This place has turned out to be a ghost town unless we went on an off day? We were able to park right in back and not have to suffer like all of the other times of going there. We were quickly taken to our table with a nice view and we ordered steamed sea bass with a ginger soy flavoring, the fish was all broken up in little pieces not sure if it was dropped or frozen too long before it was cooked? Sauce was good the fish was just average. We really loved the pon pon chicken, it came out fresh and the outside was a bit crispy just the way I like it. We then ordered the beef fried rice, it was bland and boring. Then we ordered 2 rolls Playboy and the caterpillar. Both not that good. The rice was a bit chewy, the avocados on the caterpillar seemed too ripe. The Playboy roll with tuna on top tasted very old and dry, ended up wasting it. Not sure why I get places that have a hard time with their sushi rice? That can't be that hard to make. Next in the middle of our meal the server asked us how many to-go boxes we needed? I politely told her we weren't finished eating. Found that very strange? They did attend to us and kept our drinks full. Not sure I would go back with 1 item out of 5 that was good, it isn't worth the time or the money.
(2)
Markie N.
Sheshwan pork (spelling?) It also goes by pon pon pork I beleieve too.... anyways its the best entree they have here!
(4)
Sam S.
Asian Star is a large, attractive looking restaurant with very mediocre Chinese food. We ordered family style so I had the opportunity try several different dishes. Nothing was particularly good. I would not recommend Asian Star. There are much better Chinese restaurants in the Salt Lake area. In fact, even Pei Wei, which is just a few miles away from Asian Star would be a much better choice.
(2)
Christian M.
I've been coming to Asian Star for years. I love the food, the management and ownership, and the location. They always make you feel welcome and valued. The Walnut shrimp is fantastic. I tend to stick to a handful of dishes. Chicken and green beans, lettuce wraps, kung pao. Prices are high, but so is quality and portion sizes. My favorite Chinese in Utah, easily.
(5)
Kenny H.
We took our seat upstairs so we could watch the sun set from the spacious windows and to our treat we got to see one of the brightest double rainbows we'd have ever seen. For an appetizer we ordered a Dragon Roll (and during dinner we heard one of the guests come up and compliment the sushi chef for his works of art sushi rolls). I think ours was pretty... But we were hungry so ours got devoured before we could admire it. For dinner I ordered the Walnut shrimp, a yummy dish, but be warned it's rich & sweet. My lady ordered something with fresh snap peas from the gluten free menu (there is a good selection of gluten-free items for those the want/need them). The portions were good and we both had left overs. All in all this is a great place if you want fresh food and meats that are not 80% breading. The staff was friendly, the restroom was clean and the building and property are well maintained. I'm looking forward to having diner here on the patio when weather permits. I give this place 3.5 stars but since no half stars are an option I rounded up.
(4)
S S.
A large group is the best way to eat at this restaurant then split the cost that way you can try all the different dishes. The walnut shrimp truly is heaven on earth. The mandarin chicken was dry and a big disappointment to our group. We had a great time and hopefully next time the mandarin chicken will not disappoint.
(3)
Rob E.
We've been going to Asian Star for years - even when it was at the Canyon Raquet Club. Gary, the owner, has always been so friendly. Now that we live out of state, we always try to make it back when we visit Utah. We had Beef with Green Beans (my favorite) , Sesame Chicken, Chicken Lo-Mein, and Ham Fried Rice. We also ordered Lettuce Wraps, Pot Stickers, and Fried Shrimp for appetizers. The food was spot on. Great food and great service!
Please pass the peas? Not here - the tables have a lazy susan turntalble in the middle so you can get whatever you want. That was nice because we had a big group. The exterior is a really cool building, but walking in was a bit disappointing. A renovation would really make this place pop. Out of the ten or so dishes we got I really loved two. The others were so-so. Our waitresses tried to get us to take to go boxes but the food wasn't worth it. She seemed offended but hopefully wasn't.
(3)
Graig G.
We went. It was busy. We waited an hour ( they told us 30 minutes). Then we waited another 15 because it did smell good. My 10 year old daughter got bored and asked the host how things were looking. He replied "it'll be ready when it's ready" When they finally sat us there was no eye contact or apology for the long wait. We sat without any further contact for another 10 minutes, noticing that the two six-top next to us had only water. We asked and they had ordered 25 min prior but had not yet received appetizers or beverages yet. Our waitress finally came and was kind enough to let us know we probably wouldn't see any food for quite some time. We left 1.5 hours invested without a scrap. The manager had nothing to say when we let him know.
(1)
Kim R.
I was here in the SLC area not on vacation, but on a medical trip -- a family member had an organ transplant and we were staying at the hotel across the street. About mid-way into the trip, I decided to try Asian Star for a late lunch. The beautiful building really drew me in! It was pretty dead at 1:00, and much less busy than I was expecting. I'd have thought there would have been better service since they weren't busy, but it wasn't good. I was seated promptly, but it took forever for her to come back and take my order. I ordered the lunch special 5 "Snow Pea Pod Stir Fry with Assorted Vegetables" with shrimp. I also wanted to try their calamari/seaweed salad, but they wouldn't serve it to me at lunch time. The food came within a reasonable period of time, but after that it was a ghost town. They seated me toward the back of the restaurant so almost nobody walked by and, when they did, I didn't seem to exist. I had to flag someone down for a drink refill, then again for directions to the restroom and a third time for my check. My shrimp dish was quite good, although I'd get it a-la-carte next time, and TO GO. The egg roll and soup were disappointing. And since the service was so poor, I decided not to visit again for the remainder of my trip.
(2)
Scott M.
If you're coming for Chinese food, you probably won't be disappointed. The venue is nice and bright with a beautiful view. The service is fair, but the food comes out quickly. If you're craving sushi, just head over a block to Tsunami - that's one of the best places in town!
(3)
Tony L.
I have been going to Asian Star since they were in their snowbird location more than 10 years ago, they moved here around the same time as the Century theatre was building. Parking was a big problem here and I suppose they got a valet service here for that reason, but this is not downtown. The interior have two floors, and I would say the second floor have a nicer mountain view. Food had always been a major problem for me here, with the entire glamour layout and setup, the food just could not those expected levels. Everything was mediocre Americanized Chinese and they got some poorly inspired sushi dishes. When everything is at least $12/plate, you would expect a "wow" factor to some degree compared to a $7ish plate you get elsewhere. Aside from better plating on the looks, taste was at par or worse, they were either seasoned too much or very bland, and some dishes were overcooked. The sushi was just sad. A way to sum up this place is overpriced Americanized Chinese with food that leaves a bad aftertaste in your mouth. I supposed whatever I feel like being ripped off or strong-armed into coming, I do not see any reason to visit here again. Service was 50/50, it depends on who is serving you, most Asian servers generally got that poker face attitude, but it could just be my Asian look too.
(2)
Angie H.
It's "A-Okay" - they were SUPER nice to my kids...they have a full bar...and we were seated privately enough that our children could easily talk loud, cry, or what-not. No crayons, or things to keep kids occupied. However they have a LARGE fish tank as you walk in the door, and fussy kids could easily be occupied by looking at this. We ordered saki, Walnut Shrimp,and 4 sushi rolls. Everything was delicious, and the Wasabi was actually "kicky"...(I have noticed lately, that wasabi has kind of taken a more "mild" tone...and it pisses me off) I ordered a Bud Light (came in a bottle) and my husband ordered a Strawberry Daiquiri...obviously my Bud Light tasted like....well, Bud Light. But my husband didn't care for his daiquiri. All in all... we enjoyed our meal, the bathrooms are CLEAN, and they aren't outrageously priced. So, yes 4 stars. And it's fitting.
(4)
Victoria H.
I work very near Asian Star and therefore end up eating here from time to time. I used to really enjoy it but after my recent visit I think it will be a while before I go back. When we walked in, there was a funky smell. Something rotten or not draining properly. Couldn't put my finger on it. When we sat down there was a waitress right on my tail, pressuring me to give her my drink order. OK. She brought the drinks and was then antsy about getting our food orders in. Fine, we chose the usual. Our food was then on the table in less than a minute. Literally. So...did they make large vats of every possible entree, ready to go? Did they bring us the meals that other patrons returned? Make me THINK I ordered something you prepared especially for me. Make me BELIEVE you took the same time and care to prepare my meal that you might want to eat yourself. I felt ripped off. Will I go back? Sure. But I now see this place as "another" Chinese food joint.
(2)
Mark S.
