While cities around metro Atlanta boast of weekly Farmers markets, the Asian side of metro Atlanta pride themselves with street and sidewalk markets. Grandmas hawking fresh, organic fruits and veggies, seafood, sauces, and many more.

Right outside Quoc Hong, mostly on weekends, Grandma sells the sweetest oranges on earth. Softball-sized variety is $10 per a 10-pound bag. Huge, freshly-caught, Gulf Tiger shrimp as long as 8 inches (stretched out) go for $5 a pound (6-8 count). A steal considering they go for $15 and upwards a pound at supermarkets.

But what you shouldn’t miss is her organic veggies. Potato leaves work just as well as spinach. And the water spinach? It’s the only place you’ll see them. Also known in English as straw vegetables (there’s a hole inside like a straw), the USDA has classified this plant as a noxious weed in 2010. That means you won’t find this plant in any Asian store. But you’ll find it in our own Buford Highway! $5 a bunch gets you freshly-harvested ong choy (Chinese) or rau mong (Vietnamese), or kankung (Malaysian), or pak boong (Thai). Stir-fried with soy sauce or steamed with oyster sauce and you have a fantastic veggie dish.

Over in Duluth, Grandma sells her goods out of a mini van, in the parking lots of Korean restaurants. She makes her own kimchi (both red and white), doenjang (miso paste), and gochugaru (chili powder). She sells organic fruits and veggies from her garden: sweet potatoes, persimmons, green Korean pepper, napa cabbage, peanuts, and dried red chili peppers. Her sweet potatoes are so sweet. Boil or roast them then slather lots of butter for a great snack.

She makes amazing kimchi. This big bottle of special kimchi goes for $20. It includes fat, organic green onions. There are other grades of kimchi — $10 for the not so special (no special green onions), and $30 for the huge jar of white kimchi.

While Chinese grandma stays put inside Asian Square, Korean grandma is more of a gypsy. You’ll find her mini van all throughout the week in Duluth and as late as 8PM — in the Super H parking lot, Point Berkeley International Village, Market Square — all within 5 miles of each other on Pleasant Hill.

As always, merchandise vary. Check often. Also, these grandmas barely speak English. Don’t worry, you’ll be able to communicate. I do. And of course, cash only please.

My favorites here are the fried spring rolls, the rice plates, and, of course, pho. The only thing about the spring rolls is that you’ll never know when you’ll get freshly fried ones. Most times, they’ve been sitting out under a heating lamp. Why? Because it takes a while to fry them and you’ll get them when you’re half-way done with your main entrees. Also, the place is always packed so they just fry them in batches. When freshly fried, they are crispy with the wrapper becoming flaky and crunchy. So good.

Rice plates are a common Asian meal. You get meat, rice, and a small salad. Get the combo with two grilled pork chops. They are tender, juicy, and so flavorful. Add a side of fried eggs and you’ve just become an Asian yourself!

Pho is so good especially in this cool weather. The broth is bold with a lot of layers of flavors. There are tons of meat with a good amount of noodles, too. Don’t make a mistake of ordering this late at night as they tend to water it down to last through their opening hours (they are open til midnight). During lunch time, however, you’ll taste this good-for-the-body soup that’s guaranteed to comfort.

Open til midnight. Fully packed with a wait during lunch time. Check website for other locations.

Saigon Cafe
3675 Satellite Blvd.
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 232-5070

Technorati Tags: Vietnamese, Duluth, Gwinnett, pho, com

Do you know what Omurice is? It’s a very thin omelet filled with fried rice then drizzled on top with ketchup. Growing up, going to Japanese restaurants were filled with the anticipation of eating this fun dish. It’s a very common item on the kid’s menu. In fact, I’ve never really noticed any grown-up eating it. Basically, it’s kid food. When I got older, I would get this as a side to my Japanese grown-up meal.

In Atlanta, you’ll find more omurice in Korean restaurants than anywhere else. I love the Korean version — rice, stir-fried in ketchup with beef, eggs, peas, and carrots. The picture above was a $7.95 platter that came with a huge omurice, a big piece of tonkatsu, and cabbage salad. Banchan and hot soup all complete the meal. Yum.

Find this meal and similar others at Don Quixote in Duluth and Buford Highway.

Technorati Tags: omurice, Korean, Japanese

Jajangmyeon. Homemade noodles with a side of fermented soy bean sauce has always been my favorite. The version here is good. A little less smoky and a bit more sweetish than what I prefer, but tasty nonetheless.

Did you know? This smoked pork is amazing. There’s no other word to describe it. The thin slices of pork belly are smoked then stir-fried with leeks. There is no other place that makes it better in this part of town. Get it.

The menu is extensive so there’s something for everyone. Food is really good. Go before it’s too late.

