Chow Down Atlanta

I love Cantonese food. It’s my favorite type of Chinese cuisine. Unfortunately, we don’t have very many options for authentic Cantonese here in town. Well, we just got another one: Wan Lai. The kitchen with an all Cantonese staff churns out so much good stuff you’ll be hard pressed not to come back again and again and eat through the entire menu. Incidentally, I have.

Everything here is good so you’ll have the confidence of ordering anything on the menu and having the guarantee that you’ll like what you ordered. That is, of course, if you like Cantonese food.

The specialties here are the dumplings and the casseroles. The 3 Dumplings in Soup comes with, yes, you guessed it, three kinds of dumplings in a flavorful broth. It’s one of the best versions in town. I’ve had almost all of the casseroles on the menu and they’re all delicious but two that stand out are the sweet pork and taro casserole and the ribs and taro casserole. You can either get these casseroles with or without rice. The one with rice just means there’s rice in the bottom of the pot. Take note that these take 25 minutes to prepare so get your order in as soon as you get seated and nibble on other dishes while you wait. Believe me when I say they are so worth the wait.

The garlic fried chicken is an absolute favorite of mine. By the way, most (if not all) Chinese restaurants have garlic fried chicken but the Cantonese make the best. The chicken is marinated in soy sauce and other seasonings before being fried crisp then topped with tons of golden fried garlic. It’s my ultimate Chinese comfort food. The chow fun has the requisite grease and smoky flavors and a wonderful accompaniment to fried rice. The assorted types of congee make for a perfect first course. The stir-fried veggies are fantastic, as well as the usual veggies in oyster sauce (get the Chinese broccoli). Great choices are plenty so get here now!

For more on this great find, check out JZ’s article here.

Insider tip:
All Cantonese staff except for the Mandarin owner.
Inside the plaza where Penang, Mini Hot Pot, and Hoa Binh Supermarket are located.

The scoop:
Wan Lai
4897 Buford Hwy
Suite 104
Atlanta, GA 30341
(770) 216-8587

Technorati Tags: Cantonese food, Chinese food, Buford Highway

I am amazed at ethnic restaurants. They are able to run smoothly on opening day and operate as if they’ve been open for months — no soft openings and no kinks to work out. Such is the case here at Ming’s. The newest sister to the flagship on Buford Highway, they opened two weeks ago, yet the young waitstaff perform as if they’ve been waiting tables all of their 20 years. The same thing can be said of the kitchen.

The place has a minimalist and more contemporary decor and is at least 5 times bigger than its siblings. While the original spot looks like a dump, er, night market street stall in Hong Kong, this new one is worlds away in ambiance. By the way, back in the 80s, my parents refused to let us kids eat inside Ming’s and always had food to-go because Mr. BBQ Man smoked while chopping his meats. Then, in the 90s, we were so happy when Dekalb passed a No Smoking Bill in its restaurants. It still took a good 5 years before he would finally stop smoking inside.

I was actually at Ming’s BuHi the day before with a friend who loves to eat as much as I do; pictured here are some of my faves: beef chow fun, young chow fried rice, peking duck, congee

I grew up eating at Ming’s and favorites include Peking Duck, chow fun, fried rice, wonton noodle soup, bbq noodle soup, and veggies in oyster sauce, just to name a few. While the food in both places may be similar in most respects, the two things you must, must, must eat here is the Honey Roast Pork and the BBQ Ribs.

The Honey Roast Pork is pure heaven — the teeny, tiny hint of honey provides just the right amount of caramelized coating and color. The result is a fantastic salty-sweet flavor that’s perfect with rice or noodles. The ribs aren’t your regular Southern version. They are roasted crispy yet a tiny layer of chewy, tender meat/fat is left intact. Absolutely delicious.

I’m so lucky to live within 20 minutes of both Ming’s. If going to Buford Highway still seems like a scary thought to some of you, then this is your spot. Same owners, same good food, same great prices, but with English-speaking staff, and a much nicer ambiance.