We came to the Asian star again because of the food. The food met our exceptions or exceeded it. On the other hand the service was terrible. We waited 20 minutes for a server to visit our table and then waited another 20 minutes for our appetizer. And then when dinner was over we waited over 20 minutes for the bill and some take home boxes. I would come back for the food but I will comment on the service
(3)
Victoria V.
Not bad. The building is super nice (pretty modern looking) and decorated nicely. Several fish tanks to catch your attention inside. The staff was very helpful and attentive. I had the kung pao shrimp. I enjoyed it. My school mates all ordered sesame chicken and that was good too. I'd like to go back and try something different. I also had the egg drop soup which was ok. Next time I go I will try to sweet and sour soup.
(3)
Randall G.
The building is really what caught my attention, so decided to check it out on a saturday night. Showed up around 9:15 which was perfect as happy hour just started = half price sushi, SCORE! Sat at the sushi bar upstairs, ordered some yellow tail belly shashimi, mouth watering, and looked just as fancy as the building. Also tried the Alf roll and Dragon roll all of which were delicious. Over all, the sushi was incredible and the chef Josh behind the bar was very friendly and made sure we got what we wanted amd even made the rolls to order. Make sure you ask for him if you go here. The restaurant was kind of slow for a saturday night, which turned out in our favor as the service was pretty quick. Great food, amazing presentation, happy hour prices, and great service! 5 stars
(5)
WildCowsofBoont A.
I would give LESS stars if I could. I ate here and I got food poisoning the next day. I would never have picked to eat here, except that it was a work dinner. I ate the lettuce wrap and the shrimp and walnut dish. The next day I had projectile vomiting, which I haven't had since age 9. I posted a report with the Utah health department. It looks from other reviews, this has happened to others. I filed a report at igotsick.health.utah.gov in case you need to do the same. Please pick another place to eat food!
(1)
Nicole R.
Great looking building, modern and fun. There were no people in it which should have been our first clue. I think my food was either re-heated or just overcooked. Sugar sauces to cover up sub par ingredients. We were both sick for about 24 hours after eating here. Never going there again.
(1)
Bud H.
The space is really cool, and although I've had dishes here that were okay, all in all, it's like a crappy version of P.F. Changs, or as others have put it, a more expensive version of Panda Express. Too bad too, cause it'd be a cool place to enjoy on a weekend night.
(2)
Adam E.
This is hands down the absolutely best Chinese restaurant in Salt Lake City. I don't really like Chinese food but this place is amazing. My family goes here for all our birthdays.
(5)
Debbie M.
I keep trying the Asian Star because other people keep saying it is so good. Every time I go, however, I keep wondering what they are thinking. I can get food at least as good, sometimes better, for a much cheaper price at Mandarin Gardens and Chin Wah, both only a few miles away. Two of my children went with me on my last trip and both agreed. My kids pointed out that we had to ask more than once to have our drinks refilled, etc., so you are definitely not paying more for amazing service. The sushi bar was not open, so my daughter was not able to assess that. (Allergies prevent me from eating raw fish.) However, I'd definitely drive another mile and have a wonderful meal at Mandarin Gardens.
(2)
Darryl M.
I enjoy Asian Star for the combination of regular menu selection and sushi options. The building is beautiful as is the decor. The parking isn't great around the building but there is $3 valet and lots of signed overflow parking at a neighboring church, a 30 walk away. You are always greeted warmly, usually by the owner, and quickly seated. The wait staff is eager and generally enthusiastic but not well trained in formal hospitality. You feel just a shade too much pressure to order quickly, your water is incesently filled, even if you've only had a sip. We ordered the dinner specials, one shrimp and one chicken, both with pan fried noodles and a Philly roll from the sushi bar. The food is clearly mass produced and is Americanized but enjoyable if your expectations are clear. The noodles looked good and were good around the edges but they were drowened in sauce so most of the quickly lost crispness. The shrimp and chicken were good and the brocolii was really crisp and attractive. The sushi was average, I'd probably skip it next time. The price isn't excessive. The location is great and the food is average but I find myself going back from time to time.
(3)
Carissa F.
I had the walnut shrimp dinner platter and it was fabulous! We will defiantly be back. My husband had the special sizzling platter and it was also tasty but the walnut shrimp knocked it out of the park! Great wontons as well!
(4)
Brandon R.
The pon pon chicken at Asian Star is absolutely the best! It's the only thing I ever order because it's so good I can't bring myself to try anything else. The rice and soup is good too, but beyond that I can't really comment on anything else they have to offer. If I remember correctly, it is a little pricey for Chinese food but it is good stuff. Because of the price though, I usually go elsewhere for my Chinese. But if you don't mind spending a few extra bucks, Asian Star is where it's at!
(4)
Cindy B.
I love all of the food I have tried here and the atmosphere is romantic, but the servers are unattentive making a lovely dinner disappointing.
(4)
Nick E.
One of my favorite restaurants! Recommend the chicken lettuce wraps, spicy wonton soup, and sunrise sushi roll.
(5)
L N.
Have always had great food here (love the walnut chicken) and the sushi is slightly above average, but not the best I've ever eaten. Service is always hit and miss this the reason for the 3 stars.
(3)
Fred N.
The food was very sweet. I don't know when Asian food = sweet, even the Chinese chicken salad was sweet. To make things worse. It was cold inside the restaurant and there were some wind blowing on our table. We asked the owner to move table and I can say his attitude was not very pleasant. Sure I will not revisit this place soon.
(1)
R Clark G.
My family used to come here all the time, though they were located elsewhere, in a lodge or something somewhere - don't remember, I never drove there. Now they are in a large new unit just south of Fort Union, in Midvale. There food is very Asian-American, and if that's what you want, you'll be happy. And it is good just not my favorite; my family might even give it 5 stars, they frequented enough! I think their food tends to fall too much on the sweet side, especially the walnut shrimp (a family favorite). Most recently, I went for lunch and we got a special. It was ok, maybe even a little subpar. Whatever the case, it was very near average. It was a set menu, and it showed in the quality - made in mass, definitely dished to order. The cost, according to the quality, I felt was excessive, not to mention we had $5 off. I will admit that their regular menu has been more satisfying than this lunch deal was, but certainly not for the faint of wallet. Service was fine. My water was kept full and our food was served promptly (note "cooking" didn't take long...). In the past, accompanied by larger groups, I don't remember any need for impatience either; it seems our food was served within a reasonable amount of time. The servers aren't overly personable, but to some this is optimal, but they got the job done, and were sure to check in mid-meal. Ambiance is good. The decor is sort of a modern Asian fusion with a window wall facing the street (not a great view...except maybe if there are joggers :P ). Very airy and open. Overall, I'm not tempted to go back (and I can literally walk there from my place), but take into account the fact that I don't really dig the Asian-Americano.
(3)
Kelly C.
Excellent pon pon chicken, delicious wontons, decent service. The one drawback was the terrible parking situation. There was no where to park! Valet parking is available, but I'm not a fan.
(4)
Vida A.
This place is really nice, big windows, great decor but the food, meh. The owner is usually there at the door to greet his regulars and from what it seems there are a lot. Surprising to me because the food is just mediocre at best, nothing authentic. We ordered the walnut shrimp and it had a coat of honey like sauce, very sweet. Hot and sour soup was ok. Prices are high for below average chinese food. Pass.
(2)
Zach C.
Asian Star (in its old location) was the essence of great american Chinese food. I don't know what has happened but when you make a reservation and then wait for an 40 minutes for a seat you know you have a problem. On top of that it took a very long time to get food out to us that was an incorrect order. After a two hour 15 minute stay I will not go back again. By the way...I brought this to their attention and no apology was made, no effort to remedy in any way was given. I vote with my feet and wont be back. Oh yea....parking is ridiculous.
(1)
Yoko H.
A classy Chinese restaurant that also serves sushi. The ambience and the decors are gorgeous. We ordered the House special platter, Snow Pea pod stir fry, and a few rolls. Very good flavor on both dishes, the ingredients were fresh, and the sauce was flavorful, but a little salty. The rolls were decent as well. The server was very attentive and nice. The only problem with this place is their very limited parking.
(4)
Sabrina R.
Snazzy decor and presentation. Corresponding higher prices. I had sushi and it was good, but not really an excellent value. Terrace is pretty and it would be a great date spot.
(4)
Jessica P.
Asian Star is too expensive for what you get. Their food is average and service is sometimes poor. I would definitely recommend trying someplace else such as Charlie Chows or Sampan. You'll get the same quality with a cheaper price tag. Also, their required valet parking is just plain annoying.
(2)
Michelle F.
