Margie A.
Yelp
I love this place but you have to know what dishes to get. I take my out-of-town friends and colleagues here, especially my Asian friends (that is saying something right?! bahaha). I've been going here for over 10 years and was recently back over on Lunar New Year and had a great time. It's about time I wrote a review!
THE FOOD
An absolute must-get here is the Spicy Golden Tofu. They make the tofu in-house and it's crispy outside, soft inside & flavorfulness will make you resist your midwest ways and fight for the last pieces. We lucked out last time I was in because I mentioned wanting to order a whole fish and the server told us they just got fresh red snapper a couple hours before. We jumped on that and were so glad we did. It was cooked with Malay spices and it was crispy on the outside and super tasty. Note that the fish will come with teeth and eyeballs but that just shows how absolute legit this place is! I also recommend Roti Canai since you can't get it this way anywhere else in the city. Get a veggie dish too like the Chinese broccoli or green beans to share.
Dishes I was less thrilled about included the Fried Eggplant, Tofu Peanut Skewers, & Yam Pot. They were ok but just kinda meh.
THE AMBIANCE
This place is huge so I also come here when I know other smaller restaurant may be packed. A lot of people do family celebrations here and it was especially fun to see all the kids dressed in their finest to celebrate the Year of the Dog recently.
You can come here dressed up or casual. I love that this place is for a date, work meeting, family reunion, or girls night. The noise isn't too loud either so you can actually have a conversation and not feel like you're shouting. Serve staff has always been friendly, helpful, and courteous. They will also pack up leftovers if you want.
OVERALL TIPS:
- PARKING: They have free offstreet parking in the evening in a lot across the street, down a block or so. There's a sign that indicates it is for Peninsula. This is a huge plus on Eat Street where there's limited street parking and it's notorious for ticketing.
-SANGRIA: Check in on Yelp and get a free drink. Is it the best drink in the world? Nah, but who cares. It's free, comes with a lychee, and it's a great way to start your meal. I don't know about you but when I get free things, I'm instantly in a better mood ;)
-FAMILY-STYLE: Getting a bunch of things to share is definitely the best meal experience here. Plus, portions are pretty huge. Get a veggie dish, tofu, fish, noodle, etc.
This is a high-traffic restaurant area, but even with the competition, this is a go-to-place for me. Unique dishes, free parking, many tables, and great service keeps me coming back. You've got to try this place out if you're in the Twin Cities!