Asian Fusion Restaurant
Food like any other human activity evolves and people are always looking for new ways of cooking and preparing dishes. Fortunately, traditional gastronomy of various countries has passed borders and has reached the dining tables in North America. One fine example is Asian fusion cuisine.
Today, Asian fusion restaurants are a must-try place in nearly every city. Asian fusion restaurants are where the flavors of traditional styles of Asian cuisine are mixed with other styles of cuisine to create new dishes and for people to try.
Char’d Southeast Asian Kitchen is an Asian fusion restaurant. With three locations around DFW, Texas. We serve dishes inspired by Thai, Korean, Vietnamese, and Japanese cuisine.
We strive to delight the palates of Texans as they explore the freedom to mix and match different Southeast Asian flavors.
You’ll find us in north Fort Worth, Mansfield, and Richardson.
At Char’d Kitchen, we are known for our build-your-own bowls and healthy alternatives. Here, you’ll find signature dishes like our Teriyaki Bowl or the Bibimbap. You’ll also rediscover your favorites like egg rolls and spring rolls. Ready for something you can’t find anywhere else? Try our Nom Fries!
What is Fusion Food?
Fusion food is a form of cooking that combines contrasting culinary traditions or techniques into a single dish. There are various forms of fusion food that go from combining food from different regions or sub-regions to what is called food ‘mash-ups’. Mash-ups are one of the fastest-growing food trends.
While it might seem like a modern trend, experts claim that fusion cuisine is actually an ancient practice.
Humans have been exchanging culinary heritage for centuries, but the concept became popularized in the 1970s when French chefs offered foods that combined traditional French food with Asian cuisine.
Cooking based on fusion cuisine allows experimentation and freedom in exploring a contrast of flavors and textures to create new and unique dishes.
What Is Asian Fusion Cuisine?
Asian cuisine is known for its distinct flavors with a wide variety of ingredients. Asian cuisine is also known for its colorful and deep intense flavors. Asian gastronomy has risen in popularity not only in North America but around the world. You can find numerous varieties of Asian fusion in just about any city.
Additionally, it’s not surprising that with current technology, easy travel, and transportation, food fusions are happening faster than ever before.
One of the clues archeologists found of Asian fusion food was the use of spices used to make curries first used in the Middle East around 2600 BC. Around 2000 BC (600 years later), they found evidence of curries being used in India and Southeast Asia.
In the 17th century, curry spices were introduced to British-English cuisine. In the 20th century, curries had become famous worldwide and were a part of international fusion cuisine.
Centuries later, in 1970, a worldwide trend of culture-mixing hit the United States causing a unique “fusion” of style.
Therefore more and more people started to appreciate and incorporate other cultures not only in their cooking styles but in their dining options. Many of the previous generational negative perceptions of the Asian American community began to subside.
In the decades since with increased Asian immigration to North America, we start to see even more new styles of cooking, unique spices, and ingredients. As time passed and Asian immigration continued to increase, chefs began to incorporate other Asian styles and American tastes and added them to their menu.
One example of the Asian- American boom is the birth of the California roll in the late 70s. The California roll is a Japanese maki roll with one major difference. As opposed to the Japanese maki roll with raw tuna, there is avocado.
And of course, what did Americans want to dip it in? Teriyaki sauce! This soy-based glaze was beefed up with sugar instead of mirin, and with it, Americans had a new favorite sauce.
And like the sushi boom in the 80s, Asian fusion cuisine started to gain respect and popularity in the mainstream, as well as a place at nearly every American dining table. Since then, it’s taken off and you can find it all over the country, even in small towns.
The fast growth of Asian fusion is also due to increased immigration from Asian countries.
Today, Asian fusion restaurants offer foods with a multicultural influence, mixing ingredients and creating delicious dishes. You can have elements from Korea, Vietnam, and Thailand in one single dish even when it’s prepared with locally sourced ingredients, that’s what Asian fusion cuisines is known for nowadays.
Modern Asian fusion cuisine incorporates ingredients that are more traditionally found in Asian dishes and blends them with other style dishes.
Asian fusion is really about experimenting with different flavors, ingredients, cooking techniques, to create something new.
However, experts in the food industry claim that the “fusion” term may no longer be necessary as state-of-the-art Asian fusion chefs have worked to make Asian fusion dishes more mainstream.
What Makes Asian Dishes Popular?
Asian fusion cuisine is undoubtedly one of the most popular cuisines around the world, counting with at least one Asian fusion restaurant in each city in the US.
And with the exponential growth of 500 percent since 1999, there are many reasons why it is today one of the favorites and most-loved dining options for Americans and the rest of the world.
Variety
Asian fusion food differs widely from region to region. Whether it be Central, North, South, East, or West, Asian food has different characteristics and a signature flavor.
Although there are ingredients these cuisines have in common and rice is one of them. But don’t be mistaken, even the variety and style of rice changes throughout regions. For example, the rice eaten in India is not the same variety of rice consumed in Southeast Asian countries.
Regional differences also occur with the types of proteins used. Each region has its preferences and ways of cooking and eating meat. A couple of examples is Japan has the highest per capita consumption of seafood, and Muslim Asian countries avoid eating pork due because it is considered taboo.
Ingredients
Southeast Asian countries are distinguished for using fresh and locally sourced ingredients in their preparation. The same is true for their unique combination of spices as they offer sweet, spicy, savory, and bitter. The exact proportion of spices can make the dish have an entire flavor explosion in just one bite.
For an American Asian Fusion restaurant, you may experience traditional Asian herbs and spices paired with locally sourced vegetables that wouldn’t necessarily be used in a particular Asian region. Mixing and matching flavors are what makes Asian fusion food so exciting.
Fresh and Healthy
Asian fusion also has great health benefits. Many of the ingredients used to cook the Asian dishes we love were prepared in ways that are considered “healthier”.
