It feels like ages ago since I came to China to join hubby. The first thing we did once I arrived there was to take me for a walk in Wangfujing area, in front of the hotel where we stayed for the next 4 months. Wangfujing was and has always been an interesting area for me with turns and corners full of surprises waiting to be explored, finding our ‘treasured places’ .  Like that nice little place for foot massage tucked away in an alley next to Taiwan Hotel or this humble restaurant that is always packed with people enjoying a bowl of very cheap but awesome fresh jiaozi – right across Quanjude, the famous and expensive Peking duck restaurant.

One of the places that we found and later frequently came back to is Minfuju restaurant, part of Donghua Hotel.  All the menus have pictures and written in English (and Chinese) – important to us as we both are hopeless when it comes to ordering in chinese. Just point at the pictures. We were just so hooked at their fresh green sprout salad and most of their other dishes that are not oily compared to other chinese food we know.  They have an interesting rustic and homey interior – dark wood tables and chairs, dragon ornated heavy wooden doors, mini old lanterns by the entrance and several empty old birdcage for decoration. Except for the one placed in the middle of the room with a talkative Myna bird in it who “meows” cheekily.

I used to have their takeaways for dinner. Love their salads and vegetables. My favorite one is this green sprout salad, doused in sweet and sour dressing topped with crunchy shredded potato. Kung Pao Chicken is also cooked beautifully. Not oily at all. Perfect sourness, spiciness and sweetness. Mike was actually pointed it out to me that they’ve been very consistent with the food. Everything tastes, smells and presented just like it was 4 years ago. Exactly what every diner expects when they return to their favorite restaurant. I’d give two thumbs up for them.