Tucked among an intersection of amazing restaurants, we finally got to check out Char! While looking at some of the Artprize pieces, since Char was a venue this year, my fiancé ordered the steak fried rice and I ordered a fried noodle bowl with rice noodles and chicken. There are plenty of toppings to choose from and everything tastes super fresh. It's like Qdoba/Chipotle style where you pick what sauces and toppings you want then they whip it all together for you. First bite was a flavor explosion and continued throughout both the dishes. Yum yum sauce was on point. Service was quick and friendly. It is a bit pricey but the fiancé treated dinner on this night ;) A friend suggested their nachos which we will have to try next time. The space is shared with Gita Pita so there is a dining area that is in between both restaurants. If you felt like trying two places at once you knock that out by grabbing something from Gita Pita while you wait for your food from Char. Definitely will be back again and I'm glad to finally cross Char off my list! read more

Got their food for a work meal. Everyone enjoyed the food. Service was fabulous. Talked to them twice before the order and both times extremely helpful. The restaurant it self was clean and what you would expect for the style of restaurant. I would say that the order process online is a tad confusing but people I talked to were helpful and mad everything as desired with the help. The appetizers like the egg rolls and crab Rangoon seemed a tad expensive for what we got but did taste good. read more

The place is connected with 1 other locale so there is plenty of seating room for those that don't get anything to go. It really is a no frills place. I got a steak fried rice bowl for $17. The bowl was slightly greasy and but the steak and sauce was very well balanced in seasoning. My friends friends got the duo tacos with shrimp and steak for $14. A little expensive for the size and just being 2 tacos. The food is good but id have to come try it again to give it an updated review. The service is very no frills. Just one person at the front. I wish they had better presentation of food and menu and the staff were more knowledgeable of food options. Overall not a bad place but I left wishing there was more to my experience. read more

Char - Tacos - Asian Fusion Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Incredible food. Different taste but totally with the adventure. Ask for EVERYTHING! You won't be disappointed. Love this place because they have flavored Diet Coke -- lemon is the go to. Totally recommend. read more

Good food, arrived hot and on time via GrubHub. The flavor of the teriyaki sauce was phenomenal. Wish there was more mest and food in general for the price. read more

Char - Lo Mein "Fried Noodles Bowl" - Asian Fusion Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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My friend and I came in during a slower part of the day but we were immediately greeted by one of the staff. He was very helpful in explaining the menu and had great recommendations. I ended up getting two of the tacos along with one of the most delicious fried cheese rolls(?). Not pictured because I ate it too fast. I would go back just for another 12 of those. But the tacos and ingredients seemed fresh and the establishment was clean and very open! Would definitely recommend and I WILL be back! read more

Char - DUO (Steak/Shrimp/Chicken/Black Beans) - Asian Fusion Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Stopped in for lunch with my son. Watched my food made fresh right in front of me. Large portion. Choice of toppings. I had a fried rice bowl. Very good. Container also good quality. Ample street parking. Will definitely be back. read more

Char - a bowl of asian food on a table - Asian Fusion Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

You need to try Char right NOW. The flavors, the uniqueness, the kindness of the owner and staff... i'm still in awe. Before we went, I checked out the menu online and was really liking what I was seeing. I saw the wonton nachos and new that's exactly what I wanted. This idea of asian mexican fusion is so cool and something i've never had the pleasure of trying before. We walked in and the owner asked if it was our first time in... we sad yes and he started to prepare us a taco which is something he does for all new customers to try the amazing flavors. I don't eat meat or dairy lately and he was very helpful and knowledgeable. the set up is like a qdoba type deal where all the ingredients are on a tray line and you can choose your toppings while they also suggest what goes best on each item. I took a bite into the taco.... wow...at a loss for words how good it was. here's what made the food amazing: spicy kimchi slaw (was not very spicy to me but was amazing) the house made yum yum sauce the house made teriyaki sauce you can tell it was made fresh and with love you could tell all the ingredients were fresh. I watched him fry up the wonton nachos right in front of me. this is one of the best meals i've had in a long time. i even got some crab rangoons to go for my boyfriend and they smelled so good i wish i could have eaten those too. again the owner was so kind and even walked over to his other business gita pita (which is connected by a dining area in the middle) and fried me up some falafel to try. that was so so kind of him. now these are some of the best falafel i've ever had... they were super crispy on the outside and moist on the inside. there is nothing worse than a dry falafel... these were anything but.. wow again. one of the other customers asked us if it was our first time in and we said yes. she let us know we would be addicted from there on out and i have a feeling she was right. i am already thinking about my next meal there. bottom line you will have to just try Char for yourself and you will see what I mean!!! bonus: Char is located right next to 12th house as well so I had fun shopping around there before. read more

