Asian Archives - Gil's Thrilling (And Filling) Blog

Albuquerque Asian Chinese New Mexico Rating: Excellent

Red Chilli House – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Gil GardunoApril 8, 2026April 10, 202612:01 AM

Red “Chilli” House…doesn’t “Chilli” read like a misspelled word that knocked a spelling bee contestant out of the competition? Or like someone added one too many letter “l’s” to the already misspelled word “chili?” Actually, that spelling (which some of us purists consider Texan) is by design. The delightful Chinese restaurant sporting that appellation–which opened its doors in June, 2024–wouldn’t change it. Among other things, it illustrates just how important Capsicum is in some provinces of China, particularly Sichuan and Hunan. Capsicum, as most New Mexicans know, is the genus to which all chili (chile in New Mexico) peppers and bell peppers belong. The fruit of the capsicum plant contains a chemical called capsaicin, the active ingredient that gives…

Albuquerque Japanese Rating: Good Sushi

Ichiban – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Gil GardunoApril 4, 2026April 5, 20263:43 AM

In an episode of Friends, Joey Tribbiani starred in a commercial released only in Japan for Ichiban men’s lipstick. His friend Chandler’s response upon viewing the commercial: “he really is a chameleon.” In Japanese, the word “ichiban” means “number one” or “the best” and can be used either as a superlative (as in the highest of quality or the very best choice) or to denote precedence or numerical order. The fictional Chinese-American detective Charlie Chan, for example, called his eldest son “number one son.” Whether meaning to denote the highest quality or precedence (ranking) among other restaurants, any dining establishment calling itself “number one” is making a pretty audacious claim. That may be especially true if that claim is made…

Albuquerque American Dog Friendly Fusion New Mexico Rating: Very Good

Fuego 505 Rotisserie & Bar – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Gil GardunoMarch 29, 2026March 31, 202611:01 PM

“I have become obsessed with cooking meat over fire. I get prepared for it. I make sure I’m hungry before I cook it. The smell of the smoke and the aroma of the crackling meat ignites some ancient genetic memories. It makes cooking and eating significantly better.” ~Joe Rogan, Podcast Host Those of us with a carnivorous bent can relate to Joe Rogan’s ode to cooking meat over fire. There’s absolutely nothing as mouth-watering as the heady aroma and melodious sound of meat searing on the grill or sizzling in a pan. An argument can easily be made that nothing evokes a wanton lust more than smoke perfumed by meat as it wafts toward our anxiously awaiting nostrils. The sounds…

Asian Lao New Mexico Rating: Outstanding Rio Rancho Sushi Thai

Vong Sushi Thai and Laos Cuisine – Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Gil GardunoMarch 28, 2026March 31, 202612:01 AM

Grammatically any of the following is correct: Laotian cuisine, Lao cuisine or the cuisine of Laos. Just don’t ever call it “Laosy cuisine.” That would not only be a malapropism, it would be wholly inaccurate. The cuisine of Laos is among the most dynamic and delicious in Southeast Asia, if not the world. One of the reasons Laotian cuisine doesn’t receive the accolades it deserves is because of its neighbors. The Lao People’s Democratic Republic is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia bordered by Myanmar (formerly Burma), China, Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. To some extent, these neighbors (at least China, Vietnam and Thailand) have surpassed Laos on the world’s culinary stage–not necessarily because their cuisine is superior, but because it’s…

Albuquerque Asian New Mexico Rating: Excellent Thai

Hot Pink Thai Cuisine – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Gil GardunoMarch 21, 2026March 31, 20265:36 PM

Black socks and sandals, mixing plaids and polka dots, middle-aged men wearing trousers up to their nipples, T-shirts that accentuate the “spare tire” look, fat guys wearing culottes… If there’s a fashion faux-pas out there, you can bet some of us XY-chromosome-enabled fashion Luddites have committed it and then some. When it comes to fashion, many of us are as clueless as a pirate wearing two eye patches. There is, however, one fashion statement we won’t make. Among the six to seven shirts hanging (wrinkles and all) in our closets, none will be the color pink. Nor will they be salmon, carnation, rose, Amaranth or any other shade of pink fashionistas invented in an effort to get us to wear…

Albuquerque Asian Japanese New Mexico Ramen Rating: Outstanding

Oni Noodles – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Gil GardunoMarch 14, 2026March 31, 20262:06 PM

