The Best Little Cafe

Whenever I shop at Lotte, I always stop by this little Asian restaurant (carryout only). Stuart, the owner, is so nice. I always enjoy visiting him and the nice lady who also works there. I don't remember her relationship to Stuart. I like their Roast Duck, but the last few times, I got it, the ducks were a bit skinny. I ate it all in one setting with my little 13lb dog. I think the duck was around $35 each. An expensive meal, but delicious! Too bad that the weekend is the best time to go, when they have all sorts of dim sum and some cooked meals and soup. The soup was real good. During the week, they have a limited menu. I believe the dim sum might have been frozen like the other restaurants. I usually order the same thing, and my favorite is their supersized sesame balls. Their roast pig and BBQ pork are good, too, but I like the roast pig better, and so does my dog. Believe it or not, my dog is very finicky, but she sure does like roast ducks and roast pig.

Few may understand why this nondescript section in the wall [inside the Lotte Plaza Market] that is away from the main food court on the other side of the market should deserve 5 stars. Ready? Ok here goes: authentic Chinese hanging BBQ behind a window as if you're at a Chinatown (e.g. roast pork, Peking duck, char-sui, roast quail, smoked chicken), chicken feet, large block fried tofu, fried shrimp, bitter melon, pork stuffed mantou buns, Chinese Sticky Rice Wrapped in Lotus Leaf (Lo Mai Gai), egg custard, stewed-spiced tripe, and other truly TRULY wonderful entrees <--- and all freshly made, not trucked in. The lunch special is loaded with 3 pick entrees and soup. There is no General Tzo's or mutant-like thick-glazed 'goo-moo-gai-whatever' dishes here. Is there another single place where all these Cantonese epicurean goodness in one place [ around Chantilly ]? Answer is no around here. Maybe a restaurant has 1 or 2 but not all this. Plus, I am a big fan of paying for the food and not snarky waiters. The husband and wife team running this place are hands-down awesome (BUT if you give them lip, they respond in kind as they should). They even taught me how to cook with some of their left over items --- especially the roast duck heads. Now I buy 2-5 duck heads every time I go. To my dear reader, you come here for Canton authenticity and sustenance. If you are looking for food that is complimented with a waitress or conversation, I hear there are several American chains that build-in these non-food costs into your meal. A place like this which churns out original flavors that reminds one of being in Chinatown, this place is truly a diamond in the rough. Yes..... They actually have those yummy succulent roast quail 🤣

Ducks