By Teri Bayus

Some of my favorite culinary terms include “dim sum,” “dumplings,” and “chow mien.” Basically anything Chinese that doesn’t include MSG.
I love Chinese food, but I used to have to travel to San Francisco to get one that was passable as a palate pleaser. Now I am happy to announce that in a little spot off Hinds Way in Pismo Beach an Asian Fusion oasis has sprung up.
Here you can sample conscious Chinese food with a friendly taste of Pismo, offering fries, boba and slushies with a decidedly, Asian-surfer flair.
Tao Asian Fusion was opened in 2015 by Faye and Tao who emigrated from China to America where they decided it was their dream to own an Asian Fusion restaurant. This husband and wife make a tremendously nice team who make yummy dishes that are unique to the area.
Faye said they make all their sauces, so each quarter, they add new items to the menu. Just added were a Thai shrimp, a pork cutlet and a curry shrimp rice dishes.
I started with a Pismo surfer favorite, the Mandarin Firecracker Fries with wasabi peas and Hoisin ketchup. These string fries with a roasted pepper dusting were crisp and delicious.
The Jasmine green tea was perfectly brewed and they had taro milk tea, which I had to try. Gary started with the egg custard tart — four little flaky piecrusts stuffed with a savory egg custard. He handed one to a surfer who peaked in the window as we sat watching the sunset over the ocean.
Next we tried, and I inhaled, the Asian sliders. These were boa buns (a steamed yeasty bun with the texture of clouds) stuffed with succulent pork and Asian slaw with house made Mandarin sauce. The sauce is lightly spread on the outside too with a sprinkling of sesame.
We finished by sharing the crispy chicken rice plate with sesame chicken, bell peppers and onions added. We added some house made chili sauce for heat and enjoyed a sweet and savory sauce with the sticky rice.
Next I came for lunch with girlfriends and we all shared and picked at each other’s food.
I ordered the assorted gourmet dumplings, 12 delectable pockets of savory shrimp, chicken and veggie. I love dumplings, so it was hard to share. Served with a homemade Asian slaw and a chili pepper dipping sauce, it was a culinary dream come true for me. Dumplings are stuffed with minced items, then steamed and finished on the pan and I am crazy for them.
Next we had the chicken chow mien, a staple in any Asian cuisine and this was chocked full of fresh ingredients and noodles of perfect consistency and taste. There was just enough sauce for a gentle coating.
We also shared the Ahi tuna and avocado lettuce salad with seared fresh Ahi filet, cucumber wasabi ranch with waffle fries and an Asian slaw. The crowd favorite was the coconut shrimp salad with garlic peppers, red onions a spring mix all tossed with a sweet chili sauce. The large prawns were coated in coconut and fried perfectly.
We enjoyed all the food as we watched surfers and a family coming in to get sweet treats of Boba drinks. Bubble tea (also known as pearl milk tea, boba milk tea, boba juice or simply boba) is a Taiwanese tea-based drink invented in 1980s. Most bubble tea recipes contain a tea base mixed/shaken with fruit or milk, to which chewy tapioca balls or fruit jellies are often added. The “bubble” refers to the foam created by shaking the tea.
I took home for dinner a Wanton soup that would cure any aliment and was big enough for two people.
Tao Asian Fusion is located at 220 Hinds Ave., in Downtown Pismo Beach. Along with appetizing dishes, they serve authentic, fresh, iced teas, Boba, snow smoothies, and slushies. Their Asian fusion cuisine is big on flavor, with a creative twist, with friendly service and a clean atmosphere. Call them at (805) 270-2915 Open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.