Food
RESTAURANT
An Oriental Feast at Far East Find lo mein, pad Thai, General’s chicken and other Asian favorites at longtime Murfreesboro staple
STORY BY BRACKEN MAYO
18 * MARCH 2022 * BOROPULSE.COM
PHOTOS BY SARAH MAYO
F
Oran Snelling also recommended the ar East Restaurant is a bit of a local roasted pork, along with pepper steak and legend. The Asian eatery has stood General Tsu’s. for decades on East Main Street in Most Far East dishes are in the $10–$13 Murfreesboro, just off of the MTSU campus. range; get an order of four egg rolls for only After changes, both in ownership and in $3.50. name, the establishment is now back to Far In addition to all of the Chinese selecEast, and the Chinese favorites remain— tions, Far East now boasts a full Thai menu chow mein, lo mein, General Tsu’s favorite as well, with curries, chicken, pepper steak, larb, pad see ew, pad egg rolls and fried rice. Thai and pho. The delicious beef “They have the best lo mein has a lot of flared curry I’ve ever had,” vors going on—lots of RESTAURANT another Far East fan, mushroom pieces along Far East Nicki, reported earlier with carrots, cabbage, LOCATION in 2022, going as far broccoli, ginger and 1529 E. Main St., Murfreesboro as calling the estabsauce, accented with a PHONE lishment “my favorite strong basil flavor. 615-890-1413 restaurant in MurfreesA recent diner also HOURS boro. The ladies who had high praise for the Monday–Thursday: work there are so sweet! shrimp lo mein, and for 10:30 a.m.–8 p.m.; The food is great and the speedy service. Friday 10:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; comes out fast, and it is Far East offers a very Saturday: 11:30 a.m.– 8:30 p.m. extremely low-priced. extensive menu of tasty Tofu is not on the menu, Asian dishes. So, you PRICES but you can substitute just want some chicken Chicken pad Thai: $12.25; Beef lo mein: $11.95; it for any meat, which I and rice? Well, do you Cashew chicken: $10.95; like to do. However, the want kung pao chicken, 4 chicken or pork egg roll: pork is awesome.” pineapple chicken, ca$3.50; Small order of General Another recent diner shew chicken, sesame Tsu’s favorite chicken: $6.75; said the green curry chicken or lemon Shrimp fried rice: $12.50; Roast pork: $11.95 was a must-try. chicken? For lunch, Far East The General Tsu’s ONLINE offers a steam bar with favorite chicken in a fareastrestaurant.org ready-made dishes. No, sweet sauce was just it’s not an all-you-can-eat buffet, but rather spicy enough. Very tasty. a hot-and-ready cafeteria style section where And the roast pork has earned lots of customers can obtain a quick lunch. Walk positive comments. right in, pick out a few items from the hot “Their General Tsu’s chicken is phebar and you are eating your lunch. nomenal, as is the roasted pork. The pork One lunch customer was quite pleased he is slow-roasted in a Thai sauce,” said a Far could try the roast pork, General’s chicken, East patron, Ron. mixed vegetables, rice, noodles, egg roll, spring roll and sweet and sour chicken off of the bar. “Food was hot and fresh,” he reported. Though another diner observed that “dependent on how busy they are as to how fresh your food will be.” Though many like the speediness of the bar, others suggest ordering from the menu for a slightly more elegant sit-down experience. The Far East dining room is comfortable and welcoming, certainly not what one would call new, fancy or modern; a “quaint” interior, as another customer said. Chan Plaengnam founded Far East and ran it for many years. After the spot had a
The Dish
