Located near Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, these restaurants see a lot of lunchtime traffic from the base adding flavorful options for hungry customers to choose from. Many of these are located at the various shopping centers in Riverside including Page Manor, Airway, Spin-Kemp and East Plaza.
Here are five ethnic Riverside restaurants that are fast, delicious and priced right to add to your list to try if you haven't already been.
Jo-Nigiri sushi. Photo by Shuichiro K./ Yelp
Akashi Sushi Bar
2020 Harshman Rd., Riverside
(937) 233-8005, www.akashidayton.com
In addition to an all encompassing menu of Japanese specialties including sushi, this Riverside gem has a large Korean menu with bulgogi (stir-fried beef in a soy sauce marinade) and kalbi (Korean BBQ short ribs) bento boxes for lunch and dinners including Jeyuk Bokkeum (stir-fried pork with onion served in gochujang — a red chili paste sauce), Yukgaejang (a spicy soup made with beef, leeks, green bean sprouts, and bracken) and one of our favorites, Dolsot Bibimbap (rice, cooked vegetables and beef, mixed with gochujang). You could eat here a dozen times and barely put a dent in the menu. There are many wonderful soba and udon noodle dishes that are also not to be missed. The restaurant offers 10 percent off with a student or military ID.
Mongolian beef. Photo by Mark K./ Yelp
Asia Gourmet
5518 Burkhardt Ave., Riverside
(937) 253-2233, www.asiagourmetdayton.com
Specializing in mostly Chinese dishes with some Thai options sprinkled throughout the menu, Asia Gourmet offers special combination dishes at prices that don't exceed $6.25 for lunch and $7.25 for dinner. The "gourmet selections" are a little bit pricier by $4-6, but worth trying — the crispy prawns with roasted walnuts and red curry chicken and shrimp are standouts. Dim Sum and Roti Chain (Malaysian pancakes with a chicken curry sauce) appetizers are a great way to kick off a very affordable meal.
Contributed photo Jon Navarra
Burrito King
2307 Valley Pike, Riverside
(937) 235-9970, Facebook page
The name is appropriate. This humble little mom and pop serves up Burritos as big as your head. These king sized creations are definitely worth seeking out. There are the typical Mexican offerings you would expect on the menu, but for first-time visitors you have to order one of the namesake creations stuffed with your choice of meat, Spanish rice, pinto beans, lettuce, cheese and sour cream. The burritos are available in one-pound and three-pound options. Best to arrive hungry.
Kibbee, small cheese and spinach pies, falafel and tabouli. Photo by Anthony M./ Yelp
Cedarland Bakery and Restaurant
4515 Linden Ave., Riverside
937-610-2888, www.cedar-land.com
This little gem serves up authentic Middle-Eastern and Lebanese dishes with falafel, hummus, shawarma, stuffed grape leaves, kebbe, kata, cause and baklava that will have you dreaming about your next visit. Like most of the Riverside options here, it's not much to look at, but what's happening in the kitchen will delight and surprise you.
Lamb gyro with French fries. Photo by Nira D./ Yelp
Gyro Palace
4884 Airway Rd., Riverside
(937) 254-3895, Facebook page
This popular lunch spot for the military and civilian workers stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base offers a quick turnaround at lunch with a 10 percent military discount. We love the classic gyro with lamb topped with tomatoes, onions and a healthy scoop of tzatziki sauce, but the falafel, and chicken gyros are also quite tasty. The french fries are nothing special, instead go for a Greek salad or one of their delicious soups — the Avgolemono, a homemade traditional Greek chicken based rice soup with a refreshing lemon flavor or the tomato based lentil soup. It's a great spot to warm up with flavors of the Mediterranean this winter.
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