Insider tip:
Most lunch prices start at $5.85. The half Peking Duck is $3 more here. Americanized Lunch menu also available.
Located in the same plaza where Sidney’s Buffet is located. Next to HH Gregg.

The scoop:
Ming’s Bar B Q Restaurant
2131 Pleasant Hill Rd.
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 623-9996

Technorati Tags: Chinese food, Cantonese food, Chinese BBQ, Duluth, Pleasant Hill Rd

Do you have eating phases? I do. Last week, I ate Korean seven times, three for dinner and four for lunch. I’m over that now and I’m currently into my Cuban phase. This may be the last Korean post for a couple of weeks. Unless, of course, I find another new Korean joint (which is always the case in Gwinnett).

Big House opened 6 or 7 months ago. It is the lone occupant in a teeny tiny plaza on PIB right before you hit Abbots Bridge (GA 120) if you are heading north. The place serves a more traditional Korean fare and caters to the more upscale, more authentic Korean clientele brought about by the golf course nearby. The decor is very Asian — lots of lacquered wood with booths partitioned in wooden slats. Every booth is equipped with a small flat screen tv which is neat.

Each table has two earthen jars of house made kimchi (cabbage and radish). The kimchi is very fresh and crunchy. The taste and quality is also a lot better than most places. The server will give you small plates, tongs, and scissors for you to be able to dish them out and cut them into manageable bites. An assortment of 7 banchan is served additionally and these aren’t the common ones either: rice cakes, chap jae (stir-fried noodles), soy beans, and egg-battered fried vegetables. This is one of the very few places where fruits are part of the banchan. I like that. Fruits help cut down the fatty taste in your mouth.

I opted for a more traditional soup: cabbage, jellied ox blood cubes, shaved beef, tripe, and vegetables in a spicy kimchi-beef broth. It was delicious and hearty but definitely not for the novice. There were also a lot of mustard leaves and some stringy weeds that made this soup quite filling.

The Bulgogi soup is just fantastic. It tastes very similar to Japanese sukiyaki. The broth is salty-sweet with lots of bulgogi. Enoki mushrooms complete this comforting soup.

There are bento boxes that offer complete lunches which include your choice of meat (bulgogi or galbi), as well as bibimbap, pancakes, and tofu soups. Definitely a great place for authentic soups with nice ambiance to boot.

Insider tip:
A smaller portion of seafood pancake is available during lunch for $4.99.

The scoop:
Big House Korean Restaurant
3305 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.
Duluth, GA 30096
(678) 417-7330

Technorati Tags: Korean, soups, Duluth, bulgogi, galbi, Korean food

I eat at the food court inside the Hong Kong Supermarket on Jimmy Carter just about every week. My new favorite is the bakery on the left side of the market (on the opposite side of the food court). This Vietnamese bakery makes the best croissants — huge flaky, buttery creations that are just irresistible. At $1 apiece, it’s difficult to buy just one. I buy a dozen chocolate ones every week. They’re great for breakfast and as a quick snack. Incidentally, they also have other flavors — plain, almond, ham, ham&cheese.

While they no longer have the roast pork banh mi, the cold cuts is a great alternative. They don’t skimp on the filling here — the deli meat slices are thick and there are ample veggies to complete a great sandwich. The $3 price tag isn’t bad either.

I found the best Cháo lòng heo in Atlanta here. No Chinese or Vietnamese place can even come close. For $6.50, I had a huge bowl of boiled-for-hours rice soup filled with lots and lots of meaty goodness: pork slices, a big slice of pork sausage made with pork innards, and pork blood cubes. This is the best congee I’ve ever had outside of Asia. The soup is just so flavorful. Each order comes with a plate of fried baguette slices, fresh bean sprouts, cilantro, lime, hot sauce, and a cup of hot chrysanthemum tea. It’s comfort food at its best.

