Nairobi Kenya Restaurants - Chinese, Japanese & Thai Restaurants Kenya

Nairobi has plenty of Chinese restaurants but they aren't a cheap option. Almost all offer 'large' (good for two people) and 'small' portions (enough for one). Food is generally excellent, but all these places add 16% VAT to the bill, so prices can soon mount up.

Chinese & Thai Nairobi Restaurants

Panda Chinese Restaurant
Fedha towers, Kaunda St; mains kshs380-1480)

A spacious very classy Asian restaurant hidden away on Kaunda St. The staffs are attentive to the point of overzealousness, especially when its quiet and the food is the best Chinese chow I have seen in Nairobi. Lovers of Muzak will also be at their element here.

Hong Kong Restaurant
(College House, Koinange St; Mains Kshs 300-600)

A bright red restaurant with good food and not too much clichéd décor. It's the cheapest proper Chinese in town and is accordingly popular.

Bangkok Chinese restaurant
(Rank Xerox House, Parklands Rd, Westlands; Mains Kshs290-890)

The Bangkok has been in business for a number of years but was clearly named by someone with no grasp of geography, as there's virtually nothing Thai on the menu at all. If the disappointment gets too much you can always crack open a bottle of Moet (Kshs 8990)

Tanager Bar & Restaurant
(Rehema House, Kaunda St. mains Kshs 280-350)

A cheap and simple Chinese African eatery right in the city centre.

China Jiangsu Restaurant
(Westlands Rd mains Kshs 200-600)

A stylish rooftop restaurant above Soin arcade shopping centre. Prices are very reasonable considering the classy balcony setting, and the food's not to be sniffed at either.

Siam Thai
(Unga House, Muthithi Rd, Westlands, mains Kshs 250-680)

This attractive restaurant has an extensive menu of actual Thai food and a very good reputation. Unga House can be reached from either Woodvale grove or Muthithi Rd.

Japanese Nairobi Kenya Restaurants

Restaurant Akasaka
(Standard St, mains Kshs 450-800)

A wonderful Japanese restaurant next to the six eighty Hotel. It's always a little quiet, but this fits the stylish Japanese décor and the food is very authentic. There's even a tatami room (reserve in advance) where you can eat at traditional low tables. Akasaka runs the full gamut of Japanese cuisine including udon noodles, sushi sets, tempura, teriyaki, and sukiyaki as well as great miso soup. Good value set lunches is also available.

Furasato Japanese Restaurant
(Karuna Rd, Westlands; set meals Kshs 700-1500)

Behind the sarit centre, this is a very stylish place with seductive set Japanese meals including sushi, teppanyaki and tempura. The sushi and sashimi are delicious. Reservations are recommended.

There are many other Asian restaurants in Nairobi including some in leafy suburbs that may cost even twice as much as the ones included here. Depending on your taste you can enquire of the Chinese and Japanese restaurants in such areas.

Remember here that at this level of class, what your bill not only includes the food mass but also the dining ambience-something you are unlikely to take home in your tummy though.

All in all you are most likely going to find a restaurant, if not two that suits your tastes and pocket size. There is simply no lack in Asian restaurants here.

How to Enjoy Eating in Restaurants Without Giving Up on Your Diet

not as a diet, do not say every day at lunch and dinner with friends. There's really nothing bad to eat every once in a while '. In reality, this can also help you feel less restricted and less bored with everything your diet plan requires that you eat.

However, food also does not mean you have to eat to their hearts content and revelry. Only one night of indulgence in food and alcohol you can win back the unwanted inches to life,They have worked to eliminate a few weeks. What you need to go out to eat with friends and go out, it makes more sense with the selection of food. Here's a guide on what to choose when to eat meals at the restaurant of your choice.

Chinese

Many dishes are served in Chinese restaurants floating in the sauce is thick and greasy. In addition, rice meals in these places often in large bowls and can be served very delicious. So if you do not eat in Chinese restaurants mayYou should try to stick to stir fry vegetables, fish or meat, if you're on a diet. If you are brown rice, for this request.