In retrospect, the monsters and bogeymen who frightened impressionable children of my generation were pretty lame. Perhaps the most lame of them all was Frankenstein, a lumbering behemoth who walked around with his arms outstretched like a sleepwalking Shaquille O’Neal. Frankenstein snarled and growled a lot, probably because Gene Hackman poured hot soup on his lap. Then there was that pasty-faced vampire Dracula who could be repelled with garlic (which explains his aversion for Italian food). Dracula couldn’t even enjoy New Mexico’s 310 days of sunshine without sizzling and hissing like a strip of bacon. In comparison Japan’s monsters are pretty badass. Godzilla, a foul-tempered prehistoric sea monster prone to tantrums destroyed Tokyo several times and was pretty much impervious…

Albuquerque Asian Chinese New Mexico Rating: N/R (Not Rated)

Fei’s Cafe – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Gil GardunoMarch 12, 2026April 6, 202612:12 AM

Some say the map of China looks like a chicken. The province of Sichuan in Southwest China would be right in the stomach of that chicken. That’s fitting because the cuisine of Sichuan is internationally renowned for its liberal use of spice. What characterizes Sichuan from the other regions of China is its use of Sichuan peppercorn, chilies, and the ability to take even the most mundane of ingredients to create fabulous dishes. There’s a term for the flavor profile associated with Sichuan cuisine. It’s the word “mala” which translates to “numbing spice.” The “ma” portion of that term comes from the use of Sichuan Peppercorns (which are actually in the same botanical family as citrus, not chilies). Sichuan peppercorns…

Albuquerque Asian New Mexico Rating: Outstanding Vietnamese

SAIGON CITY – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Gil GardunoMarch 3, 2026March 31, 202612:02 AM

NOTE: Saigon City shuttered its doors on 31 October 2025 to allow the owners to take a much-needed vacation. It reopened on 12 January 2026. During the time away, Shawn negotiated an extension to the lease which will keep Saigon City at its familiar location. For that, regulars at this outstanding Vietnamese restaurant are elated. My brother in blogging Ryan Cook describes his first day in Vietnam: “So, my first stop in Vietnam was the capital, Hanoi. My honest first impressions… what the hell have I let myself in for. Seriously…The roads are chaos! The ride from the airport to the hostel was basically 40 minutes of holding my breath and cringing. How someone wasn’t killed in front of my…

Chinese New Mexico Rating: Good Rio Rancho

Best Lee’s – Rio Rancho, New Mexico

Gil GardunoJanuary 12, 2026April 5, 202612:14 AM

When does confidence become audacity? Is there a point at which a claim becomes braggadocio? To what extent can you trust a review on a hometown magazine? These were all questions we sought to answer during our inaugural meal at a Rio Rancho Chinese restaurant with the quaint name “Best Lee’s.”Best Lee’s is ensconced in the Southern Plaza Shopping Center in the same suite that held Peking House, a Chinese restaurant so mediocre I chose not to write anything about it during our one and only visit. In truth, we thought Peking House was still happily torturing taste buds until reading the December-January 2007 edition of Rio Rancho magazine (now defunct). A published review practically gushed with effusiveness over a…

Arizona Asian Filipino Rating: N/R (Not Rated)United States

Jollibee – Chandler, Arizona

Gil GardunoJanuary 8, 2026April 6, 202612:01 AM

One visit to Jollibee might convince you you’ve visited yet another American chain restaurant. You’d be half right. Jollibee is a chain, but it’s a chain based out of the Philippines. Apparently the many islands comprising The Philippines developed a taste for fried chicken and burgers during its years as a U.S. colony. My Uncle Fred, a career Navy man stationed several times at Subic Bay (on the west coast of Luzon Island in the Philippines northwest of Manila), raved that the fried chicken, in particular, was far better than fried chicken anywhere in the United States. Apparently he’s not the only person with that opinion. USA Today and Eater both recently named Jollibee fried chicken as the best in…

Albuquerque Asian Japanese New Mexico Ramen Rating: N/R (Not Rated)Sushi

Aji Ramen – Albuquerque, New Mexico

Gil GardunoDecember 17, 2025April 6, 202612:01 AM

If a television show was to be created about ramen (some pronounce it ray-men), it would probably be called “Everybody loves ramen.” According to the World Noodles Association (yes, there is such an entity), Americans consume 5.15 billion servings of instant ramen every year. If you think that’s a lot, the United States ranks as only the sixth-largest consumer globally, significantly far behind such Asian nations as China and Indonesia. Still, the land of spacious skies and fruited plains ranks as the top ramen consumer outside of Asia. The per person consumption rate among Americans is 15 servings of ramen per year. Would you believe South Korea is ranked the world’s number one per capita in instant noodle consumption (72.8…