Fung Mei
1605 Pleasant Hill Rd Map
Duluth, GA 30096
770-935-8888

Technorati Tags: Chinese, Korean, Duluth

The illustrious chef, Mr. BoBo, (as I fondly call him) has moved again. First Wan Lai. Then Bo Bo Garden. Now, Golden House. Mr. BoBo is a star chef among the Chinese. He’s like the Linton Hopkins of Cantonese cuisine and the talented version of Peter Chang minus the “wide-eyed” groupies and the New York Times. I was told he’s been around since the early 80s, starting at the very first Chinese restaurant in Atlanta. His new venture — yes, he has a financial stake — Golden House, is aimed to be the best Cantonese restaurant in the south.

Mr. BoBo went all out in creating his restaurant. Not only is the place humongous, it is grandiose. It is an exact replica of a fancy Chinese hotel restaurant, complete with the 95% Chinese clientele, 5% tourists, an army of servers, bowed chair covers, round linen-topped tables, huge chandeliers, red carpet, and fountains everywhere. As my eating buddy said, “Wow, it feels like we’re in China!” Its grand opening was held on September 10th. A momentous date. It coincides with the Chinese Mooncake Festival. It was also a Chinese public holiday.

my favorite mooncake (served during grand opening): with salted duck egg in the middle

The menu — and the food — is an exact replica of Wan Lai and Bo Bo Garden with one exception: dimsum on weekends in the coming weeks ahead. I have visited twice since its grand opening and Mr. BoBo’s food is as exceptional as ever. You can read more about his food here and here.

Go now and taste real Cantonese cooking from a highly-experienced, brilliant chef. Trust me, it’s worth the drive.

P.S. FnS was also there during opening day. You can read his impression here.

Golden House
1600 Pleasant Hill Road
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 921-2228

Technorati Tags: Cantonese, Chinese, Duluth, Pleasant Hill, tidal

I have been a long-time fan of Quickly ever since I discovered it in Asia many summers ago and in California a few years ago. Quickly first came to Atlanta (inside the Gwinnett Place Mall) in the early 2000s. Much like the first froyo seven years ago, it was ahead of its time and never took off. So I was really happy to see it come back to town. This location is the younger (open since June) but much bigger sister of the original one on BuHi. It has a full kitchen serving Taiwanese snacks, ramen, and stir-fried noodles, in addition to the bubble teas that made it famous.

Quickly is famous for its bubble teas. Although bubble teas have been around Asia forever (I first tasted it when I was 4 in some obscure Asian town being peddled on the streets), the concept of using fancy flavors and adding custard and different kinds of jelly then having the cup sealed is a Taiwanese invention. There are 22 main flavors of bubble teas here. You can mix and match as you wish. Bubble tea is a sweet, flavored, black tea-based drink with tapioca pearls in it. Good bubble tea must be creamy yet light, milky, and with flavors really standing out — a refreshing drink. The tapioca pearls must have a soft exterior and a chewy interior. They must not crumble when you bite on them, and neither should they have a hard, gritty center. Think of the concept as al dente pasta. Oh and by the way, the tapioca pearls at Quickly are boiled with honey instead of just plain water so they have a sweetish flavor as opposed to flavorless tapioca pearls. This is the difference between Taiwanese-style bubble teas versus other versions like the Korean or Vietnamese ones made from powdered flavorings.

my bubble tea collection

While most people have a coffee habit, I have a bubble tea one. I drink it once or twice daily, every single day without fail. All flavors are good here. Current favorites are tapioca, lavender, taro, jasmine, caramel mocha, pudding, and Thai tea. For slush, you have to get the watermelon slush. It’s made with fresh watermelons. Add lychee jelly to it and you’ve got an awesome fresh fruit shake on steroids. Fresh watermelon juice (with pulp) is also a must-try. The flavored black and green teas tend to be cloyingly, syrupy sweet so if you’re not into that like me, I’d completely avoid it.

Now the food. There are only three things you must, must try at this place: first, the Taiwan chicken nuggets. These tender nuggets of chicken are seasoned with a blend of Taiwanese spices (including five-spice), coated with a thin layer of cornstarch, then fried golden. They are the perfect snack and so delicious. A basket for $2.50 can’t be beat either. Get the spicy kind that’s sure to keep you dreaming for more. Add to that some fried sweet potato prepared the same way and you have a perfect pair.

The third thing that you must eat here is the fried rice. This, by far, is the best fried rice in the whole of Atlanta. Surprised? So was I. The rice is moist and very, very tasty. I love the diced napa cabbage in it that creates a wonderful crunch in your mouth. Tender, juicy pieces of meat complete this one-dish meal. Unbelievably good is all I can say.

