Ate here with a co-worker for dinner. Sat at the bar and ordered a bunch of rolls. Honestly I felt it was hit or miss because I didn't really know what the rolls would look like. Some places have pictures which help me decide what to get. The food turned out to be good but not great. The chef seemed skilled but disengaged, almost robotic even after I attempted to start conversation a few times. The sushi bar had the usual display for the ingredients but these were placed in unflattering plastic bins and bags. The price was average, but the place was also average. Lots of other places to try before I consider coming back here.
(3)
Scott B.
Avoid!! Yelp really let me down this time, this is NOT a 3-star-plus place! We just had a really bad experience taking a chance while in Silver Spring. Ok sushi, but the portion was small, and the rainbow roll was missing the yellowtail. We ordered the first special soup, the beef noodle soup which the waiter told us was spicy-- not even slightly, and it was completely meh. The killer was the kung pao scallops, one of my standard tests, and it was perhaps the worst I have ever, ever had, they didn't even fry it with chili's. Honestly, and I can't believe I'm saying this, we would have been better off next door at red lobster.
(2)
Santia D.
I've only been here for lunch. You get 2 rolls for 7.95$ & 3 rolls for 10$ you can't beat that.
(4)
Richard D.
It was good. Nothing bad to say. You got a great size portion for the price, especially at lunch. Appetizers were good, Sushi was good.
(4)
Angela C.
To be honest I didn't have good impression of the place, smelly napkins, maybe poorly washed. About the service I can say it is not so bad. Sushi was not very fresh, was very salty, seaweed salad was the worst I've ever eaten.
(2)
Starr C.
Despite how suspicious I was of an Asian cuisine establishment with the word "Asian" in its name, I really enjoyed myself here a few months ago. I was in downtown Silver Spring with my boyfriend and we wanted to try a new place, since I usually am a creature of habit. When we found Asian Bistro, around the corner from where the main area of restaurants is, it didn't really look very much like an Asian restaurant. It was very bright and open, as opposed to the more intimate settings I'm more accustomed to. (Slightly racist translation I was told: "It's for white people." Don't shoot the messenger!) But other than that, I liked the interior. Bright and open was perfect for a late lunch and there was a fun theme inside also. SERVICE-- Our waitress was pretty nice to us, and I think it always helps when we're able to speak Chinese to our servers. (Although the staff mostly spoke Cantonese, and we speak Mandarin.) Standard service, nothing to complain or rave about. FOOD-- While I would not call this place authentic at all, as it caters to a non-Chinese crowd (I think we were the only Chinese customers at the time), I think we made good choices and that's why we had such a good meal. I ordered the bao bao (pu-pu) platter to start us off, and it was served on a plate instead of the little platform (with fire!) that I'm used to, but everything tasted fantastic. 2 of everything, so perfect for sharing with another person. This isn't very authentic, but then we ordered crispy eggplant and sizzling Mongolian beef. BOTH WERE DELICIOUS. The eggplant was so crisp on the outside and a delicious mess on the inside. A bit of a kick and so flavorful. The beef, OH the beef. I don't normally like beef much but this was delicious. Tender, thin slices with this delicious marinade that came out steaming and sizzling to our table. *mouth watering* Also, their sushi selection looks great and fresh, although we didn't sample any that day. Despite my skepticism, I had a pretty fantastic meal, and I would definitely come back for more.
(4)
Mark S.
Updating my review. For americanized chinese food. this place is pretty decent. the lunch specials are actually around $6 something. it's not bad at all. you get an entree, spring roll and a small salad. that's to go too. i like how they have non-fried versions (steamed) of some of the more popular dishes. makes it a bit healthier. also they don't charge extra for brown rice substitute.
(4)
A V.
This place did me well. I'm not a menu reader, and will typically tell the server what I want. Nine times out of ten, they have something like what I'm describing and when it comes out, everyone's happy (them and me). So, this time I ordered the chicken lo mein after seeing a large plate on my dining neighbor's table. It was divine. I thought the large plate would be too much. It was. But I'm okay w/ leftovers. Moving on...as I'm knee-deep in a convo w/my friend, a little boy interrupts me to ask me what I'm eating. Apparently, he orders like me. :) He ordered the same dish and loved it. Great minds... Other notes: Our server, Jonathan, was very nice, personable and quick. The menu can be like Cheesecake Factory's--too many options! But, if you like to read menus and order that way, by all means....Also, I looked around and while it wasn't 5-star dining by any stretch, it was perfectly fine--clean, tables bussed, servers in tucked shirts and neat appearance... I will go back again. Slurp...
(4)
Sheri L.
This place is fast, and it's usually packed during the week for lunch. I work right across the street, so I've tried it a few times. Each time, the food and /or service is lacking. With all the choices in this area, why settle for basic Chinese and average sushi? I ordered a Bento box, this last visit, and it does not come with rice. Make sure to ask for rice if you go to AB. Also, the teriyaki chicken was dry, cut in strips and had no hint of flavor. I've had better at the mall fast food court. I'm not a big fan, so I don't expect that I'll visit this place again. Mediocore Chinese at best, and below average sushi
(2)
Asya T.
Really like this place. I've been here quite often and food is always good and the variety is quite large. Prices are not very high. For $10-12 you can get a large entree, fish dishes are more expensive though - around $15. Stuff is very friendly and quick. I would highly recommend this place to visit in Silver Spring.
(5)
Soca M.
The food was decent n the service was great. The prices are reasonable. I had e spicy crunch tuna to start and the bento box as my entree. Surprisingly, the box came with some sushi. I gave it to my cuz. We had a $25 bottle of wine that cost $10 at the store, but what can ya do.
(3)
Trevor W.
Very good food and the extensive menu really should have something for just about everyone! Also the service was very fast which I very much appreciated! I will be going back often!
(5)
Sana J.
Pretty good for your average Chinese food spot! Came here for a late lunch a few days ago and got their Hunan chicken and drunken noodles. Loved the Hunan chicken and the drunken noodles were interesting (but in a good way!) because they used long rice noodles instead of the regular wide noodles. And for the price, we'll definitely be coming back again.
(4)
Devida N.
Popular asian cusine in downtown Silver Spring. Very good service, ok food, no delivery but prompt take out service. Great lunch special!
(3)
Brian G.
Ok, it's in a strip mall, but at least it's an historic strip mall. The wait staff are attentive - and quirky. The food is great - Americanized pan asian. I'm sure there are those out there that scoff at the idea of being able to order sushi and general tso's chicken from the same menu but to them I say, "get over it, this is the suburbs."
(4)
Sara M.
Had an absolutely terrible time here. The food was decent, but the service was absolutely contemptible. The waitstaff was slow and unresponsive. On one occasion, my dinner companion ordered two beers during dinner. The waitress never showed up with the second beer. We flagged down a different waiter and asked again, and that waiter promptly brought over the requested beer. When we received the check, it listed three beers. We pointed out the mistake and our waitress (who never brought us that second beer) insisted that there had indeed been three beers - and that she'd brought over the requested beer! She called over the manager, who said that our waitress wouldn't lie and there MUST have been three beers. We pointed at the two (not three!) empty glasses and they were unmoved. They pretty much accused us of trying to scam them out of a $5 glass of beer - which is rather crazy when we were having a $50+ meal! Eventually, the manager took the extra beer off our bill, but she made it quite clear that she didn't believe us and just wanted to appease us so we'd leave. It was incredibly uncomfortable, and all of the people at surrounding tables were staring at us like we were horrible people. We now refer to this place as the "accusation bistro" and will never return. I'm sure they don't want low-class beer thieves in there anyway.
(2)
Chris A.
Went here once with some friends after a trip through DTSS. For a restaurant titled "Asian Restaurant", the food is actually really good. My wife loved the sushi she got and the more traditional Chinese food options I've tried I've liked. I think it's the small touches that put this place over the top. I like the selection of tropical/tiki drinks and have had a few zombies here. I also like the coffee brandy that they bring with the check. If you like sushi or good Chinese food, it's worth a trip.
(4)
Dan F.
Asian Bistro doesn't have the best decor or the best sushi in the world, but I absolutely love Asian Bistro for exactly what it is. Asian Bistro has solid sushi with fresh fish. For lunch, you can get two maki rolls for $7.75 or three for $9.95. If you spend a little more for the specialty rolls, all the better. White Fish Tempura is my favorite. Runners up: Crunchy Tuna Hidden Dragon and First Sight of Love Maki. They also have an entire Chinese menu here (I enjoy the vegi-chicken lettuce cups). It's a great place for those looking for meat substitutes, plus the hot and sour soup doesn't have pork. Their service is very attentive and speedy. As for the decor, it's not where I'd take someone on a first date, but it's a great place to meet someone for lunch, a great quick dinner before an evening at the movies, or a great place to just satisfy your craving for sushi.
(4)
Brian F.
I ordered take out from this place. They stapled the bag closed and did not include napkins, chop sticks, silverware, or even a fortune cookie. I ordered brown rice, they gave me white rice. The food itself was below mediocre, the side sauce of hoi sin was watered down to where it looked like a runny mess. The steamed wrappers were crumpled and stuck altogether. Verdict = "AVOID".
I usually like this place. The food usually is above average, fresh and tasty and my sushi go to spot in silver spring. Today however, the sushi was just completely underwhelming. The fried rice tasted like carry out Chinese food. My niece has a developing palate and she stopped eating her California roll after her mouth started itching. She made the carryout reference. I agreed. Pull it together Asian Bistro! It used to be lots better.
(2)
May-lissa B.
It's been a while since I've been here. But while on vacation I wanted to visit my favorite sushi place. Still as good as I remember! Fast service and good price. The only change is that the cutie that used to work there 2 years ago is gone :(
(5)
E S.
Surprisingly good sushi in Silver Spring. Went to dinner with friends and we just shared several maki rolls. All in all, if I am in Silver Spring again sometime soon, I'd like to return and sample some other things. Props on their seaweed salad, I thought it was very good. Great service, we arrived on the late side on a Saturday night probably after 8pm, we were seated and eating within 15 minutes. It is also worth to point out that they have a very varied menu for those picky eaters in your party!
(4)
Katelyn K.
Living near downtown Silver Spring, my boyfriend and I have passed the Asian Bistro Cafe a number of times... but finally decided to try it. Not bad overall, but I won't become my replacement Chinese restaurant. The decor is nice, and the prices a bit high, but the thing that really got to me was how close together the tables were. There was a couple behind on their first date, and not only were we close enough to hear the whole conversation, I could hear the guy chewing... EWW! Anyway, I had the miso soup (which was superb), the spicy salmon and Philadelphia rolls. They were pretty standard, the Philly rolls however had more cream cheese than usual, which is fine by me, but it was mildly overpowering of the salmon. My boyfriend had the Mongolian Beef, which was also pretty good, however, it had too much black pepper (that I would have thought it unpalatable, if it weren't for the price paid for it).
(4)
Tara I.
Yummy menu. Variety of offerings. I like vegetarian asian food and this place has good options. You can also get brown rice without an additional charge. Lunch time specials with speedy service. And they will bring little candy bars at the end of a meal.
(4)
jax g.
they need an outside seating area... the menu is good for vegetarians but expensive for all... service sometimes slow and drinks sub-par. for veggie entrees, lots of good delicious stuff. bring your wallet.
(3)
Nicole B.
My husband and I went here last week and were impressed. The food was good and the waitstaff was very attentive. They have a variety of Asian style dishes. The prices are good and the setting was decent. The staff was even wiping all parts of chairs to make sure every thing was clean. I will come back here next time I visit.
(5)
Stephanie W.
Since November when I first reviewed Asian Bistro, I have not only been home (Michigan), where the sushi is bigger, fresher and better, but I have discovered my new love, Maki Maki in Bethesda on Wisconsin Ave. The last time I went to Asian Bistro will be the last time I go there for sushi. It's edible. But after having Maki Maki, that's about all it is, is edible. Also, when you sit at the sushi bar, you have to flag waiters down to get any kind of service. However they do have other options of the non raw fish variety that are good. Not crave-able, but options that will do.
(2)
Dana G.
I like this place. We've been there a bunch of times now, and every entree we've ordered has been very good. I've had a couple of not so good appetizers, and decided that their fryer techniques need improvement...so I don't get the cream cheese wontons and wind up having a healthier meal, so I forgive! The spring rolls are fine, I wouldn't bother ordering them again. But the moo goo gai pan is actually rich and flavorful (hard to find with that dish!), and the seafood dishes and chicken dishes we've tried have all been very good! The ambiance isn't much, very casual, but perfectly pleasant.
(4)
Thomas W.
I seldom go to Asian restaurants where I do not see any other Asians in the restaurant. I wanted to try this place because of its proximity to the AFI Theatre, and because it is usually filled. The food was okay, but tries to hard to serve Japanese, and Chinese food. The wonton soup was the older, pork filled wontons. The soup was the better part of my meal. The Hunan Shrimp was of medium heat, but the portion was tiny along with Japanese lettuce salad. The portions are tiny for the price. I need to try the sushi another time, but am not anxious to return.
(2)
Johnny A.
Decent Chinese food at a reasonable price, fast lunch service and attentive servers.
(3)
Yue C.
I am Chinese and I am from LA and have tried all kind of authentic Chinese food, so I am super picky when it comes to Chinese food. Before I came to Asian Bistro, I expected an Americanized Chinese restaurant, but they are Americanized beyond my expectation!! First of all, the menu is written in English only, they didn't even bother trying to translate the menu into Chinese. This was a huge turnoff for me. The price is also more expensive than the average Chinese food in LA. I ordered the pork stir-fried yakisoba and my hubby ordered the orange chicken. Both of our dishes costed $11.95 (for dinner), with tax and tips the total came down to $28. I can get two entrees, an appetizer and a bowl of soup with the same amount of money in the Chinese restaurants in LA. But again, this is Maryland... To be fair, our food was decent. The food came out really fast, we only waited for like 5 minutes. I probably won't come back again because I can get cheaper and more authentic Chinese food in Wheaton.
(3)
Darjeeling T.
I'm a sucker for amazing sushi--and I have never been disappointed at Asian Bistro. I haven't tried any of the Chinese dishes so I can't speak about them, but anything I try from the sushi menu is generally very fresh, very tasty, and very reasonably priced. Also, I'm not a big drinker, but friends who do drink do tend to enjoy the myriad of cocktails they have. The ambience is lacking, sure. And the waitstaff is occasionally...distracted. But it's a great location, I've never had to wait for a table, and what it lacks in decor and fabulosity, it more than makes up for in its sushi. Definitely my go-to for sushi in the SS area.
(4)
Ken M.
Not a big fun of this place. To be fair, I've tried this place a few times, waiting for a good surprise to come. It didn't unfortunately. So far I've tried an eel rice bowl, noodles with meat sauce, pad thai, and Vietnamese iced coffee. They were quite disappointing. Even worse, the service was not good (missing silverware, wrong orders,,,). I haven't tried this place for a drink, though I'm not so motivated to try for the "karaoke-style" music they usually play. Not recommend.
Dont ever go there. I went late at night on a date..and the food tasted as if it was scrapped from the bottom of the pot.
(1)
Stephanie G.
It took me a long time to get here, even though I work in the area. It should have taken me longer. I eat a lot of sushi..and I know good when I have it. This was NOT good. This place on a sunday afternoon just gave me the creeps. Lackluster service, Muzak, and the blandest yellowtail and salmon skin roll ever...even though the salmon skin roll was covered in sauce. I don't think I've ever had fish so FLAVORLESS! I had to sniff it to make sure that it wasn't gonna kill me before I tasted it. Then after tasting 2 pieces of nigiri, the chef opened the door of the case where all his fish for sushi was. The smell made me decide it was time to go without eating one bite more. One look at the regular menu also told me something. You can't do all those types of food well. I can't comment on the other stuff, but I can tell you to skip the sushi in this place.. and as far as the service goes...skip that too. I'm in downtown silver spring all the time... There are much better choices. Trust me on this one... I won't be back.
(1)
Tiffany M.
We had to live in the Silver Spring area for about 5 months while my husband was at Walter Reed. Anyway, living out of hotel meant we had to eat out a lot and this place was definitely the one we frequented the most, for both dine-in and carry-out. We all loved the food here (me, my husband and several of his friends who also ended up at WR). Its Asian Fusion style menu is FULL of a variety of options and the meats they use are top notch (not super fatty like many other Asian places with similar price points). The staff is extremely friendly, the service is fast and efficient and the prices are great for what you get! If you like Asian food I definitely recommend this place!
(5)
Natasha S.
I tried this place out when it first opened. Hoping I would be impressed. I was far from being impressed. In fact, 5-6 years later I can't remember a single thing I liked from here. My mother being Chinese would not stop venting about the quality and taste of every dish ordered. It was a waste of time and we haven't been back since. I hope it has improved since then. It still seems to be around, and I still see people in and out.
(2)
Tami B.
I usually eat seafood here. The shrimp and scallops in garlic sauce comes in an edible bowl the texture of fortune cookie but not sweet. Last week I ordered soft-shell crab tempura. It came with one crab and lots of vegetable tempura. I ordered brown rice, which was delicious. All the tempura were delicious. In addition to the one crab, there were tempura sweet potato, broccoli, and others I've forgotten. This comes with miso, which I don't like, so gave to a companion. It also comes with a small salad. Sorry to say, the salad, which was in a tiny bowl, consisted of old-looking chopped iceberg, some of which was turning brown on the edges. The salad dressing was good. My companions got sushi, which was fresh and delicious. BTW, if you order takeout, it can be hard to find parking closer than the garage. The staff will bring your order out to your car when you double-park and call them.
(4)
Angela M.
Maybe not the best time to be reviewing restaurants given my recent nasal passage revamping (deviated septum, enlarged turbinates, you name it - it was up there blocking my airway) but I'm mostly able to breathe and taste now. I'm a little surprised that I've never been here before - maybe the name was a bit too generic. Asian bistro - what kind of Asian food do they mean now? Well, Chinese, Japanese, Dirtyknees, Thai are a few that come to mind. I got the Thai tea; almost 3 bills for a glass, but a solid showing, and a normal staple, the sesame chicken. The best thing is, now I have always wanted to be able to order Chinese food this way because I'm not big on the fried and the breading, is that you can order all the favorites light sauteed instead of fried. Big bonus points - people like me, are bells and whistles going off in your brain? Wonderful. I'm happy. I just remembered, I did order something fried, but that's because of my dominant blonde gene expression. I meant to get the non-fried cool summer rolls (absent from their menu, I think) and got the Spring rolls, which were still tasty even though I had to chop them up with a knife and fork to eat them. Remember, I mentioned surgery? I've been eating a lot of Trader Joe's and take out this week, so it was nice to finally be able to leave the house. Our waitress should play poker - what a face. The other lady that wasn't our waitress was so friendly and had the most psychedelic fruity bra on that we could see through her white shirt clear across the restaurant. We had some interesting eye candy, er, an eyeful of a belly dancer walk by a couple times and though we were short of a midget, there was some diverse people watching through the windows at downtown Silver Spring. Pun intended....
(3)
Khadish F.
This place is definitely a local favorite! It's solid Chinese with amazing service. The shrimp tempura rolls NEVER disappoint! Great for sushi and entrees, I suggest you check them out!
(4)
Diana C.
Ah, Accusation Bistro, as Sara M. and I call it. I've been here a few times. The Chinese food is ok, pretty standard fare. The sushi is good (I'll get to that more in a minute). The service? HORRIFIC. During one occasion, I ordered two beers, but because of the huge lags in service, the overlap in servers coming to our table, and the general incompetence, they tried to charge me for three beers (though there were clearly only two bottles on the table, since they were too lazy to remove the bottles during our meal). They gave me a very hard time and accused me of trying to cheat them out of a $5 bottle of beer, before finally relenting and removing the extra from the final bill. I was aghast at this, especially coming from a manager, and after our bill between myself and my two companions was well over $50. Way to guarantee that I'll never go here again, thank you. However, I will say that the one time I did sit at the sushi bar and dealt only with the sushi maker and not any of the idiotic wait staff, I had a fantastic meal and a really nice time. He was actually very good, recommended a nice sake, and was very friendly.
I wanted Udon noodle soup. I should have gone the extra 6 miles and fifteen bucks for Bethesda's Raku. But no, I went to Asian Bistro. Ooopsy daisy. You stupid stupid man. I broke a cardinal rule of dining. Any restaurant with more than 50 dishes and three different cuisines is, by necessity, crap. Service was piecemeal. The music was suited for an assisted living lounge. Oh, and the food, did I mention it was gross? I feel weird. I hate myself.
(2)
Jo A.
VEGAN HEAVEN!!!!! This place is incredible for many reasons. Great service, scrumptious food, outrageously huge portions, cheap prices. AND they have the best Asian vegan menu I've seen. Their "chicken" dishes are made out of soy protein, their "shrimp" is made out of white yams, and it goes on and on for their duck dishes too. My non-vegan friends loved their dishes and we seriously could not stop raving about what an awesome dinner we had. Please come here all you vegans and/or non-vegans. This place is AMAZING!!
(5)
Matthew B.
My girlfriend stumbled upon this place before I moved up here, and we've been either going to the restaurant or taking-out at least two or three times a month ever since. I don't think we've had anything there we didn't like. The egg drop soup is some of the best I've had. I typically order either Sesame Chicken or Sweet & Sour Chicken, both of which are delicious. We also get Hunan Beef with some regularity (also good). Recently, my girlfriend has been ordering Mu Shu Pork, which is becoming a favorite of ours. Perhaps the most impressive fact about this place is the quality of their sushi. I haven't found many Chinese restaurants that do both traditional (American-style) Chinese food AND sushi well, but this place does. We've had several of the sushi rolls -- the non-special rolls are actually some of the best, though we've always enjoyed the specialty rolls we've ordered -- and I've had different sashimi and sushi combo dishes. It's all been quite good -- certainly not the best sushi out there, but much better than you'd think it would be, especially for the price. Parking out in front of the restaurant is a nightmare, but as long as you're just picking up, you can usually park anywhere for a minute or two to run in and out. Otherwise, definitely use the garages in the area, which are free in the evenings and on the weekends.
(4)
Caitlin A.
Love the food! Sushi is so fresh and well put together!! I just wish they would deliever. But they have a compnay that charges 17 dollars per order. But when you don't have a car, that's a bit too pricey
(4)
B Y.
Fabulous Chinese food and sushi. Great service, clean restaurant, friendly staff. We had a great time, the food was very fresh. The tuna sushi was tender and moist. The eel maki was great too. Presentation was excellent. Many times, at chinese restaurants the ambience and hygiene are less than perfect. But we felt this was on par with most western type restaurants on this point. The variety was great, and they really catered to the kids. Will be going again soon. thx. Pricing was very fair for all items. Menu is extensive with options to to suit most all palates.
(5)
Henry M.
At lunch, the maki and the iced-coffee were lame enough that I won't be going back unless I'm dragged by co-workers again.
(2)
Boo L.
The food here was really good. The service we experienced was also satisfactory and our food arrived quicker than expected and was piping hot. Reasonably priced.
(4)
Jane Y.
They have great lunch specials. I usually get their sashimi lunch combo that comes with a roll and 12 pieces of sashimi. Their cuts of sashimi are generous and their california roll can't be beat. It's great!
(4)
Ashley F.
Some of the best chinese food I've had in a looooong time! Everything was delicious and fresh and every single person that worked there was so delightfully courteous and nice. I'll definitely be going back to try their sushi, which looked delectable. Bonus: they offer white AND brown rice! You don't find that too often in a place like this.
(4)
Juah F.
I really like Asian Bistro because the service is great. As soon as you walk in, you're kind of attacked by kindness and as you leave, guess what? You're attacked by their kindness once again. It's great. I love it because they actually smile when they attack. Once again, this restaurant was recommended by one of my friends...who shall remain nameless, but happens to stalk me on Yelp. ;-) When she told me their orange chicken was good, I was skeptical because I am slightly addicted to Panda's one. Although I felt like I was cheating on my prior orange chicken love, I have to admit...I kind of like Asian Bistro's. Their portions are quite large. They have healthy options for those who want to eat healthy Chinese food...which I didn't think really existed (well in the Americanized version of Chinese food at least). Asian Bistro also has so many vegetarian options! I kind of am anti-veg, but theirs is not bad at all. Their sushi is also quite good. One thing my friend steered me away from was ordering any alcoholic drinks from there. Never had any, so won't recommend any drinks or steer you away. Anyway there are plenty of other places around to satisfy that kind of thirst. =) PS: Their mints are actual chocolates like Twix and Snickers. Love it! PPS: Reasons it's a three star: The food is kind of taken away too early and the servers kind of attack you with customer service. After a while, you might need to find another place to just lounge around idly.
