Chow Down Atlanta

One word: Pork. Three words: Braised Pork Belly. Enough said.

Available during lunch only. Braised for 6 hours and they only make one pot daily. Comes plated with perfectly steamed Jasmine rice and a fried egg. I ate it 3 days in a row two weeks ago. It was greasy, fatty, tender, delicious. It is deadly. And all for $4.99.

Next best thing: Fried Chicken. Double-fried. Crunchy. Tasty.

Third best thing: hot pots. I’ve been waiting for this joint to open.  I even sent Sean when he was home during his winter break to check it out one day but they hadn’t open yet at the time.  The hot pots are just like from her older sister on BuHi. And same owner.  But it’s nicer here.  And bigger. They have lunch meals, not just hot pots.  It gets ridiculously busy during lunch.  Go now!

P.S. Get the spicy broth.

Mini Hot Pot 2
2174 Pleasant Hill Rd., Suite 101
Duluth, GA 30096
678-417-8888

Technorati Tags: hot pot, Duluth, soups

I’ve been hitting the new Assi Plaza Duluth food court for lunch for the last couple of weeks. My newest obsession: hand-pulled noodles. From the Chinese stall. You’d get a kick out of watching Mr. Noodles pull and whack his pasta on a table.

The noodles are just perfect. Noodles are made when you place your order. The black bean paste sauce is savory with a slight hint of sweet. The pork cubes are tender. I just love their Jajang Noodles.

Note: Jajang noodles were created in Korea by Chinese settlers back in the 1800s. This Korean version has a faint hint of sweetness whereas the original mainland Chinese version does not.

China House
1630 Pleasant Hill Rd.
#A8
Duluth, GA 30096
678-638-0822
Inside Assi Plaza Duluth

Technorati Tags: Chinese, hand-pulled noodles, noodles, Duluth

This Chinese family owned and operated authentic Sichuan joint has only been open barely two weeks yet they seem to already attract a bevy of Chinese customers. The chef came to Alpharetta by way of Mississippi where he used to own a Chinese restaurant for years. After 8 years here, he decided to open an authentic Chinese restaurant specializing in Sichuan cuisine.

The first thing I noticed about the dishes here is the authentic Sichuan flavors. Lots of garlic, ginger, chili peppers, and Sichuan peppercorns are used, and yes, the dishes are spicy as they should be. While the traditional menu, as of the moment, is sparse and very limited, the chef hopes to expand his repertoire and present a more enhanced menu in a week or two.

One of my favorite Chinese appetizers is pig’s ear. I love the chewy, crunchy, gelatinous texture. I’ve had many, many variations of this dish and my favorite remains to be the kind where it’s combined with deep fried, crunchy tofu cubes in a sweet-soy-based sauce. But I do like all kinds. Here, the boiled ears are cooled, sliced thinly, then laced with spicy chili oil and sweetish-salty soy-based sauce. Delicious. I could eat a whole platter of this.

The only other place I’ve had amazingly good, authentic Sichuan dumplings is San Francisco (and China, of course). I haven’t found the same taste anywhere here until now. These boiled dumplings are homemade. The wrappers are soft and chewy while the pork filling is very flavorful. I suspect they are boiled in chicken stock as there is no floury taste in them. The fresh minced garlic topping adds additional heat and pungency. The spicy, sweet-salty sauce with it is so fantastic, I was spooning heaps into my mouth.

MaPo Tofu is a yardstick when it comes to authentic Sichuan cuisine. This dish was so unbelievably good that it was demolished before I could even turn my camera on. The spicy chili and bean-based sauce is totally spot on. The spiciness is numbing yet the bold flavors of the sauce is retained. The tofu is creamy and the minced pork adds texture to this wonderful dish.

The Traditional Spicy Beef Stir-Fry included slices of dry-fried beef. It had lots of dried chili peppers, onions, celery, carrots, green peppers, and lotus roots to provide a crunchy balance to the tender beef. This is another fantastic, spicy dish with lots of garlic and ginger flavors.

A surprising hit, the Chicken Breast in Garlic Sauce sounds ho-hum on paper but delivered a knock-out punch. The tender slices of chicken were infused with a spicy-garlic-chili sauce that lightly coated all the ingredients. There were crisp pieces of cabbage, broccoli, carrots, and wood ear mushrooms that made this dish an exceptional one.

Overall, a fantastic and inexpensive meal. Everything was delicious including the bubble teas with very, very chewy tapioca pearls (just the way they should be).

Insider tip:
Cash only at this time.
Prices average $5-9.

