The F-M Offers Authentic Ethnic Cuisine

By Sarah Tyre
Contributing Writer

Of Fargo-Moorhead’s over 120 full service restaurants, many ethnic restaurants offer food choices that will fix cravings for authentic cuisine. High Plains Reader’s food editor, Jeni Hill, explains that an indicator of a good authentic restaurant is when it’s proud of its recipes.

Thai Orchid in the Moorhead Center Mall specializes in traditional Thai cuisine. The cooks are all of Thai heritage and use traditional ingredients. “We use Jasmine rice that reflects the way it would taste in Thailand,” says co-owner David Sheer. “Authentic means cooking as close to Thai recipes as you can.” All of their food is wok cooked and freshly prepared.

Sheer says that Thai Orchid strives to provide customers with an experience. “It’s dining versus eating,” he says. “We encourage customers who will come in and sit for an hour.”

If Mexican food is what you desire, look no further than Acapulco Mexican Restaurant, just off of Interstate 29 and 13th Avenue south, where the motto is: “Mi casa es su casa” or “My house is your house.” The traditional restaurant offers a different experience than a trip to Mexican Village. Some of its most famous dishes include fajitas, carne asada, Cancun platter, steak ranchero and arroz con pollo.

“We have a lot of secret family recipes that we use to make our food taste so great,” says Jesus Sandoval, manager and part owner. “We prepare everything from scratch just like it’s done in our hometown in Mexico.” Food lovers of all ages can try something new at Café Alladin on 32nd Avenue South and its second location on Sixth Avenue North in Fargo. Aladdin’s specializes in Greek and Middle Eastern food. “In life it is important to learn and experience everything,” says owner Ahmad Younis. “You can understand other cultures through their food and the spices they use.”

Some of their most popular dishes are gyro sandwiches, spinach pie, kabobs and baklava, all of which are prepared with traditional ingredients and spices used in the Middle East. Greek olives, cucumber dressing and hummus are some of their signature ingredients. Aladdin’s has good news for veggie-lovers. Since vegetarianism is common in the Middle East, there are plenty of options for herbivores. On the menu, vegetarian selections are indicated with a heart next to the description. Younis hopes that after a visit to Aladdin’s, patrons will leave “with a different idea of food,” he says. Many other ethnic restaurants are making their mark in the Red River Valley. In her self-titled blog, pianist Jihye Chang recommends Jade Dragon Vietnamese & Chinese Restaurant on Main Avenue in Fargo as a good place to go “when you are craving Vietnamese style fresh spring rolls, Pho, and Vietnamese iced coffee.”

Chang’s blog includes food critiques from restaurants in many different cities around the USA as well as some from overseas. Her favorite Fargo-Moorhead restaurants are listed under the “wisdom” tab at jihyechang.com. Thai Orchid’s Sheer says the local restaurant scene has changed in recent years. “Fargo has matured and become more familiar with ethnic food,” he says. “Fargo is not international but it is getting there.”High Plains Reader’s own foodie, Jeni Hill, agrees. Having recently moved to Fargo from the Twin Cities, she says: “The Fargo food scene is growing and popping up. People are getting excited about food.”

If You Go:
Thai Orchid
420 Center Ave, Moorhead
Websites: http://www.thaiorchid.info/

Acapulco Mexican Restaurant
1150 36th St S, Fargo
http://www.acapulcofargo.com/

Café Aladdin
530 6th Avenue North Fargo
http://www.cafealaddinfargo.com/

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[Editor’s Note: For more from Jeni Hill check out An Herbalist Eats (by Jeni Hill) at ]http://herbalisteats.blogspot.com/.]