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In the mood for Asian, but not sure which genre? After months of planning and renovation, Bowie's Ichiban Sushi Asian Bistro is now offering a solution: Thai, Chinese and Japanese in one dining room.

Open for about five years, Ichiban Sushi recently took over the next-door space in the shopping center behind Bowie Town Center, and will be holding an open house Sunday, said owner Yung Cheng.

Cheng followed in the footsteps of his father, who has owned a Chinese restaurant, Hunan Star, in La Plata for more than 30 years. He also recently opened a restaurant in New York with a partner; the new menu is modeled after the menu in the New York restaurant, which Cheng said is doing very well.

The changes have included the design of the new bistro's interior, which impresses upon first glance. In the airlock, visitors are greeted with a full-wall fountain garden, complete with a statue of Buddha that is nestled in a bamboo thicket. In the foyer, diners can wait on striking red sofas, and the dining area is both comfortable and elegant, with warm yellow tones and damasked cloth chair-covers complementing black wood tables. The chandelier above this is a work of art itself —modern and ornate — and the bamboo-and-stone theme continues in framed art over the bar.

All this sets a pleasing dining atmosphere for Ichiban's fresh, flavorful cuisine. In the new menu, the Chinese section is modified, with favorites like kung pao ($11 chicken or beef, $13 shrimp or scallop), General Tso's chicken ($13) and triple delight ($14) with shrimp, beef, chicken and vegetables, staying on.

The appetizer section is being expanded to include about 20 different options, Cheng said. He highlighted some of his unique appetizers, such as the duck crepe ($7) — duck leg meat marinated, cooked, and wrapped with sesame and spicy plum sauce — and the crabmeat money bag ($7), with classic crab rangoon filling in a pastry "bag," served with both a Thai sweet sauce and a Grand Marnier sauce. Other appetizers include a variety of dumplings, spring rolls and ribs, and even simple steamed edamame ($5).

Ichiban already carries a few Thai items, like the Thai curry pot ($15) and pad Thai ($11), a very popular rice-noodle dish. This makes Cheng confident about the new full Thai section — "if you make a good pad Thai," he said, "they know how good your Thai food is going to be."

The Japanese section will remain untouched, he added. This includes a variety of a la carte options ($4.50 to $6 for two pieces), a hand roll list ($4.50 to $7.95) and special roll list ($8.95 to $13.95), aside from the sushi bar. A favorite is the Ichiban roll ($13.95 full, $8.95 half), an intensely flavorful roll with crispy shrimp tempura, eel, cucumber, avocado, mushroom and eel sauce. Similar flavors bring customers back again and again for the Ichiban salad ($6), with seaweed, crab, cucumber and Chef Joe Quan's special sauce, Cheng said.

Sushi and drinks will be offered at reduced prices during the weekday happy hours from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., Cheng said.

Ichiban Sushi Asian Bistro

3941 Evergreen Pkwy, Bowie

Phone: 301-352-9160

Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday