Well Fed On the Town

Now just wait a minute! How do you define “Authentic Chinese?”

Well, in this case, it was simple. They handed us two menus when we sat for Dinner, the “American Menu” and the “Chinese Menu.” A little background is in order though.

Seattle was just a day stop for us as we began our vacation. We hopped in the rental car, picked a direction and started driving. Of course, we didn’t notice it was rush hour. But that’s ok, we’ll manage. Then, it started with the sleet, freezing rain and snow…in late April.

So, having wandered north of downtown Seattle, during rush hour, in the snow…we took a side road and wound up seeing Chiang’s Gourmet. A few minutes after the usual, “That looks good, wanna give it a shot?” We were seated and sipping excellent green tea. The next 5 minutes was spent in confusion as we tried to figure out why we were given two menus. Is this lunch? dinner?

Then we noticed that one was mostly in English with long descriptions and the Chinese name below each item. The other was mostly Chinese with no descriptions and a name in English. Are they the same, but one is for those who speak English mostly? … Nope.

The American menu had the basic staples of Chinese Food we know and love. General Tso’s Chicken, Cashew Chicken, Hunan Shrimp, etc. The Chinese Menu featured such delicacies as Crispy Fried Pig Intestine, Pig’s Feet in Szechuan Garlic Sauce, and Fish Head with Green Bean Sheets in Casserole, order ahead please (I presume the pun was unintentional).

I would love to tell you that I was adventurous and stuck with the Chinese Menu, but no, I chickened out. Specifically, I General Tso’s Chickened out. The sauce was thick, sweet and tangy. Each piece of chicken was very crispy but moist and tender on the inside, having been flash fried in lotus flour.

We started our meal with their Steamed Dumplings. They were more Dim Sum in style, about 16 small, half-sized dumplings with a sweet dumpling sauce. They were outstanding.

My dinner partner enjoyed the Crispy Orange Flavor Beef. I cannot emphasize enough that this beef was CRISPY. I have never sampled crispy beef prepared like this. It was almost crunchy as if it had a shell of hardened sugar coating it. But, once you took a few bites it became tender and chewy and the sauce was sweet without the beef itself being overly sweet, despite what seemed like being a candy coating.

I have to say that in the vein of “wander until something looks good, stop there and eat,” we couldn’t have possibly done better. Just finding such a wealth of variety on the menus was a treat.

And, I’ve already promised myself…next time I find my way to the Seattle area. I am going to eat at Chiang’s Gourmet and this time, I am ordering from the Chinese Menu. Though, I think I’m going to have to pass on the Crispy Pig Intestine. Maybe Squid with Peanuts in Pepper Sauce is more my speed.

Chiang’s Gourmet
7845 Lake City Way NE
Seattle, WA 98115
Tel: (206) 527-8888