, I was a loyal fan of the Elmwood Apsara, but after many visits, my feelings are swaying. They are super fast and hard working. I think it's great that it gets alot of customers, which means they're probably doing something right. That being said, the place is too small. Many times I've gone in and the take-out line was scattered about, mixed with people squeezing through to get seated. That's my only gripe so far... keep up the good work though. :D read more

If you go here and don't get the Crispy Chicken Wings, you are missing out on the best thing on the menu! Granted, its all good- all the time- but the wings are the cherry on top! I've eaten in and taken out several times and the quality never changes! Always top notch- Always fresh- ALWAYS good! read more

The food was good and the wait staff was so friendly and informative. The only issue I had was the timing of the dishes. In pieces and not all at once. We didn't have any appetizers. So everything should had come out at the same time. I had the Mongolian Beef lunch dish and the Spicy Crispy Wings and Nime Chow lunch dish. I really wanted to try the Spicy Crispy Wings. I was not disappointed at all. They were crispy, spicy and cooked well. The Mongolian Beef was so tasty. Amanda had the Garlic Chicken lunch dish with the Chicken Noodle Soup. Her meal was just as enjoyable as mine. read more

From the outside, and even on the in, it doesn't look overly special. However, once you sit and indulge in a Nime Chow and Pad Thai...you will know you have hit some of the best south Asian food in Providence! The aforementioned are my favorites. But don't discount the crab rangoons or generals chicken (some of the best I've had). Great for casual dinner or take out. Not particularly good for a romantic or quiet dinner...more so casual or with a group of people. It's also BYOB which adds to the appeal of the place. Oh...and CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP!!!! Love this place. read more

The name is probably more proper as "Apsara Chicken Wings" or "Chicken Wing Palace." Why, you ask? Oh, you're a silly reader. They have an entire section of their menu devoted to chicken wings of all sorts. My favorite? The extra crispy! It's slightly spicy but you know what, this place kicks KFC's butt. If all you people waiting in the drive thru of that fast food joint even had a taste of what you get here, man, you would not be questioning me right now. Sometimes on my way home from work I place an order just for the wings and have a feast at home. A FEAST I tell you! Ok, well guess what they do other things good too. They are, after all, a southeast Asian fusion restaurant so you have your Thai dishes, Cambodian food and a mix of other things incorporated into foods you most love to eat. When we have applicants over for our nightly dinner, we order out from this place. I think they deliver as well? You may have to order over a certain amount. Another couple of warnings, parking is limited so if you come when they're busy there's not way you'll be able to park in their parking lot. You'll have to scoot on over to the residential area on one of the off streets. Too bad it isn't terribly lit there. Also there are two Apsaras that are not related at all and serve different dishes so be careful when deciding where to go for chicken wings! I recommend this place and not the other! (to be fair I haven't tried the other one yet...) read more

If you want great Thai food at really reasonable prices, this is the place. It is on Hope St on the East Side of Providence. Parking can be tricky in this little strip corner next to a laundry mat. But it isn't hard to find parking a little bit down Hope St, near a pharmacy (if you know what I mean...). The food is tasty and the Nime Chow is out of this world good! Be prepare to wait if you ever go on a Friday night at 6ish... But well worth it. Once my fiance and I went, we sat down and noticed the take out line was out the door. So be prepared. Service is fast and prompt. There isn't much of specials, but the size of the menu makes up for it. BTW, it is BYOB so bring a brown bag with your favorite booze and enjoy! read more

Very cheap, large portions, an good food whats not to like. I recommend the garlic lime fried chicken with lo mein or fried rice. read more

I'll admit we've only done take out but let me tell you, they know how to do take-out. It's always hot, consistent and delish. It's difficult for them to understand your order on the phone but they have yet to screw it up so I'll say that they clearly know what they are doing. Sometimes it's a little strange because they will tell you 45 minutes but you get there and it's done. We've never eaten there but they are always totally packed and BYOB so I would try in the future. BEST for the night you just can't cook because it's too hot, too cold, too rainy, too whatever. read more

