Top 5 Ethnic Restaurants on the Emerald Coast
By Margit Bisztray, Food Critic

(Editors Note: This article covers restaurants all along the Emerald Coast, from Panama City to Destin)


NOTE: The Spring Top Five Video is available online. Just click to watch Margit's Top Five Ethnic Restaurants on the Emerald Coast

The Emerald Coast is, of course, famous for its seafood, and something as simple as a fried grouper sandwich or a dozen fresh oysters make for incredible and memorable dining. But an exciting trend in the area is the emergence of new, international restaurants. Each adds a global variety of flavor to the mix, and “spices up” the ways to enjoy fresh, local specialties.

When the Emerald Coast invented itself as a tourist destination in the 1950’s, most people who came here never even got into the water. They liked having the beautiful view of the Gulf, of course, but lying around on a beach just wasn’t a popular activity. Now what the area did to attract people was to become a place where visitors really felt away, like they’d really escaped somewhere different. This is when Tiki bars, and racecar tracks and miniature golf courses and theme parks popped up along the road. Families went from one activity to the next in this fantasy world, kind of like they still do today in between trips to the beach. I think you’ll agree that the five, ethnic restaurants we’re going to visit take you away…without a passport or a plane ticket required.

#5 La Paz in Destin, FL
There are different opinions about what are the Great Cuisines of the World–––French and Chinese, for example––but Mexican is usually on the short list. The range within Mexican cooking is astonishing when you begin to take a look at it, but what MOST people love are the dishes that are staples in Mexico, the folksy food that has been around in the United States for a long time, so much so that they’ve become part of the family table in many if not most homes, and certainly favorites for a casual night out, with lots of melted cheese and abundant margaritas.

La Paz here in Destin walks the line between such popular favorites as quesadillas, enchiladas, tacos and burritos, while also edging in other authentic, maybe lesser-known dishes like tamales–––this one combines spinach, artichoke hearts and crabmeat–––and stuffed poblanos. As far as local seafood goes, they do an Acapulco-style dish of shrimp sautéed in a garlic, tequila lime butter sauce, fresh catch or jumbo shrimp fajitas, and a grilled fresh catch topped with garlic mushroom sauté and served over lime cabbage. Everything comes with rice and beans of course, just like in Mexico.

#4 Taj Palace in Panama City, FL
Indian food is almost impossible to sum up. Not only is the country huge and densely populated, it has a complicated history that pretty much every culture and religion has had some part in. What does that mean at the table? Literally a world bazaar of flavors. Indians eat very locally and in deference to their climate. Most people think “curry” when they think Indian, but what is a curry? It isn’t curry powder like you find at the grocery store! Indian cooking is all about spice blends, and carefully measured proportions of fresh and usually freshly ground spices. Typically, these blends include cumin, coriander, mustard seeds, cardamom, tumeric–––which is what gives curry that vivid, yellow hue, and which is one of the best things in the world for you–––chili powder and often fenugreek, or fennel seed. Other things that lend flavor to Indian are garlic, ginger, onions and pepper…but pretty much any spice you’ve ever heard of, and some you haven’t, can end up in an Indian dish.

Even as you keep these ingredients in mind, you will find that the flavors in your mouth as you eat Indian always manage to mystify. There’s always something that eludes you.

#3 Osaka Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi Bar in Destin, FL
Right at the entrance to the restaurant, you’re met with Japanese aesthetics, from the colorful carp ponds on either side of the door, to the sound of water, to miniature maple trees. As you’re led inside, you’ll see Buddhist statues, bonsai trees, fans, silk screens, art…again, we’re getting a snapshot of an entire country, but it’s all pretty real. The point is you feel somewhere different. The entrance is composed of this lobby, because Osaka isn’t really one restaurant, but two. On one side, opposite the bar, is the sushi room. This is the largest sushi bar on the Emerald Coast, manned by Japanese sushi chefs whose fingers spin so fast you can barely watch them. It’s a serious skill, but they do it with lots of fun and joking around.

The second, back area is the steakhouse. If you’ve never experienced a Japanese steakhouse, or you haven’t in a long time, it’s as fun as you ‘ve heard, or as fun as you remember. The chefs aren’t just incredibly skilled, they’re clowns and practically acrobats, and don’t try the knife tricks you see here at home, kids. This kind of dinner is an adventure, an event, and you’ll leave here with a sense that you’ve paid for more than just dinner.

#2 Lotus Vietnamese Cuisine in Panam City, FL
Vietnamese is sometimes called the Nouvelle Cuisine of Asia. It’s very delicate, with the ingredients shredded or thinly cut, rather than big chunks, as you can see with this special lotus salad of lotus root, carrots, radish and squid in a special dressing. Vietnamese relies heavily on rice, wheat, fresh herbs and vegetables, with meat being more of an accent or condiment than a main course. The cuisine uses very little oil, drawing flavor from chilis, limes, garlic, ginger and sauces, and fresh herbs like basil, cilantro and mint. There’s also little frying in most of the country, with simmering used as a cooking technique instead. Vietnamese food is HEALTHY! It’s GOOD FOR YOU. And this is where to enjoy it.

#1 Basmati’s in Blue Mountain Beach of South Walton County (Hwy 30-A)
This restaurant on 30A may be compact, but it fits a lot of countries into its kitchen, like Thailand, Japan and China. Asian Fusion came out of the Nouvelle Cuisine Movement in the 1970’s. That was when Japanese aesthetics merged with the discipline of French cooking. It introduced small but stunning portions, with an emphasis as much on presentation as flavor. Fusion is when the foods of different cultures come together and make a big bang. It breaks rules and it breaks new ground, and what that means to a diner is that we get to eat things that wouldn’t even have EXISTED a couple of decades ago, not even in large cities, let alone on a pretty highway in the Panhandle. The creative Asian twists extend all the way to the finish here, and the result is a meal that takes you on an exotic journey to exotic lands.

Our family fave for ethnic fare is Thai Elephant near Cancuns in Destin just east of Destin Commons on the south side of Hwy 98 in a small strip center.

Family owned and operated and my kids eat there a MINIMUM of twice weekly.

Not the most expensive and not the least for Thai in the area BUT the consistency is there, the menu varied and the food is very good.

From Thai Beef Salad to Pad Thai to Massaman Curry to Coconut Milk Chicken Tom Kai Gai Soup, this is comfort food to us. Never had a compaint or issue with any food.

I only wish that the fresh rolls had a bit more Thai Basil and Cilantro in them and that the price were a bit lower than the $6.95 for three rolls. We use Tu Do Vietnamese in Pensacola as our benchmark and they put out these rolls wit more in them for $3.95 for the same portion.

For the money Tu Do is THE best ethnic for us on the whole coast BUT Thai Elephant fills the bill for us in Destin and we ate there last on Valentines night.

I give them a strong 8.5 out of 10 on my Emerald Coast Eatery Scale.

www.KeithGoesCoastal.com is a place to go and order my locals discount card good at ten local restaurants in the Destin area.

Cannot argue with Osaka and STILL encourage you to visit their new Sandestin locale, Sushi Rocks. Andy will treat you right.

Also agree on Basmati's.

And thanks for the Indian review. NONE in Destin and we always wonder why.

Looks like a trip to PC is in order for some butter chicken and tandoori platters.


Yiannis Grille out 30A just past Seagrove Beach has some good seafood interpretations in the Greek genre. Grouper with olive oil and lemon.

Need I say more?

Simple and fresh.

Add Nim's International to this list. Located in Destin and a welcome delight to the area scene. The old Mulhollow's blossoms as Nim's.

Travel the far east and enjoy. See my separate review.