(3)
John G.
The place is just down the road from the Hilton Hotel I stay at on the way to the Metro station. Stopped in for dinner one evening. A mix of Japanese, Thai and Chinese. The menu is quite extensive covering all the bases. I opted for the Japanese sushi at the counter. Service was ok, but lacked coming back to check on me and to refill my water. I got the California roll, the tempura roll, and the dragon roll. All were done fine, but it seemed they were a little on the small size, and not bursting with flavor. Anyway, its a good place for a basic meal, and at reasonable prices.
(3)
Victoria B.
Disgusting! I got the garlic chicken and it smelled really strange. The taste was... nearly medicinal, not the mention the fact that the dish had nearly 3 cups of julienne carrots and tiny strips and chicken. The rice and spring rolls were nice, but I doubt they were hard to mess up in the first place. I've never had bad Asian food before, so it was baffling! Don't eat here!!
(1)
Michael S.
I'm writing this aware that for non vegetarians there are probably many more cheaper 'more authentic' Chinese restaurants. But for a vegetarian like myself, this place rules. They have every type of imitation meat in every type of sauce and it tastes great, especially the sweet and sour shrimp. When I crave Chinese food, this is where I will get my fix!.
(5)
Julie O.
I heart their sushi, which you can get made with brown rice which gets an extra star! Plus instead of fortune cookies they give mini chocolate bars another star!
(5)
Greg W.
Asian Bistro is tops for lunch in Solver Spring, it's convenient location is just the beginning. While most of my work associates rave about their sushi, I do not partake in the raw stuff. I do however, feast on their other entrees, the Sweet & Sour, General Tso's, Sesame, and Kung Pao dishes are all spectacular. and they are even offered in Sauteed Lite versions, with non-fried meats. To top things off, their lunch special's are amazing. Ranging from $6.95 to $7.95 you'll get your money's worth, as each dish comes with a mini salad and spring roll, not to mention the generously sized main portion of food. The appetizers are also worth checking out, pot-stickers and garlic green beans are both out of this world. Service is quick too, with the one server constantly making sure your glass of water is filled to the brim. Highly recommend for a lunch outing!!! p.s. Coco is the best!
(5)
Dana F.
Great quality sushi, friendly service, reasonable prices and lots of options! It's an awesome place for vegetarians and I especially appreciate the lighter entrees and how they're actually good. Ambiance isn't mind-blowing, but it's comfortable and clean and the food is rockin'. The Chinese is good, the Thai and sushi dishes are best, I think. Definitely a good call!
(4)
Jennifer D.
I've come here for lunch a couple times, and have tried both the sushi and the Chinese dishes. I thought both were good, and the prices were fair, especially the lunch specials. I also like that they offer lighter/lower fat options of some of the Chinese dishes. I didn't have to wait long for my takeout order, so it's good for days when you don't have a lot of time to spend getting lunch.
(4)
Michael C.
Sushi was great but bug problem noted in other review scares the heck out of me. Not acceptable in my book.
(4)
Snow T.
They have great mock meat. Lots of vegan options. Right in the downtown shopping area. A little to expensive to be my weekly Chinese place, but it was really good.
(5)
Adriana W.
I LOVE this place! Great sushi, and a wide selection of asian entrees. Being a vegetarian, this place devotes a huge section of their menu to vegetarian options, like Peking Duck or Orange Chicken (meatless of course). The staff is always really friendly. It's my go to place in the area for sushi and anything Chinese or Japanese. Highly recommended!
(5)
Lauren R.
Ok we went for sushi and bottom line i didn't like it at all but my boyfriend thought it was pretty good. The presentation was blah, they didn't have too many creative rolls and they were kind of fishy tasting to me. This is probably the worst sushi I have ever had, besides maybe all you can eat sushi. I am giving it three stars since the service was very good, the ambiance was decent, and I didn't try the food (only sushi). I will try the food but I definitely will not order sushi again! If you want sushi I would recommend trying a place that actually specializes in sushi!
(3)
Kelly L.
This place deserves a solid 4 stars. I stopped in for lunch when I was craving some fake Chinese food. They have a nice lunch combo and you can get it with items that are not listed you just need to ask. The food was good, really good. They asked me if I wanted it spicy and when I got the food it was spicy. The fried rice could've been better, but the orange chicken was fantastic and was the kung pao chicken (I stole some off the BF's plate, ok I stole a lot). It is more than an ample amount of food. If you are there for lunch the service was fast. The wait staff was very attentive. My water glass was always full. You can pretty much stop any wait staff to take your order, too. I liked it and now I think I am going to get it for dinner.
(4)
Fred v.
I was invited by some coworkers to come here for sushi and I thought "why not?" I'm not a sushi veteran so I don't have a lot to compare against, but I had a combination of sushi rolls and sashimi. The rolls were very tasty and interesting (I think salmon?) The sashimi was interesting and complex tasting, but I suppose that's normal. Overall it was a good value (though I didn't have to pay) and a good experience. Would I go back? Sure, but I'd like to try some other sushi places first.
(3)
N. E.
Great food, that is all that needs said. Just try it out.
(4)
Joe H.
Excellently priced vegetarian lunch specials that are extremely tasty and very filling. Love that they offer brown rice as well. My favorite is the vegetarian Kung Pao chicken. A wonderful sauce. I've only had dinner there once and that was a clunker of an experience. I prefer take out.
(4)
Jamie S.
Very disappointing the last few times:( Must find us a new take-out...
(3)
blowfly x.
Good sushi, good prices, good service. Also good Thai dishes - they have an excellent red curry with shrimp. Oddly, however, the Chinese dishes we had have been AWFUL, and I think they are primarily a Chinese restaurant. We had a Chinese beef dish, can't remember the exact name, but the beef was so tough it didn't break down with chewing. So we go for the sushi and Thai and skip the Chinese.
(3)
Ruth N.
This is one of our favorite places to grab a casual bite to eat together. Conveniently located by the Panera at the corner of Colesville and Georgia Ave., it is yummy, fast, comfy and cute inside. It is also a decent people watching spot, with all the windows. Vegetarians who like fake meats will find a wide variety to pick from here. The tofu veggie-chicken soup is a favorite when I have a crummy tummy, too. Inside is clean, as are one-seater bathrooms. Mixed drinks come in all sorts of crazy glasses with equally entertaining names. Music is cheesy but not intrusive. I have found the staff to be very attentive and friendly on every visit and we've been eating here for years now. Diet coke is plentiful, so my sweetie is happy. If you order carry out they will run it out for you to the little parking lot outside, and even run your credit card in and back. This is handy on weekend nights when that lot is full and illegally parked cars are quickly ticketed. Note that metered parking immediately out front is more expensive, so park in the garage for the galleria just a few hundred feet away or walk up the hill from the metro station. That said, handicapped parking is right out front in that lot and the restaurant as well as the restroom are accessible. As a side note, I don't like sushi so I can't evaluate that here.
(4)
Meow W.
spicy crab roll is my fave! yum! its like a kung fu party in your mouth! the miso soup is good and the spring rolls are fab! good service too!
(4)
Peter N.
I work near The Asian Bistro Cafe, and I go there with several coworkers quite often. The restaurant is unbeatable in terms of value. A $7 lunch platter sounds a little scary just from the price alone, but then the food comes out fast and fresh, with brightly-colored crisp vegetables, steaming piles of noodles and molten-hot sauces with lots of flavor. This is "good chinese food," the kind you crave days later. Fresh, tasty dishes at McDonalds prices.
(5)
Thomas W.
** 3.5 Stars leaning towards 4 ** When I first saw this place upon moving in to my apartment in Silver Spring, I was immediately reminded of the terrible Asian Buffet places that used to be littered around my home town on LI. I wrote the place off and figured I'd never step foot inside to see what it actually is like. Today I was in a Sushi mood, however, and this place came up on Yelp (and based on the reviews of the only other Sushi joint in town, I decided I was better off here). First thing I have to say is I was completely wrong. The inside is really nice. It is small - I guess quaint is the word I'm looking for, as cliché as that sounds. I was sat at a nice table for one. It wasn't very crowded at 1:30pm on a Tuesday, as would be expected. I ordered two rolls, a California Roll and a Spicy Tuna Roll. The lunch special is two rolls for $7.95!!! The pricing was incredible. However the sushi wasn't anything special. It was actually a little bland, tho maybe it was just my selections. Tuna can be a bit bland and Californias are his and miss. Regardless, you cannot beat that price. The staff was attentive. At least 5 different people came over to ask if I wanted another Coke (I didn't, for once in my life). The sushi came out within mere minutes of my ordering. The rolls were done exactly the way I like them, inside out with roasted sesame seeds instead of fish roe (gross), and though they were bland, hit the spot. I would definitely come back here and give the rest of the asian cuisine a shot. Service: 4, Food: 3 with potential.
(4)
H W.
Today was my first visit to the Asian Bistro. I chose this restaurant b/c of its vast menu of both meat and vegetarian food (we had a varied group.) Parking was a bit of a problem but then again Inauguration is tomorrow so.... The wait staff was super friendly. Our group ordered appetizers which came quickly. We waited a terribly long time for our main course. I had to ask the waitress about our order, which she forgot to put it in so we were there much longer than we wanted to be. The food was average, nothing bad, nothing overly special. Over all, it wasn't a bad experience nor a great one. Instead of returning to this restaurant again, I'd rather spend my time trying out a new venue.
(2)
Brian W.
After much searching in the Silver Spring, Takoma Park area, I've found my go to chinese restaurant. Lots of vegetarian options here, I've yet to find a bad entree. Vege duck! Vege Kung Pao chicken! moo shu vegetables! It's all good. What's more if like me you are both lazy and busy (which is a deadly combination), ABC offers curbside pick-up. If you can't get delivery this is the next best option. If it did deliver I'd add another star.
(4)
Alex A.
There are plenty of Asian restaurants that seem to have one thing going for them, be it location, or price, or just atmosphere, or in the rare few where it's the food. This one seems to have it all. It's right downtown (although some people might not want to hang around the city place mall), it wasn't crowded (even on a Saturday night), the staff were all friendly, the interior was nice, it wasn't expensive, and most important - the food was good. The menu is a mish-mash of Chinese, Thai, and Japanese. But they seemed to get everything right. Between the people with me we ordered something from every type of cuisine. I guess I was just pleasantly surprised by this place. I've been to too many Chinese restaurants that are supposed to be "the best ever" and the food is just the same old greasy Chinese. So, I'm not going to say this is the greatest ever. I'll just say it had a lot going for it, and I'll be going back. Also, something a little different that I almost forgot, they have Tiki bar style drinks (i.e. Zombies, Mai Tai's, etc.) and they even come in those weird glasses with little tiny party umbrellas.
(4)
Amy S.
This was my first time at Asian Bistro and I was very impressed. My family wanted to try a variety of things--so we shared a "big makI' sushi appetizer, chicken lettuce wraps (made from gluten-chicken), udon soup and two Chinese dishes, one of which was also made from gluten. It was all very delicious--I especially enjoyed how many veggie options there were. We'll be sure to return again.
(4)
Stacie C.
Mmmm tasty. Nice lunch specials here. The lo mein as mentioned by Merrill F. is tasty and comes in this crunchy little bowl during lunch that is almost as good as the lo mein itself. The shredder pork (as they have it printed on the menu) has the tastiest sauce with it. I dream about that sauce. Veggie tempura to die for and the bao bao appetizer platter is a good mix to start with. The sushi is okay. They're one of those restaurants that likes to put mayo in their sushi which just confuzzles me to no end.
(3)
Steve Y.
I've been here twice over the years; once, not long after it opened back around 2005, and on Christmas day this year after watching a movie at the nearby AFI cinema. On both occasions I came away feeling underwhelmed. To be honest, the details of my first encounter with Asian Bistro are now almost non-existent, however the one memory I do have is that I wasn't in a rush to return. I don't think I had a bad experience, as I would have remembered that, I just think it was all very forgettable. Flash forward to this year, the evening of Christmas day to be precise, and the place was packed. Being one of the few open restaurants in downtown Silver Spring and being located literally just a few steps from the AFI meant that once the movie let out the place became jammed in minutes. Our party of 5 ended up waiting about 30 minutes for a table, however once seated the service was generally good. The food, on the other hand, turned out to be as forgettable as my first visit. I started out with a bowl of miso soup which was more like so-so soup, and then tucked into a chicken satay skewer thingy. This turned out to be a little too rubbery and not as flavorful as I would have liked. While I didn't sample my fellow diners' food, I got the general impression that while everything was ok it wasn't particularly interesting. In fact nobody commented on their food at all one way or another which probably speaks volumes. I doubt that I'll return to the Asian Bistro Cafe anytime soon - it's just too bland, too forgettable to make we want to rush back. In fact it took almost 5 years and an almost completely closed down Silver Spring on Christmas night to get me to return the first time.
(2)
Paul M.
Probably not the place for gourmet snobs, but a good choice for an affordable date or family night out. Delicious food, excellent service and eclectic menu. We'll be back.
(4)
Lauren H.
I went there for lunch. The service was great, the kung pao veggie chicken was spicy, and the meal was reasonably priced. Just two complaints: the food was way too oily, and the spring roll hardly had any vegetables in it. A more healthful approach would have been more pleasing. However, for a satisfying vegetarian lunch in Silver Spring, this is not a bad place to go.
(4)
Lynn G.
The food is decent but completely uninspired and pretty bland. You do get ALOT of it and the place is kid friendly.
(2)
Elizabeth M.
Haters, please. This place is actually great for what it's trying to be. I actually welcome this humble, undecorated little place in a development that is quickly becoming an amusement park. It isn't fancy, but it's clean, the service is quick and pleasant, and the food is made with fresh-tasting ingredients. That's a lot more than I can say about most Asian restaurants in the area (yes, Sushi Jin and Thai place upstairs, I'm referring to you. barf.) They have a great lunchtime sushi special, and I love the spring rolls. I can't remember the name of the roll, but there's a great maki with eel, shrimp tempura, and avocado with a cute pink soy bean wrapper that just SLAYS me. I get it every time. And I kind of want the hostess there to adopt me. She is a precious, precious woman.
(4)
Jade T.
3.5 Stars Normally, I'm not a fan of Pan-Asian cuisine. When a restaurant serves Chinese, Thai, and Japanese dishes, I think they suffer from identity crises. There must be some bastardization if a restaurant offers dishes from those different cuisines. I'd rather dine at a restaurant that doesn't try to do it all ... I was in the mood for Chinese tonight. Asian Bistro was the closest restaurant that offered mock meat. I absolutely love mock shrimp (as you can tell from my reviews of Vegetable Garden and Harmony Cafe). It's tastier and healthier than regular shrimp (it's made out of white yams). Their vegetarian menu is extensive! Dishes range from noodle soups to "Duck" Hot Pots. They also offer vegetarian sushi. (I don't notice a vast difference between vegetarian sushi served at a neighborhood sushi bar and a swanky one. It's hard to screw up an avocado roll.) I had the Kung Pao "Shrimp", and it was delicious! Though, there was way too much water chestnuts. Next time I'll request mixed vegetables or simply broccoli. I love Kung Pao dishes, but many restaurants make them sweet. Asian Bistro Cafe's version was slightly sweet, but savory. Curtis had no complains on the Sesame "Chicken". The portions was a good size, BUT ... The prices at Asian Bistro Cafe are higher than most Asian restaurants, much higher than regular Chinese restaurants. I'm taking a star and a half from their rating for this. It was $10.95 for each of our dishes, which is less than Vegetable Garden (but their lunch specials are way better). The "Virgin Downfall", a cocktail served in a kitschy plastic cup, was $6.95. (That drink was extremely strong!) As much as I enjoyed my dinner at Asian Bistro Cafe, the prices are a deterrant. Kung Pao with "Shrimp" or even real shrimp costs less than $10 almost everywhere else. Still, props to them for being vegetarian and vegan-friendly! If you're not a vegetarian but need a restaurant that caters to both kinds of diets, Asian Bistro Cafe is a good choice. They're conveniently located near the Silver Spring Metro Station too.
(4)
Mitishi N.
I visit this place like 2-3 times a week after work purely for sushi. Its a cozy, quaint spot where they aren't overly friendly but very gracious and timely. The sushi is pretty good. Because I am usually dining alone when I go here, sitting at the sushi bar suits me best. The sushi chefs are kind and know what they are doing. There is even a little mini candy bar on the house that comes with the check. The prices are fair, the food is good and the staff is cool. The place is not high on decor but Im usually just happy to sit down at a place where I can get a glass of wine and some good sushi by the time I get off the train.
(4)
C D.
Ordered the Big Sushi/Sashimi combo for two ($69 I think) and was pleasantly - delightfully- surprised. Another time we ordered the lunch sushi special and the pieces were small and overall the meal was average - but this last time made us rethink: maybe we just order the big super combo and all will be well. And we know sushi. Can't comment on other dishes.
(3)
Laura D.
I've never had anything but sushi here, but it's a great spot for reasonably priced, tasty sushi. Of course it's not Sushi Taro's quality, but then, I can't afford Sushi Taro anymore anyway. The sushi is always fresh and there are a lot of good varieties--my husband loves the spicy crunchy tuna rolls, which are not on many sushi restaurant menus. And the house wine is an incredible deal--it's not amazing quality, but you get a HUGE glass of decent wine for $5. This isn't a place I'd take anyone I was aiming to impress, but it's a nice, friendly, reliable place an affordable sushi dinner.
(4)
Melissa H.
I love this place. I have always found the food delicious, the staff friendly and attentive and we always have a good time. A friend has celiac disease and she started to ask about tamari and our dear waiter put some Bragg's on the table. I am vegan and find the menu pretty satisfying, as do vegetarians and meat eaters. Great place to meet up before or after a movie and they don't mind you hanging around to chat.
(5)
Danielle P.
Asian Bistro cafe is a solid three star restaurant in downtown Silver Spring. Indeed the sushi is fresh, but nothing about the food or restaurant is special. My miso soup was bland and my boyfriend's chicken lo-mien was pretty generic. I would agree with other Yelpers that the lunch prices are pretty good. Service was poor-average. It took forever to flag someone down for soy sauce and they did not offer any refills on drinks. All things considered, I wouldn't come back. I might order out and eat in the comfort of my own home, where the soy sauce is in reach and refills are plentiful.
(3)
Safoura K.
I love their sushi here. My bf and I go in all the time to order the crunchy spicy white fish and shrimp tempuras. If you get a chance, try the miso soup. Also the have 4 flavors of mochi ice-cream. My favorite is the strawberry, but they also serve mango and green tea flavors along with the original. Shout out to my favorite server , Ivan. He da best.
(5)
Sarah S.
Only ordered sushi from here -- it's always amazing! Don't be thrown off by the un-creative name of the joint. Sushi is so good, so on point! Great price!
(5)
Donna H.
I had dinner here about a month ago and it was tasty. Nothing fancy, but a solid dinner of some Chinese food basics. I would come back.
(4)
Ujji B.
Great options for vegetarians! Serving size portions are well enough to take home and finish for another meal. The customer service always seem to be a 4/5 stars. I typically opt for takeout but the times I dined were left satisfied. One or two occasions there was a strong cleaning smell (which should be good as long as it's not overbearing the food...I guess). I like dining here and the menu offers a variety for me to switch up my taste buds. The alcoholic drinks were prepared tasty and just right. I'll be back when in the area. Ps...getting front door parking is not simple(metered), you're better off parking in the free garage and walking a few minutes.
(4)
Bia K.
The sushi was fresh and I like my beef and broccoli with brown rice. I ordered for delivery and they got there within 30 minutes which I like. I would say that I would probably order from them again since the food was good and the service was timely. I wasn't impressed with their rolls though.
(4)
Kristen H.
This place has a great lunch special. 3 small maki rolls for 10.95 definitely fills me up with some delicious sushi. I can easily give them a call for carryout and pick it up within 10 minutes. The place seems a little old but that doesn't take away from the quality of food you are getting.
(4)
Katrice C.
I have always enjoyed Asian Bistro but I will never return again. I went there for lunch and ordered shrimp fried rice. A few minutes after I started eating, I heard a clicking sound that sounded like finger nail clippers. I whipped my head around and saw the man behind the hostess stand clipping his nails. I said something to the waiter and he said something to the man. Less than a minute later, the sound resumed but it was louder and more frequent. I was disgusted. I paid my bill and left. I will never return.
(1)
Kelly P.
My favorite Chinese food in Downtown Silver Spring! They are always courteous and the food is always delicious.
(5)
Naman J.
As a vegetarian, I really liked this place. They have amazing options for vegetarians, with a lot of mock meat options. Since I have never eaten meat, I do not know how close it actually tastes to meat: but it does taste excellent. In addition, the serving size is good to actually qualify as a meal. Service was good at this place too. Did not try the alcoholic beverages though if I come here again, I might give them a try : they looked pretty good. Its not a far walk from the Silver Spring Metro Station so if you are in the area, do give this place a try.
(5)
Meg D.
Whenever I come here, it's always for the same dish: the california roll and sashimi combo. I would change it up, but it's one of the few places near my office that'll satisfy my sushi craving. Sometimes getting food in Silver Spring can be pretty nice. For 6 CA rolls and maybe 6 pieces of sashimi along, that was about $8 or $9-in DC or Arlington, you get half that for maybe $7. Obviously comparing price (and quality-though the sashimi did taste fresh!) with the casual dine in range, not the upscale sushi restaurants. One of my friends is a picky vegetarian, but they happily catered to her needs, turning her vegetable fried rice to pretty much pineapple fried rice in a crispy edible bowl, and she seemed happy with it.
(3)
SA F.
The sushi is so fresh, I think they might be hiding some fish tanks in the back. Wow - DELICIOUS. I forgot salmon could be that good. The eel had me singing for joy. The crisp hot salted green bean side dish had me wishing my tummy was a little bigger - this place is a great find. I'm so glad I've discovered Asian Bistro - will DEF be back - soon.
(5)
Denise K.
Great Chinese restaurant in silver spring. I really liked the bento box with teriyaki but we ordered rice on the side. Service was really fast and staff was pleasant.
(4)
Melissa H.
I love this place. I have always found the food delicious, the staff friendly and attentive and we always have a good time. A friend has celiac disease and she started to ask about tamari and our dear waiter put some Bragg's on the table. I am vegan and find the menu pretty satisfying, as do vegetarians and meat eaters. Great place to meet up before or after a movie and they don't mind you hanging around to chat.
(5)
Danielle P.
Asian Bistro cafe is a solid three star restaurant in downtown Silver Spring. Indeed the sushi is fresh, but nothing about the food or restaurant is special. My miso soup was bland and my boyfriend's chicken lo-mien was pretty generic. I would agree with other Yelpers that the lunch prices are pretty good. Service was poor-average. It took forever to flag someone down for soy sauce and they did not offer any refills on drinks. All things considered, I wouldn't come back. I might order out and eat in the comfort of my own home, where the soy sauce is in reach and refills are plentiful.
(3)
Safoura K.
I love their sushi here. My bf and I go in all the time to order the crunchy spicy white fish and shrimp tempuras. If you get a chance, try the miso soup. Also the have 4 flavors of mochi ice-cream. My favorite is the strawberry, but they also serve mango and green tea flavors along with the original. Shout out to my favorite server , Ivan. He da best.
(5)
Sarah S.
Only ordered sushi from here -- it's always amazing! Don't be thrown off by the un-creative name of the joint. Sushi is so good, so on point! Great price!
(5)
Donna H.
I had dinner here about a month ago and it was tasty. Nothing fancy, but a solid dinner of some Chinese food basics. I would come back.
(4)
Ujji B.
Great options for vegetarians! Serving size portions are well enough to take home and finish for another meal. The customer service always seem to be a 4/5 stars. I typically opt for takeout but the times I dined were left satisfied. One or two occasions there was a strong cleaning smell (which should be good as long as it's not overbearing the food...I guess). I like dining here and the menu offers a variety for me to switch up my taste buds. The alcoholic drinks were prepared tasty and just right. I'll be back when in the area. Ps...getting front door parking is not simple(metered), you're better off parking in the free garage and walking a few minutes.
