Mama Lee has been around forever! The owner is the chef, waitress, host, cashier, everything! Which means if she's cooking for someone else, she can't cook for you yet. But it's definitely worth the wait because she makes some of the best authentic home style Taiwanese/Chinese food. It's a tiny restaurant with only 3 or 4 tables. Self serve rice and drinks. Make sure to have time to talk to the owner because she's so nice and always willing to have a good conversation! read more

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This is the epitome of a hole in the wall find. But with maybe the best home cooked Taiwanese food in NYC. Mama Lee is the chef, server, busser, cashier and all things. She is a one woman show so you should be patient. Because she works alone but has so many dedicated customers, her menu is limited. If you're dining in, you can grab hot or cold water or soda yourself at the table next to the counter and find a seat yourself. Some of the menu highlights are the lion's head meatball, braised beef, celery with pork, and salt and pepper fried shrimp, but everything is delicious. Because she is the chef and owner, she can make modifications or entirely new dishes upon request, but it may depend on how many orders she has waiting. Once your food is brought to you, you can grab some purple rice in the rice cooker yourself or Mama Lee can bring you white rice. It's a unique experience that makes you feel like you're at a Taiwanese grandma's house. read more

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It was a really cold day when we craved some warm comfort food, so we decided to get take out from Mama Lee. When we got home, we realized that one of the soups for the beef noodles was missing, so we called and Mama Lee rectified the situation right away. She was extremely apologetic and states that due to the fridged weather, they were lower in staff and things got busy so a mistake was made. We did have to drive back to pick up the order, but customer service was excellent. We tried the beef noodle soup ($22), salt and pepper chicken ($22), Taiwanese pork chops ($22), sauté string beans ($22), 3 cup chicken ($22). The beef noodle soup was fantastic. Broth was savory, and portion size for the noodles and beef was enough for 2 people. The beef was thick, tender, and delicious. I did wish the noodles clung onto the soup more, but I just took a sip of soup between bites and was still satisfied. I thought the sauté string beans, and 3 cup chicken were fine. I could taste the wok hay. I wish the salt and pepper chicken had more salt and pepper flavor. We weren't a fan of the pork chops though. Overall, we would definitely come again for the beef noodle soup. We were informed that there is an additional 3% added on if you pay with card. read more

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I really enjoyed my meal at Mama Lee. I ordered the 3 Cup Chicken. The chicken was juicy, tender dark meat with an extremely pleasant exterior texture. You could tell the meat had been extremely crispy and then the crispy layer became saturated in the intense, flavorful sauce. The sauce is seasoned heavily, it a way that I really loved. Adding a pinch more salt to this dish would make it too salty. It was clearly expertly prepared and seasoned right up to the edge. It's very salty and sweet as well as tangy and these three flavors are held in perfect harmony. I believe this dish generally doesn't contain vegetables, but I was glad to have the pieces of mushroom and broccoli to break up the richness of the dish. Also, as a solo diner, I couldn't order a separate vegetable dish as this would be way too much food. The restaurant is quite small and I don't recommend coming with more than two people. Mama Lee seems to be running this operation entirely on her own, which is very impressive and you should expect wait times in accordance with that. The food is delicious and the service is friendly. This is the type of restaurant that feels like being invited into someone's home for a meal. read more

Mama Lee - Three Cup Chicken - Chinese Near Me - Bayside, New York

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Delicious Taiwanese food in Bayside! We haven't been here for several years, but found out they were open again so we got take out. They make all of the classic dishes and provide a lot of ingredients. We got the Beef Noodle Soup, Braised Pork over rice and the 3 Cup Chicken to share with 3 people. They included rice and radish soup complimentary with our meal. Couldn't even finish it all, so full! They have a few tables to dine in as well. Want to go back to eat the food fresh at the restaurant again. The prices went up a bit from before. Definitely recommended! read more

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We ordered pickup this time. The eggplant is 10/10. So delicious and not overly salty. The yam came as a surprise but works very well with the rest of the ingredients. The three cup chicken...is too innovative for me. The tofu skin is delicious, but the chicken is fried and it's sour. We called to ask if that's normal and were told that there is vinegar and ketchup in the marinade. I think it's a really weird choice. I really love sour stuff but I don't think that is a good combination. read more

