These cold fronts blowing through Memphis the last few weeks have given me a major soup craving. I’m pretty sure I’ve eaten some kind of soup for at least five of my past seven meals, give or take. If you’ve got similar broth-based needs, check out this short list of favorite local soups (in no particular order):

1. Hot N Sour Soup from Mosa Asian Bistro (850 S. White Station)

This is the one I crave when I start to feel under the weather. There’s something about the combination of flavors that’s so satisfying, it almost has healing properties. Add in some crispy wontons as wanted for a soft crunch in your spoon, too. Mosa Asian Bistro in East Memphis has a menu of great Asian fusion foods, and is always at the top of y’all’s Memphis best soups lists.

Read the full list here. 

Cheap Eats did some walkin’ in Memphis and came up strong with some non conventional Southern eats. Just how unconventional? Well, a little bbq for breakfast may not seem too out of the norm down in Tennessee, but on a paleo friendly waffle? Or how how about some duck for lunch? And don’t even get me started on a Thai curry classic with a Chinese twist. Well, actually you did get me started, so I guess I gotta keep going with one more bite of Cheap Eats Memphis!

 

Ali and Chef Brandi pose for a quick photo before eating the smokehouse waffle half. 

The Vitals:
the spot: Bedrock Eats and Sweets 327 S. Main st Memphis TN 38103
the eats: Smokehouse Waffle (half order)
the bucks: $6.50
the full nelson: Cheap Eats goes Paleo!!

If someone would have told me that Cheap Eats Memphis was going to start the day with a paleo friendly breakfast, I would have pinched myself so I could wake up from the healthy daydream. But the dream ended up becoming my breakfast reality. For the record, the paleo diet means you eat whole and unprocessed foods like vegetables, fruits, nuts and meats. When it comes to havin’ bbq for breakfast on a waffle, the kicker becomes finding the right substitutions for sugars, processed flour and the like. Good thing Chef and Owner Brandi Marter studied chemistry in college, and knows how to mix whey protein powder, almond flour, arrowroot starch along with coconut oil and a couple more ingredients into a paleo friendly waffle batter. Wondering how she pulls off a barbecue sauce without refined sugar? Try honey and molasses. Wondering how I got this niche meaty ladened waffle for $6.50? I ordered the half, which was plenty.

Ali posing with the 3rd Period Smoking Birds w/chips from Lunchbox Eats

The Vitals:
the spot: Lunchbox Eats 288 S. 4th st Memphis TN 38126
the eats: 3rd Period Smoking birds w/ chips
the bucks: $11
the full nelson: Not your typical lunch lady cafeteria fare

My days of going to the school cafeteria were not particularly memorable. Perhaps I should have had Chef Kaia Brewer as my lunch lady. If I did, then I would have most likely been dreaming of the 3rd Period Smoking Bird sandwich by the end of 1st period. I mean, how can you not start thinking about the trifecta of chicken, duck and turkey gracing two huge slices of Texas Toast, as soon as your cereal digests? Granted, my school lunches may not have set me back $11 but my school lunches also didn’t come with house made potato chips. Not only is this a bonafide Cheap Eats Memphis find, but it’s a chance at redemption for all those weak school lunches you ate off a tray. And it’s all thanks to Chef Kaia Brewer: the ultimate lunch lady.

Ali posing with the gooey butter cookies

The Vitals:
the spot: Frost Bake Shop 394 S. Grove Park rd Memphis TN 38117
the eats: gooey butter cookies
the bucks: $1.25 each
the full nelson: a St. Louis sweet treat classic makes its way down south

I grew up in St. Louis but sadly not on the tradition of the gooey butter cake. Thankfully I rectified this malaise in adulthood. For the record, gooey butter cake is a dense rich cake, primarily composed of flour, butter, sugar and eggs;  a concoction hailing from St. Louis, MO. Now how did this treat from St. Louis end up in Memphis and in cookie form? I place the blame squarely on Bill Kloos, owner of Frost Bake Shop. Bill moved down to Memphis from St. Louis a few years back and started a wholesale baking operation that spawned Frost Bake Shop as well as a distribution deal with Williams-Sonoma. In Bill’s capable hands, the classic cake recipe shifted into cookie form. At a buck and a quarter each, it goes without saying that this is no doubt a solid snack for Cheap Eats Memphis. Butter, cream cheese, eggs and vanilla are folded into the cookie dough, which gets spiked accordingly with chocolate and strawberry, if you choose those flavored versions of the basic gooey butter cookie. They are all good, but my fav is the classic gooey butter cookie. Lately I have been appreciative of the power of a butter driven sweet. Looking back at the success of Frost Bake Shop, I’m sure Chef Bill Kloos would concur.

Panang Curry with Chicken at the Mosa Asian Bistro  

The Vitals:
the spot: Mosa Asian Bistro 850 S. White Station rd Memphis TN 38117
the eats: Rainbow Panang Curry with Chicken 
the bucks: $12
the full nelson: a Thai Curry Classic with a Chinese twist

Mosa Asian Bistro bills itself as an Asian fusion restaurant, which at the surface seems like an accurate assessment. When you look at Chef Eddie Poa’s long and storied career as a chef in Memphis, you realize Mosa is more a reflection of Memphis coming to terms with the variety and range of cuisine from the Asian continent. His Rainbow Panang curry is a perfect example. Eddie applies a batter to the chicken as if he was making Orange chicken, the Chinese American classic. Then he drops it into a Panang sauce, which is a Thai dish. The application of Thai and Chinese cooking is certainly fusion, but its also something more. Eddie would explain to me that this is a way for him to cook food that will have appeal to his older and newer customers. The older customers will certainly be familiar with Chinese cooking, as for many years Chinese food was the #1 “ethnic” food in America. The newer generation of customers however will want more variety, coming into Mosa with a appetite that stretches from Kimchi to Kung Pao Chicken and beyond. Seldom have I encountered a dish that seems like it was the product of a food truck concept, when in reality is a history of cooking Asian food in a medium sized city in the South. Now that’s something I would pay $12 for and a great way to end Cheap Eats Memphis.

And that was all she wrote for Cheap Eats Memphis! Four memorable meals and I had just enough change to get me a pair of blue suede shoes. Well, I didn’t have that much left over. And I guess all the blue I need are the specs on my face. On second thought, I’ll just take my change and get another butter cookie.