(4)
Bia K.
The sushi was fresh and I like my beef and broccoli with brown rice. I ordered for delivery and they got there within 30 minutes which I like. I would say that I would probably order from them again since the food was good and the service was timely. I wasn't impressed with their rolls though.
(4)
Kristen H.
This place has a great lunch special. 3 small maki rolls for 10.95 definitely fills me up with some delicious sushi. I can easily give them a call for carryout and pick it up within 10 minutes. The place seems a little old but that doesn't take away from the quality of food you are getting.
(4)
Katrice C.
I have always enjoyed Asian Bistro but I will never return again. I went there for lunch and ordered shrimp fried rice. A few minutes after I started eating, I heard a clicking sound that sounded like finger nail clippers. I whipped my head around and saw the man behind the hostess stand clipping his nails. I said something to the waiter and he said something to the man. Less than a minute later, the sound resumed but it was louder and more frequent. I was disgusted. I paid my bill and left. I will never return.
(1)
Kelly P.
My favorite Chinese food in Downtown Silver Spring! They are always courteous and the food is always delicious.
(5)
Naman J.
As a vegetarian, I really liked this place. They have amazing options for vegetarians, with a lot of mock meat options. Since I have never eaten meat, I do not know how close it actually tastes to meat: but it does taste excellent. In addition, the serving size is good to actually qualify as a meal. Service was good at this place too. Did not try the alcoholic beverages though if I come here again, I might give them a try : they looked pretty good. Its not a far walk from the Silver Spring Metro Station so if you are in the area, do give this place a try.
(5)
Meg D.
Whenever I come here, it's always for the same dish: the california roll and sashimi combo. I would change it up, but it's one of the few places near my office that'll satisfy my sushi craving. Sometimes getting food in Silver Spring can be pretty nice. For 6 CA rolls and maybe 6 pieces of sashimi along, that was about $8 or $9-in DC or Arlington, you get half that for maybe $7. Obviously comparing price (and quality-though the sashimi did taste fresh!) with the casual dine in range, not the upscale sushi restaurants. One of my friends is a picky vegetarian, but they happily catered to her needs, turning her vegetable fried rice to pretty much pineapple fried rice in a crispy edible bowl, and she seemed happy with it.
(3)
SA F.
The sushi is so fresh, I think they might be hiding some fish tanks in the back. Wow - DELICIOUS. I forgot salmon could be that good. The eel had me singing for joy. The crisp hot salted green bean side dish had me wishing my tummy was a little bigger - this place is a great find. I'm so glad I've discovered Asian Bistro - will DEF be back - soon.
(5)
Denise K.
Great Chinese restaurant in silver spring. I really liked the bento box with teriyaki but we ordered rice on the side. Service was really fast and staff was pleasant.
(4)
Val A.
Ate here with a co-worker for dinner. Sat at the bar and ordered a bunch of rolls. Honestly I felt it was hit or miss because I didn't really know what the rolls would look like. Some places have pictures which help me decide what to get. The food turned out to be good but not great. The chef seemed skilled but disengaged, almost robotic even after I attempted to start conversation a few times. The sushi bar had the usual display for the ingredients but these were placed in unflattering plastic bins and bags. The price was average, but the place was also average. Lots of other places to try before I consider coming back here.
(3)
Scott B.
Avoid!! Yelp really let me down this time, this is NOT a 3-star-plus place! We just had a really bad experience taking a chance while in Silver Spring. Ok sushi, but the portion was small, and the rainbow roll was missing the yellowtail. We ordered the first special soup, the beef noodle soup which the waiter told us was spicy-- not even slightly, and it was completely meh. The killer was the kung pao scallops, one of my standard tests, and it was perhaps the worst I have ever, ever had, they didn't even fry it with chili's. Honestly, and I can't believe I'm saying this, we would have been better off next door at red lobster.
(2)
Santia D.
I've only been here for lunch. You get 2 rolls for 7.95$ & 3 rolls for 10$ you can't beat that.
(4)
Richard D.
It was good. Nothing bad to say. You got a great size portion for the price, especially at lunch. Appetizers were good, Sushi was good.
(4)
Angela C.
To be honest I didn't have good impression of the place, smelly napkins, maybe poorly washed. About the service I can say it is not so bad. Sushi was not very fresh, was very salty, seaweed salad was the worst I've ever eaten.
(2)
Sheri L.
This place is fast, and it's usually packed during the week for lunch. I work right across the street, so I've tried it a few times. Each time, the food and /or service is lacking. With all the choices in this area, why settle for basic Chinese and average sushi? I ordered a Bento box, this last visit, and it does not come with rice. Make sure to ask for rice if you go to AB. Also, the teriyaki chicken was dry, cut in strips and had no hint of flavor. I've had better at the mall fast food court. I'm not a big fan, so I don't expect that I'll visit this place again. Mediocore Chinese at best, and below average sushi
(2)
Asya T.
Really like this place. I've been here quite often and food is always good and the variety is quite large. Prices are not very high. For $10-12 you can get a large entree, fish dishes are more expensive though - around $15. Stuff is very friendly and quick. I would highly recommend this place to visit in Silver Spring.
(5)
Soca M.
The food was decent n the service was great. The prices are reasonable. I had e spicy crunch tuna to start and the bento box as my entree. Surprisingly, the box came with some sushi. I gave it to my cuz. We had a $25 bottle of wine that cost $10 at the store, but what can ya do.
(3)
Starr C.
Despite how suspicious I was of an Asian cuisine establishment with the word "Asian" in its name, I really enjoyed myself here a few months ago. I was in downtown Silver Spring with my boyfriend and we wanted to try a new place, since I usually am a creature of habit. When we found Asian Bistro, around the corner from where the main area of restaurants is, it didn't really look very much like an Asian restaurant. It was very bright and open, as opposed to the more intimate settings I'm more accustomed to. (Slightly racist translation I was told: "It's for white people." Don't shoot the messenger!) But other than that, I liked the interior. Bright and open was perfect for a late lunch and there was a fun theme inside also. SERVICE-- Our waitress was pretty nice to us, and I think it always helps when we're able to speak Chinese to our servers. (Although the staff mostly spoke Cantonese, and we speak Mandarin.) Standard service, nothing to complain or rave about. FOOD-- While I would not call this place authentic at all, as it caters to a non-Chinese crowd (I think we were the only Chinese customers at the time), I think we made good choices and that's why we had such a good meal. I ordered the bao bao (pu-pu) platter to start us off, and it was served on a plate instead of the little platform (with fire!) that I'm used to, but everything tasted fantastic. 2 of everything, so perfect for sharing with another person. This isn't very authentic, but then we ordered crispy eggplant and sizzling Mongolian beef. BOTH WERE DELICIOUS. The eggplant was so crisp on the outside and a delicious mess on the inside. A bit of a kick and so flavorful. The beef, OH the beef. I don't normally like beef much but this was delicious. Tender, thin slices with this delicious marinade that came out steaming and sizzling to our table. *mouth watering* Also, their sushi selection looks great and fresh, although we didn't sample any that day. Despite my skepticism, I had a pretty fantastic meal, and I would definitely come back for more.
(4)
Mark S.
Updating my review. For americanized chinese food. this place is pretty decent. the lunch specials are actually around $6 something. it's not bad at all. you get an entree, spring roll and a small salad. that's to go too. i like how they have non-fried versions (steamed) of some of the more popular dishes. makes it a bit healthier. also they don't charge extra for brown rice substitute.
(4)
A V.
This place did me well. I'm not a menu reader, and will typically tell the server what I want. Nine times out of ten, they have something like what I'm describing and when it comes out, everyone's happy (them and me). So, this time I ordered the chicken lo mein after seeing a large plate on my dining neighbor's table. It was divine. I thought the large plate would be too much. It was. But I'm okay w/ leftovers. Moving on...as I'm knee-deep in a convo w/my friend, a little boy interrupts me to ask me what I'm eating. Apparently, he orders like me. :) He ordered the same dish and loved it. Great minds... Other notes: Our server, Jonathan, was very nice, personable and quick. The menu can be like Cheesecake Factory's--too many options! But, if you like to read menus and order that way, by all means....Also, I looked around and while it wasn't 5-star dining by any stretch, it was perfectly fine--clean, tables bussed, servers in tucked shirts and neat appearance... I will go back again. Slurp...
(4)
Trevor W.
Very good food and the extensive menu really should have something for just about everyone! Also the service was very fast which I very much appreciated! I will be going back often!
(5)
Sana J.
Pretty good for your average Chinese food spot! Came here for a late lunch a few days ago and got their Hunan chicken and drunken noodles. Loved the Hunan chicken and the drunken noodles were interesting (but in a good way!) because they used long rice noodles instead of the regular wide noodles. And for the price, we'll definitely be coming back again.
(4)
Devida N.
Popular asian cusine in downtown Silver Spring. Very good service, ok food, no delivery but prompt take out service. Great lunch special!
(3)
Sara M.
Had an absolutely terrible time here. The food was decent, but the service was absolutely contemptible. The waitstaff was slow and unresponsive. On one occasion, my dinner companion ordered two beers during dinner. The waitress never showed up with the second beer. We flagged down a different waiter and asked again, and that waiter promptly brought over the requested beer. When we received the check, it listed three beers. We pointed out the mistake and our waitress (who never brought us that second beer) insisted that there had indeed been three beers - and that she'd brought over the requested beer! She called over the manager, who said that our waitress wouldn't lie and there MUST have been three beers. We pointed at the two (not three!) empty glasses and they were unmoved. They pretty much accused us of trying to scam them out of a $5 glass of beer - which is rather crazy when we were having a $50+ meal! Eventually, the manager took the extra beer off our bill, but she made it quite clear that she didn't believe us and just wanted to appease us so we'd leave. It was incredibly uncomfortable, and all of the people at surrounding tables were staring at us like we were horrible people. We now refer to this place as the "accusation bistro" and will never return. I'm sure they don't want low-class beer thieves in there anyway.
(2)
Chris A.
Went here once with some friends after a trip through DTSS. For a restaurant titled "Asian Restaurant", the food is actually really good. My wife loved the sushi she got and the more traditional Chinese food options I've tried I've liked. I think it's the small touches that put this place over the top. I like the selection of tropical/tiki drinks and have had a few zombies here. I also like the coffee brandy that they bring with the check. If you like sushi or good Chinese food, it's worth a trip.
(4)
Nicole B.
My husband and I went here last week and were impressed. The food was good and the waitstaff was very attentive. They have a variety of Asian style dishes. The prices are good and the setting was decent. The staff was even wiping all parts of chairs to make sure every thing was clean. I will come back here next time I visit.
(5)
Dan F.
Asian Bistro doesn't have the best decor or the best sushi in the world, but I absolutely love Asian Bistro for exactly what it is. Asian Bistro has solid sushi with fresh fish. For lunch, you can get two maki rolls for $7.75 or three for $9.95. If you spend a little more for the specialty rolls, all the better. White Fish Tempura is my favorite. Runners up: Crunchy Tuna Hidden Dragon and First Sight of Love Maki. They also have an entire Chinese menu here (I enjoy the vegi-chicken lettuce cups). It's a great place for those looking for meat substitutes, plus the hot and sour soup doesn't have pork. Their service is very attentive and speedy. As for the decor, it's not where I'd take someone on a first date, but it's a great place to meet someone for lunch, a great quick dinner before an evening at the movies, or a great place to just satisfy your craving for sushi.
(4)
Brian F.
I ordered take out from this place. They stapled the bag closed and did not include napkins, chop sticks, silverware, or even a fortune cookie. I ordered brown rice, they gave me white rice. The food itself was below mediocre, the side sauce of hoi sin was watered down to where it looked like a runny mess. The steamed wrappers were crumpled and stuck altogether. Verdict = "AVOID".
(1)
Brian G.
Ok, it's in a strip mall, but at least it's an historic strip mall. The wait staff are attentive - and quirky. The food is great - Americanized pan asian. I'm sure there are those out there that scoff at the idea of being able to order sushi and general tso's chicken from the same menu but to them I say, "get over it, this is the suburbs."
I usually like this place. The food usually is above average, fresh and tasty and my sushi go to spot in silver spring. Today however, the sushi was just completely underwhelming. The fried rice tasted like carry out Chinese food. My niece has a developing palate and she stopped eating her California roll after her mouth started itching. She made the carryout reference. I agreed. Pull it together Asian Bistro! It used to be lots better.
(2)
May-lissa B.
It's been a while since I've been here. But while on vacation I wanted to visit my favorite sushi place. Still as good as I remember! Fast service and good price. The only change is that the cutie that used to work there 2 years ago is gone :(
(5)
E S.
Surprisingly good sushi in Silver Spring. Went to dinner with friends and we just shared several maki rolls. All in all, if I am in Silver Spring again sometime soon, I'd like to return and sample some other things. Props on their seaweed salad, I thought it was very good. Great service, we arrived on the late side on a Saturday night probably after 8pm, we were seated and eating within 15 minutes. It is also worth to point out that they have a very varied menu for those picky eaters in your party!
(4)
Katelyn K.
Living near downtown Silver Spring, my boyfriend and I have passed the Asian Bistro Cafe a number of times... but finally decided to try it. Not bad overall, but I won't become my replacement Chinese restaurant. The decor is nice, and the prices a bit high, but the thing that really got to me was how close together the tables were. There was a couple behind on their first date, and not only were we close enough to hear the whole conversation, I could hear the guy chewing... EWW! Anyway, I had the miso soup (which was superb), the spicy salmon and Philadelphia rolls. They were pretty standard, the Philly rolls however had more cream cheese than usual, which is fine by me, but it was mildly overpowering of the salmon. My boyfriend had the Mongolian Beef, which was also pretty good, however, it had too much black pepper (that I would have thought it unpalatable, if it weren't for the price paid for it).
(4)
Tara I.
Yummy menu. Variety of offerings. I like vegetarian asian food and this place has good options. You can also get brown rice without an additional charge. Lunch time specials with speedy service. And they will bring little candy bars at the end of a meal.
(4)
jax g.
they need an outside seating area... the menu is good for vegetarians but expensive for all... service sometimes slow and drinks sub-par. for veggie entrees, lots of good delicious stuff. bring your wallet.
(3)
Stephanie W.
Since November when I first reviewed Asian Bistro, I have not only been home (Michigan), where the sushi is bigger, fresher and better, but I have discovered my new love, Maki Maki in Bethesda on Wisconsin Ave. The last time I went to Asian Bistro will be the last time I go there for sushi. It's edible. But after having Maki Maki, that's about all it is, is edible. Also, when you sit at the sushi bar, you have to flag waiters down to get any kind of service. However they do have other options of the non raw fish variety that are good. Not crave-able, but options that will do.
(2)
Dana G.
I like this place. We've been there a bunch of times now, and every entree we've ordered has been very good. I've had a couple of not so good appetizers, and decided that their fryer techniques need improvement...so I don't get the cream cheese wontons and wind up having a healthier meal, so I forgive! The spring rolls are fine, I wouldn't bother ordering them again. But the moo goo gai pan is actually rich and flavorful (hard to find with that dish!), and the seafood dishes and chicken dishes we've tried have all been very good! The ambiance isn't much, very casual, but perfectly pleasant.
(4)
Thomas W.
I seldom go to Asian restaurants where I do not see any other Asians in the restaurant. I wanted to try this place because of its proximity to the AFI Theatre, and because it is usually filled. The food was okay, but tries to hard to serve Japanese, and Chinese food. The wonton soup was the older, pork filled wontons. The soup was the better part of my meal. The Hunan Shrimp was of medium heat, but the portion was tiny along with Japanese lettuce salad. The portions are tiny for the price. I need to try the sushi another time, but am not anxious to return.
(2)
Johnny A.
Decent Chinese food at a reasonable price, fast lunch service and attentive servers.
(3)
Yue C.
I am Chinese and I am from LA and have tried all kind of authentic Chinese food, so I am super picky when it comes to Chinese food. Before I came to Asian Bistro, I expected an Americanized Chinese restaurant, but they are Americanized beyond my expectation!! First of all, the menu is written in English only, they didn't even bother trying to translate the menu into Chinese. This was a huge turnoff for me. The price is also more expensive than the average Chinese food in LA. I ordered the pork stir-fried yakisoba and my hubby ordered the orange chicken. Both of our dishes costed $11.95 (for dinner), with tax and tips the total came down to $28. I can get two entrees, an appetizer and a bowl of soup with the same amount of money in the Chinese restaurants in LA. But again, this is Maryland... To be fair, our food was decent. The food came out really fast, we only waited for like 5 minutes. I probably won't come back again because I can get cheaper and more authentic Chinese food in Wheaton.
(3)
Darjeeling T.
I'm a sucker for amazing sushi--and I have never been disappointed at Asian Bistro. I haven't tried any of the Chinese dishes so I can't speak about them, but anything I try from the sushi menu is generally very fresh, very tasty, and very reasonably priced. Also, I'm not a big drinker, but friends who do drink do tend to enjoy the myriad of cocktails they have. The ambience is lacking, sure. And the waitstaff is occasionally...distracted. But it's a great location, I've never had to wait for a table, and what it lacks in decor and fabulosity, it more than makes up for in its sushi. Definitely my go-to for sushi in the SS area.
(4)
Ken M.
Not a big fun of this place. To be fair, I've tried this place a few times, waiting for a good surprise to come. It didn't unfortunately. So far I've tried an eel rice bowl, noodles with meat sauce, pad thai, and Vietnamese iced coffee. They were quite disappointing. Even worse, the service was not good (missing silverware, wrong orders,,,). I haven't tried this place for a drink, though I'm not so motivated to try for the "karaoke-style" music they usually play. Not recommend.
Dont ever go there. I went late at night on a date..and the food tasted as if it was scrapped from the bottom of the pot.
(1)
Stephanie G.
It took me a long time to get here, even though I work in the area. It should have taken me longer. I eat a lot of sushi..and I know good when I have it. This was NOT good. This place on a sunday afternoon just gave me the creeps. Lackluster service, Muzak, and the blandest yellowtail and salmon skin roll ever...even though the salmon skin roll was covered in sauce. I don't think I've ever had fish so FLAVORLESS! I had to sniff it to make sure that it wasn't gonna kill me before I tasted it. Then after tasting 2 pieces of nigiri, the chef opened the door of the case where all his fish for sushi was. The smell made me decide it was time to go without eating one bite more. One look at the regular menu also told me something. You can't do all those types of food well. I can't comment on the other stuff, but I can tell you to skip the sushi in this place.. and as far as the service goes...skip that too. I'm in downtown silver spring all the time... There are much better choices. Trust me on this one... I won't be back.
(1)
Tiffany M.
We had to live in the Silver Spring area for about 5 months while my husband was at Walter Reed. Anyway, living out of hotel meant we had to eat out a lot and this place was definitely the one we frequented the most, for both dine-in and carry-out. We all loved the food here (me, my husband and several of his friends who also ended up at WR). Its Asian Fusion style menu is FULL of a variety of options and the meats they use are top notch (not super fatty like many other Asian places with similar price points). The staff is extremely friendly, the service is fast and efficient and the prices are great for what you get! If you like Asian food I definitely recommend this place!
(5)
Natasha S.
I tried this place out when it first opened. Hoping I would be impressed. I was far from being impressed. In fact, 5-6 years later I can't remember a single thing I liked from here. My mother being Chinese would not stop venting about the quality and taste of every dish ordered. It was a waste of time and we haven't been back since. I hope it has improved since then. It still seems to be around, and I still see people in and out.
(2)
Tami B.
I usually eat seafood here. The shrimp and scallops in garlic sauce comes in an edible bowl the texture of fortune cookie but not sweet. Last week I ordered soft-shell crab tempura. It came with one crab and lots of vegetable tempura. I ordered brown rice, which was delicious. All the tempura were delicious. In addition to the one crab, there were tempura sweet potato, broccoli, and others I've forgotten. This comes with miso, which I don't like, so gave to a companion. It also comes with a small salad. Sorry to say, the salad, which was in a tiny bowl, consisted of old-looking chopped iceberg, some of which was turning brown on the edges. The salad dressing was good. My companions got sushi, which was fresh and delicious. BTW, if you order takeout, it can be hard to find parking closer than the garage. The staff will bring your order out to your car when you double-park and call them.
(4)
Meow W.
spicy crab roll is my fave! yum! its like a kung fu party in your mouth! the miso soup is good and the spring rolls are fab! good service too!
(4)
Peter N.
I work near The Asian Bistro Cafe, and I go there with several coworkers quite often. The restaurant is unbeatable in terms of value. A $7 lunch platter sounds a little scary just from the price alone, but then the food comes out fast and fresh, with brightly-colored crisp vegetables, steaming piles of noodles and molten-hot sauces with lots of flavor. This is "good chinese food," the kind you crave days later. Fresh, tasty dishes at McDonalds prices.
(5)
Angela M.
Maybe not the best time to be reviewing restaurants given my recent nasal passage revamping (deviated septum, enlarged turbinates, you name it - it was up there blocking my airway) but I'm mostly able to breathe and taste now. I'm a little surprised that I've never been here before - maybe the name was a bit too generic. Asian bistro - what kind of Asian food do they mean now? Well, Chinese, Japanese, Dirtyknees, Thai are a few that come to mind. I got the Thai tea; almost 3 bills for a glass, but a solid showing, and a normal staple, the sesame chicken. The best thing is, now I have always wanted to be able to order Chinese food this way because I'm not big on the fried and the breading, is that you can order all the favorites light sauteed instead of fried. Big bonus points - people like me, are bells and whistles going off in your brain? Wonderful. I'm happy. I just remembered, I did order something fried, but that's because of my dominant blonde gene expression. I meant to get the non-fried cool summer rolls (absent from their menu, I think) and got the Spring rolls, which were still tasty even though I had to chop them up with a knife and fork to eat them. Remember, I mentioned surgery? I've been eating a lot of Trader Joe's and take out this week, so it was nice to finally be able to leave the house. Our waitress should play poker - what a face. The other lady that wasn't our waitress was so friendly and had the most psychedelic fruity bra on that we could see through her white shirt clear across the restaurant. We had some interesting eye candy, er, an eyeful of a belly dancer walk by a couple times and though we were short of a midget, there was some diverse people watching through the windows at downtown Silver Spring. Pun intended....
(3)
Khadish F.
This place is definitely a local favorite! It's solid Chinese with amazing service. The shrimp tempura rolls NEVER disappoint! Great for sushi and entrees, I suggest you check them out!
(4)
Diana C.
Ah, Accusation Bistro, as Sara M. and I call it. I've been here a few times. The Chinese food is ok, pretty standard fare. The sushi is good (I'll get to that more in a minute). The service? HORRIFIC. During one occasion, I ordered two beers, but because of the huge lags in service, the overlap in servers coming to our table, and the general incompetence, they tried to charge me for three beers (though there were clearly only two bottles on the table, since they were too lazy to remove the bottles during our meal). They gave me a very hard time and accused me of trying to cheat them out of a $5 bottle of beer, before finally relenting and removing the extra from the final bill. I was aghast at this, especially coming from a manager, and after our bill between myself and my two companions was well over $50. Way to guarantee that I'll never go here again, thank you. However, I will say that the one time I did sit at the sushi bar and dealt only with the sushi maker and not any of the idiotic wait staff, I had a fantastic meal and a really nice time. He was actually very good, recommended a nice sake, and was very friendly.
I wanted Udon noodle soup. I should have gone the extra 6 miles and fifteen bucks for Bethesda's Raku. But no, I went to Asian Bistro. Ooopsy daisy. You stupid stupid man. I broke a cardinal rule of dining. Any restaurant with more than 50 dishes and three different cuisines is, by necessity, crap. Service was piecemeal. The music was suited for an assisted living lounge. Oh, and the food, did I mention it was gross? I feel weird. I hate myself.
(2)
Jo A.
VEGAN HEAVEN!!!!! This place is incredible for many reasons. Great service, scrumptious food, outrageously huge portions, cheap prices. AND they have the best Asian vegan menu I've seen. Their "chicken" dishes are made out of soy protein, their "shrimp" is made out of white yams, and it goes on and on for their duck dishes too. My non-vegan friends loved their dishes and we seriously could not stop raving about what an awesome dinner we had. Please come here all you vegans and/or non-vegans. This place is AMAZING!!
