This is my favorite restaurant & unique:\r
-Some of the ingredients are so fresh that the best way to top this experience would be if they grew the vegetables themselves in a greenhouse on the roof (see below for the story of my special order).\r
-Throw away what you knew about Chinese food, as most restaurants only serve an American adaptation.\r
-Throw away what you knew of traditional Chinese food, unless it was prepared from scratch (see soup story) by a masterful cook.\r
-For meat lovers, you can enjoy all sorts of things from traditional meats like beef, pork, shrimp, or flounder, to unusual meats like ox tripe, anchovies (not the salty canned stuff you may be used to, which is like comparing canned clam vs. fresh), & eel (some of these may no longer be on the menu).\r
-The China Town I went to in San Francisco had some good food, but as for what is traditional, even in China Town much of what's there isn't traditional, & particularly not as balanced in flavor or as fresh (with *certain* ingredients).\r
-Expansive Dim Sum & Shanghainese menu available upon request.\r
-They have delicious sauteed foods and fantastic non-greasy foods (e.g., that soup described below, vegetarian steamed buns, little juicy steamed buns, etc):\r
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I requested a special order, since it is no longer viable to be on the menu, West Lake Minced Beef Soup. It was better than ever, as it was made so freshly and from scratch (including fresh cilantro & mushrooms, optional Chinese vinegar to be mixed in to taste (add for a flavor burst, or omit if you like a mild taste), egg white drops, beef, & a balanced array of spices). The closest I ever had to this soup was in Boston area at a place called Zoey's, which was good, but definately not in this realm. This specially made version was quite a treat, the likes of which I haven't experienced in any soup since visiting a world-renowned Vietnamese restaurant in San Francisco that does a different soup, but one with the from-scratch fresh herb(s).
Pros: Fresh, made from scratch foods, largest menu of all restaurants I've seen, ever.
Cons: Menu is shrinking & restaurant open too many hours.
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