Italian

Mamma Mia! Italian food is delicious and rich, but they can be healthy for you. Pasta and pizza may be a good choice, unless they are filled with cheese, meat and cream white. To avoid an oversupply of food to share a meal with friends. But if you prefer not to share your order, would be to choose the best grilldishes, such as chicken, shrimp and fish. Minestrone soup and some vegetable antipasto are also sensible choices. But please don't be tempted to order calzones, manicotti, deep fried foods, and eggplant parmigiana because they are really not friendly with any diet program.

Fast Food

Who said you cannot eat in fast food joints when you are dieting? Many fast food restaurants are now aware that a huge portion of their customers are diet conscious, so they have come up with food fares that are low in calories and fat. You can order salads, just make sure that the sauce or dressing is separated so you have some control on how much you want to use. Also grilled lean chicken and burger are also sensible choices. However, beware of deep fried chicken or fish sandwiches because they are definitely high in calories.

Japanese

Many dieters think that ordering sushi is actually the right thing to do when in a Japanese restaurant. Although there are types of sushi that are made from vegetables and seafood, you have to understand that some are filled with very rich slivers of raw food as well. These small round treats may actually be packed in calories, so be careful not to order a lot.

Sensible food choices in Japanese restaurants are sashimi, miso soup, and dishes cooked in griddles, such as teppanyaki. Although you might think that teriyaki is a good choice, you have to realize that its sauce might be high in sugar.

Mexican

If you love burritos or enchiladas, go ahead and order them. Just be sure that they are not filled with cheese. Other good-for-the-waist choices include fajitas and other grilled dishes. Much like in other types of restaurants, you may want to get away from deep fried foods or those that contain creamy or thick sauces. Thus, ordering chili con carne or fried chichimangas, or a platter of nachos or tortillas is a big no-no.

Top 5 Cheapest Restaurants in Japan

Don't have a lot of money in Japan, but you want to eat local Japanese food? If you have a tight budget and you want to eat good food, finding a restaurant to cheaply eat at in Japan is probably the hardest thing to do. The high cost of living and language barrier is going to make your life difficult if you have a tight budget. Here are the 5 cheapest restaurants in Japan.

Yoshinoya

This is the biggest and largest restaurant franchise in Japan. It sells very healthy but cheap food. They specialize in Gyudon which is savory beef on rice. They also serve katsu-don which is pork and rice. You can have curry and rice also and come very cheap. All meals can come in a set. For instance you can get a Gyudon, dumplings, soup and fresh hot or cold tea all under US$10. A very cheap place to eat.

Mos Burger

Mos Burger is basically a McDonalds but in a Japanese way. They're equivalent of a Big Mac is a Mos burger which is basically a shrimp burger instead of a beef burger. They also come in a set, which comes with French fries and soft drink for all under US$10.

GuruGuru Sushi

This place is the least expensive sushi place in Japan. They are everywhere, and are usually situated at any big subway station such as Shinjuku, Ueno or Ginza. One plate costs approximately US$1, so a good feed can cost up to US$11-12.

Ten'ya

This place specializes in tempura. Tempura is basically battered fish or vegetable which you can eat with miso soup or noodles. All dishes come with tea, so it makes a complete meal. All meals are under US$10.

Matsuya

If you want a quick bite to eat, and your favorite food is curry, Matsuya is the place. It is Japan's favorite curry restaurant, and is one of the biggest. All the foods are under US$10 and that includes ice or hot tea and soup.

