I had come across Jiang Nan a while back while looking for restaurants in Jersey City. Despite…read moretheir having several locations around the tri-state area, I had never heard of the place. However, it looked interesting and had amazing reviews, so I bookmarked it for the future. Well, we made it there recently and had a mostly enjoyable experience.
We were able to secure a same-day reservation on a Saturday evening, so that was a good start. Once we arrived, we were pleasantly greeted and taken to one of the two empty tables available. The place was completely packed, and the food smelled and looked phenomenal. The vibe was casual, but full of diners on a mission to tease their palates with real Szechuan delights. The menu was very lengthy, so it was difficult to decide what to get. While we were trying to figure that out, we received a small bowl of a cabbage slaw that also included radishes, carrots, and diced chilis, all drizzled with a bright red chili oil. It was crisp, fresh, and packed the perfect amount of heat without being overwhelming. I distractedly picked away at the cabbage slices with my chopsticks while I continued to weigh my dinner options.
I wound up going with their Braised Noodles with "Stir-Fried" Chicken and Eggplant in Spicy Garlic Sauce. I used quotation marks around the preparation method, because when the dish arrived, the chicken was actually heavily breaded and deep-fried. I was not at all happy about that, but I figured I would try and make the best of the situation. The lo-mein noodles were soft, tender, and might have even been homemade. They were perfect! The included eggplant was on the mushy side, but still tasty. However, the sauce was way too sweet. It was more like a sweet and sour sauce with no garlic perceptible, and it was not presented at the medium spice level I had requested.
As I write that assessment, I am sure you are wondering why I gave the place 4 stars. Well, my dining companion also had those fantastic Braised Noodles, but with real Stir-Fried Beef and Scallions. Instead of a heavy, gummy sauce like mine had, this one was in more a light broth with a touch of sweetness from what I think was Chinese Five-Spice. Plus, the included meat was lean and had been thinly sliced. It was unique and delicious. I had also been impressed with the efficiency of the service, especially given how busy they were.
I had high hopes for Jiang Nan and would not say that it completely disappointed; I think I just ordered incorrectly for my tastes, though the menu had been deceiving regarding the preparation. I would like to go back to the Szechuan spot and try either their famed Peking duck or some of their more unusual dishes like Chicken and Black Truffle Soup Dumplings.