I desperately want to give Asian Fusion a great review based on authenticity and potential awesomeness, but my first experience just doesn't get me there. If I could rate it three and a half I would.
Right up front, let me say, give this place a chance. Fusion has what it takes to be great with just a few more customers.
I get a good feeling walking into an Asian restaurant and seeing tables filled with folks who appear to be of Asian heritage eating with chop sticks so competently it makes me jealous. Lunch today started with that good feeling in that unpretentious eatery where I sensed being transported back to somewhere in the Far East.
In the interests of full disclosure, I consider myself competent preparing, eating, and reviewing traditional Japanese cuisine. And to a lesser degree Malaysian. Chinese, Taiwanese, and Korean are not so much in my wheelhouse, but it's obvious that Asian Fusion is capable of serious authenticity in that arena. Who knew about Taiwanese beverage specialties???
A starter of steamed dumplings are always one of my tells for these places. Ours were perfect! Cooked to perfection, tasty, meaty, with a crisp vegetable component. Great sign of things to come. But, here we encounter some wrinkles in the experience.
Our server was pleasant and attentive. The timing of service was off. Two tables seated after us were served before us. My wife received her plating noticeably before I was served. Little things, but always important.
My wife had a plate of vegetables and rice. The veggies were fresh and perfectly presented, but could have been warmer and would have benefited from just a little more wok time. A touch more Al dente and just a bit less raw bar. Still quite tasty and satisfactory.
I ordered a bowl of shrimp 'udon' soup with edamame, bean sprouts, and kamaboko (fish cakes). Looking back, I see my Japanese obsession creeping in here when I should have been trying the more traditional Chinese fare. Never mind. My bad.
The chicken broth was properly hot, savory, and most excellent. Unfortunately, the kamaboko was substituted with a weird pickled/spiced egg thing that I was specifically avoiding in the other ramen bowl offerings. I tried half the egg, was not impressed, and had to stare at the other half as I finished the otherwise excellent bowl of Asian goodness. I'm sure these eggs are a delicacy and probably an upgrade if you like such things. Again, it's on me and not the cook.
The shrimp were lightly breaded and separately fried before being added to the broth. They were a bit overdone and somewhat tough. Possibly the Taiwanese adaptation of a tempura shrimp. Who knows? Still, all in, the udon bowl was much better than many I've had.
We finished our experience with an order of crackling shrimp dim sum that were magnificent!
I'll be back giving these folks another try. This little Asian Fusion eatery has serious potential. read more