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Costs too much for the amount of food. Menu pictures are misconceiving. Won't be back. read more

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the people are always so great here. food made to order. Everything I've had is great. The shrimp tacos served spicy are AMAZING! Good drink selections. There is a small seating area if you want to dine in. read more

Char in Grand Rapids totally nailed it with their black bean vegan rice bowl and spicy wonton kimchi rolls. The flavors were amazing, and I was seriously impressed! read more

Came here on a Saturday for lunch and was in and out within 5 minutes even though it was my first time here. Their menu is very simple and self explanatory. Pick your item -- choose from a bunch of different variants of it. The workers are very helpful in explaining anything. I chose to try a steak and chicken taco, although I've also heard very good things about the shrimp taco. After the corn/flour tortilla and protein choice, the rest was up to the worker. I followed their recommendations and was pleasantly surprised. Lots of meat, lots of flavor, and leaves you craving more. Only downside is I wish I got all 3 tacos instead of choosing to leave out the shrimp one. read more

Char - Steak and chicken tacos - Asian Fusion Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Forgot to take a photo before I started eating so this is me a little more than halfway through. I got the wonton loaded nachos with chicken. My husband got the shrimp Asian tacos. They said their chicken is halal so I was able to get chicken here which was nice. Sick of kabob places. This place is not a traditional taco place, and if your looking for something a little different it is good. I really liked my nachos. The wonton chips satisfied my craving for Chinese and fried food. On the nachos is: chicken, teriyaki sauce, green onion, cilantro, cheese, red onion, the spicy slaw they offer, and peppers. It was really good. My husband said his shrimp tacos were really good too. The restaurant is like a subway and chipotle style where you choose what you want to put on your food. The customer service was also really great too and they seemed like they genuinely wanted to help. read more

Char - Wonton chicken nachos - Asian Fusion Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Another great addition to the corner of Fulton and Jefferson. The guys from Gita Pita have now brought us Char! They have Asian broth with rice or udon noodles, Asian tacos, and salads. They share the same dining room that is connected between each spot. The staff is fantastic. The second we walked in, we were greeted and they began to explain what they offer. They let us try the different broth before we made our selection. We went with a chicken broth bowl with rice noodles, a steak broth bowl with udon noodles, a chicken taco, and they also gave us a complimentary sample of the edamame. You then build each dish however you'd like but they had great recommendations so we just let them pick! Everything was fantastic and the pricing was reasonable. Yes, the tacos are a little more expensive than other spots but they are larger and filled with more ingredients. I loved the chicken taco and we both loved our broth bowls. We will definitely be back as this is a great option on a cold day. I recommend stopping in and giving them a shot! read more

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Great for a quick bite before a concert! The owners of Gita Pita opened Char right next door and the fusion tacos are so good! Bonus: They share a central eating area so take advantage and order from both! Get the chicken taco with spicy kimchi slaw, green onions, cilantro, teriyaki, and yum yum sauce - savory with a little sweetness and a little kick of spice and crunch. Will for sure be back for more! They are also super friendly and great at walking you through each of the options and making recommendations. Pro Tip: Head across the street to the Thai restaurant and get rolled ice cream for dessert. I loved the strawberry shortcake! read more