Until next time my friends . . . Stay Thrifty!

Source: BangForYourBurgerBuck.com

On the tube

Eddie Pao of Mosa Asian Bistro will be featured on Cooking Channel’s “Cheap Eats”Wednesday, Oct. 3 at 9 p.m. Pao, who is at home on either side of the camera (he came to the U.S. to better learn English for his film producing career in his native Taiwan), cooks a Mosa favorite with host Ali Khan: Rainbow Panang Curry Chicken.

Memphis is on TV again. This time on the Cooking Channel.

Ali Khan, host of the show “Cheap Eats” and author of the blog "Bang for Your Burger Buck," has 12 hours and only 35 bucks to find the best deals for breakfast, lunch, a snack and dinner in each town he visits.

The "Rockin' Deals in Memphis" episode will premiere on Cooking Channel at 9 p.m. Wednesday.

In the episode, Khan visits four Memphis restaurants while tracking down the best deals in Memphis.

For dinner, his stop is Mosa Asian Bistro where he enjoyed chef and owner Eddie Pao’s Rainbow Panang Curry.

“My father may be known as the godfather of Chinese food,” said Michelle Pao Levine, Pao's daughter and partner. “But at age 60 when we were starting Mosa, he went to his friend’s Thai restaurant in Atlanta to learn Thai cuisine as well.”

Mosa Asian Bistro serves what it calls “Pan Asian Dining.” In addition to Pao’s native Chinese cuisine, it also features Thai and Japanese dishes.

Named “rainbow” for the multitude of colored vegetables in the dish, Pao Levine explained it’s one of the most complex sauces on the menu.

“With lime leaves, sweet chile, fresh lime juice, coconut milk, panang paste along with the curry, there is a lot going on in this dish," she said.

At just $13 when served with chicken or tofu, it’s a bargain for the amount of work that goes into the dish.

Cooking Channel wouldn’t share the names of the other three restaurants, but it did give some hints.

“He powers up for the day with a protein waffle loaded with house-smoked pork, sausage and caramelized onions," a press release states. "Then he heads over to a gourmet cafeteria for a turkey, chicken and duck sandwich and snacks on the trifecta of ooey-gooey butter cookies. Finally, Ali wraps up his food tour with a steal of a deal: a spicy and sweet coconut Panang curry that packs a powerful punch.”

Commercial Appeal
Jennifer Chandler
Memphis' best dining deals featured on Cooking Channel's 'Cheap Eats' with host Ali Khan

Read here: https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/entertainment/dining/2018/10/02/memphis-restaurants-cooking-channel-cheap-eats-ali-khan/1497308002/ 

He’s known as “The Godfather of Chinese food” in and around the Chinese restaurant circle in Memphis. Eddie Pao is more than a restaurant owner- he’s a teacher, a mentor, and a master of the craft.⠀
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Mr. Eddie’s patience, passion, and raw talent are what are to thank for 40 years of successful business and delicious Chinese cuisine in Memphis, according to his daughter, Michelle Pao Levine. After coming to Memphis from Taiwan in 1977 with very little resources, he built his career from the ground up with the help of his family, friends, and complete strangers.⠀
⠀
Starting off in the industry washing dishes, he learned every position required to run a restaurant after only one year. In 1978, Eddie opened up his first, 8-table restaurant called Formosa, named after the island of Taiwan his family is from.⠀
⠀
Through a series of transformations and location changes, Formosa transitioned into what is now Mosa Asian Bistro, located at 850 S White Station Road. The restaurant has grown in size, but is still tight knit and family run, with Mr. Eddie cooking in the kitchen on a regular basis and sharing ownership with his children Michelle and Alex.⠀
⠀
The Pao’s consider their staff to be a part of their own family, and believe in investing in them beyond just giving them a job. With over seven countries being represented in the Mosa kitchen, some having been there over 20 years, the crew can vouch for the honest dedication Eddie and his family have to them and the restaurant.⠀
⠀
Eddie says he’s returning the help that he received when he was just getting started. “When I needed the help, it was given to me. Now, I just want to give it back.”⠀
⠀
Eddie, daughter Michelle, and son Alex use the restaurant business to share the art and culture of their family and to invest in the lives of Memphians. Eddie Pao, the man behind it all, views cooking as an art, and uses it as an avenue to teach important life lessons.⠀
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“We’re so much more than a just a restaurant… Eddie is an institution. And what’s made our success is family, values, and mentorship.” -Michelle Pao-Levine⠀
⠀
Go try some of Eddie’s favorite dishes, and stay tuned for our next #MemphisFoodHero! #ediblememphis 🍜🍤🍚🥠

**dishes featured (in order)
Rainbow Panang Curry, Yuan Bao, Mr. Eddie’s Favorite Noodles

 

Mosa Asian Bistro is honored to announce that we have been listed in the Tasteful List 2018. View the full list: via Memphis Daily News

The Memphis Flyer's Best of Memphis Poll 2018 is open now through August 23rd 11:59pm central. 
Please take a moment to vote for your favorites, including

 

 

in the categories for Best Chinese and Best Thai. Thank you for your continued support. 

 

Wishing everyone a happy fourth! Mosa will be closed July 2-4, 2018.

 

Mosa will be CLOSED today, as we are each Monday. We will honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our great country today and every day. We'll see you all tomorrow!

Happy Valentine's Day! Please join us this evening for our Surf 'n Turf Valentine's Day Dinner for Two! No reservation necessary. Come on in!

It's the Year of the Dog! Check out Mosa Asian Bistro this Thursday for the full details of our Chinese New Year Contest and your chance to win a $50 Mosa Gift Card. 

Facebook: @MosaMemphis

Instagram: @MosaMemphis

Do you wanna build a snowman? We will be closed today for lunch but will continue to monitor the weather and let everyone know if we will reopen for dinner.

We will be closed today for lunch but OPEN for dinner beginning at 4:30pm.

Oh the weather outside is frightful! Mosa will be closed for lunch today, Friday January 12th. We will be monitoring the roads and conditions and will let everyone know if we will open for dinner this evening. Stay safe and enjoy the snow!

Use CYBER5 today when buying tickets for Female Warriors: Armed and Delicious' 3rd annual Giving Tuesday event benefiting the Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis and get $5 each ticket. 