Its good. I have sort of known the owner for a long time. I used to go to asian star at snow bird and before that he owned Ocean city. This new building is beautiful. Parking is a bit of an issue but they have valet parking plus its right next to the Century plaza so you can park their and make an evening of it. I'm not gonna lie the food has gone down hill over the years especially when you compare it to ocean city. But its still very good and the atmosphere is great. Staff is super nice, quick and friendly. I really enjoy eating there.
(4)
Kristina D.
The place looks nice from the outside which is what lured me inside. I have wanted to try this place for a while and was disappointed on so many levels. 1. Food selection. The food was uninspiring. It looked no different than any hole in the wall chinese restaurant that actually would have had more authentic dishes for a third of the price. I was expecting much more innovative dishes rather than "Fish with vegetables". They need to change their menu to match the atmosphere. 2. Service. I knew when we sat down we were in trouble when asking what the price of the special is, our waitress had to go ask. Turns out she was the hostess after all but we would have traded her in for our waitress who didn't introduce herself, just approached us abruptly asking what we wanted to eat. She clearly had not worked in many restaurants as she did not have finer communication skills. Nobody was around but the waitress always seemed hurried off to something more important and never asked how our meal was. 3. Food quality. Had our waitress had the time to ask about our meal., she would have received feedback that it was so-so and nothing that I would crave. I had a not-so-spicy tofu plate and had to order additional chilis to spice it up. My friend ordered the scallops - they were a bit better than bland but I can get better at Pei Wei to be honest... and no, I don't think that's authentic. I'm just saying it would have been better than this is all. And they offer sushi. I would rather go to an authentic japanese restaurant for this and their rolls are really too pricy so we didn't order any. I wonder why some people go into the restaurant business if they just aren't superb cooks. 4. Price. Over the top, especially given the quality of the food. They are charging prices I would expect for a truly gourmet meal. We spent $15 each for our almost tasteless food. I will not be returning here ever. I would prefer to spend my money at a place where I will have great service, things I can't try elsewhere and absolutely delicious food. This was not that place.
(1)
Christina M.
Went here for a work celebration. The service was slightly slow and we were seated upstairs far from everyone. The food is served family style on a large round table with a lazy Susan in the center. The menu had a large selection of entrees as well as sushi bar. The food was good but not especially great. The prices were reasonable, the bill for 8 people incl sake/wine was $125.00. Not bad, I would def go back again!
(3)
Andrew M.
I have been eating at the Asian Star for about 10 years now and took my wife there for our first date. This was of course at their old location. This new location is a much nicer spot and the building is a lot bigger and a lot nicer as well. The food has always been excellent. We frequently get the fried rice, beef lo mein, cashew chicken, sweet and sour chicken, and our favorite and best thing on the menu is the walnut shrimp! I just tried their sushi and it was all excellent, but the albacore nagiri was a little lacking. One of my favorite things about Asian Start is that you can make a reservation! I hate all the chains where you can't make a reservation and most won't even let you call in ahead now and that is so frustrating. Being able to make a reservation is a part of service and the service here is great. The owners and managers often stop and say hi and check on things and I have never had a bad experience with service here. This place is the bomb. Enjoy.
(5)
Nicole B.
I only heard about this place because my kid's teacher named it as her favorite restaurant. My husband loves Chinese food, so I thought we'd give it a whirl. This is definitely a classy Chinese place. Right when you walk in, you're met with a tank of gorgeous exotic fish and a host with a smile, ready to make you feel pampered. We were seated at a table near the windows--(this building's entire East wall is a window that looks at the Wasatch mountains). The menu offerings were plentiful. We went with a couple different shrimp dishes, one had cashews. If you order it as the dinner special you get the soup, a fried shrimp, an egg roll, a cream cheese wanton, rice, and your entree, all for $15. I think we ordered 3 dishes for the 4 of us, and it was still enough food to fill 2 take home boxes. Great leftovers by the way.
(4)
Tracy C.
Never a bad meal here. I always order very spicy. Love the spicy Won-ton soup! Be brave, try it!
(4)
Amy E.
The walnut shrimp is the best I have ever had and the Cashew Chicken stir fry is also excellent. Make sure and get the lettuce wraps to start. The portions are huge. Service is quick, attentive, and friendly. They take reservations.
(5)
Jameson H.
Asian Star is the best!!! They have amazing dishes and the food is always is exceptional. Our family has a usual, which is Pon Pon chicken, walnut shrimp, ham fried rice and lettuce raps. The service is always great and the staff is always friendly. The owner is Gary and after a while of going there he'll never forget your name.
(5)
Joshua S.
after numerous visits ambience: B+ i'm coupling parking into this equation. i used to go to asian star back in the day when it was up at the snowbird center/canyon racket club. plenty of parking. NOW? i only go if there's a family function happening there. parking is a real deterrent for me. the restaurant itself, is great. no complaints. service: A- the place can get busy and when it does, service gets slow. otherwise, it's right on. the owner always remembers me, even when i haven't been in awhile. amazing. food: B+ decent chinese-american food. nigiri-zushi is good. sushi rolls are ok. house special sizzling platter shrimp, scallops, chicken, beef and char siu pork (chinese style bbq pork), served on a hot skillet kind of kichy, but MAN it's delicious. good for 2 to 3 people. fried rice solid. great flavor and texture. no complaints. kung pao chicken again, solid. tender chicken with stir fry veg. overall: B+ solid 3 stars. i like asian star, and if they had easier parking access, i'd go more often.
(3)
Logan J.
The place looks fantastic for the food prices. Awesome decor, an he amount of rice they bring you in addition to everything is awesome. Great place, great food.
(5)
J C.
The food here is mostly americanized, but hey, I understand it's Utah. If you know what to order, flavors are authentic and the quality is comparable to a mid range restaurant in Taiwn or China. I enjoyed the high celings and windows which made for great ambience. The wait staff are also very attentive when we visited on a slow day. I liked the Kung Pao- you can make it very spicy if you request it. The lettuce wrap chicken is also quite good. Two stars off for price though. It's about 2X as expensive as other Chinese restaurants when you consider the smaller quantity served.
(3)
Angela N.
I've been a customer of Gary's for about 16 years now and still after many moves and a few states I love to come back to visit. Asian Star is his latest endeavor and it was just as good now as back when he first started. I have Chinese family that grew up in China and owned a Chinese restaurant that love the place too. I'm sure it's not "authentic" because, honestly, some of the true flavors used in Chinese food are not palatable to western tastes. I do have to say that we had something very similar to the Pon Pon chicken when we ate at a random Cantonese place in Bejing, so it can't be too far off the mark. I'd much rather have this than the canned euro-asian fare at PF Chang's. Ask for recommendations, don't stick to the usual stuff and you'll be pleased.
(4)
D L.
This place has a great physical set up and nice private booths on the upper level. The food is above average Chinese, but nothing to write home about - avoid anything sweet or fried though. However, the service is a real problem - it is hyperactive - or - if you prefer - simply harassment. My date and I were constantly fending them off - and their wait staff is under-trained in how to deal with customers - with many abrupt interruptions. Won't be back anytime soon.
(2)
Todd P.
I love this place the food is the best and very fresh!! Get the pot stickers and the szechwan beef (?spelling?) It's awesome!! It cost about $40 for two people and well worth it. The service is excellent. One of my favorite restaurants.
(5)
Linda T.
This is considered a more upscale Chinese restaurant, so I had expected a little bit more. To be honest, the food was aite. I've had better. And the prices were somewhat expensive for the type of food they had ($9 for a plate of mixed vegetables??). Some dishes were too oily/MSG-ish too. Service was pretty good. To be fair, there were some dishes that I thoroughly enjoyed though, so it's not all bad. Another plus is that it's got good atmosphere and it's good for groups. Can be quite crowded during winters after people go skiing/boarding.
(3)
Cormin U.
I've always passed by this restaurant on my way to one of my best friend's house. She lives on the east side of Sandy city, a very nice area with more sophisticated neighborhoods. Asian Star always caught my eye whenever I drove by because it's definitely a large restaurant and the architecture consists of mostly windows. Their sign outside is very eye-catching at night and it makes you wonder what type of Asian cuisine they serve. I met a friend on one of my rock climbing experiences who is a server at Asian Star. She suggested that me and my friends should stop by one day, especially during their happy hour. This was a perfect opportunity for me to explore my curiosity about the restaurant. The restaurant has its own parking lot with an ample amount of parking spaces (if you happen to come when it's busy, the business next door lets you park in their lot as well). The restaurant is very big, built with two floors, with an awesome view of outside from their glass windows. Good news is, they have a happy hour every single day of the week (yes, that means weekends too), but they vary depending on what day it is. The sushi is pretty good considering that it's cheap. I'm not a fan of their Vegas roll though, but then again, there are very few places that actually make a Vegas roll that matches my taste. However, I recommend any roll that has Shrimp Tempura in it. As for the service, I can't really say anything since I've only been there once and the server is my friend. But I was greeted by one of the managers when I came in and he was very welcoming and friendly.
