The first scallion in spring is đlic a little fresh Chinese food
I used to make the long trip from LIC to Chinatown just for a delicious steamed fish. A while back, I was craving roast duck and popped into this restaurant near my placeâthey had "scallion oil snapper" on the menu, so I gave it a try⌠and it turned out to be awesome! đ The decor here is different from other branchesâitâs got this fresh, leafy Brooklyn vibe that I love. So Iâve started meeting friends here too, and over time, Iâve tried quite a few dishes. I found my notes today, so Iâm putting together a little roundupâhereâs what to order (and what to skip)! ⨠Scallion Oil Snapper Not many people seem to talk about it, but itâs my top pick đĽ! As someone obsessed with steamed fish, I can say this is one of the best Iâve had in New York. đ Itâs a big fish, but the cooking is spot-onâboth the belly and the flesh are tender and fully cooked. The scales are scraped clean, the scallion oil is fragrant, and thereâs a small under the plate to keep it warm until the last bite. If you prefer lighter flavors, itâs way better than grilled fish! ⨠Roast Duck Half a duck is $46âgreat for satisfying a craving every now and then. Itâs cheaper than Ju Qi, and the skin is crispy when it first arrives (though it softens up later). Pro tip for the restaurant: maybe use the same plates as the steamed fish! ⨠SautĂŠed Sponge Gourd / Golden Soup Baby Bok Choy If you like mild, fresh flavors, youâll love these. I order them every timeâI love that theyâre fragrant but not salty, and you can taste the natural sweetness of the veggies. ⨠Water Spinach with Fermented Bean Curd If you prefer bolder flavors, this veggie dish is a good call. The salty, savory fermented bean curd pairs really well with water spinach, and itâs not something Iâd bother making at home. ⨠Garlic Vermicelli Shrimp (Butterflied) It tastes exactly as youâd expectâclassic home-style cooking. Just remember to mix the vermicelli so it doesnât clump. I tried the lobster version at their Flushing branch before, and thatâs great too. ⨠Hand-Shredded Crab Roe Rice Heads up: itâs crab roe, not crab meat. If you donât set your expectations too high, itâs pretty tastyâtoss it with sesame oil and vinegar, and it makes a nice little treat. Plus, it comes in these fun crab-shaped bowls, which adds a nice touch of ceremony. ⨠Sichuan Peppercorn Boiled Fish Go for this when youâre craving something spicyâitâs got a bold, numbing kick. The fish slices are tender but not overly slippery, and there are toppings like wood ear mushrooms and yuba. ⨠Crab Roe Soup Dumplings Theyâre packed with brothâyouâll be sipping it for ages! But the crab roe flavor isnât super strong. Theyâre good, but not mind-blowing. Thatâs it for todayâs shareâif I made you hungry, give it a like! Follow me for more NYC food and life tips. Hope everyone has a great day! ⨠Jiang Nan LIC ⨠27-19 Thomson Ave, Long Island City, NY 11101 #100RestaurantChallenge #NewYorkFood #LIC #LICFood #NewYorkChineseFood #LICChineseFood #LICLife #SteamedFish #RoastDuck #NewYorkLife #NewYorkEats #NewYorkFoodGuide #NewYorkLIC #NewYorkDateSpots #JiangNanLIC