Join Mosa Asian Bistro and the Female Warriors: Armed & Delicious for our 3rd Annual Giving Tuesday which will benefit the Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis. Cocktails and food will be served from 5-7pm next Tuesday, November 28th at Felicia Suzanne's, along with the musical stylings of Southside Supper Club. Then we will send guests away with a "swag bag" that will make your sweet tooth dance!

Participating restaurants include Mosa Asian Bistro, Felicia Suzanne's, Central BBQ, Andrew Michael, Alcenia's, Bedrock Eats & Sweets, Muddy's Bake Shop, Sweet Potato Baby, Cooper Street 20/20, Whimsey Cookies, Katie's Kitchen, Fork It Over, The Pink Bakery and Nothing Bundt Cakes. 

Tickets are $40 individual/ $75 couple in advance and $40 at the door. Buy tickets now at Eventbrite. 

By far one of my favorite past times is exploring cities and finding new little nooks and places that will create lasting memories in both my mind and my palette. Food exploration--- yes that's a term I just came up with is one of my newest loves. I think I'll pitch a show to a television network lol. Seriously though, last Friday I took a half a day off and drove to East Memphis to Mosa Asian Bistro for lunch. L I T E R A L L Y, I was in for an asian feast. A total feast in food and memories indeed were made. 

A total feast in food and memories indeed were made. As soon as I walked through the doors , I was greeted by Michelle and her dad owner of the restaurant--- how cool, casual and personal. Apparently from their insane and loyal following all of the patrons of the restaurant feel that way. Mosa Asian Bistro has the feel of a neighborhood bistro with the most amazing Asian food ever. The menu is totally customizable and gives you the options to add or take away what you like. Great news for vegans and vegetarians --- Mosa is known for having an array of dishes catered to you as well.  

Out of all of the food I was served, I ate some of it all. Every  S I N G L E dish was delightful and fresh. Mosa Asian Bistro is now one of my favorite local eats and worth a weekly visit. You all, please, do yourself a favor and go see Michelle and her Dad and the amazing staff at MOSA. You'll thank me. 

Thank you, Susan Ellis for sharing Mosa's Pad Thai dish with your readers. 

By Jennifer Biggs of The Commercial Appeal

Food & Dining

Everybody loves dear old Dad — but can you get too much of him? No? What if you share a 10-by-10 office with him?

"It's more like a closet," said Anna Blair, who along with her sister, Katherine Riederer, has joined her father, John Vergos, at the Rendezvous.

Even still, like everyone interviewed for this story, the pros of working for Dad in the family restaurant business outweigh the cons by far — and Dad feels the same way.

"I can truly say that these last 10 years, working with my kids, have been the most rewarding of my career," said Dimitri Taras, the patriarch of the clan that runs Jim's Place Grille.

Alex and Michelle Pao, children of Mosa owner Eddie Pao, are energized by him; Eric Vernon at the Bar-B-Q Shop says working with father Frank has created a better relationship between them, and Jonathan and Pepe Magallanes at Las Tortugas Deli Mexicana are a true team.

Here are their stories.

The Paos

Eddie Pao was a filmmaker in Taiwan for 12 years, and he came to Memphis to join his sister Cindy so he could work on his English; he planned to return within a year.

But a year later, he, Cindy and brother Alfred opened Formosa. At one time there were three locations; the one remaining now was sold to the longtime chef and is no longer in the Pao family.

In 2004, Eddie opened Mosa in Germantown; the fast-casual restaurant featured some Formosa items but many other dishes, too.

"I think it says so much about his talent that he could go from only knowing Chinese food to serving other Asian cuisines," said son Alex Pao, 32. "People tell us all the time that his pad Thai is the best they've ever tasted."

The creativity that led Eddie to filmmaking is unleashed in his kitchen.

"He is always pushing, and he has a passion and a joy for food and what he does," said Michelle Pao Levine, 40. "He makes over 22 sauces himself, things that he comes up with.

"In the Asian culture, respect for your elders is a big deal, but with him, it's just so easy. It's an honor to be with him every day. It's so important for him that we learn from others — he's always taught us that — and we learn the most from him."

"It's good to learn from others," Eddie said. "But then you put in your own ideas and make it better. I tell them that, and that is what I have always done. And I tell all of the other kids who work here for me the same thing."

Michelle is a big fan of how he works.

"He listens to us, and if we convince him we should do something, he'll say, 'OK, I'll support you, even if it's not the best choice,'" she said. "He won't say it's a bad choice, just not the best one. But knowing that we have his support means everything."

To read the full article, click here. 

"A Serving for Tennis" nets over $40,000 to benefit NJTL Programming! via Tennis Memphis

Mosa Named A Serving for Tennis Champions

A Serving for Tennis was a huge success! 300 people gathered in the Cadre Building downtown and enjoyed delicious food from 15 Memphis restaurants, bid in the silent auction, and danced to live music from the Dantones. Chris "Birdman" Anderson, the Grizz and the Grizz Girls made an appearance. Guests voted Mosa Restaurant's Asian Pork Slider the favorite dish of the evening, making Mosa Asian Bistro the " A Serving for Tennis Champion!". 

The following restaurants also participated in the evening: Taziki A Catered Affair One and Only BBQ Ultimate Foods Strano's Mosa Interim Restaurant Kooky Canuck Cafe' Laroux by De Javu Rizzo's Boneheads SushiJimmi Heart and Soul Catering Nothing Bundt Cakes Blues City Cafe Boneheads 

Thank you to our co-chairs, Dave Joerger and Kara Joerger, Kevin and Haden Kane, Brian Bendersky and Anne Wulff, The Dantones, event sponsors, volunteers, and attendees who made the evening a huge success! A special thanks to Sherri Nischwitz, Sharon Dertien, and Karen Franklin, who helped plan and host the event. To see a complete list of sponsors and donors, please visit our website.

Thank you, Yelpers for naming Mosa Asian Bistro your favorite ASIAN, PAN ASIAN and SOUP in the 2015 Memphis Yelpies. 

Read the full list of winners here. 

When I told my colleague, Brad Vest, I was going to try the ribs at Mosa Asian Bistro, he said, "Just what this town needs. More ribs."

Well, Shanghai ribs aren't those hefty, smoky ribs slathered in thick barbecue sauce. They're savory, delicate with a hint of sweetness. "No way you can compare these to the Memphis style barbecue," said Alex Pao, one of Mosa's owners. "This is its own separate beast."

