Local Eats: Asian Cuisine

Utica is home to a diverse population. From the numerous of immigrants and refugees that migrated to the area, the one thing the city never lacks is the rich culture which spawns from local, regional, and international groups. This culture brings in new traditions, new ideas and most importantly, new recipes.

Mitsuba:

Mitsuba is located on Ellinwood Drive right across from Marquee Cinemas. The restaurant specializes in Japanese cuisine and serves dishes such as ramen, teriyaki dishes, and a combination of more sushi and rolls than you can ever imagine. In addition to Japanese food, they also serve other neighboring delicacies such as Korean and Chinese. While it’s crowded during the evening, Mitsuba is opened for lunch and you are almost guaranteed a seat immediately. The prices are decent, with a single order of rolls starting from $6 and a teriyaki dinner box starting at $16. If you’re looking to go, Mitsuba is especially suitable for college students with 15% discount.

My rating: ⅘

Pho Ever Noodles:

Pho Ever Noodles is located on Seneca Turnpike, just a few blocks down from the entrance to Sangertown Square. This casual restaurant specializes in Vietnamese dishes which can be easily identified. Their most popular dish is a variation of Pho, a Vietnamese noodle soup consisting of broth, rice noodles, a few herbs, and a meat. Each bowl can be pre-made by ordering something from the menu, or customized individually by picking and choosing ingredients from their bar. Pho Ever Noodles is also one of the only locations I have found in the Utica-area that sells bubble tea, and for that reason, I consistently return. The price for a bowl of Pho depends on the type of meat and the add-ons you put into it, but generally starts at $12. For a bowl of soup and noodles, $12 may sound like a lot, but the size really makes up for the cost.

My rating: 4.5/5

Sunny Restaurant Asian Cuisine:

Sunny is located on Albany Street in Downtown Utica. I initially found this place by googling local Thai food and decided to try it out. This family restaurant brings in homemade cuisine from Thailand, Vietnam, China, and Japan, so if you don’t know what you are craving, the menu is sure to satisfy one of your tastes. The standout item on the menu is their Pad Thai, which is the most ordered item on the menu. For a decent sized plate, their Pad Thai is $9.99 which you can take home if you cannot finish. Their extensive dessert menu also highlights the best of the Eastern Asian countries, with sweets such as mochi ice cream and fried banana. Sunny is family-run and is a hidden treasure to all of Utica. I highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for good, home-cooked food.

My rating: ⅘