Top 10 Restaurants to Dine at When Visiting New York - Written by a New Yorker

Usually out of towners when they think of New York dining, they think of very lavish, expensive food with interior décor designed by well known star-chitects with even more well known celebrity chef's endorsing the restaurant name.  While those restaurants (Olive, Spice Market, or all the Jean Georges for that matter) are fantastic restaurants- they should be, because outrageous sums of money are dedicated to their marketing, and management team, where the taste, quality of food is just one of the important factor in the well oiled machine that is the culinary food experience.  However, I want to highlight some of my favorite restaurants that are all a bit under the radar, and should be on your list of restaurants to hit if you are visiting from out of town.

Incidentally, in case you're wondering, I have been living in New York for 7 years, and have tried lots of local cuisine from Asia to Africa, so I do have a palette that enjoys and recognizes ethnic foods. I should also mention that I eat out pretty regularly, about 5 times a week, but I am not in the restaurant biz, nor endorsing any particular restaurant.  Just my faves, since great food/ experiences are meant to be shared!

Below is the list of restaurants that I will actually leave my neighborhood on the UWS to dine at- and repeatedly dine at:

1.    Casa Mono- Tapas-

Incredibly small space- but they do have a sister wine bar next door called Bar Jamon that allows you to sip on excellent Riojas while you wait.  This is also a really smart business tactic, so they never really lose customers to long waits.  The food is really based on Catalan style tapas, and not the northern Pinxchos variety, and it is more "done up" than you're typical run of the mill tapas bar that serve tortillas (Spanish omelets loaded in butter and potatoes) and croquettes. They serve a mean razor clam dish, and braised short rib.  Although I'm not a fan of sweet bread (that would be brain...) it's pretty darn good from what I've heard.  Décor is simple, dark woods, and ambiance is dark and cozy.

2.    Sakagura- Japanese/ Sake Bar

A completely random location in the basement in midtown east, but if you're looking for the best braised pork belly, authentic yet exquisite Japanese street food and sake served the way it should be (not in a box, but iced in a traditional hollowed out glass server) this is where you should try.  It is in the basement of an office building, but if you go around late April, early May, it is filled with actual cherry blossoms attached to each column.  Sensational!  There is no sushi there- only prepared cooked food, and no, you won't find any chicken teriyaki there either.  The miso eggplant and green tea truffles are to die for.

3.    Bon Chon Chicken- Fried Chicken/ Korean-

More of a late night spot, this K-town bar/ restaurant is located on Fifth right off 32nd, and has a seedy looking entrance with a random red velvet rope to go upstairs.  Twice I have gone and it has smelled like baby powder, but if you can get past that disconcerting smell- once you taste the fried chicken, you will never have fried chicken anywhere else.  Deep fried in olive oil, there are two flavors- garlic and garlic.  Go with either one =)  And get the spicy ones.  They also have popcorn made with cayenne pepper and raisins- bizarre combination, but really tasty.  Beer is served by the pitcher.  Other Korean food available too- but if you're just looking for K-food- there's more options right around the corner.  Here's fried chicken at its best.  Incidentally, lots of non-Koreans frequent this spot as well.

4.    Bobo- Pan- American cuisine-

Bobo stands for bohemian bourgeoisie- it is hidden downstairs on the corner of 10th street and 7th Ave, and once you enter, you'll feel that you're in someone's townhouse that you secretly wished you lived in.  I really go there because the ambiance is so spectacular which almost discredits the excellent menu there, but the décor is to die for.  Bookshelves lined with vintage books- crusty chandeliers, and a staircase clad in plaid and wool.  Very chic yet intimate.  In the summer, the outdoor garden opens up and is a real treat to out outside (sans tents).  Get the Wagyu sirloin or the seared sea scallops.  Good date spot.

5.    Morimoto- Big Box Japanese

It's easy to dislike this meat-packing, cavernous, overly loud Japanese restaurant filled with wait staff trained on ex-banker expense accounts.  Owned by Iron Chef Morimoto- filled with beautiful people (on weekdays), it happens to be a cut above the other  "Nobu knock-off's" around the corner- Matsuri, Buddah bar, Buddahkan, Tao, or Asia de Cuba- really because Tadao Ando designed the interior.  Walking through the half semi circle door with massive flapping curtains makes you feel like you're entering into a time warp, but sensibly done.  The large bi-level open space is utilized well by frosted/ dotted glass partitions set on an angle to maximize user space, yet create semi-intimate dining areas.  The food is, well, spectacular.  Miso glazed cod, rock shrimp tempura are the staples.