Pao described the pork baby back ribs, which they call "Shanghai ribs," as "Taiwanese Chinese comfort food at its finest. Rustic, but delicious."

Shanghai ribs are Mosa owner Eddie Pao's take on hong shao rou, which is "red cooked pork," but they're not anything like those ribs found on numerous Chinese restaurant buffets. "Dad put his spin on it," Alex said.

The ribs are cooked in a gravy with a soy garlic base. "They're slow cooked and braised in this giant wok for two and a half to three hours," Alex said.

They're served with a succotash made of beans sprouts, scallions, asparagus, potatoes and diced carrots. The succotash "complements the savory flavor of the ribs," Alex said.

The dish comes with a side of white or brown rice."We add a little of the rib gravy on top of it to give it flavor."The recipe was handed down from his mother's mother, Alex said. His mom served the ribs at family dinners at Thanksgiving. They found their way to Mosa's menu a week after Eddie brought them to the restaurant for a Thanksgiving feast for employees. They urged him to put them on the menu, said Mosa sous chef Richard Adams. 

Mosa also serves beef or pork Asian Seoul Sliders. They come with cilantro and Asian slaw, which is made with daikon and pickled carrots, topped with aioli and served on a toasted challah bun from Ricki's Cookie Corner & Bakery. They're fabulous.

Armed and Delicious

Sixteen women, mostly chefs and restaurant owners, in the Memphis food industry, took part in the first Female Warriors: Armed and Delicious event held Dec. 1 in the Brinkley Plaza lobby next to Felicia Suzanne's restaurant.

Cuisine included chicken and waffles from Brandi Marter of Bedrock Market & Cafe and rainbow panang curry from Michelle Pao Levine at Mosa Asian Bistro.

Each year, ticket proceeds will benefit an organization that develops women's skills and confidence. The Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis was this year's beneficiary.

by Michael Donahue

Source: Commercial Appeal Party Line

A special shout out to Jennifer Biggs and The Commercial Appeal for listing Mosa's Yuan Bao (chicken dumpling soup) as one of the 100 More Things To Eat in Memphis Before You Die. Read the full list here. 

If you work and live in East Memphis, you've probably already fallen in love with Basil Rolls and Rainbow Panang Curry at Mosa Asian Bistro, but if you haven't, then today's the day to head over to the restaurant for an award-winning Asian fusion dinner. Pair the Korean BBQ Beef with Thai Calamari and Crab Cheese Wontons for a gastronomic tour around East Asia.

The restaurant was started by the brothers Pao, who opened their first Chinese restaurant in Memphis in 1979, two years after emigrating from Taiwan. Their first restaurant, Formosa, has won Memphis Magazine's Best Chinese award for 19 years in a row. Their second restaurant, Mosa Asian Bistro, fuses Chinese food with Thai, Korean and Japanese flavors, allowing the Pao family to experiment with staple recipes from all over the continent.

Mosa Asian Bistro is located at 850 South White Station close to your East Memphis property. They're open for lunch and dinner Tuesday through Sunday. They cook to order, and lunch is the busiest time, so call (901) 683-8889 to order ahead. Gluten-free and vegan options are available. And their customized full-service catering is available if you live in East Memphis and are throwing a party. For a full menu, visit the restaurant online.

FULL BLOG HERE

Source: Kaizen Realty

Party Line: Vin-A-Que

Source: Commercial Appeal/GoMemphis

Whole hogs took center stage at Vin-A-Que, which was held Oct. 2 at Memphis Brooks Museum of Art. Hogs were still cooking in pits on the patio in front of the museum when guests arrived at the event, one of the museum's Memphis Food + Wine fundraisers.

Johnny Lawrence from Sweet Grass added "mojo sauce" after barbecue lovers served themselves pork carved from the hog at the booth headed by the restaurant's chef/owner, Ryan Trimm. The tangy sauce included Cuban sour oranges, onions, garlic, cilantro and olive oil. Chefs from Restaurant Iris, Andrew Michael Italian Kitchen and Hog & Hominy also cooked hogs.

Overhearing the words, "I could eat barbecue every day," Nico Zorbino added, "In the right city."

Memphis, obviously, is one of those cities. Guests ate barbecue from local restaurants that included Mosa Asian Bistro, Central BBQ, One & Only BBQ, Payne's Bar-B-Que, The Barbecue Shop, Corky's BBQ and Hi-Tone/Hi-Que BBQ.

"I'm porked out," said LeRoy Best, who, at that point, had sampled barbecue from four of the stations, according to Paula Diana, who was with him.

Former Memphian Rob Baird, who now lives in Austin, Texas, provided the music, including originals from his upcoming CD "Wrong Side of the River." "We made it in a garage in Texas," Rob said. The CD is slated to be released in March, but the single "Ain't Nobody Got a Hold on Me" is out on iTunes and Spotify.

"It's kind of a Delta blues stomp kind of thing," Rob said. "Kind of back to the Memphis days, to be honest."

Thank you to I Love Memphis blog and Holly Whitfield for listing Mosa's Banh Mi sandwich as #8 and Mr. Eddie's Favorite Noodles as #64 in 100 More Things To Eat in Memphis. Read the full list here. 

The world's cuisine is well represented here in Memphis, and Asian fare is no exception. If it's been a while since you've jumped face first into a skillet of bibimbap or some tasty teriyaki, take a gander below. 

Mosa Asian Bistro | 80 reviews | Eastgate | 850 S White Station, Memphis, TN | Asian Fusion, Thai, Chinese

 “One of the best Asian restaurants I've ever eaten at. Those crab cheese wontons are so good. I got the sweet and sour chicken and my girl got the teriyaki chicken. Both were really good and the portion size is huge... my new go-to spot in Memphis.” 

 Justin S., Memphis, TN

Greetings Friends,

The fall season has always been a time for change. In the south we celebrate a break in the hot weather, kids going back to school and the long anticipated reveal of football season. At Mosa Asian Bistro, we have a few of our own changes to celebrate this fall. 

• - We will be closed on Sunday, September 6th and Monday, September 7th for the Labor Day Holiday.  
• 
  

- We will be closed on Mondays beginning September 14th to allow our Mosa family sufficient time at home with their families.  

