violetsky: columbus food

The prime Asian restaurant area of Columbus, Ohio, is on Bethel and Henderson Roads in northwest Columbus, spilling onto Reed and Kenny Roads. Any strip mall is fair game for a new tasty restaurant to pop up. My favorites are listed here.

chinese (ask for chinese menu)

+++ Hometown Deli and Carryout: Food tends to be Hong Kong and Taiwan style. Delicious duck. Try everything. Many unusual carryout items. On south side of Bethel Rd, near 315, in large outparcel in front of MicroCenter.
+++ Happy Dragons: Plain atmosphere. Nice folks. Great food, recommended by friends born in Hunan province. NW corner of Morse and Karl.
+++ Spring of China Pung Mei: Classier atmosphere. On Reed just south of Henderson.
+++ Pacific Gourmet: Good crispy chicken. Good soups. On the southeast corner of Kenny and Henderson.

chinese with dim sum (or ask for chinese menu)

++ Fortune Chinese: Dim sum everyday from menu, but with carts on weekend. On Olentangy River Rd just north of Ackerman and Dodridge.
++ Sun Tong Luck: Carryout with tables. About six dim sum items available anytime! Very good, not greasy. Also soups and noodles and standard Chinese food. On northeast corner of Sawmill and Bethel, at Bethel end of Carriage Place shopping center.
++ Panda Inn: Saturday and Sunday lunch dim sum with carts. Very good, not greasy. I didn't like the weekday lunch menu specials that are overly Americanized Chinese. On Bethel, west of Godown, in Bethel Center.
++ Lee Garden: Saturday and Sunday lunch dim sum is good. On Sawmill Rd just south of 270.
+ Imperial Garden: Saturday and Sunday lunch dim sum buffet is added to their usual lunch buffet, but they have too much food out to keep it all fresh. Dinner offers great (and fresh) dishes on the authentic Chinese menu. On north side of Bethel Rd between Riverside/33 and Sawmill.

chinese buffet for americans

++ Hong Kong Buffet: On the southwest corner of Reed and Henderson.

bubble tea

+++ The one on Bethel across from Microcenter: The best grape iced tea. On the north side of Bethel, near 315, across from MicroCenter.
+++ Pochi Tea Station: Campus provides the most attraction for a wide variety of bubble teas, related drinks, plus light food items. On High St around 19th (north end of OSU campus), a few steps underground.
+++ Bubble Tea Zone: Many drink choices. Northwest corner of On Olentangy River Road and Ackerman in plaza that has DQ and Applebees.
+++ The one in the North Market: Very good. Has a health-oriented focus with fresh juices. Between Downtown and the Short North.
++ Zen Cha: Asian tea done with stylish atmosphere. Bubble tea has a limited selection of flavors, but there are many other specialty hot teas to relax with.

japanese

Kikyo seems the most authentic, but all are very good.

vietnamese

+++ China Jade: Down home. Order from last two pages of menu, full of many tasty dishes. On northeast corner of 161 and Busch Blvd.
+++ Ha Long Bay: Classier. Includes seafood. Northwest corner of Lazelle and Sancus; south of Polaris shopping area. Review

thai

++ Thai Orchid: Quality operation, loved by everyone, though most dishes are quite spicy unless you ask for mild. On Sawmill Rd a mile north of 270.
++ Thai Taste: Comparable to Thai Orchid. On west side of Kenny, in plaza, a bit south of Henderson.
+ Ho Toy: Chinese plus many Thai dishes. Look for old-school landmark neon sign downtown, at corner of High and State.
+ Siam Express: Order off the menu not the ready-to-go Chinese. Downtown in Columbus Convention Center, northeast of the corner of High St and Nationwide Blvd.
+ Siam: On Bethel Rd in Olentangy Plaza with MicroCenter.

korean

+++ Min-Ga: Great soups. North side of Bethel, near 315, opposite from Olentangy Plaza and MicroCenter.
++ Silla: Good Korean plus Japanese and Sushi items. On the northwest corner of Reed and Henderson, next to Sears Hardware.
++ The free-standing building on Reed: Also has Japanese items. On Reed Rd just south of Henderson.

indonesian

++ Taste of Bali: Picture menu with authentic choices; not like Chinese food, but not weird either. On Bethel Rd near Sawmill Rd in Carriage Place.

indian vegetarian

++ The one near MicroCenter: Very tasty, well prepared food including thali, dosa, and uthapum; good lunch buffet. Has recently changred owners and name. On north side of Bethel, near 315, across from MicroCenter.

mexican

+++ Las Margaritas: Everything is delicious. At the northwest corner of Henderson and Reed. Other locations might differ.
++ La Casita: Authentic. In the orange building, southeast of Bethel and Godown.
++ Chile Verde Cafe: Not mexican but perhaps "new mexican". Many creative dishes. Many dishes are quite spicy. Facing Sawmill in Carriage Place just north of Bethel.
+ El Vaquero: Only the location on 33/Riverside between Lane Ave and Fifth Ave.

new fusion style

++ Shoku: Asian fusion in hip atmosphere. On Grandview Ave.
++ Haiku: Asian fusion in hip atmosphere. On High St in the Short North.

other special places

++ Krema Nut Company: The best peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. In Columbus Convention Center and on Goodale in Grandview.
++ Aladdin's: Tasty mediterranean food. Many vegetarian dishes. Low prices. Many locations.
+ Buffalo Wild Wings (BW3): Not only great buffalo wings but tasty burgers too. Used to be a college shop, but now is a sports bar. Many locations.
Skyline Chili: Cincinnati-style chili served over spaghetti. Many locations.
White Castle: Greasy steamed small burgers, some people like 'em for some reason. Don't eat more than two until you are sure your body can handle it. Many locations.