After reading all the reviews, I had to try this place, especially since it's just right up the street from my house. I've lived in a few places over the years and I've definitely had my share of GREAT chinese, cambodian, and thai food. I had the Vietnamese Bee Boong and my friend had the Thai Pineapple Fried Rice. Both were terribly below expectations. My dish was bland and had probably onlye 4-5 pieces of overcooked chicken. When I say overcooked, I mean that the chicken was overcooked in hot oil and was greasy and a little tough. My friend's pineapple fried rice was likewise bland and had a similar problem with her chicken pieces. I would NOT recommend this place to anyone, unless they're looking for terrible Asian food. I felt like they made my dish by throwing some noodles in water to cook, and then topping the cooked noodles with overcooked chicken and vegetables soaked in oil. No spices, no seasonings, no taste. Like the other reviewers said, this place does have great prices (huge dishes for less than $10 including tax and tip), but you're definitely sacrificing taste in exchange. I was sorely disappointed after reading all the good reviews of this place. read more

This is NOT the Apsara on the southside. This is americanized and low quality foods. Also, very small, loud and the staff is not friendly. If you want quality and good service...go to the Apsara on Public Street. read more

I give this place a 4.5 out of 5. The reason I can not give them a 5 out of 5 was because in the Apsara combination plate. The ribs and the meat on the stick were a bit dry. :( The fried chicken was AMAZING THOUGH. Next time I'm just going to order fried chicken as an appetizer. The fried chicken was seasoned well and crispy on the outside and juicy and tender on the inside. MMM! The chicken finger had way too much batter/breading over it, but maybe that's the way it's supposed to be? The green curry soup was more on the sweet and savory side than spicy, but that was a good thing! The pad thai was in Cambodian style, I was not able to taste that because I was too busy eating my pad thai in Vietnamese style. Sorry, I did not film that. I wish I had. The pineapple fried rice was good, good flavor and the rice was cooked correctly! I did not try the soup and noodles but it looked like the standard pho and my mom was pleased with it which probably means it was good because she is not easily impressed with asian cuisine. The environment was very small and I felt squished because there was a person directly behind me so I was afraid to move my chair out and there was hardly any room on the table. BUT, apsara palace is definitely a place I would return to for the good food, LARGE portions, and affordable prices! :) read more

Can only speak for take-out, but I've been there three days in a row to get lunch. Oh, and it's a 10-15 minute drive to the other side of Providence for me from work, so that must say something! Chicken Basil, twice. soooo good. Nice and spicy, and very tasty. Chicken Lemongrass, once. Not quite as good as the chicken basil, but still very good. Eventually I will expand to the Vietnamese (although I did have the nime chow, which was good) and the Cambodian at some point. I'm enjoying the Thia for now. read more

After hearing all the hype, my friend and I were not impressed with Apsara. Maybe it's because of the long wait (from the time we walked in to the time we had food on the table, we had waited 70 minutes) or maybe it's because they messed up our order, maybe it's because we both lived most of our lives in cities that really specialize in Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisines... but my opinion is the food just wasn't that amazing. The menu is too huge to navigate -- even the specials list is composed of thirty items -- so it's hard to figure out what dishes would be the best. We should have gotten a clue when they said they "specialize" in no fewer than six very distinct cuisines (Cambodian, Thai, Singaporean, Malaysian, Vietnamese, regional Chinese). Anyhow, the food wasn't exactly *bad*, so I'd be willing to try it again, but only because it's right across the street from my neighborhood. read more

I do not have enough good things to say about this place. I am moving away from Providence soon, and this is probably one of if not the restaurant I will miss the most! You cannot go wrong with this place. We come here often for lunch, and many lunch items are less than $5. The portions are huge, you can substitute for brown rice or for any of the sides (nime chow, egg roll, etc). My favorite is the chicken with lemongrass. My friend wanted the mongolian beef, they did not have it on their lunch menu but gave it to her anyways and charged her for the mongolian pork (was $4.75). I don't understand how this place makes a profit during lunchtime. It is usually pretty crowded but wait is less than 10 minutes. For dinner, we either eat here or get take out. The place is a BYOB! We always get the nime chow. The scallion pancakes are amazing! Their hot and sour soup is delicious (very salty though). I get the pad thai pretty frequently. Their curry and lemongrass dishes are tasty, and they can make them the way you want (one of my friends is so picky and only wants certain vegetables in hers). The wait staff moves so fast yet are very courteous. If you are moving to providence, make this your local favorite for cambodian/thai/vietnamese food. you won't regret it! read more