(4)
Douglas S.
The sushi is not great but the Chinese is very good and the price is decent for the quantity.
(4)
Dan S.
Great Pon Pon Chicken lunch special. Go with a friend, and have them get the brocoli and beef, and you can split the main dishes!! The ham fried rice is great, and the Pon Pon sauce is tasty. best art is they use large chunks of white breast meat only in the Pon Pon! The breading is always crispy and tastty. I recommend the egg drop soup and pot sticker with the lunch special. I have never been dissapointed here. Been many many times...
(4)
Tj D.
The sushi is unbelieveable! Easily one of the best in SLC! Sushi bar is on the upper level...don't be scared because it's a chinese restaurant. They've got an awesome sushi chef (Mike Futumitsu).
(5)
Aaron W.
1st class Chineese, the best I've had hands down in Utah. Always tastes fresh & tasty without being greasy. Be sure to ask for specials not on the menu. A couple of can't miss plates are - pon-pon chicken, cashew chicken, tangerine beef, walnut shrimp, salt and pepper shrimp and the list goes on and on. Excellent service as well!
(5)
Will J.
Over hyped and over priced. Average Chinese food at FAR higher than average prices. I honestly don't dislike their food, but oddly enough preferred the far less pretentious atmosphere when it was located at the racket club. It never ceases to amaze me how many people will flock to a trendy overpriced uppity ambiance on weekend date nights. Plus two stars for at least producing decent food, but minus three stars for prices and over hyped atmosphere.
(2)
Chris K.
If you like inedible, salty and way too spicy food that has a lunch combo priced higher than all local Chinese Restaurants at $9.00, then this is the place for you. The Hot & Spicy Soup should be renamed the Vinegar Soup. The salty egg drop soup was as thick as oatmeal. No salt was spared on my Chicken Chow Mein either. The $8.00 Vegetarian Al La Carte selection (meaning you didn't get your choice of an egg roll or potsticker) was just as tasty as any other restaurant offering a $5.00 Lunch combo that includes an egg roll and beverage. The Asian Star charges $2.00 for drinks. Although the place was empty at 12:30 pm on a Monday, the hostess decided to walk us up 2 flights of stairs. After Huffing and Puffing our way there, we then noticed we could have used an elevator. My sprained ankle and I were puzzled by this move since the view upstairs, although slightly better than the first level, wasn't worth the climb.
(1)
Craig N.
Went there on advice from friends. We were very hungry and even though the prices seemed very steep we order several entrees. When they arrived at the table we were very saddened to see how skimpy each dish was. The food was good but we left still hungry with a huge hole in our wallets. A poor value for the money spent.
(1)
Jared K.
Asian star serves very typical chinese -american food at a very unbecoming price. I could have had the same quality food for half of what I paid at just about any similar place. That said, the building is absolutely beautiful, and I have a sneaking suspicion that it's what the other half of your check is paying for. I came in between sushi bar hours when I went, so I can't comment on it. I can only hope it's better than the main menu, which is entirely forgettable.
(2)
Kurt J.
The food here is two thumbs up - way up. The won-ton soup is amazing - full of everything, and it's all FRESH - shrimp, carrots, mushrooms, waterchestnuts, snow peas, pork, & chicken. The walnut shrimp was heaven on earth, not overly sweet like some variations I've experienced. Great chinese food in a hard to find. This is a clean chinese food environment. I took the liberty to peek into the kitchen. Just wish they would send a franchise down to Utah County... Where to go in happy valley for good Chinese??? The quest continues.
(4)
B A.
This place looks like a cute trendy asian bistro from the street BUT dont be fooled. The food is on level with bad mall food. It is not chinese food at all but American greasy fatty version of wannabe chinese food. The only positive thing that I can say about it is that the service is GREAT - Fast and efficient.
(1)
Brady H.
A friend and I showed up at the sushi bar upstairs and told Mike, the sushi chef to roll us whatever he wanted for forty bucks a piece or less. We told him that we had just been at tsunami up the street a few nights back and to think of it as a "competition." He accepted the challenge, and we had one of the more memorable nights of sushi that we have had... Whether it was the salmon eggs and sashimi to the different rolls all the way to the orange marinated in plum wine and sugar that he finished everything off with, we were super impressed! The Mike and the Asian Star definitely have bragging rights over Tsunami!
(5)
Alfredo N.
Let's start off with saying that this place looks really nice all around. I drove by it and got hungry for some Chinese food so I stopped in. Unfortunately it was late so they were about 20 minutes from closing but we still got seated politely. The food was great I was stuffing my face. I'm use to eating fast food like Panda express so it didn't compare. I felt sad finishing the food. My only small complaint was that we were rushed or at least it felt like it, like I mentioned before we did come in rather late, although there was other tables still there even after we left. Still it's great food if you're a fan of Chinese might as well check it out for yourself.
(4)
MC Free W.
It's close to my work, so I keep going every few months. I've given them probably a dozen chances and about two hundred dollars of my dining money. Seriously. Not Good. I think the architecture, ambience, and the view, have kept this place in business. Spotty service, pedestrian food. It's just not enough to warrant another visit. And the egg rolls still blow. One caveat. I've only ordered from their lunch menu. Perhaps their dinners, and sushi rolls are AMAZING. What the F do i know?
(2)
Kirsten A.
A few coworkers and I stopped off at the lovely Asian Star for lunch not too long ago. The experience was... Well, it was rather uncomfortable to be honest. The waitress was extremely awkward and her front teeth moved when she spoke. Like, they were about to pop out and fall in the table. Because I'm rude, I couldn't stop staring. (Sorry, lady!) The (I'm assuming it was the owner or manager of some type) hovered over our table the entire time which made the vibe even more uncomfortable. Two of our party ordered Chicken Chow Mein and when they recieved it, it was totally chicken free. The waitress said she'd take care of it, didn't show up at the table with said chicken until we were all finished with the meal, and she brought both servings out on one plate and told them to split it up themselves. I dunno, the whole thing was just weird. The food definitely wasn't great enough to make up for the service - I've had better Chinese at smaller, more inexpensive places. The 2 stars is mainly because the Pon Pon wasn't completely inedible.
(2)
Zack L.
I wish I listened to the bad reviews for this place! But I thought I'd give them a shot. Went to order some take-out. Waited 20+ minutes when they told me, "OK, we're starting your order, should be about 20 'or so' minutes..." Then he handed an order to another group that came in after me...after they waited about 5 minutes for their food. A girl from the group that ordered obviously works there (talking to employees.) So why should I give my business to a restaurant that gives priority to off-duty employees? I told them that they can cancel the order. When I said why they barked at me: "FINE! Then get out of here!" Steer clear of Asian Star and their absolutely atrocious service....Unless you work there and then they roll out the red carpet for you!
(1)
Robin A.
This is my usual go to spot for Chinese, I usually get the pon pon beef and it's delish, I tried the pot stickers this go around and I wasn't a fan, they were greasy and the meat inside tasted off. Service here its always good,but this restaurant is starting to look run down and not kept up, this was once a beautiful building. Not sure if there going thru some changes or what but I hope it gets better...
(3)
Daniel R.
I went here today on my lunch break with 7 other colleagues, I'm not really sure what we ordered, as our waitress seemed to have done that for us. It came out family style with about 7 different options and 2 appetizers (it was a lot of food)! For the most part, I thought it all was pretty good. There wasnt one thing that I didnt like and I ate myself full! The service was good. Our waitress had great recommendations and our drinks were always full. The only thing I didnt like, was the atmosphere. The building itself is super nice and has a great view of the mountains, but it's so open and loud that you get a cafeteria type vibe. Also, we had a party of 8 and no where on the menu or receipt did it say something a long the lines of "for parties of XXX and above, gratuity is included".... Our waitress had hand written her own tip on the credit card receipt... as if we didnt have any other option to tip her more or less than what she had decided it would be (she gave herself 20%). *I thought that was pretty strange. Bold move lady... Bold move. We didnt argue though, it was a good meal and service.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Valet, Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
John C.
