I just had their salt and pepper tofu and felt absolutely compelled to leave a positive review. Let…read moreme explain.
I've known about Golden Imperial since it opened. Back then, I hated it. Everything I got on the buffet was super mid, borderline, yucky. I think buffets are really just hard things to do correctly in general.
But then, during the pandemic, they switched to made-to-order and it's like the clouds parted and shined blessings upon them.
One of my friends told me to give them another chance after the switch and I'm so glad she did!
Despite how Americanized-Chinese they are, their dishes are great! The only thing that kept me from writing a review earlier is that I really dislike sweet entrees. I don't like orange chicken. Why do I want a dessert for my meal? Why would I want a sweet protein? Even my go-to Chinese-American curry dish at Golden Imperial is pretty sweet. Part of that has to do with the fact that the only vegetable they use in the curry is onion (where are the silky smooth potatoes and carrots that are usually in Chinese curry?!), but I thought it was still passable compared to everything else.
And then I ordered salt and pepper tofu.
I'm not a vegetarian anymore, but I still appreciate a tofu or vegetable dish, so if I'm getting take out, I usually order one meat, one veggie. Oh. My. God. The S&P tofu... So savory, so tangy, so much umami (y'all know that MSG is amazing, right? It's not unhealthy! That was just racist propaganda). It's addicting. I can't wait to have it again even though I was absolutely stuffed after both times I ate the one entree I ordered (Golden Imperial portions aren't cheap but they are filling - you can get at least 2 meals out of one order - I wouldn't pay almost $20 per entree if I couldn't stretch it).
So, this is all to say, if you want Asian food that doesn't taste like it could've been on the menu at Baskin Robbins, explore what Golden Imperial has to offer. While I'm disappointed by the curry, I still like it. And the Salt and Pepper tofu just taught me that I need to see what other gems they have to offer. If you know what Homer Simpson daydreaming about a donut looks like, that's me thinking about the next time I can get S&P tofu.
Yay Golden Imperial! Please keep it up and if you can, tell us which things on the menu aren't full of sugar. It would really help change what's on your "popular" list. Americans, especially small town Americans, just aren't adventurous when it comes to food. Tell us what to try and we'll try it but if you don't, we're just gonna order what we always order or what is on the menu at that drive-thru "Chinese" place. You're better than that! You're a hometown hero. We want to support you.