Ling and Louie’s: Modern Asian Meets American Comfort
By Christa Oyer, Foodies Like Us
I’ve always been a big fan of Asian food. Even as a child it was one of my favorites. Perhaps I have positive associations from my childhood of our weekly family dinners at one of the local Asian restaurants. Needless to say, Susie and Jay didn’t need to twist my arm to join them for a lunch meeting at Ling and Louie’s in Scottsdale, so we could catch up while trying their new menu items.
I admit that I was expecting just another Asian joint, with the typical fare you can get just about anywhere. Wow, was I mistaken. I can truly say that Ling and Louie’s is a unique Asian experience. Ling and Louie’s GM John Banquil calls it “Modern Asian meets American comfort”. That statement couldn’t be more accurate (and it’s not often that I find a restaurant to live up to its slogan). The atmosphere is casual with contemporary Asian décor, in a very open space. And they’ve personified their cuisine with the love story of Louie, the baseball player from Ohio with mad bartending skills, and Ling, the bombshell chef from Shanghai. They opened a restaurant at 94th and Shea and the sparks that flew between the two of them have translated to magic in the kitchen. To see the full story and even join in the conversations happening between Ling and Louie, check out their website or find them on twitter!
We started our lunch with the Black Orchid Ahi Tuna appetizer. It was lightly blackened sashimi-grade ahi, Asian slaw, and spicy soy mustard. I’ve never had much of a taste for ahi, especially when it’s undercooked, so I left that to Chief Foodies Jay and Susie. They both agreed the mustard sauce with the ahi tuna was super fresh and flavorful, and the ahi melted in their mouth with its nice texture. It was seared to perfection.
Black Orchid Ahi
Next we tried the Thai Mussel Bowl (Ling’s family recipe): black Mussels simmered in a green curry-coconut broth with fresh vegetables and Asian spices, served with garlic-parmesan flatbread. The flatbread alone was worth going back for. We loved how crispy and crunchy the flatbread was, and it tasted amazing dipped in the Mussel broth. We had raves all around for the broth and flatbread combo.
mmmmMussels!
Then we tried the Drunken Chicken: crispy chicken wok’d in a sweet-and-spicy chili sauce, served with pineapple, peppers, onions, and broccoli. This dish had wonderful spice but it wasn’t overpowering. It’s a nice combo of sweet and savory, and the pineapple complements it perfectly.
Yes, the Drunken Chicken tastes as good as it looks!
Moving on to Louie’s Favorites, we tried the Meatloaf Sliders: sliced meatloaf, crispy shoestring onions, tomato, and spicy aioli, served with Asian gravy dipping sauce and garlic-parmesan fries. We were all pleasantly surprised by this entrée. It didn’t really taste like meatloaf, but was juicy, tender, and very delicious! The buns were perfectly toasted and yet super soft at the same time. And of course the thick cut parmesan fries were an added touch of comfort.
Foodie Approved Meatloaf Sliders!
Next up was the Mongolian Flatbread. This was a unique and brilliant dish that will be permanently etched in my memory. The freshly baked flatbread is topped with sliced filet, roasted red peppers, red onions, cheddar-jack cheese, and spicy aioli. It has a great mix of ingredients, and the spicy aioli sauce complements it wonderfully. It was really a superb fusion of flavors.
Mongolian Flatbread steals the show!
Susie said she would order any of these items again, and Jay and I had to agree (and considering all the food we tried, that’s a pretty bold statement!). They also have a very inviting bar, with happy hour daily from 11am to 6:30. It just gets better and better….
