NOMAD ASIAN BISTRO REVIEW
What is Nomad Asian Bistro? Nomad Asian Bistro is located in Long Beach, California, serving fresh, halal handmade Chinese Cuisine. The restaurant prepares Asian Cuisine that specialize from the Hui people of China. The Hui people are an East Asian Chinese ethnoreligious group that historically originate from the Silk Road. The restaurant dishes are a unique blend of Chinese and Middle Eastern, and South Asian influences introduced by travelers of the Silk Road. The beautiful combination of cultures and diversity created the origin of Hui cuisine. Nomad Asian Bistro serves classic Asian Cuisine and authentic Hui Chinese dishes that originate from Western China. The food is served family-style, so be sure to bring a large group of people so you can taste all their unique dishes!
STARTERS:
HONEY GINGER WINGS
These honey-ginger wings were your standard wings with an Asian touch. The wings have crispy skin and bursting with the perfect balance of sweetness and saltiness. The waiters paired these wings with a chili garlic sauce for an added spicy touch. These wings bring in East Asian flavors while remaining reminiscent of the American style wings. If you love Asian-style wings, this appetizer will not let you down.
| Rating: 4 Stars |
| Pricing: $8.50 |
THIN SESAME FLATBREAD
The thin sesame flatbread was the highlight of the show. After trying multiple halal Chinese spots in California, this flatbread had the perfect ratio of thickness. Sesame Bread is usually specifically sold in Halal Chinese or Hakka Chinese Restaurants. The bread is a specialty and shines in flavor on its own. The flatbread was just thin enough to be crispy and thick sufficient to hold its shape of fluffiness. The toasted sesame seeds brought such good flavor that we had to order an extra round to go.
| Rating: 5 Stars |
| Pricing: $8 |
SOUPS:
HOT AND SOUR SOUP
The Hot and Sour Soup delivered on what it came here to do. Spicy AND Sour. After a busy chilly night, drinking this hot and sour soup awakened my soul. It was served hot, spicy, sour, and full of so much umami flavor. The soup consisted of chicken, wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots, tofu, and egg ribbons. The large wood ear mushrooms were one of my favorite parts of the dish. The tofu was soft but still maintained its structure and shape in the thick soup. Though this hot and sour soup is pricier than other Chinese restaurants, the dish is delivered in its depth and heartiness. This soup was a delicious and hearty introduction to the main course dishes ahead.
| Rating: 5 Stars |
| Pricing: Small: $10 Large: $12 |
CHICKEN:
GENERAL TSO’S CHICKEN
Nomad’s General Tso’s Chicken was very similar to what you would expect from Orange Chicken. The chicken was deep fried and tossed in a sweet sauce. Though the chicken had a crispy outer layer, the chicken remained juicy and flavorful. The orange chicken was a balance of sweetness and tanginess. They also added some diced onions and chili peppers to the dish.
| Rating: 4 Stars |
| Pricing: $15.50 |
BEEF & LAMB:
NOMAD’S SHORT RIBS
The Short Ribs are Nomad Asian Bistro’s specialty dish, and it did NOT disappoint. It was seasoned perfectly marinated with cumin, dry red chili, garlic chips, and scallions. It was juicy and had the perfect amount of sauce pairing to it. It was a unique dish I have never tried before, and I will be craving for a long time. The short ribs were well cooked, tender, and full of umami flavor. The short ribs are fatty, so they bring a nice chew to the meat.
| Rating: 5 Stars |
| Pricing: $15.50 |
CUMIN LAMB
The Cumin Lamb is another highly recommended specialty of Nomad Asian Bistro. The Cumin Lamb consisted of a dry rub of spices that includes cumin and red chili peppers tossed with cilantro and thin-sliced onions. The meat was fatty, cooked well and highly recommended for lamb lovers. However, I was disappointed that there was not enough meat in the platter to amount to the high cost. The plate had more onions and cilantro than the protein itself. Although, the meat itself was tasty, the lamb’s ratio to cilantro and onion was not worth the price.
| Rating: 4 Stars |
| Pricing: $18.50 |
SEAFOOD:
HOT BRAISED SHRIMP
This Hot Braised Shrimp consists of sautéed shrimp in full-flavored braised tomato sauce, and minced onions and garnished with green scallions. The shrimp is also served with a side of boiled broccoli. The hot braised shrimp was the least satisfying dish we had on the table. The platter lacked in flavor since the tomato sauce dulled out the seasoning that was consistent throughout the other foods. The shrimps itself were large, juicy, and flavorful. However, the sauce itself was underwhelming. Though it wasn’t my favorite dish on the table, I appreciate tasting a blend of Middle Eastern influences in a Western Chinese dish.
| Rating: 3 Stars |
| Pricing: $16.50 |
RICE & NOODLES:
THREE FLAVOR FRIED RICE
The three flavored fried rice consisted of steamed rice, stir-fried with egg, fresh scallions, soy seasoning, and three proteins that include beef, chicken, and shrimp. Three flavors of fried rice is a great way to try out different meats alongside your fried rice for a meal at a shareable value. The steamed jasmine fried rice was steamed while maintaining each grain and not sticking to one another. The chefs also cooked all three proteins well and did not skimp on the meat: the standard and perfect pairing alongside the main dishes.
| Rating: 5 Stars |
| Pricing: $12.50 |
HANDMADE CHOW MEIN THREE FLAVOR
I have tried handmade chow mein noodles multiple times before at various restaurants. Though I usually love the texture behind handmade chow mein, this dish was softened to the point where the noodles fell apart. The noodles were challenging to eat alongside the main courses due to the short length and thickness. The noodles could have used a touch more seasoning and cooked to al dente for added chewiness. However, if you prefer softer, shorter handmade noodles, this dish is nearly perfect.
| Rating: 3 Stars |
| Pricing: $15.25 |
OVERALL:
If you have not tried Halal Chinese Cuisine, Nomad Asian Bistro is an excellent restaurant to stop by and try different dishes with many people. The plates are ordered family style and are all unique with an immense amount of flavor. The restaurant’s ambiance is lively and full of people who are ready to try shareable dishes and enjoy the love of authentic and diverse Halal Chinese food.
