Asian Deli is a newish Vietnamese/Hmong restaurant tucked away a bit off the beaten path in Frogtown that offers table service, carryout and prepared foods for those on the go. The menu is fairly straight forward and consists of approximately 30 traditional Vietnamese, Lao and Thai dishes ranging from Pho, Pad Thai, Tom Yum, curries, etc. I really like their noodle salad (bun), which is a generous portion of rice noodles, shrimp, ground pork, veggie egg roll, fresh mint and greens. Their Pad Thai and Pad See Ew are also pretty good, but nothing to rave about. They usually have an assortment of beef jerky, catfish wraps, stuffed banana leafs, noodle salads, spring rolls and a few other items prepared for those that want to grab a bite and don't have the time to wait for a carryout order. The quality of the food is on par with many of the other places along University Avenue, and while the flavors of their cuisine do little to differentiate themselves, they do get extra points in my book for quick and very friendly service. The restaurant itself is fairly sterile given the strip mall location, but it's very clean and relatively modern. The gentleman that has been running the front of the house each time I have been there has been very friendly and hospitable. Prices are very affordable, especially considering portion sizes, which are ridiculously big and can easily be split among two people. They accept all major credit cards and are currently only open from 10 AM to 7 PM during weekdays (catering only on the weekends). read more

Asian Deli - Menu - Back - Caterers Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

See all

I love being surprised by the unexpected. From the outside, the signage and entry way don't scream out that there is even a restaurant in the location. The inside is simple, but quaint and very clean. The woman behind the counter was very welcoming and absolutely delightful. She offered to get me some water while I waited for my to go order and was just incredibly pleasant. The food is excellent, tasty and very reasonably priced. Huge portions! Chicken wings- excellent, plump, moist and great flavoring Egg Rolls- order of four mini ones, crispy, a little burnt, but flavorful Chicken Pad Thai- huge portion, crushed peanuts with a thicker noodle Chicken Fried Rice- big slices of chicken and a lighter fried taste Thoroughly enjoyed everything about this hidden little neighborhood gem. Will mostly likely bump it up as soon as I have tried more. read more

I've been to this restaurant several times, first time reviewing it, or anything else for that matter. This unassuming place has excellent food! The decor is a bit lacking, feels kind of like a small cafeteria or large break room at work that you see on television. Don't be fooled! The food and decor contrast one another. Bold flavors! The word bland doesn't exist in this restaurant. I usually order things medium spicy, which is plenty for me on most dishes. The papaya salad is the best that I've had since I left Thailand a few years ago. They offer it in Lao and Thai style, I prefer the Lao style, but their Thai style is excellent as well. The Thai style resembles that of the Isaan province in Thailand (NE), rather than the sweeter versions of middle and southern Thailand. The pad thai is very good, very different than the versions that you will find in other places. Much more of a homemade feel to it. The kao poon is one of the best I've had in St. Paul; I like to get it with a spicier broth so I always request it a little spicy. The pho is more of a Thai style than the Vietnamese style that you'll find in Frogtown, but still good and a nice change of pace from the normal offerings on University Ave. Beef salad is EXCELLENT! Tender cuts of beef, refreshing citrus, great spicy kick to it. Don't go beyond "a little spicy" unless you are used to very spicy foods. I usually get it "a little spicy" just so that I can enjoy the citrus flavors more. read more

Asian Deli - Chicken Pad Thai, I ordered it medium spicy. - Caterers Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

