ITS ALL CHINESE TO ME!
MY RECOMMENDATIONS!
SOUTH EAST ASIAN & CHINESE CUISINE
South East Asian cuisine includes the unique food of the countries of the countries that populate the Far East. These countries include China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam. Even though all of these countries use similar ingredients, there are subtle differences in each of their cuisines.
RICE OR NOODLES
The main ingredient of this food is rice or noodles, which forms the staple of this cuisine. A full complement of fresh vegetables, combined with many types of fish and lean meats, are also used and various cooking methods are employed to produce a majestic culinary experience. A whole array of culinary spices along with various sauces such as soy, sweet and sour, and chilli are also used to add to the bright, fresh aroma that often resonates from the kitchens of the Far East.
MY NAME IS GEORGE JACKSON
My name is George Jackson and I am a professional food critic. I recently visited a number of restaurants all over Cyprus with a view to creating a fair and useful review. I have factored a number of things in my submission and these include service, parking, quality, variety, environment, and value for money.
Here are my top picks for South East Asian and Chinese restaurants in Cyprus.
Yumi Suchi & Bento Japanese Restaurant
Spyrou Kyprianou 20A, Nicosia, Cyprus
Tel: 70 003 435
Service 8/10
Parking 8/10
Quality 9/10
Variety 7/10
Environment 8/10
Value for money 7/10
Yumi Suchi & Bento Japanese Restaurant in Nicosia
The Yumi has managed to build up a reputation over the years and it has become well known in the city for its high quality seafood. I thought that this was reason enough to visit this restaurant and see for myself. I arrived at the restaurant without a reservation and I immediately noticed how busy it was. The staff greeted me well and seated me near the entrance. As I began perusing the menu, I found myself admiring the elegant space, which I found offers diners a cosy culinary environment. The Yumi prides itself on its delicious sushi offerings, but also offers a number of hot bento meals. I found that the menu, which is based on traditional and fusion Japanese cuisine, was varied, and offered something for everybody. I decided that I would try their signature buffet, which consisted of more than 25 dishes at a fixed price. I supplemented my excellent food with some great cocktails and along with the background music; I had a very pleasant evening.
Ha Noi Vietnamese Restaurant
Georgiou A, Potamos Yermasoyias, Limassol, Cyprus
Tel: 96 766 605
Service 6/10
Parking 7/10
Quality 8/10
Variety 8/10
Environment 7/10
Value for money 7/10
Ha Noi Vietnamese Restaurant in Limassol
There are not many restaurants on the island that offer authentic Vietnamese food, so I was delighted when I came across the Ha Noi restaurant, just by Dasoudi Beach in Limassol’s tourist area. I found the Ha Noi to be a simple, family run, charming little place, which does what it says on the tin. The friendly staff greeted me well when I arrived without a reservation and promptly seated me in the centre of the restaurant. I was immediately struck by the simplicity of the place, which I felt offered more of a café vibe than that of a restaurant. The menu had a good variety and offered a good choice of Vietnamese traditional flavours. I decided to order a number of starters with some soup instead of a main dish. These included bun cha and pho soup with a number of pho dishes. I also sampled some rice and noodles, along with variations of duck, beef, chicken and some seafood, which included squid. The portions for starters were very large and I was also glad to see that Vietnamese beer was also on offer. I rounded off my hearty meal nicely with some Vietnamese coffee.
Feng’s House Chinese Restaurant
Athenon 103, Larnaca, Cyprus
Tel: 24 657 176
Service 9/10
Parking 6/10
Quality 9/10
Variety 8/10
Environment 8/10
Value for money 8/10
Feng’s House Chinese Restaurant in Larnaca
Anyone visiting Larnaca’s famous Finikoudes beachfront promenade will ultimately come across Feng’s House. Established long ago, Feng’s is situated near the end of the strip, just before the Larnaca Fort and is well known in the city for its high quality food and value for money. Its popularity was confirmed when I found out that I had to make a reservation. On arrival, I was greeted by the large bronze Buddha statue at the entrance, which immediately set the mood for my liaison with a slice of China. The staff greeted me well and seated me near the entrance by the window, ironically near my new found bronze friend. This viewpoint allowed me to take in the excellent décor of the whole restaurant. I found the menu varied and full of authentic Chinese options. I decided that I would try a series of starters instead of a main meal and to my delightment; the large portions were aptly served on a flame fuelled circular rotating serving table. The service was extremely attentive and they recommended a fantastic Merlot, which paired with my meal perfectly. I found the service along with the quality food to be of a very high standard and I enjoyed my Chinese evening by the Larnaca seafront immensely.