Char - Chicken taco with spicy kimchi slaw, green onions, cilantro, teriyaki and yum yum sauce - Asian Fusion Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Soooo good and will definitely be coming back! I had the fried wonton nachos (which isn't shown on the menu but is available for order, I saw it through Facebook). They have plenty of options for toppings. I chose chicken as my protein and got some veggies and herbs. For sauces, I reccomend the yum yum sauce AND teriyaki sauce. So tasty. I was happy they had the shared space with Gita Pita for sitting down to eat and it is a good space. I also got 1 cheese wonton roll. Literally so good. Basically a mozzarella stick in a wonton wrapper. Will definitely come back to try the tacos and broth bowls! read more

Char - Loaded Wonton Nachos - Asian Fusion Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Green Bowl was really good and was ready for pickup when it was supposed to be. I was able to quickly park outside the door and grab my food quickly. I'll be back! read more

WAY BETTER THAN HOPED! This place knows how to make amazing fusion food. It's a mix between Hispanic and Asian influences. The owner made the experience even better. He walked us through the different choices and the history behind the dishes. You need to go here and try the 3 taco combo. I know you won't regret it. The owner said when we walked in that this may be our first visit but he knows not our last, he was so right! read more

Char - Two chicken and one steak taco with a cheese roll - Asian Fusion Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

This is a small Asian fusion restaurant. Char shares seating space with a gyro joint next door. Not sure if one owner rents space to two separate restaurateurs or if there are two owners that share one store front. The restaurant was pretty slow on a rainy Thursday afternoon. The chef was really informative and pleasant to deal with. The Chef explained that all the ingredients were fresh, organic or farm-to-table. You pay a little more for your meal because everything is top quality. I got a shrimp taco ($5.29)and a chicken taco ($3.99), my wife got a chicken taco and a bean taco ($3.99). We were really happy with the food and all the unique flavors. There's three varieties of kimchi to choose from. Any one of the three options goes well with the homemade yum yum and teriyaki sauces lathered on top. There are no fountain drinks but there is a minimal selection of canned or bottled sodas, waters, flavored waters and Seltzer's. We got four tacos and shared a drink for less than $20. I could have easily eaten two more of the tacos in the same sitting. At $4 a pop, the bill would be closer to $30 and I could have gotten a full meal for two people at multiple other establishments in the area. I'm not complaining because the food was good but just taking note of price vs my stomach being full. My main complaint was that the stainless steel table we sat at was a bit on the dirty side. It had crevices where food became stuck (From previous patrons). Also the napkin and plastic silverware dispensers need a serious wipe down by staff (it seemed like the chef was the only one on duty). I would definitely come back here if I was in the area and needed some tasty Asian fusion to brighten up my afternoon. However, think it would be too pricy for me to fill up on the tacos, maybe the larger bowls are a better option. read more

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Consistently the best Asian food on UberEats. Their Shrimp Tacos are amazing. You can customize them a couple different ways and pick your choice of corn or flour tortillas. Personally I'm a huge corn fan. They always follow requests. And food is wonderful. Thanks Char! You make my Quarantine yummy! read more

Char - Shrimp Taco - Asian Fusion Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Occasionally in life I come across something in life that that is truely great. The food at char is in this catagory. So far I have had steak, chicken and shrimp tacos, the loaded wanton nachos, the chicken egg rolls, crab rangoon, cheese rolls and the baklava. All of it has been phenomonal on the level of my mothers alfredo. I cannot think of another restraunt in GR or West Michigan where the food is as good. The wait can be long at peak times. However, I would happily plan my entire day around standing in line for hours as the food is completely worth the wait. read more

The Yum Yum sauce will send you to heaven or make you fall in love... enter at your own risk. My friend brought me here, and i've been telling everyone about it since. The food is fresh, portions are great, and the asian flavors/mexican flavors work so well together in the most randomest fusion you've experienced. After having tried everything on the menu, you literally can't go wrong. Sauces are made from scratch, as well as the crab rangoons, and the heart and soul of the two brothers is poured into the fresh ingredients and service. I want their success, and want them to do so well the whole nation can enjoy, but simultaneously want to keep this to myself because i'm selfish and i want to enjoy this with my friends for a long time to come... read more

Don't sleep on this place. So unique. Great flavor profiles and fresh! We had the loaded wonton nachos and they fry the wonton chips right there. Delicious egg rolls, crab Rangoon and dipping sauces for each. Seriously give this place a try! read more

