老高烧烤旧金山店GAO’s BBQ & Crab Milpitas — Restaurant in Milpitas

I may come back to Gao's BBQ & Crab - never mind "Milpitas" in its name because its Chinese name (as well as large signage) clearly says "San Francisco Store" (旧金山店), for its promotions. Let me explain.

In case you don't realize, the restaurant’s receipts prints "Gao's Kibob & Crab", not Gao's BBQ & Crab. I know a lot of similar Chinese stores use “barbecue” in name, but China actually have cooking techniques close to American BBQ, not this style. I wish all of these Chinese kibob skewer shops changed their names. (And I don't know about the crab part because I didn't come for that.)

With the style out of the way, I will compare this shop with its peers. Gao's cooking is really well. Materials that can easily be cooked dry are handled just right. They also offer a large variety of food on skewers. But they underseason skewers by too large a margin. Let me be clear: For this type of dishes, underseasoning is way better than overseasoning. Besides, Gao's tabletop spice rack has salt, pepper powder, and a spice mix for Xinjiang flavor. Usually, this would be a perfect setup. But in a sit-down restaurant, I like tabletop to be addons not esssentials.

By skewer, Gao's price is in par with its peers if not for the special that we went for. But their skewers are more generously portioned. On balance, even without the deeply discounted special, Gao's is still good value.

Gao's is in a small strip mall with a descent, but not elaborate front. Its interior, however, is set up like a Chinese bar with lots of neon signs in Chinese, some humourous, some double entandra. From the construction of it, there is perhaps an alchoholic bar at night. But it is a family-friendly place in day time when we visited. Seating can be a little tight if crowded. Luckily, we went on a Saturday shortly after peak lunch time and there were few guests. (Their restroom, on the other hand, is very limited even when guests are few. Cannot imagine bar hours.) Even at that hour, parking in the mall was quite a hassle.

We ordered Beef tongue as a side. It tastes very good. A skewer I particularly recommend is mini chicken skin. Beef tendon skewer is also good.

I give Gao's 4...

The ambiance was lively, the restaurants was full of neon light and a big screen playing music videos. There is a QR code on the table for you to scan and order your food. They have a large selection of skewers and seafood to choose. You don’t have to order all at once and can send multiple orders after the first one. You can also adjust the seasoning on the items, if you want less salt, less spicy, no spicy, etc. The table also came with sunflower seeds to snack on while you wait for your food.

The food took a while to come out, so I would suggest order a bulk load upfront. The skewers were a bit small, we spent about $100 for two people. We definitely could of eaten more.

They have a hot plate on the table to keep the skewers warm as they bring the meat over. Most of the BBQ meats were seasoned similarly. They also have cumin and chili powder for you to sprinkle on your skewers.

I liked the big lamb skewers and pepper beef. The meat was very tender and juicy, great seasoning as well. The pork we ordered was a bit dry and the meat was too thin, do not recommend. Enoki was good a bit on the salty side, but it was nicely cooked, good flavor overall.

Fired cold noodles was decent. It was coated in an egg, noodles was brushed with their house sauce, and inside was hot dogs.

We also ordered the Chef Special Crawfish, the crawfish was extremely fresh. The meat was delicious and sweet, cooked to perfection. I been to a lot of seafood boil places, and this place takes the top spot for the quality and cooking techniques. But I was not a big fan of the sauce. The sauce had chili oil, red Sichuan peppers (I think), etc. The peppers will give you a tingling/numbing sensation in your mouth. Not my cup of tea.

Overall this is a great spot for skewers and seafood, solid flavors and high quality ingredients. I would come back to try other things...

Title: A Delightful Fusion at Gao’s Kabob and Crab: Where East Meets West!

Review: Today, 12-30-23, I had the pleasure of dining at Gao’s Kabob and Crab, and I must say, it was a culinary journey worth raving about. This unique eatery brings together the rich flavors of Chinese skewers and the zesty tang of Cajun seafood, creating a fusion that tantalizes the taste buds in the most delightful way.

From the moment I walked in, the warm ambiance set the stage for a memorable dining experience. The staff were exceptionally welcoming, making us feel right at home. We started with their signature Chinese skewers - each one was a masterpiece, perfectly seasoned and grilled to smoky perfection. The lamb skewer was particularly noteworthy, with its succulent, melt-in-your-mouth quality.

But the real star of the evening was the Cajun seafood. We opted for the seafood boil, a medley of shrimp, crab, and corn, all drenched in a savory Cajun sauce that had just the right kick of spice. It was a messy affair, but utterly satisfying and delicious.

What truly surprised me was their kids’ menu - a thoughtful inclusion in such a specialized restaurant. My little one ordered the chicken tenders and fries, which were not only affordable but also perfectly crispy and tender. It’s not often you find a place that caters so well to both adult and young palates.

In conclusion, Gao’s Kabob and Crab is a hidden gem that offers an extraordinary blend of flavors. It’s a place where families can enjoy a diverse range of dishes, all served with impeccable quality and at a great value. I’m already planning my next visit to explore more of their...