See all

I'll admit I tried this place because my usual favorite, Eastside Thai, was closed for renovations, and my co-worker picked this one to hold us over. She did her Yelp research and recommended Asian Deli, and I was hooked when the first review I saw started with "Awwww shit..." And "Awwww shit" was TRUE. This place is yummy, fast, inexpensive, pleasant and convenient. Our waitress was the kindest, most formal waitress I've ever met, and the food, I don't know if I mentioned it before, was DELICIOUS! I ordered the only dish I ever really order, which is Chicken Pad Thai, extra spicy, and extra peanuts. I'm not messing around, and I know what I like... My co-worker got the Chinese Broccoli Stir Fry, which isn't my cup of tea, but I tried a bite and agree it was excellent. The spice was great, the flavor was great, and the service and pricetag were great. I don't know how else to make you understand, but get in your car and GO! BONUS: We started with the stuffed chicken wings, which changed my life forever. I don't know how to explain them except that it's like they de-bone a chicken wing, and toss eggroll ingredients inside it! I have since been told that they're not a new invention and I should calm down... But I'll forever associate them with Asian Deli. read more

Asian Deli - Chicken Pad Thai, Stuffed Chicken Wings & Beef/Veggie Stir Fry - Caterers Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

MMMM. Do you like Asian food? Do you like to try out new restaurants? Do you like inexpensive good tasting food? Do you like fast and friendly service? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this is the place for you! Don't judge the location or "deli" style interior. The food is what counts and you know it. Highlights: STUFFED Chicken Wings Pad Thai Pad See Ew Asian Deli = Worth It read more

Asian Deli - Pad See Ew - Caterers Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

See all

Asian Deli, is small, literally a hole in the wall. Blink and you might miss it. Food is solid and cheap as hell. I was trying to find a place for lunch and all I really was craving was noodle something and spicy. I started reading reviews and this place fit the bill, so off I went! The place is very small, nothing really on the walls, bright lights and a local radio station playing music in the background. Reviews said the cream cheese eggrolls were a must try, so I ordered them. I didn't feel like trying something new, and was craving spicy noodles, so I ordered the chicken pad thai and asked for spice to be "somewhere between mild and medium". The server asked me if I was sure and then told me the spices are hotter than your average place and that I should just have mild and then she took off. Say what? This is not the first time this has happened to me, so I'm really trying not to let my frustration overtake this review. But it WAS really frustrating. Next time a server says this to me I'm going to reply with "oh, you're right, I'll have hot" or "are you sure you want a tip? Yes? Then give me my spicy level please." Anyway, that's sure to be interesting going forward... My cream cheese eggrolls arrived and there were 8 of them! The dipping sauce was good, and I did enjoy the cream cheese eggrolls, but they weren't the best ever. I took 7 of them home, because 8 is a lot of rolls. The chicken pad thai was very good. Totally not spicy enough - no surprise. The noodles were thick, and different than I'm used too. The whole dish was huge and delicious. I was able to take over half of it home. The dealio with the spice levels made this place just A-OK. read more

Asian Deli - Cream cheese eggrolls... good, but not fantastic. - Caterers Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

See all

Asian Deli is way out of my way but after my introduction today I may find myself sneaking over as often as possible before I move out of MN. I got the shrimp pad thai - was asked how hot I wanted it - I opted for hot. It was HOT, not MN hot but really HOT. The shrimp were good and the noodles perfectly cooked. I'm used to a bit more sauce on my pad thai but at this price (under $8) I can't complain. Service was quick and friendly. When I stepped up to the counter to get a takehome box she asked if the HOT was too hot but I told her I like my food HOT. I saw an order of spring rolls (three to an order) go to another table while I was waiting and they looked huge, fresh and delicious. read more

Awwww shit, this place is delicious. From the moment I walked in I knew the food would be great. We came here for a work lunch, and even with 10 or more people, the service was great. I had the Kao Poon, and some egg rolls. I feel bad that I have never had Kao Poon before, because it's basically my two favorite things, Pho and red curry in one super flavorful soup. The menu is small-ish, but still very diverse, with a mix of Hmong, Vietnamese and Lao food. The service here is really amazing. You can tell that the servers and the cooks really care about the product they are putting out. The prices are pretty astonishing for what you get. My one bowl of Kao Poon gave me enough leftovers for both dinner and lunch the following day. read more