This place has turned out to be a ghost town unless we went on an off day? We were able to park right in back and not have to suffer like all of the other times of going there. We were quickly taken to our table with a nice view and we ordered steamed sea bass with a ginger soy flavoring, the fish was all broken up in little pieces not sure if it was dropped or frozen too long before it was cooked? Sauce was good the fish was just average. We really loved the pon pon chicken, it came out fresh and the outside was a bit crispy just the way I like it. We then ordered the beef fried rice, it was bland and boring. Then we ordered 2 rolls Playboy and the caterpillar. Both not that good. The rice was a bit chewy, the avocados on the caterpillar seemed too ripe. The Playboy roll with tuna on top tasted very old and dry, ended up wasting it. Not sure why I get places that have a hard time with their sushi rice? That can't be that hard to make. Next in the middle of our meal the server asked us how many to-go boxes we needed? I politely told her we weren't finished eating. Found that very strange? They did attend to us and kept our drinks full. Not sure I would go back with 1 item out of 5 that was good, it isn't worth the time or the money.
(2)Markie N.
Sheshwan pork (spelling?) It also goes by pon pon pork I beleieve too.... anyways its the best entree they have here!
(4)Sam S.
Asian Star is a large, attractive looking restaurant with very mediocre Chinese food. We ordered family style so I had the opportunity try several different dishes. Nothing was particularly good. I would not recommend Asian Star. There are much better Chinese restaurants in the Salt Lake area. In fact, even Pei Wei, which is just a few miles away from Asian Star would be a much better choice.
(2)Christian M.
I've been coming to Asian Star for years. I love the food, the management and ownership, and the location. They always make you feel welcome and valued. The Walnut shrimp is fantastic. I tend to stick to a handful of dishes. Chicken and green beans, lettuce wraps, kung pao. Prices are high, but so is quality and portion sizes. My favorite Chinese in Utah, easily.
(5)Kenny H.
We took our seat upstairs so we could watch the sun set from the spacious windows and to our treat we got to see one of the brightest double rainbows we'd have ever seen. For an appetizer we ordered a Dragon Roll (and during dinner we heard one of the guests come up and compliment the sushi chef for his works of art sushi rolls). I think ours was pretty... But we were hungry so ours got devoured before we could admire it. For dinner I ordered the Walnut shrimp, a yummy dish, but be warned it's rich & sweet. My lady ordered something with fresh snap peas from the gluten free menu (there is a good selection of gluten-free items for those the want/need them). The portions were good and we both had left overs. All in all this is a great place if you want fresh food and meats that are not 80% breading. The staff was friendly, the restroom was clean and the building and property are well maintained. I'm looking forward to having diner here on the patio when weather permits. I give this place 3.5 stars but since no half stars are an option I rounded up.
(4)S S.
A large group is the best way to eat at this restaurant then split the cost that way you can try all the different dishes. The walnut shrimp truly is heaven on earth. The mandarin chicken was dry and a big disappointment to our group. We had a great time and hopefully next time the mandarin chicken will not disappoint.
(3)Rob E.
We've been going to Asian Star for years - even when it was at the Canyon Raquet Club. Gary, the owner, has always been so friendly. Now that we live out of state, we always try to make it back when we visit Utah. We had Beef with Green Beans (my favorite) , Sesame Chicken, Chicken Lo-Mein, and Ham Fried Rice. We also ordered Lettuce Wraps, Pot Stickers, and Fried Shrimp for appetizers. The food was spot on. Great food and great service!
(5)Tatiana G.
I love Asian Star. It is a fancy looking building and if you can sit upstairs you should. They have lots of windows and the view is pretty cool. The staff is all really nice and they don't let your drinks get below half full. They are also really good for recommendations so if you're having trouble deciding they can make it easy for you. I typically get a dinner platter (about $15) which includes a soup, fried rice, a fried shrimp, fried wontons, and a main entrée. I get the Pon Pon chicken which is breaded and then lathered in a spicier sweet and sour sauce (so good). I also choose the egg drop soup (which is by far my favorite egg drop soup that I've had) that has a little bit of corn and peas in it and has a perfect consistency. Everything I've had here is delicious and I keep coming back.
(5)Dave B.
Please pass the peas? Not here - the tables have a lazy susan turntalble in the middle so you can get whatever you want. That was nice because we had a big group. The exterior is a really cool building, but walking in was a bit disappointing. A renovation would really make this place pop. Out of the ten or so dishes we got I really loved two. The others were so-so. Our waitresses tried to get us to take to go boxes but the food wasn't worth it. She seemed offended but hopefully wasn't.
(3)Graig G.
We went. It was busy. We waited an hour ( they told us 30 minutes). Then we waited another 15 because it did smell good. My 10 year old daughter got bored and asked the host how things were looking. He replied "it'll be ready when it's ready" When they finally sat us there was no eye contact or apology for the long wait. We sat without any further contact for another 10 minutes, noticing that the two six-top next to us had only water. We asked and they had ordered 25 min prior but had not yet received appetizers or beverages yet. Our waitress finally came and was kind enough to let us know we probably wouldn't see any food for quite some time. We left 1.5 hours invested without a scrap. The manager had nothing to say when we let him know.
(1)Kim R.
I was here in the SLC area not on vacation, but on a medical trip -- a family member had an organ transplant and we were staying at the hotel across the street. About mid-way into the trip, I decided to try Asian Star for a late lunch. The beautiful building really drew me in! It was pretty dead at 1:00, and much less busy than I was expecting. I'd have thought there would have been better service since they weren't busy, but it wasn't good. I was seated promptly, but it took forever for her to come back and take my order. I ordered the lunch special 5 "Snow Pea Pod Stir Fry with Assorted Vegetables" with shrimp. I also wanted to try their calamari/seaweed salad, but they wouldn't serve it to me at lunch time. The food came within a reasonable period of time, but after that it was a ghost town. They seated me toward the back of the restaurant so almost nobody walked by and, when they did, I didn't seem to exist. I had to flag someone down for a drink refill, then again for directions to the restroom and a third time for my check. My shrimp dish was quite good, although I'd get it a-la-carte next time, and TO GO. The egg roll and soup were disappointing. And since the service was so poor, I decided not to visit again for the remainder of my trip.
(2)Scott M.
If you're coming for Chinese food, you probably won't be disappointed. The venue is nice and bright with a beautiful view. The service is fair, but the food comes out quickly. If you're craving sushi, just head over a block to Tsunami - that's one of the best places in town!
(3)Tony L.
I have been going to Asian Star since they were in their snowbird location more than 10 years ago, they moved here around the same time as the Century theatre was building. Parking was a big problem here and I suppose they got a valet service here for that reason, but this is not downtown. The interior have two floors, and I would say the second floor have a nicer mountain view. Food had always been a major problem for me here, with the entire glamour layout and setup, the food just could not those expected levels. Everything was mediocre Americanized Chinese and they got some poorly inspired sushi dishes. When everything is at least $12/plate, you would expect a "wow" factor to some degree compared to a $7ish plate you get elsewhere. Aside from better plating on the looks, taste was at par or worse, they were either seasoned too much or very bland, and some dishes were overcooked. The sushi was just sad. A way to sum up this place is overpriced Americanized Chinese with food that leaves a bad aftertaste in your mouth. I supposed whatever I feel like being ripped off or strong-armed into coming, I do not see any reason to visit here again. Service was 50/50, it depends on who is serving you, most Asian servers generally got that poker face attitude, but it could just be my Asian look too.
(2)Angie H.
It's "A-Okay" - they were SUPER nice to my kids...they have a full bar...and we were seated privately enough that our children could easily talk loud, cry, or what-not. No crayons, or things to keep kids occupied. However they have a LARGE fish tank as you walk in the door, and fussy kids could easily be occupied by looking at this. We ordered saki, Walnut Shrimp,and 4 sushi rolls. Everything was delicious, and the Wasabi was actually "kicky"...(I have noticed lately, that wasabi has kind of taken a more "mild" tone...and it pisses me off) I ordered a Bud Light (came in a bottle) and my husband ordered a Strawberry Daiquiri...obviously my Bud Light tasted like....well, Bud Light. But my husband didn't care for his daiquiri. All in all... we enjoyed our meal, the bathrooms are CLEAN, and they aren't outrageously priced. So, yes 4 stars. And it's fitting.
(4)Victoria H.
I work very near Asian Star and therefore end up eating here from time to time. I used to really enjoy it but after my recent visit I think it will be a while before I go back. When we walked in, there was a funky smell. Something rotten or not draining properly. Couldn't put my finger on it. When we sat down there was a waitress right on my tail, pressuring me to give her my drink order. OK. She brought the drinks and was then antsy about getting our food orders in. Fine, we chose the usual. Our food was then on the table in less than a minute. Literally. So...did they make large vats of every possible entree, ready to go? Did they bring us the meals that other patrons returned? Make me THINK I ordered something you prepared especially for me. Make me BELIEVE you took the same time and care to prepare my meal that you might want to eat yourself. I felt ripped off. Will I go back? Sure. But I now see this place as "another" Chinese food joint.
