Something new at Eastern Asian Bistro

At the Eastern Asian Bistro in the Budd Lake section of Mount Olive Township, the owners — a mother, father, and son team — wanted to try something new.

Opened in July, the bistro serves traditional Chinese, Japanese and Cantonese cuisine and offers a full bar, complete with Japanese craft beer and different types of sake.

Family-run business

Formerly known as Lucky Garden, the Zheng Family, mother Hong, father Shang and son John, opened the Budd Lake restaurant after hearing about the sale of the space in a local Chinese newspaper.

“We were looking to expand from our first restaurant in Hawthorne,” said John, who is a co-owner and general manager of their second location.

John likes being around the restaurant business, and has been his whole life. He does a bit of everything around the bistro and likes sharing the business with his family.

“I learned to cook from my parents and on the job with them in their first restaurant,” he said. “I like learning new ways to cook something.”

Hong and Shang, both from China, came to New York in the 1980s and 1990s, first his dad, then his mom. They planted roots in New Jersey, where John was raised. He calls himself a definite “Jersey Boy.”

The bistro’s dining area has a spacious layout with each table featuring a centerpiece of bamboo shoots. Around the corner from the main dining area is a long bar complete with a big-screen TV.

At the bar, the Zhengs offer a classic assortment of alcohol plus a variety of sake and Hitcahino Nest Red Rice Ale, imported from Japan, which is a big crowd pleaser, John said.

They are hoping to create more of a “hang-out place” for locals and visitors to the area to relax. By next summer, the family is hoping to expand a patio onto the building, with a view from the bar.

“We want our restaurant to be a spot of local interest, and a place that people can stop by to unwind” said John.

Sushi pizza and more

It isn’t just about the bar, though; the restaurant has great selection of food, including classics like chicken and broccoli to new dishes like sushi pizza. Introduced in late August of last year, the sushi pizza (John’s favorite item), is made of a rice crust with tempura breading for crispiness and a selection of spicy tuna or salmon, with avocado salad and a spicy mayo dressing.

Customer have their favorites including simple and benchmark items like Wonton Soup and Lo Mein. They also love the sushi and sashimi, said John. The Zhengs have created a diverse sushi menu with such items as tuna, eel and lobster rolls ($5.50-$9.95), and the Spicy Maki Combo, which is a combination of a spicy tuna rolls, spicy California roll and yellowtail scallion roll ($15.95).

One of their best dishes, John said, is the sesame chicken.

“We make ours differently than other Chinese restaurants,” he said.

Using all white meat, they shred the chicken and deep fry it in a dry flour, which makes it stay crispy.

“It stays that way even with the take-out lid on top, which tends to make the chicken soggy by the time someone gets home,” he said.

The bistro also offers Japanese and Chinese lunch specials starting at $5.95. A Japanese Bento Box includes three choices of meat with four pieces of California roll, fried shumai, salad or miso soup and rice ($11.95).

To entice customers, the Bistro holds happy hour every night and Monday Madness every week; the bar offers buy-one-get-one-free drink specials, including shots with sake flakes.

The Bistro caters all types of event either off-site or at their location.

“We were very busy during the holidays,” said John, who enjoys seeing everyone leave the restaurant happy. “It makes me feel like we did something right.”

Got an eatery to recommend? Email eabreu@dailyrecord.com

Eastern Asian Bistro

Address: 3 Mount Olive Rd. Budd Lake

Phone: (862) 254-2110

Website: www.easternasianbuddlake.com

Hours:

Monday to Thursday: 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Sunday: 12 to 10 p.m.

Owner: Hong, Shang, and John Zheng

Cuisine: Chinese, Japanese, Cantonese

Prices: Appetizers, $1.60-11.95; Soup & Salad, $2.25-8.50; Rice or Noodles, Chow Mein/Chop Suey, $4.75-12.50; Egg Foo Young/MooShu/Chicken/Pork/Beef/Seafood/Vegetable, $8.25-14.95; Chef’s Special/Lunch Specials, $5.95-24.95; Sushi/Sashimi, $4.50-15

Delivery: Yes

Reservations: Yes

Order online: Yes

Catering: Yes

Occupancy: Seating for 130

Vibe: Family friendly bistro and bar