Beef Lo Mein / Photos by Sarah Mayo

Far East Restaurant is a bit of a local legend. The Asian eatery has stood for decades on East Main Street in Murfreesboro, just off of the MTSU campus.

After changes, both in ownership and in name, the establishment is now back to Far East, and the Chinese favorites remain—chow mein, lo mein, General Tsu’s favorite chicken, pepper steak, egg rolls and fried rice.

The delicious beef lo mein has a lot of flavors going on—lots of mushroom pieces along with carrots, cabbage, broccoli, ginger and sauce, accented with a strong basil flavor.

A recent diner also had high praise for the shrimp lo mein, and for the speedy service.

Far East offers a very extensive menu of tasty Asian dishes. So, you just want some chicken and rice? Well, do you want kung pao chicken, pineapple chicken, cashew chicken, sesame chicken or lemon chicken?

General Tsu’s Favorite Chicken

The General Tsu’s favorite chicken in a sweet sauce was just spicy enough. Very tasty.

And the roast pork has earned lots of positive comments.

“Their General Tsu’s chicken is phenomenal, as is the roasted pork. The pork is slow-roasted in a Thai sauce,” said a Far East patron, Ron.

Oran Snelling also recommended the roasted pork, along with pepper steak and General Tsu’s.

Most Far East dishes are in the $10–$13 range; get an order of four egg rolls for only $3.50.

Egg Rolls

In addition to all of the Chinese selections, Far East now boasts a full Thai menu as well, with curries, larb, pad see ew, pad Thai and pho.

“They have the best red curry I’ve ever had,” another Far East fan, Nicki, reported earlier in 2022, going as far as calling the establishment “my favorite restaurant in Murfreesboro. The ladies who work there are so sweet! The food is great and comes out fast, and it is extremely low-priced. Tofu is not on the menu, but you can substitute it for any meat, which I like to do. However, the pork is awesome.”

Another recent diner said the green curry was a must-try.

For lunch, Far East offers a steam bar with ready-made dishes. No, it’s not an all-you-can-eat buffet, but rather a hot-and-ready cafeteria style section where customers can obtain a quick lunch. Walk right in, pick out a few items from the hot bar and you are eating your lunch.

One lunch customer was quite pleased he could try the roast pork, General’s chicken, mixed vegetables, rice, noodles, egg roll, spring roll and sweet and sour chicken off of the bar. “Food was hot and fresh,” he reported.

Though another diner observed that “dependent on how busy they are as to how fresh your food will be.”

Fried Chicken

Though many like the speediness of the bar, others suggest ordering from the menu for a slightly more elegant sit-down experience.

The Far East dining room is comfortable and welcoming, certainly not what one would call new, fancy or modern; a “quaint” interior, as another customer said.

Chan Plaengnam founded Far East and ran it for many years. After the spot had a very brief stint as “Bangkokville,” Dr. Xai and Panola Saenphansiri obtained ownership of the restaurant, now back under the Far East banner.

Xai also owns and operates Xai Family Medical Clinic in Murfreesboro.

Pad Thai

Local diners know the Asian restaurant scene in Murfreesboro remains quite competitive and active. Some may have their favorite Chinese, Thai or Lao spots other than Far East, preferring a spicier dish, perhaps, or a certain type of curry. It may not offer truly authentic and traditional East Asian food and experience, according to some of Asian descent.

One diner did not find the texture of the Far East fried rice very appealing; another requested the restaurant to “Bring back the curly noodles and get rid of them spaghetti looking noodles.”

But for a warm and flavorful meal in a quick and relaxed eatery near a college campus—one that has long filled the bellies of MTSU students and professors, a place where many long-time residents have made memories over the years—give Far East a shot.

Far East has “been a favorite since I was in a high-chair!” Alicia Hill commented.

Susan Jacobus, another Murfreesboro resident, is equally as excited about the newest incarnation of Far East.

“It was as delicious as it was in 1985,” she said. “Food was on point! We are so happy the food is back to original recipes.”

Far East
1529 E. Main St., Murfreesboro
Monday–Thursday: 10:30 a.m.–8 p.m.; Friday 10:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m.; Saturday: 11:30 a.m.–8:30 p.m.
615-890-1413
Chicken pad Thai: $12.25, Beef lo mein: $11.95, Cashew chicken: $10.95, 4 chicken or pork egg roll: $3.50, Small order of General Tsu’s favorite chicken: $6.75, Shrimp fried rice: $12.50, Roast pork: $11.95
fareastrestaurant.org