M&T Restaurant — Restaurant in Fairfield

My friend recommended this place to me, having visited it 6 times in half a year! It’s really hard to find such a great seafood restaurant in the middle of New Jersey, where dining options are quite limited. I was surprised to find a place like this here, as it feels like the quality belongs somewhere in Manhattan. If this restaurant were in the city, it could easily rival Michelin-starred restaurants!

No joke, we ordered some of the most common dishes, but the quality was outstanding. When my cousin and I arrived, we couldn’t believe the prices—only $16 for fresh seafood! I initially thought that price was just for a small portion, so we ended up ordering a lot of food, and the total was just $120!

Fish Dumplings 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Who would have thought you could find such authentic fish dumplings in the U.S.? The fish filling is bouncy and fresh. It’s delicious even without dipping it in vinegar.

Lamb Soup 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Honestly, this is the best lamb soup I’ve ever had in the U.S. It has a distinct lamb flavor but isn’t overwhelming. It’s just fresh and light, not too strong. The first time we had it, the two of us finished a whole big bowl along with a plate of spicy crayfish

Steamed Egg with Clams 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 No one can resist the soft, fresh taste of steamed egg. With the clams and a special soy sauce, the flavor is refreshing and pairs perfectly with golden pancakes. It’s a must-try!

Stir-fried Shrimp with Soy Sauce and Chili 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 This is my absolute favorite! It’s made with soy sauce, onions, and dried chili, and the aroma from the stir-fry is incredible. The highlight is the fresh taste of the shrimp. Unfortunately, this dish is out of season right now, so it’s not available.

Salted Egg Yolk Prawns 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 A must-order dish! The prawn meat is so fresh, tender, and juicy. The prawns are lightly fried, stuffed with salted egg yolk, and the outside is crispy. The aroma is irresistible!

Black Fish in Iron Pot / Fish with Golden Pancakes 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Fish is usually seasonal, but this place deep-fries the fish and then braises it in a rich sauce, which is just perfect. The golden pancakes are fried crispy on the outside but remain soft on the inside, perfect for soaking up the sauce.

Stir-fried Cabbage with Shrimp 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 This is a highly recommended dish by my cousin. Nearly every table orders this. The fresh shrimp and cabbage are stir-fried to perfection with a fragrant oil. I once packed this dish for a colleague from Qingdao, and she raved about it all the way home!

Honestly, I would take an Uber to come here 6 times in half a month—this place is truly...

I know - Fairfield NJ does NOT sound like a place for an authentic Chinese restaurant, needless to mention authentic Shandong cuisine - which is one of the top culinary brunches in China but quite rare in the US. That’s what I thought when I discovered this restaurant - supposedly run by high class chef/foodie from Qingdao and serves dishes made of exquisite ingredients air transported from China... all of that can NOT seem to fit Fairfield NJ, in a little concrete house on the side the road, next to NOTHING, behind a panda sculpture. The only reason I ventured there today was because I wanted to drag my elderly parents out for a long ride to chat - I hate spending time at their home since their AC is always set to 80F.

What a pleasant surprise!!! You have to try the dishes to understand, all seafood dishes are NOT made equal. Many ingredients, if not selected and processed properly would taste like sautéed wood chips - but if done with real taste and passion - as served at this restaurant - would carry with them a subtle but distinctive magic.

At the entrance of the restaurant I noticed something I definitely did not expect to see - a Michelin rating! As it turned out, the gentleman who started this restaurant two months ago, Mr. Tang, used to run a seafood restaurant in LA, and it was a Michelin noted establishment popular with Chinese celebrities. Mr. Tang took over this location from a relative - it was a struggling Chinese restaurant back then, and he is bringing the magic straight from his success in LA - literally, as even the menu is (temporarily) from the LA restaurant. He told me that he picks up fresh ingredients air transported at JFK in early mornings and that he does not consider himself a chef - but rather a foodie.

All the same - as long as he’s here to share the magic I am all for the 1 hour ride and the adventure deep into Jersey. It is a lot shorter than flying half way around the world for some real ocean magic from the Green...

It took me a long time to actually try this place but I am glad I finally did. Have not had a chance to sit down and eat here but I have ordered to go a few times and I can say the food is very good and fresh. They serve a different regional type of Chinese - Qingdao cuisine or it can also be known as Tsingtao. It is also where Tsingtao beer is brewed and is a coastal town known for their seafood and unique style of cooking. The selections I have had, including the chicken with cumin, codfish in chili oil, double cooked pork belly were really delicious but also really spicy! Have also had their braised pork belly, stir fried clams, fried bell fish, among other items - all good. The seafood is very fresh which I appreciate and can certainly tell. Their hot & sour soup is actually sour! The dumplings, although a bit doughy for my taste, are no question fresh made to order and very good. Their use quality rice as well is a great sign too. Definitely not your run of the mill Chinese and not for the casual Chinese fan but someone who appreciates home made, quality, and truly ethnic Chinese cuisine. Owners are also quite nice and kind hearted although do not speak very fluently and larger orders can take a while to prepare, so please be patient. It feels like you are being prepared food by some kind person who welcomed you into their home. I see they also have a location in Queens too. Will continue to come here and is a chronic lesson that you should never judge a book by its cover and this is one of those books. I look forward to sitting...