Aji Ten Japanese Restaurant and T.N. Thai Bistro

Restaurant veteran Molly Abraham noshes around town, tracking down some top spots
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Aji Ten Japanese Restaurant and T.N. Thai Bistro
Sesame chicken with broccoli, carrots, baby corn, and green onion, at Grosse Pointe’s T.N. Thai Bistro. Photograph by Joe Vaughn

AJI TEN JAPANESE RESTAURANT: Fari (Mako) Sanatgar’s restaurant  serves sushi and sashimi, as well as classic dishes such as chicken and salmon teriyaki, shrimp and vegetable tempura, and an array of noodle dishes and rice bowls (donburi) topped with a variety of meats, fish, or vegetables. There are also many small dishes that can be assembled so they add up to a meal. Small doesn’t apply to the noodle dishes: deep bowls of udon (wheat), soba (buckwheat), or egg noodles with roasted pork, sliced duck, or shrimp in hot broth. The eatery is in a shopping strip not far from Ikea, making it a good spot to combine with a trip to the Swedish retailer. The prices, like Ikea’s, are remarkably affordable. L & D daily. 42087 Ford Rd., Canton; 734-979-0988. $12 No liquor. z H

T.N. THAI BISTRO: The meticulously decorated room in burnt orange, deep red, and gold under drum-shaped white lamps, and a window wall framed by red-and-gold brocade draperies with silk tassels give a dressy look to this Thai cafe. There isn’t a restaurant family in the area with more experience than the one here. So it’s no wonder that T.N. Thai (named for partners Tom Lee and Naly Yang) dishes up well-prepared, authentic fare. Thai food fans will find most of the classics here, including pad Thai; four treatments of duck; and the house specialty, grilled lobster tails with shrimp, mushrooms, snow peas, and bamboo shoots. One dinner entree is enough for two, perhaps with an appetizer of crispy rolls — or tom yum, the classic soup. L & D daily. 17100 Kercheval, Grosse Pointe; 313-885-2695. $12. No liquor. z H