Like romance novels, dumplings fit tempting tidbits into a small but steamy package. Passionately devour cuisine with today's Groupon: for $20, you get $40 worth of Asian cuisine and drinks at Chin San Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar in Thousand Oaks.
Master Chef Kwong Chueng titillates taste buds with a menu of Chinese specialties blended with innovative sushi rolls. Drawing on his extensive history as an executive chef, Chueng crafts mouth-moistening dishes such as the sizzling dragon eggplant packed with minced shrimp and pork in a fire-breathing cast-iron plate ($15.95). Soft-bone pork as tender as a newborn's dreams nearly slides off ribs in the jian-xu ($13.95), and familiar flavors exude from kung pao chicken ($13.95) and sweet-and-sour pork ($11.95) to sate traditional Chinese-fare cravings. Guests can watch sushi savants wrap a handful of rolled delicacies from sea treats such as spicy tuna, soft-shell crab, asparagus, and eel sauce at the prominent sushi bar ($8.95–$12.95).
Arching rafters, a painted ceiling over the sushi bar, and hanging lanterns add a touch of elegance to the casual eatery, beckoning guests to linger while sipping on a cup of hot oolong tea or introducing themselves to the lobby fern.
Chin San Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar
Myriad medals from international competitions adorn Master Chef Hou Kwong Cheung, who brings more than 30 years of experience to his post as the bistro's meal maker. Gourmet, pan-Asian cuisine forms the menu, with honey-glazed walnut shrimp harvested from seas of honey joining baked mussels and French-style beef rib-eye tips. Sushi chef Hide Joy rolls fresh fish into savory cylinders, and bento boxes tidily assemble a bit of everything.
Leafy, green bamboo stalks pop against the dining room's warm palette, the verdant stems contrasting with coral walls and red floors. Behind the scenes is a custom barbecue oven, which reaches 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit using the same technology as salon-grade curling irons.