Eastern and Western cuisine meet at Asian Fuzion Café
Owners Phet and Calvin Young—decades-long veterans of the restaurant biz—previously ran the Jasmine Thai Bistro in Saline, but closed it in favor of starting a new café in Ann Arbor, where they live.
“We have our children in school here, and the new place is much closer to our house,” said Phet. “We love Ann Arbor—everyone is so friendly; you have people here from everywhere.”
Diversity is reflected in the menu of the café, which includes various American-style breakfast options, such as omelettes, oatmeal, yogurt and fruits, biscuits and gravy, and pancakes (served until 2pm) as well as many Thai and Chinese dishes such as Pad Thai, Drunken Noodle, General Tso’s Chicken, and Rainbow Beef (served after 11am). Other dishes are inspired by the great city of New Orleans (Seafood Gumbo, Jambalaya, Shrimp and Fish Etouffee, Smothered Catfish) and a wide variety of sandwiches as well as noodles and other vegetarian choices round out the world food tour.
Oh, you say, maybe there’s something missing from a place called Asian Fuzion?
“Our Japanese chef is currently overseas, but when he is back three weeks from now, we will begin to offer Japanese dishes including teriyaki and noodles,” said Phet. “If we have enough room in our space, we would like to set up a sushi bar as well.”
Anything else?
“There has been a large demand for bubble tea, and we will soon serve that, too,” said Phet.
Prices are moderate (omelettes and sandwiches average around $7; entrees average around $10 to $11), reflecting gourmet cuisine aimed at tighter budgets.
“We want to offer something reasonable,” said Phet. “Something to bring out families where they can afford to go out for lunch or dinner twice a week.”
Asian Fuzion Café, 3452 Washtenaw Ave., is open Sunday to Thursday 8am to 9pm, and Friday and Saturday 8am to 10pm. Dine-in, take-out, and catering are available. Call 734-929-1239 for more information.
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Comments
AsianFoodlovers
Thu, Oct 8, 2009 : 9:14 p.m.
Delicious!! Excellent service, try their Drunken noodle Chicken..YUM:) Oh! my wife love their Tofu lover's omelette and I had their Thai Omelette and is delicious.
JoshandSara-Marie
Thu, Oct 8, 2009 : 6:58 p.m.
My partner and I love Asian Fuizon Cafe. We've been three times now (once take out and twice dine-in). I've had the Yellow Curry with Crispy Tofu and he's had their Pad Thai and the Drunken Noodle. We've got nothing but positive things to say about this new business. We've never had any of their non-traditional dishes (sandwiches, salads, etc.) we've stuck with the Thai dishes. Sure, the staff is training, but what do you expect? Two thumbs up.
amt1000
Wed, Sep 30, 2009 : 6:27 p.m.
Went to lunch there today and ordered the gumbo and house salad. Server came back and said there was no gumbo today, so I ordered the Tuna Melt and asked him to cancel the house salad. I got a cup of the hot and sour soup deposited in front of me "on the house". Pretty bland, but not bad. House salad comes next and because it DID look very good, I gave it a try. Really good and a meal in its self with lots of gorgonzola and dried cranberries complimented with raspberry vinegarette. The tuna melt showed up soon after and was nothing exciting. The atmosphere is pleasant, waitstaff still in the learning phase and some prices are reasonable. On a street with a Subway, Chipotle, McDonalds, Potbelly, etc. within an 1/8 of a mile, offering Chinese and Thai dishes for $10-11 at lunchtime is commercial suicide. Without a liquor license this is hardly a dinner destination. I wish them luck (as it's a short walk from work), but unless they price their curries and Chinese entrees in the $5-7 range, they'll go the way of the last occupant Greekos.
Jennifer Shikes Haines
Mon, Sep 28, 2009 : 6:05 a.m.
I wondered what this place was going to be like. It sounds like it might be pretty interesting.