DINING VisitSPC.com/Dining IN BETWEEN DAYS HAWKERS ASIAN STREET FOOD LINGR ABANDON IZAKAYA • Seminole; $ • The menu is constantly evolving at this Seminole spot, where the Japanese izakaya theme features small, shareable snacks in a social atmosphere. The owners once ran a private chef’s table series and dining here can feel akin to an intimate dinner party setting. The menu includes a rotating cast of dishes like pork belly robatayaki, chicken yakitori and dumplings, but it’s the fiery dan dan noodles that really steal the show. BUYA RAMEN • St. Petersburg; $ • This dimly lit Japanese gastropub offers a short but standout selection of izakaya-style small plates, from fluffy bao stuffed with crispy pork belly to char-grilled edamame and savory mushroom buns. The ramen is excellent, especially the tonkotsu versions, where a flavorful chicken and pork bone broth is paired with anything from crispy duck to braised short rib, pork belly and shiitake mushrooms. An extensive Japanese whisky selection provides the backbone for many cocktails and the shochu and sake THE URBAN STILLHOUSE collection offer plenty of variety for curious imbibers looking to explore something new. SAP SAP LAO CAFE • Pinellas Park; $ • The bright and fiery flavors emblematic of Laotian cuisine come alive at this Pinellas Park newcomer, where the kitchen doesn’t shy away from dialing up the heat. There are plenty of Thai dishes (the country shares a border with Laos), from the drunken noodles to the tom yum soup, that will ring familiar to milder palates. But some of the uniquely Lao plates are bolder in flavor and more pronounced when it comes to the powerhouse combo of chiles, a bevy of fresh herbs and the delightful funk of fermented seafood and pork. HAWKERS ASIAN STREET FOOD • St. Petersburg; $$ • An homage to Asian street food stalls, this lively restaurant in St. Pete’s EDGE District provides a fun excuse to sample and share from a variety of appetizer-style plates that draw inspiration from Bangkok to Singapore. Malaysian roti canai gets dipped and dragged through a thick and warming curry sauce. Korean fried chicken wings are coated in a garlicky gochujang elixir and topped with crushed peanuts, sesame seeds and cilantro. The restaurant’s edgy design includes a large outdoor patio and airy bar space, perfect for taking in the sights and sounds of Central Avenue. IN BETWEEN DAYS • St. Petersburg. $ • Part Tokyo-style listening room, part sake bar and 86 AMERICA’S BEST BEACHES
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