(2)Mark S.
We came to the Asian star again because of the food. The food met our exceptions or exceeded it. On the other hand the service was terrible. We waited 20 minutes for a server to visit our table and then waited another 20 minutes for our appetizer. And then when dinner was over we waited over 20 minutes for the bill and some take home boxes. I would come back for the food but I will comment on the service
(3)Victoria V.
Not bad. The building is super nice (pretty modern looking) and decorated nicely. Several fish tanks to catch your attention inside. The staff was very helpful and attentive. I had the kung pao shrimp. I enjoyed it. My school mates all ordered sesame chicken and that was good too. I'd like to go back and try something different. I also had the egg drop soup which was ok. Next time I go I will try to sweet and sour soup.
(3)Randall G.
The building is really what caught my attention, so decided to check it out on a saturday night. Showed up around 9:15 which was perfect as happy hour just started = half price sushi, SCORE! Sat at the sushi bar upstairs, ordered some yellow tail belly shashimi, mouth watering, and looked just as fancy as the building. Also tried the Alf roll and Dragon roll all of which were delicious. Over all, the sushi was incredible and the chef Josh behind the bar was very friendly and made sure we got what we wanted amd even made the rolls to order. Make sure you ask for him if you go here. The restaurant was kind of slow for a saturday night, which turned out in our favor as the service was pretty quick. Great food, amazing presentation, happy hour prices, and great service! 5 stars
(5)WildCowsofBoont A.
I would give LESS stars if I could. I ate here and I got food poisoning the next day. I would never have picked to eat here, except that it was a work dinner. I ate the lettuce wrap and the shrimp and walnut dish. The next day I had projectile vomiting, which I haven't had since age 9. I posted a report with the Utah health department. It looks from other reviews, this has happened to others. I filed a report at igotsick.health.utah.gov in case you need to do the same. Please pick another place to eat food!
(1)Nicole R.
Great looking building, modern and fun. There were no people in it which should have been our first clue. I think my food was either re-heated or just overcooked. Sugar sauces to cover up sub par ingredients. We were both sick for about 24 hours after eating here. Never going there again.
(1)Bud H.
The space is really cool, and although I've had dishes here that were okay, all in all, it's like a crappy version of P.F. Changs, or as others have put it, a more expensive version of Panda Express. Too bad too, cause it'd be a cool place to enjoy on a weekend night.
(2)Adam E.
This is hands down the absolutely best Chinese restaurant in Salt Lake City. I don't really like Chinese food but this place is amazing. My family goes here for all our birthdays.
(5)Debbie M.
I keep trying the Asian Star because other people keep saying it is so good. Every time I go, however, I keep wondering what they are thinking. I can get food at least as good, sometimes better, for a much cheaper price at Mandarin Gardens and Chin Wah, both only a few miles away. Two of my children went with me on my last trip and both agreed. My kids pointed out that we had to ask more than once to have our drinks refilled, etc., so you are definitely not paying more for amazing service. The sushi bar was not open, so my daughter was not able to assess that. (Allergies prevent me from eating raw fish.) However, I'd definitely drive another mile and have a wonderful meal at Mandarin Gardens.
(2)Darryl M.
I enjoy Asian Star for the combination of regular menu selection and sushi options. The building is beautiful as is the decor. The parking isn't great around the building but there is $3 valet and lots of signed overflow parking at a neighboring church, a 30 walk away. You are always greeted warmly, usually by the owner, and quickly seated. The wait staff is eager and generally enthusiastic but not well trained in formal hospitality. You feel just a shade too much pressure to order quickly, your water is incesently filled, even if you've only had a sip. We ordered the dinner specials, one shrimp and one chicken, both with pan fried noodles and a Philly roll from the sushi bar. The food is clearly mass produced and is Americanized but enjoyable if your expectations are clear. The noodles looked good and were good around the edges but they were drowened in sauce so most of the quickly lost crispness. The shrimp and chicken were good and the brocolii was really crisp and attractive. The sushi was average, I'd probably skip it next time. The price isn't excessive. The location is great and the food is average but I find myself going back from time to time.
(3)Carissa F.
I had the walnut shrimp dinner platter and it was fabulous! We will defiantly be back. My husband had the special sizzling platter and it was also tasty but the walnut shrimp knocked it out of the park! Great wontons as well!
(4)Brandon R.
The pon pon chicken at Asian Star is absolutely the best! It's the only thing I ever order because it's so good I can't bring myself to try anything else. The rice and soup is good too, but beyond that I can't really comment on anything else they have to offer. If I remember correctly, it is a little pricey for Chinese food but it is good stuff. Because of the price though, I usually go elsewhere for my Chinese. But if you don't mind spending a few extra bucks, Asian Star is where it's at!
(4)Cindy B.
I love all of the food I have tried here and the atmosphere is romantic, but the servers are unattentive making a lovely dinner disappointing.
(4)Nick E.
One of my favorite restaurants! Recommend the chicken lettuce wraps, spicy wonton soup, and sunrise sushi roll.
(5)L N.
Have always had great food here (love the walnut chicken) and the sushi is slightly above average, but not the best I've ever eaten. Service is always hit and miss this the reason for the 3 stars.
(3)Fred N.
The food was very sweet. I don't know when Asian food = sweet, even the Chinese chicken salad was sweet. To make things worse. It was cold inside the restaurant and there were some wind blowing on our table. We asked the owner to move table and I can say his attitude was not very pleasant. Sure I will not revisit this place soon.
(1)R Clark G.
My family used to come here all the time, though they were located elsewhere, in a lodge or something somewhere - don't remember, I never drove there. Now they are in a large new unit just south of Fort Union, in Midvale. There food is very Asian-American, and if that's what you want, you'll be happy. And it is good just not my favorite; my family might even give it 5 stars, they frequented enough! I think their food tends to fall too much on the sweet side, especially the walnut shrimp (a family favorite). Most recently, I went for lunch and we got a special. It was ok, maybe even a little subpar. Whatever the case, it was very near average. It was a set menu, and it showed in the quality - made in mass, definitely dished to order. The cost, according to the quality, I felt was excessive, not to mention we had $5 off. I will admit that their regular menu has been more satisfying than this lunch deal was, but certainly not for the faint of wallet. Service was fine. My water was kept full and our food was served promptly (note "cooking" didn't take long...). In the past, accompanied by larger groups, I don't remember any need for impatience either; it seems our food was served within a reasonable amount of time. The servers aren't overly personable, but to some this is optimal, but they got the job done, and were sure to check in mid-meal. Ambiance is good. The decor is sort of a modern Asian fusion with a window wall facing the street (not a great view...except maybe if there are joggers :P ). Very airy and open. Overall, I'm not tempted to go back (and I can literally walk there from my place), but take into account the fact that I don't really dig the Asian-Americano.
(3)Kelly C.
Excellent pon pon chicken, delicious wontons, decent service. The one drawback was the terrible parking situation. There was no where to park! Valet parking is available, but I'm not a fan.
(4)Vida A.
This place is really nice, big windows, great decor but the food, meh. The owner is usually there at the door to greet his regulars and from what it seems there are a lot. Surprising to me because the food is just mediocre at best, nothing authentic. We ordered the walnut shrimp and it had a coat of honey like sauce, very sweet. Hot and sour soup was ok. Prices are high for below average chinese food. Pass.
(2)Zach C.
Asian Star (in its old location) was the essence of great american Chinese food. I don't know what has happened but when you make a reservation and then wait for an 40 minutes for a seat you know you have a problem. On top of that it took a very long time to get food out to us that was an incorrect order. After a two hour 15 minute stay I will not go back again. By the way...I brought this to their attention and no apology was made, no effort to remedy in any way was given. I vote with my feet and wont be back. Oh yea....parking is ridiculous.
(1)Yoko H.
A classy Chinese restaurant that also serves sushi. The ambience and the decors are gorgeous. We ordered the House special platter, Snow Pea pod stir fry, and a few rolls. Very good flavor on both dishes, the ingredients were fresh, and the sauce was flavorful, but a little salty. The rolls were decent as well. The server was very attentive and nice. The only problem with this place is their very limited parking.
(4)Sabrina R.
Snazzy decor and presentation. Corresponding higher prices. I had sushi and it was good, but not really an excellent value. Terrace is pretty and it would be a great date spot.
(4)Jessica P.
