Hello all! I have tried my hand at cooking Asian inspired dishes quite a few times. My dishes usually turn out good. At least good enough for my taste. There is always something missing though, and I can't quite figure out what it is. Specifically for soups.

Tonight I made a soup, and it was pretty good. I didn't follow a recipe or have really anything specific in mind. I learned that Thai red chillies are a lot hotter than I thought, as 4 of those tiny peppers made the dish too spicy for my fiancee, though I like spice so it was good for me.

The other ingredients used were

Fresh ginger, Garlic, Onion, Green onion, Chicken broth, Chicken, Thai basil, Mint, Bok choy, Beech mushrooms, King oyster mushrooms, Lemon juice, Rice vinegar, Thai red chillies, Soy sauce

The dish was a very delicious, savory, spicy, umami soup and was quite satisfying. But still just missing something that you taste at restaurants! I'm thinking it has to be a spice, or multiple spices.

Star anise? Maybe tamarind? Chinese 5 spice mix?

Also, I love mint and thai basil, though when cooked for an extended period, those flavors got lost in the soup. I definitely think it added flavor, but should those be used more as a garnish after the soup has cooked?

Any input is greatly appreciated!