It's a really simple setup--could be any generic cafe/diner in any town. Not much for decor or branding, but the food is solid--and super cheap! For $7-9 you get a plate of way-too-much food that could last a few meals for most people. I had the Pad Thai which was great, but my co-workers rave about the fried rice which looks fantastic. I'll be trying that next time. Summary: small/simple setup, great food, a lot of food, cheap! read more

Asian Deli catered a recent business meeting for me. We had summer rolls, pad thai, and chicken satay. It was all delicious and arrived right on time. Of the meetings I've had catered over the last 6 months, I received the most compliments on this one. Everyone loved it, and we were all thrilled when there were leftovers to take home! read more

Great food! The special pho was very good, man were the jalapenos hot! Rich broth, perfectly made with enough sugar and anise to balance. The red curry was excellent- plenty for two. The chicken wings were amazing. Maybe the best I've had anywhere! All of this for $20. Seriously good food, very inexpensive and excellent service. read more

I just moved to Minnesota so I'm having a great time exploring the food scene. So ofcourse I've been using Yelp like it's my job. I came to St. Paul to run some errands and I decided I wanted something Asian in my life. I pretty much ALWAYS want something Asian in my life. #luvmesumasian So I searched and found this place and I am so happy I did. Table for 1. I don't care that I'm the girl in the corner sitting all by myself. I have all the good foods on my table and you don't so suck it. I have egg rolls and Pad Se Ew (medium heat, and no peanuts). The egg rolls are very good, but the Pad Se Ew, oh the Pad Se Ew. It's the best I've ever had. The chicken is tender, the vegetables are so fresh, and the flavor is just on point. Perfect spice. There is a tiny hint of sweetness that just puts it over the top for me. Oh and the portions? Huge. Don't come here for the ambiance. This place is about the food. If you need a chandelier and an Asian Picasso on the wall, then too bad for you. More for me! read more

This was my first time trying their food- had Bite Squad deliver fresh spring rolls, stuffed chicken wings, chicken satay and Red Curry with beef. The stuffed wings had a beautiful golden brown sear and tasted awesome. The "stuffing" was moist and flavorful. The chicken satay was also yummy and the peanut sauce is standard but solid... I just wish it had a little kick to it. It's a bit too sweet imho. The spring rolls (3 for $5!) were fresh and crisp, although I thought the shrimp was a little mushy. I followed the restaurant's suggestion and tried the Summer rolls (again 3/$5), which have chicken and asparagus. I'm HOOKED. Finally, the Red Curry beef was full of crispy veggies and tender beef- and the portion is huge. I ordered it medium spice (and I love spicy food) and I certainly wouldn't have wanted it any hotter, so keep that in mind. The Spinach Stir Fry is also a rich and satisfying dish. I'm rating the food at 4.5 stars and the prices at 5.5 stars! I hope they'll be able to expand their hours eventually, and consider adding a massaman curry entree to the menu... UPDATE: Just wanted to say that I've ordered from them many times (Bite Squad) since my original review and this place is super consistent and delish. This might be true love! read more

With all the Vietnamese and Asian restaurants in the St. Paul area, one would think the Asian Deli would be just like the rest. Don't be fooled as the Asian Deli is one of the best, offering fantastic Vietnamese dishes and serving up a few surprises along the way. First, they are open for only several hours each day so plan ahead. Upon arriving, go ahead and sit down at any table and you will soon be provided a glass of water and a simple menu. Start with the appetizers and order the Cream Cheese Eggrolls. Trust me, these are the best cream cheese eggrolls/wontons you've eaten. Their regular eggrolls and spring rolls are also excellent. For my main dish, I ordered the chicken pad Thai, just a little spicy, and asked for extra peanuts. The plate of food was enormous for the price (less than $7.00)! I've eaten a lot of pad Thai in my day and this is one of the best, without a doubt. Often my co-workers will order one of their fabulous soups or a curry dish and always rave about their experience. Don't miss out on this hidden gem in St. Paul to experience done of the best authentic Vietnamese food in the Twin Cities. read more

Asian Deli - Chicken Pad Thai with extra peanuts - Caterers Near Me - Saint Paul, Minnesota

