We love Chinese food and have tried most of the restaurants in the North Raleigh area. We’ve had a few hit and miss visits with local spots, but so far none were consistent with the quality of food for our order. What we thought was the best dish on one visit was too dry or crunchy the next three visits. Bummer when you’re craving something that is “just right.”
Then we tried out Red Bowl Asian Bistro in the North Raleigh area. It’s located in the shopping center off of Old Wake Forest Road near BJs club, just next door to Mimi’s Cafe. The ambiance and interior design are great – it’s not your typical run in and run out Chinese restaurant (although you can order – online even – and pick up your food for carryout). Tables can accommodate a couple or a larger group of people eating out together. We’ve never experienced a wait time.
Red Bowl offers all of your typical Chinese restaurant fare including a pretty extensive fresh sushi menu. Prices are fairly comparable to other local Chinese restaurants in Raleigh which is surprising since we thought it might be more expensive because of the nicer indoor atmosphere and the “Bistro” name. Red Bowl currently offers a promotional key tag that allows you a percentage off a carry-out order OR a buy one get one deal for dine-in orders (ask the restaurant for more info).
About the food: we’ve eaten here about 5 or 6 times in the past few months and every time Red Bowl has delivered exactly what we hoped for. I love Sesame Chicken and this is the best I’ve had in my 6 years of living in the Triangle. Other items ordered include their Orange Chicken which is too spicy for me, so if you like a little heat with your chicken this is a perfect dish. They offer delicious and hot soups and other hors devours. My favorite is their Crab Rangoon – you get about 6 of them, perfectly cooked and absolutely delicious. In my personal opinion, they are the best in the North Raleigh area period!
Red Bowl includes a kids menu which is good if you have an older kid who needs their own plate and won’t share off of your own monstrous and generous serving portion. Everyone’s meals are served on nifty and trendy plates or bowls and of course chopsticks are available, with a neat little rubber-band twisty available for those of us who haven’t yet (and probably never will) master the art of chopstick eating.
Red Bowl also has a full-service bar for drinks at the table or if you want to watch the television and sit right at the bar with your meal.
If you are looking for some tasty Chinese food, do give Red Bowl a try. For now, it’s my favorite Chinese restaurant of all time. :)
