Seniors Katherine Moss and Fatima Rodriguez traveled around Henrico to try different Asian cuisine restaurants.

Elephant Thai Restaurant

What we ate:

• Thai Iced Tea—Brewed Thai tea beneath a mixed layer of cream and condensed milk (ingredients vary by Thai restaurant);
• Crispy Rolls—Mixed vegetables and clear noodles wrapped in spring roll skin, deep fried, and served with sweet and sour sauce;
• Chicken Pad Thai—Thin rice noodles stir-fried with egg, bean curd, bean sprouts, scallions, ground peanut, and paprika powder, all cooked with Pad Thai sauce
• Chicken Green Curry—Green curry paste simmered in coconut milk with bamboo shoots, eggplant, bell pepper, basil leaves and Thai herbs

How much we spent (without tax):

• $23.75 for two people

What makes it special:

• Unique taste of Pad Thai—blend of sweet and slightly spicy

The Verdict:

• Our new favorite place to eat

Anokha Cuisine of India

What we ate:

• Chicken Tikki Masala—Composed of grilled chicken covered in a creamy spiced tomato sauce (option to choose level of spiciness)

How much we spent:

• $16.00 for one person

What makes it special:

• Wonderfully cooked chicken; relaxing atmosphere

The Verdict:

• An out-of-the box place to eat after a long day of shopping at Short Pump Town Center

Vietnam Garden

What we ate:

• Stir-Fried Egg Noodles (choice of pork, chicken, beef, shrimp, or tofu)—Snow peas, celery, carrots, onions, bamboo shoots, and bean sprouts cooked with egg noodles and choice of meat;
• Fried Rice (choice of pork, chicken, beef, shrimp, or vegetables)—Onion, diced carrots, peas, egg, and bean sprout cooked with rice and choice of meat*The menu items above are considered to be lunch specials, and each are served with choice of soup (Wonton, Vegetable, or Hot and Sour) and either a Fresh Garden Roll or a Crispy Spring Roll.

How much we spent:

• $15.00 for one person

What makes it special:

• The large amount of food received for such a small price

The Verdict:

• An inexpensive, yet exotic place to stop for a quick bite between weekend errands