This is a wonderful place for cheap but delicious eats. Don’t miss it.

Insider tip:
The Vietnamese got their baking from the French. Need I say more?
There are two other types of congee: duck and chicken feet.
They only make a dozen croissants of each flavor. Call the day before and place an order.

The scoop:
No. 1 Hong Kong Bakery
5494 Jimmy Carter Blvd
Norcross, GA 30093
(770) 837-0270

Technorati Tags: congee, chao, Cháo lòng heo, croissants, Vietnamese, bakery, bahn mi, Norcross, Jimmy Carter

The Vietnamese stall inside Super H Mart in Johns Creek closed two months ago. A new European stall has opened in its place. My curiosity got piqued when I saw gulasch on the menu board. I mean, gulasch in a food court? I’m so there. But what really won me over was the picture of the bread dumplings next to the gulasch. When I was in Prague last year, I ate bread dumplings 3-4 times a day. The entire week! Bread, in an form, is my absolute weakness.

So I ordered a couple of things — the gulasch and the frikadellen. I should have known it wasn’t gonna be authentic after I found out that the Korean grandmother hostess was none other than the cook. She is the nicest, sweetest grandmother, though, and fed me like a starving granddaughther who hadn’t eaten in days. She also kept pushing food at me from the kitchen, just like a real grandma.

The gulasch, as expected, tasted more Korean than Czechoslovakian. It was really Korean stew, if anything else. It did taste bold and flavorful, and the meat pieces were very tender. Unfortunately, the bread dumplings are only for photography purposes as I learned they’ll never have it available. She gave me steamed rice instead (although I could have very well gotten fried rice).

The frikadellen (German meat patties) were as delicious as the German version — meaty with spinach, carrots, and a bit of cilantro (for that Korean touch). All meals come with a side of salad (and soup if requested; she gave me both).

This is a good place to eat homecooked European meals with a touch of Korean. Meals start at $5.95 and portions are huge. Other menu items include pasta bolognese, schnitzel, Asian noodles, fried rice, fish, chicken tenders. Where else can you order gulasch (or any European dish) with fried rice?

Insider tip:
Located inside Super H Mart in Johns Creek (141/Peachtree Parkway)

The scoop:
O My Food
10820 Abbotts Bridge Rd
Johns Creek 30097
(678) 474-0315

Technorati Tags: Super H Mart, Johns Creek, Italian, Chinese, German, Eastern European, Korean

Serpas is Chef Scott Serpas’ new endeavor (he did stints with Kevin Rathbun and at Nava, Sia, and Mitra). Chef Scott describes his food as “approachable dishes true to their Louisiana, Asian, and Southwestern influences”. It is located in the Old Fourth Ward in Inman Park.

The first thing that caught my eye here is the decor which is hip and trendy with exposed brick walls and shiny, smooth concrete floors. But we came here for the food so here it goes.

The Duck Spring Rolls were crispy fried and full of flavor. I immediately smelled the 5-spice powder (I abhor it) and was about to shun them but tried them anyway. Delicious. You can hardly taste the 5-spice although you can definitely smell it.

The Wild Mushroom Tostadas were very tasty. I particularly liked the heaping amount of lightly sauteed mushrooms topping a crisp tostado.

The Pigs ‘n Blanket were a bit ho-hum but still a fun, grown-up take on the favorite kiddie food They’re made with spicyish andouille sausage.

The Double beef patty is definitely one of the top burgers in Atlanta. The meat is freshly ground, cooked medium, topped with smoked cheddar, then served on a grilled and buttered upside-down bun. I don’t see the point of the upside down bun other than the fun factor. However, this sweetish bun added to why this burger top notch.

For dessert, we had the apple pie and the bread pudding. The Fried apple pie is a great surprise. The apples were not cloyingly sweet and the empanada was fried perfectly. The White Chocolate Cranberry Bread Pudding has all the gooey goodness of a fantastic bread pudding. I really liked it although it is very rich and a few bites is all I need.

