Dean C.
Yelp
11/24/21
This one was actually ordered through #Weee!, but my gf picked up in person instead of delivery.
As you know, she's a #LiangPi fiend. I've written about her story and her love of Liang Pi before, so I'll skip that and just get to the point...
(FYI, these are just the names on the receipt exactly as printed, and I doubt that's how it's written on the actual menu):
1. Xinjiang Hand-Stuffed Rice with Side Dishes Lamb Chops: So, translated = pot-steamed rice with chopped lamb chops on top. Typically they use medium-grain rice with some stickiness, but in this case they used long-grain very-little-sticky rice. Haven't seen that in these "pot rice" styles before. Anyway, the rice is beautifully flavored, and perfectly cooked. The lamb was good too, but make sure it's hot otherwise the fat won't taste pleasing. But certainly the lamb is tender and not overcooked. 9/10
2. Toasted Bun with Cumin Lamb Slightly Spicy: Again, translated = aka #RouBurger (2x translated, Rou = meat), aka #ChineseHamburger, aka #RouJiaMo, etc. The truly traditional version is usually not palatable to Western tastes as the bun is extra tough and dry, and totally can be used as bricks for building houses. However, I feel they didn't do a good job "Americanizing" the bread as it retains neither the rustic texture, nor is it really moist or soft enough for me. It's just kinda half-assed in my opinion. The meat wasn't all that either, lacking that epic cumin punch, and also lacking FAT.... and you know, the real deal is loaded with juice and fat. The jalapenos are also obviously not a Chinese thing. 3/10
3. Cold Noodles: translated = LIANG PI. Alright here we go. I do think that the texture is closer to the versions we had in Xi'an, but cut wider (the ones from the region tend to be 1/4" wide, and this is more the versions I see around here, maybe 1/3" - 1/2" wide.) They're soft, very tender, but still with that QQ'ness. Too soft for me, but again, I think this is just the way it is in Xi'an--the originator of this famous dish. Otherwise the sauce is typical. They didn't load it up with cucumbers and spongy tofu or gluten balls--I can do without the cucumber, but I do like that special chewy tofu and/or gluten balls. 5/10
I've been giving bonus points for any restaurant carrying Liang Pi cause it's really special and hard to make, but since we're seeing more places with it now, no more bonus...
3/5
#fremont #weee #xianfood #xiancuisine #shaanxi #xinjiangfood #xinjiangcuisine #chinesefood #chinescuisine