6.    Fornino- Pizza

Trekking to Brooklyn for good pizza hardly seems worth it, though it seems that enough people do it for that other pizza place (Grimaldi's)- which is highly overrated owing to good PR and press.  Fornino's is located on Bedford Ave off 7th and they make the most killer truffle oil/ mushroom pizza.  For a closer slice (in Manhattan)- John's Pizzeria is pretty good and worth the hype, though on the wet side.  Another nod to good pizza is- Posto pizza in Murray Hill- though they recently kicked out Jimmy Fallon because he bad mouthed another establishment on Twitter with the same management- which is just really just bad for business. Every New Yorker loves Jimmy Fallon.

7.    Peter Lugar's Steakhouse- Steakhouse-

Anywhere where they mock you for asking for an espresso or cappuccino is legit in my book.  This place actually lives up to the hype, and isn't laden in butter like Ruth Chris or a hit/miss like Prime 112.  There are certainly lots of great places for a slab of juicy meat in the city, but I'm listing this place as a steak house because you come here only for steak, and really nothing else though there is fish on the menu.  In addition to their steak for share, they have the best key lime pie, and tomato salad (best when loaded with the Lugar steak sauce on top!)  It used to be only construction workers, and men in blue shirts that go, but nowadays if you can get a table, its worth making the trip to BK.  They only take cash, and yes, their own credit card- the Peter Lugar credit card. 

8.    Malatesta- Italian Trattoria

Located on the corner of Christopher and Washington, this small intimate Italian restaurant is completely no frills- and only takes cash.  The cool wait staff  all speak Italian, and they don't take reservations- partially because they know they'll fill their tables at any given night- and partially because they just really don't care about making anyone a priority no matter who you are.  (They once made Christy Turlington wait behind me- what?) Pasta is simple, home made, and the way it should be.  Get the Spinach Gorgonzola Gnocchi or the rack of baby lamb.

9.    Ippudo- Japanese Ramen, cooked food

In the heels of Momofuku Noodle Shop, and Sobaya, comes this new ramen hot spot, Ippudo in the East Village.  As much as I love David Chang's usage of Berkshire pork in everything- his soup bases are almost too salty, and "Anglo-saxon-afied" whereas Ippudo's house ramen gets it just right.  In addition, the pork buns are also a cut above their competitors.  Get the Shisito peppers, pork buns, and try the sake unfiltered if you've never had it that way before.  Plan in waiting about 90 minutes for a table, even on a Monday night.  There's a bar across the street to get your drink on first, but it's worth the wait.

10.    Peasant (downstairs)- Rustic Italian

If you've ever dined at Peasant upstairs, you'll realize just how much Italian you really don't know.  Obscure phrases such as "Polpi in Purgatorio" (is that octopus in purgatory?) make you wonder what you've been eating all along in those other Italians places.  Food is exquisite, but lets face it, it's easy to find stellar food at $25 per entrée, but how about the same quality food at half price just downstairs?  Peasant downstairs is literally right below the one upstairs.  You walk through these large wooden doors that are unmarked which feels like you're entering into a bomb shelter- but once you're inside, it's the completely unexpected warm exposed brick and beam construction, thick heavy curtains lining the walls, and flickering candle light on each long slab wooden table that makes you feel that you've just entered a dimly lit Michelangelo Antonioni movie in the 1970's.  Romantic, inviting, and the noise level at a good boisterous, but still low enough hear your friends talking.  The food is generally meant for sharing- simple salads, rustic pizzas, and a fierce charcuterie plate make this a low key, yet supremely rich dining experience.