Tokyo Express serves a taste of Vietnam

By Cara Kelly

Although Tokyo Express was first established seven years ago, an additional menu has made the restaurant a uniquely foreign, yet comforting dining experience in the High Country.

Nancy Co, manager of the steakhouse and sushi bar, has created a second menu inspired by her home country of Vietnam that makes her customers feel as if they have just taken a trip to the Far East.

The Vietnamese menu on its own is extensive enough to sustain a restaurant, with a variety of rice and noodle dishes complemented by different preparations of vegetables, chicken, pork, beef, shrimp and tofu.

Though similar to Thai food, Vietnamese traditional food is slightly milder and commonly uses a variety of ingredients, including lemongrass, basil, ginger and peanut sauces.

Each dish in Vietnam, according to Co, is served with a distinct sauce.

The most frequently ordered dishes, appropriately the house specialties, are called “hot pots.”

The dishes, best when split between two or more people, incorporate an entertaining, interactive element, allowing patrons to prepare their food at their own leisure.

A broth, either hot-and-sour or the house, is served in a “hot pot” or personal-sized chaffer. Raw vegetables, noodles and a selection of meat or tofu are served on a separate plate to be cooked by the diner throughout the course of the meal.

The fresh vegetables and thinly sliced meats make the dish light but deliciously satiating.

“It is a good romantic dinner, good for a leisurely meal filled with conversation,” Co said. “You can eat and talk and not worry about your food getting cold.”

Co also adds that the hot pots are perfect for Appalachian mountain winters, as the flavorful broth has an incredible warming ability, like a homemade bowl of soup.

All dishes have the option of being completely vegan-friendly, with tofu and just vegetables making them incredibly healthy. Co is also proud to note that no MSG is used in any of her cooking.

For the summer season, Co provides intensely flavorful and thirst-quenching smoothies made with fresh fruit. She uses fresh strawberries, mangos, bananas, pineapple and coconut blended with frozen yogurt to make a very airy smoothie that can easily be sipped through a straw but is served in a beautifully decorated glass.

Vietnamese coffee is another delectable treat for hot summer days, as it is typically served over ice. Ground Café du Monde and Vietnamese espresso beans are placed in their own percolator atop a glass of sweet and condensed milk. Boiling water is poured in the top and soaks through the grinds before dripping down to the glass of milk. The finished product is then poured over ice.

Co serves as an ideal hostess, proudly preparing plates of her native country’s traditional food for customers who no longer need a menu after the second visit. In fact, Co’s regulars seldom leave without giving her a warm hug after a satisfying meal.

Co has the ability of making customers feel as if they have taken a seat at the dinner table of the Co family, most of who still reside in Vietnam.

Co said she has found most people native to the area are unfamiliar with Vietnamese flavors, but visitors from larger cities are often big fans of the Asian-style food.

“I get a lot of people from Florida who know more about Vietnamese food than people who live here,” Co said. “Vietnamese food is more popular in big cities.”

For that reason, Co has taken it upon herself to educate people who come in to eat with her personal flair for entertaining.

The Japanese menu is still being served every day and contains hibachi meat dishes, along with lo mein and fresh sushi prepared daily.

In addition to being open a full seven days a week for lunch and dinner, Tokyo Express offers take-out and catering options for parties up to 60 people. Co can arrange special platters of sushi and Vietnamese recipes for special events and private parties.

If increased interest continues, Co hopes to host more catering events and add additional space to the restaurant outside for next summer.

Tokyo Express is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. It is located at 110 High Country Square in Banner Elk. For more information, call (828) 898-4121.