Mama Lee - Basil eggplant - Chinese Near Me - Bayside, New York

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If you are expecting to be waited on and servers to keep your water glass filled, table cloths and fancy silverware, then you have gone to the wrong place. Mama Lee is all about home style cooking and serve yourself. Choose your cup and choice of tea or Poland spring water. A box of tissue and hand sanitizer at every table. We ordered pork chop, lions head, braised beef and cabbage with tofu rolls. We were comped with fish fillets, chicken soup and drinks. Everything was great and tasty. Something grandma would make if I still had one. The kids even loved the veggies. Ordered too much so took most of it home. Having it for dinner and still just as good! Thank you Mama Lee with your charm and generosity and just plain good cooking with lots of love that shows! read more

Mama Lee - Cabbage with tofu rolls, fried fish fillets, pork chops and purple rice. - Chinese Near Me - Bayside, New York

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Love Mama Lee's so much we were waiting for her to come back to this location! She never disappoints and you can tell everything is made with love. She runs the place and cooking all on her own. She is very sweet and will not take tip lol. The place is small so don't expect to go with a huge party. The popcorn chicken and pork chop are fried well and the popcorn chicken is a bit sweet (not my fav but my family loves). I love the beef noodle soup it is a rich in flavor broth and the beef is so tender. read more

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Mama lee has reopened in Bayside! Walking into Mama Lee feels less like stepping into a restaurant and more like walking into someone's home with a loving and generous mother. Mama lee truly radiates warmth and treats you like family, checks in to make sure you're good, and somehow makes the entire place feel cozy and personal. The food is just as comforting with generous portions, tender meats, perfectly cooked vegetables, and while it is salted a bit more heavily, everything is cooked to perfection. Everything tastes intentional, seasoned with heart as much as with salt. It is something I think about often after leaving, we will definitely be back! Highly recommended!! TLDR; feels like home, food is amazing, a bit on the heavier side but cooked perfectly read more

Mama Lee - Chinese Near Me - Bayside, New York

Recently learned about Mama Lee from an Instagram foodie page, and it's worth taking a trip to this fantastic Taiwanese restaurant. The staff was extremely friendly, and the portions were beyond generous. I went with a friend and shared the Lion's Head Meatballs and the 3 Cups Chicken, and these two dishes were PLENTIFUL. The restaurant, although simple, with four tables and a self-serve tea/water station, excels in its taste and customer service. I will happily go there again and hope that anyone on the fence takes the plunge into a palette-pleasing experience. read more

Mama Lee - Lion's Head Meatball - Chinese Near Me - Bayside, New York

So happy Mama Lee is open again in Bayside! We've missed her food and hospitality. Cozy simple dining area is clean and tidy. Thank you for this neighborhood gem. read more

Mama Lee - Mama Lee is back!!! Super yummy food with a healthy dose of cozy family friendly hospitality. Thank you. - Chinese Near Me - Bayside, New York

Food was good and fast service. I order take out too. The place is a little bit small, but friendly location with a foot traffic along Bell Blvd. read more

Great service and the food was much better than expected. Definitely going back to try other dishes.

Mama Lee is a sweetheart!! Food is amazing but the menu is very limited...almost like your at her home for a meal. read more

So happy mama lee is back. Food is as delicious as ever. Everything we ordered was delicious. read more

Mama Lee - Mama Lee's new menu - Chinese Near Me - Bayside, New York

Im so happy that Mama Lee is open again!! Look at these beautiful and delicious bento boxes read more

Mama Lee - Bento boxes - Chinese Near Me - Bayside, New York

I love Mama Lee because it's the most home-y environment that reminds me of the local Taiwanese shops I used to go to. The owner (Mama Lee) is so caring and treats her customers like she is inviting us into her home. Aside from that, the food is very authentic. I've tried many dishes and I recommend ordering more of the Chinese dishes that have a pleasant spice kick to it. read more