(5)
Stacie C.
Mmmm tasty. Nice lunch specials here. The lo mein as mentioned by Merrill F. is tasty and comes in this crunchy little bowl during lunch that is almost as good as the lo mein itself. The shredder pork (as they have it printed on the menu) has the tastiest sauce with it. I dream about that sauce. Veggie tempura to die for and the bao bao appetizer platter is a good mix to start with. The sushi is okay. They're one of those restaurants that likes to put mayo in their sushi which just confuzzles me to no end.
(3)
Matthew B.
My girlfriend stumbled upon this place before I moved up here, and we've been either going to the restaurant or taking-out at least two or three times a month ever since. I don't think we've had anything there we didn't like. The egg drop soup is some of the best I've had. I typically order either Sesame Chicken or Sweet & Sour Chicken, both of which are delicious. We also get Hunan Beef with some regularity (also good). Recently, my girlfriend has been ordering Mu Shu Pork, which is becoming a favorite of ours. Perhaps the most impressive fact about this place is the quality of their sushi. I haven't found many Chinese restaurants that do both traditional (American-style) Chinese food AND sushi well, but this place does. We've had several of the sushi rolls -- the non-special rolls are actually some of the best, though we've always enjoyed the specialty rolls we've ordered -- and I've had different sashimi and sushi combo dishes. It's all been quite good -- certainly not the best sushi out there, but much better than you'd think it would be, especially for the price. Parking out in front of the restaurant is a nightmare, but as long as you're just picking up, you can usually park anywhere for a minute or two to run in and out. Otherwise, definitely use the garages in the area, which are free in the evenings and on the weekends.
(4)
Caitlin A.
Love the food! Sushi is so fresh and well put together!! I just wish they would deliever. But they have a compnay that charges 17 dollars per order. But when you don't have a car, that's a bit too pricey
(4)
B Y.
Fabulous Chinese food and sushi. Great service, clean restaurant, friendly staff. We had a great time, the food was very fresh. The tuna sushi was tender and moist. The eel maki was great too. Presentation was excellent. Many times, at chinese restaurants the ambience and hygiene are less than perfect. But we felt this was on par with most western type restaurants on this point. The variety was great, and they really catered to the kids. Will be going again soon. thx. Pricing was very fair for all items. Menu is extensive with options to to suit most all palates.
(5)
Henry M.
At lunch, the maki and the iced-coffee were lame enough that I won't be going back unless I'm dragged by co-workers again.
(2)
Boo L.
The food here was really good. The service we experienced was also satisfactory and our food arrived quicker than expected and was piping hot. Reasonably priced.
(4)
Jane Y.
They have great lunch specials. I usually get their sashimi lunch combo that comes with a roll and 12 pieces of sashimi. Their cuts of sashimi are generous and their california roll can't be beat. It's great!
(4)
Ashley F.
Some of the best chinese food I've had in a looooong time! Everything was delicious and fresh and every single person that worked there was so delightfully courteous and nice. I'll definitely be going back to try their sushi, which looked delectable. Bonus: they offer white AND brown rice! You don't find that too often in a place like this.
(4)
Juah F.
I really like Asian Bistro because the service is great. As soon as you walk in, you're kind of attacked by kindness and as you leave, guess what? You're attacked by their kindness once again. It's great. I love it because they actually smile when they attack. Once again, this restaurant was recommended by one of my friends...who shall remain nameless, but happens to stalk me on Yelp. ;-) When she told me their orange chicken was good, I was skeptical because I am slightly addicted to Panda's one. Although I felt like I was cheating on my prior orange chicken love, I have to admit...I kind of like Asian Bistro's. Their portions are quite large. They have healthy options for those who want to eat healthy Chinese food...which I didn't think really existed (well in the Americanized version of Chinese food at least). Asian Bistro also has so many vegetarian options! I kind of am anti-veg, but theirs is not bad at all. Their sushi is also quite good. One thing my friend steered me away from was ordering any alcoholic drinks from there. Never had any, so won't recommend any drinks or steer you away. Anyway there are plenty of other places around to satisfy that kind of thirst. =) PS: Their mints are actual chocolates like Twix and Snickers. Love it! PPS: Reasons it's a three star: The food is kind of taken away too early and the servers kind of attack you with customer service. After a while, you might need to find another place to just lounge around idly.
(3)
John G.
The place is just down the road from the Hilton Hotel I stay at on the way to the Metro station. Stopped in for dinner one evening. A mix of Japanese, Thai and Chinese. The menu is quite extensive covering all the bases. I opted for the Japanese sushi at the counter. Service was ok, but lacked coming back to check on me and to refill my water. I got the California roll, the tempura roll, and the dragon roll. All were done fine, but it seemed they were a little on the small size, and not bursting with flavor. Anyway, its a good place for a basic meal, and at reasonable prices.
(3)
Victoria B.
Disgusting! I got the garlic chicken and it smelled really strange. The taste was... nearly medicinal, not the mention the fact that the dish had nearly 3 cups of julienne carrots and tiny strips and chicken. The rice and spring rolls were nice, but I doubt they were hard to mess up in the first place. I've never had bad Asian food before, so it was baffling! Don't eat here!!
(1)
Michael S.
I'm writing this aware that for non vegetarians there are probably many more cheaper 'more authentic' Chinese restaurants. But for a vegetarian like myself, this place rules. They have every type of imitation meat in every type of sauce and it tastes great, especially the sweet and sour shrimp. When I crave Chinese food, this is where I will get my fix!.
(5)
Julie O.
I heart their sushi, which you can get made with brown rice which gets an extra star! Plus instead of fortune cookies they give mini chocolate bars another star!
(5)
Greg W.
Asian Bistro is tops for lunch in Solver Spring, it's convenient location is just the beginning. While most of my work associates rave about their sushi, I do not partake in the raw stuff. I do however, feast on their other entrees, the Sweet & Sour, General Tso's, Sesame, and Kung Pao dishes are all spectacular. and they are even offered in Sauteed Lite versions, with non-fried meats. To top things off, their lunch special's are amazing. Ranging from $6.95 to $7.95 you'll get your money's worth, as each dish comes with a mini salad and spring roll, not to mention the generously sized main portion of food. The appetizers are also worth checking out, pot-stickers and garlic green beans are both out of this world. Service is quick too, with the one server constantly making sure your glass of water is filled to the brim. Highly recommend for a lunch outing!!! p.s. Coco is the best!
(5)
Dana F.
Great quality sushi, friendly service, reasonable prices and lots of options! It's an awesome place for vegetarians and I especially appreciate the lighter entrees and how they're actually good. Ambiance isn't mind-blowing, but it's comfortable and clean and the food is rockin'. The Chinese is good, the Thai and sushi dishes are best, I think. Definitely a good call!
(4)
Jennifer D.
I've come here for lunch a couple times, and have tried both the sushi and the Chinese dishes. I thought both were good, and the prices were fair, especially the lunch specials. I also like that they offer lighter/lower fat options of some of the Chinese dishes. I didn't have to wait long for my takeout order, so it's good for days when you don't have a lot of time to spend getting lunch.
(4)
Michael C.
Sushi was great but bug problem noted in other review scares the heck out of me. Not acceptable in my book.
(4)
Snow T.
They have great mock meat. Lots of vegan options. Right in the downtown shopping area. A little to expensive to be my weekly Chinese place, but it was really good.
(5)
Adriana W.
I LOVE this place! Great sushi, and a wide selection of asian entrees. Being a vegetarian, this place devotes a huge section of their menu to vegetarian options, like Peking Duck or Orange Chicken (meatless of course). The staff is always really friendly. It's my go to place in the area for sushi and anything Chinese or Japanese. Highly recommended!
(5)
Lauren R.
Ok we went for sushi and bottom line i didn't like it at all but my boyfriend thought it was pretty good. The presentation was blah, they didn't have too many creative rolls and they were kind of fishy tasting to me. This is probably the worst sushi I have ever had, besides maybe all you can eat sushi. I am giving it three stars since the service was very good, the ambiance was decent, and I didn't try the food (only sushi). I will try the food but I definitely will not order sushi again! If you want sushi I would recommend trying a place that actually specializes in sushi!
(3)
Kelly L.
This place deserves a solid 4 stars. I stopped in for lunch when I was craving some fake Chinese food. They have a nice lunch combo and you can get it with items that are not listed you just need to ask. The food was good, really good. They asked me if I wanted it spicy and when I got the food it was spicy. The fried rice could've been better, but the orange chicken was fantastic and was the kung pao chicken (I stole some off the BF's plate, ok I stole a lot). It is more than an ample amount of food. If you are there for lunch the service was fast. The wait staff was very attentive. My water glass was always full. You can pretty much stop any wait staff to take your order, too. I liked it and now I think I am going to get it for dinner.
(4)
Fred v.
I was invited by some coworkers to come here for sushi and I thought "why not?" I'm not a sushi veteran so I don't have a lot to compare against, but I had a combination of sushi rolls and sashimi. The rolls were very tasty and interesting (I think salmon?) The sashimi was interesting and complex tasting, but I suppose that's normal. Overall it was a good value (though I didn't have to pay) and a good experience. Would I go back? Sure, but I'd like to try some other sushi places first.
(3)
N. E.
Great food, that is all that needs said. Just try it out.
(4)
Joe H.
Excellently priced vegetarian lunch specials that are extremely tasty and very filling. Love that they offer brown rice as well. My favorite is the vegetarian Kung Pao chicken. A wonderful sauce. I've only had dinner there once and that was a clunker of an experience. I prefer take out.
(4)
Jamie S.
Very disappointing the last few times:( Must find us a new take-out...
(3)
Ruth N.
This is one of our favorite places to grab a casual bite to eat together. Conveniently located by the Panera at the corner of Colesville and Georgia Ave., it is yummy, fast, comfy and cute inside. It is also a decent people watching spot, with all the windows. Vegetarians who like fake meats will find a wide variety to pick from here. The tofu veggie-chicken soup is a favorite when I have a crummy tummy, too. Inside is clean, as are one-seater bathrooms. Mixed drinks come in all sorts of crazy glasses with equally entertaining names. Music is cheesy but not intrusive. I have found the staff to be very attentive and friendly on every visit and we've been eating here for years now. Diet coke is plentiful, so my sweetie is happy. If you order carry out they will run it out for you to the little parking lot outside, and even run your credit card in and back. This is handy on weekend nights when that lot is full and illegally parked cars are quickly ticketed. Note that metered parking immediately out front is more expensive, so park in the garage for the galleria just a few hundred feet away or walk up the hill from the metro station. That said, handicapped parking is right out front in that lot and the restaurant as well as the restroom are accessible. As a side note, I don't like sushi so I can't evaluate that here.
(4)
Thomas W.
** 3.5 Stars leaning towards 4 ** When I first saw this place upon moving in to my apartment in Silver Spring, I was immediately reminded of the terrible Asian Buffet places that used to be littered around my home town on LI. I wrote the place off and figured I'd never step foot inside to see what it actually is like. Today I was in a Sushi mood, however, and this place came up on Yelp (and based on the reviews of the only other Sushi joint in town, I decided I was better off here). First thing I have to say is I was completely wrong. The inside is really nice. It is small - I guess quaint is the word I'm looking for, as cliché as that sounds. I was sat at a nice table for one. It wasn't very crowded at 1:30pm on a Tuesday, as would be expected. I ordered two rolls, a California Roll and a Spicy Tuna Roll. The lunch special is two rolls for $7.95!!! The pricing was incredible. However the sushi wasn't anything special. It was actually a little bland, tho maybe it was just my selections. Tuna can be a bit bland and Californias are his and miss. Regardless, you cannot beat that price. The staff was attentive. At least 5 different people came over to ask if I wanted another Coke (I didn't, for once in my life). The sushi came out within mere minutes of my ordering. The rolls were done exactly the way I like them, inside out with roasted sesame seeds instead of fish roe (gross), and though they were bland, hit the spot. I would definitely come back here and give the rest of the asian cuisine a shot. Service: 4, Food: 3 with potential.
(4)
H W.
Today was my first visit to the Asian Bistro. I chose this restaurant b/c of its vast menu of both meat and vegetarian food (we had a varied group.) Parking was a bit of a problem but then again Inauguration is tomorrow so.... The wait staff was super friendly. Our group ordered appetizers which came quickly. We waited a terribly long time for our main course. I had to ask the waitress about our order, which she forgot to put it in so we were there much longer than we wanted to be. The food was average, nothing bad, nothing overly special. Over all, it wasn't a bad experience nor a great one. Instead of returning to this restaurant again, I'd rather spend my time trying out a new venue.
(2)
Brian W.
After much searching in the Silver Spring, Takoma Park area, I've found my go to chinese restaurant. Lots of vegetarian options here, I've yet to find a bad entree. Vege duck! Vege Kung Pao chicken! moo shu vegetables! It's all good. What's more if like me you are both lazy and busy (which is a deadly combination), ABC offers curbside pick-up. If you can't get delivery this is the next best option. If it did deliver I'd add another star.
(4)
blowfly x.
Good sushi, good prices, good service. Also good Thai dishes - they have an excellent red curry with shrimp. Oddly, however, the Chinese dishes we had have been AWFUL, and I think they are primarily a Chinese restaurant. We had a Chinese beef dish, can't remember the exact name, but the beef was so tough it didn't break down with chewing. So we go for the sushi and Thai and skip the Chinese.
(3)
Alex A.
There are plenty of Asian restaurants that seem to have one thing going for them, be it location, or price, or just atmosphere, or in the rare few where it's the food. This one seems to have it all. It's right downtown (although some people might not want to hang around the city place mall), it wasn't crowded (even on a Saturday night), the staff were all friendly, the interior was nice, it wasn't expensive, and most important - the food was good. The menu is a mish-mash of Chinese, Thai, and Japanese. But they seemed to get everything right. Between the people with me we ordered something from every type of cuisine. I guess I was just pleasantly surprised by this place. I've been to too many Chinese restaurants that are supposed to be "the best ever" and the food is just the same old greasy Chinese. So, I'm not going to say this is the greatest ever. I'll just say it had a lot going for it, and I'll be going back. Also, something a little different that I almost forgot, they have Tiki bar style drinks (i.e. Zombies, Mai Tai's, etc.) and they even come in those weird glasses with little tiny party umbrellas.
(4)
Amy S.
This was my first time at Asian Bistro and I was very impressed. My family wanted to try a variety of things--so we shared a "big makI' sushi appetizer, chicken lettuce wraps (made from gluten-chicken), udon soup and two Chinese dishes, one of which was also made from gluten. It was all very delicious--I especially enjoyed how many veggie options there were. We'll be sure to return again.
(4)
Steve Y.
I've been here twice over the years; once, not long after it opened back around 2005, and on Christmas day this year after watching a movie at the nearby AFI cinema. On both occasions I came away feeling underwhelmed. To be honest, the details of my first encounter with Asian Bistro are now almost non-existent, however the one memory I do have is that I wasn't in a rush to return. I don't think I had a bad experience, as I would have remembered that, I just think it was all very forgettable. Flash forward to this year, the evening of Christmas day to be precise, and the place was packed. Being one of the few open restaurants in downtown Silver Spring and being located literally just a few steps from the AFI meant that once the movie let out the place became jammed in minutes. Our party of 5 ended up waiting about 30 minutes for a table, however once seated the service was generally good. The food, on the other hand, turned out to be as forgettable as my first visit. I started out with a bowl of miso soup which was more like so-so soup, and then tucked into a chicken satay skewer thingy. This turned out to be a little too rubbery and not as flavorful as I would have liked. While I didn't sample my fellow diners' food, I got the general impression that while everything was ok it wasn't particularly interesting. In fact nobody commented on their food at all one way or another which probably speaks volumes. I doubt that I'll return to the Asian Bistro Cafe anytime soon - it's just too bland, too forgettable to make we want to rush back. In fact it took almost 5 years and an almost completely closed down Silver Spring on Christmas night to get me to return the first time.
(2)
Paul M.
Probably not the place for gourmet snobs, but a good choice for an affordable date or family night out. Delicious food, excellent service and eclectic menu. We'll be back.
(4)
Jade T.
3.5 Stars Normally, I'm not a fan of Pan-Asian cuisine. When a restaurant serves Chinese, Thai, and Japanese dishes, I think they suffer from identity crises. There must be some bastardization if a restaurant offers dishes from those different cuisines. I'd rather dine at a restaurant that doesn't try to do it all ... I was in the mood for Chinese tonight. Asian Bistro was the closest restaurant that offered mock meat. I absolutely love mock shrimp (as you can tell from my reviews of Vegetable Garden and Harmony Cafe). It's tastier and healthier than regular shrimp (it's made out of white yams). Their vegetarian menu is extensive! Dishes range from noodle soups to "Duck" Hot Pots. They also offer vegetarian sushi. (I don't notice a vast difference between vegetarian sushi served at a neighborhood sushi bar and a swanky one. It's hard to screw up an avocado roll.) I had the Kung Pao "Shrimp", and it was delicious! Though, there was way too much water chestnuts. Next time I'll request mixed vegetables or simply broccoli. I love Kung Pao dishes, but many restaurants make them sweet. Asian Bistro Cafe's version was slightly sweet, but savory. Curtis had no complains on the Sesame "Chicken". The portions was a good size, BUT ... The prices at Asian Bistro Cafe are higher than most Asian restaurants, much higher than regular Chinese restaurants. I'm taking a star and a half from their rating for this. It was $10.95 for each of our dishes, which is less than Vegetable Garden (but their lunch specials are way better). The "Virgin Downfall", a cocktail served in a kitschy plastic cup, was $6.95. (That drink was extremely strong!) As much as I enjoyed my dinner at Asian Bistro Cafe, the prices are a deterrant. Kung Pao with "Shrimp" or even real shrimp costs less than $10 almost everywhere else. Still, props to them for being vegetarian and vegan-friendly! If you're not a vegetarian but need a restaurant that caters to both kinds of diets, Asian Bistro Cafe is a good choice. They're conveniently located near the Silver Spring Metro Station too.
(4)
Mitishi N.
I visit this place like 2-3 times a week after work purely for sushi. Its a cozy, quaint spot where they aren't overly friendly but very gracious and timely. The sushi is pretty good. Because I am usually dining alone when I go here, sitting at the sushi bar suits me best. The sushi chefs are kind and know what they are doing. There is even a little mini candy bar on the house that comes with the check. The prices are fair, the food is good and the staff is cool. The place is not high on decor but Im usually just happy to sit down at a place where I can get a glass of wine and some good sushi by the time I get off the train.
(4)
C D.
Ordered the Big Sushi/Sashimi combo for two ($69 I think) and was pleasantly - delightfully- surprised. Another time we ordered the lunch sushi special and the pieces were small and overall the meal was average - but this last time made us rethink: maybe we just order the big super combo and all will be well. And we know sushi. Can't comment on other dishes.
(3)
Lauren H.
I went there for lunch. The service was great, the kung pao veggie chicken was spicy, and the meal was reasonably priced. Just two complaints: the food was way too oily, and the spring roll hardly had any vegetables in it. A more healthful approach would have been more pleasing. However, for a satisfying vegetarian lunch in Silver Spring, this is not a bad place to go.
(4)
Lynn G.
The food is decent but completely uninspired and pretty bland. You do get ALOT of it and the place is kid friendly.
(2)
Elizabeth M.
Haters, please. This place is actually great for what it's trying to be. I actually welcome this humble, undecorated little place in a development that is quickly becoming an amusement park. It isn't fancy, but it's clean, the service is quick and pleasant, and the food is made with fresh-tasting ingredients. That's a lot more than I can say about most Asian restaurants in the area (yes, Sushi Jin and Thai place upstairs, I'm referring to you. barf.) They have a great lunchtime sushi special, and I love the spring rolls. I can't remember the name of the roll, but there's a great maki with eel, shrimp tempura, and avocado with a cute pink soy bean wrapper that just SLAYS me. I get it every time. And I kind of want the hostess there to adopt me. She is a precious, precious woman.
(4)
Laura D.
I've never had anything but sushi here, but it's a great spot for reasonably priced, tasty sushi. Of course it's not Sushi Taro's quality, but then, I can't afford Sushi Taro anymore anyway. The sushi is always fresh and there are a lot of good varieties--my husband loves the spicy crunchy tuna rolls, which are not on many sushi restaurant menus. And the house wine is an incredible deal--it's not amazing quality, but you get a HUGE glass of decent wine for $5. This isn't a place I'd take anyone I was aiming to impress, but it's a nice, friendly, reliable place an affordable sushi dinner.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Garage, Street, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
Val A.
Ate here with a co-worker for dinner. Sat at the bar and ordered a bunch of rolls. Honestly I felt it was hit or miss because I didn't really know what the rolls would look like. Some places have pictures which help me decide what to get. The food turned out to be good but not great. The chef seemed skilled but disengaged, almost robotic even after I attempted to start conversation a few times. The sushi bar had the usual display for the ingredients but these were placed in unflattering plastic bins and bags. The price was average, but the place was also average. Lots of other places to try before I consider coming back here.
(3)Scott B.
Avoid!! Yelp really let me down this time, this is NOT a 3-star-plus place! We just had a really bad experience taking a chance while in Silver Spring. Ok sushi, but the portion was small, and the rainbow roll was missing the yellowtail. We ordered the first special soup, the beef noodle soup which the waiter told us was spicy-- not even slightly, and it was completely meh. The killer was the kung pao scallops, one of my standard tests, and it was perhaps the worst I have ever, ever had, they didn't even fry it with chili's. Honestly, and I can't believe I'm saying this, we would have been better off next door at red lobster.
(2)Santia D.
I've only been here for lunch. You get 2 rolls for 7.95$ & 3 rolls for 10$ you can't beat that.
(4)Richard D.
It was good. Nothing bad to say. You got a great size portion for the price, especially at lunch. Appetizers were good, Sushi was good.
(4)Angela C.
To be honest I didn't have good impression of the place, smelly napkins, maybe poorly washed. About the service I can say it is not so bad. Sushi was not very fresh, was very salty, seaweed salad was the worst I've ever eaten.
(2)Starr C.
Despite how suspicious I was of an Asian cuisine establishment with the word "Asian" in its name, I really enjoyed myself here a few months ago. I was in downtown Silver Spring with my boyfriend and we wanted to try a new place, since I usually am a creature of habit. When we found Asian Bistro, around the corner from where the main area of restaurants is, it didn't really look very much like an Asian restaurant. It was very bright and open, as opposed to the more intimate settings I'm more accustomed to. (Slightly racist translation I was told: "It's for white people." Don't shoot the messenger!) But other than that, I liked the interior. Bright and open was perfect for a late lunch and there was a fun theme inside also. SERVICE-- Our waitress was pretty nice to us, and I think it always helps when we're able to speak Chinese to our servers. (Although the staff mostly spoke Cantonese, and we speak Mandarin.) Standard service, nothing to complain or rave about. FOOD-- While I would not call this place authentic at all, as it caters to a non-Chinese crowd (I think we were the only Chinese customers at the time), I think we made good choices and that's why we had such a good meal. I ordered the bao bao (pu-pu) platter to start us off, and it was served on a plate instead of the little platform (with fire!) that I'm used to, but everything tasted fantastic. 2 of everything, so perfect for sharing with another person. This isn't very authentic, but then we ordered crispy eggplant and sizzling Mongolian beef. BOTH WERE DELICIOUS. The eggplant was so crisp on the outside and a delicious mess on the inside. A bit of a kick and so flavorful. The beef, OH the beef. I don't normally like beef much but this was delicious. Tender, thin slices with this delicious marinade that came out steaming and sizzling to our table. *mouth watering* Also, their sushi selection looks great and fresh, although we didn't sample any that day. Despite my skepticism, I had a pretty fantastic meal, and I would definitely come back for more.
(4)Mark S.
Updating my review. For americanized chinese food. this place is pretty decent. the lunch specials are actually around $6 something. it's not bad at all. you get an entree, spring roll and a small salad. that's to go too. i like how they have non-fried versions (steamed) of some of the more popular dishes. makes it a bit healthier. also they don't charge extra for brown rice substitute.
(4)A V.
