If you like Asian food, run don’t walk to the new Shangri La Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar in downtown Lodi. Their Asian fusion and Sushi Bar cuisine is unparalleled in the area. We’ve just found a new favorite Asian restaurant!

Asian fusion is a combination of the best of Chinese and Japanese cuisine. Shangri La takes it one-step further and will customize your meal and cook to your taste.

The atmosphere and décor are nothing short of fabulous. Shangri La is decorated Asian Modern with Oriental art; eye-catching flower paintings; and accented with decorative bamboo plants. Subdued lighting and soft music soften the mood.

There is a deluxe full service bar for those who desire a bit of liquid refreshment. It is tastefully appointed with a granite bar top that is the focal point of this classy lounge. They have a selection of specialized drinks including Oyster Shooters and Martinis including Lychee Martinis made from an interesting Asian fruit not often seen or available elsewhere.

We decided to eat dinner in the bar area in one of the booths that uses couches imported from China for seating at a large table. The latest word in comfort! At the far end of the bar there is a sushi bar where guests can sit and watch Sushi Chef Keith Sheen customize your “edible art” as you watch.

There is a small display case where the diner can choose what they want including various fresh fish such as tuna, salmon, yellowtail and shrimp.

Long time restaurateur Paul Van is the owner of Shangri La. It is truly a family affair with sister Lisa Van serving as Restaurant Manager and sister Nancy Van acting as our server. The Van family grew up in the restaurant business and their experience shows. The service staff is very well trained. Paul also owns and operates Hunan House Chinese Restaurant in Galt.

Our first appetizer represented the ultimate in fresh healthy food—a bowl of Japanese Sweet Beans. When we opened the pod and popped the seeds in our mouths we got a pleasant surprise—they taste a lot like pistachios!

Shangri La’s Spare Ribs are made with a house recipe flavored with a “just right” sweet sauce and garnished with sesame seeds. A dish that captured our attention was the Chicken Lettuce Cup, a lettuce leaf that is filled with seasoned chicken, mushrooms and chestnuts. For extra zest, use the spicy trio--three sauces you add according to your taste.

Mom’s Roll Sushi was one of the asterisked* items on the menu denoting spicy ingredients. We were brave and ordered it with the spicy tuna. They will gladly prepare this dish without spicy ingredients for those who savor diverse fresh seafood flavors.

Head Chef Borgie Kwong, a chef of 15 years, has worked in a variety of venues including Asian Cuisine icon P. F. Chang’s Chino Bistro. His dishes are not prepared with MSG (good tasting food doesn’t need it!).

Dinner entrées run about $9.95 to $14.95. Menu items change regularly. One of Borgie’s treats was Mandarin Garlic Chicken, delicately battered and seasoned with a light spicy-sweet sauce. Another entrée was an Asian Fusion Noodle selection, Singapore Rice Noodle, featuring shrimp, chicken, rice noodles and vegetables in a spicy curry sauce. It represents an orchestra of flavors that exhilarates the palate and delights the soul.

We decided to try some Raspberry Sake to accent our meal. The raspberry flavor smoothes out the alcohol taste and makes it an engaging drink.

Shangri La advertises Honey Walnut Prawns and we decided to try them. Boy were we glad that we did! A unique combination of shrimp and melon balls were coated with a light honey sauce and garnished with caramelized walnut halves. The creamy honey sauce imparted a different flavor to both the shrimp and melon but both were delectable.

Japanese Bento Boxes are available for both lunch and dinner. They were originally an Asian lunchbox with subdivided sections that held various elements of a balanced meal. Shangri La serves Bento Box meals that are essentially a combination plate for those who like variety.

Desserts ($4.95-$5.50) include Fried Ice Cream Delight with Green Tea Ice Cream, Crème Brulee and Great Wall Chocolate Cake.

We recommend that you try Fried Ice Cream if you have never had it.

Shangri La can accommodate private parties, wine tasting dinners, etc, and will prepare orders to go from the entire menu except soup. Take-out orders include Bento Boxes, Oriental Lunch boxes and Sushi Lunches. Lunches are served weekdays from 11 A.M.-3 P.M. ($8.50-$13.00).

Shangri La is located in downtown Lodi at 203 #A School St. (corner of Walnut St.). On-site parking is available. They are open 7 days: Sunday-Thursday 11 A.M.-9 P.M. and Friday and Saturday 11 A.M. to 10 P.M. Reservations are recommended and can be made at (209) 366-0539.