- You may notice some physical changes taking place over the next month. We are making some renovations and improvements to the restaurant, so please forgive our mess. We will be open during normal business hours, so please come see us for lunch or dinner during this time. 

• Thank you for your continued support of Mosa. We look forward to serving you soon. 

Michelle Pao Levine

This was my first time at Mosa Asian Bistro, and it was quite the memorable visit. They just rolled out a summer sandwich special last week, so I had to try it. It’s called the Banh Mi ($9) and you can get it weekdays during lunch. It’s Mosa’s very own specially marinated pho beef in a Korean BBQ sauce with a fried egg, pickled Asian slaw, cilantro, and a sriracha and aioli sauce all on a toasted Ricki’s Cookie Corner challah bun. The sandwich is served with the chef’s choice of a seasonal summer fruit salad.On the first bite you get a hint of spiciness right away. There’s a lot of flavors and textures going on, but in a great way. The softness of the bun is so nice, especially when the crunchiness of the pickled Asian slaw kicks in with it. Now let’s talk about the Korean BBQ sauce. I don’t know how it’s made but… give me more of that sauce! It’s pretty much a light BBQ sauce and it was delicious. The pho beef is tender and the pieces are thinly placed on the sandwich. It’s delightful to eat this way. My mouth isn’t overwhelmed with chunks of thick beef. I must admit, I thought this sandwich was going to be heavy. Not at all. It was light, yet very filling. I didn’t taste the fried egg until I was more than halfway through the sandwich and it was a yummy, creamy surprise. I can’t decide what my favorite part of this sandwich is. The beef alone would be great by itself, but I’m so glad that Mosa Asian Bistro came up with this fusion creation! The fruit salad was pieces of mango and fuzzy white nectarines. It was juicy and extremely fresh. I gobbled it up. Sometimes, the chef will mix it up and give you plums!There wasn’t one piece of the sandwich left on my plate. I don’t know who was more satisfied... me, who did all the damage… or the owner Mr. Eddie, who personally made my sandwich. We were both smiling ear to ear. 

Source: Memphis Flyer/Hungry Memphis, by Michelle Lewis

The 8 Best Chicken Wings in Memphis

Mosa Asian Bistro | East Memphis

Mosa is known for its delicious Chinese and Thai food, but some of the best wings in the city can also be found on the menu. The Rainbow Wings feature a Panang Curry dipping sauce that includes fresh lime, lemongrass, and panang curry. The curry is sweet, spicy, and tangy all at once. You CAN taste the rainbow. The sauce is served on the side so the wings stay nice and crisp, so what you do with the extra is up to you.

Read the full list here. 

Most Asian Bistro is pleased to introduce the Bhan Mi as the new summer special. Our own specially marinated Pho beef in a Korean BBQ sauce, with a fried egg, Asian pickled slaw, cilantro, Sriracha and aioli sauce on a toasted Ricki's Cookie Corner Challah bun, this sandwich is served with a seasonal fruit salad. Please consider stopping into Mosa this week to try it for yourself! 

The annual Memphis Flyer Best of Memphis ballot is now open. Mosa Asian Bistro is nominated in three categories: Best Chinese, Best Thai and Best Japanese/Sushi. Please consider voting us your favorite in each category. 

Here are the rules: 

1. Voting is open 10am on Wednesday, July 15th through 11:59pm on Tuesday, August 4th.

2. Your ballot must have at least 50% of the categories completed to be counted.

3. One ballot per reader please. Their system only accepts one vote per device, and they reserve the right to discard any ballot they deem fraudulent.

4. Most categories have a drop-down menu of choices, and all categories have a write-in option. The drop down menus are developed by the Memphis Flyer editorial team, and are intended to help the counting process, NOT to encourage you to vote for a specific business. Please, vote your conscience and use the write-in area where necessary. 

Memphis Flyer Best of Memphis Issue will hit the streets on Wednesday, September 30th, 2015. Thank you for your support!

Memphis, Tennessee may be dangerous ground with its tempting array of bars and restaurants serving up beer, fried foods, and classic Southern comfort food. But it’s still possible—and enjoyable—to eat healthy in this city of music. Check out some of Memphis’ healthy restaurants below.

Cheffie's Cafe

If you want to be in control of what you eat, try Cheffie’s, where you create your own meal from scratch. Put together a robust salad or flavorful sandwich from a wide selection of ingredients like grilled chicken, eggs, oven-roasted turkey, tuna salad, or walnut-apple chicken salad, paired with savory cheeses like feta, goat, parmesan, or blue. Add in veggies and fruits like roasted peppers, cucumbers, chickpeas, cranberries, sundried tomatoes, and much more for the perfect flavor.

Mosa Asian Bistro

Feel like healthy Thai, Japanese, or Chinese food? You can get it all at Mosa, a bistro featuring rice and noodle bowls, curries, and more. Everything is exceptionally fresh and made to order.  Expect crowds here, but it’s worth the wait.

Imagine Vegan

Imagine Vegan serves traditional American fare—except that the “meat” isn’t meat! Have chicken, grilled fish, and turkey in their guilt-free forms here, and come for brunch on Sundays. Another option is Two Vegan Sistas, which offers raw food dishes along with cooked vegan meals and does not use soy.

The Farmer

It’s just what it sounds like—a restaurant that supports local farms and has fresh, wholesome offerings and a rustic charm. Enjoy salmon, chicken, steak, shrimp, and more alongside fresh salads and traditional sides. 

Mary's Gluten-free Goods

Finish off your healthy culinary experience with a heavenly treat from Mary’s, where gluten-free delights abound. Take your time with a cupcake, cinnamon roll, chocolate chip cookie, or some almond and toffee crunch (pictured at left), or bring home a buttery pound cake to share (or hide from) the family. If you recently went gluten-free and miss the days of soft, rich breads, try Mary’s banana bread, cinnamon coffee cake, or French bread, or take home some pizza crust to make yourself a pizza that truly satisfies.

Source: VisitSouth.com

THE 14 BEST SPOTS FOR CHEAP EATS IN MEMPHIS | Thrillist

Mosa Asian Bistro | East Memphis

What you're getting: Rainbow Wings, $5 for four, $6.50 for six

Memphis has a lot of affordable hot wing options, no doubt, but there's only one place for Rainbow Wings. They feature a panang curry, fresh lime, and lemongrass dipping sauce, which is a total game changer. The curry is sweet, spicy, and tangy all at once, and the wings are perfectly crispy. 

