Here are a couple posts appropriate for any "Fry-Day".
T.P. Banh Bao:
Have you ever headed out for lunch thinking you want something and then suddenly changing your mind at the destination? Such was the case on this day. I needed to take my lunch at a rather odd hour and thought I'd just head on over to R & B. When I arrived, I just didn't feel that hungry....nor did I feel like having any Filipino food.
Looking down the strip mall I saw TP Banh Bao....well, it had been a while, right? I could just grab a couple of Banh Bao and head back to the office.
In order to get the fried pork, salted egg yolk, and sausage Banh Bao, I had to order three. So I got three of those and two of the steamed pork with quail egg and sausage.
Returning to the office; I immediately gave away one of the fried and one of the steamed.
A lot of folks complain about the size to price ratio of these. And they may be right....to a point. You see; there's a ton of filling to the amount of bread. The steamed bao had started to go soggy; though the filling was porky, though a bit on the mealy and dry side. Not enough sausage for my taste as well.
The fried bao, was still crisp as I sliced it in half. Frying ensures that it holds together. I think the frying also intensifies the sweetness of this as well.
The filling was moist, with a decent porkiness; but man, this was so rich. I ended up giving away that last fried bao.
Now I know...at TP; I'm a two bao guy.....
T.P. Banh Bao 3
11271 Camino Ruiz
San Diego, CA 92126
Royal Mandarin:
At the end of one of my meetings; one of the folks asked me to come back to her office. She brought me a bag.....I immediately knew the smell of Royal Mandarin's Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings. I just started to crack-up. You see, a couple of months back, we were chatting before our meeting and she asked about what to get for an upcoming pot luck. I told her just be like everyone in National City and get wings from Royal Mandarin.....she had no idea what I was talking about! I told her she was the only person of Filipino descent in National City who didn't know about Royal Mandarin!!!!
I guess she knows now.....
She got me an order of Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings and Shrimp Fried Rice...….an nice ABCDE (American Born Chinese Dining Establishment) meal if there ever was one.
This was way to much food for me; so when I got back to my desk, I made myself a plate, and gave away the rest.
The wings looked a pale in color, but was nice and crisp. That's the thing about RM wings; the crispness lasts. The wings seemed a bit lighter than usual; though the salt-pepper-garlic "crack like" (MSG) flavor was still there. I was pleasantly surprised at how well the shrimp was cooked; plump and moist. This was typical ABCDE fried rice; fairly dry, each grain coated.
Man, has it been nine years since we did our great salt and pepper chicken wing comparison? Seems like yesterday. Time sure does fly.....
Here's to you Howie, Candice, Sarah, Jenne, Mr & Mrs Zompus, and Dennis!
Royal Mandarin Restaurant
1132 E. Plaza Blvd
National City, CA 91950
Ahh good memories! We frequently get fried chicken wings from a Vietnamese/Chinese noodle place near our house, but they're not as good as the ones from the Great Chicken Wing-Off.
Posted by: MrZ | Friday, 29 June 2018 at 08:26 PM
Lucky! Those are good wings!
Posted by: Soo | Saturday, 30 June 2018 at 07:01 AM
Great memories MrZ! Good to hear from you!
Very lucky Soo!
Posted by: Kirk | Saturday, 30 June 2018 at 03:25 PM
nice!
Posted by: kat | Saturday, 30 June 2018 at 04:11 PM
It was Kat!
Posted by: Kirk | Saturday, 30 June 2018 at 05:08 PM
Those are good wings. I've been eating wings from 777 and Pan Asia buffet. They're the closest. Thats a lot of fried rice! lol
Posted by: TFD | Saturday, 30 June 2018 at 10:27 PM
Hard to find North of the 94 TFD.
Posted by: Kirk | Sunday, 01 July 2018 at 06:20 PM
I love the fried baos. Makes for a tasty breakfast item on those days I'm short on timr. So glad it is close to home! The Royal Mandarin wings are awesome :)
Posted by: Lynn @ Oh-So Yummy | Tuesday, 03 July 2018 at 08:31 AM
I'm about done after one of those fried Banh Bao Lynn.....tastes much better than the steamed though. It was good to know that the wings at Royal Mandarin are still good.
Posted by: Kirk | Tuesday, 03 July 2018 at 11:54 AM