Asian fusion restaurants are abundant in Dhaka, but there are always more to choose from because practically everyone has their own preferences for the best Asian fusion combinations.
A new restaurant called Travel East opened its doors in Banani, that not only serves fusion food but also has a grand piano and if you're lucky you'll be treated to a wonderful music night along with your food.
Even though everyone in this country enjoys Asian cuisine, there is some scepticism over the fact that Japanese food is always served uncooked. “So we customise it and our maki roll for example is almost entirely cooked," says Alamgir Hosen, manager of Travel East.
Food:
An appetizer of dry, roasted beef and green chillies is quite spicy. The green chilli concealed in the onion batter drowned out the meat while spicing up the whole dish.
The protein, which should stand out, can, however, be nearly completely overshadowed by the spiciness of the green chillies and the fried onions.
Then there is their crab, feta cream cheese and corn Rangoon.
The squared rangoons are Chinese Humdums. The foldings are neatly pleated around the corners and the middle of the boiled dumplings.
Fried in refined oil, the dish came out crispy, with the flour turning into a crisp golden colour. You can taste the paste of crab sticks and corn to be slightly on the savoury side, with the fragrance of the seafood engulfing your senses as you reach for a bite.
The sweet chilli sauce is the ideal dipping sauce for the rangoon. For a more savoury taste, you can eat a bite without dipping it in the sauce.
However, if you want to see a delectable balance of sweet and tangy with a hint of crunch, dip the Rangoon lightly in the sauce before you gulp it down for a memorable tang.
Their chicken cheese gyoza is another delicious dumpling with a stuffing of minced chicken and cheese and a generous drizzle of cheese atop the dumpling as the dressing.
While there is no doubt that the taste of drizzled and stuffed cheese is the dominant taste on the tongue.
One will not think it is overwhelmingly cheesy as you can taste the perfectly cooked chicken as you chew on this soft delicacy and that nuance is how it wins you over.
Among their variety of Asian dishes for the mains, their chicken teriyaki is a fan-favourite.
These chicken thighs were tender, and the skin was still crisp. The teriyaki sauce is a mixture of soy sauce, mirin and sugar.
While the sweet and tangy sauce is liberally poured over the seven thighs, the taste is overbearingly sweet, making you wish they went easy on the sauce, running it on the chicken or while cooking.
A bowl of white rice accompanies the chicken and is sprinkled with black sesame seeds giving the rice a distinct, slightly bitter taste. However, more is needed to redeem the chicken.
Ambience:
You cannot help but notice the green climbers gracing the lit "Travel East" sign on a black netted surface as soon as you enter the narrow wooden door.
The wallpaper is beige, and the walls are charcoal grey to contrast the warm, glowing lights.
One side of the restaurant is brightened with mirrors embedded in the beige wallpaper that reflect the white and yellow lighting.
On the other side, close to the stairs, the same wood flooring is adorned with a piano that is mahogany in colour.
The mural was brightened with white lights and solid, subtle colours like blue and grey.
The chairs are vibrant red and blue, while the tables are all made of hardwood walnut.
In particular, the extended blue couch underneath the plate mural gives an ethereal homage to the subtlety of Asian colours.
The corners have grapevines, potted plant walls, and greenery that brightens the window views.
The restaurant had darker and bright corners catering to guests who relish their alone time and enjoy a boisterous evening with family and friends.
A decent meal at Travel East will set you back somewhere between Tk400 to Tk1200.
Challenges:
Opened in September 2022, this restaurant newbie opened to a decent customer influx until the world-cup came around in November.
"We had a lot of guests coming in till November, it's a little like a festival, people prefer watching the game over just having dinner with friends, we hope to pick up after it (world cup) ends," said Hosen.
The inflation hikes may result in a price hike. For now, the prices will remain the same.
"We're not sure yet. The prices were not set keeping inflation in mind, but we'll take a wait-and-see approach," he added.
Despite the price range and the ambiguity in prices, if you want some East-Asian fusion delicacies and an atmosphere that is a perfect blend of nature and comfort, you can go to Travel East and swoon over the flavours and enjoy the trip.