Read the full list here. 

Hey, guess who serves hot wings? If you said “Oh, just maybe every restaurant in town,” congratulations. Winner winner, take our chicken dinner. Believe me, we’ve had enough for a while.

With the Southern Hot Wing Festival and Contest coming up Saturday, it’s a good time to revisit the chicken wing, something we haven’t written about extensively in 10 years or more. But it was clearly too big of a job for one person, so we split the work four ways: GoMemphis editors Chris Herrington and Mark Richens, Michael Donahue and I each took a list and got to work. Of course, those lists grew — and grew — every time we mentioned what we were doing, because everyone wanted to tell us about their favorite place.In the end, it came down to a few things: No chains. (Sorry, Rick Ross.) No fast food. And then it came down to reputation. We couldn’t possibly go everywhere — literally hundreds of places serve wings — so we narrowed our list down to about 40 places known to be good and picked our favorite 20 of those. Did we miss something? No doubt we did, but we’re going to count on you to weigh in at gomemphis.com and tell us your favorites.

Here’s our list, in alphabetical order. Hope you have your Wet-naps ready.

Mosa Asian Bistro (850 S. White Station; 901-683-8889): I only knew Mosa served wings because I happened to be reviewing the restaurant while we were out tasting wings. They’re excellent, and super crisp. They come in an order of flats and drummies and you can get Sriracha or barbecue sauce on the side. It’s for dipping so these wings stay crisp. And if you love the Rainbow Panang curry, you’re in luck: You can get Panang curry wings, too. — JB

For the full list, click here. 

Source: Commercial Appeal/GoMemphis.com

By Jennifer Biggs
Source: Commercial Appeal

When you walk into Mosa Asian Bistro, take a minute to look at the white board before you take your seat. There won’t be a lot there — one special, maybe two — but you’ll see something you like. Over two review visits and plenty of others over the years, I ate my favorite dish at Mosa because my friend spotted something on the board she wanted to try:

Yuan bao is one of the best bowls of soup I’ve tasted. Not the absolute best — there have been too many that have come and gone, too many toothsome bowls of tom yum (RIP, Golden Dragon/Royal Dragon; we still miss you), too many matzo balls floating in golden elixir, a whole lot of pho — and the latter is what yuan bao most closely resembles of that list, with dumplings instead of noodles.

The chicken broth was stellar, clear and clean, the perfect base for the fresh cilantro and chives scattered on top and the handmade dumplings floating so abundantly within. The dumplings are wrinkled, imperfectly shaped won- tons wrapped around tasty morsels of chicken filling, and they are just as good as the broth. Cabbage and carrots add a little color and a bit of flavor, but this is really about the broth and the dumplings. And the soy ginger sauce, served at your preferred heat level, on the side. It’s simple, but it adds another layer of flavor — though I recommend not adding it to the soup. Instead, just dip your dumplings into it. One in, one not. Mix it up.

It’s fantastic, and if you like clear yet hearty Asian soups — just think wonton soup, but elevate it several notches — you’ll love this. One warning: The cabbage flavor intensifies if you manage to have leftovers, so if you’re not crazy about it (I am), remove it from the broth before your refrigerate it for your lunch.

Mosa is the very popular Pan-Asian restaurant owned by Eddie Pao and his partner, son Alex. Eddie, longtime Memphians might know, founded Formosa on Summer Avenue about 40 years ago with his brother Alfred; it has long since moved to Quince. Chinese, Thai, Taiwanese, even a little Japanese food is served.

At Mosa, you order at the counter at lunch, and dinner is full service, but the same menu is in play. Prices are fine for lunch and a true value for dinner; the most expensive entrée is $15, a small serving of very good hot and sour soup is $2, the excellent yuan bao is $8.50.

And portions are generous, extremely so on noodle dishes such as lo mein or the big bowl of pad see u, a dish of wide noodles flavored with sesame and served with the protein of your choice.

The menu is divvied up by signature entrées, rice plates and noodle dishes (along with starters, salads and desserts). The Rainbow Panang Curry, Mosa’s most popular dish, is one of the signature entrées. Despite being so popular and so beloved by those who order it over and over, it’s among my least favorite items on the menu. The sauce is heavy and much too sweet for me to enjoy more than a bite or two. I ordered it with chicken on a recent visit, and while the meat was plentiful, it was lost beneath the sea of sauce. To each his own, but I think Mosa shines when the kitchen employs a lighter hand, and I prefer other dishes.

Beyond the yuan bao, there’s three-seasoned shrimp, a riff on the Chinese standard salt-and-pepper shrimp. Good-size (though not jumbo, as the menu says) shrimp are seasoned with salt and pepper, garlic and green onion, quickly fried and served over sauteed Napa cabbage, with a pickled slaw of carrots and radish at one end of the long fish plate and a mound of white or brown rice at the other. (It’s the $15 dish, one of only three that hit double digits.)

The Korean BBQ beef is another good one. Flank steak is sliced, sauteed in a silky brown soy glaze and served over crisp chow mein noodles for a nice contrast in texture. Szechuan chicken was very good, too (and remember, you can order beef, shrimp, tofu or sans protein, as you wish). The chicken was extremely tender, served in a spicy (as ordered) sauce with a touch of sweetness and plenty of fresh, barely-cooked vegetables such as broccoli, onion and peppers.

A word about starters, here at the end: If chicken wings are available (they were on the white board when I last visited), give them a try if you like wings. These are extremely crisp, served dry to stay that way, with a sriracha or barbecue wing sauce on the side. The filling for the lettuce wraps was much wetter and thicker than I expected, and it contained a lot of mushrooms. Instead of contrasting well with the iceberg lettuce, it seemed too heavy; I prefer the typical ground chicken filling with lime and fish sauce.

Hot and sour won- tons were excellent — the Paos know how to make a dumpling — full of pork and shrimp and tossed with green onion in a soy-based sauce flavored to your heat level.

It’s a bit loud in the restaurant when it’s busy. If you want a quieter dinner, snag an outdoor table, or go before the rush comes in. With food this good at prices so reasonable, folks are filing in by 7 p.m. most nights.

