Chow Down Atlanta

I’m an avid Peking Duck eater. I’ve had it almost everywhere (name it and chances are, I’ve had it there). I love the Vietnamese version here at Wong Kee — the duck is so lean, there’s hardly any fat between the meat and the skin. Oh, and the skin– crispy, glossy, crispy. I love that there isn’t that Cantonese taste of five-spice powder (my mom and sister would so appreciate this). The meat is tender and has just the right amount of salt and spices. Pancakes (actually crepes) are the more traditional accompaniment but many places (including here) also use soft buns which I prefer. This is my current favorite. I could eat this everyday.

But no, it doesn’t stop there. The House fried rice is amazing. It’s garlicky and smoky, with lots of stir-fried roast pork and clumps of egg. Delicious. Seriously. Go. Now.

Wong Kee BBQ & Peking Duck Restaurant
5495 Jimmy Carter Blvd.,
Norcross, GA 30093
678.205.0105

Technorati Tags: Peking Duck, Chinese, Vietnamese, Norcross

V1 occupies the newest vacated spot inside the Super H Mart in Johns Creek. A scaled-down version of their main spot on Buford Highway, V1 offers their famous bbq: duck, roast pork, crispy pork, and chicken. Noodle soups, stir-fried noodles, and fried rice are the staples here. V1 offers solid Cantonese (and Malaysian) fare. Most everything start a little below $7. Try the Crispy Pork noodle soup (not on the menu). The saltiness of the crispy pork flavors the broth so well. Great cheap eats.

Insider tip:
Peking Duck is available for $25.

The scoop:
V1 BBQ and Cafe (Super H Mart – Johns Creek/Alpharetta)
10820 Abbotts Bridge Rd.
Alpharetta, GA 30005
(770) 623-1136

Technorati Tags: Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Chinese, Cantonese, noodle soups

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

I am very sad. This place has closed as of May 22, 2011.

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