Traditional Asian ingredients and cooking styles generally promote healthy eating and adapt well to vegan and low-carb dieters.
Plus, if we think about the high amount of healthy fat sources like avocado and fish, along with the vegetables used for regular recipes, you can argue that Asian fusion is some of the healthiest options available.
Easily Available
The availability of Asian fusion is directly related to its success. Today, one can find an Asian fusion restaurant at just about every corner in a prominent city.
When people are looking for international cuisine for lunch or dinner, one of the first things they think about is Asian cuisine. Due to its easy access, consistency, and familiarity, it’s no wonder that Asian restaurants have become so popular.
Top 5 Asian Fusion Menu You Should Try
There are many Asian fusion dishes that people must try at least once. Here are five delicious Asian fusion dishes that you can find in the best Asian fusion restaurant in Texas, Char’d Southeast Asian Kitchen.
Vietnamese Grilled Pork
Our Vietnamese Grilled Pork is savory charred pork seasoned in traditional Vietnamese spices. In our Vietnamese Grilled Pork bowl, we place this delicious meat on top of white rice or vermicelli noodles.
Next, we add fresh cucumbers, romaine lettuce, bean sprouts, mint, pickled carrots, and daikon topped with roasted peanuts. We pair that up with a crispy egg roll with your choice of sweet and salty fish sauce or creamy peanut sauce.
This dish is everything you are looking for, sweet, sour, some crunch, and aromatic herbs in a single, colorful arrangement.
Depending on your preferences and taste you can switch up the ingredients for others, as we have a wide variety of bases, proteins, and veggies for you to enjoy.
Bibimbap
If you’re looking for a Korean fusion dish, Char’d Kitchen offers the Bibimbap. This famous dish takes a rice bowl to another level.
Its name, which means mixed rice, consists of slow-braised Korean-inspired sliced beef with white rice and sauteed sweet onions. We then add homemade kimchi, soy shiitake, sweet roasted corn, roasted sesame seeds, crispy shallots, and spicy gochujang sauce to top the bowl off.
Just like the original dish, there are variations. We love to give you options, so you can choose pork, chicken, or tofu instead of beef and it would still taste amazing.
Although the shining star of the Bibimbap is the sauce. The Gochujang sauce is a bright red spicy sauce made with an intensely flavored spicy miso paste that’s distinctly Korean.
Chicken Teriyaki Bowl
Of course, you can’t talk about Southeast Asian fusion without mentioning Chicken Teriyaki. This dish is one of our signature bowls. Everyone loves it for its versatility and healthy ingredients. All of our toppings taste amazing with our homemade teriyaki sauce – so feel free to make it your own.
Our Chicken Teriyaki Bowl served at Char’d Kitchen consists of chicken tossed in our signature gluten-free teriyaki sauce with mixed veggies (broccoli, cabbage, and carrots) sprinkled with sesame seeds. The star of this dish is the Teriyaki sauce, with its sweet and intense deep flavor.
Char’d Kitchen offers variations for the base, so you can have brown rice or cauliflower rice instead of white rice. Just ask and we can adapt our Chicken Teriyaki Bowl to your diet and preferences.
Poke Bowl
Char’d Kitchen also offers Hawaiian-inspired dishes, like our Poke Bowl. This popular dish is a Hawaiian fish salad, with fresh sushi-grade salmon and tuna mixed with pineapples, roasted corn, cucumber, edamame seeds, and firecracker sauce on top.
We can start your bowl with a heaping scoop of sushi white rice. Then add a splash of spinach, sweet onions, creamy crab salad, seaweed salad, some Furikake seasoning, shredded nori, and toasted sesame seeds. Last, but not least we finish off the bowl with a glaze of unagi sauce.
The word “poke” means slice in Hawaiian, referring to the slices of fish we can find in this dish. This is the perfect option for seafood and bold fish lovers, and with a great variety of ingredients to accompany this fish, you can have a full meal when eating a Poke Bowl.
Southeast Asian Fusion Restaurant In Texas
Texas has become one of the main gastronomical capitals in the US, having hundreds of new restaurants each year. That’s why it’s the perfect place for Asian fusion restaurants to emerge and conquer the Texas palates.
Char’d Kitchen is pleased to delight all people in Texas with the best of Southeast Asian fusion cuisine. We can’t wait to see you and serve your family and friends.
We have three different locations for you to enjoy southeast Asian cuisine right in the heart of Texas.
Richardson
Here residents and visitors alike can find a wide range of options to grab a quick bite or enjoy a leisurely dinner with their loved ones.
We work from Monday to Sunday. We are located at 1251 State Street, Suite 800, Richardson, TX 75082. Visit us and live the experience.
Fort Worth
Our Fort Worth location is conveniently located north of Fort Worth. We believe in the adaptability of our dishes and the inclusion of all people to eat Asian, that’s why we offer several options for all kinds of people. We have gluten-free or dairy-free options, different animal protein options, low-carb ingredients such as cauliflower “rice”, and dozens of combinations for vegans and vegetarians.
Find us at 8901 Tehama Ridge Parkway, Suite 137, Fort Worth, TX, 76177. Char’d Kitchen Fort Worth is waiting for you!
Mansfield
Char’d Kitchen Mansfield is known to serve healthy food fast! Whether you dine-in, take out, or schedule catering service you can count on the freshest, healthiest ingredients.
Plus the many attractions and places to visit in Mansfield, Char’d Kitchen sets your palate to a gastronomic experience with a fusion of different flavors from Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean, Hawaiian, and South-East Asian Fusion cooking. Experience fast-casual dining with a relaxing ambiance.
Don’t forget to visit us at 1571 E Debbie Lane, Suite 121, Mansfield, TX.