Amy Belasen

As teenagers, my friends and I became known by name at the Chinese Buffet in our upstate New York town. There, we followed a ritualistic fortune cookie reading in which we'd tack on “in bed” to the end of our fortunes, making each experience a memorable one, and the buffet rotation felt almost like a school cafeteria. Whether it was the sleep-inducing buzz from MSG or our raging teenage hormones that led to the tagline, a reprise of “in bed,” fortunes echoed at Red Dragon Chinese Restaurant this week.
For many foodies, Americanized Chinese food isn't a regular stop with more authentic Asian options like Japanese and Thai food available, but several of my friends, devout fast-foodies, as I've come to call them, enjoy nothing more than heaping portions of General Tso's (an American invention) at Red Dragon. We arrived at this south-end spot and settled in with good intentions and were greeted by a giant gold Buddha in the entryway and the familiar sounds of trickling water and soft music. The space was well lit and decorated with porcelain vases.

As teenagers, my friends and I became known by name at the Chinese Buffet in our upstate New York town. There, we followed a ritualistic fortune cookie reading in which we'd tack on “in bed” to the end of our fortunes, making each experience a memorable one, and the buffet rotation felt almost like a school cafeteria. Whether it was the sleep-inducing buzz from MSG or our raging teenage hormones that led to the tagline, a reprise of “in bed,” fortunes echoed at Red Dragon Chinese Restaurant this week.
For many foodies, Americanized Chinese food isn't a regular stop with more authentic Asian options like Japanese and Thai food available, but several of my friends, devout fast-foodies, as I've come to call them, enjoy nothing more than heaping portions of General Tso's (an American invention) at Red Dragon. We arrived at this south-end spot and settled in with good intentions and were greeted by a giant gold Buddha in the entryway and the familiar sounds of trickling water and soft music. The space was well lit and decorated with porcelain vases.

As its name suggests, Typhoon is the tropical storm of Thai food for many diners in Bend. But slightly off the beaten path is another important Thai restaurant making a smaller wave, a worthy one at that. Angel Thai delivers flavorful, high quality cuisine with modesty, attention to detail, and smart service.
On a chilly fall evening, I scrambled in with two friends sight unseen, having recently overheard a pedestrian describing “the very best dessert in all of Bend,” at Angel Thai. We decided to go for dinner, assuming that dessert, at the very least, would be “the very best.”

As its name suggests, Typhoon is the tropical storm of Thai food for many diners in Bend. But slightly off the beaten path is another important Thai restaurant making a smaller wave, a worthy one at that. Angel Thai delivers flavorful, high quality cuisine with modesty, attention to detail, and smart service.
On a chilly fall evening, I scrambled in with two friends sight unseen, having recently overheard a pedestrian describing “the very best dessert in all of Bend,” at Angel Thai. We decided to go for dinner, assuming that dessert, at the very least, would be “the very best.”