If you want fast food (especially on a weekend), don't come here. But if you want fresh, tasty, and well-priced food, do yourself the favor of taking a trip here. For the longest, I thought Apsara on Hope St and this Apsara were the same owners, different locations but I was fooled. They are different, so I came on a Saturday evening with my friend to give this one a try. They have a parking lot but it is small. However, there is lots of street parking around. When we walked in, every table was full and we had to wait about 20-30 minutes to be seated. Since we had time to look at the menu while we waited, we ordered right away: BBQ beef, stir fried thin egg noddle with seafood, and thai garlic chicken wings. While waiting for the food, I had ample time to take in my surroundings, including all the elegant décor around the restaurant including a lot of red and gold colors. Our food came out all together after about 20-30 minutes. The portion sizes were excellent, and all the food was still hot. The beef was cooked perfectly (for me) and cut into manageable strips. It was tender, a hint of sweet, and savory. It came with some sweet pickled shaved radish, cabbage, and carrots with cucumber. This with the meat created a contrast in texture and amplified the sweetness. There was also a clear sauce and that was also really.good. The fried noodles were delicious. They were thin so it seemed like the flavor penetrated inside the noodle. It had a good amount of seafood including big chunks of imitation crab meat, shrimp, and something else I was unfamiliar with. It also had mustard leaves; they weren't bitter, they just had a neutral green leaf flavor (maybe spinach but stronger). The chicken wing order came with about 8 wings, sitting on a bed of cabbage and topped with jalapeno and chili peppers. They were still very hot and crispy, and had a savory and a subtle umelike flavor. I wish the garlic flavor were stronger. I am excited to come back again and try something new on the menu. read more

Apsara is one of my favorite restaurants in the World. Yes, you read that right--I have been to every continent (except for Antarctica) and still write this with great confidence. I have been going to Apsara since the late 1980s, back when it was called "Bayon." It became AMAZING when it was purchased by the Te family, who still own and run Apsara. At its core, Apsara is and always has been loved by the college students in RI, for its kind servers, wonderful and eclectic foods (Cambodian, but also with Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese and Lao dishes, as well), very affordable prices and BYOB. The family has attempted various new ideas over the years, such as having sushi, and Asian shaved ices, and sticky rice desserts, most of which have come and gone, but the core menu is generally unchanged. One can still also try to order "off menu," although it's not as common practice as it had been. Start with the Nime Chow, which is essentially a fresh spring roll but with their delicious fish sauce, with crushed peanuts for dipping. I highly recommend adding a dribble of Sriracha to the sauce. Addictive! The chefs are known for cooking their stocks everyday, from hours before dawn. I find all of their soups to be delicious, with a suggestion to try their Vietnamese Sweet and Sour soup or their Tom Yum when you're battling a Winter cold. The also make Mekong fish cakes as an appetizer (finally now sometimes found at Thai places), as well as Natang, which is a minced pork with coconut cream and curry, and sometimes dried shrimp. You spoon it onto their homemade rice cakes... trust me, you'll never be tempted by Quaker Oats rice cakes ever again! Crispy wings are also solid, and the beef teriyaki is an essential (think Phnom Penh street food). The restaurant is pretty small and bustling, but very warm and "family-like." People there learn your name, as you learn theirs. Entrees are wonderful. The whole fish fried with fresh pineapple, cucumbers and tomatoes is killer! The stir fried chicken with lemongrass is delicious (try the "dry sauce") although they no longer make it with ground chicken and Thai chilis and basil (a shame as it was REALLY awesome!). The bee bongs are essentially a noodle bowl with vegetables and a protein, with fish sauce, chopped nuts and a taro fried spring roll. Other favorites include beef loclac (tender grilled beef cubes with onions and a yummy lime and black pepper dipping sauce) or the stir fried ginger chicken, with aged ginger and fresh mushrooms and onions. On a hot Summer day, the shrimp nyom (a cold shrimp salad) is tough to beat. Or mix it up, such as with Phnom Penh twilight, with calamari, shrimp, scallops and sometimes green NZ mussels. And if anyone is wondering, their white rice and their house tea are very high quality. If you are concerned about the somewhat dicey neighborhood (South Providence) or the small size of Apsara, take comfort in the fact that famous actors, musicians and celebrities have joined their kids to go there when attending the kids' graduations from Brown or RISD or wherever! read more

