Top Asian Restaurants in Las Cruces, NM

Asian food is not the top-billed item in Las Cruces; that spot goes to the powerful chile and the cuisine that it spawns. Yet there is a steadily-growing community of Far East immigrants in the Southwest; with their presence comes restaurants catering to the older world and its tastes.

Third on the list is the Mix Pacific Grill, a blend of Korean and Japanese cuisine. Located on University Ave near the student population that provides most of its custom, the restaurant provides a quiet oasis in the busy world of academia. Sushi and sashimi headline the menu, which includes Korean specialties as well. The miso soup is very good and should be included in any order.

Nearby is the Five Brothers Chinese Restaurant, but the two are worlds apart in both dishes and quality. The Mix attributes much of its success to the consistent adherence of the restaurant to the highest standards of culinary quality. Five Brothers is a rather tasteless affair that goes heavy on the MSG and on the oils.

The Basics:
Name: The Mix Pacific Grill
Location: 1001 East University Avenue #D4, Las Cruces, NM
Cost: Moderate to high
Child-friendly: Not really
Pets Allowed: Service Animals Only

The number two spot is, strangely enough, a buffet: the Dynasty to be exact. Located on south El Paseo near the main bus transfer station, the Dynasty sports an exotic decorative theme and a twin-table buffet-style service. Food options range from the mundane to the magical, including the spicy Li Kwon Chicken and the complex overtones of the daily specials. Wine and beer are available at the restaurant as well; the draft beer is Michelob.

Although some of the dishes are rather greasy affairs, many of the remainder are delicately spiced and quite tasty. The staff is well-versed in the ingredients of the food items as well, so avoiding sensitivities is quite simple. The restaurant does the majority of its frying in safflower oil to avoid another major food allergen.

The Basics:
Name: Dynasty
Location: 1210 El Paseo Road Las Cruces, NM
Cost: Low to moderate
Child-friendly: Yes
Pets Allowed: Service Animals Only

Topping this list is a tiny restaurant not far from the Dynasty on Idaho Ave. It’s easy to overlook the first time; the restaurant is sandwiched between an optometrist and a seamstress and is known, unimaginatively, as the Oriental Palace. Total seating capacity in the dining area is about 35, and the dÃ?©cor is simple, yet attractive. However, the prices are excellent and the food is superb, a blend of Thai and Cantonese cooking. The proprietors, a married couple, run their tiny fiefdom with a sense of style and service unparalleled in the remainder of the Asian food community. The beef in plum sauce or the sesame-grilled chicken are among the best of the offerings, and no one should pass up the fried rice or the egg rolls. The spicy mustard that comes as a standard side here is hot enough to awaken even the most cast-iron of stomachs. Some beers are available here, along with a full range of soft drinks, but the specialty beverage of the house is a green tea that is served either hot or iced. Its complex tones perfectly match the flavors of the food, and it is highly recommended even if tea is not normally your favorite beverage of choice.

The Basics:
Name: Oriental Palace
Location: 225 E Idaho, Las Cruces, NM
Cost: Low to moderate
Child-friendly: Yes
Pets Allowed: Service Animals Only

All of the restaurants accept MasterCard, Visa and American Express; Discover is not taken at Oriental Palace. None of the three accept checks.