The first European explorers set sail with hopes of finding new, exotic spices to placate the palates of epicurious monarchs, but all they found were heaps of inedible gold. Pick up where they left off by broadening your mouth's horizons with today's Groupon: for $5, you get $10 worth of dine-in or takeout pan-Asian fare at Steamed Rice Express in Bell's Corners.

At Steamed Rice Express, diners can serve themselves at a buffet laden with Asian-inspired dishes made from scratch using fresh, wholesome ingredients. The casual eatery, which operates on a pay-by-the-pound basis, offers hot and cold items hailing from regions and subterranean laboratories all over Asia, such as Korean bulgogi, Mongolian meatballs, and Vietnamese chicken coleslaw ($6.85/lb.). Diners can assemble plates of vegetables in fresh salad or mixed stir-fry combinations, or opt for rice-paper rolls created on the premises and stuffed with shrimp, chicken, or vegetables ($1.35). Dipping sauces include peanut, hoisin, lime-fish, and soy varieties. The restaurant donates a penny out of every dollar it makes to nonprofit charitable organizations.