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Okay this is a very belated review. I ordered pickup on a Sunday... maybe a month or two ago? It was a rainy Sunday evening that I ordered 1 pork chop over rice and 2 lu ruo fan for my family. Apparently I was the last customer of the night and they took my order even though they were closing soon. Mama Lee gave us some extra pork chops for my family to share. It was a very kind warming gesture and I greatly appreciated it! For those who don't know, Mama Lee is primarily a "mom and pop" shop where she does majority of the cooking and sometimes manages the front. It is a small family owned business. I highly recommend good quality Taiwanese food not to mention that Asian Mom hospitality of making sure everyone is well fed! Oh, and also the food is great and the portions are generous! This is my second time visiting (first time being a few years ago). Support locally owned businesses! read more

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Came here for a casual weekend lunch. Did not need to make a reservation and waited maybe 10 mins. The restaurant is pretty small but people eat fairly quickly given the casual nature. It's mostly self-serve as well; you order at the counter and pay at the counter when you are done. There is water by the cashier that you can get yourself. Personally, I preferred this so we are not waiting to order and such. The food was very authentic Taiwanese, you get your traditional popcorn chicken and ground meat rice, loved the flavors! If you are looking for the more traditional traditional Taiwanese taste you would love it here! The price is super good, our whole meal was like $30, which is hard to find anywhere nowadays. Would definitely recommend! read more

Mama Lee - three plates of food on a table - Chinese Near Me - Bayside, New York

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We ate at Mama Lee's after watching the movie David and we were so glad we did. It was our first time there and we did not know what to expect. However, we knew we needed soft foods, no bones and not spicy foods for our members with special needs. We ordered the braised beef with broccoli heads, the fried fish filet on a bed of noodles, and the mildly spiced eggplant with basil. We also ordered their signature purple rice along with brown and white rice. The food was amazingly good, delicious and nutritious. Mama Lee uses the best and freshest ingredients. This home cooked Taiwanese style meal was so delicious, and the portions quite large that we all ate to our hearts content and were blessed to carry home some leftovers to share with our families at home. Thank you Dom and Hin for recommending Mama Lee's to us. We appreciate her generosity, hugs and her delicious home cooked style dishes. Truly, a hidden gem in Bayside. Michelle C. and Cemcq Special Needs Ministry read more

Taiwanese food with a home cooked feel to it. Mama was super warm and friendly. I was openly weighing my options between ordering the salt and pepper chicken with rice, or the pork chop with rice. I ended up choosing the chicken dish, but when I opened up the container at home, saw that she had also included two pork chops on top of the rice! The food was made with love in only ten minutes time. If you walk in and there isn't anyone there, just ring the bell or say hello. Credit cards are accepted. A water bottle comes with the meal. read more

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Today Mama Lee s Taiwan style pork chops really brought me back to Taipei instantly! They were like in tempura coding outside light n delicate. The aroma sent me to those Taiwanese night markets.... Another surprise was the Dai Kong soup. It was like a breeze in Spring, so refreshing! The service was nice and ppl spoke in family like soft, slow tone. It definitely differentiated from Chinese restaurants from mainland. The only thing I wish was they had Taiwanese Zongzi that I miss the most. read more

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I've been to Mama Lee a few times years ago and remember that I loved it! My family and I ordered take out back in November around Thanksgiving. Love the hospitality here, they are soo nice and caring and normally add some soups and random little add ons. We've gotten grape tomatoes to beef jerky! So cute and nice. We loved the dishes so much, we actually ordered again to celebrate Christmas! Our favorite dishes- three cup chicken, sautéed string beans and the braised pork, tofu and egg over rice. read more

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The food was delicious and the service great. Walk in and help yourself to tea or an orange while waiting. We ordered the fish and pork chops. It's not a place for a large group. Only a few small tables as most do take-out. read more

Mama Lee - Mama Lee Taiwanese Food - gem in an ocean of take-out places. This is a storefront pic I took on way out... - Chinese Near Me - Bayside, New York