Address: 850 S. White Station

Telephone: 901-683-8889

Reviewer’s choice: Yuan boa ($8.50); Korean BBQ beef ($12); Szechuan chicken ($8.50); hot and sour wontons appetizer ($5.50 for 6); wings ($6.50 for 6); pad see u ($8.50 with shrimp).

Alcohol: Wine and beer.

April 1, 2015 by Christian Owen

The Memphis food scene and spring temps are an unbeatable combination. And frankly, outdoor dining is one of the best ways to enjoy local cuisine this time of year. Many of your favorite restaurants have welcoming patios for days when the weather is just right, and we’ve compiled a solid list here to get you started.

Mosa Asian Bistro850 White Station • (901) 683-8889 • mosaasianbistro.comFeel at home on the patio at Mosa Asian Bistro. Michelle Pao Levine and her father, Eddie Pao, are co-owners of Mosa. This restaurant recently made national foodie news in an article, “The Best Chinese Food Restaurant In Every State.” In it, Mosa was named Memphis’ No. 1! Enjoy your delicious meal on the patio, which is enclosed with a lovely wrought-iron fence with greenery.

For a full list of Memphis' best patios, click here. 

The Weekly Yelp

Memphis

Chinese Eats Cheat Sheet

Nothing hits the spot better than sweet and sour chicken... or dumplings... or maybe wonton soup? The only thing harder than deciding what to order at a Chinese restaurant is deciding where to go. Lucky for Memphis, this Weekly Yelp is dedicated to food you can really sink your teeth into!

Mosa Asian Bistro

68 reviews

Eastgate 850 S White Station, Memphis, TN 

Asian Fusion, Thai, Chinese

“Gems of authenticity there, like the soups, the noodle soups, the hot wontons, and the fried rice... I love the su-chai vegetables (which literally means vegetables vegetables) and the sesame chicken.” Daniel C., Memphis, TN

For a full list, click here. 

Commercial Appeal

by Michael Donahue

Somewhere over the Rainbow I decided, “This is one of the best dishes I’ve eaten in a long time.” I’m referring to the Rainbow Panang Curry at Mosa Asian Bistro.

Owner Eddie Pao said the coconut curry dish, which is made with 25 ingredients, is their best-seller.

“They sell most of it to me,” joked server Patrick Le, who orders it a couple of times a week. “It has a tangy kick unlike any other curry.”

“It surpassed the Szechuan, the most popular dish for 20 years,” said Pao’s son, Alex.

I’ve known Eddie since he opened his first restaurant in Memphis forty-something years ago on Summer. I did a story about his career as a motion picture director in Taiwan. Alex said he and his wife recently gave Eddie several framed photos from his days as a director. One pictured a young Eddie directing a kung fu actor. “My dad had long curly black hair,” Alex said. “I’ve never seen an Asian guy who has long hair like that.”

Eddie compared his Rainbow Panang Curry to a movie that becomes a classic.“

Part of his legacy is introducing eclectic, authentic Asian cuisine to Mid-Southerners,” Alex said.

The basic ingredients in Rainbow Panang Curry are snow peas, zucchini, carrots, mushrooms and baby corn. The sauce includes lemon grass, cilantro, coconut milk and coconut cream. “It’s our most expensive sauce to produce,” Alex said. “The price of coconut milk goes up and down.”

A French chef, who was visiting Memphis, taught Eddie to make panang curry. “He gave Eddie the template and he filled out the rest,” Alex said.

Eddie named it “Rainbow” because of the colors. And, Alex added, “It has so many flavors.

People write a line or two on their credit card slips about how much they like the dish, which sells for $11 at lunch and dinner, Eddie said. He remembered one that read, “I’ve never had this dish in my life. Thank you very much.”

Mosa Asian Bistro, Eastgate Shopping Center, 850 S. White Station in Eastgate Shopping Center; 901-683-8889

For the last 20 years, brothers Eddie (Mr. Eddie to regulars) and Alfred Pao have been serving up their take on traditional American-Chinese food at the popular Formosa. They recently expanded into Japanese, Thai and Korean flavors (while staying close to their Chinese roots) at Mosa Asian Bistro. Memphis Yelpers are glad they did. “You can’t beat good, quality food prepared by Mr. Eddie,” says Andrew B. of Southaven, who has eaten at Mosa about 30 times. You can’t go wrong with the Mosa wraps, rainbow Panang coconut curry, Korean BBQ, and the lineup of rice plates. Don’t forget to top it all off with one of Mrs. Pao’s homemade cupcakes.

Mosa Asian Bistro’s lo mein is just one example of the creative approach some of the best Chinese restaurants take on classic and original dishes. Photo: Mosa Asian BistroChinese food is an American obsession. Almost everyone has a favorite dish they can find on just about any menu at any Chinese restaurant in the country. Some restaurants,however, are just better than others.

In our attempt to pinpoint the best Chinese restaurants in each state and Washington, D.C., we reached out to Yelp data scientists. They compiled a list based on the number of stars and amount of reviews each restaurant received from Yelpers. The higher the combined number, the better the ranking. Some of the restaurants serve a variety of Asian cuisine – such as Japanese, Thai and Vietnamese – but devote a large portion of their menu to Chinese food, according to the reviews and menus.Compiling any “best of” restaurant list is a dangerous mission and risks offending at least a few of the faithful. People have their favorite go-to spot and not much can be done to break their devotion. While we salute their loyalty, we also embrace discovery, adventure, and sharing. This list represents that spirit.If you’re looking for a change, a proven winner while traveling, or a dish your local favorite just doesn’t serve, these restaurants are all worth visiting. They received mostly high marks (overall four to five stars out of five) for quality food; full, well-balanced flavors; decent portions; reasonable prices; and generally good service.After reading through hundreds of Yelp reviews, a few other trends and highlights emerged:

— Location doesn’t matter. There’s always a strong concentration of great Asian restaurants in any big city, but you’re likely to a find a rival to many of them in tertiary cities, small towns, and the middle of nowhere. Pleasant surprises lurk where you’ll least expect them.

— While most of these restaurants serve a full variety of Americanized favorites, many delve deep into authentic dishes. Sometimes they’re on the menu, sometimes they aren’t. Always ask.

— Odds are you’ll find the restaurant owner, or a close family member, working the floor or stove at many of these restaurants. They appreciate the business, like to chat, and will do what they can to accommodate.

— “Fusion” is no longer a dirty word. More restaurants are serving multiple types of Asian food and doing it well. The sushi is often as good and fresh as the Chinese food.

