A TASTE OF ASIA
Photo by Kathy Tran
ZiZi Ramen & Sushi has all the makings of a neighborhood mainstay.
The family-owned restaurant was so crowded during its grand opening that owners Lai Thang and Van Iang worried there weren’t enough tables.
“This is something very new to this area, so I’m excited about that,” Iang says.
She and her husband, Thang, consider ZiZi an Asian fusion restaurant. Sushi and ramen are the eclectic menu’s focal point, but customers also can sample Burmese dishes.
Since the Plano Road space previously was dedicated to Burmese cuisine, Thang and Iang — who grew up in the country — kept a few popular dishes in rotation.
“If people would just try it, they would like it,” she says.
Thang’s first restaurant gig was a Japanese restaurant in Fort Worth. He eventually became one of Kroger’s sushi chefs, but for years had hoped to own his establishment.
Finding the right space and time proved tricky until a family friend told them that Vakok Burmese Cuisine was being sold in Lake Highlands.
“It was a sudden decision we had to make,” Iang says. “We’re glad to be in the neighborhood.”
What to try:
Mohingar ($9), a Burmese dish made with fish broth, vermicelli, egg, fish and chickpeas. For dessert, have Shwe Yin Aye, a cold, sweet concoction of bread, tapioca, jelly and coconut milk.
Thang’s favorite ramen is the Black Ranger ($12). It’s made with chashu pork, egg, bamboo shoots, corn, green onions and sesame.
The Volcano roll ($14) — a California roll topped with cocktail shrimp — is one of the family’s favorites.
ZiZi Ramen and Sushi
Ambience: casual
Price Range: $10-$15
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. for lunch; 5:30-9:30 p.m. Monday-Thursday; 5:30-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday; 5:30-9:30 p.m. Sunday for dinner
9711 Plano Road, B
469.346.8334
