As a 1Β½ generation Asian-American, Iβm always seeking ways to connect to my heritage β and to bring others along for the ride. 168 KTV Bistro offers a unique experience that meshes food, karaoke, and pop party culture into a one-stop destination.
Donβt judge by its unassuming strip mall location. Once inside, intrigue and curiosity sets in. Are we dining or partying? Both β and I like it.
Bright neons and overt bling, still with Asian dΓ©cor, set the tone for the restaurant and private karaoke bar. The vibe is younger, hipper, poppier, and more authentically pan-Asian than youβd imagine metro Detroit could handle.
The dining room offers dishes blurring the lines of true Chinese, Korean, and Japanese cuisine. And although I admit to loving a sweet-and-sour combo plate, you wonβt find any Americanized dishes here.
One of my long-time favorite greens is stir-fried snow pea leaves with garlic. After dining on hundreds of family-sized entrees at local, national, and international Chinese restaurants, the king has surfaced. Hands-down, KTVβs pea tips were the best Iβve ever tasted: soft and supple greens (even the stems) with a most flavorful, almost brothy garlic dressing. βFreshβ is the only way to describe it, which I attribute to KTVβs sister store, 168 Asian Mart just two doors down.
If noodles are your thing, stir-fried udon offers a nice scenery change for the thick, usually broth-soaked wheat noodle. While traditional udon broth bowls are having a moment in metro Detroit, this dish is dry and tossed with simple veggies and inviting flavors. For more βintermediateβ Asian diners, the traditional Korean noodle dish chap chae is a strong option. The sweet potato starch noodle is translucent with a bit of elasticity and packs a flavorful punch.
Also on the menu are a variety of kebabs β not a classic Chinese dish, but why not? The chicken wings come in a set of three sticks full of fried wings, spiced with a slow heat and subtle hint of cumin-curry flavor.
The crispy pork in spicy house sauce pulled through on half of its bargain. While the thin-sliced tenderly cooked pork was indeed crispy, I was relieved to find a moderate heat level for my spice-sensitive palate.
The food stands on its own as worthy of a return visit, but for the full experience, private karaoke rooms are available for parties ranging from a handful of friends to 30 or more. The fear of public singing fades when surrounded by your buddies and washes down nicely with a lavish cocktail. The karaoke rooms have a different menu than the dining room. Items are appetizer-style, like deep-fried spicy squid served on skewers and light, fluffy Japanese-style cheesecake. Drinks are not required, but KTV makes it easy to keep the party going with a service bell in each room.
Whether youβre interested the food, the private karaoke rooms, or both, be ready to digest a sliver of Asian culture replicating karaoke bars found in LAβs βK-Townβ and even in Asia.
32415 John R Rd., Madison Heights; 248-616-0168. L&D daily.
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