Good Asian food in Tennessee? Is that even something to hope for? Turns out, it is possible! In fact, it even comes at free external cost. A unique part of Vanderbilt’s mandatory meal plan for all freshman is our Taste of Nashville program. While the list of restaurants on the Taste of Nashville program is extensive, this post will guide you in your search for the best Asian restaurants around campus.
5. Shokku Ramen
Good ramen is always a classic. Whenever you have a craving for ramen, it can be satiated at Shokku Ramen. With their build your own ramen option, you get to choose your own broth, meat, toppings, and level of spice. The spice level ranges all the way from “I’ll pass” to “Shinigami” (death god). I usually go for “Just right” as someone with a low spice tolerance. This is perfect for picky eaters as it gives every individual a one of a kind, personalized experience every time the walk into the restaurant. It’s always exciting to see the variety of ramen combinations my friends and I order.
4. Banh Mi’s Boba
Banh Mi is one of the only nearby Vietnamese restaurants that is on Taste of Nashville. The highlight of this Vietnamese place lies in their boba tea! Although often overlooked because of their amazing selection of banh mi sandwiches and spring rolls, Banh Mi also offers the best boba you can find using your meal plan. Their version of the brown sugar boba is the Wild Tiger Boba that includes warm, caramelized boba and fresh milk. Whenever you feel the need to have boba on random Tuesday nights, you can make your way down to Banh Mi. Beware, for they close fairly early at 8PM.
3. Satay
Grubhubbing Satay on Saturday nights is a weekly tradition that cannot be easily broken. This Thai restaurant has a wide selection of fried rice, stir fried noodle, grilled meat and rice, and noodle soup! Especially during Vanderbilt’s freezing winters, when you get too lazy to walk all the way through main campus, grubhubbing Satay for dinner is always a solid choice. The highlight of Satay would be the spring roll or salad service they provide with main dishes!
2. Sitar
For this Indian restaurant, I highly recommend going in-person to get the complete, immersive experience! This place had the best service with full attention given to the diners, constantly checking in to see if everything was all right. Starting with the appetizers, Sitar set the bar high with the chutney and papadum (lentil crackers). You have the option to choose house combinations (similar to family style options) where you and your friends can share tandoori chicken, shrimp, curry, butter naan, and white rice. Their portion sizes are far too generous and the variety of foods you can get from ordering the set menus are simply incomparable to any other restaurant!
1. Meet Noodles
Meet, Noodles! He is always down to go on fun adventures, comforting in times of need, and just overall a really dependable guy. This Chinese noodle restaurant allows you build your own bowl where you can experiment with different base soups, noodles, and toppings. The highlight of this restaurant is the different kinds of noodle options that they provide: Chong Qing noodles, sliced noodles, sweet potato noodles, and rice noodles. A bowl of these noodles can clear up any of your covid-like symptoms and keep you going for the rest of the week!