Kuma's Asian Bistro

Chef/owner Kuma Kim may be a native of Seoul, but that doesn't mean her restaurant serves strictly Korean food. Yes, the menu includes popular Korean dishes such as barbecue beef, short ribs and dolsot bibimbap (veggies, steamed rice and marinated beef, chicken or tofu served in a sizzling stone pot). But Kuma's offerings are really pan-Asian, using recipes from China, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam. The pad Thai with vegetables is excellent, not too heavy on the spices, with veggies cooked to crisp perfection. Kuma's dining room has a sleek, minimalist look with lacquered wood surfaces and bamboo plants in slim glass vases. It's a cool setting for Kuma's monthly art events, when locals gather to socialize and view works by area artists.