Asian Chef - Tartu

We decided to have a late dinner at this restaurant, as it was one of the few places still open near where we were staying. The food was okay, but nothing exceptional - just average Asian/Chinese cuisine, which seems to be the norm for many cafes and restaurants in Estonia. Once again, there was no draft beer available, only bottled or canned options. We also found the prices of the sides to be a bit high - paying EUR 3 for a bowl of plain boiled basmati rice seemed excessive. While we understand that businesses need to make a profit, charging almost as much for a side dish of rice as for a main dish felt like a bit of a rip-off.

The food at this restaurant used to have a more authentic taste, but now most dishes are either overcooked or overly salty. The biggest issue is that the food rarely tastes the same each time. Consistency has disappeared completely. You could order the same meal three times in a week and it would taste completely different each time. Many times, the food is excessively salty. During my last delivery order, the stir-fried vegetables tasted like they were cooked with flour and a excessive amount of salt, without any hint of honey or spice. The crispy lamb was a soggy, oversalted mess. I keep hoping that they will improve their consistency, but at this point, I may have better luck cooking these dishes myself.

I usually appreciate Asian restaurants that may not look impressive but serve delicious food. Unfortunately, this restaurant did not meet my expectations. The menu offered a fusion of Chinese, Indian, Thai, and Nepalese cuisines, which should have been a warning sign. The 'fish fillet with garlic and ginger' dish lacked any of those flavors, and the 'stir-fried vegetables' seemed to be coated in sugar and tasted like they were straight out of a freezer bag. This was a disappointment and an insult to Asian cuisine and vegetables. While the staff was friendly and the prices were affordable, it didn't make up for the disappointing food. Overall, it was a very disappointing experience. Their reaction to our feedback was dismissive.

This lunch spot is good, with daily specials served quickly. The lunch menu changes daily and offers plenty of options. The portion sizes are average, but I find the nutritional value lacking as I often feel hungry soon after. The meat servings could be more generous. The interior is a bit outdated.

We were a quite big party with around 25 people. That was probably too much to handle with the available staff, since it took almost 1 hour from the first person to the last was served. There was also a mix up with the orders, so one of the kids was served fried pineapple instead of a main course. The food was good and the atmosphere nice, so it’s worth visiting for couples or smaller groups.