China Grill

This SoBe pioneer is still bold, boisterous, big on a grand scale. Let’s use one dish to illustrate: Sake-marinated chicken was a half-bird crisply grilled and sliced into thick, moist wedges imbued with smoke and spice. A mound of vinegary napa cabbage salad countered with an acidic tang, as did a thin, dark sauce based […]

China Grill

Jeffrey Chodorow’s famed China Grill waited 20 years to land in Fort Lauderdale, but now that it has, this glitzy pan-Asian fusion eatery is attracting the young and beautiful in droves. From the infused saketinis and Poire cocktails to the giant platters of spareribs, moo shu duck, overwrought sushi rolls, mountains of toro and Kobe, […]

Cohiba Brasserie

The name may suggest a smoky bar, but stricter translations are in order: Cohiba means excellent, and that’s exactly what this restaurant is. Sup on Peruvian ahi tuna ceviche and tenderloin-sausage brochette that is served as a spit turning over a real fire, and do it for a reasonable amount of money. Dishes run the […]

Dapur

Dapur is the place to be when the scene over cuisine is what you crave. A chic waitstaff wearing heels and silk shantung sheaths and a dining room as elegant as orchid accents offer visuals that sate an appetite for style. No decorative detail is unattended, right down to backlit Asian antiques, a giant golden […]

Japango

Japango owner Kevin Lee makes it look so easy – but here, any bite is a revelation of flavors you’ve probably never tasted all in one place before. You’ll never again eat plain old tataki without yearning for Lee’s version; it’s like discovering a higher calling. Shallot-crusted tuna scatters crunchy bits of fried shallot over […]

Mai-Kai

The Mai-Kai is easy to love. It’s not that its oversized tiki cocktails and Lobster Tahitienne are anything to write home about. It’s just that you can’t set foot in the place without succumbing to a deep enchantment: You’ve entered a waking dreamworld, part Blue Lagoon, part Monkey’s Paw. Maybe because it’s dark as a […]

RA Sushi Bar Restaurant

This spot is supposed to be known for its sushi, but food seems to take a backseat once the cocktails are served. What? You’ve never tried a lemony-raspberry Blushing Geisha ($20)? Before you get schnockered tasting all the inventive spirits, start out with the lobster spring rolls (yeah, that orange stuff inside is mango, mixed […]

Siam Cuisine

This decades-old Thai spot, one of the first in Broward, still has legions of original fans. It’s expanded to include sushi, with 30 offerings on the sushi menu, but the mainstay is still aromatic Thai dishes. The atmosphere is old-school Thai — teak paneling and carvings all around. Starters include the spring rolls, crispy and […]

Temple Street Eatery

Fast-casual Temple Street Eatery serves modern Asian fare at reasonable prices. The Asian-American comfort food items here are unique — a blend of Asian techniques and ingredients with western dishes. The kimchee quesadillas are a perfect example. Lemongrass grilled chicken is mixed with kimchi, caramelized onion, cheddar jack, gochujang (a pungent Korean condiment) cream, guacamole, […]