The Legend of Asian Garden

Some restaurants don’t need to look fancy or need to have lavish-looking decorations and menus to have great food.  Obviously, the food is what we’re coming for at the end of the day, and that’s what matters the most.  Asian Garden is the pinnacle of success when it comes to Chinese take-out.  Located by the Target and Pick n Save in Franklin, it is the perfect distance for a good lunch during senior and junior lunch release.  

The size of the Asian Garden restaurant is actually pretty small, in fact, there is no in-store dining.  It’s only take out.  And while relatively being an unknown restaurant to many of the residents’ surroundings, it is the best Chinese restaurant in the world.  

As an avid Chinese take-out enthusiast, I would recommend this place for anyone, regardless of favorites or price range.  The price of a lunch special averages around $6.50; that’s cheaper than most chain restaurants like Panda Express, and Wong’s Wok.  I also like the aspect of supporting small businesses as well. I feel like the workers that work there care more about the dishes they make and the dining experience for the customers.  

Unlike many chain restaurants, Asian Garden makes every dish to order, using fresh meat and fresh ingredients.  Their food isn’t sitting out in a hot tray waiting to be served, it’s cooked fresh with every order that is called in.  They take their food seriously, and every time I have been there it has never been undercooked or cold.  

They specialize in many different traditional Chinese dishes, one of the best-selling being the Sesame chicken combo platter.  They are also known for their vegetarian dishes as well. They dedicate a whole section of their menu to non-meat dishes.  Overall, any of the dishes that are cooked at Asian Garden are guaranteed to satisfy your taste buds and your wallet.

The trend was set off by none other than senior Osvaldo Saavedra.  He has eaten at Asian Garden at least 5 times a week for the past month, and he can’t get enough of the sesame chicken combo platter.  He shared a few words about how his change from Panda Express to Asian Garden changed his life. “I honestly don’t even know what to say, the food is just to die for,” he said.  “I couldn’t think of anything I could even compare this place to, it’s just in its own category of food.  Why would someone settle for something so low quality yet steep on the price?  You need to try this place out, you will not be disappointed.”  

Asian Garden has relatively been an unknown place for those who choose to eat at Panda Express and all of those other restaurants which capitalize on solely making cheap food and selling as much of it as possible.  Saavedra has been spreading the word to players on the football team as well to eat at this place, and junior Jordan Gruel decided to give it a try.  

He was not disappointed. “I would always think there’s no other place to get good Chinese food in the Greendale/Franklin area besides Panda Express, and I’m not going to lie I thought it was pretty good there,” Gruel said.  “I used to be a big fan until I went to Asian Garden for the first time.  I was shocked.  I went there for lunch one day and I was expecting the total for the lunch special to be something on the expensive side since this place is a small business and needs to make money to stay afloat, but I was wrong.  I paid 6.50 for my meal and I was impressed.  I was met with some great portions and perfectly cooked chicken.  It wasn’t soggy or had that taste that it’s been frozen, heated, frozen again, and then heated again.  It was great quality food, and I have been spreading the word of AG just to get more people to go there because it is truly a great place to dine.”

The trend of football players eating at Asian Garden has seen a major increase since Saavedra has been spreading the word, and more and more players are beginning to experience the cheap luxury of eating there.  Junior Will Vaile had Asian Garden for the first time this past weekend. “Place is to die for, never going to Panda again.  I am a changed man after eating AG,” he said.

Basically, the Chinese food game has changed.  No more fast food, MSG-filled, microwaved dishes.  AG takes things to the next level, with everything they have to offer.  This establishment needs to be recognized for the hard work they put in every day, and especially because their name isn’t being tossed around for being the best Chinese food in the Franklin/Greendale area.  It’s surprising to see that this place isn’t in the Top 10 restaurants in Milwaukee or even top 10 in the Midwest.