Located on Wasatch Boulevard in Millcreek’s Olympus Hills Shopping Center, Gary’s Asian Bistro celebrated its first anniversary in September. But restaurateur/chef Gary Lee – for whom the bistro is named – has been around serving up great Chinese fare for considerably longer than that.
I remember first visiting his Ocean City restaurant in the Cottonwood Mall in the early 1990s – probably ‘93 or ‘94. Following that, he opened Asian Star restaurant in the Canyon Racquet Club location before relocating to Union Park in Midvale in 2006. Lee tried retiring a few years ago but it just didn’t stick, so a little over a year ago he opted out of retirement and opened Gary’s Asian Bistro.
It’s a sprawling, very inviting eatery with tables spaced far enough apart to provide plenty of elbow room. And the menu features a number of crowd pleasers imported from Asian Star, such as General Tso’s Chicken, Mu Shu Pork and Chicken, Sweet & Sour Pork, Moo Goo Gai Pan, and others.
Chicken Lettuce Wrap
Our family kicked off a leisurely meal at Gary’s with scrumptious Chicken Lettuce Wraps ($12/4) – stir-fried boneless chicken bits tossed with scallions, carrots, and puffed rice sticks on leaves of iceberg lettuce.
Char Siu
Another outstanding starter – and a generous portion to share – is Char Siu ($9), roasted boneless pork slices served with a sweet and tangy Cantonese-style BBQ sauce and topped with white sesame seeds.
Pork Potstickers
I can never resist ordering potstickers in Chinese restaurants and the Pork Potstickers ($11/6) at Gary’s are particularly pleasing, served on a bed of shredded lettuce with traditional soy-based dipping sauce. I like the thick, chewy potstickers that can serve as substantial sides or starters. Other appetizers offered include Fried Shrimp ($9/6), Cream Cheese Wontons ($10/10), Vegetable Egg Rolls ($5/2), and an Appetizer Tray ($12) consisting of Egg Rolls (2), Fried Shrimp (2) and Cream Cheese Wontons (6).
Sweet & Sour Tofu
There is a healthy selection of vegetarian dishes on the menu at Gary’s, including Mongolian Tofu ($17), Mei Fun ($17), Cashew Stir-Fry with Vegetables or Tofu ($17), Vegetable Lo Mein ($17), Tofu Lettuce Wraps ($11), Chow Mein ($17), and more. The vegan among us enjoyed her order of Sweet & Sour Tofu ($17) with a tangy citrusy-sweet sauce, green peppers and onion.
Kung Pao Three
Specialties at Gary’s Asian Bistro include Salt & Pepper Pork ($19), Chinese Black Bean Fish ($22), Sizzling Shrimp ($21), Honey Nectar Pork ($19), and of course the very popular General Tso’s Chicken ($19). We all enjoyed the Kung Pao Three ($22) which features a trio of chicken, shrimp and beef, wok-fried and served with crisp veggies and an abundant portion of crunchy peanuts in a not-too-spicy Kung Pao sauce.
Walnut Shrimp
Another very good specialty at Gary’s is his Walnut Shrimp ($22). It’s a seafood dish that even young kids will enjoy: tender, plump shell-off shrimp bathed in a decadent, Cantonese-style sweet and creamy honeyed sauce topped with candied walnuts.
In addition to soft drinks, teas, coffee, kombucha and such, the beverage selection at Gary’s Asian Bistro includes domestic and imported beer, cold and hot sake, red wine, white wine, and plum wine.
Photo courtesy of Gary’s Asian Bistro
It’s great to see Gary Lee roaming his restaurant again and longtime followers of his have been thrilled to find that he didn’t stay retired. I am one of them.
Photos by Ted Scheffler
Culinary quote of the week: “Hunger is the best sauce.” – Chinese Proverb