— Many of these restaurants are small and hard to find. If you happen to miss one on the first pass, keep trying. Chances are you’ll be glad you did.

Source: Yahoo Food

March 15, 2015 by Sally Walker

Authentic is the first word that comes to mind when you meet Michelle Pao Levine. Her easy manner is a perfect fit for her job. As co-owner of Mosa Asian Bistro with dad Eddie Pao, she has the natural instinct of a restaurateur to make people feel at home. A 1995 graduate of St. Mary’s Episcopal School, Michelle serves on the school’s alumnae board, and she is a fellow of the New Memphis Institute. She’s quick to throw her support behind the city’s major food-focused fundraisers, from Youth Villages’ Soup Sunday to Grizzlies Coach Dave Joerger’s annual event that supports Tennis Memphis. Michelle and husband Mark Levine are getting ready to celebrate their 10th anniversary, and are enjoying being parents to 18-month-old Matthew. And today, we get to share Michelle with you as our FACES of Memphis feature.

Tell us about your family’s journey to America. My father was born in China, in a province near Hunan. My mom, Charleen, and I were both born in Taipei, Taiwan. My dad was a movie director there; he directed Kung Fu movies and worked with (director) Ang Lee way back in the day. My mom was a secretary in a law firm. My family speaks Mandarin, and I didn’t learn English until kindergarten. I was born in 1976, we immigrated to the United States in 1977, and dad opened the first Little Formosa in 1978.

Describe your early career. Where did you work, and what were your jobs? Right out of college, I spent a brief time in legal marketing. It didn’t take me long to realize my calling. At the time, there were several start-up restaurant concepts in Atlanta that were hiring. I joined Doc Chey’s Noodle House working for the founder, Rich Chey, and his partners. My role was to create the operations and marketing manuals for franchise partners. The menu at Mosa offers a highly customizable dining experience.

What brought you back to Memphis? Mosa brought me back to Memphis! Actually, it was the opportunity to start my own business with an investor/partner (my dad), that brought me back to Memphis. I knew at the time that there were no hybrid-style restaurants in Memphis. Hybrid meaning full service/fast casual, and especially no Pan Asian-style restaurants. We knew that it would be risky, but we were up for the challenge!

What’s your typical day like? I’m pretty lucky. I start my day around 6:30 a.m., and I’m usually off to drop Matthew at daycare by 9 a.m. Then I run a few errands and to Mosa, and about 10:15 a.m. we start our day. I pick Matthew up around 4 p.m., head home and make dinner with Mark, and I give Matthew his dinner and bath, so he’s ready for bed. About three nights a week, I go back to Mosa at 8:30 p.m., and I close the restaurant. At some point during the day, I try my best to get in a 20-minute run. I pass out by midnight.

It sounds like you have a lot of flexibility in your daily schedule. I feel so lucky that I have my own business and can say “Michelle will not be available between this and this time.” We are fortunate now to be doing what we both love. If you are so lucky to have your avocation become your vocation, you just want to nurture it and see it grow year after year.

You’re Taiwanese and American, and Mark is Jewish. How will you raise Matthew? Matthew will celebrate both Jewish holidays and Eastern Christmas. Culturally, we want him to be very aware of his Jewish side. He will go through Hebrew school and Mandarin school — he’s going to love us for that! 

What are the biggest challenges working in a family business? Some of the biggest challenges in working with your family are respecting each other’s boundaries and time. Hands down, those are the toughest challenges we continuously face.The best part of working with my family is knowing that no one is more committed than we are to one another. I know how lucky I am every single day to have Eddie next to me. His mentality is the reason why, for 40 years, he has been able to be such a strong business owner and provider.

Watching you at the restaurant, it’s clear that being a mentor to your employees is very important to you. I don’t know why I feel like it should come with my role, but it does. That’s what I looked for in a boss – I looked for a person who I want to learn from, and that was Rich Chey. I was really looking for that. In the end, ultimately, I went for a mentor like Rich. I wanted to go even further than how Rich mentored me, because I think that what a lot of people lack is communication from their own family. 

Who do you want to be? What do you want to do? It’s part of your journey through life to know who you are, and to help find that greater purpose for your life. I hope I am that person for my staff, because I really try. Most are very young, so I try to advise them on everything … how do you apply for an apartment or rent a house, or apply to college? I help with scholarship applications, and I’ve given so many recommendations. I want them to know how important it is to care about people; care and empathy is what helps you realize what’s important. During the day, diners order at the counter and food is delivered to the table. At night, Mosa is a sit-down restaurant.

What are your tips for successfully managing family and business? Separate business life from personal life, and do not hold grudges 

How about your best advice for working moms? Remember to take care of yourself! 

So far, what’s the best advice you’ve given, whether as a mom or as a mentor? Be grateful for each day, and live life with great purpose.Trays filled with wonton crisps await a bowl of hot soup.

What are your hobbies, and how do you unwind? I love to spend time catching up with my friends (something I rarely get to do these days), whether it be over a glass of wine or on the phone. And I love to cook. I have an enormous collection of cookbooks. I love to listen to music while running — it sets me free. And I love to read and get lost in a great story.

Where’s the first place you take an out-of-towner when they come to visit you in Memphis? Cooper Young/Overton Square … the best restaurant scene!

What’s your favorite Memphis attraction and why? My favorite Memphis place is the Memphis Zoo, because it attracts a melting pot of people, something you don’t get to see much every day. Who doesn’t enjoy seeing the pandas and giant elephants?

Finish this sentence: If I had a superpower, it would be …To enable everyone to find their purpose in life and act upon it

What’s one fun fact about you? Twenty-two countries were represented at our wedding.

What one word describes you?Thoughtful

What inspires you? Everyday heroes

What are three lighthearted things you can’t live without, excluding faith, family and friends? Coffee, running shoes and Claritin. 

Thank you, Michelle, for sharing of yourself with us today. And thank you to Micki Martin for today’s images of Michelle, taken at Mosa Asian Bistro.

FOOD

Asian delights

Get your wonton on at Mosa Asian Bistro, with these hot and sour morsels of marinated pork and shrimp, wrapped in a wonton, steamed and tossed in a spicy garlic sauce. 

Hot and sour wontons, $5

Source: StyleBlueprint

by Sally Davies Walker