New Oak Cliff eatery mixes “ese” cuisines with ease

by Staff of Gay List Daily

ConFusion delivers on both food and decor in redesigned space.

We’ve always wondered about the lyrics to that 80’s hit “Turning Japanese.” What exactly were they singing about? Wikipedia says masturbation, but we think it was a prophetic tale about the fate of Mexican restaurant Lil Tepa on Davis Avenue in Oak Cliff, which would become a pan-Asian eatery known as ConFusion.

Or, maybe we just had it stuck in our head while trying to tell you about this new restaurant from the creators of Chan Thai that combines all the joys of Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese and Thai cuisine into a great big wok of love.

But before we dish on the dishes, it’s only appropriate to oooh and ahhh about the space created by Nick Troilo. Walls lined with sea grass and black granite countertops set off the sophisticated light clusters hung over the bar and the wood print blocks turned objet d’art.

And for all the al fresco fans, there’s a quaint patio area complete with bamboo, a water feature and a fireplace. We have grand plans to put some happy back in our happy hour there all year round!

As for food, ConFusion delivers. Splurge on appetizers like the Almost Chips and Salsa, puffy shrimp chips that dissolve upon contact with your tongue; Saigon Rolls filled with crabmeat and mango served with irresistible peanut sauce; or Fried Corn Patties with a simple, sweet cucumber sauce.

Entrée options abound including traditional Pad Thai, various curries or our new faves the Wok Tossed Udon Noodles with chicken and Kiss Me Ginger, a perfect balance of fresh ginger, peppers and mushrooms which we topped off with sautéed shrimp.

At the time of our visit their liquor license was still in limbo, so we washed everything down with some complimentary margaritas. Perhaps tequila was just one more flavor they wanted to layer into the culinary fusion. Or, maybe Lil Tepa just left the margarita machine when they moved out.