Phukhet Chinese & Thai Restaurant
Tombs of the Kings 44, Paphos, Cyprus
Tel: 26 818 678
Service 9/10
Parking 9/10
Quality 7/10
Variety 8/10
Environment 7/10
Value for money 7/10
Phukhet Chinese & Thai Restaurant in Paphos
I was looking forward to visiting the Phukhet Chinese and Thai restaurant simply because it has been offering both Chinese and Thai cuisine to Paphos since 1985. I arrived a little early at just passed its opening time with no reservation and I was promptly welcomed and then seated near the bar area. As I was being served, the upbeat staff told me, that the chefs came to Cyprus from China and Thailand many years ago; bringing their expertise and years of knowledge and experience to the island. They even took the time to make some recommendations, which suited me, fine. Their menu has all of the Chinese and Thai classics, and there are some fusion meals on offer. I chose a number of Chinese starters and then I went for a Thai curry meal. This restaurant is one of the biggest that I visited, easily seating over 100 people and I watched on as it gradually started filling with people. It became obvious to me that most of these people were regulars, on a first name basis with the staff. The large portion sizes were a hit and the Thai curry with its light buttery sauce was also very good. My fortune cookie at the end of it all said ‘We guarantee that you will be back’ and they were not far wrong.
Wok & Walk Asian Fusion Restaurant
Akamantos, Latchi Harbour, Cyprus
Tel: 26 262 050
Service 8/10
Parking 9/10
Quality 8/10
Variety 9/10
Environment 7/10
Value for money 7/10
Wok & Walk Asian Fusion Restaurant in Latchi Harbour
The Wok and Walk is a relatively new restaurant that offers a fusion of Asian Cuisine. Situated on the Latchi coast near Polis Chrysochou, this restaurant offers some great views of Latchi harbour and this immediately sets a welcoming tone. I arrived at the restaurant without a reservation and the staff greeted me in a very friendly fashion. They seated me near one of the imposing interior arches, which I found complimented the neutral décor nicely. I found the attention to detail was very good and the table settings complemented the restaurant well. The menu was accompanied by a rather nice complementary appetizer, which I thought was a nice touch and this set the evening up nicely. I did find the menu a little difficult to navigate however, maybe that is why you get the appetizer, but it is varied, and easily offers something for everybody. I decided on this occasion, as I was on the coast, to stick to seafood dishes. I mainly selected the fusion dishes and I was not disappointed. I could tell immediately the fish was extremely fresh and it was obvious that a great deal of care had gone into each dish. I did find the drinks a little expensive, so I supplemented my excellent food with a simple pot of green tea, which I found to be bright and refreshing. The staff’s attentiveness and friendly service added to the overall enjoyable experience.
Little Panda Chinese & Sushi Restaurant
Nissi Avenue 11, Ayia Napa 5330, Cyprus
Tel: 23 724 646
Service 8/10
Parking 7/10
Quality 7/10
Variety 9/10
Environment 8/10
Value for money 8/10
Little Panda Chinese & Sushi Restaurant in Ayia Napa
The Little Panda offers both Chinese and Japanese sushi and I wanted to visit, because it serves a typical Cypriot style mixed Chinese and sushi meze. I arrived at the restaurant without a reservation and the staff immediately greeted me with smiles. I opted to sit out front on the small terrace and I found the atmosphere to be very bright and upbeat, typically following the Ayia Napa culture. I was pleasantly surprised to see that imported Chinese beer was being served and I had a small Tsingtao beer before ordering my mixed meze, which included sushi for starters and then a good variety of Chinese dishes as the main course. Even though I knew beforehand what I was going to order, I still went over the main menu, which is so varied that it splits into a dedicated Chinese part and a separate sushi section. Along with its signature dishes, children’s section and deserts, there must be over 150 dishes available on the menu, which I find quite incredible. The spinning table soon came into play when the larger than average portions arrived, and I was happy to find that my meze included a fresh, crispy Japanese style salad. The deep fried flour fish also caught my attention along with the lobster soup and the Chinese style lamb Chops. To top the evening, all of this was washed down with some excellent Japanese plum wine.
Inamo Asian Philosophy Restaurant
Protara 26, Paralimni, Cyprus
Tel: 23 831 211
Service 8/10
Parking 7/10
Quality 8/10
Variety 8/10
Environment 9/10
Value for money 7/10
Inamo Asian Philosophy Restaurant in Protaras
The Inamo restaurant does indeed offer a full range of Asian culinary fusion, taking signature dishes from all over South Asia and successfully recreating them in Cyprus. I arrived at the restaurant without a reservation and pleasantly discovered that even though this is a large restaurant, it does have an ambient feel about it. The terrace seating provides a beautiful place to spend an evening, but I opted to sit inside and take advantage of the comfortable furnishings. I found the décor both stylish and modern, and the staff were friendly and polite. The menu offers a full range of meals, but yet is simple in its design. I wanted to sample some food from all around South Asia, and the staff recommended the Inamo platter to me and it did not disappoint. I then opted for a small portion of Korean Kimchi Beef with a side order of Inamo Sashimi salad. Another small portion of Japanese Ebi Tempura with Singaporean noodles followed this. The signature cocktails supplemented my hearty meal perfectly.
i looove chinese food