Fri Oct 18

Haiku Asian Bistro

Written by Venus Quintana
Published in Restaurants
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Shines Like a Diamond in Woodbury

Nestled in an obscure corner of the Woodbury Town Plaza shopping center is a culinary jewel of the Far East. Opened in 2008, Haiku Asian Bistro is a popular destination for pan-Asian enthusiasts and the only Long Island location of the Haiku restaurant group that currently owns five sister restaurants in upstate New York. My travels led me to the small storefront, almost hidden within a multitude of other dining spots in what I discovered are two side-by-side shopping centers on Jericho Turnpike. My early Wednesday night visit was met with a bustling wait staff, early-bird diners and take-out frenzy; an evident sign of Haiku’s incredible success. I was greeted by restaurant manager Alex Hoo, a gregarious, cheerful man who gave us the best seats in the house.

Haiku is a real beauty. The dining room envelopes guests with a calm and soothing décor, complete with an arresting stone wall set behind a gleaming sushi bar. A trickle of water flows over the river stones to create the ultimate Zen experience. Dark wooden tables are set in clean linearity against neutral walls adorned with decorative mirrors. The serene setting pleases the eye, as does the cuisine, with dishes that are dynamic and vibrant. The menu showcases a variety of Chinese, Japanese, Thai and Malaysian delights that are artfully and skillfully presented. With so many choices, I had to hold back from ordering the whole menu!

We started with some incredible sushi. The Tuna Lover Roll was a delightful balance of spicy crunchy tuna and cucumber covered with pepper tuna, avocado and red tobika. The Iron Man Roll ran away with first prize: orange soy paper wrapped around smoked salmon, eel and avo, topped with spicy mayo and salmon fish roe. The gyoza was the best I have ever had! These pan-fried dumplings were juicy creations with pork fillings inside paper-thin wrappers. A sashimi appetizer impressed with a sampler of five assorted fish that were luminous and impeccably fresh. Entrees dazzled with sesame chicken, garnished with shards of emerald-green asparagus that complemented the crunchy sweet-spicy meat. Korean BBQ short ribs were nothing short of magnificent. These boneless pieces of juicy beef were marinated and served over lettuce with a homemade duck sauce on the side.

I was relieved to learn that Haiku is not known for its dessert so we opted for some fresh air and a long walk instead. In any case, I was treated to a most amazing taste of the Far East and will surely be coming back for seconds.

8025 Jericho Turnpike Woodbury, NY 11797 (Woodbury Town Plaza) 516-584-6782

www.haikuasianbistro.com.

Open seven days for lunch and dinner