Service is fantastic and prices are reasonable. Definitely a good place to add to my rotation.

Insider tip:
Do try the Backyard Lemonade. I had 3. Enough said. And I’m not even a big drinker. (It’s made with vodka, house-made lemonade, and ginger ale.)

Brunch served on Sundays.

The scoop:
Serpas True Food
659 Auburn Avenue
Atlanta, GA 30312
(404) 688-0040

Technorati Tags: Serpas True Food, Scott Serpas, Inman Park, true food

There are only a handful of good Vietnamese places in the city. Two of my go-to places when the craving hits are Phoenix Noodle and here which has been a favorite haunt of mine for 3 years now. Vietnamese restaurants are only as good as their pho. Here, the pho is strong, very well seasoned, and boiled for hours. It’s a must-eat at every visit.

But there are other equally good items on the menu. The Cha Gio (fried spring rolls) are crunchy and bursting with flavor and fillings. They make for great appetizers.

The Bun dishes here are excellent and comes in a bowl of cold vermicelli noodles on a bed of shredded lettuce, cucumbers, bean sprouts then topped with your choice of grilled meats. It’s a fantastic, filling dish.

The crispy fried noodles with assorted meat toppings is not only a beautiful dish but a fantastic one at that. Simply put, it is delicious.

The barbecue plates are just as good. They are served with fresh steamed jasmine rice and a side salad of sliced tomatoes and cucumbers. I get mine with a fried egg to kick it up a notch. The meats are flavorful, with good portions, and they are cooked well.

You can’t go wrong with anything here. Go and try it.

Insider tip:
On Pleasant Hill Rd. next to Super H Mart.

The scoop:
What The Pho
2442 Pleasant Hill Rd
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 814-9396

Technorati Tags: What The Pho, Vietnamese cuisine, pho, Duluth, Pleasant Hill Rd, Gwinett

I love Korean food. In fact, my obvious passion for this cuisine hadn’t gone unnoticed and, thus, I’ve been declared an honorary Korean by none other than Mr. E-D-Man himself. Thank you. I am honored.

This is the third reincarnation of this building. It was first a Japanese restaurant complete with a sushi train and color-coded plates. Cool concept but it didn’t fly. Next, it became a Korean restaurant. High on prices but low on taste. And now, Jang Su Jang. I’ve been to this place for lunch two times. The last time was with the lovely Blissful which was also her second time.

I liked the boiled pork belly. The taste of the meat itself is simple but the kimchi and radish slices it came with made it very interesting. There were also a lot of meat in one serving that it’s really good for two people.

The Dahk galbi (chicken barbecue) was just okay. Although it was flavorful, it was nothing but a Korean version of chicken teriyaki. A good choice for the unadventurous.

The beef noodle soup was awful. It was bland, thin, and watery. It did have a little bit of spiciness, but that’s about all there was to it. I wouldn’t order this again.

The bulgogi was so-so. Flavorful, but lacking in oomph. Tasted boiled, too.

So far, the only good thing on the menu are the dumplings. Oh, are they heavenly. The wrapper is soft, perfectly cooked. The meat inside is tasty. Great as is, but fantastic with the dipping sauce. There are two kinds on the menu, regular and King dumplings. The word King has nothing to do with the size. There is a difference between the two but I just can’t remember what it is for the life of me.

Verdict: I’m disappointed with their food. But I would come back for the dumplings alone. That, and the banchan.

The scoop:
Jang Su Jang
3645 Satellite Blvd
Duluth, GA 30096
(678) 475-9170

Technorati Tags: Jang Su Jang, Korean cuisine, dumplings, Duluth, Gwinnett

I’ve been to V1 BBQ more than six times since it opened in August including a Saturday night when there was a 20-minute wait for a table. Although no one beats Hongkong BBQ when it comes to roast meats, V1 is a great contender and a much cleaner place. I actually went to Hongkong BBQ for a late lunch today and further realized no one can trump their roast pork. But I love V1 and have become friends with the staff who give warm and friendly service.

