Originally a pancake known as the spring dish, the spring roll has existed in China for 1,500 years. It continues to mark the advent of spring, a symbol of wealth and prosperity due to its resemblance to gold bars. Many Southeast Asian cuisines offer their own takes on the popular treat.
399 Vietnamese Kitchen
The Market Place
399 Vietnamese Kitchen goes with traditional Vietnamese spring rolls, which are served cold. Here they’re filled with steamed shrimp, pork, lettuce, vermicelli noodles, mint, chives and cucumber and wrapped in translucent rice paper. They’re huge and come two to an order. Savor them with house-made warm peanut sauce.
THAI BAMBOO BISTRO
Quail Hill Shopping Center
Thai Bamboo Bistro’s spring rolls are, like many Chinese iterations, crispy egg rolls, filled with chicken or vegetables. For an uncooked and much larger version – rice-paper-wrapped, featuring shrimp or tofu, and bursting with spring goodness – request the cool summer rolls.
NORTHERN CAFE
Westpark Plaza and University Center
Northern Cafe presents its rolls in a woven basket as a prelude to any of
75 other dishes. Chinese spring rolls are often deep-fried. The terms egg rolls and spring rolls are often used interchangeably, and this spot calls them egg rolls. There’s a vegan roll, too.
