Asian Bistros II is located at 3219 Schoenersville Road in Bethlehem.
Some of the best sushi you’ll find in the Lehigh Valley isn’t always in the typical swanky spots. Hidden in a small strip small on Schoenersville Road in Bethlehem, Asian Bistros II offers not only delicious sushi, but also a variety of thoughtfully-prepared Asian dishes as well.
Though it’s not clearly stated online, Asian Bistros II is BYOB, so if you want to enjoy a bottle of sake with your sushi, you can do that. There are of course other beverage options available as well.
Benefits of the eating in the restaurant’s small, intimate dining room include having a great view of sushi chefs in action (no matter where you sit) and seeing a plethora of fresh fish on display.
The intimate dining room at Asian Bistros II
My guest and I decided to start off with two of the signature rolls on the menu.
We went with the Bagel Roll ($11.50) from the tempura section, which was packed with eel, smoked salmon and cream cheese wrapped together, deep fried and topped with barbecue eel sauce. This roll was very rich, but the sauce and cream cheese did not take away from the salmon and eel. And though it was fried, it was not greasy at all.
Asian Bistros’ Bagel Roll (foreground) and Spicy Girl Roll
The raw roll we chose was the Spicy Girl ($13.50), with tuna, yellowtail, salmon, jalapeno & tobiko wrapped in a crispy spring sheet and drizzled with spicy cream sauce. The trio of fishes shined in this roll, and were not overwhelmed by the spiciness of the jalapeno.
Along with a large selection of sushi and sashimi to choose from, there is an extensive menu featuring Japanese, Chinese and Thai dishes, so deciding on an entree can be a challenge. From classic noodle dishes to hibachi, you have endless possibilities. I went with the Thai Basil Sauce with Beef ($13) with white rice for dinner. The sauce had a distinctly spicy, anise flavor from the Thai basil and was loaded with tender pieces of beef and crisp veggies.
Thai Basil Sauce with Beef
My guest ordered the Crispy Jumbo Shrimp with Honey Walnut Sauce ($16), which also comes with the choice of white or brown rice. The portion was very generous, with enough to take home for a second meal. Flavors were similar to a pina colada, but not overly sweet.
Crispy Jumbo Shrimp with Honey Walnut Sauce
Our entire meal at Asian Bistros II was incredibly tasty. If you’re a sushi lover, you’ll surely have fun eating your way through the menu.
With such a large menu, I’ll be making more trips to this restaurant so I can sample more fresh sushi and classic Asian cuisine. Not in the mood to dine in? You can also order carry-out or food for delivery. That way you can even have a top-notch sushi dinner in the comfort of your home.
ASIAN BISTROS II
Address: 3219 Schoenersville Road, Bethlehem, PA 18017
Phone: 610-419-6088
Facebook Page: Facebook.com/asianbistrosii
Hours: Sunday 12 to 10 p.m., Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Parking: Shopping center lot
Kristina Gonzalez is a lifelong Lehigh Valley resident who works in the publishing industry. She enjoys dining out regularly and trying new restaurants in the area. Is there a local restaurant you’d like Kristina to review? Please email your suggestion to jo**@sa**********.com.