Char - Loaded Wonton Nachos - Asian Fusion Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

Great flavors! I usually avoid seafood tacos but the shrimp is amazing. The Wonton Nachos are not on the menu - maybe a secret item? So good. I recommend picking up the food and eating at Lookout Park for a nice view. Just 7 minutes away! My only complaint is the service. Staff could be friendlier.. The last couple times I've gone, I've felt like I wasn't wanted there. read more

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Tried this place for the first time with family and we all thought that the food was good, not bad but also not great. We all thought that the food is way overpriced for the amount that you get and nothing to write home about. I will say though that the two men who were cooking yesterday were super polite and patient with us because most of us didn't know what to get right away and didn't know what some of the ingredients they had in front of us that we could choose from were. So they had to describe what some of the ingredients were so that we would have a better idea of what we all wanted. I don't think I'll be back again but maybe others will like the food and price more than I did. read more

Very timely, relevant, and convenient! I love this place's approach to tacos. The fusion of Mexican and Asian isn't something I see often, but it was really good! I'd personally recommend the nachos! The wonton chips are amazingly good! read more

First timer. Ordered the nachos with steak, chicken taco, rangoon, spicy roll and cheese one. Everything was excellent, if you like spice add the spicy slaw, really good. The chili pineapple sauce is a little spicy, the cranberry sauce is sweet and sour. I would order again! One thing, maybe print a receipt or label sauces so we don't have to keep pulling up the order to see what it is... read more

Char - Loaded Wonton Nachos, Crab Rangoon, Chicken Taco, Wonton Cheese Roll, Spicy Kimchi Roll - Asian Fusion Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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The owner was there to make us our food, he recommended his favorites which were delicious. Tried the tacos and a fried rice bowl. Services homemade baklava as well. Location very convenient downtown. read more

Was trying to find a vegan place for lunch on my vegan Fridays. Lots of good options in GR. This one stuck out for its Asian tacos- screams "different". Having spent a couple years in Chicago, I know Freshii and other like-minded places are great for quick veg-food. I wanted a local option too. I stepped into a place that is like many lunch/deli joints. Two men making meals quickly behind the counter. A few words in what sounded like Arabic or perhaps Bosnian. They asked the customers good questions. A smile from who could be a co-owner. Delicious sauce on this rice and beans bowl. Decent price that you'd pay in Chicago or otherwise for a quick lunch. read more

Char - Getting it ready. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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We originally walked in to get some gyro's from Gita Pita, but one of the cooks asked us if we liked tacos. We said sure, and he offered to make us a sample taco at char. So, we took the trip right next door, 50 steps, through a wall, where the guy proceeded to make us a chicken taco with kimchi. It was so good I ended up ordering tacos, but my wife got Gita. She had been craving a gyro, so you can't talk a woman down from her cravings. Anyways, I ordered the trio of tacos: beef, chicken, and shrimp. Each with the spicy kimchi, which isn't really spicy, but really good. They did tell us it wasn't spicy before ordering, so that was nice. Then they topped it with teriyaki, yum yum sauce, and 2 different cheeses. All three tacos were really good with great flavors. I would definitely go back. read more

Wow this place was so great. I highly recommend the original tacos. The service was was amazing! The man who helped me gave me samples of some of the best items and walked me through the menu. It's rare to find such a high quality fusion restaurant in Grand Rapids. read more

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This place rocked our socks off. We were a little weary about the combinations of kimchi (and the sauces) on a traditional taco but boy do they work so well together. The only downside of going to this place is us annoying our family and friends to death talking about this place. We. cannot. stop. The portions inside the taco were more than generous. The gentleman working with us to complete our order was outstanding. Everything about this place is 100/10. The wontons were awesome too! If you like crab Rangoon's the cheese wonton is perfect for you. But I personally loved the spicy kimchi wonton. I love kimchi in general. We can't wait to go back soon to try one of their broth bowls. read more

