I came across this list on Eater a couple weeks ago and I've been dying to try every place listed. 82nd is right around the corner from us, and packed with Asian restaurants. Actually Portland is known for having Asian restaurants on every corner, so we have had a hard time figuring out which ones are legit. So far this list is dead on! I was craving some authentic Asian food all day yesterday so when I picked Tom up from work I let him know I was starving for Chinese. We also wanted a place that served beer so we headed to ShenZhen. (After a quick detour at a crappy Mexican place with a cheap happy hour, bleh.) I realized I've never really had Chinese food before. What we order for take out in America isn't usually real Chinese. I'm sure there are some authentic Chinese restaurants in Atlanta (probably on Buford Highway) but I've never experienced one. So this food was pretty mind blowing for me.
The first thing we noticed when we walked in was the dry erase board over the counter with menu items written in Chinese.
And we were the only... Caucasian people there. Score! The two main signs of something authentic, a language you don't understand and no other white people. The menu was the big book with huge pictures of each dish next to the names, like lamb intestines and chilled chicken feet! We didn't get anything that adventurous. We started with a sesame, scallion cake and shared Sizzling Glass Noodles and Crispy Duck.
I will take a picture of the menu next time we go. Which will be soon because I will probably have dreams about this food. The duck skin was crispy and salty and the meat was tender and sweet. It didn't need a drop of soy sauce or any condiments. The noodles had great charred and crispy bits from the sizzling pan it was served on, and it was also packed with flavor. A little chili oil made it perfect. I will never be able to eat crappy Chinese take out every again!
I am trying to cut back spending to save for my visit to Atlanta in May, but I want to go to another spot on that list today. Maybe the cheap Banh Mi one.
Just so this post isn't ALL about food, here is a picture of Roxy and Ava playing their game of "Queen of the Couch." Roxy is winning at the moment, but Ava puts up a good fight.
Ava belongs to Tyler and Ashley, our neighbors. She has quickly become Roxy's new best friend. And Tyler and Ashley aren't too bad either :) We feel so lucky to have a young couple who live right across the courtyard who are so much fun to spend time with! We all had happy hour and saw the Hunger Games a couple Fridays ago, it was a much needed night out. Tasty n Sons has an awesome happy hour menu, I wish I had gotten more pictures of the food.
How awkward is it that I'm the only one in the shadow!
That's it for now, I'm off to bake a coffee cake with the rhubarb I got at the Farmers Market :)
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