The orange peel chicken at Bamboo Bistro includes spicy orange sauce and steamed broccoli. (Courtesy Bamboo Bistro)
Bamboo Bistro has served Pflugerville since 2021, offering a mix of Chinese and Thai cuisine with extended late-night hours.
The background
Chris Tan opened the restaurant alongside his uncle Tony Kwan, and they both have experience in the restaurant industry.
“We click. We work together very well,” Tan said. “Most of the time he'll take care of everything in the kitchen operation. I'll take care of everything else as far as the front and also the back of the house.”
The restaurant originally launched near the Domain in 2009 and later relocated its northern branch to Pflugerville while maintaining a popular southern location in Westgate, which is equipped with a drive-thru.
What’s on the menu
The menu features classic dishes such as orange and sesame chicken as well as rice and noodle dishes. Thai options include pad thai and curry. The restaurant also offers ramen and appetizers, such as spring rolls and crab wontons.
Bamboo Bistro's Thai basil includes spicy sauce, basil, snap peas, carrots, mushrooms and yellow onions.Courtesy Bamboo Bistro
“In the beginning, we were just trying to do quick, casual Chinese food,” Tan said. “As time evolved, we started doing Thai food too, and that has been very successful.”
Tan said the business also offers specialty dishes, including seared ahi tuna salad and jalapeno chicken.
The pad thai at Bamboo Bistro features rice noodles, thai sauce, egg, beansprouts, onions, peanuts, lime and cilantro.Courtesy Bamboo Bistro
One more thing
Tan said through both locations and third-party delivery apps, Bamboo Bistro is able to serve a majority of the Austin metro.
“With them helping to deliver our products, we can reach as far as Kyle, Buda, Round Rock, Leander and Hutto,” Tan said. “We were probably one of the earlier restaurants to partner with them, and it’s been very helpful.”
The restaurant also expanded its business hours and is open until 2:30 a.m. on weekdays and 3:30 a.m. on weekends.
“Nowadays, a lot of people are staying up really late and being one of the few Asian restaurants open late, it’s been very successful,” Tan said.