Being one of the three Asian restaurants on Hope Street- I'd say this is the best one! The service: the men and women behind the counter are wonderful! Living in the neighborhood, I've come enough times we're friendly faces by now and always greeted with a warm "hi" and smiles! Like I said we usually do take-out and the food is always fast! They say 30minutes, but they've had it ready in 20 minutes sometimes. When dining in, the food also comes faster than most restaurants and the servers are always happy to help you pick from their massive menu! The drinks: With dine-in you start of with a complimentary tea. Not sure what it is, but tastes like a jasmine/floral blend. It's always warm and my favorite on a cold winter day. It's not at all sweet though. I've also had their bubble tea many times. My favorite flavors are taro and Thai iced tea. It's a slushie consistency, which I always prefer to liquid+ice! The boba is small and slightly more chewy than it should be. If you've had boba in California you know what the epitome of boba is, and unfortunately I have yet to find a place that meets west coast standards around here! The non-boba version Thai iced tea is also great! A little less sweet and more bitter than the ones served on the streets of Thailand- but maybe that's not a fair comparison :) We always order with no ice to get more tea! The food: We have tried a handle of items by now so here are my thoughts! Crispy Lava Shrimp - my husbands favorite! We also for extra crispy and extra spicy. Only complaint is sometimes the fried shrimp is a bit soggy. The spice is also from diced jalapeños, so it's not a saucy dish- just a heads up. The lemongrass chicken - another classic that I love. Sweet and savory always! The chicken is standard, someone's a bit dry and chewy. Pad Thai - classic, one of their most popular dishes. A huge portion and for that alone I love ordering this here because I get two meals out of it every time! The sesame sauce pare ribs - this is an appetizer and I'm a huge fan!! Finger licking good sauce that's sweet and bbq-y. The chicken wings - our favorites are the spicy and garlic flavors! Also finger-licking good and packed with flavor, which I find is always hard to do in a fried dish! Shanghai Udon Noodle- this dish is my favorite! I love a classic, flavorful udon and always hits the spot. Also huge portion! I do not recommend their Szechwan dishes as they aren't not as spicy as they should be! Also not a fan of their soups nor curries. I find them to be much to watery and not thick enough. Also too coconut-y for me the other flavors are masked! The ambience: A fun casual spot to dine-in with beautiful artwork displaying their cultural and religious roots! The booths are super comfy and can accommodate large groups as well. Overall a go-to takeout place off Hope Street that has great food, prices, and portions! read more

I would really love to know where the people who are complaining about this place get their Thai/Asian food. I have just recently made it in for the first time but if there is a better place around I wish someone would tell me where the hell it is because it must be fuggin incredible. I had the steamed pork buns for an appetizer ($3). They were enormous, the size of a pub style cheeseburger, maybe bigger. Easily a meal on their own and they were very tasty, especially with the garlic chile sauce. A little sweet, with plenty of pork sausage, egg, veggies etc. Excellent. My girlfriend had the Nime Chow ($3?) and it did not disappoint. This is usually her gauge as to how the meal will be. The peanut sauce is different than most I have had, much thinner and a little vinegarry. Everything was super fresh including the Thai basil. I just love that flavor. Good stuff. They also give you complimentary tea and I wasn't expecting to care but I actually really enjoyed it. At this point I was already pretty full but excited for my entree, Singapore style Udon Noodles with beef, extra spicy. Hell yes and thank you! Maybe it could have been a bit spicier but it was pretty lively and I don't mind adding a little sriracha. Beef was excellent. Noodles were soft and damn near perfect. Excellent veggies. Slightly sweet, spicy sauce. This was just about the best I have had as far as noodle dishes. Far better than my local Thai joint. I think the whole plate cost like $5.95. So yeah they basically just give the stuff away. Awesome. My girlfriend got her usual Pad Thai and it was another perfectly executed version. Everything about it tasted exceedingly fresh in the bites I tried and that's always what strikes me about a good Pad Thai. Definitely a big portion, plenty of meat, excellent toppings, fresh lime. Straight up delicious. Again $5.95. Worth every damn cent. Our total bill came to a whopping twenty dollars. We will be returning. Probably like 9 times a week. The place was packed, service was fine but not great. Lots of byob, more hipsters than I thought existed in the entire state. Overall a really cool experience that made me feel like I was somewhere else that is not Rhode Island. read more

