Royal China

There is a lot of talk these days about "real authentic (insert cuisine of choice here) food". To me that is like saying a person has fake breasts. Let me go on record here, there is no such thing as fake breasts. Food is food, and if it tastes good who cares if it accurately reflects the specific sub-genre of food known as Cantonese? There is such a thing as authentic American-Chinese food and you can find it at Royal China.

A few weeks ago, craving a straight up old school, MSG throbbing Chinese meal, Lindsay and I headed over to Royal China on Vets to eat pork fried rice, pot stickers, Kung Pao chicken, and Shanghai Noodles. We even sampled something new for us: paper shrimp. The paper shrimp was wrapped in a delicate little package which flaked like a croissant when you bit into it. Inside the pungency of basil contrasted with the plump shrimp. Delicious.
The chicken in the Kung Pao was cooked perfectly. Juicy, tender and soft-we almost thought it was undercooked compared to the often deep fried, battered nuggets at other Chinese restaurants. The sauce could have been spicier, but had I never discovered Thai food, the spice level would have been bold. The pork fried rice was just how it should be, slightly nutty, perfectly greasy and studded with red tinged cubes of pork and strips of fried egg.

The surprise may have been the Shanghai noodles. Thin, glassy noodles tossed in a fragrant and flavorful brown sauce with big shrimp anchoring the dish. And even better two nights later after a long bout of Trivial Pursuit and her good friend Old Fashioneds, the noodles were perfect heated up with some butter, Rooster Sauce, and soy.

For an old school, first time eating Chinese food meal and some more authentic dishes, Royal China does what it seeks to do very well. Sure it may not be "real" Chinese food, but it certainly is real good. What is your favorite Americanized Chinese spot in town?

Royal China- Birdie.