This place did me well. I'm not a menu reader, and will typically tell the server what I want. Nine times out of ten, they have something like what I'm describing and when it comes out, everyone's happy (them and me). So, this time I ordered the chicken lo mein after seeing a large plate on my dining neighbor's table. It was divine. I thought the large plate would be too much. It was. But I'm okay w/ leftovers. Moving on...as I'm knee-deep in a convo w/my friend, a little boy interrupts me to ask me what I'm eating. Apparently, he orders like me. :) He ordered the same dish and loved it. Great minds... Other notes: Our server, Jonathan, was very nice, personable and quick. The menu can be like Cheesecake Factory's--too many options! But, if you like to read menus and order that way, by all means....Also, I looked around and while it wasn't 5-star dining by any stretch, it was perfectly fine--clean, tables bussed, servers in tucked shirts and neat appearance... I will go back again. Slurp...
(4)Sheri L.
This place is fast, and it's usually packed during the week for lunch. I work right across the street, so I've tried it a few times. Each time, the food and /or service is lacking. With all the choices in this area, why settle for basic Chinese and average sushi? I ordered a Bento box, this last visit, and it does not come with rice. Make sure to ask for rice if you go to AB. Also, the teriyaki chicken was dry, cut in strips and had no hint of flavor. I've had better at the mall fast food court. I'm not a big fan, so I don't expect that I'll visit this place again. Mediocore Chinese at best, and below average sushi
(2)Asya T.
Really like this place. I've been here quite often and food is always good and the variety is quite large. Prices are not very high. For $10-12 you can get a large entree, fish dishes are more expensive though - around $15. Stuff is very friendly and quick. I would highly recommend this place to visit in Silver Spring.
(5)Soca M.
The food was decent n the service was great. The prices are reasonable. I had e spicy crunch tuna to start and the bento box as my entree. Surprisingly, the box came with some sushi. I gave it to my cuz. We had a $25 bottle of wine that cost $10 at the store, but what can ya do.
(3)Trevor W.
Very good food and the extensive menu really should have something for just about everyone! Also the service was very fast which I very much appreciated! I will be going back often!
(5)Sana J.
Pretty good for your average Chinese food spot! Came here for a late lunch a few days ago and got their Hunan chicken and drunken noodles. Loved the Hunan chicken and the drunken noodles were interesting (but in a good way!) because they used long rice noodles instead of the regular wide noodles. And for the price, we'll definitely be coming back again.
(4)Devida N.
Popular asian cusine in downtown Silver Spring. Very good service, ok food, no delivery but prompt take out service. Great lunch special!
(3)Brian G.
Ok, it's in a strip mall, but at least it's an historic strip mall. The wait staff are attentive - and quirky. The food is great - Americanized pan asian. I'm sure there are those out there that scoff at the idea of being able to order sushi and general tso's chicken from the same menu but to them I say, "get over it, this is the suburbs."
(4)Sara M.
Had an absolutely terrible time here. The food was decent, but the service was absolutely contemptible. The waitstaff was slow and unresponsive. On one occasion, my dinner companion ordered two beers during dinner. The waitress never showed up with the second beer. We flagged down a different waiter and asked again, and that waiter promptly brought over the requested beer. When we received the check, it listed three beers. We pointed out the mistake and our waitress (who never brought us that second beer) insisted that there had indeed been three beers - and that she'd brought over the requested beer! She called over the manager, who said that our waitress wouldn't lie and there MUST have been three beers. We pointed at the two (not three!) empty glasses and they were unmoved. They pretty much accused us of trying to scam them out of a $5 glass of beer - which is rather crazy when we were having a $50+ meal! Eventually, the manager took the extra beer off our bill, but she made it quite clear that she didn't believe us and just wanted to appease us so we'd leave. It was incredibly uncomfortable, and all of the people at surrounding tables were staring at us like we were horrible people. We now refer to this place as the "accusation bistro" and will never return. I'm sure they don't want low-class beer thieves in there anyway.
(2)Chris A.
Went here once with some friends after a trip through DTSS. For a restaurant titled "Asian Restaurant", the food is actually really good. My wife loved the sushi she got and the more traditional Chinese food options I've tried I've liked. I think it's the small touches that put this place over the top. I like the selection of tropical/tiki drinks and have had a few zombies here. I also like the coffee brandy that they bring with the check. If you like sushi or good Chinese food, it's worth a trip.
(4)Dan F.
Asian Bistro doesn't have the best decor or the best sushi in the world, but I absolutely love Asian Bistro for exactly what it is. Asian Bistro has solid sushi with fresh fish. For lunch, you can get two maki rolls for $7.75 or three for $9.95. If you spend a little more for the specialty rolls, all the better. White Fish Tempura is my favorite. Runners up: Crunchy Tuna Hidden Dragon and First Sight of Love Maki. They also have an entire Chinese menu here (I enjoy the vegi-chicken lettuce cups). It's a great place for those looking for meat substitutes, plus the hot and sour soup doesn't have pork. Their service is very attentive and speedy. As for the decor, it's not where I'd take someone on a first date, but it's a great place to meet someone for lunch, a great quick dinner before an evening at the movies, or a great place to just satisfy your craving for sushi.
(4)Brian F.
I ordered take out from this place. They stapled the bag closed and did not include napkins, chop sticks, silverware, or even a fortune cookie. I ordered brown rice, they gave me white rice. The food itself was below mediocre, the side sauce of hoi sin was watered down to where it looked like a runny mess. The steamed wrappers were crumpled and stuck altogether. Verdict = "AVOID".
(1)Olivia D.
Fake meat rocks. And at Asian Bistro Café, there are dozens of options to choose from. Two whole pages of vegetarian OPTIONS! Not just a pile of steamed bland vegetables! "Duck," "chicken," "beef," "pork,"... and also your standard veg-only and tofu dishes. We ordered hot and sour soup, the fake General Tso's fake chicken and the moo shu vegetable. All were tasty, colorfully presented and satisfying. Though the General's "chicken" looked like enlarged McDonald's chicken nuggets doused in sauce, I kind of like the chicken McNuggets, so they were perfect for me. Crisp on the outside, spongy-meaty on the inside, covered in a good spicy sweet sauce and paired with broccoli. The moo shu vegetable dish was comprised of all shredded vegetables plus broccoli florets and had that semi-charred wok-fried taste that most stir-fried dishes have, which lent an almost meaty aroma. Wrapped in soft pancakes spread with hoisin sauce, I barely noticed the missing meat. The hot and sour soup was nice too, though a tad overdone on the sour side. Now as a bit of a back story, we hang out in downtown Silver Sprung a lot. We eat there, drink there, watch movies there... and I've passed by the Asian Bistro many a times, marveling at the fact that it's always packed to the gills, and wondering why the hell people would want to eat at an ambiguously pan-Asian type of place, the kind of place that always sucks, especially when there are other places to eat around there. (I have also marveled at how Red Lobster always manages to get so busy, and why people would want to eat there when they could just bust open a box of Gorton's fishsticks for the same food, but that's another story.) So, since discovering their vegetarian menu, I have developed a new appreciation for the Asian Bistro. Thank God for fake meat. I also developed an appreciation for the staff there. They were very polite and quick, and apparently they know how to accommodate groups of broke young people because they asked us multiple times if we wanted separate checks -- and usually restaurants can't stand when groups ask for separate checks. It doesn't matter that we didn't want it. They also deftly handled a situation with a bawling toddler and a clearly overwhelmed father by offering the kid a little dessert, on the house. Smart move.
(4)Elise P.
I usually like this place. The food usually is above average, fresh and tasty and my sushi go to spot in silver spring. Today however, the sushi was just completely underwhelming. The fried rice tasted like carry out Chinese food. My niece has a developing palate and she stopped eating her California roll after her mouth started itching. She made the carryout reference. I agreed. Pull it together Asian Bistro! It used to be lots better.
(2)May-lissa B.
It's been a while since I've been here. But while on vacation I wanted to visit my favorite sushi place. Still as good as I remember! Fast service and good price. The only change is that the cutie that used to work there 2 years ago is gone :(
(5)E S.
Surprisingly good sushi in Silver Spring. Went to dinner with friends and we just shared several maki rolls. All in all, if I am in Silver Spring again sometime soon, I'd like to return and sample some other things. Props on their seaweed salad, I thought it was very good. Great service, we arrived on the late side on a Saturday night probably after 8pm, we were seated and eating within 15 minutes. It is also worth to point out that they have a very varied menu for those picky eaters in your party!
(4)Katelyn K.
Living near downtown Silver Spring, my boyfriend and I have passed the Asian Bistro Cafe a number of times... but finally decided to try it. Not bad overall, but I won't become my replacement Chinese restaurant. The decor is nice, and the prices a bit high, but the thing that really got to me was how close together the tables were. There was a couple behind on their first date, and not only were we close enough to hear the whole conversation, I could hear the guy chewing... EWW! Anyway, I had the miso soup (which was superb), the spicy salmon and Philadelphia rolls. They were pretty standard, the Philly rolls however had more cream cheese than usual, which is fine by me, but it was mildly overpowering of the salmon. My boyfriend had the Mongolian Beef, which was also pretty good, however, it had too much black pepper (that I would have thought it unpalatable, if it weren't for the price paid for it).
(4)Tara I.
Yummy menu. Variety of offerings. I like vegetarian asian food and this place has good options. You can also get brown rice without an additional charge. Lunch time specials with speedy service. And they will bring little candy bars at the end of a meal.
(4)jax g.
they need an outside seating area... the menu is good for vegetarians but expensive for all... service sometimes slow and drinks sub-par. for veggie entrees, lots of good delicious stuff. bring your wallet.
(3)Nicole B.
My husband and I went here last week and were impressed. The food was good and the waitstaff was very attentive. They have a variety of Asian style dishes. The prices are good and the setting was decent. The staff was even wiping all parts of chairs to make sure every thing was clean. I will come back here next time I visit.
(5)Stephanie W.
Since November when I first reviewed Asian Bistro, I have not only been home (Michigan), where the sushi is bigger, fresher and better, but I have discovered my new love, Maki Maki in Bethesda on Wisconsin Ave. The last time I went to Asian Bistro will be the last time I go there for sushi. It's edible. But after having Maki Maki, that's about all it is, is edible. Also, when you sit at the sushi bar, you have to flag waiters down to get any kind of service. However they do have other options of the non raw fish variety that are good. Not crave-able, but options that will do.
(2)Dana G.
I like this place. We've been there a bunch of times now, and every entree we've ordered has been very good. I've had a couple of not so good appetizers, and decided that their fryer techniques need improvement...so I don't get the cream cheese wontons and wind up having a healthier meal, so I forgive! The spring rolls are fine, I wouldn't bother ordering them again. But the moo goo gai pan is actually rich and flavorful (hard to find with that dish!), and the seafood dishes and chicken dishes we've tried have all been very good! The ambiance isn't much, very casual, but perfectly pleasant.
(4)Thomas W.
I seldom go to Asian restaurants where I do not see any other Asians in the restaurant. I wanted to try this place because of its proximity to the AFI Theatre, and because it is usually filled. The food was okay, but tries to hard to serve Japanese, and Chinese food. The wonton soup was the older, pork filled wontons. The soup was the better part of my meal. The Hunan Shrimp was of medium heat, but the portion was tiny along with Japanese lettuce salad. The portions are tiny for the price. I need to try the sushi another time, but am not anxious to return.
(2)Johnny A.
Decent Chinese food at a reasonable price, fast lunch service and attentive servers.
(3)Yue C.
I am Chinese and I am from LA and have tried all kind of authentic Chinese food, so I am super picky when it comes to Chinese food. Before I came to Asian Bistro, I expected an Americanized Chinese restaurant, but they are Americanized beyond my expectation!! First of all, the menu is written in English only, they didn't even bother trying to translate the menu into Chinese. This was a huge turnoff for me. The price is also more expensive than the average Chinese food in LA. I ordered the pork stir-fried yakisoba and my hubby ordered the orange chicken. Both of our dishes costed $11.95 (for dinner), with tax and tips the total came down to $28. I can get two entrees, an appetizer and a bowl of soup with the same amount of money in the Chinese restaurants in LA. But again, this is Maryland... To be fair, our food was decent. The food came out really fast, we only waited for like 5 minutes. I probably won't come back again because I can get cheaper and more authentic Chinese food in Wheaton.
(3)Darjeeling T.
I'm a sucker for amazing sushi--and I have never been disappointed at Asian Bistro. I haven't tried any of the Chinese dishes so I can't speak about them, but anything I try from the sushi menu is generally very fresh, very tasty, and very reasonably priced. Also, I'm not a big drinker, but friends who do drink do tend to enjoy the myriad of cocktails they have. The ambience is lacking, sure. And the waitstaff is occasionally...distracted. But it's a great location, I've never had to wait for a table, and what it lacks in decor and fabulosity, it more than makes up for in its sushi. Definitely my go-to for sushi in the SS area.
(4)Ken M.
Not a big fun of this place. To be fair, I've tried this place a few times, waiting for a good surprise to come. It didn't unfortunately. So far I've tried an eel rice bowl, noodles with meat sauce, pad thai, and Vietnamese iced coffee. They were quite disappointing. Even worse, the service was not good (missing silverware, wrong orders,,,). I haven't tried this place for a drink, though I'm not so motivated to try for the "karaoke-style" music they usually play. Not recommend.
(1)Li D.
This is your everyday neighborhood Asian restaurant. It's great if you are going to the movies, and just want to grab a quick bite to eat. It's not pretentious, the service is fast and friendly, it's in a convenient location, and the menu has your standard Asian options -- a mix of Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, etc. We went for dinner last night, and I ordered the pan-fried noodles with vegetables. It was exactly as I had expected - nice selection of sautéed vegetables, crispy noodles on the outside and creamy noodles on the inside. My partner ordered sushi and the age-dofu, both of which he enjoyed. (The age-dofu sauce was a bit sweet for my taste.) The prices are reasonable (~$10-14 for a dinner entree).
(3)Ebony B.
Dont ever go there. I went late at night on a date..and the food tasted as if it was scrapped from the bottom of the pot.
(1)Stephanie G.
It took me a long time to get here, even though I work in the area. It should have taken me longer. I eat a lot of sushi..and I know good when I have it. This was NOT good. This place on a sunday afternoon just gave me the creeps. Lackluster service, Muzak, and the blandest yellowtail and salmon skin roll ever...even though the salmon skin roll was covered in sauce. I don't think I've ever had fish so FLAVORLESS! I had to sniff it to make sure that it wasn't gonna kill me before I tasted it. Then after tasting 2 pieces of nigiri, the chef opened the door of the case where all his fish for sushi was. The smell made me decide it was time to go without eating one bite more. One look at the regular menu also told me something. You can't do all those types of food well. I can't comment on the other stuff, but I can tell you to skip the sushi in this place.. and as far as the service goes...skip that too. I'm in downtown silver spring all the time... There are much better choices. Trust me on this one... I won't be back.
(1)Tiffany M.
We had to live in the Silver Spring area for about 5 months while my husband was at Walter Reed. Anyway, living out of hotel meant we had to eat out a lot and this place was definitely the one we frequented the most, for both dine-in and carry-out. We all loved the food here (me, my husband and several of his friends who also ended up at WR). Its Asian Fusion style menu is FULL of a variety of options and the meats they use are top notch (not super fatty like many other Asian places with similar price points). The staff is extremely friendly, the service is fast and efficient and the prices are great for what you get! If you like Asian food I definitely recommend this place!
(5)Natasha S.
I tried this place out when it first opened. Hoping I would be impressed. I was far from being impressed. In fact, 5-6 years later I can't remember a single thing I liked from here. My mother being Chinese would not stop venting about the quality and taste of every dish ordered. It was a waste of time and we haven't been back since. I hope it has improved since then. It still seems to be around, and I still see people in and out.
(2)Tami B.
I usually eat seafood here. The shrimp and scallops in garlic sauce comes in an edible bowl the texture of fortune cookie but not sweet. Last week I ordered soft-shell crab tempura. It came with one crab and lots of vegetable tempura. I ordered brown rice, which was delicious. All the tempura were delicious. In addition to the one crab, there were tempura sweet potato, broccoli, and others I've forgotten. This comes with miso, which I don't like, so gave to a companion. It also comes with a small salad. Sorry to say, the salad, which was in a tiny bowl, consisted of old-looking chopped iceberg, some of which was turning brown on the edges. The salad dressing was good. My companions got sushi, which was fresh and delicious. BTW, if you order takeout, it can be hard to find parking closer than the garage. The staff will bring your order out to your car when you double-park and call them.
(4)Angela M.
Maybe not the best time to be reviewing restaurants given my recent nasal passage revamping (deviated septum, enlarged turbinates, you name it - it was up there blocking my airway) but I'm mostly able to breathe and taste now. I'm a little surprised that I've never been here before - maybe the name was a bit too generic. Asian bistro - what kind of Asian food do they mean now? Well, Chinese, Japanese, Dirtyknees, Thai are a few that come to mind. I got the Thai tea; almost 3 bills for a glass, but a solid showing, and a normal staple, the sesame chicken. The best thing is, now I have always wanted to be able to order Chinese food this way because I'm not big on the fried and the breading, is that you can order all the favorites light sauteed instead of fried. Big bonus points - people like me, are bells and whistles going off in your brain? Wonderful. I'm happy. I just remembered, I did order something fried, but that's because of my dominant blonde gene expression. I meant to get the non-fried cool summer rolls (absent from their menu, I think) and got the Spring rolls, which were still tasty even though I had to chop them up with a knife and fork to eat them. Remember, I mentioned surgery? I've been eating a lot of Trader Joe's and take out this week, so it was nice to finally be able to leave the house. Our waitress should play poker - what a face. The other lady that wasn't our waitress was so friendly and had the most psychedelic fruity bra on that we could see through her white shirt clear across the restaurant. We had some interesting eye candy, er, an eyeful of a belly dancer walk by a couple times and though we were short of a midget, there was some diverse people watching through the windows at downtown Silver Spring. Pun intended....
(3)Khadish F.
This place is definitely a local favorite! It's solid Chinese with amazing service. The shrimp tempura rolls NEVER disappoint! Great for sushi and entrees, I suggest you check them out!
(4)Diana C.
Ah, Accusation Bistro, as Sara M. and I call it. I've been here a few times. The Chinese food is ok, pretty standard fare. The sushi is good (I'll get to that more in a minute). The service? HORRIFIC. During one occasion, I ordered two beers, but because of the huge lags in service, the overlap in servers coming to our table, and the general incompetence, they tried to charge me for three beers (though there were clearly only two bottles on the table, since they were too lazy to remove the bottles during our meal). They gave me a very hard time and accused me of trying to cheat them out of a $5 bottle of beer, before finally relenting and removing the extra from the final bill. I was aghast at this, especially coming from a manager, and after our bill between myself and my two companions was well over $50. Way to guarantee that I'll never go here again, thank you. However, I will say that the one time I did sit at the sushi bar and dealt only with the sushi maker and not any of the idiotic wait staff, I had a fantastic meal and a really nice time. He was actually very good, recommended a nice sake, and was very friendly.
(2)Amanda S.
placed in a little strip mall featuring tacky asian décor and even tackier muzak (we're talking simon and garfunkel and the beatles on traditional chinese instruments) is this little gem that gets the trick done. right after my dining companion and i were seated, i had to make a quick trip to the loo. they have only one bathroom for men, and one for women. of course, the women's room was occupied. so i did my little potty dance. eventually, an employee came and insisted that i just use the men's room as no one was there. so i did. it felt strange to be doing that on a weeknight dinner rather than a weekend drunk fest in some random, crowded bar, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do, i guess. (end tangent.) we started with a half order of the veggie tempura and it was pretty solid. nothing to rave about, but it was definitely scarfed down. then our rolls arrived:: rainbow maki, volcano maki, crunch tuna hidden dragon maki, spicy crunchy tuna, and shrimp tempura. of those, the rainbow, volcano, and crunch tuna hidden dragon were the clear winners. specialty is their thing. coco is a wonderful server and is one of those people who recognize regulars and makes a point of asking how they are. this is one of those "you get what you pay for" places, in the best of ways. extremely no-frills and, surprisingly, we were unable to finish everything. to me, that's a good sign, as oftentimes sushi can leave you hungry. the leftovers keep pretty well, too. this also an excellent place to get your people-watching on.
(3)Dak F.
I wanted Udon noodle soup. I should have gone the extra 6 miles and fifteen bucks for Bethesda's Raku. But no, I went to Asian Bistro. Ooopsy daisy. You stupid stupid man. I broke a cardinal rule of dining. Any restaurant with more than 50 dishes and three different cuisines is, by necessity, crap. Service was piecemeal. The music was suited for an assisted living lounge. Oh, and the food, did I mention it was gross? I feel weird. I hate myself.
(2)Jo A.
VEGAN HEAVEN!!!!! This place is incredible for many reasons. Great service, scrumptious food, outrageously huge portions, cheap prices. AND they have the best Asian vegan menu I've seen. Their "chicken" dishes are made out of soy protein, their "shrimp" is made out of white yams, and it goes on and on for their duck dishes too. My non-vegan friends loved their dishes and we seriously could not stop raving about what an awesome dinner we had. Please come here all you vegans and/or non-vegans. This place is AMAZING!!
(5)Matthew B.
My girlfriend stumbled upon this place before I moved up here, and we've been either going to the restaurant or taking-out at least two or three times a month ever since. I don't think we've had anything there we didn't like. The egg drop soup is some of the best I've had. I typically order either Sesame Chicken or Sweet & Sour Chicken, both of which are delicious. We also get Hunan Beef with some regularity (also good). Recently, my girlfriend has been ordering Mu Shu Pork, which is becoming a favorite of ours. Perhaps the most impressive fact about this place is the quality of their sushi. I haven't found many Chinese restaurants that do both traditional (American-style) Chinese food AND sushi well, but this place does. We've had several of the sushi rolls -- the non-special rolls are actually some of the best, though we've always enjoyed the specialty rolls we've ordered -- and I've had different sashimi and sushi combo dishes. It's all been quite good -- certainly not the best sushi out there, but much better than you'd think it would be, especially for the price. Parking out in front of the restaurant is a nightmare, but as long as you're just picking up, you can usually park anywhere for a minute or two to run in and out. Otherwise, definitely use the garages in the area, which are free in the evenings and on the weekends.
(4)Caitlin A.
Love the food! Sushi is so fresh and well put together!! I just wish they would deliever. But they have a compnay that charges 17 dollars per order. But when you don't have a car, that's a bit too pricey
(4)B Y.
Fabulous Chinese food and sushi. Great service, clean restaurant, friendly staff. We had a great time, the food was very fresh. The tuna sushi was tender and moist. The eel maki was great too. Presentation was excellent. Many times, at chinese restaurants the ambience and hygiene are less than perfect. But we felt this was on par with most western type restaurants on this point. The variety was great, and they really catered to the kids. Will be going again soon. thx. Pricing was very fair for all items. Menu is extensive with options to to suit most all palates.
(5)Henry M.
At lunch, the maki and the iced-coffee were lame enough that I won't be going back unless I'm dragged by co-workers again.
(2)Boo L.
The food here was really good. The service we experienced was also satisfactory and our food arrived quicker than expected and was piping hot. Reasonably priced.
(4)Jane Y.
They have great lunch specials. I usually get their sashimi lunch combo that comes with a roll and 12 pieces of sashimi. Their cuts of sashimi are generous and their california roll can't be beat. It's great!
(4)Ashley F.
Some of the best chinese food I've had in a looooong time! Everything was delicious and fresh and every single person that worked there was so delightfully courteous and nice. I'll definitely be going back to try their sushi, which looked delectable. Bonus: they offer white AND brown rice! You don't find that too often in a place like this.
(4)Juah F.
I really like Asian Bistro because the service is great. As soon as you walk in, you're kind of attacked by kindness and as you leave, guess what? You're attacked by their kindness once again. It's great. I love it because they actually smile when they attack. Once again, this restaurant was recommended by one of my friends...who shall remain nameless, but happens to stalk me on Yelp. ;-) When she told me their orange chicken was good, I was skeptical because I am slightly addicted to Panda's one. Although I felt like I was cheating on my prior orange chicken love, I have to admit...I kind of like Asian Bistro's. Their portions are quite large. They have healthy options for those who want to eat healthy Chinese food...which I didn't think really existed (well in the Americanized version of Chinese food at least). Asian Bistro also has so many vegetarian options! I kind of am anti-veg, but theirs is not bad at all. Their sushi is also quite good. One thing my friend steered me away from was ordering any alcoholic drinks from there. Never had any, so won't recommend any drinks or steer you away. Anyway there are plenty of other places around to satisfy that kind of thirst. =) PS: Their mints are actual chocolates like Twix and Snickers. Love it! PPS: Reasons it's a three star: The food is kind of taken away too early and the servers kind of attack you with customer service. After a while, you might need to find another place to just lounge around idly.