Okay, I had to update the review because I just keep coming back for more. I live too close and their prices are just too cheap for me to ignore. Also, it took a little digging around their massive menu, but I finally found a couple legitimately great dishes, especially considering the price! So, if you are one of the cynics of Apsara, here's what I would point to for what I think are better dishes: 1. Nime Chow 2. Sir Fried Bean Vermicelli Noodle 3. Double Cook Pork (Lunch Specials) My boyfriend loves the Pho as well- it's very fresh tasting, but I haven't actually tried it myself. Hope this helps! read more

BYOB! Small parking lot shared w/ other businesses, but plenty of street parking on surrounding streets. The food has always been delicious. Friendly waitstaff. read more

Never ordered anything I didn't like. My favorite: Green Curry and of course Nime Chow to die for. Oh and BYOB, gotta love that. There are no hidden agendas just good food. Only con: Always busy! I have found that if I get there before 7pm the wait is not that long but I always have to wait. I have even had to wait when picking up take out. But so worth every second sitting or standing by the door. TIP: when you walk in DON'T wait for a hostess to come to you. Go to the desk to check in. If you wait you can get skipped over in line for a table. read more

The best of all time! I eat here with my GF a minimum of once a week. If we dont eat in, we take out. Yes, you will have to wait forever on most nights. Yes, you will have to sit in a crowded, loud, hot seating area. Yes, you will have the butts of takeout customers waiting in line in your face. Its the experience. But the food and the staff are the best in the city. Nim Chow, Chinese broccoli, Peapod leaves, Wonton soup, fried rice, satay noodle, lemongrass are all favorites. The portions are huge and usually last two meals. It is BYOB with no corking fee and a lq store one block away. And the price is almost unbelievably cheap. Dinner for two rarely goes over $30 with tip. Apsara is the best. PS..If you cant deal with the line/crowd, the place two doors down is the same family or at least the same kitchen read more

Cheap prices, delicious appetizers (fried chive dumplings are my fav, and we've also plowed through all of the chicken wings - lemongrass are the best, but also the messiest), and their shrimp bee bong is perfect. I love how the bee bong has the crispiness of the egg roll, softness of the onions, crunch of the cucumbers, and fresh basil. You get a different, pleasant taste from each bite/layer. Every other dish I've tried here has been excellent, and for me, the proportions are manageable, while still probably giving you some leftovers. Love this place! But good to go during off hours, and it is very crowded during dinner time. I find that 3pm is just right. read more

The food here is good for sure and the inexpensive price definitely makes me more forgiving of sub-par service.... HOWEVER, the service is really bad. The last few times I've ordered take out here I am barely met with eye contact and sometimes stand waiting around without being acknowledged as a customer. I am totally understanding of a busy business and can handle having to wait, but not of one that doesn't even welcome their customers! read more

Love the fact that it is BYOB here. No other Asian restaurants compare in Rhode Island in regards to not only getting your bang for your buck, but for genuine Vietnamese/Cambodian/Thai/Asian dishes. Very fresh ingredients. Every time I order my chicken Pad Thai or Vietnamese Bee Bongh, my gigantic bowl is just chock full of fresh basil. Their menu is very extensive, so I love to get something new each time. I love their Nime Chow/Springrolls along with sauce, however I still uphold Four Seasons on Reservoir Ave in Cranston has the best Nime Chow in RI. Atmosphere inside is small, drab, loud, and overly bright, however it is comfy with all booths, considerate/friendly/hardworking staff, and the food is just superb and genuine. Since this restaurant is on Hope Street, it is a pretty hip and non-boring crowd as well. read more