Asian Star is too expensive for what you get. Their food is average and service is sometimes poor. I would definitely recommend trying someplace else such as Charlie Chows or Sampan. You'll get the same quality with a cheaper price tag. Also, their required valet parking is just plain annoying.
(2)Michelle F.
Its good. I have sort of known the owner for a long time. I used to go to asian star at snow bird and before that he owned Ocean city. This new building is beautiful. Parking is a bit of an issue but they have valet parking plus its right next to the Century plaza so you can park their and make an evening of it. I'm not gonna lie the food has gone down hill over the years especially when you compare it to ocean city. But its still very good and the atmosphere is great. Staff is super nice, quick and friendly. I really enjoy eating there.
(4)Kristina D.
The place looks nice from the outside which is what lured me inside. I have wanted to try this place for a while and was disappointed on so many levels. 1. Food selection. The food was uninspiring. It looked no different than any hole in the wall chinese restaurant that actually would have had more authentic dishes for a third of the price. I was expecting much more innovative dishes rather than "Fish with vegetables". They need to change their menu to match the atmosphere. 2. Service. I knew when we sat down we were in trouble when asking what the price of the special is, our waitress had to go ask. Turns out she was the hostess after all but we would have traded her in for our waitress who didn't introduce herself, just approached us abruptly asking what we wanted to eat. She clearly had not worked in many restaurants as she did not have finer communication skills. Nobody was around but the waitress always seemed hurried off to something more important and never asked how our meal was. 3. Food quality. Had our waitress had the time to ask about our meal., she would have received feedback that it was so-so and nothing that I would crave. I had a not-so-spicy tofu plate and had to order additional chilis to spice it up. My friend ordered the scallops - they were a bit better than bland but I can get better at Pei Wei to be honest... and no, I don't think that's authentic. I'm just saying it would have been better than this is all. And they offer sushi. I would rather go to an authentic japanese restaurant for this and their rolls are really too pricy so we didn't order any. I wonder why some people go into the restaurant business if they just aren't superb cooks. 4. Price. Over the top, especially given the quality of the food. They are charging prices I would expect for a truly gourmet meal. We spent $15 each for our almost tasteless food. I will not be returning here ever. I would prefer to spend my money at a place where I will have great service, things I can't try elsewhere and absolutely delicious food. This was not that place.
(1)Christina M.
Went here for a work celebration. The service was slightly slow and we were seated upstairs far from everyone. The food is served family style on a large round table with a lazy Susan in the center. The menu had a large selection of entrees as well as sushi bar. The food was good but not especially great. The prices were reasonable, the bill for 8 people incl sake/wine was $125.00. Not bad, I would def go back again!
(3)Andrew M.
I have been eating at the Asian Star for about 10 years now and took my wife there for our first date. This was of course at their old location. This new location is a much nicer spot and the building is a lot bigger and a lot nicer as well. The food has always been excellent. We frequently get the fried rice, beef lo mein, cashew chicken, sweet and sour chicken, and our favorite and best thing on the menu is the walnut shrimp! I just tried their sushi and it was all excellent, but the albacore nagiri was a little lacking. One of my favorite things about Asian Start is that you can make a reservation! I hate all the chains where you can't make a reservation and most won't even let you call in ahead now and that is so frustrating. Being able to make a reservation is a part of service and the service here is great. The owners and managers often stop and say hi and check on things and I have never had a bad experience with service here. This place is the bomb. Enjoy.
(5)Nicole B.
I only heard about this place because my kid's teacher named it as her favorite restaurant. My husband loves Chinese food, so I thought we'd give it a whirl. This is definitely a classy Chinese place. Right when you walk in, you're met with a tank of gorgeous exotic fish and a host with a smile, ready to make you feel pampered. We were seated at a table near the windows--(this building's entire East wall is a window that looks at the Wasatch mountains). The menu offerings were plentiful. We went with a couple different shrimp dishes, one had cashews. If you order it as the dinner special you get the soup, a fried shrimp, an egg roll, a cream cheese wanton, rice, and your entree, all for $15. I think we ordered 3 dishes for the 4 of us, and it was still enough food to fill 2 take home boxes. Great leftovers by the way.
(4)Tracy C.
Never a bad meal here. I always order very spicy. Love the spicy Won-ton soup! Be brave, try it!
(4)Amy E.
The walnut shrimp is the best I have ever had and the Cashew Chicken stir fry is also excellent. Make sure and get the lettuce wraps to start. The portions are huge. Service is quick, attentive, and friendly. They take reservations.
(5)Jameson H.
Asian Star is the best!!! They have amazing dishes and the food is always is exceptional. Our family has a usual, which is Pon Pon chicken, walnut shrimp, ham fried rice and lettuce raps. The service is always great and the staff is always friendly. The owner is Gary and after a while of going there he'll never forget your name.
(5)Joshua S.
after numerous visits ambience: B+ i'm coupling parking into this equation. i used to go to asian star back in the day when it was up at the snowbird center/canyon racket club. plenty of parking. NOW? i only go if there's a family function happening there. parking is a real deterrent for me. the restaurant itself, is great. no complaints. service: A- the place can get busy and when it does, service gets slow. otherwise, it's right on. the owner always remembers me, even when i haven't been in awhile. amazing. food: B+ decent chinese-american food. nigiri-zushi is good. sushi rolls are ok. house special sizzling platter shrimp, scallops, chicken, beef and char siu pork (chinese style bbq pork), served on a hot skillet kind of kichy, but MAN it's delicious. good for 2 to 3 people. fried rice solid. great flavor and texture. no complaints. kung pao chicken again, solid. tender chicken with stir fry veg. overall: B+ solid 3 stars. i like asian star, and if they had easier parking access, i'd go more often.
(3)Logan J.
The place looks fantastic for the food prices. Awesome decor, an he amount of rice they bring you in addition to everything is awesome. Great place, great food.
(5)J C.
The food here is mostly americanized, but hey, I understand it's Utah. If you know what to order, flavors are authentic and the quality is comparable to a mid range restaurant in Taiwn or China. I enjoyed the high celings and windows which made for great ambience. The wait staff are also very attentive when we visited on a slow day. I liked the Kung Pao- you can make it very spicy if you request it. The lettuce wrap chicken is also quite good. Two stars off for price though. It's about 2X as expensive as other Chinese restaurants when you consider the smaller quantity served.
(3)Angela N.
I've been a customer of Gary's for about 16 years now and still after many moves and a few states I love to come back to visit. Asian Star is his latest endeavor and it was just as good now as back when he first started. I have Chinese family that grew up in China and owned a Chinese restaurant that love the place too. I'm sure it's not "authentic" because, honestly, some of the true flavors used in Chinese food are not palatable to western tastes. I do have to say that we had something very similar to the Pon Pon chicken when we ate at a random Cantonese place in Bejing, so it can't be too far off the mark. I'd much rather have this than the canned euro-asian fare at PF Chang's. Ask for recommendations, don't stick to the usual stuff and you'll be pleased.
(4)D L.
This place has a great physical set up and nice private booths on the upper level. The food is above average Chinese, but nothing to write home about - avoid anything sweet or fried though. However, the service is a real problem - it is hyperactive - or - if you prefer - simply harassment. My date and I were constantly fending them off - and their wait staff is under-trained in how to deal with customers - with many abrupt interruptions. Won't be back anytime soon.
(2)Todd P.
I love this place the food is the best and very fresh!! Get the pot stickers and the szechwan beef (?spelling?) It's awesome!! It cost about $40 for two people and well worth it. The service is excellent. One of my favorite restaurants.
(5)Linda T.
This is considered a more upscale Chinese restaurant, so I had expected a little bit more. To be honest, the food was aite. I've had better. And the prices were somewhat expensive for the type of food they had ($9 for a plate of mixed vegetables??). Some dishes were too oily/MSG-ish too. Service was pretty good. To be fair, there were some dishes that I thoroughly enjoyed though, so it's not all bad. Another plus is that it's got good atmosphere and it's good for groups. Can be quite crowded during winters after people go skiing/boarding.
(3)Cormin U.