(3)John G.
The place is just down the road from the Hilton Hotel I stay at on the way to the Metro station. Stopped in for dinner one evening. A mix of Japanese, Thai and Chinese. The menu is quite extensive covering all the bases. I opted for the Japanese sushi at the counter. Service was ok, but lacked coming back to check on me and to refill my water. I got the California roll, the tempura roll, and the dragon roll. All were done fine, but it seemed they were a little on the small size, and not bursting with flavor. Anyway, its a good place for a basic meal, and at reasonable prices.
(3)Victoria B.
Disgusting! I got the garlic chicken and it smelled really strange. The taste was... nearly medicinal, not the mention the fact that the dish had nearly 3 cups of julienne carrots and tiny strips and chicken. The rice and spring rolls were nice, but I doubt they were hard to mess up in the first place. I've never had bad Asian food before, so it was baffling! Don't eat here!!
(1)Michael S.
I'm writing this aware that for non vegetarians there are probably many more cheaper 'more authentic' Chinese restaurants. But for a vegetarian like myself, this place rules. They have every type of imitation meat in every type of sauce and it tastes great, especially the sweet and sour shrimp. When I crave Chinese food, this is where I will get my fix!.
(5)Julie O.
I heart their sushi, which you can get made with brown rice which gets an extra star! Plus instead of fortune cookies they give mini chocolate bars another star!
(5)Greg W.
Asian Bistro is tops for lunch in Solver Spring, it's convenient location is just the beginning. While most of my work associates rave about their sushi, I do not partake in the raw stuff. I do however, feast on their other entrees, the Sweet & Sour, General Tso's, Sesame, and Kung Pao dishes are all spectacular. and they are even offered in Sauteed Lite versions, with non-fried meats. To top things off, their lunch special's are amazing. Ranging from $6.95 to $7.95 you'll get your money's worth, as each dish comes with a mini salad and spring roll, not to mention the generously sized main portion of food. The appetizers are also worth checking out, pot-stickers and garlic green beans are both out of this world. Service is quick too, with the one server constantly making sure your glass of water is filled to the brim. Highly recommend for a lunch outing!!! p.s. Coco is the best!
(5)Dana F.
Great quality sushi, friendly service, reasonable prices and lots of options! It's an awesome place for vegetarians and I especially appreciate the lighter entrees and how they're actually good. Ambiance isn't mind-blowing, but it's comfortable and clean and the food is rockin'. The Chinese is good, the Thai and sushi dishes are best, I think. Definitely a good call!
(4)Jennifer D.
I've come here for lunch a couple times, and have tried both the sushi and the Chinese dishes. I thought both were good, and the prices were fair, especially the lunch specials. I also like that they offer lighter/lower fat options of some of the Chinese dishes. I didn't have to wait long for my takeout order, so it's good for days when you don't have a lot of time to spend getting lunch.
(4)Michael C.
Sushi was great but bug problem noted in other review scares the heck out of me. Not acceptable in my book.
(4)Snow T.
They have great mock meat. Lots of vegan options. Right in the downtown shopping area. A little to expensive to be my weekly Chinese place, but it was really good.
(5)Adriana W.
I LOVE this place! Great sushi, and a wide selection of asian entrees. Being a vegetarian, this place devotes a huge section of their menu to vegetarian options, like Peking Duck or Orange Chicken (meatless of course). The staff is always really friendly. It's my go to place in the area for sushi and anything Chinese or Japanese. Highly recommended!
(5)Lauren R.
Ok we went for sushi and bottom line i didn't like it at all but my boyfriend thought it was pretty good. The presentation was blah, they didn't have too many creative rolls and they were kind of fishy tasting to me. This is probably the worst sushi I have ever had, besides maybe all you can eat sushi. I am giving it three stars since the service was very good, the ambiance was decent, and I didn't try the food (only sushi). I will try the food but I definitely will not order sushi again! If you want sushi I would recommend trying a place that actually specializes in sushi!
(3)Kelly L.
This place deserves a solid 4 stars. I stopped in for lunch when I was craving some fake Chinese food. They have a nice lunch combo and you can get it with items that are not listed you just need to ask. The food was good, really good. They asked me if I wanted it spicy and when I got the food it was spicy. The fried rice could've been better, but the orange chicken was fantastic and was the kung pao chicken (I stole some off the BF's plate, ok I stole a lot). It is more than an ample amount of food. If you are there for lunch the service was fast. The wait staff was very attentive. My water glass was always full. You can pretty much stop any wait staff to take your order, too. I liked it and now I think I am going to get it for dinner.
(4)Fred v.
I was invited by some coworkers to come here for sushi and I thought "why not?" I'm not a sushi veteran so I don't have a lot to compare against, but I had a combination of sushi rolls and sashimi. The rolls were very tasty and interesting (I think salmon?) The sashimi was interesting and complex tasting, but I suppose that's normal. Overall it was a good value (though I didn't have to pay) and a good experience. Would I go back? Sure, but I'd like to try some other sushi places first.
(3)N. E.
Great food, that is all that needs said. Just try it out.
(4)Joe H.
Excellently priced vegetarian lunch specials that are extremely tasty and very filling. Love that they offer brown rice as well. My favorite is the vegetarian Kung Pao chicken. A wonderful sauce. I've only had dinner there once and that was a clunker of an experience. I prefer take out.
(4)Jamie S.
Very disappointing the last few times:( Must find us a new take-out...
(3)blowfly x.
Good sushi, good prices, good service. Also good Thai dishes - they have an excellent red curry with shrimp. Oddly, however, the Chinese dishes we had have been AWFUL, and I think they are primarily a Chinese restaurant. We had a Chinese beef dish, can't remember the exact name, but the beef was so tough it didn't break down with chewing. So we go for the sushi and Thai and skip the Chinese.
(3)Ruth N.
This is one of our favorite places to grab a casual bite to eat together. Conveniently located by the Panera at the corner of Colesville and Georgia Ave., it is yummy, fast, comfy and cute inside. It is also a decent people watching spot, with all the windows. Vegetarians who like fake meats will find a wide variety to pick from here. The tofu veggie-chicken soup is a favorite when I have a crummy tummy, too. Inside is clean, as are one-seater bathrooms. Mixed drinks come in all sorts of crazy glasses with equally entertaining names. Music is cheesy but not intrusive. I have found the staff to be very attentive and friendly on every visit and we've been eating here for years now. Diet coke is plentiful, so my sweetie is happy. If you order carry out they will run it out for you to the little parking lot outside, and even run your credit card in and back. This is handy on weekend nights when that lot is full and illegally parked cars are quickly ticketed. Note that metered parking immediately out front is more expensive, so park in the garage for the galleria just a few hundred feet away or walk up the hill from the metro station. That said, handicapped parking is right out front in that lot and the restaurant as well as the restroom are accessible. As a side note, I don't like sushi so I can't evaluate that here.
(4)Meow W.
spicy crab roll is my fave! yum! its like a kung fu party in your mouth! the miso soup is good and the spring rolls are fab! good service too!
(4)Peter N.
I work near The Asian Bistro Cafe, and I go there with several coworkers quite often. The restaurant is unbeatable in terms of value. A $7 lunch platter sounds a little scary just from the price alone, but then the food comes out fast and fresh, with brightly-colored crisp vegetables, steaming piles of noodles and molten-hot sauces with lots of flavor. This is "good chinese food," the kind you crave days later. Fresh, tasty dishes at McDonalds prices.
(5)Thomas W.
** 3.5 Stars leaning towards 4 ** When I first saw this place upon moving in to my apartment in Silver Spring, I was immediately reminded of the terrible Asian Buffet places that used to be littered around my home town on LI. I wrote the place off and figured I'd never step foot inside to see what it actually is like. Today I was in a Sushi mood, however, and this place came up on Yelp (and based on the reviews of the only other Sushi joint in town, I decided I was better off here). First thing I have to say is I was completely wrong. The inside is really nice. It is small - I guess quaint is the word I'm looking for, as cliché as that sounds. I was sat at a nice table for one. It wasn't very crowded at 1:30pm on a Tuesday, as would be expected. I ordered two rolls, a California Roll and a Spicy Tuna Roll. The lunch special is two rolls for $7.95!!! The pricing was incredible. However the sushi wasn't anything special. It was actually a little bland, tho maybe it was just my selections. Tuna can be a bit bland and Californias are his and miss. Regardless, you cannot beat that price. The staff was attentive. At least 5 different people came over to ask if I wanted another Coke (I didn't, for once in my life). The sushi came out within mere minutes of my ordering. The rolls were done exactly the way I like them, inside out with roasted sesame seeds instead of fish roe (gross), and though they were bland, hit the spot. I would definitely come back here and give the rest of the asian cuisine a shot. Service: 4, Food: 3 with potential.
(4)H W.
Today was my first visit to the Asian Bistro. I chose this restaurant b/c of its vast menu of both meat and vegetarian food (we had a varied group.) Parking was a bit of a problem but then again Inauguration is tomorrow so.... The wait staff was super friendly. Our group ordered appetizers which came quickly. We waited a terribly long time for our main course. I had to ask the waitress about our order, which she forgot to put it in so we were there much longer than we wanted to be. The food was average, nothing bad, nothing overly special. Over all, it wasn't a bad experience nor a great one. Instead of returning to this restaurant again, I'd rather spend my time trying out a new venue.
(2)Brian W.
After much searching in the Silver Spring, Takoma Park area, I've found my go to chinese restaurant. Lots of vegetarian options here, I've yet to find a bad entree. Vege duck! Vege Kung Pao chicken! moo shu vegetables! It's all good. What's more if like me you are both lazy and busy (which is a deadly combination), ABC offers curbside pick-up. If you can't get delivery this is the next best option. If it did deliver I'd add another star.
(4)Alex A.
There are plenty of Asian restaurants that seem to have one thing going for them, be it location, or price, or just atmosphere, or in the rare few where it's the food. This one seems to have it all. It's right downtown (although some people might not want to hang around the city place mall), it wasn't crowded (even on a Saturday night), the staff were all friendly, the interior was nice, it wasn't expensive, and most important - the food was good. The menu is a mish-mash of Chinese, Thai, and Japanese. But they seemed to get everything right. Between the people with me we ordered something from every type of cuisine. I guess I was just pleasantly surprised by this place. I've been to too many Chinese restaurants that are supposed to be "the best ever" and the food is just the same old greasy Chinese. So, I'm not going to say this is the greatest ever. I'll just say it had a lot going for it, and I'll be going back. Also, something a little different that I almost forgot, they have Tiki bar style drinks (i.e. Zombies, Mai Tai's, etc.) and they even come in those weird glasses with little tiny party umbrellas.
(4)Amy S.
This was my first time at Asian Bistro and I was very impressed. My family wanted to try a variety of things--so we shared a "big makI' sushi appetizer, chicken lettuce wraps (made from gluten-chicken), udon soup and two Chinese dishes, one of which was also made from gluten. It was all very delicious--I especially enjoyed how many veggie options there were. We'll be sure to return again.
(4)Stacie C.
Mmmm tasty. Nice lunch specials here. The lo mein as mentioned by Merrill F. is tasty and comes in this crunchy little bowl during lunch that is almost as good as the lo mein itself. The shredder pork (as they have it printed on the menu) has the tastiest sauce with it. I dream about that sauce. Veggie tempura to die for and the bao bao appetizer platter is a good mix to start with. The sushi is okay. They're one of those restaurants that likes to put mayo in their sushi which just confuzzles me to no end.
(3)Steve Y.
I've been here twice over the years; once, not long after it opened back around 2005, and on Christmas day this year after watching a movie at the nearby AFI cinema. On both occasions I came away feeling underwhelmed. To be honest, the details of my first encounter with Asian Bistro are now almost non-existent, however the one memory I do have is that I wasn't in a rush to return. I don't think I had a bad experience, as I would have remembered that, I just think it was all very forgettable. Flash forward to this year, the evening of Christmas day to be precise, and the place was packed. Being one of the few open restaurants in downtown Silver Spring and being located literally just a few steps from the AFI meant that once the movie let out the place became jammed in minutes. Our party of 5 ended up waiting about 30 minutes for a table, however once seated the service was generally good. The food, on the other hand, turned out to be as forgettable as my first visit. I started out with a bowl of miso soup which was more like so-so soup, and then tucked into a chicken satay skewer thingy. This turned out to be a little too rubbery and not as flavorful as I would have liked. While I didn't sample my fellow diners' food, I got the general impression that while everything was ok it wasn't particularly interesting. In fact nobody commented on their food at all one way or another which probably speaks volumes. I doubt that I'll return to the Asian Bistro Cafe anytime soon - it's just too bland, too forgettable to make we want to rush back. In fact it took almost 5 years and an almost completely closed down Silver Spring on Christmas night to get me to return the first time.
(2)Paul M.
Probably not the place for gourmet snobs, but a good choice for an affordable date or family night out. Delicious food, excellent service and eclectic menu. We'll be back.
(4)Lauren H.
I went there for lunch. The service was great, the kung pao veggie chicken was spicy, and the meal was reasonably priced. Just two complaints: the food was way too oily, and the spring roll hardly had any vegetables in it. A more healthful approach would have been more pleasing. However, for a satisfying vegetarian lunch in Silver Spring, this is not a bad place to go.
(4)Lynn G.
The food is decent but completely uninspired and pretty bland. You do get ALOT of it and the place is kid friendly.
(2)Elizabeth M.
Haters, please. This place is actually great for what it's trying to be. I actually welcome this humble, undecorated little place in a development that is quickly becoming an amusement park. It isn't fancy, but it's clean, the service is quick and pleasant, and the food is made with fresh-tasting ingredients. That's a lot more than I can say about most Asian restaurants in the area (yes, Sushi Jin and Thai place upstairs, I'm referring to you. barf.) They have a great lunchtime sushi special, and I love the spring rolls. I can't remember the name of the roll, but there's a great maki with eel, shrimp tempura, and avocado with a cute pink soy bean wrapper that just SLAYS me. I get it every time. And I kind of want the hostess there to adopt me. She is a precious, precious woman.
(4)Jade T.
3.5 Stars Normally, I'm not a fan of Pan-Asian cuisine. When a restaurant serves Chinese, Thai, and Japanese dishes, I think they suffer from identity crises. There must be some bastardization if a restaurant offers dishes from those different cuisines. I'd rather dine at a restaurant that doesn't try to do it all ... I was in the mood for Chinese tonight. Asian Bistro was the closest restaurant that offered mock meat. I absolutely love mock shrimp (as you can tell from my reviews of Vegetable Garden and Harmony Cafe). It's tastier and healthier than regular shrimp (it's made out of white yams). Their vegetarian menu is extensive! Dishes range from noodle soups to "Duck" Hot Pots. They also offer vegetarian sushi. (I don't notice a vast difference between vegetarian sushi served at a neighborhood sushi bar and a swanky one. It's hard to screw up an avocado roll.) I had the Kung Pao "Shrimp", and it was delicious! Though, there was way too much water chestnuts. Next time I'll request mixed vegetables or simply broccoli. I love Kung Pao dishes, but many restaurants make them sweet. Asian Bistro Cafe's version was slightly sweet, but savory. Curtis had no complains on the Sesame "Chicken". The portions was a good size, BUT ... The prices at Asian Bistro Cafe are higher than most Asian restaurants, much higher than regular Chinese restaurants. I'm taking a star and a half from their rating for this. It was $10.95 for each of our dishes, which is less than Vegetable Garden (but their lunch specials are way better). The "Virgin Downfall", a cocktail served in a kitschy plastic cup, was $6.95. (That drink was extremely strong!) As much as I enjoyed my dinner at Asian Bistro Cafe, the prices are a deterrant. Kung Pao with "Shrimp" or even real shrimp costs less than $10 almost everywhere else. Still, props to them for being vegetarian and vegan-friendly! If you're not a vegetarian but need a restaurant that caters to both kinds of diets, Asian Bistro Cafe is a good choice. They're conveniently located near the Silver Spring Metro Station too.
(4)Mitishi N.
I visit this place like 2-3 times a week after work purely for sushi. Its a cozy, quaint spot where they aren't overly friendly but very gracious and timely. The sushi is pretty good. Because I am usually dining alone when I go here, sitting at the sushi bar suits me best. The sushi chefs are kind and know what they are doing. There is even a little mini candy bar on the house that comes with the check. The prices are fair, the food is good and the staff is cool. The place is not high on decor but Im usually just happy to sit down at a place where I can get a glass of wine and some good sushi by the time I get off the train.
(4)C D.
Ordered the Big Sushi/Sashimi combo for two ($69 I think) and was pleasantly - delightfully- surprised. Another time we ordered the lunch sushi special and the pieces were small and overall the meal was average - but this last time made us rethink: maybe we just order the big super combo and all will be well. And we know sushi. Can't comment on other dishes.
(3)Laura D.
I've never had anything but sushi here, but it's a great spot for reasonably priced, tasty sushi. Of course it's not Sushi Taro's quality, but then, I can't afford Sushi Taro anymore anyway. The sushi is always fresh and there are a lot of good varieties--my husband loves the spicy crunchy tuna rolls, which are not on many sushi restaurant menus. And the house wine is an incredible deal--it's not amazing quality, but you get a HUGE glass of decent wine for $5. This isn't a place I'd take anyone I was aiming to impress, but it's a nice, friendly, reliable place an affordable sushi dinner.
(4)Melissa H.
I love this place. I have always found the food delicious, the staff friendly and attentive and we always have a good time. A friend has celiac disease and she started to ask about tamari and our dear waiter put some Bragg's on the table. I am vegan and find the menu pretty satisfying, as do vegetarians and meat eaters. Great place to meet up before or after a movie and they don't mind you hanging around to chat.
(5)Danielle P.
Asian Bistro cafe is a solid three star restaurant in downtown Silver Spring. Indeed the sushi is fresh, but nothing about the food or restaurant is special. My miso soup was bland and my boyfriend's chicken lo-mien was pretty generic. I would agree with other Yelpers that the lunch prices are pretty good. Service was poor-average. It took forever to flag someone down for soy sauce and they did not offer any refills on drinks. All things considered, I wouldn't come back. I might order out and eat in the comfort of my own home, where the soy sauce is in reach and refills are plentiful.
(3)Safoura K.
I love their sushi here. My bf and I go in all the time to order the crunchy spicy white fish and shrimp tempuras. If you get a chance, try the miso soup. Also the have 4 flavors of mochi ice-cream. My favorite is the strawberry, but they also serve mango and green tea flavors along with the original. Shout out to my favorite server , Ivan. He da best.
(5)Sarah S.
Only ordered sushi from here -- it's always amazing! Don't be thrown off by the un-creative name of the joint. Sushi is so good, so on point! Great price!
(5)Donna H.
I had dinner here about a month ago and it was tasty. Nothing fancy, but a solid dinner of some Chinese food basics. I would come back.
(4)Ujji B.
Great options for vegetarians! Serving size portions are well enough to take home and finish for another meal. The customer service always seem to be a 4/5 stars. I typically opt for takeout but the times I dined were left satisfied. One or two occasions there was a strong cleaning smell (which should be good as long as it's not overbearing the food...I guess). I like dining here and the menu offers a variety for me to switch up my taste buds. The alcoholic drinks were prepared tasty and just right. I'll be back when in the area. Ps...getting front door parking is not simple(metered), you're better off parking in the free garage and walking a few minutes.
(4)Bia K.
The sushi was fresh and I like my beef and broccoli with brown rice. I ordered for delivery and they got there within 30 minutes which I like. I would say that I would probably order from them again since the food was good and the service was timely. I wasn't impressed with their rolls though.
(4)Kristen H.
This place has a great lunch special. 3 small maki rolls for 10.95 definitely fills me up with some delicious sushi. I can easily give them a call for carryout and pick it up within 10 minutes. The place seems a little old but that doesn't take away from the quality of food you are getting.
(4)Katrice C.
I have always enjoyed Asian Bistro but I will never return again. I went there for lunch and ordered shrimp fried rice. A few minutes after I started eating, I heard a clicking sound that sounded like finger nail clippers. I whipped my head around and saw the man behind the hostess stand clipping his nails. I said something to the waiter and he said something to the man. Less than a minute later, the sound resumed but it was louder and more frequent. I was disgusted. I paid my bill and left. I will never return.
(1)Kelly P.
My favorite Chinese food in Downtown Silver Spring! They are always courteous and the food is always delicious.
(5)Naman J.
As a vegetarian, I really liked this place. They have amazing options for vegetarians, with a lot of mock meat options. Since I have never eaten meat, I do not know how close it actually tastes to meat: but it does taste excellent. In addition, the serving size is good to actually qualify as a meal. Service was good at this place too. Did not try the alcoholic beverages though if I come here again, I might give them a try : they looked pretty good. Its not a far walk from the Silver Spring Metro Station so if you are in the area, do give this place a try.
(5)Meg D.
Whenever I come here, it's always for the same dish: the california roll and sashimi combo. I would change it up, but it's one of the few places near my office that'll satisfy my sushi craving. Sometimes getting food in Silver Spring can be pretty nice. For 6 CA rolls and maybe 6 pieces of sashimi along, that was about $8 or $9-in DC or Arlington, you get half that for maybe $7. Obviously comparing price (and quality-though the sashimi did taste fresh!) with the casual dine in range, not the upscale sushi restaurants. One of my friends is a picky vegetarian, but they happily catered to her needs, turning her vegetable fried rice to pretty much pineapple fried rice in a crispy edible bowl, and she seemed happy with it.
(3)SA F.
The sushi is so fresh, I think they might be hiding some fish tanks in the back. Wow - DELICIOUS. I forgot salmon could be that good. The eel had me singing for joy. The crisp hot salted green bean side dish had me wishing my tummy was a little bigger - this place is a great find. I'm so glad I've discovered Asian Bistro - will DEF be back - soon.
(5)Denise K.
Great Chinese restaurant in silver spring. I really liked the bento box with teriyaki but we ordered rice on the side. Service was really fast and staff was pleasant.
(4)Melissa H.
I love this place. I have always found the food delicious, the staff friendly and attentive and we always have a good time. A friend has celiac disease and she started to ask about tamari and our dear waiter put some Bragg's on the table. I am vegan and find the menu pretty satisfying, as do vegetarians and meat eaters. Great place to meet up before or after a movie and they don't mind you hanging around to chat.
(5)Danielle P.
Asian Bistro cafe is a solid three star restaurant in downtown Silver Spring. Indeed the sushi is fresh, but nothing about the food or restaurant is special. My miso soup was bland and my boyfriend's chicken lo-mien was pretty generic. I would agree with other Yelpers that the lunch prices are pretty good. Service was poor-average. It took forever to flag someone down for soy sauce and they did not offer any refills on drinks. All things considered, I wouldn't come back. I might order out and eat in the comfort of my own home, where the soy sauce is in reach and refills are plentiful.
(3)Safoura K.
I love their sushi here. My bf and I go in all the time to order the crunchy spicy white fish and shrimp tempuras. If you get a chance, try the miso soup. Also the have 4 flavors of mochi ice-cream. My favorite is the strawberry, but they also serve mango and green tea flavors along with the original. Shout out to my favorite server , Ivan. He da best.
(5)Sarah S.
Only ordered sushi from here -- it's always amazing! Don't be thrown off by the un-creative name of the joint. Sushi is so good, so on point! Great price!
(5)Donna H.
I had dinner here about a month ago and it was tasty. Nothing fancy, but a solid dinner of some Chinese food basics. I would come back.
(4)Ujji B.
Great options for vegetarians! Serving size portions are well enough to take home and finish for another meal. The customer service always seem to be a 4/5 stars. I typically opt for takeout but the times I dined were left satisfied. One or two occasions there was a strong cleaning smell (which should be good as long as it's not overbearing the food...I guess). I like dining here and the menu offers a variety for me to switch up my taste buds. The alcoholic drinks were prepared tasty and just right. I'll be back when in the area. Ps...getting front door parking is not simple(metered), you're better off parking in the free garage and walking a few minutes.
