Ling & Louie's Asian Bar and Grill — Restaurant in Meridian

We recently had the pleasure of dining at Ling & Louie's Asian Bar and Grill in Meridian, Idaho, and I must say overall it was a delightful experience. We were greeted and served by friendly staff and the atmosphere welcoming. The ambiance of the restaurant is modern and inviting, with tasteful Asian-inspired decor and a relaxed yet energetic vibe. The staff members were attentive, knowledgeable, and eager to make my dining experience memorable. Now, let's talk about the food. Ling & Louie's Asian Bar and Grill exceeded all our expectations when it came to their culinary offerings. The menu is a fusion of Asian flavors and American favorites, offering a wide range of options to satisfy any palate. Whether you're a fan of sushi, noodles, stir-fry, or classic Asian-inspired dishes with a twist, Ling & Louie's has something for everyone. For our appetizer, we decided to start with their pot stickers, and they were absolutely delicious. The dumpling wrappers were perfectly pan-fried to a golden brown, and the filling was a flavorful blend of ground meat and vegetables. Each bite was a delightful combination of textures and flavors, and the accompanying dipping sauce added an extra kick of tanginess. It was the ideal appetizer to whet our appetite for the main course. For our entrees, we had the pleasure of trying some standout dishes and we decided to share family style. First, we indulged in the honey walnut shrimp, and it was a true delight. The shrimp were perfectly cooked to a crispy exterior while remaining tender and succulent on the inside. The honey glaze was wonderfully sweet and complemented by the crunchy walnuts, creating a delightful combination of flavors and textures. Next, we savored the Shanghai Shrimp & Scallops. This dish was a true seafood lover's dream. The shrimp and scallops were cooked to perfection, showcasing their natural sweetness and tender texture. The accompanying Shanghai sauce was savory and tangy, infusing the dish with a burst of umami flavor. Paired with a medley of fresh vegetables, this dish was a true winner. Then, we had the pleasure of enjoying the Mongolian Beef. This classic dish did not disappoint. Tender slices of beef were wok-seared to perfection and coated in a savory and slightly sweet Mongolian sauce. The beef was melt-in-your-mouth tender, and the dish was accompanied by a colorful array of crisp vegetables. The flavors were well-balanced, making it a satisfying choice for meat lovers. Lastly, I love sushi, so had to try at least one of their rolls on the menu and tried the Bit O' Mexico rolls. These rolls were a delightful fusion of Asian and Mexican flavors, creating a unique and delicious culinary experience. They were beautifully presented, featuring a combination of fresh ingredients and vibrant colors. The sushi rolls were filled with a delightful mix of tempura shrimp, avocado, and cucumber, providing a refreshing and crunchy texture. What set these rolls apart was the addition of a zesty jalapeño slice and a drizzle of tangy and creamy chipotle mayo, giving them a distinct Mexican twist. These rolls are definitely worth a try. In addition to the outstanding food, they also offer of full bar with a great selection of wines, beers, and other beverages to suit any preference. We had Tito’s Martini's and our guest a La Crema Pinot Noir wine. We highly recommend...

On 4/12/21, KM and I went to Ling & Louie’s for the second time and had an outstanding dinner. We got there during Happy Hour, so all of our appetizers were reduced prices. We ordered:

Chicken Lettuce Wraps ($6) - Water chestnuts, onions, lemon grass, Thai Basil, cilantro. I’ve only ever had chicken lettuce wraps once before and that was at PF Chang’s. I thought these were good.

Pan-Seared Potstickers ($6) - Served with seasoned dipping sauce. I don’t normally order potstickers. These look beautiful and we’re good quality but it was the least interesting menu item for both of us. We would not order them again.

Korean Cauliflower ($6) - Roasted cauliflower, Korean glaze, gochujang aioli. This was a knockout dish. It was our favorite appetizer.

Crispy Crab Wontons ($6) - Served with sweet chili dipping sauce. I don’t normally order crab wontons but I could tell that these had real crab. Crab with melted cream cheese isn’t really my thing, but if this is an item you like, I would recommend trying it here.

General Ling’s Chicken ($16) - Crispy chicken, green onions, red bell peppers, carrots, Thai Basil, sweet and spicy soy. I expected this dish to be a bit more like General Tso’s chicken. It’s completely different and less spicy than I had expected, but it was my favorite of the two entrées. I would order it again.

Honey Walnut Shrimp ($18) - Crispy shrimp, broccoli, mushrooms, candied walnuts, honey sauce. I don’t care for sweet entrées, so this isn’t the kind of dish I would normally order. It’s only the second time I’ve ever had it. I thought it was good though.

Uncle Fu’s Fried Rice -Combo ($15) - Chopped vegetables, scrambled egg, secret sauce with chicken, shrimp, pork tenderloin and flat iron steak. We would have ordered the pork fried rice but we were told the pork had a sweet flavor. The combo version of this dish was good but the meat had been marinated and was a tad on the salty side for me. Next time I’ll try it with just the pork.

Banana Caramel Spring Roll ($9) - Banana cheesecake, fresh strawberries, banana mascarpone, vanilla bean ice cream. This is a great dessert and perfect for sharing.

Ling & Louie’s is not a traditional Chinese restaurant, but it knocks most of the competition out of the water. In addition to great food, we received excellent service and the ambience was lovely.

Highly...

12/6/22 update Thank you for the information. I did not complain about the Flatbread as that's not something that I do at a resturant as I've heard, and seen, too many videos of disgruntled resturant employees doing bad things to food that customers comlain about. I just look at it as a reason not to visit again. We ordered four appetizers and one of them was bad... That's 75% eadible, 25% yuck ... Not the hit rate I'm looking for when I choose a resturant and spend my money... In reality, only two of the appetizers could be considered good, with one edible, and one trash, so honestly, more like 50% hit rate.

Anyway, I do appreciate that you took the time to let me know that your kitchen crew just prepared our food poorly vs. using a microwave.

On the positive side, your customer centric attitude, does say that you care... But, I'm going to surmise, based on our experience, that your passion to create great food, hasn't permeated to all of your kitchen staff.

ps. We ate at Chandlers about three months ago, and it was 5 star across the board (you may verify by scrolling down my reviews), so we had high expectations for LnL given its in the Chandler family. I will always provide an honest viewpoint, but you may not see the downside to poor kitchen employee performance, perhaps due to knowing what the dishes taste like when prepared properly. I can 100% state that two of our 4 dishes were just prepared badly. Bad day for the cooks, maybe? But I was only there once, so that "bad day" became my only experience... Execution is huge in the resturant business, LnL lacked in that capacity, big time!

Original Review ‐------------------------ Our waitress was fantastic and very attentive... Five star service for sure. The food was decent, but we ordered the steak Flatbread appetizer and it was obviously microwaved as the crust was hard and rubbery, I believe they melted the cheese on the flatbread in the microwave (really bad idea). Just was a bad dish and a waste of money, not to mention that the waitress said it was their best appetizer. One lazy line chef, by microwaving, sullied the reputation of the resturant, and made the very competent waitress a liar... The resturant manager should look into this practice and put...