Asian Restaurants

Hiro’s Japanese Steakhouse is located on Eastwood Road just off Market Street towards Wrightsville Beach. Hiro’s specializes in food cooked right in front of you on huge hibachi tables. It is a party atmosphere as tables are filled before the show begins. You’ll watch the chefs slice and dice shrimp, steak, onions, and other vegetables with a speed and dexterity that’s always entertaining. Hiro’s offers a la carte sushi and sashimi and has a lively specialty cocktail and martini bar. The restaurant is open daily for dinner and is open for lunch on Sunday from 11 to 4.

Located at the Forum Shops on Military Cutoff Road near Wrightsville Beach is The Bento Box, a sushi restaurant that is a recent addition to the Wilmington area. A master sushi chef is in charge of the spotless restaurant and serves the best sushi you’ll find in Wilmington, period. Chef Lee also accommodates those who aren’t sure they’re ready for sushi yet: delicious crispy shrimp, salmon or chicken teriyaki, steaming miso soup and salads with homemade ginger dressing are always available. A made to order chocolate implosion dessert is also on the menu and is superb. You’ll need to plan your trip to Bento Box carefully; they are not open weekends. The restaurant is open Monday through Wednesday from 11:30 to 6:30 and on Thursday and Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Many travelers search for an all you can eat buffet, and Wilmington has its own place. Mai Tai Restaurant on Oleander Drive offers a buffet specializing in Szechuan, Cantonese and Hunan dishes with crab legs and Southern fried chicken offered for good measure. There are salad and fruit bars, a special kids buffet, and an ice cream and dessert bar in case you want more than a cornucopia of Chinese dishes. The restaurant opens for lunch Monday through Friday at 11 a.m. and on Saturday and Sunday at noon. Dinner is served Monday through Saturday from 5 p.m. Mai Tai has a full bar too.

A new Asian restaurant is the Thai Grille, located in Gateway Plaza as you approach the swing bridge headed to Topsail Island. Among the best dishes are the yellow, red and green curry dishes, designated by degree of spiciness, from mildest to hottest. There are numerous other traditional Thai dishes on the menu; all are cooked with the freshest of vegetables and seafood. Those who prefer local food will find steaks, delicious pork ribs and crab cakes available too. The restaurant has a full bar and a good selection of beer, including Singha, a full-bodied beer brewed in Thailand that goes especially well with the authentic dishes.