If you’re looking for mind-blowing ramen, you won’t find it here. What they do have is a will-do-since-you’re-already-here kind of ramen. The broth is thin and bland and the ramen tend to clump to each other. If a quick fix is all you need, then that’s all you’ll get.

This place has a cult following and teens tend to make it a hang out as soon as the sun comes down. As such, expect very long lines once 4PM hits and never lets down til it closes at midnight. Table service is always prompt, attentive, and very courteous. Cash only for bubble teas/drinks. Debit cards accepted for table service/food (upon request).

Quickly Ramen Noodle and Boba Tea
3780 Old Norcross Rd. Ste. 304
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 476-5988

Technorati Tags: tidal, bubble tea, Taiwanese, ramen, noodles, Duluth

Tonkatsu. Humongous portion on a humongous plate. Two huge pieces. Crispy fried, tender pork. Pretty good tonkatsu sauce. Served with rice, shredded cabbage salad with thousand island dressing.

Dukbokki Noodles. Now I have to admit this one is pretty awesome. You get this tubed-shaped rice cakes (dukbokki or tteokbokki) that are so chewy in a spicy, thick, broth flavored by Korean hot pepper paste and kimchi. But that’s not all. It has homemade ramen-like noodles. And a boiled egg!!! If there’s one thing you can’t miss here, this is it. It’s number 4 on the menu.

Chicken Noodle Soup. This is a little too bland for my taste as the broth is really light and thin. There are tons of shredded chicken, leeks, sea weed strips, ribbons of dropped egg, and get this… homemade noodles. Yes. Homemade. In fact, all the noodles here are homemade. A few dashes of salt can make this very hearty soup delicious.

Spicy Pork Bulgogi. This lunch set is sure to make you full. You get lots of tender pieces of pork stir-fried in a spicy, savory, sweetish sauce. Then you also get kimbap (similar to the Japanese maki or sushi rolls), shredded cabbage salad, curry sauce, and rice.

Banchan. The usual suspects. But. They have sausages in gochujang sauce!

Very friendly service in a very nice, quiet atmostphere. I’d go for the dukbokki noodles alone. Prices hover in the $7.95 range.

Don Quixote Restaurant & Cafe
There are two locations: Duluth and BuHi. The pictures here are from Duluth. Each location is independently owned and operated.
3751 Satellite Blvd
Duluth, GA 30096
(678) 584-1129

Technorati Tags: Korean, Duluth, Atlanta, tidal

You might think this American staple is just a hotdog, but over time, the sausage on a bun has evolved. First, the usual ingredients have been given an overhaul. It is now more common to see labels such as home-made, all-beef, turkey, and kosher. Second, the ho-hum garnishing of mustard or ketchup have been accompanied by an infinite number of toppings, limited only to the imagination.

So a hotdog is a hotdog is a hotdog? Not at America’s Top Dog. The natural casing of the grilled, all-beef hotdogs here make a big difference. You can hear and feel the snap and crunch with every bite. I like that the hotdogs aren’t too salty either. Best of all? The 40 toppings you can play with. Just imagine the possibilities! Spicy chili, coleslaw, even salsa!

If you’d rather not build your own hotdog, there are choices to make your life easy. The Georgia Dog. My fave. The spicy jumbo hotdog may not have that snappy casing but you won’t even notice it with the exciting toppings that are included: chow chow, spicy chili, pimiento cheese, and coleslaw. You get crunchy from the slaw, heat from the chili, cheese from the pimiento, and that great Southern taste from the chow. Mmm, yummy.

The Cubs Dog is another contender. With cucumbers, relish, tomatoes, mustard, and a pickle, it’s one great Chicago hotdog.

But wait, don’t forget the sides. The hand-cut fries are fried just right. The massive order of thick-battered onion rings all complete a meal.

Not in the mood for hotdogs? Fret not. There are burgers!!! Fresh angus, as well as turkey, and veggie are grilled and ready for the party with your choice of toppings.

And there you have it. Stop by for lunch or a quick snack. The endless combination of how to dress your hotdogs should be enough to excite you.

America’s Top Dog
2 Locations:

3352 Chamblee Tucker Rd
Atlanta, GA 30341
(770) 771-3823

2400 Satellite Blvd
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 771-3823

Technorati Tags: hotdogs, Duluth, Chamblee

You might think this American staple is just a hotdog, but over time, the sausage on a bun has evolved. First, the usual ingredients have been given an overhaul. It is now more common to see labels such as home-made, all-beef, turkey, and kosher. Second, the ho-hum garnishing of mustard or ketchup have been accompanied by an infinite number of toppings, limited only to the imagination.