If you're looking for delicious, authentic Taiwanese food, look no further! This is one of my favorite mom & pop shops! It's a local Taiwanese restaurant with great service and delicious food. The prices are also good for the portions given. There's a variety of different dishes that are perfect for sharing but also individual dishes such as the classic beef noodle soup or braised pork over rice. I've been ordering from here for years and typically get take out. I usually pick a variety of dishes to share, family style, and each one comes with a choice of white or purple rice. I love all their dishes but definitely get the large pork meatballs (aka lion's head meatballs) and string beans! All their dishes are seasoned well and pairs best with rice. They also give complimentary soup with every order. Highly recommend supporting this local shop if you're looking for a tasty meal and comfort food. read more

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I had a great experience dining in at Mama Lee! Food 3.5/5, but service is outstanding (very friendly and kind people working here!). Ambiance is more like I'm coming over to a friend and have their mom-made food. Casual and no frills! The lady owner/chef came out and checked on us near the end, and she topped our rice bowl with even more rice, veggie & a piece of braised rib. Fried chicken pieces were dusted with some salt, pepper & sugar seasoning. They're as expected but not the best I've had. I wish we switched out to the purple rice because the I didn't like how the white rice was a bit mushy. Ok dish! The beef noodle soup is flavorful, and there are 4 big pieces of beef shank. So soft and tender! Also good amount of book choy in there! The noodle shape isn't my most favorite type for this specific dish, but overall, I think it's a solid bowl. A little big for 1 person, but great to share! I'd totally go back to try out other dishes or pick up some food togo if I lived near Mama Lee, but it's a bit far off our way from Brooklyn. Worth a stop if you're nearby and crave homemade Chinese/Taiwanese food. read more

Mama Lee - salt & pepper chicken, minced pork, mustard green & cabbage stir-fry - Chinese Near Me - Bayside, New York

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Took my grandma here (she complains about EVERYTHING) and even my grandma loved this place!! Mama Lee was so generous and took such good care of my granny... wouldn't even accept tips and prevented us from over ordering. just love LOVEEE this place so much! read more

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I think my European, Australian, Japanesian, literally anywherean outside of America brothas, can get behind the no-tax no-tax policy. Much to the chagrin of other patrons, this allusive business is known for their sporadic and irregular operating days. So when we realized that they were open, it became a cause for celebration since we're infrequently in the neighborhood. As a group of 4, we powered through the menu and order the greatest hits ( minus the popcorn chicken :'( ). First up was the complimentary clear chicken soup. A broth so refreshing, you'd wish you were sick. I can't tell if this appetizer was courtesy for all dine-in patrons or they were just being extra hospitable to the mother-in-law. Round 2 was the Lion's head meatball that was so absolutely tender, a stripper with daddy issues gave more resistance. Pro tip: use the oyster sauce gravy for literally anything else. (Perhaps spice up that sex life). Speaking of spice, the chili oil was very robust in flavor without violently handling your tongue (must have). Round 3: Hong Shao Tofu (home style). I'm convinced more people would transition to plant-based food items, with the right sauce. Round 4: Deep Fried Porkchops-- LET'S GOOOOOOOOO. The dish itself comes with around 5 hand sized cutlets (sorry Conservatives, not Trump hand sized) that run on the thin side but also crispier. I was taken aback by the choice of seasoning as there was a peculiar sweetness and familiar florality. Several bites in and it dawned on me: this is a cinnastick. For the more cultured people reading this, a cinnastick is Dominoe's breadsticks dipped in a cinnamony powder. It's dense, it's delicious, don't judge me. Cinnamon and sugar were an interesting choice for porkchops but I'm with it. 5: And to end our journey is the savory oyster sauce ladened mushroom dish. It was a nice healthy finisher to cut through the savoriness of the last dishes. read more

Is the bayside location even open anymore? Food is only good if you can eat it, this place is closed more often than not. I guess that means the service is bad? But the owner is very generous with portions ... when you can manage to get a hold of them. I hear they have a Brooklyn location. Feeling very second rate in this side of town... read more

