Cate Zone: A Birthday Dinner with Friends—Surprises and Small Regrets

Last Friday, we planned to celebrate a friend’s birthday at Jiao Dian, but the restaurant was under renovation (we’ll save it for next time!). We ended up going to Cate Zone on a whim. Even though it wasn’t our first choice, we had a great time chatting and eating with friends—overall, a happy night! 📍 A Little Dining Anecdote The restaurant isn’t big, but it’s super popular! When we arrived around 7 PM on Friday, we were told we’d have to wait about an hour. Starving, we ran to the McDonald’s across the street to grab a quick bite—we still laugh about it now 😂! By the time we got a table, the place was packed with people. The lively atmosphere felt just like a busy Chinese restaurant back home. 🍽️ Dish Reviews: Highlights and Letdowns—Honest Thoughts ✅ Worth Trying Spicy Chicken (La Zi Ji) | 🌟🌟🌟🌟 It tasted more like “spicy chicken popcorn” than traditional La Zi Ji, but it was still delicious! The chicken was crispy on the outside and tender inside, coated in a spicy sauce. It was perfect with rice, and we finished the plate in no time—my friends kept grabbing more! Braised Pork Ribs (Jiang Gu Tou) | 🌟🌟🌟 Who doesn’t love gnawing on ribs? The meat was tender and flavorful, with a rich sauce that even seeped into the bone marrow. It was messy to eat (we needed napkins right away), but totally satisfying. Grilled Beef Skewers (from the BBQ Platter) | 🌟🌟 (extra half-star just for the beef!) The grilled beef skewers were the best part of the BBQ platter! The meat was firm and juicy, coated in cumin and chili powder—super flavorful. But the grilled enoki mushrooms had a hint of alcohol (not our favorite), and the grilled sausage wasn’t the starchy kind we love—minor letdowns. ⚠️ Average—Could Be Better Spicy Blood Curd and Intestines (Mao Xue Wang) | 🌟🌟 It looked amazing—bright red and appetizing—but the toppings were a bit disappointing: no glass noodles (a must for Mao Xue Wang!), too little spam, and a type of intestine we didn’t like. Luckily, the bean sprouts were crispy and the duck blood was tender and flavorful—they saved the dish a little. Sautéed Vermicelli with Pickled Cabbage | 🌟🌟🌟 The sour flavor was refreshing and great for cutting through grease, but it needed a bit more work: the vermicelli would’ve been better if it was stir-fried drier, and a few dried chili peppers would’ve added more kick! ❌ Skip This One—Disappointing Tofu on a Hot Plate with Sauce | 🌟 Total letdown! The tofu itself had no flavor, and there was way too much cornstarch—it stuck to the hot plate within minutes of being served, making it mushy. We barely touched it after a few bites. 💡 A Quick Note & Final Thoughts One small thing: It felt like the dishes had a bit too much MSG—my throat was a little dry the next morning. Sensitive eaters might want to keep that in mind!That said, we can’t hold foreign Chinese restaurants to the same standard as those back home. We were already happy to find food that tasted this good. Chatting and even joking about the not-so-great dishes with friends made the night fun. They have a wide variety of dishes, so if you’re craving Northern-style Chinese food, it’s worth a try! The price is reasonable—around $25-$30 per person, which is affordable for students. #StLouis #StLouisRestaurantHunt #StLouisFoodReview #StLouisChineseFood