The scoop:
Cafe Q Sichuan Cuisine
10475 Medlock Bridge Rd., Suite 105
Johns Creek, GA 30097
(770) 232-9388

Technorati Tags: Chinese, Sichuan, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, dumplings

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’m not really big on buffets. There are only three places I (and my family) ever go to where buffet is the norm: Fogo, and the brunch at the Ritz and the Renaissance Waverly hotels. But my mom is a big hot pot fan and Grand Buffet has been the place we’ve been going to for many years. It is also one of the oldest places to offer it.

Grand Buffet is a Chinese super buffet. The have tons of food including king crab legs, whole steamed fish, sushi, and fresh oysters aside from the usual Chinese fare. But we only go here for the hot pot alone. Sadly, the atmosphere became unbearable as years went by. Serving utensils are greasy, the floors are wet and slimy, the smell is dank, the carpets are moldy, and the tables are sticky. Just thinking about it grosses me out. So we stopped going all together.

But last Friday, my mom insisted we give it another try. We were doing the no-meat-on-Fridays during Lent and seafood hot pot seemed like a good idea. I wanted to go to Mini Hot Pot but my mom wanted all the fixings that were only available at Grand Buffet. Besides, she contended, we were going to cook our own food anyway so we know it’ll be clean. It’s hard to argue with her so we let her win.

Well, what a surprise — the place was immaculate! The floors were scrubbed clean and spotless, the serving utensils were all clean, and the food were neatly and nicely placed in their steam trays. I was literally astounded. The food has also tripled in quantity: there were lobsters in ginger/scallion sauce, barbecue duck, crawfish, frogs legs, Chinese barbecue, and even dimsum! We didn’t touch any of the buffet items so I can’t comment on the food. But the hot pot items have expanded: fresh shrimp, blue crabs, Manila clams, crawfish, giant clams, mussels, fish, oysters; assorted tofu, dumplings, and fish cakes, plus various green leafy veggies, and several kinds of mushrooms. You can really go overboard with your hot pot fixings here.

A welcome surprise — the place is spotless, the quantity and quality of food have improved, and service is outstanding. I’d put this place back on my rotation for hot pot. Incidentally, the place is under new management. I’ve seen this place get a score as low as 70 on their health inspection. This visit, they’re at 92.

Insider tip:
Located off Shackleford Rd. next to Home Depot and Oriental Pearl.
Buffet: $12.95 (daily)
Hot Pot: $14.95 (available during dinner on Friday, Saturday, Sunday)

The scoop:
Grand Buffet
1825 Liddell Ln
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 279-0606

Technorati Tags: buffet, seafood, hot pot, Duluth, Gwinnett, Chinese super buffet, sushi, dimsum

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

Ok so I took the Chinese new year further by lunching at Mini Hot Pot. My mom is a huge fan of Chinese hot pot. I like it from time to time but I’d rather not cook when I eat out. Since no one else in my family likes hot pot, my mom usually has to drag me along with her whenever she gets a craving. We usually go to the one off Pleasant Hill but that place has gone so filthy it’s gross just thinking about it. So we’ve been visiting Mini Hot Pot since it opened.

MHP is sparkling clean and sits in the same plaza where Penang and Hoa Binh are at. I love that you get your own mini hot pot so you can do your own flavors and use the ingredients you prefer. At other places, they give you a gigantic pot and you either have to share with the entire table; or they put a divider in the pot so you can have two things going at a time. The part I don’t like about these divider things is that they don’t work. Your soups will get mixed-in after a while. Not good. With MHP you get your own.

I went for the Clam-Beef combination. I usually get the seafood-meat combination but everything here is a good choice. For $12.95 (and up), you get a heaping platter or greens which included napa cabbage, tofu, fried tofu, a taro wedge, a daikon wedge, a raw egg, tofu skins, a green-leafy veggie that I can’t remember the name of right now, a tomato quarter, a slice of fish cake, half a corn, and vermicelli noodles. You also get a platter of your meat/seafood selection. In my case, two huge clams and some thinly-sliced steak. I kicked it up a notch by getting the spicy broth (an upcharge of 75-cents) which is so worth the additional charge. Beware, as it is very spicy. Add more of the included spicy flavoring and you’re good to go.

The key to a successful hot pot is to not add everything into the pot all at the same time. Put enough ingredients that can fit in your bowl and replenish as you eat. The back wall has a myriad of seasonings that you can dish yourself and use as you please.

Verdict: a good place for hearty soups on a chilly day. But I call this diet food. Because I can never get satisfied. I have to run to the Vietnamese grocery next door to eat more food (they have good cooked food to-go such as the steamed black rice with sugar and peanuts, steamed rice cakes, and more). Else, I am hungry again 30 minutes later. My mom loves it. I just don’t go here when I’m very hungry.

Here’s a tiny clip of the dragon dance show they had for Chinese New Year:

Insider tip:
A bowl of steamed rice to accompany your meal is available upon request.