Food is still really good. Got the rolls with ground pork, pork loaf, and shrimp. The ground pork made the whole spring roll, and because of how tightly it was wrapped and where the ground pork was placed I did not have to spoon fallen meat out of my sauce, plus I got 2 dipping sauces. Also ordered a beef salad, a yum bean thread salad, a yum seafood salad, Lao style papaya salad, and a beef fried rice. Yes this big girl is hungry today, no I'm not feeding an army and yes I like variety. Everything was delicious and all the flavors were spot on. The only real complaint is that they use a dry crushed red chili, if they used fresh Thai chili peppers all the flavors would have been more explosive but not to big a deal for me because I got takeout so crushed my own fresh Thai chilis into the dishes. All in all my food was excellent. read more

I really like this place. Their kao poon is one of the best and most consistent that I've ever had. That's what I usually get, so I can't say much about their other food. Their chicken laab looks good though. I've eyed it from another table, and one day I will try it. The kao poon always just sucks me in. Their egg rolls are also very good. Lots of meat! I wish they had longer hours and weekend. I would love to have dinner here one day. I don't work super close to here. (They close at 3pm) read more

I ordered the Pad See Ew with tofu, medium spicy. I called the order in for takeout, and the woman who took my order warned me that their medium was pretty spicy. It ended up being not as spicy as I was expecting with a warning, but it was not bland. The woman told me it would be 5-10 minutes, so I left my office on the east side right away, and when I got there 9 minutes later, my food was waiting for me. I was impressed with the quick time, and the tasty food. I appreciated the fact that unlike at a number of other area Asian restaurants, Asian Deli did not charge extra for tofu. I never understand why the tofu would cost a dollar more than chicken. My order was good for 2 large meals and a snack, and cost me $8.56 after tax. I'd like to try the fish and a curry sometime soon! I wish it would be open late enough for me to grab dinner on my way home from work. read more

I first heard of Asian Deli and Restaurant in the summer of 2011. A serious fan of Thai iced coffee since my first introduction in 2002, I was delighted to find this new deli just a couple blocks from my apartment. I started buying Thai iced coffee just as frequently as I could! Now, five years later, I've brought out of town guests, my family, friends and even future clients to eat here. We've moved away (only to the next zip code) though I have yet to eat a meal there I didn't want again and again and again. The employees are filled with knowledge, very attentive, and kind. I couldn't ask for anything more. If you're in downtown St. Paul, it's less than 10 minutes by car with plenty of parking. The service is quick and you can order via Bite Squad (a definite plus) if you're in a hurry. read more

If you have experience with the individual flavors of known Thai and Vietnamese dishes, you may be perplexed by the dishes here. We ordered pad see ew for example. It looked good, but the sauce looked a bit red...not like the typical thick ended brown soy sauce. It also had crushed peanuts on it and bean sprouts. We tasted it- it was sweet! So naturally we thought we just accidentally were given pad Thai? It did have the thick noodles though and broccoli. When we asked our server, she told us that it was the correct order, that is how they prepare the dish. We asked the difference between this and the pad Thai, and we're very amused when she replied the only difference was the pad Thai doesn't have the Chinese broccoli.... read more

Best pad thai I have had in MN hands down! Usually we pick at two entrees and an appetizer, this time...it was like "when animals attack". The stuffed chicken wings came out, at first I was hesitant to order them, 2 chicken wings? Omg they were the size of chicken legs! They were yummy but could use a little seasoning. Then our entrees came out; shrimp pad thai and kao poon. We both tried the two and then it became a mad dash to eat all the pad thai. We will definitely be coming here when we want pad thai! So happy we found this place! read more