Apsara will always be my go-to spot for authentic Cambodian food. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting from out of town. The food is consistently on point, and they offer a great selection of lunch and dinner specials at a reasonable price. The staff are always patient and friendly, which makes the experience even better. From the outside to the inside, the restaurant beautifully represents Cambodian culture with its paintings and statues , it truly feels like you've stepped into Southeast Asia. It's also BYOB, so you can bring your own drinks to enjoy with your meal. Overall, this small, family owned gem in Providence is definitely worth a visit. read more

Apsara Restaurant - Kathew Kor Ko - Chinese Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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Came here for lunch and overall had a really solid experience. Right away the decor stands out. From the outside the building has this temple like feel that catches your eye, and once you step inside it really leans into the theme. There are Buddhist pictures and statues covering pretty much every wall, which makes the space feel unique and intentional instead of generic. Parking was probably the only minor hassle since their lot is pretty small, so we ended up doing street parking which wasnt too bad. Service was good from the start. We were greeted as soon as we walked in and seated right away. Our table was a little cold since it was close to the entrance, but honestly not a big deal as long as people didnt open both doors at the same time. Just something to note if you are sensitive to that. We started with the Hae Kainge, which are deep fried steamed rolls filled with ground pork, onion, scallion, and cilantro wrapped in bean curd skin. Easy 4.5 out of 5. These were delicious. They came out hot, fresh, and super crispy. The pork filling was juicy and flavorful, and the cilantro really tied everything together. The bean curd skin gave it a great crunch. It also came with a plum sauce that actually had bits of fruit in it, which made it feel a little more elevated than your standard dipping sauce. Next was the fried squid with lava sauce, which I would give a 3.5 out of 5. It was fine, but I was expecting more based on the menu description. There wasnt really a lava sauce, just fresh fried squid with jalapenos on top of shredded cabbage and carrots. The squid itself was cooked well and tasted fresh, but without the sauce it didnt really stand out. Good, but not something I would rush to order again. The standout for me was the Cambodian ribs delicate soup, easily a 4.5 out of 5. This is labeled as a Cambodian household favorite and I can see why. Ive never had anything like this before. The broth had this really nice balance of sweet, sour, and light spice from the lemongrass and other spices. It was comforting but still very interesting. The Thai green eggplant was especially memorable since it was my first time trying it. Texture wise it was similar to regular eggplant but added something new to the dish. The ribs were super tender and basically fell off the bone. Overall I would definitely come back, especially to try more of the unique dishes on the menu. I also appreciated that the menu has pictures for almost everything, which makes ordering a lot easier if you are new to Cambodian food. Solid spot with good food, good service, and a memorable atmosphere. read more

Stopped in the other night. It was a Saturday and O was surprised we didn't have a wait. It was busy but they had a table for two. The first thing I noticed was the menu - so many choices! I started with the spicy wings Thai style. Very good! A bit of heat but the chunks of pineapple were a pleasant surprise. I then had the Chicken curry soup. It was very good with plenty of chicken and veggies. I really liked that it had green beans in it. Very hearty! The other thing I noticed was everything was reasonable priced. My friend and I had an app and entree each, with soft drinks and it was only $50. The service was good and we did not wait long for the food to arrive. The atmosphere was welcoming. It was a nice experience. read more

