The Eastern Peak

The Eastern Peak is a restaurant serving Asian cuisine, and it is referred to as, “Nashville’s hidden gem for amazing Thai and sushi.” I would have to agree with this statement, as I was not disappointed when I finally got to give it a try with a couple of my friends.

There are actually 3 locations of the restaurant in Nashville and 2 in Kentucky, but we visited the one in Bellevue. My friends and I dined for an early dinner, so even though it was a Saturday night, we were immediately seated in the very nice, dimly lit restaurant which we were not dressed appropriately for… However, it was becoming crowded by the time we left, so consider going at an off time like we did so you don’t find yourself having to wait. Also, consider wearing something nicer than the t-shirt you wore to play pickleball in an hour prior, so you don’t get stares from everyone else in the restaurant who took time to shower before coming in…

My friends and I were all impressed with the amount of options on the menu, as well as the prices, considering how nice the restaurant seemed. There are about 10 different starters including spring rolls, crab ragoon, steamed dumplings, lettuce wraps, and even a sampler platter. Most are under $10, with one of the exceptions being the sampler which is $14. There are also 3 different soups, including traditional miso soup for $3.50, and 4 different salads, including a, “Shrimp Avocado Salad,” and a “Seared Tuna Salad,” which ring up at $13 and $14, respectively.

The sushi portion of the menu is very extensive, and since my friends and I actually did not try any, I won’t go into detail with this menu category. However, with options like the, “Roll Roll Combo,” which includes 4 pieces each of a California roll, spicy crab roll, spicy tuna roll, and crunch shrimp roll for only $16, I will definitely be going back to give it a try!

Red or green curry are options on the menu as well. Each is served with a bowl of Jasmine white rice. The price ranges from $11-16, depending on the protein you choose — chicken, pork, vegetable, tofu, beef, shrimp, or seafood.

Fried rice, noodles, and stir fry are 3 additional menu categories, and all have the same protein options as the curry. There are also specialty options within each category like, “Tom Yum Fried Rice,” which is made with Thai chili paste, “Pad Thai,” “Drunken Noodles,” and “Cashew Nut Stir Fry.”

The Entree portion of the menu is where the prices get a little more on the expensive side; however, the portions are larger, so the price might be worth it depending on your appetite. Each entree comes with a bowl of Jasmine white rice and either miso soup or salad. Options include chicken or salmon teriyaki, listed at $16 and $17.50, respectively. The most expensive listings are the, “Basil Duck,” which is $18, and the, “Grilled Thai Steak,” which is $20.

With so many wonderful sounding choices, my friends and I felt overwhelmed with the decision of what to get, but I decided I couldn’t go wrong in choosing something from the, “Favorites,” category. I ordered the, “Crispy Pork Combo,” which cost $14 (pictured above). It was a traditional dish unlike anything I had eaten before. The menu describes it as, “crispy pork belly and roasted pork served on a bed of Jasmine rice and boiled egg, topped with sweet red sauce, sesame seed, cilantro, and bok choy.” I had never eaten pork made either of the ways it was cooked in this dish, but now that I know pork can taste this good, I may have trouble eating a regular grilled pork chop ever again. I do not generally eat much fried food, but I cannot deny the level of deliciousness my mouth felt when I tasted the crispy pork belly. I didn’t think pork could taste any better, but I soon discovered I was wrong when I tried the roasted pork on the other side of the plate. It was cooked to perfection and had a great texture. The sweet red sauce that enveloped the dish tied the meat together perfectly with the rice and bok choy. I want to sample another option on the menu next time I go back to The Eastern Peak, but it will be hard to not order this meal again.

One of my friends also ordered from the, “Favorites,” category. She tried the, “Katsu Don,” which is described as, “a breaded tender pork loin served on a bed of steamed rice with egg, onions, scallions, and katsu don sauce” (pictured above). I don’t really know what I was expecting this dish to look like, but I definitely did not have this in mind. The pork, egg, onion, and scallion were baked together and formed a solid layer on top of the rice. My friend gave me a sample, and we both agreed she chose well. At only $12, this is a dish you can’t pass up! The pork in this dish also made me question why I ever thought grilling pork was the best way to eat it.

My other friend chose the, “Pad Thai,” from the noodle menu. It is described as, “stir fried, thin rice noodles with eggs, tofu, red onions, peanuts, radish, garlic, bean sprouts, scallions, and Pad Thai sauce, served with lime” (pictured above). I also got to try a sample of this dish, and my taste buds were delighted. I was leery of how all the ingredients would combine, but it produced a perfect flavor. My friend enjoyed every last bite!

My friends and I agreed we would all return back to The Eastern Peak and order the same dishes again because they were so delicious. My only complaint with the restaurant was the service. Even though it was not crowded until the end of our meal, our waiter was MIA for the majority of our visit. Thankfully, we had an entire serving bottle of water at our table, so we were able to refill our own drinks until the bottle ran out… However, I would still give the restaurant an overall 9/10 for the price, menu options, and the ride my taste buds took to another planet as I ate my crispy pork. Definitely don’t let another week go by without giving The Eastern Peak a try for yourself!