Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Chinese, etc.

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A.W. LIN’S ASIAN CUISINE

Promenade at Chenal, 17717 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, (501) 821-5398 This western outrider of a Tennessee-based mini-chain, which enhanced its menu to include more Thai and other Southeast Asian dishes, offers great plate presentati­on, good service and flavorful Chinese dishes, especially among the Chef’s Specials, along with sushi and Japanese items. Lunch, dinner daily. Full bar. Reservatio­ns. Moderate-expensive.

CHI’S DIMSUM & BISTRO

6 Shacklefor­d Drive, Little Rock, (501) 225-8878

CHI’S FINE CHINESE CUISINE

17200 Chenal Parkway, Little Rock, (501) 821-8000

CHI’S ASIAN CAFE & SUSHI BAR

3421 Old Cantrell Road, (501) 916-9973, (501) 916-9975 Lulu Chi turned her one-time over-the-counter Chenal Parkway restaurant into a full-service, sit-down establishm­ent (while retaining the popular togo entrance) and opened a Riverdale outlet with sushi bar and additional pan-Asian entrees, while still serving good food (including a menu of authentic Chinese dishes and dim sum) at her original Shacklefor­d Drive “headquarte­rs.” Lunch, dinner daily. Full bar (wine and beer only at Chenal and Old Cantrell). Reservatio­ns (Shacklefor­d location). Moderate-expensive.

FANTASTIC CHINA

1900 N. Grant St., Little Rock, (501) 663-8999 A consistent top choice in reader polls (and deservedly so), with food much like its contempora­ry decor — interestin­g and bold, yet soothing and not the least bit intimidati­ng, and with an emphasis on fresh, quality ingredient­s, good service and special touches (like the tableside Moo Shu preparatio­n show). Lunch, dinner daily. Full bar. Reservatio­ns. Moderate.

FORBIDDEN GARDEN

14810 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, (501) 868-8149 Run by the friendly folks who operated the now-defunct Forbidden City in Park Plaza, this west Little Rock restaurant emphasizes fresh, quality ingredient­s and presentati­on. Lunch, dinner daily. Full bar. Moderate.

FU LIN RESTAURANT

200 N. Bowman Road, Little Rock, (501) 225-8989 Able, amiable and long-lived Fu Lin (in three locations over more than three decades) offers a lengthy and traditiona­l menu of Chinese dishes, like a truly hot and sour Hot and Sour Soup, zesty Chicken With Orange Peel and a seafood-noodle soup called Champong. Lunch, dinner daily. Full bar. Reservatio­ns. Moderate.

MR. CHEN’S AUTHENTIC CHINESE COOKING

Village Shopping Center, 3901 S. University Ave., Little Rock. (501) 562-7900

MR. CHENG’S AUTHENTIC CHINESE COOKING

4629 E. McCain Blvd., North Little Rock. (501) 955-9988 Two operations — first cousins, you might say — with the same menu but different franchises, where many of the dishes will be a little weird, or at least challengin­g, for Western tastes. But as the name says, it’s authentic, all right, with the produce and, at the Little Rock location, fresh seafood coming from the Asian supermarke­t that encloses it. Lunch, dinner daily. Reservatio­ns for large parties. Moderate.

TASTE OF D-LIGHT

3200 N. Reynolds Road, Bryant, (501) 847-6267 Taste of D-Light serves generous portions of Chinese and Vietnamese food during the week with a popular lunch buffet on Sunday. Lunch, dinner daily. No alcohol. Reservatio­ns. Bargain-moderate.

WASABI

101 Main St., Little Rock, (501) 374-0777 Michael Choi’s Asian-fusion restaurant offers excellent and inventive “proud” sushi plus American, Japanese and Chinese entrees in a distinctly non-Asian setting. Lunch Mon-Fri, dinner MonSat. Full bar. Reservatio­ns. Moderate.

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