Apsara Restaurant - Chicken Curry Soup Specialty - Chinese Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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Apsara has long been one of my favorite Asian restaurants, and the fact that they open daily at 10AM makes it a great place to order take out lunch from on days when my lunch block at work falls early. We placed a large order from work this week and Apsara got everything right. Our order was also ready at the specified pick up time, which was awesome as well, given our tight lunch schedule. Some members of our group ordered lunch specials, which are priced around $10, give or take, and Apsara's servings fill the container. The fried rice was literally mounded in the take out container - it was a bigger quantity than I've seen in any other place. My colleague and I split the Pad THai with chicken, the Pineapple Fried Rice, and the Vegetable Nime Chow and it was all perfect. We ordered everything spicy, and Apsara is able to do a great job of keeping their food mild, but also flavorful. Love, love, love the Nime Chow - It's the best!!! We did take out, but the dining room at Apsara is very pleasant with a good number of seats, and every staff member I've encountered there has been pleasant and helpful. There is street parking easily available. Definitely check out this Providence gem! read more

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Literally, my favorite Cambodian restaurant. Their lunch specials are so good. You literally can't beat it. The portion is literally like two meals and it's 10 bucks literally cheaper than eating at home. read more

Apsara Restaurant - L18.Beef Teriyaki with Egg Roll Weekday Lunch Special - Chinese Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

I was pleasantly surprised by my visit to Apsara! First off, parking is easy--there's a small lot behind the restaurant, and plenty of nearby street parking too. The decor is beautiful, detailed yet homey, and walking in, you immediately get the sense that you're in for authentic, home-cooked food. The menu is huge--it took us a while to go through it, but the servers were super helpful with recommendations. We ended up trying the crispy Thai garlic wings, Singaporean noodles, beef loc lac, and garlic string beans. The wings had great flavor (though I wish they were a bit crispier), and the Singaporean noodles were delicious with that nice curry flavor. My girlfriend loved the beef loc lac--the sauce and gravy were rich and flavorful. The garlic string beans threw me off at first since the sauce was more sweet than garlicky, but they were still tasty. Overall, I really enjoyed everything we had and would definitely come back. The menu is so extensive that you could eat here many times and still keep discovering new dishes. On top of that, the pricing is amazing--the value you get here is hard to beat. I'm already planning to come back often for casual meals when I'm craving authentic, home-style Asian food that's both delicious and affordable. read more

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Absolutely loved this place. Great, massive menu with plenty of options, nice atmosphere and stellar staff, very attentive, friendly and speedy... The food was excellent. Started with a hit and sour soup. Super taste and plenty of substance. Then the Singapore noodles, plentiful and super tasty. Couldn't finish it all, how plentiful it was. Definitely not my last time there!! read more

Apsara Restaurant - Hot and Sour Soup - Chinese Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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Ambiance was quaint, service was prompt and friendly and helpful. Food was delicious! We stopped in on a busy Saturday afternoon at the recommendation of a local. No regrets. read more

Soup were fresh and shrimp rolls were good! Having the taste buds of a cambodian, taste authentic for sure! Parking can be challenging but will definitely be back if were close. read more

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Came here with a group of 10 on a Thursday. Made reservations in advance and seated promptly. The biggest party they will do is 10 people. Important to know beforehand that this place is BYOB! The restaurant was super busy and service was definitely on the slower side. Thankfully we ordered things all at once and the food came out together and pretty quickly. It was hard to get glassware for our BYOB so we drank wine from the tea cups given to us. This is probably the best Asian food I've had in this area!! Everything we ordered was a 10/10 from the whole group. My dad loves pad Thai and he said this is probably the best one he has had in the state of Rhode Island! Will definitely get takeout or come with a small group to get this food again. read more

Apsara Restaurant - Large fried rice - Chinese Near Me - Providence, Rhode Island

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Authentic Southeast Asian cuisine featuring crispy, salty and savoy dishes. This restaurant is unassuming from the outside. But as you enter the air lingers with homemade flavors and spices. The tables are filled with traditional dishes on large family style plates. Some stars including the tom yum soup and beef loc lac. These can tend to be water downed versions in other restaurants, but the bold and fresh flavors really come through. The spicy hot thai wings are double crunchy with a kick of spiciness. Offerings also include sweet deserts drinks along the lines of bubble tea for at the table dining or to go. The staff are very kind and patient and the food is served quickly. A great place for small meals or party gatherings. read more