So a hotdog is a hotdog is a hotdog? Not at America’s Top Dog. The natural casing of the grilled, all-beef hotdogs here make a big difference. You can hear and feel the snap and crunch with every bite. I like that the hotdogs aren’t too salty either. Best of all? The 40 toppings you can play with. Just imagine the possibilities! Spicy chili, coleslaw, even salsa!

If you’d rather not build your own hotdog, there are choices to make your life easy. The Georgia Dog. My fave. The spicy jumbo hotdog may not have that snappy casing but you won’t even notice it with the exciting toppings that are included: chow chow, spicy chili, pimiento cheese, and coleslaw. You get crunchy from the slaw, heat from the chili, cheese from the pimiento, and that great Southern taste from the chow. Mmm, yummy.

The Cubs Dog is another contender. With cucumbers, relish, tomatoes, mustard, and a pickle, it’s one great Chicago hotdog.

But wait, don’t forget the sides. The hand-cut fries are fried just right. The massive order of thick-battered onion rings all complete a meal.

Not in the mood for hotdogs? Fret not. There are burgers!!! Fresh angus, as well as turkey, and veggie are grilled and ready for the party with your choice of toppings.

And there you have it. Stop by for lunch or a quick snack. The endless combination of how to dress your hotdogs should be enough to excite you.

America’s Top Dog
2 Locations:

3352 Chamblee Tucker Rd
Atlanta, GA 30341
(770) 771-3823

2400 Satellite Blvd
Duluth, GA 30096
(770) 771-3823

Technorati Tags: hotdogs, Duluth, Chamblee

I’ve always known those steamed, wide, rice noodles filled with shrimp found in dim sum as chang fen. It’s actually a bastardized (read: Americanized or pinyin) way of saying the real Cantonese term which is cheong fun (similar to chow fun). In any case, if you’ve had dim sum then I’m sure you’ve seen them. Chang fen houses are very common in Hongkong — a wide a variety of chang fen is eaten for breakfast, snack, and of course, dim sum.

I have never really liked any of the chang fen in the US as I find them thicker and stiffer than they ought to be. Real, authentic chang fen (my preference) should be smooth, silky, not sticky, and paper thin. Almost like ribbons of rice sheets. They should slide very easily when picked up with chopsticks and impossible to eat with a spoon. A month ago, a Chinese family friend told us about a chang fen house that opened in Duluth: EeRecipe on North Berkeley Lake in the same plaza as Well Bean Tofu.

Family-owned by Malaysian-Cantonese, EeRecipe puts out the best chang fen I’ve tasted outside of Hongkong. They make the authentic flat, ultra-wide, super thin noodles fresh, by hand, everyday. There are 9 kinds on the menu including the traditional shrimp, Chinese sausage/cilantro, BBQ pork, to name a few. My favorite is the EEeRecipe Rolls which come filled with savory, assorted dried meat and veggies. The filling is pressed onto the noodles instead of loosely inserted in the middle so you get a taste of the minced meat and veggies on every single bite. Topped with fried, crunchy onions and garlic and served with a soy-sesame seed oil sauce and a side of shrimp paste and pickled long green peppers, this is the best on the menu. And the best in the city. At $3.77, it’s also the best for your money. While all the chang fen here are really very good, if there’s one thing you MUST try here, it’s the EeRecipe Rolls.

With three visits under my belt, I’ve eaten the entire menu. Another must try here are the soups. The Rice Crepes Chicken Soup will knock your socks off. The clear chicken broth is absolutely fantastic with its boiled-for-hours taste. A big metal bowl filled with strips of rolled chang fen, fish balls, a large amount of coarsely chopped chicken, bean sprouts, and crispy-fried minced garlic is comfort food at its best. Delicious is an understatement.

Other notables here are the Fried Dumplings (fried to perfection with very flavorful filling of minced pork and veggies), Chicken Wings (flavorful all the way to the bones), and the Fried House Special Rice Crepes (char kway teow) which is a dish of stir-fried chang fen, eggs, tofu, scallions, and bean sprouts.

Oh, and if you must have something sweet after a meal, both of the rolls in their Sweetie Rolls section of the menu are worth a try. Chang fen is either filled with syrupy yet not cloyingly sweet fillings such as banana/corn and peanut/sesame. Both are good.

So head on out make the trek if you want to know what authentic chang fen tastes like. The 30-minute drive from ITP is far quicker and shorter than the 18-hour flight you have to endure to get to Hongkong.

EERecipe Rice Crepes House
2645 N. Berkeley Lake Rd. Suite 129
Duluth, GA 30096
770-497-3393
Closed on Mondays
Open Tuesday-Sunday from 11AM-9:00PM

Technorati Tags: Cantonese, Malaysian, chang fen, cheong fun, Duluth, Atlanta