On a typical Saturday night, my cousin and I decided to grab some dinner together. I personally enjoy eating authentic Asian cuisine, so we decided to go to Jasmine Garden, located near the campus of California State University, Fresno.
When I walked into the restaurant, the first thing I noticed was the clean and neat layout of the eatery. Tables sparkled and the floors were spotless.
In addition, unlike other restaurants, Jasmine Garden did not have loud music or televisions, creating a peaceful environment in which to enjoy my meal.
The waiter attended to us right when we got there, which surprised me; at other places, we often have had to wait a couple of minutes.
Once seated, we ordered two servings of pho, a Vietnamese-style noodle dish, and lemon grass chicken, a spicy chicken dish with peppers, as well as dry spring rolls filled with shrimp and lettuce.
Although we ordered four dishes in total, the food came out in about 15 minutes. I was happy that we were not kept waiting long.
After adding hot sauce to my noodles, I tasted the most delicious pho I have ever had. The spice intensified the overall flavor of the dish.
After I finished my pho, I sampled my cousin’s meal of lemon grass chicken. I am not a big fan of chicken, but I thoroughly enjoyed this dish because the meat was very tender and contained hints of lemon, not an overpowering zest.
The spring rolls were different from any others I have had. Typical spring rolls consist of lettuce, beef and shrimp. At Jasmine Garden, however, peanuts are added to the rolls, making for a unique and delicious twist.
By the time we were done with our food, we had plenty left over due to the large portions. I can therefore say that the food at Jasmine Garden tastes just as delicious the next day.
Overall, I was very satisfied with Jasmine Garden. The food was absolutely amazing, customer service was nice and the price was very cheap as well, with most items ranging from $8-15. I would definitely recommend Jasmine Garden to anyone who wants to enjoy authentic Asian cuisine.
Jasmine Garden is located at 2633 E. Shaw Ave and can be reached at 559.294.2199.
For more food reviews, read the Nov. 30 article, Mad Duck offers classic cuisine.