Mama Lee is special. Since coming here years ago, I've been searching for better restaurants that serve my favorites dishes: Taiwanese beef noodle soup and dandan mian. I certainly found some that are better than Mama Lee, but her cooking is still unquestionably good. So why 5 stars rather than a 4? Because you'll be hard-pressed to find another restaurant that gives you the same feeling that Mama Lee does when you're dining in her establishment. Even though other restaurants might serve slightly tastier dishes, and even though you might enjoy the aesthetic of other venues more, eating at Mama Lee will evoke feelings of familial love. I haven't experienced that in any other restaurant in my life. Dining here made me feel as though she was my grandma making a home cooked meal for me. She treated us as though we were part of her family, with some The Farewell (2019) vibes. No spoilers but eating here felt incredibly warm, and I'm looking forward to re-experiencing that. YMMV though obviously. Speaking Mandarin probably helps lol. read more

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Great spot for a delicious home cooked Taiwanese meal! They're only doing take-out during this time and they have a limited menu so make sure you call ahead to see their availabilities. Their hours can be erratic and it took us 6 months to finally try it out since moving in to the neighborhood. To eat we had the Lion head meatball, which comes with 2 giant meatballs, an order of the 3 cup chicken and the eggplant in garlic sauce. The meatballs were juicy and flavorful and the 3 cup chicken was the best i've had. The eggplant in garlic sauce had pieces of pork in it and lots of garlic. Very fragrant and tasty. The best part was that nothing was over salted. Seasoning is on point and they offer purple rice which was a nice healthy alternative. There's also complimentary soup, and i'm not talking about the msg packed kind. This is soup you can imagine your mom makes for a family dinner. Overall, a great little restaurant for tasty Taiwanese dishes. Excited to try more from their menu and hoping they'll bring some more items back! read more

We are usuals at this location but went to visit her Williamsburg location because it's been too long and we needed a dose of Mama Lee's love and heartwarming food. She informed us that she's trying to get the staff settled there before returning to Bayside, hopefully sometime 2024. Williamsburg is doing very well at it's much larger and trendy location with more staff but she expressed how much she missed being at the Bayside location. If any of you regulars have time, drop on by the new place to show her some love. Plenty of street parking nearby. read more

I love this adorable restaurant. The aunty that runs the place is super friendly and hospitable, you feel like you're in the home of a relative on a visit, not picking up food haha xD Portions are truly American-sized, the lids almost have trouble staying shut. Value for money??? YES!!! Like their fellow Taiwanese restaurant Chimama, Mama Lee's delivers hearty home-style food. Some dishes can be a bit heavy but it's guaranteed that your heart and belly will both be content. I highly recommend the eggplant dishes, the tofu and mixed pork over rice ($11.50) is fantastic also. Parking nearby is easy enough and they have card OR cash payment. Stop by, you won't be disappointed! ^^ ~ read more

Mama Lee - a restaurant with tables and chairs - Chinese Near Me - Bayside, New York

Mom and pop shop. Super nice people, food is amazing for the price and portion size. Maximum seating is 4 a group. Highly recommend the mopa tofu and rice, and beef noodle soup. No need to tip, but we tipped because the mama was really nice to us. Cash preferred. read more

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First time going there at their store opening 11:30am. Greeted by a nice lady and I ordered Zha Jiang noodles and Taiwanese pork chop over rice. After 20 minutes, the lady handed me the food and she said for next time to not do walk in anymore as they're call to order and recommended a day before. Wow. Place must be great. I did like the Zha Jiang noodle but wasn't impressed with the Taiwanese pork chop compared to all those that remember 69 in Flushing. read more

Small but intimate no-frills restaurant! There are only 2 tables that seat 3-4 people so make sure to call ahead to check for availability if you decide to dine-in. It seems like Mama Lee handles both the orders and the cooking, so there may be a bit of a wait depending on the day/time. You order at the counter, and there's complimentary tea while you wait :) It was only Mama Lee working that day, but our food came out pretty quickly even though it seemed like she was juggling with a bunch of takeout orders as well. We ordered the beef noodle soup, and it was probably the best I've had in NY! Not greasy/oily at all, and the soup was soo tasty. There was also a good portion of beef as well, which is always a plus! The other dish we ordered was the braised pork over rice which was soo delicious as well. The meats for both dishes were very tender, and the pork was perfectly braised. Make sure to get a side of chili oil if you like an extra kick ;) Mama Lee is so so sweet, and her cooking really tastes like home Would highly recommend checking this place out! read more

