Asian Sauce Box

http://rimart.us/2012/02/a-review-asian-sauce-box-restaurant-at-the-pavilion-port-orange/



So far, this is the best Chinese restaurant that we ever dined in within the area. Though a little bit farther and pricier than the typical Chinese buffet restos in Ormond Beach and Daytona Beach, it is worth the travel. The ambiance is great, and the place is clean. Besides, it is located at The Pavilion in Port Orange where great entertainment happens and some good stores are located.

I've eaten at Asian Sauce Box twice now and both times was pleasantly surprised, as was my Chinese wife. Restaurants in the Daytona Beach area in general are pretty pedestrian, and there are NO decent ethnic restaurants of any kind in the area, unless you're fine with the typical greasy fast food takeout that uses MSG to create flavor instead of actual food. Being the second poorest county in Florida, Volusia has more than the usual share of fixed and low income people in a tourism economy, and the restaurants generally reflect that with lots of low priced, low quality fair. Not so with ASB, their food is fresh, tasty, and not loaded with MSG or salt. You won't leave feeling tired or bloated, but portions are good so you will leave full. For vegetarians in the area this place is a godsend, with a lot of vegan offerings including vegan hot and sour soup. They have Thai and other Asian dishes besides Chinese. I've had the drunken noodles, triple green vegetables, vegetable rolls, creamy potato soup with tomato (no dairy or meat), veggie udon (Japanese noodle) soup, and all were excellent. I also had the tofu vegetable sha guo and found it a bit bland, but I imagine the meat versions are probably much tastier. They told me they can make vegetarian versions of many of their dishes. The interior looks professionally decorated and is clean, and the toilets are clean. They have a decent-sized bar with decent offerings, although I don't drink alcohol. They also have Saratoga bottled spring water, flat or bubbly, which I love since I don't drink tap water or Coke/Pepsi products. The restaurant is right across from the Port Orange Pavilion movie theater, which make it nice for dinner and a movie. All the other restaurants in the shopping center are burger/pizza/steak joints so for vegetarians especially, this place is a breath of fresh air, but there's plenty on their menu for meat eaters too.

This distinct, tasteful, beautifully decorated Asian Restaurant just opened a few days ago in The Pavilion at Port Orange and is off and running. I give it five stars in this area because of its food quality, unique character and exceptional staff.



My wife and I went for the first time for lunch and returned the next day to try other dishes. There are daily lunch specials very reasonably priced ($8 - $9), early bird specials ($10 - $11) and regular menu items ($9 - $30.00). Portions are appropriate for the price and type of meal offered.



The food is unlike other Asian food I have enjoyed in my years of travel both nationally and internationally. The owner has taken traditional Asian dishes but uses nontraditional sauces to create a distinct taste that is flavorful but light.



The owner is very engaging, sociable, interesting, and personally involved in the daily operation. He has recently moved from Virginia where he ran a similar restaurant for 17 years.



The wait staff, a mixture of Orientals and Caucasians, are refreshing in their attitude in that they truly care about their service and your enjoyment of the food they serve.



There is a subtle difference about this restaurant which is hard to define. The only way to find out is to experience it for yourself.