A respite from the North End's endless pasta parade--and one of the city's top Asian dining experiences.

The Scene
First-time diners will experience a bit of culture shock: This award-winning pan-Asian spot sits on the edge of the overwhelmingly Italian North End. Once that's past, however, it's easy to succumb to this restaurant's charms. Patrons take their pick of seating in the bright, comfy sushi bar, an attractive, quiet dining room or the upbeat bar, whose tall windows open out onto the street. Service in all corners is quick and efficient.

The Food
The lengthy menu (which features hints of Malaysian and Thai cooking techniques) gives neighborhood patrons and business diners a welcome break from the area's countless pasta joints. After starting off with a few selections from the top-shelf sushi bar (try a delightfully fresh Boston Maki roll), diners choose from familiar favorites like spare ribs, Hong Kong-style sweet-and-sour chicken and yellow-fin tuna teriyaki. Quality is high across the board, while prices won't break the bank.