Apsara has been around a long time for a reason. Local gem .. and classic Cambodian and other southeast Asian dishes. Not gonna be disappointed.. they have a large menu to choose from .. as well read more

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Not all Asian food is created equal, and this spot stands out with its Cambodian-influenced flavors. The dishes aren't overly spicy unless you want them to be, which makes it great for all palates. The takeout staff is sweet and attentive. The lo mein, made with crispy egg noodles, is a standout. The crab rangoons are delicious--crispy and full of flavor. Honestly, I'd feel confident trying anything on the menu. Parking is available in the rear lot or on the street. For your first visit, it's best to dine in and enjoy the food fresh--it really makes a difference. read more

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Looking for Khmer food in Rhode Island? Ambiance is only missing Khmer music. This is a highly recommended place, great food with service speaking our native language. Looking for an amazing place for authentic khmer food; family style or friends? Welcome to Apsara, where ambiance makes you feel closer to home and service makes you feel welcome. read more

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Taste delicious this is the best fried chicken I had at apsara. It's crispy spicy. The service is great. It's beautiful place. I'm Cambodian. It brings me back home. read more

The portions here are huge. We've done both take out and dine in, and the portions are generous either way. We ordered the pad Thai, steamed dumplings, bbq ribs, and some soup. We had a ton of leftovers. All of it was delicious, but I will say that the ribs were a little overdone (tough to chew, but still tasty). This place is a great choice whether you want something to go or food to dine in. It's our first choice for pad Thai. It's also BYOB, so take advantage! read more

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Cc Huge menu and delicious food, ambience not great! But doesn't matter as they place paper table covers so sanitation was adequate read more

The BEST "Stir Fried Singapore Noodle w/ Chicken" that a customer could ask for! The portion is generous. The flavor is delicious. The presentation is beautiful. The price is very reasonable ($10.95). Great Service with no rush. Thank You APSARA! I will be back!! -Diana P. read more

Hidden Gem located in Providence! If you're craving authentic Cambodian/Chinese food, this is the place! Yummy foods with huge portions! I pretty much had almost everything on the menu and it never disappoint. Definitely recommend. Service was pretty quick, order came right out. The atmosphere is also very cozy with beautiful artwork surrounding the restaurant. read more

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This is my go to spot for quality Asian cuisine. They serve delicious authentic Cambodian, Vietnamese, & Thai dishes, as well as more Americanized "Chinese food". They offer very reasonably priced lunch specials until 4pm and the portions are huge! The BBQ pork is one of my favorite dishes to order & I am not even usually a big pork fan. Some of my other favorites include Vietnamese Sweet & Sour soup, pad thai, Cantonese noodles, & steak with prahok (aka Anchovy Sauce). If you're still not sure what to order, dont worry, their menu includes pictures! Although this place can get busy, the staff are friendly and attentive. They have beautiful Cambodian style decor inside and a back room to accommodate larger parties. There is no alcohol served at this establishment, but you are welcome to bring in your own! read more

