Seriously, there is nothing better than pad Thai on a Friday night. Or any night. Maybe you’re craving crab ragoons or mi quang. You can get all your favorite Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese dishes at Red Lantern Asian Fusion in Yelm.
Tiffany Lin moved to the US in 2000 from Taiwan. She graduated from South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC) with a degree in culinary arts. Her husband, Hung Pham, is originally from Vietnam and came to the US in 1995. He has lived in Thurston County ever since.
With her culinary degree, opening a restaurant made sense. And coming from two Asian cultures, it also made sense to use recipes they know and love themselves. So, in 2018, Red Lantern Asian Fusion opened in Yelm. A place to get your favorite Asian dishes all under one roof. “We wanted to bring more food options and nice dining experiences to Yelm,” Tiffany says of why they decided to open a restaurant.
A sister restaurant to the Lemongrass Café in Tumwater that serves Thai and Vietnamese cuisine, Red Lantern’s recipes are inspired by the owner of Lemongrass Nicole Pham and they make all their sauces from scratch. “that’s why it is so unique,” shares Tiffany. “Our food is made with love. We use good quality ingredients. We always like to see customers enjoy the food and the service we provided.”
And the restaurant is a true family affair. “My son, Brandon Pham always tries to help and visit customers,” Tiffany says about her young helper. “He loves to talk to customers and invite the kids to play if they are coming for dining. He always likes to open the door for customers when they leave.” In addition, the gorgeous interior that is both nice for a date night or special occasion, but also inviting for family dinners, was designed by Dao Pham, Tiffany’s brother-in-law. “People love the design,” Tiffany says.
A Thai, Chinese and Vietnamese Food Restaurant Under One Roof
You may have a hard time choosing what to order when you head to Red Lantern Asian Fusion. They are open for lunch and dinner, offering a wide range of dishes from Thailand, China and Vietnam. Egg rolls, chicken satay, Thai fried rice, pad Thai, Mongolian beef and curries galore are just a few of the options. They offer tofu along with several vegetarian dishes as well. “They love everything on the menu,” laughs Tiffany when asked about customer favorites. She adds that customer favorites are the seafood delight, red lantern chicken and pineapple curry.
Like it mild? Like it hot? They have a large spice scale starting and no spice and going to really hot, so you can get the spice you like when you finally have made up your mind on what to order.
Are you a bubble tea lover? You are in luck because Red Lantern Asian Fusion offers bubble tea to perfectly pair with your dish.
Red Lantern Asian Fusion: Community Matters
The Red Lantern Asian Fusion owners truly believe community matters and give back whenever they can. “We love to help the community,” shares Tiffany. They have done Dollar for Scholars with Yelm High School, and helped with the multi-cultural events at the Yelm Timberland Library. They support the US Martial Art Center and have taught classes at the Olympia Regional Learning Academy, including a spring rolls class, sushi class and a bubble tea class.
Red Lantern Asian Fusion in Yelm offers dine and carry out options. Find their menu, hours and more on the Red Lantern Fusion website.
Red Lantern Asian Fusion
10501 Creek Street SE, Yelm
360.458.1500
