Here in north Howell Township, you will find an Asian restaurant that does not have a lot of reviews, yet has a lot of potential.
Brand: 4/5
Located in Regal Plaza, New Pan Asian specializes in Chinese and Japanese cuisines. It has a pretty standard sign that has a straightforward subtitle indicating which meals they serve. Inside, you will find a Japanese noren that accommodates a line. You will also find many Chinese-inspired décor throughout the establishment. Based on what I discovered inside, I will say that the Chinese/Japanese aesthetics match well. I also liked the vine motif upon the wall.
Website: 5/5
It opens to the main page, with sections separated by brush-stroke endings. It has the standard description about its location in Howell Township. I do like how the menu items have their Chinese/Japanese translations below their English names.
Wait Time: 5/5
I experienced no interruptions or issues waiting for my order.
Ambiance: 4/5
While the establishment did not have music, I did not think it needed it, since the cooking itself provided an immersive sound without disruption. I did notice a burnt smell throughout the establishment. While it did have a few tables, I did not see a problem with them, for they had well-spaced positions. I had no issue with the seats.
Food: 5/5
I ordered a small box of Seafood Fried Rice, packed with peas, carrots, shrimp, crab meat, and crayfish, with a side of Taro creamy tea latte. The box had an equal amount of meats and vegetables. It all held a form that stayed within the box, while also did not fall off, and all of it had a well-cooked steam. With every application of soy sauce, duck sauce, and hot sauce, the eating experience definitely gave me a warm taste with every bite. Every part of the box satisfied me. As for the Taro creamy tea latte, I will say that it had a sweet taste to it, accompanied by the bobas at the bottom. I never had Taro before, and I will say that it was a pleasant first impression. It also help neutralize the hot-sauce-laden fried rice.
Service: 5/5
The owners provided a good service with asking if I wanted it to go or to eat there.
Worth The Money?: 4/5
The food reflected the brand perfectly both in the establishment and the website. It perplexes me how New Pan Asian could have a low rating. Nothing about the ambiance interfered with my time there, and the wait time was appropriate for the time it took to prepare the Seafood Fried Rice. The service puts a lot of care into the food.
Pertaining to the ambiance reflecting the brand and the website, I would like to see more of the combination of Chinese and Japanese aesthetics, since they both have vibrancy in their own ways. Americans typically do not have the time or the luxury to learn in-depth Chinese and Japanese culture (let alone the differences between them). Needless to say, the time it took to wait for my order did not feel tedious when accounting for the establishment's ambiance. Between me and the owners, we did struggle to communicate. In immigrant-owned eateries, I generally forgive the owners and the staff if English is their second language.
If I ever find myself around Regal Plaza, I would absolutely consider it my first option for Asian cuisine. I did think the tea latte had a high price compared to the Seafood Fried Rice.
Rating: 5/5 Stars
I see a lot of hope for New Pan Asian, since it brings Asian cuisine to Regal Plaza.
Recommend To...
Anyone looking for Asian cuisine in the area, but is also interested in learning Mandarin Chinese or Japanese, since you might try to learn them there, based on how they write their menus and their receipts. read more