The scoop:
Mini Hot Pot
4897 Buford Hwy
Chamblee, GA 30341
(770) 458-8882

Technorati Tags: Mini Hot Pot, Chamblee, Buford Highway, hot pot, Chinese cuisine

current President of the Chinese community — a GaTech graduate

Happy New Year!!! My family has close ties with the Chinese/Asian community here in Atlanta (my dad has close business ties with the region). As such, I had to tag along to the yearly Chinese lunar new year celebration dinner held the Saturday before the lunar New Year. This year, it was held at Oriental Pearl. This year marks the 4707th year of the lunar new year. This year’s event is the biggest so far with 38% more in attendance: a total of 180 people. A surprisingly low number considering there are hundreds of thousands of Chinese here in Georgia.

The evening began with some speeches from the notable officers of the organization. Dinner was supposed to start at 6:30pm but we didn’t get served until close to 7:30. I’m used to it so I was smart enough to eat a snack prior to arriving. Good move on my part.

The 10-course dinner started with the Crab Meat Fish Maw soup. The soup was so bland I had to “re-cook” it myself — dousing it heavily with red vinegar, copious amounts of salt, and about 2 teaspoons of pepper. Still no taste. After 2 spoonfuls, I conceded defeat and abandoned it altogether.

Next, came the beef and Chinese broccoli. The beef was tender and the broccoli was crispy yet the dish didn’t really jump at me and make a lasting impression. Passable, if at all.

The Shrimp with Roasted Walnut was probably the one and only winner of the evening. The shrimp were plump and fresh with just the right amount and consistency of the mayo-based sauce. The roasted walnuts added texture and slight sweetness to the overall taste. Delicious.

Dinner service is interrupted as a young lady performs a Chinese fan dance on stage. A good way to pacify hungry people who are waiting for the slow kitchen that is so slammed at this point. The performance ends and still the kitchen isn’t ready. More performances. This time, from two teen-aged boys who wows us with their prowess of hip-hop and break dancing. More speech from the emcee and dinner resumes.

The Baby Chinese Vegetables was actually quite good. It had baby bokchoy in a chicken broth garnished with dried shrimp. The saltiness of the shrimp gave flavor and contrast to the bland broth and vegetables. I liked it.

The Spareribs with Peking sauce was actually Porkchops which was even better. Tender porkchops were battered, crispy deep-fried, then topped with a Malaysian-flavored sweet and sour Peking sauce. Good, but the porkchops had way too much batter.

The Grouper Fillet with Special Bean Sauce came next. The fried and battered fish was so chewy our entire table thought they were squid at first. It was also tasteless and the fish didn’t seem very fresh.

The Steamed Chicken looked so appetizing. It was a whole chicken sliced beautifully then topped with white sauce then garnished with Chinese broccoli. One thing I hate about steamed chicken is that some places can’t get it right. Tonight, they didn’t. Though the chicken was tender, it was also flavorless. Worse, the leg and thighs were so undercooked. Gross.

The most abominable dish of the evening came in the form of the House Special Fried Rice. This fried rice was so awful. First, the rice is so undercooked, you can taste the raw rice. Second, there just wasn’t any flavor. Like the chef forgot to season it. Now if a Chinese restaurant can’t get its fried rice right, then they have no business being a Chinese restaurant. I can still taste its awfulness in my mouth.

At this point, I’m thinking that everything just didn’t have any taste at all. I was right. The Black Mushroom with Prosperity Delicacy (baby cabbage) was a gooey mess of black mushrooms with some tentacle-looking things on a bed of baby cabbage in a thick chicken-broth-based sauce. No taste. Soft and chewy.

The last dish served, supposedly the best for last, was the Double Lobster with Ginger and Scallion. Now, would it be too much to ask that a dish be seasoned before being served. This is another bland dish. Too bad, the lobster was fresh out of the tank.

I have never liked Oriental Pearl. Back in the late 80s, my parents used to take us here for dimsum when we were kids. Back then, they served good authentic food. Really good food. But back then, the owners were different. It has changed owners and names several times since then. Now, it’s gone down hill. We haven’t been back in a while and we don’t intend to come back. None of the attendees that evening liked the food especially the respectable elders. In fact, none of the people there ever go to Oriental Pearl to eat. It’s probably the reason for the low turnout. But the organizers got a good deal so it was held there.

Still, the camaraderie among everyone more than made up for the awful food. And the event was very well organized. There were prize giveaways and a raffle. I even won a lucky envelope filled with a lucky coin. Best of all, it was fun. I had fun. It’s nice to see how other cultures celebrate.

The scoop:
5399 New Peachtree Rd
Chamblee, GA 30341
(770) 986-9866

Technorati Tags: Oriental Pearl, dimsum, Chinese cuisine, Chamblee, Buford Highway

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