Generous Y.
Yelp
I think this is a newer spot in Kirkland. Stopped by on a visit to the area based on the ratings. This rating isn't a negative at all, just 3 for an average experience. There's a hint of authenticity in the taste, but nothing too strong. I've been spoiled with home cooked meals for the summer though and as you all know, nothing beats mom's cooking. With that in mind, I feel like my opinion may change when I'm craving comfort Taiwanese/Chinese food.
The biggest pain here was the value (price for the quantity). Taste was solid in some aspects and average in others. Nothing stood out positively or negatively. Did not interact with staff enough to formulate a strong opinion on service but they were friendly and welcoming. Overall positive with a greeting and then bringing food, but other than that there wasn't much interaction. You pour your own water from a counter and grab utensils from another. They have two tablets to order from.
Garlic Green Beans - exactly what you expect. Green beans sauteed with garlic. Tasty but I can't justify the $9.50 price point. They do have a happy hour from 2-5 where the price is slightly above half, which is better. I'm not sure if the amount is reduced so can't report on that, but $5 sounds more reasonable especially for a smaller appetizer.
Mei Cai Pork Belly Bowl - I love mei cai kou rou, it's a staple. As a side note, dong po is also a great staple. Anyways, the pork belly was juicy and tender. Spectacular, but you only get about 5 pieces in a bowl for $16. The small salad and regular rice are okay supplements to the meat, but they don't contribute enough to justify the price point either in my opinion. Taste is great but underwhelming in quantity.
12-Spice Beef Noodle Soup - okay beef noodle soup is my number one comfort food so I have stronger opinions here. You get a mix of both meat and tendons here and they're tender pieces. Noodles were great and longer pieces, if you told me they were handmade in store, I'd believe it. However, on the disappointing side were the vegetables and soup. I only had about 5 or 6 baby bok choys and maybe not everyone likes their vegetables, but it's a big part of my expectation. The soup tasted a bit watered down. While still slightly spicy, it was very difficult to taste much of the bone broth or beef.
Overall, it's a nice spot for authentic Chinese food but isn't perfect. Personal bias to home cooking and Taiwan food may be reflected in my taste and this review so I'd keep the thoughts in consideration but not completely sway any action. Value feels underwhelming in regards to price versus quantity. Hopefully can revisit after being away from home for a while to re-evaluate.