Where You Should Eat: Asian Food In PBC (and Broward)

Lets just come right out of the gate and say it, South Florida and PBC specifically is lacking in its “Asian” food scene. Thats a broad category I know, but as a lover of the many varieties of Asian food and culture, the pool is not deep here. Shallow, devastatingly shallow in fact. Having said that though, we have a few! And they must be protected/supported.

In general I would say Japanese food has more representation than most; sushi is such a staple for so many people, this isnt all too surprising. With that though, all sushi is not created equal. While there are a lot of sushi restaurants in Palm Beach County, it is tough to seek out the quality spots. I will caution you true food and sushi lovers to do your homework on Sushi spots when you visit PBC, and do not just trust yelp or google reviews; they will lie to you, but I will not. These are the only 2 places I consistently eat sushi; Imoto by Buccan in Palm Beach, and Sushi by Bou now at Bennys in Lakeworth. Im sure there may be some other places, but I've been burned too many times to trust them. (Honorable mention is Suhi Jo - location on Dixie, solid, not great, but very solid.)

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Imoto by Buccan is next door to the beloved Buccan helmed by chef Clay Conley who also owns Grato and the 2 Buccan sandwich windows. (Which are a lovely and satisfying quick lunch option. Try the beef carpaccio sandwich). Imoto is a small sleek modern space serving up precise Japanese dishes. While the menu doesn’t change much, the staples are fabulous; duck tacos, marinated wagyu, miso black cod, always order a few pieces of Nigiri and a couple rolls. Do note, they stay realatively traditional Japanese and do not have rolls with all the american fillings and additions. They’re simple, small and show off the highest quality rice and fish; the way it should be. Always make a reservation, or snag one of the 10 or so bar seats. Valet available at the door.

From there we move south towards Lake Worth, the area I call home, and my favorite beach to spend the day at in the county. Everyone will talk about being in Palm Beach, or further south in Delray or Boca, but having been up and down this coast for years now, Lake Worth beach is the best. Plenty of parking, the sand and water are gorgeous and well maintained, theres often live music, monthly full moon drum circles, an actual pier with a solid restaurant, a beach side bar and a few other shops and food options in the casino area. Even with all of this, it still feels small with cozy beach town vibes, and is rarely overcrowded.

Bennys on the Beach, the iconic pier restaurant was not only saved last year from some financial woes but also received massive funding and community support resulting in a second location/building just 70yrds away in the casino building. This expansion has brought a revitalized feeling to the Lake Worth beach front and offers a more refined food option than existed before. My favorite part of this change has been the opening of a pop-up location of Sushi by Bou, which has now taken over the front bar. They are serving up a high end Omakase, at a reasonable price ($65/pp - 12 courses, or $100/pp - $17courses). Keep in mind this is refined dining but with a beachy relaxed feel. Chef is a true student of sushi with incredible knife work, perfectly mastered rice, an inventive spirit, and a reverence for the art of sushi making. Its a wonderfully pleasant experience. After your Omakase, try the Big Mac; made with Uni, Toro, Scallap, and Wagyu. This $28 bite is worth every penny.(Maybe make it 2 bites, its pretty big)

Kaizen, which is closer to Fort Lauderdale in Broward county, is a wonderful little spot I want to shout out. It tends to be the only reason I dont get annoyed picking people up from the airport in FTL, a perfect stop. The quality of fish is second to none even as I compare it to some of my favorite sushi in northern and southern California. Chef Wei is a master at his art and stays true to traditional Japanese style. His Omakase is just $60. Whether you do the Omakase, or grab some Nigiri and a couple chef’s special rolls, every bite will have you doing a little shoulder bob of joy. As always, the thing I really appreciate is that nothing is overly Americanized. Wei and his team stay true to honoring the ingredients and bringing thoughtful and unique spins as opposed to the rolls you see stuffed with cream cheese (my nemesis). Also, grab a lychee martini, they’re yummy.

My favorite roll: The Tuna Dijonaise - Might be one of my favorite rolls of all time. Something about that sauce…

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Staying in Broward, we have maybe the best restaraunt in this blog, Larb Thai-Isan. More than anywhere else within 45minutes of where I live, these guys bring the big flavor you associate with great Thai food. Great noodle dishes, fresh and vibrant rolls, the mint, the spices, the pickled veg, give it to me! My mouth should be mildly numb, a few beads of sweat, potentially even a little indugestion— if not, it aint real deal Thai food! So, if you can make it here, its one of the best authentic meals you'll have up and down the coast.

For something a bit closer/in PBC, I've only found one Thai place that keeps me coming back, Malakor Thai Cafe, in the Old Northwood area. Food is solid, service very friendly, ambiance is nice, and the Thai ice tea is hittin’; definitely a solid option. Spend a few hours strolling around this lesser known but equally cute little downtown just minutes from down town West Palm.

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I beg of any restauranteur, cook, chef, food lover, please, for the love of all things spicy, sweet and sour, we desperately need more Asian options in this area. Particularly a fabulous Vietnamese and/or Chinese, maybe some Philippino, or Korean, any and all of it would be welcomed with open arms. And the clientele is here, i promise, a younger more educated food crowd from the northeast is regularly descending upon West Palm, so please, open some other options!!