Hainanese Chicken is my favorite Cantonese chicken dish. It’s the national dish of Singapore which they have adopted from the Chinese. I’ve had Hainanese chicken in hundreds of places; all over Singapore, Hongkong, and China. I’ve had it in Chinatowns in NYC, Toronto, San Francisco, and here. V1 has the best Hainanese Chicken outside of Asia. Simply put, their Hainanese chicken is superb — it’s clean: the chicken doesn’t smell fishy, it is steamed perfectly (cooked all the way through), it is not fatty, and there are no traces of dried blood inside. It is seasoned all the way to the bone so each bite is as fantastic as the last. It is so flavorful, succulent, tender, and juicy. I love it.

The roast pork, roast pig, and roast duck are all also good but, like I said, Hongkong BBQ still has the best. Not even Ming’s BBQ can come close to Hongkong BBQ. The roast pork here at V1 just doesn’t have the requisite texture and crunch. Theirs is a little on the soft side.

Possibly the best Malaysian dish on the menu, the Homemade Noodle soup is fantastic and definitely a must-try. It’s a soup made with tasty chicken broth added with fat, chewy house-made noodles, pieces of Chinese broccoli, ground beef, then topped with crispy fried small fish. It is comforting and plain delicious. This is one of my favorites here.

I recommend sticking with V1’s Cantonese dishes. Their Malaysian dishes seem novice. These dishes are usually bland and the sauces are thin. Despite that, I do think they make great roti canai pancake. The pancake is flaky yet so chewy inside. But curry dipping sauce just doesn’t have that simmered-for-hours taste and is on the thin side. The bubble teas aren’t as good as other places either and they don’t put as much tapioca.

V1 is a must-try for their Cantonese dishes and competitive roast meats. The place is spotless and doesn’t give off a cheap Asian fast-food joint.

Insider tip:
Rice plates with two or three roast meats are a great sampler.

The scoop:
3940 Buford Hwy NW
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 623-1896

Technorati Tags: V1 BBQ, roast pork, roast duck, roast pig, roti canai, Cantonese cuisine, Malaysian cuisine, bubble tea, Duluth

I can’t believe I haven’t written anything about Super H’s food court considering I’ve been a regular since it opened first in Duluth, then Riverdale, then Johns Creek/Alpharetta. The food court is amazing. They have stalls offering Korean, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Japanese cuisines. And a Barbecue stall in Duluth that serves roast duck and roast pork rice plates. A solid place for cheap, fast, house-made, good food.

Among my favorites:

From the Chinese stall, the Ja-jiang Noodles is my absolute favorite. Think chewy, thick noodles topped with black bean sauce with pork and lots of onions. It’s true comfort food. And all for under 6 bucks!

From the Vietnamese stall, I love the rice plates (with your choice of grilled beef, chicken or porkchop, slices of pork sausages, a side salad, and a fried egg) as well as their pho. Their broth is bold and well seasoned.

I used to write for The Atlanta Traveler so don’t be surprised if you see this picture over there. I took the photo. Incidentally, they’re looking for a new writer to take over so let me know if you’re interested.

From the Korean stall, well, I love everything from them. From the Bibimbap to the Galbi to the Bulgogi, to the Kimchi Fried Rice, to the Sundubu and now, their newest addition: Ribeye Steak! It is a substantially-sized steak marinated in Galbi sauce and cooked medium-well. For $7.75 it is one fabulous meal. Inexpensive and delicious.

The scoop:
Super H Mart
2550 Pleasant Hill Rd
Duluth, GA 30096
(678) 543-4000
3 locations (check website for addresses)
Suwanee location (Lawrenceville-Suwanee Rd) to open soon.

Technorati Tags: Super H Mart, Duluth, Alpharetta, Riverdale, Ja-jiang noodles, Asian food court