OK, so I have a fondness for family-run, hole-in-the wall, friendly restaurants with good portions and good prices. This place has it all. Plus, the food is good, but nothing extraordinary. The food alone is 4 stars. The owner's son described the food as a mix of different Vietnamese, Lao and Thai dishes. I tried the Pad See Ew, and the one dish actually fed myself, and my two young school-age children! I am excited to try the Chicken Larb, Tom Yum and seafood dishes. They also are friendly with the business next door, and provide them a break room. The place was very clean, but simple, bordering on spartan. If you want a romantic dinner, bring your own tablecloth and candle...which I might do, come to think of it. The restaurant has been there for one year, with mostly a lunch-crowd. While described as a deli & restaurant, it should really be thought of as a restaurant with some ready-made deli choices, for those in a hurry. read more

Two buddies and I came here for lunch and decided to try several dishes. The spicy beef salad was the best- really good. The Pad Thai and red curry were also solid, and the spring rolls were good but nothing special. The decor here is cafeteria/lunch room. But the service was great, food came out quickly, portions were very generous, and the prices are great. This is a good spot for a quick, good, cheap lunch. read more

Very Nice The restaurant was clean, spotless. The service was very welcoming and friendly. The Beef Cucumber salad was something I could never make for myself, nor the stuffed chicken wings. Please know that they are only open between 11 and 3, M-F. I happened to have the day off on my visit. read more

The spring rolls were fresh and fully packed, and the stuffed chicken wings are a must! Had the shrimp pad thai and it was spectacular... it had some really good heat at "medium". The only bad thing about this place are the limited hours. read more

I've only started to explore the MANY asian restaurants of Frogtown, but I already know I'll be returning to Asian Deli. Had the pho and it was very satisfying (I'm hesitant of pho made with meatballs since I usually prefer the sliced beef, but these meatballs had a great texture and flavor). Prices all looked competitive, service is friendly and portions are generous. I left full and happy. What else can you say? read more

Nothing fancy, just great Vietnamese food in BIG portions at LOW prices. Zero glitz, great service!

the food here is good and the prices are very reasonable but the service is very unpleasant. I should say a server who work here quite often is not pleasant. I have never wanted to return to a place where I was treated poorly, so that says something about the food and prices. to go, please. read more

The curry flavors were very good. Wish I tried some of the other dishes but couldn't finish this one. Previously posted about my shrimp experience but it was my misunderstanding not the restaurants. read more

Amazing food and great prices. Pho is delicious. The broth is great and all the ingredients are flavorful. Egg Rolls are fantastic. Menu is smallish but I've enjoyed everything I've had on it so far. read more

Best Thai Iced Coffee one can get for under $4. Superior service. Excellent food. Amazing prices. Healthy portions. I will be back many many times. Thanks Chelsea/Andrew/Kitchen staff for showing us what service really is! read more

Check it out! A great find that I got a tip on Chowhound. Great food, clean (which isn't always the case). Our family is turning into regulars here. I just wish they were open on weekends but they are awesome - haven't had a bad meal yet. Highly recommend! read more

Love this place! Great food, fresh and cheap!! Pad Thai for $6.95? Their spring rolls, pho, pad thai and pad see ew are delicious. I would recommend this place to anyone! read more

I was looking for a place to have lunch with my dad on (or near) University and I asked a friend for her recommendations. She emailed me a short list and I checked them out on Yelp. Day of we decided on Asian Deli and it was a very good choice. The place is pretty small, but also a few blocks off University and in a sort of random spot, so we didn't have to wait for a table. There was only one woman working both as waitress and cashier, but she did a good job handling everything for all the diners. My dad ordered a curry dish and I went with the Pad Thai. My only grievance about the entire experience is that I told the waitress I wanted the dish spicy. Specifically, "not Minnesota - spicy, but actually spicy." She asked me if I'd ever had spicy food there before, I said "no", and she said she'd give me medium spicy. Well, the Pad Thai was very, very good, and a very generous serving, but not very, very spicy. It wasn't bland or entirely un-spicy, but it was not even close to very spicy. Well, now I know to hold my ground on the spiciness next time. I do want there to be a next time as we both enjoyed our food very much. Asian Deli has a parking lot, takes credit cards, and closes at 3pm. read more