Yi Pin Xiang Restaurant — Restaurant in Edison

GUYS. There's an actual Dongbei restaurant in Jersey! Dongbei cuisine encompasses the northeastern region of China and access to it around here is really only through Queens. Quite rare since it's underrated among and overshadowed by China's other regional cuisines (learn more on Serious Eats), but no more! Spread the word and just come here instead of dealing with tolls, traffic, and parking!

Their signage is in Chinese only so it's easy to miss. Just know they're next to Mi Tea, across from the Island Spa side of Festival Plaza, and watch out for 一品香 (Yī Pǐn Xiāng). Roughly translates to first class fragrance. The exterior can make one think their menu is also only in Chinese but no worries, there's English on there with some pics to boot! Sign they cater to Chinese immigrants and international students but welcome those outside that demographic :)

Family and I went for a weekday dinner and initially we were the sole diners. The space is small, personalized, and warm. Eventually another table of 3 arrived and they seemed to know the owner along with a friend of the owner who sat with him to eat and chat. Clearly only those in the know come here. A lovely lady prepped and made dumplings next to us, which you can buy frozen for home. All of this really gives that local, family-restaurant, mom-n-pop hole-in-the-wall feel.

When ordering, we felt a little rushed as the minimally stylish owner stood at our table the whole time while we perused the menu. It's a different type of service we're not used to yet. When asked for recommendations, he quickly and nonchalantly listed what felt like the whole menu! xD It's interesting. They're not overly-friendly in a try-too-hard way nor rude or cold. It's an indirect care that can be seen in the little details like the interior design, selection of tableware, automatically bringing out anything extra diners may need, fulfilling requests, or providing a pitcher of water infused with large jujubes, goji berries, and yellow chrysanthemum. They're just right, leaving you alone and only asking one time how everything was. Once the order was made, the food came out much faster than expected. Efficiency's the name of the game here. Also, pretty cool how they expose the whole kitchen so diners can see the noodle-making process and the cooks moving about.

NOTES: Dongbei Styled Bone ($19.50): Disposable gloves are provided so you can eat with your hands! Piping hot and delicious! Noticed the other table ordered this as well. This is a must order for the experience! Fried Pork in Scoop, sweet and sour style ($17.95): Those who love Korean tangsuyuk may love this, especially if looking for lasting crispyness under the sauce. Fatty Pork Slices with Pickle Cabbage ($19.95): Soup dish that's not for everyone. Have to enjoy sourness to like this. Family-style size so bowls are provided.

Food is hearty, homey, and comforting with a nice range of affordable to pricier items. Food's especially perfect for the winter. Come here for something different from the abundance of Cantonese, Sichuanese, and Shanghainese restaurants. Go explore! While incredibly convenient to reach them, with a mini parking lot might I add, they're so easy to miss and so unknown that they're really a hidden gem! Give them a chance and come dine here after a shopping trip at any of the Asian...

My daughter and I were trying out new restaurants close to us. When we first arrived, the shop looked quite nice even though it was on the smaller side. Inside, there was the owner or it seemed like, sitting there and eventually acknowledges our presence after a while. It was around 3, and we were just stopping by to grab a quick bite, we ordered the "authentic 3 cut meat dish". After waiting for the food for about 10 minutes, (with it being almost empty), we were starting to get impatient when it finally arrived. We then requested two bowls of rice and dug in. After a few short bites, we noticed a select cut of meat was similar to chewing on rubber. We called the owner over and told him the problem, as he told the chef in the corner of the room, we also heard some rude comments from them aswell. Then after he proceeded to go on his phone back to his usual spot and brush it off without any apology. When we got the check, we noticed there wasn't any hospitality given as there wasn't a discount for the lacking food and service. To top it off, the two bowls of rice costs us two dollars per bowl (may I remind you the portion was also quite small). Overall, not the beat experience both service...

HANDS DOWN.....my personal top 3 favorite chinese restaurant in jersey. no lie, everything on the menu is great but what i crave the absolutely most are the freaking meat freaking skewers. they're just so damn good. they offer the average dry rub and a super unique sauced version. i don't care to normally write reviews but i've been here every month for the past 6 months and i keep wanting more! high recommend you come here at least once just to try it!

it is run by a bunch of family members so the staff is friendly and super...