Asahi Japanese Restaurant & Sushi Bar

We had a good feeling about Asahi right from the outset. The dining room is situated one blind corner away from the entrance and set an immediate tone with its contemporary vibe. Despite not being big fans of sushi, we followed our server’s lead and tried the Shrimp Tempura sushi roll. It was delicious. We also really enjoyed an appetizer of gyoza (pork dumplings) and the Tonkatsu — breaded strips of pork loin served on a bed of sauteed vegetables and a mound of rice. The portions at Asahi were large, so come hungry. But leave room for some dessert — we opted for Xangos, a banana cheesecake-like filling deep fried in a sugar-cinammon pastry with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and everything drizzled in chocolate and caramel. It was a great choice!

— 1470 N. State St., Orem, (801) 221-4759

Tommy’s BBQ & Grill

All it took was one recent visit to establish Tommy’s BBQ & Grill as one of our go-to favorites when we’re in the mood to slather on some sauces and get in touch with our inner carnivore. From the meat (we especially enjoyed the kielbasa sausage, wet brisket and ribs) to the sides (the sweet potato fries with caramel dipping sauce and the juicy onion rings were unbelievably good) there was plenty to love about the menu at Tommy’s. We will definitely be back.

— 1122 S. University Ave., Provo, (801) 373-0355