San Antonio｜A New York Times–Featured Chinese Restaurant 🏆

I’d heard this place won all kinds of awards — USA Today Top 9 in 2021, The New York Times Magazine, etc. 🏅 Every night I passed by, there was a line out the door 🕗👥. Even though I don’t have high expectations for American Chinese food, I was curious — just how good could it be? Finally tried it for lunch with coworkers recently. Lunch and dinner menus are different. We ordered: 🥟 Pan-Fried Dumplings – Standard American-Chinese level. My non-Chinese colleagues loved them! 🧀 Mochi Cheddar Hush Puppies – My coworker’s favorite! Tasted similar to Red Lobster biscuits, served with a sweet-spicy dipping sauce. Not my thing (I’m not big on cheddar), but interesting! 🥒 Cucumber Salad – Savory soy sauce + chili oil style — refreshing. 🍜 Creamy Coconut Tom Yum Noodles – The shrimp were perfectly seared with a slight crisp 🍤✨. Noodles coated in rich, creamy coconut sauce with a hint of spice. Burst cherry tomatoes added a nice touch. But — after about half a bowl, it starts to feel heavy. Better for sharing! 🍚 Pork Fried Rice – Decent but nothing special — just like homemade fried rice if you know how to make it. ✅ Overall thoughts: Great for dates or meals with American friends — not too authentically Chinese (so it won’t overwhelm), but still has Asian touches. The decor is stylish and not too loud — perfect for cozy chats in a corner 💬✨. After eating, you can stroll around The Pearl or along the river 🚶♀️🌿. 🅿️ Parking is easy — free on weekdays before 2 PM; weekends have a fee. 📍 Best Quality Daughter 602 Avenue A, San Antonio, TX 78215 #HiddenGemRestaurant #VibesOnly #FoodRoundup #SanAntonio #SanAntonioFood