WSVN — It’s an Asian flavor invasion from Miami to Fort. Lauderdale. From a Korean Barbecue joint where you cook your own food, to a place where you play games with sushi. 7’s Belkys Nerey takes us to two of the hottest new restaurants in the Style File.
“Drunken Dragon” may not look like much from the outside, but once you’re inside the Alton Road restaurant, you’re in for a treat.
Dora Diaz: “I didn’t expect it to be this way. It’s in a strip mall, and you walk in and it’s just like amazing.”
Belkys: “Surprise. Surprise!”
South Beach’s first Korean Barbecue restaurant is one of the hottest places to dine right now.
Jarred Grant: “A lot of the food and flavors that we have here are flavors that they’ve never tasted before. A lot of Southeast Asian flavors, Thailand, Vietnam and Korean.”
Juan Vasquez: “It’s like my fifth time.”
Belkys: “Five times, you like it that much?”
Juan Vasquez: “I love it.”
Owner Jarred Grant says you must try the twice-fried chicken, The Peking Bao, and their take on a New England Lobster Roll.
Belkys: “Great food, great service, great price, great ambiance, it’s awesome in here. What’s not to love about Drunken Dragon? And it’s interactive, you get to cook while you’re here.
Jarred Grant: “We have seven barbecue tables, various cuts of beef, chicken, we have shrimp. You put them on top and you grill it to your liking.”
And don’t forget a cocktail. Drunken’s tiki-themed drinks pair perfectly with the food.
The taste tour heads north to Downtown Fort. Lauderdale and the new Chow Sushi Barbecue Bar.
John Todora: “We’re trying to make Asian fun again.”
Their idea of fusion is mixing Asian flavors with American and International dishes.
Customer: “It’s like something I’ve never tasted before.”
So you’ll find unique dishes like Asian fajitas.
John Todora: “Traditionally, it’s a Southwestern or Mexican dish but we’ve taken some of the Asian flavors. Instead of giving you flour tortillas, we give you little Asian steamed buns that come along with it.”
Or how about Mongolian beef stroganoff.
John Todora: “It takes the European flavors of beef stroganoff, and it marries it with traditional Mongolian beef.”
And for all you sushi lovers, you can play a fun game with their challenge roll.
John Todora: “We put six pieces of sushi in front of you, and inside one of them is a hot Thai chili pepper with sake in the middle. I take a piece, you take a piece, eventually one of us gets the hot pepper. We lose cause we get the hot pepper, but we win because we get to drink the sake.”
Jessica Jaxtheimer: “I always get the hot pepper. It always happens to me.”
Once you’re done eating, head next door to Bull Market where you can play a different kind of drinking game.
John Todora: “We actually call it the drink market. Whatever you’re drinking or not drinking, goes up and down according to what people are ordering. Whatever is not selling, drops throughout the night.”
And since it’s a stock market-theme, watch out for a crash.
John Todora: “All the screens go red, it says the market has crashed, then we ring a bell. Usually people rush up to the bar to buy a drink and see what’s on special.”
Chow also prides itself on their twice-fried chicken, Asian burgers and plenty of sushi rolls for the person who’s a sushi beginner.
For More Information:
Drunken Dragon
1424 Alton Road
Miami Beach FL 33139
(look for the Market sign)
(305) 397-8556
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Chow Sushi BBQ Bar
208 SW 2nd Street
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
(954) 523-1213
www.eatatchow.com