Sometimes you desire something oily, heavy, and greasy to satisfy your cravings. Well, move on from the age-old fried chicken, hamburger, and pizza. With the Dongbei region located on the far Northeastern side of China, its food fits the Dongbei climate's freezing temperature.
Braised Marrow Bone with Gaze - 30rmb
The succulent meat of the pork, combined with the sweet and salty glaze, formed a great dish. The restaurant waiter also gave us a straw to suck the marrow out of the bone, which was an interesting experience.
Pork and Chinese Cabbage Dumplings - 24rmb
Personally, I am a avid supporter of xiaolongbao(Shanghai-style soup-filled dumplings) and prefer them over the traditional style with solid filling. However, these dumplings completely changed my mind. The umami and something about the perfect degree of chewiness of the dough was so enjoyable.
The Three Treasures of the Ground - 38rmb
The intriguing name of the dish comes from the materials included: eggplant, sweet pepper, and potato. It is a dongbei classic that this restaurant executed very well. The potatoes and eggplants had a delicate layer of crispness that stayed crunchy even with the heavy dressing. The soy and oyster-sauce based coating accompanied the vegetables well.
Crispy Chinese Pancake - 20rmb(est.)
Buttery, Flaky, Golden pastry. It is a great vehicle to dip into soups or to eat with other salty and heavily flavored side dishes. It's a must-try item!
Chinese Baby Cabbage with Vermicelli and Garlic - 30rmb(est.)
Pork Coated in Crunchy Batter and Vinegar Glaze - 62rmb
This is another classic for Dongbei Cuisine. A thin strip of tenderloin pork is coated in teeth-shatteringly crunchy potato-starch batter, and left to marinate. Usually, it is fried twice(just like french fries) to achieve the desired texture. Then, a rice vinegar and sesame oil dressing is applied.
Fried Wild Mushrooms - 60rmb(est.)
Crunchy, Salty, and Meaty - a real substitute for meat if your vegan friends come with you.
The restaurant is called 关东小磨. It's a new restaurant on the block that challenges the ordinary perception of Dongbei food as a quick, unelevated meal. It's neat presentation of the food and hearty items really shine. It's definitely a great spot for a casual lunch or dinner, especially if other spots that you visit are getting repetitive.
Location:
Pudong Shanghai, Lianyang Plaza, 3rd floor(联洋广场店）
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