Jade Wok Review - Chinatown - Los Angeles - The Infatuation
"This small restaurant is located off the main streets of Chinatown, so it doesn’t get as much traffic as it really deserves even though it’s one of Chinatown’s best. Jade Wok has that typically large menu found at many older Chinese restaurants, but what keeps us coming back here is the house special tofu, a silky slab of lightly fried, homemade tofu that’s submerged in a mushroom and pork sauce–it's labeled on the menu simply as “homemade bean curd (best tofu in town).” To balance things out, we also like the tea-smoked duck and bite-sized Shanghai spare ribs, glazed with a sweet and sour sauce, which are good to share with the whole table. On top of the good food, most of Jade Wok’s dishes are under $10, meaning you can try a lot without spending a ton. The modest dining room can fill up at lunchtime, so just make sure to plan ahead if you come by in the afternoon. Food Rundown Homemade Bean Curd This is the one dish you must get at Jade–it’s listed on the menu as “homemade bean curd (best tofu in town)” and we simply can’t argue with that. The large blocks of tofu are lightly battered and fried for a crispy coating, but the center remains silky and creamy. It’s all completely drowned in a rich mushroom and pork sauce that would also go great on top of some white rice if you somehow have any sauce leftover. Shanghai-Style Spare Ribs If Buffalo has chicken wings, then Shanghai has sweet and sour ribs. The Shanghai-style spare ribs are cut into perfect bite-sized pieces and coated in a sweet, sticky sauce. Chow down on the whole plate by yourself with some white rice for a meaty lunch, or share them as an appetizer with your table. Either way, you'll see why the spare ribs are the second most popular dish at Jade Wok." - Fiona Chandra