Char - Steak and shrimp taco with spicy kimchi with yum yum and teriyaki sauce (in the corner spicy kimchi wonton) - Asian Fusion Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Today was my first time in Char, but not my first time in the building. Char is connected to Gita Pita. The space is set up like a subway, chipotle, that kind of thing with all the toppings behind the plexiglass in their respective containers. There is what looks like a pizza warmer but it's actually some sort of cooler that has three levels of greens on for salads too - I thought that looked pretty cool. Upon entering the location, there was a chair holding the door open to get some cool air circulating. It was nice but also cold out today, so while we ate, we were tempted to put our jackets on. I got there earlier than my friend so I told the employee I would just wait on her - he mentioned how busy it was "virtually" with all of the takeout orders - which is great to hear! He was putting together a taco order and asked me if I was a vegetarian - which I replied I was not. He made me a chicken taco "on the house" and told me I would fall in love. I must say - it was pretty good. I ended up ordering another one along with a wonton spicy kimchi egg roll. The second taco was made by another employee and he put cheese on the taco so they must have their own ways of making the same menu items. I wasn't a huge fan of the eggroll - my friend got a cheese eggroll and said hers was good, like an Asian mozzarella stick. I liked how they had different options on the menu, but all same topping options so I can mix and match with different "carriers". The spicy kimchi wasn't really spicy and it tasted more like a slaw so I'm not sure if it was actually slaw or kimchi. Maybe a mix? I give 3-stars because the menu items were a little confusing when ordering (a combo vs a meal was hard for him to explain to my friend) and then the inside feels like it needs a mini makeover. It works for them because they're doing mostly takeout, but for more business for dine-in, it may be time for a facelift. The floor is sticky like a movie theatre that had soda spilled. Also, their fountain machine was down so your only option was bottles out of the cooler. Which was fine, but probably cost a little more. All in all, employees are super chatty and friendly. The food is unique, flavors are crave-able but a bit confusing if you're trying to figure it out yourself. Check them out! read more

Guys, the hype about Char is real! The owners of Gita Pita opened up this "Asian/Mexican fusion" restaurant in the space next door and my boyfriend and I finally stopped in the other day while walking around downtown. We were greeted right away and asked if we'd been in yet. When we said no, the guy at the counter (I am pretty sure he's the owner) gave us a rundown of the menu and gave us a sample of some of their chicken broth. The menu is simple and consists of broth bowls, green bowls, tacos, and sides. Each of the main items are customizable--for the broth bowls, you can choose udon or rice noodles, green bowls come with a mix of greens or your choice of romaine, spinach, arugula, or kale, and the tacos come on corn or flour tortillas. Then each item can be customized further with your choice of toppings. We were told that tacos are the suggested item for first timers, and even though my boyfriend and I had just done a Taco Tour the previous weekend, we were all in. While we were waiting in line, another customer came in behind us and told us he and his wife have gotten tacos at Char 20 times and they're the best he's ever had. That's a pretty bold statement but we were excited. We decided to get three tacos (chicken, steak, and shrimp) and upgraded to a combo for $2 more to include a fountain drink and a cheese roll. He suggested toppings for us for each and we gladly accepted his recommendations. Then we started eating... and holy cow, it was amazing. The flavors of all the ingredients together are wild and delicious. Someone else said a flavor explosion in your mouth and honestly that's 100% accurate and I can't describe it any other way. Every single bite was better than the previous one. The sauces were sweet and spicy, the kimchi slaw had a perfect amount of heat, and all the proteins were cooked to a perfect tenderness. The tacos are jam packed with meat, too--no skimping here. I'm used to ordering shrimp tacos and getting maybe 3 shrimp--not here! Definitely a great value for the amount and quality of food. Everything tasted super fresh. The cheese roll is cheese wrapped in an egg roll wrapper and deep fried and it's amazing. I would definitely get that again. I cannot wait to go back to Char and get more tacos and also try the broth bowls because they looked amazing and the broth we tried was full of flavor with lots of toasted sesame seeds, cilantro, and green onion. Yum! read more

