Weekly theme listings reflect a range of dining possibilities in central Arkansas, across a spectrum of settings and price ranges. Restaurant reviewers' visits are anonymous and all expenses are paid by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. To read recent restaurant reviews in their entirety, visit arkansasonline.com/restaurants.
Asian
CHANG THAI & ASIAN CUISINE
9830 Arkansas 107, Sherwood, (501) 835-4488
This 4-year-old mom-and-pop operation has expanded into a third storefront in a north-of-North Hills strip center and there's no longer a buffet. It's worth the drive if you're interested in genuine, decently priced Thai food (the menu also has a few pan-Asian options) made with fresh ingredients.
Lunch, dinner Mon-Fri, dinner Sat, lunch Sun. No alcohol. Bargain-Moderate.
NEW! kBIRD
600 N. Tyler St., Little Rock, (501) 352-3549
A recent food-truck-to-brick-and-mortar conversion, this two-man operation now nests in a little yellow Hillcrest house with limited seating and hours, serving a limited menu (scrawled on a piece of paper on the counter) of top-flight Thai dishes (they grind curries and blend sauces by hand).
Lunch, dinner Mon.-Fri. No alcohol. Bargain.
KEMURI SUSHI SEAFOOD ROBATA
2601 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, (501) 660-4100
Jerry Barakat's Asian fusion restaurant in the the heart of Little Rock's Hillcrest neighborhood offers an elaborate sushi list, a predominantly Japanese and Thai-fusion menu of tasty hot- and cold-plate appetizers and entrees, and robata, a Japanese cooking style that involves grilling small, simple dishes over a charcoal flame and for which there has been no previous counterpart in this market.
Dinner daily; open soon for lunch, Sunday brunch. Full bar. Reservations. Moderate-expensive.
LILLY'S DIM SUM THEN SOME
11121 N. Rodney Parham Road, Little Rock, (501) 716-2700
Owner Nancy Tesmer's menu continues to widen local dining horizons with commendable Pan-Asian food ranging from Pad Thai to Korean Bibim Bop with grilled steak to sukiyaki-style Japanese noodles.
Lunch, dinner daily. Beer, wine. Reservations (six or more people). Moderate.
OISHI HIBACHI & THAI CUISINE
5501 Kavanaugh Blvd., Little Rock, (501) 603-0080
From Lulu Chi and Sushi Cafe protege Robert Tju comes this Heights hybrid, half upscale hibachi tables, half Asian fusion menu, with a sushi bar in between.
Lunch, dinner daily. Full bar. Reservations: big parties. Moderate-expensive.
THAI TASTE
1516 W. Main St., Jacksonville, (501) 985-1854
Pass up the low-common-denominator buffet and stick to the menu (including top-notch versions of Pad Thai and curry selections) at this authentic Thai restaurant, which offers delicious dishes deftly seasoned to the customer's taste in a homey storefront.
Lunch Mon-Fri, dinner Mon-Sat. No alcohol. Reservations. Bargain-Moderate.
TOKYO HOUSE
11 Shackleford Drive, Little Rock, (501) 219-4286
Tokyo House has a menu, allegedly, but there's no reason to use it when the abundant, continually replenished buffet offers everything from impressive sushi (continuously made by skilled chefs) to Chinese dishes like saucy teriyaki beef, garlicky pork gyoza and tempura shrimp, to upscale indulgences (including crab legs Friday through Sunday).
Lunch, dinner daily. Beer, wine. Moderate.
VANLANG
3600 S. University Ave., Little Rock, (501) 570-7700
The menu at what used to be a Vietnamese eatery is now about half Vietnamese and half Korean, and it draws a good many Asian customers, perhaps a testament to the authentic nature of its seafood dishes and other fare.
Lunch, dinner daily. Beer, wine. Reservations. Bargain-Moderate.
Weekend on 02/19/2015