I've always passed by this restaurant on my way to one of my best friend's house. She lives on the east side of Sandy city, a very nice area with more sophisticated neighborhoods. Asian Star always caught my eye whenever I drove by because it's definitely a large restaurant and the architecture consists of mostly windows. Their sign outside is very eye-catching at night and it makes you wonder what type of Asian cuisine they serve. I met a friend on one of my rock climbing experiences who is a server at Asian Star. She suggested that me and my friends should stop by one day, especially during their happy hour. This was a perfect opportunity for me to explore my curiosity about the restaurant. The restaurant has its own parking lot with an ample amount of parking spaces (if you happen to come when it's busy, the business next door lets you park in their lot as well). The restaurant is very big, built with two floors, with an awesome view of outside from their glass windows. Good news is, they have a happy hour every single day of the week (yes, that means weekends too), but they vary depending on what day it is. The sushi is pretty good considering that it's cheap. I'm not a fan of their Vegas roll though, but then again, there are very few places that actually make a Vegas roll that matches my taste. However, I recommend any roll that has Shrimp Tempura in it. As for the service, I can't really say anything since I've only been there once and the server is my friend. But I was greeted by one of the managers when I came in and he was very welcoming and friendly.
(4)Douglas S.
The sushi is not great but the Chinese is very good and the price is decent for the quantity.
(4)Dan S.
Great Pon Pon Chicken lunch special. Go with a friend, and have them get the brocoli and beef, and you can split the main dishes!! The ham fried rice is great, and the Pon Pon sauce is tasty. best art is they use large chunks of white breast meat only in the Pon Pon! The breading is always crispy and tastty. I recommend the egg drop soup and pot sticker with the lunch special. I have never been dissapointed here. Been many many times...
(4)Tj D.
The sushi is unbelieveable! Easily one of the best in SLC! Sushi bar is on the upper level...don't be scared because it's a chinese restaurant. They've got an awesome sushi chef (Mike Futumitsu).
(5)Aaron W.
1st class Chineese, the best I've had hands down in Utah. Always tastes fresh & tasty without being greasy. Be sure to ask for specials not on the menu. A couple of can't miss plates are - pon-pon chicken, cashew chicken, tangerine beef, walnut shrimp, salt and pepper shrimp and the list goes on and on. Excellent service as well!
(5)Will J.
Over hyped and over priced. Average Chinese food at FAR higher than average prices. I honestly don't dislike their food, but oddly enough preferred the far less pretentious atmosphere when it was located at the racket club. It never ceases to amaze me how many people will flock to a trendy overpriced uppity ambiance on weekend date nights. Plus two stars for at least producing decent food, but minus three stars for prices and over hyped atmosphere.
(2)Chris K.
If you like inedible, salty and way too spicy food that has a lunch combo priced higher than all local Chinese Restaurants at $9.00, then this is the place for you. The Hot & Spicy Soup should be renamed the Vinegar Soup. The salty egg drop soup was as thick as oatmeal. No salt was spared on my Chicken Chow Mein either. The $8.00 Vegetarian Al La Carte selection (meaning you didn't get your choice of an egg roll or potsticker) was just as tasty as any other restaurant offering a $5.00 Lunch combo that includes an egg roll and beverage. The Asian Star charges $2.00 for drinks. Although the place was empty at 12:30 pm on a Monday, the hostess decided to walk us up 2 flights of stairs. After Huffing and Puffing our way there, we then noticed we could have used an elevator. My sprained ankle and I were puzzled by this move since the view upstairs, although slightly better than the first level, wasn't worth the climb.
(1)Craig N.
Went there on advice from friends. We were very hungry and even though the prices seemed very steep we order several entrees. When they arrived at the table we were very saddened to see how skimpy each dish was. The food was good but we left still hungry with a huge hole in our wallets. A poor value for the money spent.
(1)Jared K.
Asian star serves very typical chinese -american food at a very unbecoming price. I could have had the same quality food for half of what I paid at just about any similar place. That said, the building is absolutely beautiful, and I have a sneaking suspicion that it's what the other half of your check is paying for. I came in between sushi bar hours when I went, so I can't comment on it. I can only hope it's better than the main menu, which is entirely forgettable.
(2)Kurt J.
The food here is two thumbs up - way up. The won-ton soup is amazing - full of everything, and it's all FRESH - shrimp, carrots, mushrooms, waterchestnuts, snow peas, pork, & chicken. The walnut shrimp was heaven on earth, not overly sweet like some variations I've experienced. Great chinese food in a hard to find. This is a clean chinese food environment. I took the liberty to peek into the kitchen. Just wish they would send a franchise down to Utah County... Where to go in happy valley for good Chinese??? The quest continues.
(4)B A.
This place looks like a cute trendy asian bistro from the street BUT dont be fooled. The food is on level with bad mall food. It is not chinese food at all but American greasy fatty version of wannabe chinese food. The only positive thing that I can say about it is that the service is GREAT - Fast and efficient.
(1)Brady H.
A friend and I showed up at the sushi bar upstairs and told Mike, the sushi chef to roll us whatever he wanted for forty bucks a piece or less. We told him that we had just been at tsunami up the street a few nights back and to think of it as a "competition." He accepted the challenge, and we had one of the more memorable nights of sushi that we have had... Whether it was the salmon eggs and sashimi to the different rolls all the way to the orange marinated in plum wine and sugar that he finished everything off with, we were super impressed! The Mike and the Asian Star definitely have bragging rights over Tsunami!
(5)Alfredo N.
Let's start off with saying that this place looks really nice all around. I drove by it and got hungry for some Chinese food so I stopped in. Unfortunately it was late so they were about 20 minutes from closing but we still got seated politely. The food was great I was stuffing my face. I'm use to eating fast food like Panda express so it didn't compare. I felt sad finishing the food. My only small complaint was that we were rushed or at least it felt like it, like I mentioned before we did come in rather late, although there was other tables still there even after we left. Still it's great food if you're a fan of Chinese might as well check it out for yourself.
(4)MC Free W.
It's close to my work, so I keep going every few months. I've given them probably a dozen chances and about two hundred dollars of my dining money. Seriously. Not Good. I think the architecture, ambience, and the view, have kept this place in business. Spotty service, pedestrian food. It's just not enough to warrant another visit. And the egg rolls still blow. One caveat. I've only ordered from their lunch menu. Perhaps their dinners, and sushi rolls are AMAZING. What the F do i know?
(2)Kirsten A.
A few coworkers and I stopped off at the lovely Asian Star for lunch not too long ago. The experience was... Well, it was rather uncomfortable to be honest. The waitress was extremely awkward and her front teeth moved when she spoke. Like, they were about to pop out and fall in the table. Because I'm rude, I couldn't stop staring. (Sorry, lady!) The (I'm assuming it was the owner or manager of some type) hovered over our table the entire time which made the vibe even more uncomfortable. Two of our party ordered Chicken Chow Mein and when they recieved it, it was totally chicken free. The waitress said she'd take care of it, didn't show up at the table with said chicken until we were all finished with the meal, and she brought both servings out on one plate and told them to split it up themselves. I dunno, the whole thing was just weird. The food definitely wasn't great enough to make up for the service - I've had better Chinese at smaller, more inexpensive places. The 2 stars is mainly because the Pon Pon wasn't completely inedible.
(2)Zack L.
I wish I listened to the bad reviews for this place! But I thought I'd give them a shot. Went to order some take-out. Waited 20+ minutes when they told me, "OK, we're starting your order, should be about 20 'or so' minutes..." Then he handed an order to another group that came in after me...after they waited about 5 minutes for their food. A girl from the group that ordered obviously works there (talking to employees.) So why should I give my business to a restaurant that gives priority to off-duty employees? I told them that they can cancel the order. When I said why they barked at me: "FINE! Then get out of here!" Steer clear of Asian Star and their absolutely atrocious service....Unless you work there and then they roll out the red carpet for you!
(1)Robin A.
This is my usual go to spot for Chinese, I usually get the pon pon beef and it's delish, I tried the pot stickers this go around and I wasn't a fan, they were greasy and the meat inside tasted off. Service here its always good,but this restaurant is starting to look run down and not kept up, this was once a beautiful building. Not sure if there going thru some changes or what but I hope it gets better...
(3)Daniel R.
I went here today on my lunch break with 7 other colleagues, I'm not really sure what we ordered, as our waitress seemed to have done that for us. It came out family style with about 7 different options and 2 appetizers (it was a lot of food)! For the most part, I thought it all was pretty good. There wasnt one thing that I didnt like and I ate myself full! The service was good. Our waitress had great recommendations and our drinks were always full. The only thing I didnt like, was the atmosphere. The building itself is super nice and has a great view of the mountains, but it's so open and loud that you get a cafeteria type vibe. Also, we had a party of 8 and no where on the menu or receipt did it say something a long the lines of "for parties of XXX and above, gratuity is included".... Our waitress had hand written her own tip on the credit card receipt... as if we didnt have any other option to tip her more or less than what she had decided it would be (she gave herself 20%). *I thought that was pretty strange. Bold move lady... Bold move. We didnt argue though, it was a good meal and service.
(3)