We had a yen for rice and noodles, so we sent our writers to try out three of the city’s best Asian eating places…
Yorokobi by CJ
51 Huntly Street, AB10 1TH
Yorokobi by CJ is a Japanese and Korean restaurant, tucked away on Huntly Street in the city centre. We tried Yorokobi on a Saturday night. You’d be well advised to make a reservation if you plan to do the same. Offering both sit-in and takeaway service, this is a charming place to take a date or to celebrate a special event.
The menu is impressively varied, with plenty of options for vegetarians and meat eaters alike. It’s also great for families. I took all three of my children with me so we could sample as much of the menu as possible.
We started with edamame beans and then between us, we shared three different sushi rolls, all of which were beautifully presented. We also tried the Bulgoki, a thinly sliced beef dish served with rice, and the Prawn Yakisoba, a noodle dish with vegetables and a peanut sauce.
We all agreed that the food was very fresh and wonderfully flavoursome. When the bill came, we discovered that it was also great value for money!
The Manchurian
136 Causewayend, AB25 3TN
After a diverting satnav excursion, we arrived at The Manchurian on Causewayend with anticipatory appetites. For an early Tuesday night in November, we were very impressed at the number of tables filled, including a couple of big family groups in the bright and spacious room. If you go for lunch, don’t miss the Asian supermarket next door, which is packed with interesting ingredients.
Our choices ranged from dainty starter veggie spring rolls (you get eight though!) and hearty dim sum, to spicy Szechuan squid and roast duck with plum sauce and egg fried rice – all tasty, fresh and plentiful. The cuisine is Cantonese and as such very familiar, but nonetheless moreish for that.
Service was polite and efficient, and although we all left feeling very full, the bill was delightfully light on the pocket.
Travel tip:
Ignore the satnav when it says ‘Make a U-turn’, just turn right and the ample parking is accessed around the back of the building.
Thaikhun
Union Square, AB11 5RG
Our final choice was based on the recommendation of a six year old who insisted Thaikhun do the world’s best prawns. Normally, we’d hesitate to take the opinion of someone quite so obsessed with glitter and unicorns, but Thaikhun turns out to be a bit of a Thai treasure.
On a Monday lunchtime, the restaurant was busy but not crowded, with several small children. Everyone eating seemed to be smiling, which we took as a good sign while perusing the menu and checking out the eclectic decor. We were seated beside a smiling gilt Buddha flanked by a pair of huge wooden carved… well, let’s just call it a shrine to fertility and fortune.
We shared a veggie starter plate, which came loaded with a delicious selection of little dumplings, spring rolls and spicy sweetcorn cakes and three dipping sauces including a punchy sriracha. Thaikhun’s authentic street food approach even managed to turn tofu – that eternal disappointment – into something worth eating!
The Massamam Chicken curry was well spiced, with substantial chunks of chicken breast and potatoes which worked well with the jasmine rice, while Thaikhun’s veggie version of Singapore noodles is my new favourite. Even the carrot slices had been cut into little flower shapes. Just great. We’ll definitely be back for more.