TASTE OF THE EAST

Eat Your Way Across The Continent Of Asia Without Leaving The Neighborhood

By ELISSA CHUDWIN / Photos by KATHY TRAN

PRESTON HOLLOW stakes claim to some of Dallas’ most inventive and established Asian restaurants. Whether you’re craving chicken tikka masala, Chinese dumplings or an unconventional sushi roll, our neighborhood has it all. You just have to know where to look.

Roll Your Own Way

Blue Sushi Sake Grill isn’t authentic by any means, but that’s part of its appeal.

Its creativity compensates for its nontraditional approach. Diners choose from hearty entrees like toban-yaki — meat and rice roasted on a clay plate — or quirky vegetarian options like the Thai Hippie Roll with tempura and peanut sauce.

“We try to take traditional techniques, traditional ingredients and repurpose those in a different type of sushi,” executive chef Tony Gentile says.

The Omaha-based chain revamped their menu in early October. Longtime customers shouldn’t panic, Gentile says, but even popular items were reimagined.

“You don’t want to take things off the menu, because people get very upset about it, but you have a big picture to paint without making everyone mad. We took a lot of what we did and elevated it. It’s more vibrant, more colorful.”

7859 Walnut Hill, suite 180 / bluesushisakegrill.com

More than 350 locations across North Texas.

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Dumpling Dynasty

When Shu-Chang “Buck” Kao opened Royal China in 1974, he couldn’t have imagined that it would become the city’s oldest Chinese restaurant.

The retired colonel and diplomat simply wanted to introduce Dallas to his home cuisine.

Four decades later, his son, George, and daughter- in-law, April, run the Preston Royal eatery. The couple expanded its offerings to include modern fare, authentic dishes and a dumpling and noodle bar, where customers watch the “dumpling ladies” cook made-fromscratch specialties.

“Our restaurant is more nontraditional,” April says. “We’re a little more modernized design-wise.”

Royal China hired chef Wei-Gou Cai to perfect its regional entrees, like Ants Climbing Trees, a dish from Sichaun that includes vermicelli, minced pork and chili sauce. General Kao’s chicken and Mongolian beef are longtime staples, and the soup dumplings, xiao long bao, are in high demand.

“It’s comfort food that we would eat ourselves,” April says.

6025 Royal Lane / royalchinadallas.com

Spice Is Nice

Pardeep Sharma couldn’t convince people to try Indian food when he introduced the concept to North Dallas in 1985.

So he launched a lunch buffet for neighbors to try a little bit of everything at India Palace, now tucked inside the Preston Valley shopping center. Once customers realized the upscale restaurant’s cuisine was packed with flavor and fresh ingredients — not heat and grease, they poured in.

“I want to make sure what I do, I do it best,” Sharma says.

Naan, a soft flatbread, is baked fresh daily in a traditional tandoor oven. Although the menu primarily features northern Indian dishes, Sharma’s added a handful from the spicy southern state of Goa.

The restaurateur encourages Indian food novices to try chicken tikka masala first. It’s India Palace’s trademark dish, and the recipe hasn’t been altered in decades.

“If something is working out, you don’t change it,” he says.

12817 Preston Road, suite 105 / indiapalacedallas.com