This year’s Restaurant Week (which actually runs for two weeks) took us to the nearby suburb of Aurora, to a restaurant I have been following on Facebook since before they opened this location: Leilani Asian Fusion. Restaurant Week, if you’re unfamiliar with it, is an opportunity for local restaurants to draw in new customers with fixed price (“prix-fixe”) menus that offer a limited selection, showcasing some of their best options.
Honey Walnut Shrimp: Tempura Fried Shrimp, Honey Aioli, Candied Walnuts 
Salmon Teriyaki: Scottish Wild-Caught Salmon, Miso Carrot Puree, Charred Broccolini 
Drunken Scottish & California Rolls: California (Crab Mix, Cucumber, Avocado); Drunken Scottish (Crab Mix, Cucumber, Avocado, Seared Salmon, Unagi Sauce) 
Ube Crème Brûlée: Ube Custard Topped with Seasonal Fruits
I’m not sure it’s possible to overstate how good this meal was. The Honey Walnut Shrimp had a surprising bit of spice to it (probably those red specks in the aioli sauce), and that may be well have been the best salmon dish I’ve ever eaten. The waitress mentioned that they use sushi-grade salmon for it, so it’s high enough quality that it can be served anywhere from raw to well done. The entire outside of the salmon had a delicious crunch to it. (The sushi plate wasn’t mine, though I assume it was also tasty.) And then the dessert… the Ube Crème Brûlée was melt-in-your-mouth delicious, with that beautiful purple color and fresh berries on top. And everything was perfectly-sized, so we left feeling full without that overwhelming need to explode or sink into a food coma.
Leilani Asian Fusion is conveniently located just down the street from the Paramount Theatre, which makes it an easy meal choice before or after a show.