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This was my first time at Aspara Asian Restaurant and will definitely not be my last. I came here on a Sunday afternoon around 1:00pm. The parking lot is quite small with only a few spots and there are some spots where cars block each other in which is not the best. We walked in and were seated right away. Hot tea in a kettle and ice waters were bought to us. The restaurant is quite spacious and I really like the decor. The menu had so many options (Thai, Cambodian, Vietnamese & Chinese cuisine) and we took a few minutes to figure out what we wanted. We started with the nime chow which are Cambodian spring rolls or Vietnamese summer rolls. It had Thai basils, beansprouts, lettuce, shrimps, and steamed noodle wrapped with rice paper and was served with house original special peanut sauce. All the components were fresh and it was very refreshing to eat. I ordered the stir fried drunken noodle with shrimp and my husband ordered the Vietnamese bee boong. His entree came out first and mine came out 20 minutes later. I was thinking they might have forgotten, but the restaurant was extremely busy with takeout and catering orders. When I took my first bite of the drunken noodle, I thought to myself "WOW!" Hands down this was the best drunken noodle I've had in RI and maybe in NY. The drunken noodles had really good flavoring, the wide flat rice noodle was smooth and the dish had plenty of peapods, broccoli, carrots, and onion. This was our first time having Vietnamese bee boong which is cold soft wheat noodle with fresh vegetables, Thai basil, cucumbers, beansprouts topped with onion, scallion, beef, nime fried (fried spring roll), coconut milk, and ground peanut. Apsara's peanut sauce came on the side. Both entrees were a good portion and were $9.75 each. Though my food took a while to come out, service was top notch and the food was really good. The quality and portion is definitely worth the price. There were good turnover of customers and tables. I'll also park on the street next time to avoid the parking lot. When we returned to our car, there were cars parked slanted and blocked our way out. We waited a few minutes for the drivers to move their cars. I am looking forward to the next time I go to Aspara Asian Restaurant! read more

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My wife and I were in Rhode Island for a quick trip. I didn't know there was a Cambodian community in RI but it was a pleasant suprise when I came across Aspara Restaurant in restaurant search. I ordered some takeout including their fried chicken wings and Cambodian beef soup. While I'm not Cambodian, I have several friends whom are and have experience eating Cambodian cuisine back home, and I feel like this food was pretty authentic. I liked it so much I made a second takeout order during our trip, including the Lemongrass Sweet & Sour Soup, and again I was pleased with my order. read more

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Best Mongolian beef ever! And the lady at the front desk is so sweet!! I highly recommend this restaurant

The food at apsara is the best Thai food in Rhode Island love it public street it's been there forever and we always go back the best rice and pa tai read more

The customer service was very friendly . And the service was very good Most importantly the food was absolutely delicious

They've got that imitation chicken that giggles on you fork for 10 seconds after you pick it up. When you pull it apart it's all stringy like no meat I've ever seen before. Also, if the bright white and dried out steamed buns in the thumbnail don't turn you off, then you're beyond help anyways read more

Best Asian food in town. I both take out and eat in and the food and flavors are all fabulous. The help are always a delight and helpful. Ambiance is great but also a bit noisy. The food far outweighs the noise. Five stars read more

Food is always amazing one of RIs hidden gems for Asian food for sure and if you were to try anything their Thai garlic wings are to die for!! read more

Indoor dining is now available at Apsara!!! Takeout only option during the first 2 years of the pandemic was a sad experience, but I'm happy to say that Apsara is back in all its glory. Excellent quality homestyle cooking. Very generous portions and affordable enough for a large family to eat out often. This is probably one of the few businesses that hasn't used the pandemic as an excuse to price guage and skimp on quantity. They even give complimentary hot tea. I love how this restaurant brings the culturally diverse community of Providence together in a warm and welcoming setting. The servers are friendly and everything about this place is AUTHENTIC, including a flair of southeast Asian and Buddhist decor. My famiy and I have been coming here for nearly 15 years and we will greatly miss this lovely restaurant once we move back home to CA. We will always come back whenever we visit RI! Definitely a must try, if you love Asian food! I'm sure you'll fall in love, too :) read more

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I've been going here for years (since I was 3 years old) and it ALWAYS hits the spot. Theres a little something for everyone and the vibes are IMMACULATE. I love the auntie behind the counter shes so friendly and fun! Food is amazing. Slight change after COVID but you can barely tell. One of the few restaurants in the neighborhood I can get a vegetarian meal and know I'll leave full and satisfied. read more

I love this place. My favorite pad Thai in the area. My wife also loves the green curry soup. Something we order at least once a week

