Guan Dong House

Friendly service. Interesting food and decor. The fish looked great and tasted good but not as good as it looked. It was spicy but not excessively so. The cucumber with egg and wood ear mushrooms and the lotus root with wood ear mushrooms were both great. I look forward to trying their hotpot next time.

I'm giving five stars for authentic cuisine from the area that was once called Manchuria by westerners. I was very happy to have food that represented that region of China. It was quite and uncrowded when I went. I strongly suspect it's more popular with immigrants from China, and those who speak a common language with them. Whatever the situation, everything in the menu had an image for the dish. They even serve uncommon things that may include frog or something else that you may find exotic. Some people may complain because their taste buds are unfamiliar with lesser known Chinese foods, or because authentic dishes may have bones in them, or even just complaining that the wait staff don't speak English well. I give five stars because everything was prompt, the dining area wasn't full, and these people truly deserve business. If you can imagine moving to China and opening a restaurant there that is staffed with your English speaking family who are trying to present great service and food then you'll come closer to enjoying the entire experience here. There were lots of quirky things I could imagine would annoy people who are accustomed to having everything just so and right when they want it and how they want it, but this truly was a wonderful date night for me. Try not to be annoyed if a server checks their mobile phone while on the floor, or otherwise does something unlike a ritzy CA store employee. As a cultural and culinary contact experience, it was great. They truly, truly deserve more business.

I feel very sorry for SJ to lose such a quite unique Chinese restaurant....Before I moved elsewhere I used to come very often, enjoying a wide varieties of cuisines from Northern part of China, the Manchurian! I have never had problems with the reasonably priced, best-taste, authentic chive pockets, eggplants, and dumpling you can find in this country. Anyone can tell me where the owner and cooks are right now?