Aki Samurai Japanese Restaurant
Aki Samurai is the latest in a string of eateries in this spot, offering sushi and sashimi, bento lunch boxes, noodles, hibachi dinners, and more. Listed only.

Anna's Vietnamese Restaurant
A new downtown eatery just off the Ithaca Commons, in the space formerly occupied by Daño's, Lokelani, and Mustard. Listed only.

Apollo Chinese Restaurant
Once called Hong Kong and then Peace Restaurant, Apollo is one of those eateries renamed largely for preferable Campusfood or Yellow Pages placement. They offer freshly prepared food delivered, carried out, or eaten at their no-frills tables, but the bulk of Apollo's business is from their steam table of prepared dishes. It's all pretty good, though sometimes isn't quite hot. The spicy steamed fish really is.

Asian Noodle House
From the folks who brought us Little Thai House, Asian Noodle House is a classic noodle shop with a substantial variety of noodle and rice dishes and soups, plus gourmet Asian pizzas, with plentiful portions and reasonable prices. The curry puffs appetizer were a treat, and Thai grilled chicken with noodle was served with a perfect Thai peanut sauce. Our entrees came with a small salad, generously adorned with bean sprouts and bits of tofu.

C. T. Bento
Just recently opened in Ithaca's southwest, in the former home of Smart Monkey Cafe, C. T. Bento offers a variety of Japanese food to dine in or take out. There's a focus on bento boxes, the original happy meal, plus rice bowls, appetizers, sushi, and an assortment of teas. Everything we've tried has been fresh, tasty, well prepared, and attractively served, and we're intrigued by some of the tea options. The place isn't quite organized yet, but we'll do a proper review after they've had a chance to settle in.

Capital Corner Restaurant
This new establishment where Asiatic Garden lived for decades has a lot to live up to, and is off to a very good start. We were impressed that our egg rolls came out of the kitchen almost as soon as we’d ordered them, hot and fresh. The steamed dumplings appetizer didn’t arrive in quite as timely a fashion, coming after the first of two entrees. Our beef satay, with chunks of fresh tomato, was a pleasant surprise, and the sesame chicken (a Chinese restaurant staple) was good. They have affordable combo dinners and lunch specials, and deliver free with an order of $8 or more.

Capital Corner Restaurant
This new establishment where Asiatic Garden lived for decades has a lot to live up to, and is off to a very good start. We were impressed that our egg rolls came out of the kitchen almost as soon as we’d ordered them, hot and fresh. The steamed dumplings appetizer didn’t arrive in quite as timely a fashion, coming after the first of two entrees. Our beef satay, with chunks of fresh tomato, was a pleasant surprise, and the sesame chicken (a Chinese restaurant staple) was good. They have affordable combo dinners and lunch specials, and deliver free with an order of $8 or more.

Capital State Kitchen
The new Capital State Kitchen Japanese Restaurant adds Japanese food next door to the same family's Capital Corner Chinese Restaurant. They offer good-quality sushi and Japanese entrees, though there's nothing especially innovative about their menu and the prices are a little higher than similar downtown offerings. We're intrigued by a new all-you-can-eat offering, $14 for lunch and $21 for dinner, in which you can keep ordering appetizers, sushi, sashimi, teriyaki dishes, rice or noodle entrees, and dessert until you've had enough.

Culture Shock
We're hearing great things about this fun downtown eatery that focuses on healthy foods, especially foods with live cultures such as yogurt, kimchi, and kombucha, a non-alcoholic carbonated drink. They've got lots of fresh entree salads, and a selection of tea. The ball pit is kids-only before 8pm, and adults-only after, so stop in and play. We'll visit soon.

Dasan-J Korean BBQ
Dasan-J's Korean BBQ dishes are served over sticky white rice, with a side of crisp salad. The menu features a vegetarian selection in addition to beef and pork, wraps as well as platters, and affordable lunch specials.