Oriental Express is a little known restaurant on University Boulevard. It has been around for over 20 years and is located on the second floor (next to Fox in a Box , which is an escape room game area, above the Greek restaurant.) It is a Chinese and Vietnamese restaurant, and had surprisingly good food (I say surprisingly good because most places on University are rather bad, such as Fuku Sushi. Don't go there). It had a mix of Chinese, Vietnamese, and even some Japanese decor as well as classic American items. The menus are listed on traditional American diner menu board, the food is all Chinese or Vietnamese inspired, and the art work is from all over. This restaurant also has red walls, like Saigon Pho. The art near the front contained a a traditional Japanese style painting of a woman and a landscape scroll of Chinese mountains.In the display window there were statues and vases mainly from China and Vietnam. I ordered the curry and was pleasantly surprised. This is the only place I have been to in Tucson that serves curry that is somewhat authentic and similar to the Japanese curry rice I prepare at home.
The outside and name of the restaurant. The colors are traditional black and red, found all over China and the font is very stereotypical and standard of Asian stores and restaurants in the Western world.
Despite this being a Chinese and Vietnamese restaurant, there is a portrait of a Japanese samurai in the front. He is wearing clothing that are not exactly traditional Japanese samurai clothes, but similar, has an expression that is similar to many traditional portraits of Japanese men, and is standing next to what I assume is a cherry blossom tree. Or perhaps a bonsai tree.
A review of the restaurant, written in Japanese. It says "This restaurant's food is very tasty!" However, it has a few small grammatical errors so to someone who is Japanese, it comes off as a little off.
The display case at the front counter. Has figurines (like the Buddha) made out of Jade. Also a black Chinese vase and a few ceramic and porcelain figured of Chinese nobility.