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I've never noticed CHAR before, but saw their 5 star reviews on Yelp and it sparked my curiosity. Let me just say... they earned every star. There were two men behind the counter, both extremely friendly. They make you feel comfortable and at home, and they were both really excited about their food... which made me feel really excited about it. They recommended the tacos and their favorite topping combinations, so we went for the chicken and steak tacos, and thoroughly enjoyed every bite. Definitely do the chicken tacos, and choose the spicy kimchi.. they were the best. You can grab some to go, or they have a lot of table seating if you want to stick around. I can't wait to go back! This is definitely my new taco spot, I'm so glad I found them! read more

Tried this place for lunch with a friend and what an explosion of flavors. They prepare your meal as you go down the food bar line (a la chipotle). You have the option of tacos, udon or rice noodle bowl, or fresh green bowl. The type of food is a fusion of Mexican (flour or corn tortilla for tacos), Asian (sauces and kimchi slaw), and Italian? (Shredded parm cheese). I ordered the meal with a total of 3 tacos and chose 2 shrimp and 1 chicken. They are both flavorful and seasoned on their own, then you add the sauces (similar to an eel sushi sauce in my opinion) with a choice of mild, spicy, or hot slaw...then cheese toppings. An abundance of flavor! The parm threw me off a bit, but I love parm cheese so why not. The cheese wonton was like a mozz stick wrapped in an egg roll wrapper and deep fried. Delicious and came with a yum yum sauce. Their fountain drink machine was out, so ordered a bottle soda with the meal. And since I deviated from the original steak/shrimp/chicken tacos (2 shrimp and 1 chicken) the meal price seemed a bit more with the bottle soda. But knew that going in. Flavorful food that's good for carry out or you can sit in the small dining space shared with the gyro pita establishment connected to it. read more

Char - 2 shrimp tacos, 1 chicken with mild slaw and original toppings plus cheese wonton - Asian Fusion Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

This is my go-to lunch place. The broth bowls are phenomenal, super flavorful and you add your protein, veggies, noodles. I always get a chicken broth bowl but switch between rice and udon noodles. The vegetables are always fresh, I recommend adding toasted sesame seeds! If you don't want soup, the tacos are amazing - I get one black bean and one chicken usually on flour tortillas. The people that work here are super friendly and helpful. If you are healthier than me, they have a salad option as well! Drink choices are top notch too, Naked Juices, pineapple juice, Starbucks Frappuccinos, yum! read more

Char - Menu - Asian Fusion Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

One of my favorite places to get tacos!!!! I'm always impressed with how efficient the service is. I recommend the chicken taco with teriyaki and yum yum sauce!! I also like ordering the egg rolls with the Mongolian sauce for dipping! They also have baklava for dessert! You won't be disappointed :) read more

I just moved to the area from Rockford and really have only had a handful of the restaurants around here. As soon as I saw the photos posted and read the descriptions I was sold. I ordered a shrimp taco and a wanton cheese roll I was not disappointed. It was also delivered extremely quickly! I always love a quick delivery. I am very happy with my choice. The food has a ton of flavors, put together beautifully and the yum yum sauce is a must. I can't wait to want shrimp tacos again because I will be ordering it from here! read more

Char - Wanton cheese roll! Yum - Asian Fusion Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan

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Ordered takeout tonight and their delivery fee was reasonable on the app I was using, which I'm glad about. The main reason I hadn't stopped in yet is if I'm in that area, I usually swing in to a place I already know I love like Gita Pita (owned by the same people, I should have known) or Bangkok or Palace of India; well, now I know I've been missing out! I got two tacos, both with "allergen free" slaw: 1) black bean on corn tortilla with yum yum and teriyaki + romano cheese and 2) chicken on flour tortilla with teriyaki + parmesan cheese. I also got a wonton roll. Flavors were really tasty! I loved the mix of the yum yum and teriyaki on the beans, but the teriyaki by itself on the chicken was flavorful too, so don't be afraid to mix it up or go solo on those sauces! I think the wonton is probably better fresh/not delivered (kind of had a tough/chewy texture that I didn't mind, but I just have a FEELING it's probably less like that if it hasn't been sitting around in a car for 20 mins first), but was still good. Overall very impressive and I look forward to being able to stop in some day soon! read more

Char - Wonton Cheese Roll, Black Bean Taco, and Chicken Taco. Yum! - Asian Fusion Near Me - Grand Rapids, Michigan