Diana W.
Yelp
I really really wanted to support this Taiwanese mom pop shop, and find something good here. We've been to both locations before. There's just always something off. I'm really picky with certain dishes so I usually try to off set that with slack, especially for mom pop shops. They are hand making things. Just they can't cook!!! Maybe they just need to become a B2B business instead...making food for other restaurants to buy and cook for customers? There aren't any other true Taiwanese places in Vegas (and not much in LA), so I usually keep my expectations ridiculously low or just expect it to be fusion Taiwanese food. But I expect the food to be at least decent quality or servings.
Fyi, best to use CASH. 3% fee for using credit card. Strict close/no food served even 5min before their 2pm in between break.
Service: Don't expect any. It does remind me of a Taiwanese Deli, just an extremely large version. If they just had 2-4 small tables, maybe the place would be more manageable for the 1-2 staff owners on the floor. It's a place that waving hand might not do. Just get up and try and order from the staff, or ask for the check. This is a very casual run down Asian establishment. Expecting too much western etiquette is just ignorance. We just came back from almost 2 months of living in Taiwan, so our taste buds to more has been recalibrated.
Example of off:
When something is off, you can hide it and guess maybe it's just fusion if it's still tasty, or decent quality. It's not the case for this place. This visit was for the purpose to determine if I should just buy frozen handmade dumplings from here vs transport it each time from LA. I also was determined a second time to find out this places' hidden specials. I avoid typical items reviewed on Yelp to not order. I avoided beef noodle soup cause it might not be warmed up enough, to breakfast normals even though this place seemed best as a breakfast joint. Works for me as I can't handle that much carbs in one day.
#63. Pig ear, tofu in chili sauce cold dish appetizers $7.99.
- Taste decent but saltier than expected. The meat gelatin was showing with the cilantro wet in it. Something served at home as leftovers but not served on this condition in restaurants. See what I mean by off?
#8. Egg cake with Chinese donut $9.99
- Better than expected for the egg and wrap part. The wrap was thin and tasted like Taiwan. It can't be as thin or soft fresh but it was decent. The Chinese donut was soggy, and difficult to chew in that form. See what I mean by off?
- If we had to come back or crave a Taiwanese egg pancake/wrap, I would order just the egg version (no Chinese donut).
#120. Mushroom with pork bun $2.99.
The meat ball was drier and more dense than expected. It looked homemade but it's a no for us.
#111. Pork with Napa Dumpling $11.99
- Decent for restaurant dumplings. It's simple. Feels lighter in taste than many Chinese versions because it's Tawianese. And the wrapping is done well. It looks like what they say...like the ball shape of the oyster. I can see why people would buy their frozen dumplings. So would I buy it?
- Our dumplings came with 1/4 already kinda poked or accidentally broken. Meaning they didn't pay attention to boiling or steaming it. And what I mean by off??
- For people who go through a lot of dumplings, yes I'd say you can buy to try it. I do eat a lot of home dumplings but I'm only 1 person. Those packs are pretty large. So I'm sticking to my LA place. If this place wasn't as run down, I wouldn't question if the quality is fresh.
Our last time visiting: Notes was playing nice, and giving them the benefit of the doubt. Was just excited to find Tawianese restaurants in Vegas.
# 25. Shanghai Rice wrapped with pork $4.50 - aka Zhong Zhi was decent. Rice was soft, and decent amount of goodies inside it.
#22. Oyster Omelet $9.99
- small oysters. A little fishy but nothing abnormal. This is a difficult dish to find but pretty on point compare to places in LA SGV/626 to!
# 44. Squid Fishbowl Noodle Soup $12.99. - Came extremely hot. And in thicker than expected noodles. We are use to the hair thin noodles. This dish was better than expected. The soup was comforting. Big bowl!
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Overall, this is the reason why my significant other and I just gave up on eating Taiwanese food in American haha We're at an age to avoid carbs, so hitting up Tawianese places with just one specialized dish (beef noodle soup) is not our thing. It has to be really good for us to go. None so far. We've become less adventurous in Taiwanese food searching... we're jaded. Again, we ain't looking for perfect or anything close to that. I'm very generous to most Tawianese to American Taiwanese places. It's just best to save up for the next couple years, and eat it in Taiwan lol