Mama Lee - Beef noodle soup! Look at that portion size - Chinese Near Me - Bayside, New York

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This is one of the best mom-n-pop businesses of the borough and certainly a contender for best Taiwanese in all of NYC. Mama Lee is such a wonderful establishment that I don't think I could give it a higher recommendation if I tried. They are a five star spot that shines bright in an otherwise drab part of Bayside; all while serving up some of the best Asian comfort fare in the whole city. Anyone who is a fan of the cuisine owe it themselves to pay this place a visit. The place is so small that it I think it has something like 4 tables in it. Decor is minimal and the front area is cluttered with all sorts of stuff; almost like you're in someone's home. It is fitting after all, the food is strictly comfort but has the kind of variety that would put other restaurants to shame. Mama Lee is real; she runs the house, answers the phone, and even cooks a lot of the food. She has a lot of busy bees helping her in the back, but she's always very eager to greet folks as they come into the door. I don't even know where to start with the food. I have deliberately ordered random things in hopes of seeing Mama Lee serve me something I didn't actually like. Yet everything is wonderful. I love the multigrain rice. The picked fish fillets are extremely tasty. The lions head and string beans are off the chain. Her pork chops are straight fire, the salt and pepper chicken is full of flavor and the mapo tofu is very good. Three cup chicken and braised five spice beef is strangely addicting. I especially love the fried egg with turnip and tomato + egg dishes since they're extremely homestyle. But of course, no one is perfect. This isn't a place for large groups (#1), the prices might feel expensive (average main dish is $15+) and she runs out of dishes all the time. The latter is what happens when places use just enough to keep things fresh. Definitely call ahead of time (#2) to verify if your preferred dishes are available. I don't come here nearly enough. Once this pandemic is over and I can roam the mean streets of Bayside freely again, I will surely pay Mama Lee a visit. ___________ (#1) And that was before COVID. (#2) Mama Lee speaks English well. Fear not non-Mando friends. read more

Never judge a book by its cover! Came into this small restaurant it's like discovering a amazing hidden gem. Food is delicious, fresh and authentic. Mama Lee is super friendly and approachable. Will definitely comeback read more

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Everything tastes like a homecooked meal in Taiwan. Always a treat when I venture out to Queens for small businesses like this, it warms my heart =) It is true what others have said that service can be slow and sporadic but that's because it's a one woman team. I don't know how the owner does it, she takes the orders, does all the cooking, phone calls, and packs the food. Also true that she is super friendly and warm. read more

Mama Lee's is one of the best "home-cooked" / comfort food spots in Bayside. It's a neighborhood gem as many have said here on Yelp. I've had the lucky chance to have tried it many times via take out. During this Pandemic, more than ever before, it's vital to frequent our local mom and pop run joints. While she's serving a limited menu at this time, it's enough to give you a taste of why this spot is a favorite. Not only is Mama Lee's food like a taste of home, she's really like "mama" when I came by to pick up my order. She said to me, "wow, your order was so much meat, you need to eat some vegetables". And in true mama form, she gave me an order of sauteed veggies with oyster sauce - with her compliments. This pick up, I ordered (something for lunch and for dinner): - Fried pork chop over rice (Taiwanese style) - excellent, fried to perfection with the pork still juicy and so much flavor, generous portion as well. - salt and pepper fried chicken - crispy and packaged properly, no top lid, just bagged with the paper bag to keep it from getting cold while not letting the steam cause moisture. Smart! - Lions Head Pork Meatballs - hands down the best pork Meatballs ever. They were moist, tender and paired with cabbage. It was two orange sized shaped meatballs, huge!! This was the entree portion. There is a version over rice for a smaller meal. - Jia Jiang Noodle with pork and tofu (sauce was so savory, the pork was minced and tofu cubed). A complete meal over flat thin noodles. Okay so it was a lot of meat but everyone wanted something particular. Lots of good eats. The pic of the current menu shows you what's available to order. The crossed out dishes means it's currently not available. (Note: try to call ahead and order as the prep time is approx 30 mins). I did a walk in on this visit because the line was busy each time I called. That's a good sign that she's busy. :-) read more

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