Ever wondered to take-out Chinese food on a movie night?
Well I did. Chinese Lo Mein with General Tso's Chicken/Orange Chicken/etc. Bleep!
"They are not Chinese!" screams a person who owns an authentic Chinese restaurant up here in Dallas, TX, USA. He vows to serve his customers, traditional delicacies straight from his hometown province, Chongqing and I have never been as excited to try it out, for the specialty is HOTPOT!
It was Sino House Bar & Restaurant. A huge location situated in a complex with an equivalently large space, this place had no issues of parking, whatsoever.
Moving on, I happened to visit this newly opened restaurant around 3PM when the rush is quite minimal to get a perfect gist of the place.
A beautiful and well lit interior greeted me while I entered the restaurant. This place is humongous. It has a standalone bar, dining tables and booths. The restaurant was heavily invested and the owner says it would surely pay off in the long run due to the authenticity he brings to the locals. I hope it's true and I set out for my dishes.
First one to get me started was,
Pork Xiao Long Bao. These soupy dumplings are the perfect way to start the meal and I was in no way of messing around it. Served in traditional & tiny bamboo steaming baskets, it started on the right note. The dough is translucent and not too thick and filled with minced pork and shrimp and herbs. The gelatin stuffed in the dumpling was pork broth and is filled to brim after steaming them.
Popped one right in after soaking them in soy sauce. The piping hot soup just burst into my mouth and I have gone numb for a while. After I got back from that sensation, I started tasting the meat which was fresh and perfectly paired with the broth. However, I would have expected it to be more flavorful as it was reasonably bland and put me off. But the doughy dumplings with the broth is an experience well worth it.
Taste: 7/10
Next up is their signature dish,
It was Lamb Mala Pot. A pot placed over an ignited stove and the stew bubbling over as you stare at it excitingly had me at jitters. The flavor was protruding all over the place and I couldn't help but take it all in.
Served alongside a choice of steamed/fried rice, I opted for the former. I took a sip of the spicy stew filled with tender chunks of braised lamb mixed with bean sprouts and bok choy and this was a numbing sensation I have never experienced. Ever!
The flavors were spot on and the oil from the lamb fat along with the chili oil were a match made in heaven. The spices paired perfectly with the lamb and the greens were apt for it. No wonder, we shouldn't mess with the originals.
I took some huge chunks of lamb and put it on my plate along with piping hot steamed rice. I am so fortunate to have had this type of authentic chinese food in USA. The lamb is so tender and well marinated that it melts right away. Have it along with the stew, rice and lamb, this is a meal you definitely wouldn't want to back out on. A definite winner!
There were many such authentic signature dishes such as Tea Smoked Duck and Beggar's Chicken to name a few but I was quite full with my Hotpot.
Taste: 9/10
And, dessert always makes up some place.
So, I got Sesame Balls. Also, known as Jian Dui, these fried Chinese pastries are made from glutinous rice flour and is coated with sesame seeds on the outside. The inside was a stuffing of lotus paste and was chewy. Not overly sweet but definitely something to try. The dessert was not something I would prefer to order again as I set my standards high for the readers who look out for genuinity. The chewy texture and the not-so-sweet filling has not succeeded in satisfying my appetite.
Taste: 6/10
Looking for an authentic fare in Dallas? You know where to end up.
Details
Sino House
18020 Dallas Pkwy Dallas, TX 75287
(469) 212-9706
Overall
Taste: 7/10
Ambience: 9.5/10
Service: 8/10
Value For Money: 8.5/10