(4)Bia K.
The sushi was fresh and I like my beef and broccoli with brown rice. I ordered for delivery and they got there within 30 minutes which I like. I would say that I would probably order from them again since the food was good and the service was timely. I wasn't impressed with their rolls though.
(4)Kristen H.
This place has a great lunch special. 3 small maki rolls for 10.95 definitely fills me up with some delicious sushi. I can easily give them a call for carryout and pick it up within 10 minutes. The place seems a little old but that doesn't take away from the quality of food you are getting.
(4)Katrice C.
I have always enjoyed Asian Bistro but I will never return again. I went there for lunch and ordered shrimp fried rice. A few minutes after I started eating, I heard a clicking sound that sounded like finger nail clippers. I whipped my head around and saw the man behind the hostess stand clipping his nails. I said something to the waiter and he said something to the man. Less than a minute later, the sound resumed but it was louder and more frequent. I was disgusted. I paid my bill and left. I will never return.
(1)Kelly P.
My favorite Chinese food in Downtown Silver Spring! They are always courteous and the food is always delicious.
(5)Naman J.
As a vegetarian, I really liked this place. They have amazing options for vegetarians, with a lot of mock meat options. Since I have never eaten meat, I do not know how close it actually tastes to meat: but it does taste excellent. In addition, the serving size is good to actually qualify as a meal. Service was good at this place too. Did not try the alcoholic beverages though if I come here again, I might give them a try : they looked pretty good. Its not a far walk from the Silver Spring Metro Station so if you are in the area, do give this place a try.
(5)Meg D.
Whenever I come here, it's always for the same dish: the california roll and sashimi combo. I would change it up, but it's one of the few places near my office that'll satisfy my sushi craving. Sometimes getting food in Silver Spring can be pretty nice. For 6 CA rolls and maybe 6 pieces of sashimi along, that was about $8 or $9-in DC or Arlington, you get half that for maybe $7. Obviously comparing price (and quality-though the sashimi did taste fresh!) with the casual dine in range, not the upscale sushi restaurants. One of my friends is a picky vegetarian, but they happily catered to her needs, turning her vegetable fried rice to pretty much pineapple fried rice in a crispy edible bowl, and she seemed happy with it.
(3)SA F.
The sushi is so fresh, I think they might be hiding some fish tanks in the back. Wow - DELICIOUS. I forgot salmon could be that good. The eel had me singing for joy. The crisp hot salted green bean side dish had me wishing my tummy was a little bigger - this place is a great find. I'm so glad I've discovered Asian Bistro - will DEF be back - soon.
(5)Denise K.
Great Chinese restaurant in silver spring. I really liked the bento box with teriyaki but we ordered rice on the side. Service was really fast and staff was pleasant.
(4)Val A.
Ate here with a co-worker for dinner. Sat at the bar and ordered a bunch of rolls. Honestly I felt it was hit or miss because I didn't really know what the rolls would look like. Some places have pictures which help me decide what to get. The food turned out to be good but not great. The chef seemed skilled but disengaged, almost robotic even after I attempted to start conversation a few times. The sushi bar had the usual display for the ingredients but these were placed in unflattering plastic bins and bags. The price was average, but the place was also average. Lots of other places to try before I consider coming back here.
(3)Scott B.
Avoid!! Yelp really let me down this time, this is NOT a 3-star-plus place! We just had a really bad experience taking a chance while in Silver Spring. Ok sushi, but the portion was small, and the rainbow roll was missing the yellowtail. We ordered the first special soup, the beef noodle soup which the waiter told us was spicy-- not even slightly, and it was completely meh. The killer was the kung pao scallops, one of my standard tests, and it was perhaps the worst I have ever, ever had, they didn't even fry it with chili's. Honestly, and I can't believe I'm saying this, we would have been better off next door at red lobster.
(2)Santia D.
I've only been here for lunch. You get 2 rolls for 7.95$ & 3 rolls for 10$ you can't beat that.
(4)Richard D.
It was good. Nothing bad to say. You got a great size portion for the price, especially at lunch. Appetizers were good, Sushi was good.
(4)Angela C.
To be honest I didn't have good impression of the place, smelly napkins, maybe poorly washed. About the service I can say it is not so bad. Sushi was not very fresh, was very salty, seaweed salad was the worst I've ever eaten.
(2)Sheri L.
This place is fast, and it's usually packed during the week for lunch. I work right across the street, so I've tried it a few times. Each time, the food and /or service is lacking. With all the choices in this area, why settle for basic Chinese and average sushi? I ordered a Bento box, this last visit, and it does not come with rice. Make sure to ask for rice if you go to AB. Also, the teriyaki chicken was dry, cut in strips and had no hint of flavor. I've had better at the mall fast food court. I'm not a big fan, so I don't expect that I'll visit this place again. Mediocore Chinese at best, and below average sushi
(2)Asya T.
Really like this place. I've been here quite often and food is always good and the variety is quite large. Prices are not very high. For $10-12 you can get a large entree, fish dishes are more expensive though - around $15. Stuff is very friendly and quick. I would highly recommend this place to visit in Silver Spring.
(5)Soca M.
The food was decent n the service was great. The prices are reasonable. I had e spicy crunch tuna to start and the bento box as my entree. Surprisingly, the box came with some sushi. I gave it to my cuz. We had a $25 bottle of wine that cost $10 at the store, but what can ya do.
(3)Starr C.
Despite how suspicious I was of an Asian cuisine establishment with the word "Asian" in its name, I really enjoyed myself here a few months ago. I was in downtown Silver Spring with my boyfriend and we wanted to try a new place, since I usually am a creature of habit. When we found Asian Bistro, around the corner from where the main area of restaurants is, it didn't really look very much like an Asian restaurant. It was very bright and open, as opposed to the more intimate settings I'm more accustomed to. (Slightly racist translation I was told: "It's for white people." Don't shoot the messenger!) But other than that, I liked the interior. Bright and open was perfect for a late lunch and there was a fun theme inside also. SERVICE-- Our waitress was pretty nice to us, and I think it always helps when we're able to speak Chinese to our servers. (Although the staff mostly spoke Cantonese, and we speak Mandarin.) Standard service, nothing to complain or rave about. FOOD-- While I would not call this place authentic at all, as it caters to a non-Chinese crowd (I think we were the only Chinese customers at the time), I think we made good choices and that's why we had such a good meal. I ordered the bao bao (pu-pu) platter to start us off, and it was served on a plate instead of the little platform (with fire!) that I'm used to, but everything tasted fantastic. 2 of everything, so perfect for sharing with another person. This isn't very authentic, but then we ordered crispy eggplant and sizzling Mongolian beef. BOTH WERE DELICIOUS. The eggplant was so crisp on the outside and a delicious mess on the inside. A bit of a kick and so flavorful. The beef, OH the beef. I don't normally like beef much but this was delicious. Tender, thin slices with this delicious marinade that came out steaming and sizzling to our table. *mouth watering* Also, their sushi selection looks great and fresh, although we didn't sample any that day. Despite my skepticism, I had a pretty fantastic meal, and I would definitely come back for more.
(4)Mark S.
Updating my review. For americanized chinese food. this place is pretty decent. the lunch specials are actually around $6 something. it's not bad at all. you get an entree, spring roll and a small salad. that's to go too. i like how they have non-fried versions (steamed) of some of the more popular dishes. makes it a bit healthier. also they don't charge extra for brown rice substitute.
(4)A V.
This place did me well. I'm not a menu reader, and will typically tell the server what I want. Nine times out of ten, they have something like what I'm describing and when it comes out, everyone's happy (them and me). So, this time I ordered the chicken lo mein after seeing a large plate on my dining neighbor's table. It was divine. I thought the large plate would be too much. It was. But I'm okay w/ leftovers. Moving on...as I'm knee-deep in a convo w/my friend, a little boy interrupts me to ask me what I'm eating. Apparently, he orders like me. :) He ordered the same dish and loved it. Great minds... Other notes: Our server, Jonathan, was very nice, personable and quick. The menu can be like Cheesecake Factory's--too many options! But, if you like to read menus and order that way, by all means....Also, I looked around and while it wasn't 5-star dining by any stretch, it was perfectly fine--clean, tables bussed, servers in tucked shirts and neat appearance... I will go back again. Slurp...
(4)Trevor W.
Very good food and the extensive menu really should have something for just about everyone! Also the service was very fast which I very much appreciated! I will be going back often!
(5)Sana J.
Pretty good for your average Chinese food spot! Came here for a late lunch a few days ago and got their Hunan chicken and drunken noodles. Loved the Hunan chicken and the drunken noodles were interesting (but in a good way!) because they used long rice noodles instead of the regular wide noodles. And for the price, we'll definitely be coming back again.
(4)Devida N.
Popular asian cusine in downtown Silver Spring. Very good service, ok food, no delivery but prompt take out service. Great lunch special!
(3)Sara M.
Had an absolutely terrible time here. The food was decent, but the service was absolutely contemptible. The waitstaff was slow and unresponsive. On one occasion, my dinner companion ordered two beers during dinner. The waitress never showed up with the second beer. We flagged down a different waiter and asked again, and that waiter promptly brought over the requested beer. When we received the check, it listed three beers. We pointed out the mistake and our waitress (who never brought us that second beer) insisted that there had indeed been three beers - and that she'd brought over the requested beer! She called over the manager, who said that our waitress wouldn't lie and there MUST have been three beers. We pointed at the two (not three!) empty glasses and they were unmoved. They pretty much accused us of trying to scam them out of a $5 glass of beer - which is rather crazy when we were having a $50+ meal! Eventually, the manager took the extra beer off our bill, but she made it quite clear that she didn't believe us and just wanted to appease us so we'd leave. It was incredibly uncomfortable, and all of the people at surrounding tables were staring at us like we were horrible people. We now refer to this place as the "accusation bistro" and will never return. I'm sure they don't want low-class beer thieves in there anyway.
(2)Chris A.
Went here once with some friends after a trip through DTSS. For a restaurant titled "Asian Restaurant", the food is actually really good. My wife loved the sushi she got and the more traditional Chinese food options I've tried I've liked. I think it's the small touches that put this place over the top. I like the selection of tropical/tiki drinks and have had a few zombies here. I also like the coffee brandy that they bring with the check. If you like sushi or good Chinese food, it's worth a trip.
(4)Nicole B.
My husband and I went here last week and were impressed. The food was good and the waitstaff was very attentive. They have a variety of Asian style dishes. The prices are good and the setting was decent. The staff was even wiping all parts of chairs to make sure every thing was clean. I will come back here next time I visit.
(5)Dan F.
Asian Bistro doesn't have the best decor or the best sushi in the world, but I absolutely love Asian Bistro for exactly what it is. Asian Bistro has solid sushi with fresh fish. For lunch, you can get two maki rolls for $7.75 or three for $9.95. If you spend a little more for the specialty rolls, all the better. White Fish Tempura is my favorite. Runners up: Crunchy Tuna Hidden Dragon and First Sight of Love Maki. They also have an entire Chinese menu here (I enjoy the vegi-chicken lettuce cups). It's a great place for those looking for meat substitutes, plus the hot and sour soup doesn't have pork. Their service is very attentive and speedy. As for the decor, it's not where I'd take someone on a first date, but it's a great place to meet someone for lunch, a great quick dinner before an evening at the movies, or a great place to just satisfy your craving for sushi.
(4)Brian F.
I ordered take out from this place. They stapled the bag closed and did not include napkins, chop sticks, silverware, or even a fortune cookie. I ordered brown rice, they gave me white rice. The food itself was below mediocre, the side sauce of hoi sin was watered down to where it looked like a runny mess. The steamed wrappers were crumpled and stuck altogether. Verdict = "AVOID".
(1)Brian G.
Ok, it's in a strip mall, but at least it's an historic strip mall. The wait staff are attentive - and quirky. The food is great - Americanized pan asian. I'm sure there are those out there that scoff at the idea of being able to order sushi and general tso's chicken from the same menu but to them I say, "get over it, this is the suburbs."
(4)Olivia D.
Fake meat rocks. And at Asian Bistro Café, there are dozens of options to choose from. Two whole pages of vegetarian OPTIONS! Not just a pile of steamed bland vegetables! "Duck," "chicken," "beef," "pork,"... and also your standard veg-only and tofu dishes. We ordered hot and sour soup, the fake General Tso's fake chicken and the moo shu vegetable. All were tasty, colorfully presented and satisfying. Though the General's "chicken" looked like enlarged McDonald's chicken nuggets doused in sauce, I kind of like the chicken McNuggets, so they were perfect for me. Crisp on the outside, spongy-meaty on the inside, covered in a good spicy sweet sauce and paired with broccoli. The moo shu vegetable dish was comprised of all shredded vegetables plus broccoli florets and had that semi-charred wok-fried taste that most stir-fried dishes have, which lent an almost meaty aroma. Wrapped in soft pancakes spread with hoisin sauce, I barely noticed the missing meat. The hot and sour soup was nice too, though a tad overdone on the sour side. Now as a bit of a back story, we hang out in downtown Silver Sprung a lot. We eat there, drink there, watch movies there... and I've passed by the Asian Bistro many a times, marveling at the fact that it's always packed to the gills, and wondering why the hell people would want to eat at an ambiguously pan-Asian type of place, the kind of place that always sucks, especially when there are other places to eat around there. (I have also marveled at how Red Lobster always manages to get so busy, and why people would want to eat there when they could just bust open a box of Gorton's fishsticks for the same food, but that's another story.) So, since discovering their vegetarian menu, I have developed a new appreciation for the Asian Bistro. Thank God for fake meat. I also developed an appreciation for the staff there. They were very polite and quick, and apparently they know how to accommodate groups of broke young people because they asked us multiple times if we wanted separate checks -- and usually restaurants can't stand when groups ask for separate checks. It doesn't matter that we didn't want it. They also deftly handled a situation with a bawling toddler and a clearly overwhelmed father by offering the kid a little dessert, on the house. Smart move.
(4)Elise P.
I usually like this place. The food usually is above average, fresh and tasty and my sushi go to spot in silver spring. Today however, the sushi was just completely underwhelming. The fried rice tasted like carry out Chinese food. My niece has a developing palate and she stopped eating her California roll after her mouth started itching. She made the carryout reference. I agreed. Pull it together Asian Bistro! It used to be lots better.
(2)May-lissa B.
It's been a while since I've been here. But while on vacation I wanted to visit my favorite sushi place. Still as good as I remember! Fast service and good price. The only change is that the cutie that used to work there 2 years ago is gone :(
(5)E S.
Surprisingly good sushi in Silver Spring. Went to dinner with friends and we just shared several maki rolls. All in all, if I am in Silver Spring again sometime soon, I'd like to return and sample some other things. Props on their seaweed salad, I thought it was very good. Great service, we arrived on the late side on a Saturday night probably after 8pm, we were seated and eating within 15 minutes. It is also worth to point out that they have a very varied menu for those picky eaters in your party!
(4)Katelyn K.
Living near downtown Silver Spring, my boyfriend and I have passed the Asian Bistro Cafe a number of times... but finally decided to try it. Not bad overall, but I won't become my replacement Chinese restaurant. The decor is nice, and the prices a bit high, but the thing that really got to me was how close together the tables were. There was a couple behind on their first date, and not only were we close enough to hear the whole conversation, I could hear the guy chewing... EWW! Anyway, I had the miso soup (which was superb), the spicy salmon and Philadelphia rolls. They were pretty standard, the Philly rolls however had more cream cheese than usual, which is fine by me, but it was mildly overpowering of the salmon. My boyfriend had the Mongolian Beef, which was also pretty good, however, it had too much black pepper (that I would have thought it unpalatable, if it weren't for the price paid for it).
(4)Tara I.
Yummy menu. Variety of offerings. I like vegetarian asian food and this place has good options. You can also get brown rice without an additional charge. Lunch time specials with speedy service. And they will bring little candy bars at the end of a meal.
(4)jax g.
they need an outside seating area... the menu is good for vegetarians but expensive for all... service sometimes slow and drinks sub-par. for veggie entrees, lots of good delicious stuff. bring your wallet.
(3)Stephanie W.
Since November when I first reviewed Asian Bistro, I have not only been home (Michigan), where the sushi is bigger, fresher and better, but I have discovered my new love, Maki Maki in Bethesda on Wisconsin Ave. The last time I went to Asian Bistro will be the last time I go there for sushi. It's edible. But after having Maki Maki, that's about all it is, is edible. Also, when you sit at the sushi bar, you have to flag waiters down to get any kind of service. However they do have other options of the non raw fish variety that are good. Not crave-able, but options that will do.
(2)Dana G.
I like this place. We've been there a bunch of times now, and every entree we've ordered has been very good. I've had a couple of not so good appetizers, and decided that their fryer techniques need improvement...so I don't get the cream cheese wontons and wind up having a healthier meal, so I forgive! The spring rolls are fine, I wouldn't bother ordering them again. But the moo goo gai pan is actually rich and flavorful (hard to find with that dish!), and the seafood dishes and chicken dishes we've tried have all been very good! The ambiance isn't much, very casual, but perfectly pleasant.
(4)Thomas W.
I seldom go to Asian restaurants where I do not see any other Asians in the restaurant. I wanted to try this place because of its proximity to the AFI Theatre, and because it is usually filled. The food was okay, but tries to hard to serve Japanese, and Chinese food. The wonton soup was the older, pork filled wontons. The soup was the better part of my meal. The Hunan Shrimp was of medium heat, but the portion was tiny along with Japanese lettuce salad. The portions are tiny for the price. I need to try the sushi another time, but am not anxious to return.
(2)Johnny A.
Decent Chinese food at a reasonable price, fast lunch service and attentive servers.
(3)Yue C.
I am Chinese and I am from LA and have tried all kind of authentic Chinese food, so I am super picky when it comes to Chinese food. Before I came to Asian Bistro, I expected an Americanized Chinese restaurant, but they are Americanized beyond my expectation!! First of all, the menu is written in English only, they didn't even bother trying to translate the menu into Chinese. This was a huge turnoff for me. The price is also more expensive than the average Chinese food in LA. I ordered the pork stir-fried yakisoba and my hubby ordered the orange chicken. Both of our dishes costed $11.95 (for dinner), with tax and tips the total came down to $28. I can get two entrees, an appetizer and a bowl of soup with the same amount of money in the Chinese restaurants in LA. But again, this is Maryland... To be fair, our food was decent. The food came out really fast, we only waited for like 5 minutes. I probably won't come back again because I can get cheaper and more authentic Chinese food in Wheaton.
(3)Darjeeling T.
I'm a sucker for amazing sushi--and I have never been disappointed at Asian Bistro. I haven't tried any of the Chinese dishes so I can't speak about them, but anything I try from the sushi menu is generally very fresh, very tasty, and very reasonably priced. Also, I'm not a big drinker, but friends who do drink do tend to enjoy the myriad of cocktails they have. The ambience is lacking, sure. And the waitstaff is occasionally...distracted. But it's a great location, I've never had to wait for a table, and what it lacks in decor and fabulosity, it more than makes up for in its sushi. Definitely my go-to for sushi in the SS area.
(4)Ken M.
Not a big fun of this place. To be fair, I've tried this place a few times, waiting for a good surprise to come. It didn't unfortunately. So far I've tried an eel rice bowl, noodles with meat sauce, pad thai, and Vietnamese iced coffee. They were quite disappointing. Even worse, the service was not good (missing silverware, wrong orders,,,). I haven't tried this place for a drink, though I'm not so motivated to try for the "karaoke-style" music they usually play. Not recommend.
(1)Li D.
This is your everyday neighborhood Asian restaurant. It's great if you are going to the movies, and just want to grab a quick bite to eat. It's not pretentious, the service is fast and friendly, it's in a convenient location, and the menu has your standard Asian options -- a mix of Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, etc. We went for dinner last night, and I ordered the pan-fried noodles with vegetables. It was exactly as I had expected - nice selection of sautéed vegetables, crispy noodles on the outside and creamy noodles on the inside. My partner ordered sushi and the age-dofu, both of which he enjoyed. (The age-dofu sauce was a bit sweet for my taste.) The prices are reasonable (~$10-14 for a dinner entree).
(3)Ebony B.
Dont ever go there. I went late at night on a date..and the food tasted as if it was scrapped from the bottom of the pot.
(1)Stephanie G.
It took me a long time to get here, even though I work in the area. It should have taken me longer. I eat a lot of sushi..and I know good when I have it. This was NOT good. This place on a sunday afternoon just gave me the creeps. Lackluster service, Muzak, and the blandest yellowtail and salmon skin roll ever...even though the salmon skin roll was covered in sauce. I don't think I've ever had fish so FLAVORLESS! I had to sniff it to make sure that it wasn't gonna kill me before I tasted it. Then after tasting 2 pieces of nigiri, the chef opened the door of the case where all his fish for sushi was. The smell made me decide it was time to go without eating one bite more. One look at the regular menu also told me something. You can't do all those types of food well. I can't comment on the other stuff, but I can tell you to skip the sushi in this place.. and as far as the service goes...skip that too. I'm in downtown silver spring all the time... There are much better choices. Trust me on this one... I won't be back.
(1)Tiffany M.
We had to live in the Silver Spring area for about 5 months while my husband was at Walter Reed. Anyway, living out of hotel meant we had to eat out a lot and this place was definitely the one we frequented the most, for both dine-in and carry-out. We all loved the food here (me, my husband and several of his friends who also ended up at WR). Its Asian Fusion style menu is FULL of a variety of options and the meats they use are top notch (not super fatty like many other Asian places with similar price points). The staff is extremely friendly, the service is fast and efficient and the prices are great for what you get! If you like Asian food I definitely recommend this place!
(5)Natasha S.
I tried this place out when it first opened. Hoping I would be impressed. I was far from being impressed. In fact, 5-6 years later I can't remember a single thing I liked from here. My mother being Chinese would not stop venting about the quality and taste of every dish ordered. It was a waste of time and we haven't been back since. I hope it has improved since then. It still seems to be around, and I still see people in and out.
(2)Tami B.
I usually eat seafood here. The shrimp and scallops in garlic sauce comes in an edible bowl the texture of fortune cookie but not sweet. Last week I ordered soft-shell crab tempura. It came with one crab and lots of vegetable tempura. I ordered brown rice, which was delicious. All the tempura were delicious. In addition to the one crab, there were tempura sweet potato, broccoli, and others I've forgotten. This comes with miso, which I don't like, so gave to a companion. It also comes with a small salad. Sorry to say, the salad, which was in a tiny bowl, consisted of old-looking chopped iceberg, some of which was turning brown on the edges. The salad dressing was good. My companions got sushi, which was fresh and delicious. BTW, if you order takeout, it can be hard to find parking closer than the garage. The staff will bring your order out to your car when you double-park and call them.
(4)Meow W.
spicy crab roll is my fave! yum! its like a kung fu party in your mouth! the miso soup is good and the spring rolls are fab! good service too!
(4)Peter N.
I work near The Asian Bistro Cafe, and I go there with several coworkers quite often. The restaurant is unbeatable in terms of value. A $7 lunch platter sounds a little scary just from the price alone, but then the food comes out fast and fresh, with brightly-colored crisp vegetables, steaming piles of noodles and molten-hot sauces with lots of flavor. This is "good chinese food," the kind you crave days later. Fresh, tasty dishes at McDonalds prices.
(5)Angela M.
Maybe not the best time to be reviewing restaurants given my recent nasal passage revamping (deviated septum, enlarged turbinates, you name it - it was up there blocking my airway) but I'm mostly able to breathe and taste now. I'm a little surprised that I've never been here before - maybe the name was a bit too generic. Asian bistro - what kind of Asian food do they mean now? Well, Chinese, Japanese, Dirtyknees, Thai are a few that come to mind. I got the Thai tea; almost 3 bills for a glass, but a solid showing, and a normal staple, the sesame chicken. The best thing is, now I have always wanted to be able to order Chinese food this way because I'm not big on the fried and the breading, is that you can order all the favorites light sauteed instead of fried. Big bonus points - people like me, are bells and whistles going off in your brain? Wonderful. I'm happy. I just remembered, I did order something fried, but that's because of my dominant blonde gene expression. I meant to get the non-fried cool summer rolls (absent from their menu, I think) and got the Spring rolls, which were still tasty even though I had to chop them up with a knife and fork to eat them. Remember, I mentioned surgery? I've been eating a lot of Trader Joe's and take out this week, so it was nice to finally be able to leave the house. Our waitress should play poker - what a face. The other lady that wasn't our waitress was so friendly and had the most psychedelic fruity bra on that we could see through her white shirt clear across the restaurant. We had some interesting eye candy, er, an eyeful of a belly dancer walk by a couple times and though we were short of a midget, there was some diverse people watching through the windows at downtown Silver Spring. Pun intended....