We travel from boston all the way here just to eat here at least once a year. Casual spot. Excellent food, good pricing and generous portions! They are always busy! Crispy chicken wings: 5/5. Crispy flavorful. And my favorite the flats only! Cambodian delicate soup: 2/5 I thought it was tooo flavorful. Something to share with a bunch of other people Cambodian egg rolls: 5/5 only thing is I wished they were thicker Nine chow: wasn't a fan of the dipping sauce. I prefer Vietnamese style spring rolls Stir fried udon Shanghai style: 5/5 best udon stir fry I have ever had Stir fried lo mein: 5/5 best lo mein I ever had. Wished I knew their secret ingredient in it! Free Street parking around the restaurant. We typically have no trouble finding parking! read more

APSARA NEVER DISAPPOINTS!!! CRISPY CHX WINGS Smokey noodles with Shrimp Nime chow Noodle soups galore Scallion pancakes Singapore Chicken curries Beef teriyaki Pork DELIGHTS! Service thoughtful and speedy. Ambiance ... what you'd expect. Brightly lit up colorful Asian prints ... booths tables and CROWDS of people either sitting and dining or patiently, waiting for pick up / to go orders YUM YUM YUM YUMMY read more

Today was a great meal at Apsara!! Usually I would say that the service needed some attention or a food item was just good but today the service and food proved to be awesome. The only thing that is needed is some background music. It got super quiet - more than usual but if there was background music it would have created a better atmosphere. But overall excellent today. read more

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So sad and sorry that Apsara has gone waaaay downhill. It started with seeing the filthy curtains, dirty back door, and the overflowing dumpster, visible. I thought, "Well, the food, as I recall is so good!" We went in and sat down with noise all around. The cashier veritably screaming when friends came in..it was very noisy!! We ordered Nime Chow and pork eggplant satay. The nime chow came and looked good, but, tasted off, like either the sauce or the bean sprouts had some shrimp paste mixed in. Then, the entree came, and the same, weird, smelly, taste like vegetables that have been in an open fridge for far too long. It was awful! I couldn't eat it! If only one of the dishes we got had been good, we would have returned, but, not going back. Strike 3!! read more

Ever since relocating to this area I've been on the hunt for a solid Thai restaurant. I decided to give Apsara a go due to the reviews, and here's my take. The location is kind of in an off the path area, but I got lucky and got a good parking spot. It seems as though there is 2 different entrances, but they're not so clearly marked. Once you enter, you are welcomed by a nicely decorated interior and the staff were all friendly and attentive. They do have an extensive menu, but to play it safe for our first visit, we got the most popular items. When we were seated, we were immediately brought some hot tea in a kettle and some ice waters. The Nime Chow was so refreshing and the sauce was very unique. A watery fish sauce mix with crumbled peanuts, it complemented the fresh rolls very nicely. 5/5 The spring rolls were also amazing! I loved how thin it was and due to that there was an extra crunch factor. My husband wished they were bigger though! Haha 5/5 Tofu Pad Thai: Wasn't the best I've had. They have non traditional ingredients in there like cabbage,mushrooms, broccoli and baby corn? I prefer my pad Thai to be a saucier fish sauce base. One plus is that the portion size was HUGE. I couldn't even eat a 1/4 of it. 3/5 Beef Mongolian Grill: It has nicely charred onion slices and the sauce/flavor was great! My husband wished there was more beef and less onions though. My only feedback is to use less oil. It felt heavy after awhile.. 4/5 One more thing. They have a single stall unisex bathroom by one of the entrances and it's FREEZING in there, even the water. My husband commented that it seemed like an after thought from the restaurant.. All in all we had a pleasant experience here and can't wait to come back and try some other dishes. I would like to try their Pho. It is a budget friendly restaurant and our total meal before tip was $34! read more

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This particular Apsara has amazing meekathang or rather wide flat noodles tossed in the sweet/savory gravy with veggies and your choice of protein. It was the first khmer dish I've ever learned to make and this place nails it every time. Stop by for lunch -- they are worth every penny. read more

Absolutely the best Cambodian food in Providence. Great portions and friendly service.