Frying Fish — Restaurant in Bellevue

Dishonest owner! I bought some 'Deep Fried Prawns Sichuan style' to-go from this restaurant on 08/15/2018. When I opened the box and looked at the contents, it looked like they'd mixed my order with fish instead of the prawns. I took at bite and it was thick layer batter with a sliver of some rubbery meat in the middle.... the whole thing was thoroughly insipid! I've eaten here on a semi-regular basis and have had the same dish and it always comes with 'real' and big prawns/shrimp with a thin layer of batter. So, I decided to call them and let them know I was going to come back the next day and return it (it was past 9:30 PM and I'd picked the food up for dinner). The lady on the phone sounded like she knew exactly what I was referring to and offered to swap for a fresh plate if I went back right away. I politely declined and told her I'd be back the next day. My experience when I went to return the food on 08/16/2018 left me underwhelmed on all counts! The owner refused to refund me the money, and accused me of not mentioning to the staff on my phone call that I wanted a refund. So, after some relentless arguing, I asked him to make me a fresh plate. He turned around to his wait staff and said something in the order of "Dont use ...... " in Mandarin (I speak a lil broken Mandarin and that is all I could make out of what he said). When the food came out, it was still the same thick battered plate with yucky meat inside! Are they kidding! And he had the audacity to tell me "It is a different style"! Not only did he not refund the money, he offered the same crappy food again! All this time he never fessed up that they made a mistake!

Pro-tip to the owner:

1. Cheating your customers on their food amounts to stealing from them
2. If you mess up, own up to it and fix it. Being defensive when you mess up will do great wonders for you. Keep it up!

Avoiding this place at all costs! Picture of the thick battered rubbery meat dish...

SO happy to have this place. For years I was a loyal Bamboo Garden customer for the Chong King Chicken, Szechuan Deep Fried Fish and Chopped Pepper Hot Fish. They've moved into a new building next door and renamed themselves LaBuLa and the portions have become smaller while the prices went up.

Our group of 4 went at 1pm during the week. Quickly seated, ordered and brought out soup (hot/sour some of the best I've ever had) and tea. Between us we ordered their Deep Fried Fish, Dry Fried Chicken (served with green beans), Sesame Chicken and a Szechuan Chicken (served with bell peppers) that I can't recall the name of. The fish was super light and airy (Bamboo's could sometimes be over-battered and oily) and very spicy as desired. While I assumed the Dry-Fried chicken would be their version of Chong King it wasn't. But it, too, was super light and spicy, just missing the Chong King elements I wrongly assumed would be there. The Sesame Chicken was very lightly battered and the dark sauce was very savory- not just a syrup. The fourth chicken dish was the star- although more sauced than Chong King chicken in other places it has ALL the aspects- hint of Chinese wine, black bean paste and the pleasure/pain of Szechuan peppercorns. Next time I'm getting that, requesting green beans swapped for peppers and am going to go to heaven.

We all decided, after tasting each other's plates that we're not going back to LaBuLa. Frying Fish's food is better and the prices are way better- my chicken meal was $8.55 vs. LaBuLa's now at $10.95. The bill four the four of us was $40 including tip.

They're new, give...

Let's talk about Frying Fish, the Chinese eatery nestled in the mall area alongside Safeway and a cluster of other spots. Finding a spot to park is a breeze, and once inside, you'll find yourself in a cozy space adorned with traditional Chinese decor. Despite its prime location, scoring a table is usually a cinch, which is a pleasant surprise.

Now, onto the main event--their signature Sichuan frying fish. It's got a bit of a greasy kick, but boy, is it flavorful. The portion sizes are nothing to scoff at, ensuring you'll leave satisfied. With five spice levels on offer, I tend to stick to a solid 4, but if your taste buds are feeling adventurous, they'll happily mix it up for you.

When it comes to sides, the eggplant with basil or pea vine in garlic are standouts. The eggplant brings the heat, so proceed with caution if spice isn't your thing. But trust me, it's worth it. And the combination of basil and eggplant? Absolutely divine. While the pea vine might set you back a bit more, its unique flavor and texture make it a worthwhile indulgence.

For those looking for an alternative to frying fish, the tea smoked duck is worth a try.

Just a heads up--the dishes don't come with rice, so be sure to order some on the side or prepare it yourself at home.

All in all, Frying Fish offers a unique twist on Chinese cuisine that's sure to leave a lasting impression. If you're in the mood for a culinary adventure, don't hesitate to give...