Best Asian Restaurants in Gainesville To Try for a Picky Eater

Asian food is a delicious and healthy dish, but picky eaters can still find it hard to find things to eat when they’re at an Asian restaurant. Luckily Asian food is diverse and has something for everyone, even the picky eaters in your life! We’ve compiled a list of our favorite dishes and appetizers from the best Asian restaurants in Gainesville, FL. From appetizers to classic sushi rolls and vegetarian options to more adventurous choices, the menus at Hana Sushi and Sensei Asian Bistro have everyone covered. Check out these Gainesville restaurants and start exploring the taste and excitement of Asian cuisine today!

Navigating Asian Restaurants as a Beginner

Asian restaurants can seem overwhelming if you’ve never been. They can also seem out of range if you’re a picky eater or if you have certain dietary restrictions. Thankfully, Asian restaurants have so much variety that there are always more than a few options for everyone! 

Hana Sushi and Sensei Asian Bistro are two of the best restaurants that offer Asian cuisine in Gainesville. Walk into either and take a seat at the bar or let the host seat you at a table. 

When you get the menu, you’ll notice a myriad of choices from appetizers to sushi and more, including entrees, noodle and rice dishes, soups… the list goes on. Rice and noodle dishes, as well as entree dishes and hibachi (food cooked over an open grill), are typically main courses intended for one person. Bento boxes are complete meals and typically meant for lunch (think of it as a delicious lunch box with a protein and some sides) though it’s not uncommon to see this as a dinner option, too. Appetizers and sushi can be a little more confusing so let’s focus on those. 

The Best Appetizers for Picky Eaters

Appetizers, or small bites, are smaller dishes that you can share with everyone at your table. Some great options for picky eaters or those with dietary restrictions include agedashi tofu, gyoza, wontons and even ceviche. Let’s break them down so you know what to expect: 

• Agedashi Tofu (also known as age tofu): Deep fried, crispy, seasoned tofu served with a dipping sauce. Perfect for everyone!
• Edamame: Steamed and seasoned soybeans, either served in the shell or shelled (to be removed from the shell prior to eating). A great option for the whole table. 
• Tempura: Tempura consists of deep fried protein (usually shrimp or chicken) or deep fried vegetables. Very crunchy, plain and so delicious.
• Gyoza: Think of gyoza as a little pocket of goodness. Pan fried or steamed, these can be filled with just vegetables or they can include a mix of meat (usually pork) and vegetables. The menu description will say what’s inside so there’s nothing unexpected when it arrives at your table. Typically served with a dipping sauce, that you can choose to use or not! 
• Wontons: Similar to gyoza but shaped differently, these can be a bit larger and hold more filling, and they’re typically served with a dipping sauce. 
• Spring rolls: A crowd-pleasing crispy, crunchy roll filled with piping hot vegetable mix and served with a nice, refreshing plum sauce for dipping. 

Soups are also a wonderful option for sushi restaurant beginners and picky eaters. Miso soup is a light, mild, and simple soy-based soup made with tofu, seaweed and chives. Tom yum soup can be a bit on the spicier side (but it isn’t too spicy), and it’s made with tom yum paste (a common Thai soup and entree base) as well as shrimp, scallops, onions and mushrooms. Both are equally delicious in their own ways. 

Sushi Types

Sushi is a blanket word that can cover many different types of sushi, from rolls to sashimi to sushi platters and even a la carte options (individual pieces). Let’s take a look at the different types: 

• Rolls: Sushi rolls can either include cooked or raw fish, or they can be vegetarian with cooked or raw vegetables. Sushi menus often include the ingredients found within each roll. Note, though, that the ingredients are added to a rice base and then rolled up with seaweed. The roll is then sliced and served with spicy wasabi sauce and often a few pieces of ginger to refresh your palate after each bite. A warning to sushi beginners: take it easy on the wasabi as it’s very spicy! Just a tiny bit is perfect.
• Classic roll, hand roll, signature roll: Many sushi restaurants offer different types of rolls. 
  • Classic roll: Usually limited to 2-4 ingredients and more simple proteins, such as salmon, white fish, shrimp, tuna, krab, etc. Note here that “krab” refers to imitation crab. 
  • Hand roll: Just like a roll but cone shaped instead of cylindrical, and not sliced when served. Typically holds slightly more contents. 
  • Signature rolls: Usually fancier, and made with more ingredients and exotic proteins such as gator, ahi tuna, octopus, eel, crab, etc. Presentation is often more elaborate, too. 
• Sashimi: “Sashimi” translates to raw fish sliced into thin pieces. 
• Nigri: This type of sushi usually consists of a slice of sashimi over rice. 
  • Each piece of this sushi type is meant to be eaten in one or two bites and savored. 
• A la carte: Meaning you can select a range of assorted options. Go ahead – pick what sounds good! 
• Sushi platters: Available as an a la carte option where you can select a certain number of pieces from assorted options, or the platters may be pre-selected, such as a ‘chef’s choice platter.’ The latter may be for more adventurous eaters rather than for picky eaters as, like it’s named, it’s up to the chef to include what he or she wants! 

Sushi Options for Picky Eaters

Now that we’ve covered the types of sushi, let’s check out some options that are perfect for picky eaters and those with dietary restrictions. It’s important to note, however, that though some sushi roll names are quite common, sushi restaurants often give different names to their more elaborate rolls. 

• Vegetable sushi rolls: Perfect for those who aren’t fans of fish! Sushi menus typically offer a range of sushi rolls, and sometimes even platters, featuring avocado, cucumber, sweet potato, mushrooms and more. 
• California roll: made with cooked krab meat (imitation crab), cucumber and avocado.
• Tempura roll: Made with tempura batter with either vegetable or meat (often shrimp), and deep fried. 
• Philly roll (aka Philadelphia roll): Made with raw salmon, cucumber and avocado. 
• Scallop roll: Made with raw scallops (think clams or mollusks). 
• Sashimi: Any trip to a sushi restaurant would not be complete without trying at least one piece of sashimi! Choose a protein that fits your palate best. Favorites include salmon, tuna and yellowtail. 

Now that you’re well versed in all things Asian cuisine, head to Celebration Pointe in Gainesville and grab a table at Hana Sushi or Sensei Asian Bistro! Hands down, these are the two restaurants with the best Asian food in Gainesville. Each offers its own special menu with lots of amazing options to choose from. There’s something for everyone! Enjoy!