(3)Khadish F.
This place is definitely a local favorite! It's solid Chinese with amazing service. The shrimp tempura rolls NEVER disappoint! Great for sushi and entrees, I suggest you check them out!
(4)Diana C.
Ah, Accusation Bistro, as Sara M. and I call it. I've been here a few times. The Chinese food is ok, pretty standard fare. The sushi is good (I'll get to that more in a minute). The service? HORRIFIC. During one occasion, I ordered two beers, but because of the huge lags in service, the overlap in servers coming to our table, and the general incompetence, they tried to charge me for three beers (though there were clearly only two bottles on the table, since they were too lazy to remove the bottles during our meal). They gave me a very hard time and accused me of trying to cheat them out of a $5 bottle of beer, before finally relenting and removing the extra from the final bill. I was aghast at this, especially coming from a manager, and after our bill between myself and my two companions was well over $50. Way to guarantee that I'll never go here again, thank you. However, I will say that the one time I did sit at the sushi bar and dealt only with the sushi maker and not any of the idiotic wait staff, I had a fantastic meal and a really nice time. He was actually very good, recommended a nice sake, and was very friendly.
(2)Amanda S.
placed in a little strip mall featuring tacky asian décor and even tackier muzak (we're talking simon and garfunkel and the beatles on traditional chinese instruments) is this little gem that gets the trick done. right after my dining companion and i were seated, i had to make a quick trip to the loo. they have only one bathroom for men, and one for women. of course, the women's room was occupied. so i did my little potty dance. eventually, an employee came and insisted that i just use the men's room as no one was there. so i did. it felt strange to be doing that on a weeknight dinner rather than a weekend drunk fest in some random, crowded bar, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do, i guess. (end tangent.) we started with a half order of the veggie tempura and it was pretty solid. nothing to rave about, but it was definitely scarfed down. then our rolls arrived:: rainbow maki, volcano maki, crunch tuna hidden dragon maki, spicy crunchy tuna, and shrimp tempura. of those, the rainbow, volcano, and crunch tuna hidden dragon were the clear winners. specialty is their thing. coco is a wonderful server and is one of those people who recognize regulars and makes a point of asking how they are. this is one of those "you get what you pay for" places, in the best of ways. extremely no-frills and, surprisingly, we were unable to finish everything. to me, that's a good sign, as oftentimes sushi can leave you hungry. the leftovers keep pretty well, too. this also an excellent place to get your people-watching on.
(3)Dak F.
I wanted Udon noodle soup. I should have gone the extra 6 miles and fifteen bucks for Bethesda's Raku. But no, I went to Asian Bistro. Ooopsy daisy. You stupid stupid man. I broke a cardinal rule of dining. Any restaurant with more than 50 dishes and three different cuisines is, by necessity, crap. Service was piecemeal. The music was suited for an assisted living lounge. Oh, and the food, did I mention it was gross? I feel weird. I hate myself.
(2)Jo A.
VEGAN HEAVEN!!!!! This place is incredible for many reasons. Great service, scrumptious food, outrageously huge portions, cheap prices. AND they have the best Asian vegan menu I've seen. Their "chicken" dishes are made out of soy protein, their "shrimp" is made out of white yams, and it goes on and on for their duck dishes too. My non-vegan friends loved their dishes and we seriously could not stop raving about what an awesome dinner we had. Please come here all you vegans and/or non-vegans. This place is AMAZING!!
(5)Stacie C.
Mmmm tasty. Nice lunch specials here. The lo mein as mentioned by Merrill F. is tasty and comes in this crunchy little bowl during lunch that is almost as good as the lo mein itself. The shredder pork (as they have it printed on the menu) has the tastiest sauce with it. I dream about that sauce. Veggie tempura to die for and the bao bao appetizer platter is a good mix to start with. The sushi is okay. They're one of those restaurants that likes to put mayo in their sushi which just confuzzles me to no end.
(3)Matthew B.
My girlfriend stumbled upon this place before I moved up here, and we've been either going to the restaurant or taking-out at least two or three times a month ever since. I don't think we've had anything there we didn't like. The egg drop soup is some of the best I've had. I typically order either Sesame Chicken or Sweet & Sour Chicken, both of which are delicious. We also get Hunan Beef with some regularity (also good). Recently, my girlfriend has been ordering Mu Shu Pork, which is becoming a favorite of ours. Perhaps the most impressive fact about this place is the quality of their sushi. I haven't found many Chinese restaurants that do both traditional (American-style) Chinese food AND sushi well, but this place does. We've had several of the sushi rolls -- the non-special rolls are actually some of the best, though we've always enjoyed the specialty rolls we've ordered -- and I've had different sashimi and sushi combo dishes. It's all been quite good -- certainly not the best sushi out there, but much better than you'd think it would be, especially for the price. Parking out in front of the restaurant is a nightmare, but as long as you're just picking up, you can usually park anywhere for a minute or two to run in and out. Otherwise, definitely use the garages in the area, which are free in the evenings and on the weekends.
(4)Caitlin A.
Love the food! Sushi is so fresh and well put together!! I just wish they would deliever. But they have a compnay that charges 17 dollars per order. But when you don't have a car, that's a bit too pricey
(4)B Y.
Fabulous Chinese food and sushi. Great service, clean restaurant, friendly staff. We had a great time, the food was very fresh. The tuna sushi was tender and moist. The eel maki was great too. Presentation was excellent. Many times, at chinese restaurants the ambience and hygiene are less than perfect. But we felt this was on par with most western type restaurants on this point. The variety was great, and they really catered to the kids. Will be going again soon. thx. Pricing was very fair for all items. Menu is extensive with options to to suit most all palates.
(5)Henry M.
At lunch, the maki and the iced-coffee were lame enough that I won't be going back unless I'm dragged by co-workers again.
(2)Boo L.
The food here was really good. The service we experienced was also satisfactory and our food arrived quicker than expected and was piping hot. Reasonably priced.
(4)Jane Y.
They have great lunch specials. I usually get their sashimi lunch combo that comes with a roll and 12 pieces of sashimi. Their cuts of sashimi are generous and their california roll can't be beat. It's great!
(4)Ashley F.
Some of the best chinese food I've had in a looooong time! Everything was delicious and fresh and every single person that worked there was so delightfully courteous and nice. I'll definitely be going back to try their sushi, which looked delectable. Bonus: they offer white AND brown rice! You don't find that too often in a place like this.
(4)Juah F.
I really like Asian Bistro because the service is great. As soon as you walk in, you're kind of attacked by kindness and as you leave, guess what? You're attacked by their kindness once again. It's great. I love it because they actually smile when they attack. Once again, this restaurant was recommended by one of my friends...who shall remain nameless, but happens to stalk me on Yelp. ;-) When she told me their orange chicken was good, I was skeptical because I am slightly addicted to Panda's one. Although I felt like I was cheating on my prior orange chicken love, I have to admit...I kind of like Asian Bistro's. Their portions are quite large. They have healthy options for those who want to eat healthy Chinese food...which I didn't think really existed (well in the Americanized version of Chinese food at least). Asian Bistro also has so many vegetarian options! I kind of am anti-veg, but theirs is not bad at all. Their sushi is also quite good. One thing my friend steered me away from was ordering any alcoholic drinks from there. Never had any, so won't recommend any drinks or steer you away. Anyway there are plenty of other places around to satisfy that kind of thirst. =) PS: Their mints are actual chocolates like Twix and Snickers. Love it! PPS: Reasons it's a three star: The food is kind of taken away too early and the servers kind of attack you with customer service. After a while, you might need to find another place to just lounge around idly.
(3)John G.
The place is just down the road from the Hilton Hotel I stay at on the way to the Metro station. Stopped in for dinner one evening. A mix of Japanese, Thai and Chinese. The menu is quite extensive covering all the bases. I opted for the Japanese sushi at the counter. Service was ok, but lacked coming back to check on me and to refill my water. I got the California roll, the tempura roll, and the dragon roll. All were done fine, but it seemed they were a little on the small size, and not bursting with flavor. Anyway, its a good place for a basic meal, and at reasonable prices.
(3)Victoria B.
Disgusting! I got the garlic chicken and it smelled really strange. The taste was... nearly medicinal, not the mention the fact that the dish had nearly 3 cups of julienne carrots and tiny strips and chicken. The rice and spring rolls were nice, but I doubt they were hard to mess up in the first place. I've never had bad Asian food before, so it was baffling! Don't eat here!!
(1)Michael S.
I'm writing this aware that for non vegetarians there are probably many more cheaper 'more authentic' Chinese restaurants. But for a vegetarian like myself, this place rules. They have every type of imitation meat in every type of sauce and it tastes great, especially the sweet and sour shrimp. When I crave Chinese food, this is where I will get my fix!.
(5)Julie O.
I heart their sushi, which you can get made with brown rice which gets an extra star! Plus instead of fortune cookies they give mini chocolate bars another star!
(5)Greg W.
Asian Bistro is tops for lunch in Solver Spring, it's convenient location is just the beginning. While most of my work associates rave about their sushi, I do not partake in the raw stuff. I do however, feast on their other entrees, the Sweet & Sour, General Tso's, Sesame, and Kung Pao dishes are all spectacular. and they are even offered in Sauteed Lite versions, with non-fried meats. To top things off, their lunch special's are amazing. Ranging from $6.95 to $7.95 you'll get your money's worth, as each dish comes with a mini salad and spring roll, not to mention the generously sized main portion of food. The appetizers are also worth checking out, pot-stickers and garlic green beans are both out of this world. Service is quick too, with the one server constantly making sure your glass of water is filled to the brim. Highly recommend for a lunch outing!!! p.s. Coco is the best!
(5)Dana F.
Great quality sushi, friendly service, reasonable prices and lots of options! It's an awesome place for vegetarians and I especially appreciate the lighter entrees and how they're actually good. Ambiance isn't mind-blowing, but it's comfortable and clean and the food is rockin'. The Chinese is good, the Thai and sushi dishes are best, I think. Definitely a good call!
(4)Jennifer D.
I've come here for lunch a couple times, and have tried both the sushi and the Chinese dishes. I thought both were good, and the prices were fair, especially the lunch specials. I also like that they offer lighter/lower fat options of some of the Chinese dishes. I didn't have to wait long for my takeout order, so it's good for days when you don't have a lot of time to spend getting lunch.
(4)Michael C.
Sushi was great but bug problem noted in other review scares the heck out of me. Not acceptable in my book.
(4)Snow T.
They have great mock meat. Lots of vegan options. Right in the downtown shopping area. A little to expensive to be my weekly Chinese place, but it was really good.
(5)Adriana W.
I LOVE this place! Great sushi, and a wide selection of asian entrees. Being a vegetarian, this place devotes a huge section of their menu to vegetarian options, like Peking Duck or Orange Chicken (meatless of course). The staff is always really friendly. It's my go to place in the area for sushi and anything Chinese or Japanese. Highly recommended!
(5)Lauren R.
Ok we went for sushi and bottom line i didn't like it at all but my boyfriend thought it was pretty good. The presentation was blah, they didn't have too many creative rolls and they were kind of fishy tasting to me. This is probably the worst sushi I have ever had, besides maybe all you can eat sushi. I am giving it three stars since the service was very good, the ambiance was decent, and I didn't try the food (only sushi). I will try the food but I definitely will not order sushi again! If you want sushi I would recommend trying a place that actually specializes in sushi!
(3)Kelly L.
This place deserves a solid 4 stars. I stopped in for lunch when I was craving some fake Chinese food. They have a nice lunch combo and you can get it with items that are not listed you just need to ask. The food was good, really good. They asked me if I wanted it spicy and when I got the food it was spicy. The fried rice could've been better, but the orange chicken was fantastic and was the kung pao chicken (I stole some off the BF's plate, ok I stole a lot). It is more than an ample amount of food. If you are there for lunch the service was fast. The wait staff was very attentive. My water glass was always full. You can pretty much stop any wait staff to take your order, too. I liked it and now I think I am going to get it for dinner.
(4)Fred v.
I was invited by some coworkers to come here for sushi and I thought "why not?" I'm not a sushi veteran so I don't have a lot to compare against, but I had a combination of sushi rolls and sashimi. The rolls were very tasty and interesting (I think salmon?) The sashimi was interesting and complex tasting, but I suppose that's normal. Overall it was a good value (though I didn't have to pay) and a good experience. Would I go back? Sure, but I'd like to try some other sushi places first.
(3)N. E.
Great food, that is all that needs said. Just try it out.
(4)Joe H.
Excellently priced vegetarian lunch specials that are extremely tasty and very filling. Love that they offer brown rice as well. My favorite is the vegetarian Kung Pao chicken. A wonderful sauce. I've only had dinner there once and that was a clunker of an experience. I prefer take out.
(4)Jamie S.
Very disappointing the last few times:( Must find us a new take-out...
(3)Ruth N.
This is one of our favorite places to grab a casual bite to eat together. Conveniently located by the Panera at the corner of Colesville and Georgia Ave., it is yummy, fast, comfy and cute inside. It is also a decent people watching spot, with all the windows. Vegetarians who like fake meats will find a wide variety to pick from here. The tofu veggie-chicken soup is a favorite when I have a crummy tummy, too. Inside is clean, as are one-seater bathrooms. Mixed drinks come in all sorts of crazy glasses with equally entertaining names. Music is cheesy but not intrusive. I have found the staff to be very attentive and friendly on every visit and we've been eating here for years now. Diet coke is plentiful, so my sweetie is happy. If you order carry out they will run it out for you to the little parking lot outside, and even run your credit card in and back. This is handy on weekend nights when that lot is full and illegally parked cars are quickly ticketed. Note that metered parking immediately out front is more expensive, so park in the garage for the galleria just a few hundred feet away or walk up the hill from the metro station. That said, handicapped parking is right out front in that lot and the restaurant as well as the restroom are accessible. As a side note, I don't like sushi so I can't evaluate that here.
(4)Thomas W.
** 3.5 Stars leaning towards 4 ** When I first saw this place upon moving in to my apartment in Silver Spring, I was immediately reminded of the terrible Asian Buffet places that used to be littered around my home town on LI. I wrote the place off and figured I'd never step foot inside to see what it actually is like. Today I was in a Sushi mood, however, and this place came up on Yelp (and based on the reviews of the only other Sushi joint in town, I decided I was better off here). First thing I have to say is I was completely wrong. The inside is really nice. It is small - I guess quaint is the word I'm looking for, as cliché as that sounds. I was sat at a nice table for one. It wasn't very crowded at 1:30pm on a Tuesday, as would be expected. I ordered two rolls, a California Roll and a Spicy Tuna Roll. The lunch special is two rolls for $7.95!!! The pricing was incredible. However the sushi wasn't anything special. It was actually a little bland, tho maybe it was just my selections. Tuna can be a bit bland and Californias are his and miss. Regardless, you cannot beat that price. The staff was attentive. At least 5 different people came over to ask if I wanted another Coke (I didn't, for once in my life). The sushi came out within mere minutes of my ordering. The rolls were done exactly the way I like them, inside out with roasted sesame seeds instead of fish roe (gross), and though they were bland, hit the spot. I would definitely come back here and give the rest of the asian cuisine a shot. Service: 4, Food: 3 with potential.
(4)H W.
Today was my first visit to the Asian Bistro. I chose this restaurant b/c of its vast menu of both meat and vegetarian food (we had a varied group.) Parking was a bit of a problem but then again Inauguration is tomorrow so.... The wait staff was super friendly. Our group ordered appetizers which came quickly. We waited a terribly long time for our main course. I had to ask the waitress about our order, which she forgot to put it in so we were there much longer than we wanted to be. The food was average, nothing bad, nothing overly special. Over all, it wasn't a bad experience nor a great one. Instead of returning to this restaurant again, I'd rather spend my time trying out a new venue.
(2)Brian W.
After much searching in the Silver Spring, Takoma Park area, I've found my go to chinese restaurant. Lots of vegetarian options here, I've yet to find a bad entree. Vege duck! Vege Kung Pao chicken! moo shu vegetables! It's all good. What's more if like me you are both lazy and busy (which is a deadly combination), ABC offers curbside pick-up. If you can't get delivery this is the next best option. If it did deliver I'd add another star.
(4)blowfly x.
Good sushi, good prices, good service. Also good Thai dishes - they have an excellent red curry with shrimp. Oddly, however, the Chinese dishes we had have been AWFUL, and I think they are primarily a Chinese restaurant. We had a Chinese beef dish, can't remember the exact name, but the beef was so tough it didn't break down with chewing. So we go for the sushi and Thai and skip the Chinese.
(3)Alex A.
There are plenty of Asian restaurants that seem to have one thing going for them, be it location, or price, or just atmosphere, or in the rare few where it's the food. This one seems to have it all. It's right downtown (although some people might not want to hang around the city place mall), it wasn't crowded (even on a Saturday night), the staff were all friendly, the interior was nice, it wasn't expensive, and most important - the food was good. The menu is a mish-mash of Chinese, Thai, and Japanese. But they seemed to get everything right. Between the people with me we ordered something from every type of cuisine. I guess I was just pleasantly surprised by this place. I've been to too many Chinese restaurants that are supposed to be "the best ever" and the food is just the same old greasy Chinese. So, I'm not going to say this is the greatest ever. I'll just say it had a lot going for it, and I'll be going back. Also, something a little different that I almost forgot, they have Tiki bar style drinks (i.e. Zombies, Mai Tai's, etc.) and they even come in those weird glasses with little tiny party umbrellas.
(4)Amy S.
This was my first time at Asian Bistro and I was very impressed. My family wanted to try a variety of things--so we shared a "big makI' sushi appetizer, chicken lettuce wraps (made from gluten-chicken), udon soup and two Chinese dishes, one of which was also made from gluten. It was all very delicious--I especially enjoyed how many veggie options there were. We'll be sure to return again.
(4)Steve Y.
I've been here twice over the years; once, not long after it opened back around 2005, and on Christmas day this year after watching a movie at the nearby AFI cinema. On both occasions I came away feeling underwhelmed. To be honest, the details of my first encounter with Asian Bistro are now almost non-existent, however the one memory I do have is that I wasn't in a rush to return. I don't think I had a bad experience, as I would have remembered that, I just think it was all very forgettable. Flash forward to this year, the evening of Christmas day to be precise, and the place was packed. Being one of the few open restaurants in downtown Silver Spring and being located literally just a few steps from the AFI meant that once the movie let out the place became jammed in minutes. Our party of 5 ended up waiting about 30 minutes for a table, however once seated the service was generally good. The food, on the other hand, turned out to be as forgettable as my first visit. I started out with a bowl of miso soup which was more like so-so soup, and then tucked into a chicken satay skewer thingy. This turned out to be a little too rubbery and not as flavorful as I would have liked. While I didn't sample my fellow diners' food, I got the general impression that while everything was ok it wasn't particularly interesting. In fact nobody commented on their food at all one way or another which probably speaks volumes. I doubt that I'll return to the Asian Bistro Cafe anytime soon - it's just too bland, too forgettable to make we want to rush back. In fact it took almost 5 years and an almost completely closed down Silver Spring on Christmas night to get me to return the first time.
(2)Paul M.
Probably not the place for gourmet snobs, but a good choice for an affordable date or family night out. Delicious food, excellent service and eclectic menu. We'll be back.
(4)Jade T.
3.5 Stars Normally, I'm not a fan of Pan-Asian cuisine. When a restaurant serves Chinese, Thai, and Japanese dishes, I think they suffer from identity crises. There must be some bastardization if a restaurant offers dishes from those different cuisines. I'd rather dine at a restaurant that doesn't try to do it all ... I was in the mood for Chinese tonight. Asian Bistro was the closest restaurant that offered mock meat. I absolutely love mock shrimp (as you can tell from my reviews of Vegetable Garden and Harmony Cafe). It's tastier and healthier than regular shrimp (it's made out of white yams). Their vegetarian menu is extensive! Dishes range from noodle soups to "Duck" Hot Pots. They also offer vegetarian sushi. (I don't notice a vast difference between vegetarian sushi served at a neighborhood sushi bar and a swanky one. It's hard to screw up an avocado roll.) I had the Kung Pao "Shrimp", and it was delicious! Though, there was way too much water chestnuts. Next time I'll request mixed vegetables or simply broccoli. I love Kung Pao dishes, but many restaurants make them sweet. Asian Bistro Cafe's version was slightly sweet, but savory. Curtis had no complains on the Sesame "Chicken". The portions was a good size, BUT ... The prices at Asian Bistro Cafe are higher than most Asian restaurants, much higher than regular Chinese restaurants. I'm taking a star and a half from their rating for this. It was $10.95 for each of our dishes, which is less than Vegetable Garden (but their lunch specials are way better). The "Virgin Downfall", a cocktail served in a kitschy plastic cup, was $6.95. (That drink was extremely strong!) As much as I enjoyed my dinner at Asian Bistro Cafe, the prices are a deterrant. Kung Pao with "Shrimp" or even real shrimp costs less than $10 almost everywhere else. Still, props to them for being vegetarian and vegan-friendly! If you're not a vegetarian but need a restaurant that caters to both kinds of diets, Asian Bistro Cafe is a good choice. They're conveniently located near the Silver Spring Metro Station too.
(4)Mitishi N.
I visit this place like 2-3 times a week after work purely for sushi. Its a cozy, quaint spot where they aren't overly friendly but very gracious and timely. The sushi is pretty good. Because I am usually dining alone when I go here, sitting at the sushi bar suits me best. The sushi chefs are kind and know what they are doing. There is even a little mini candy bar on the house that comes with the check. The prices are fair, the food is good and the staff is cool. The place is not high on decor but Im usually just happy to sit down at a place where I can get a glass of wine and some good sushi by the time I get off the train.
(4)C D.
Ordered the Big Sushi/Sashimi combo for two ($69 I think) and was pleasantly - delightfully- surprised. Another time we ordered the lunch sushi special and the pieces were small and overall the meal was average - but this last time made us rethink: maybe we just order the big super combo and all will be well. And we know sushi. Can't comment on other dishes.
(3)Lauren H.
I went there for lunch. The service was great, the kung pao veggie chicken was spicy, and the meal was reasonably priced. Just two complaints: the food was way too oily, and the spring roll hardly had any vegetables in it. A more healthful approach would have been more pleasing. However, for a satisfying vegetarian lunch in Silver Spring, this is not a bad place to go.
(4)Lynn G.
The food is decent but completely uninspired and pretty bland. You do get ALOT of it and the place is kid friendly.
(2)Elizabeth M.
Haters, please. This place is actually great for what it's trying to be. I actually welcome this humble, undecorated little place in a development that is quickly becoming an amusement park. It isn't fancy, but it's clean, the service is quick and pleasant, and the food is made with fresh-tasting ingredients. That's a lot more than I can say about most Asian restaurants in the area (yes, Sushi Jin and Thai place upstairs, I'm referring to you. barf.) They have a great lunchtime sushi special, and I love the spring rolls. I can't remember the name of the roll, but there's a great maki with eel, shrimp tempura, and avocado with a cute pink soy bean wrapper that just SLAYS me. I get it every time. And I kind of want the hostess there to adopt me. She is a precious, precious woman.
(4)Laura D.
I've never had anything but sushi here, but it's a great spot for reasonably priced, tasty sushi. Of course it's not Sushi Taro's quality, but then, I can't afford Sushi Taro anymore anyway. The sushi is always fresh and there are a lot of good varieties--my husband loves the spicy crunchy tuna rolls, which are not on many sushi restaurant menus. And the house wine is an incredible deal--it's not amazing quality, but you get a HUGE glass of decent wine for $5. This isn't a place I'd take anyone I was aiming to impress, but it's a nice, friendly, reliable place an affordable sushi dinner.
(4)