My apologies for the lack of posts. The last two weeks have been super busy for me. After finishing up work, I'd just be so fried that the last thing I really wanted to do was sit down at the PC (again, after having it in front of me the whole day). I finally actually had some time to rest this weekend....so hopefully, things will start getting better in the upcoming weeks.
Though getting this text yesterday morning did put me in that "good lord, what next" kinda mood.
Anyway, I was doing some shopping at 99 Ranch Market; the Missus was working and I decided to get something for dinner at the food court to take home with me for dinner. After taking a quick look; I decided to trying some Yang Rou Pao Mo from Shann Xi Magic Kitchen. After all, I hadn't visited since before the pandemic. Plus, after a couple of days of unseasonal warm weather - we hadn't had temps in the 70's since November, things had cooled off and we even got some drizzles....so it was good weather for some soup.
As always, the young ladies working seem to not really want to be here, but I guess I expected that. The menu now seems skewed to Sichuan dishes rather than Shanxi (Jin) dishes...hmmm..... Still I went and ordered the Yang Rou Pao Mo ($12.99) and went shopping. When I returned, I waited and asked a couple of times; before finding out that my order had been lying on the counter for a while.....
I unpacked the container upon arriving home; the soup was still nice and hot. And so I poured everything into a bowl.
And to be honest, this was better than what what I'd had before. I'm not going to beat that "too bad the pao mo here in San Diego is nothing like how it's supposed to be" dead horse anymore. If I ignore that; then I can easily say the lamb was super tender and gamey; there was nice amount of frozen tofu and bamboo shoots and best of all; the broth wasn't overly salty and had just the right amount of white pepper and muttony flavors. This might be the best version I've had in San Diego...perhaps I need to try the version from Green China Grill again?
What was interesting is that; even with the crazy price increases; the Yang Rou Pao Mo was just a dollar more than what I last paid for it in 2019......though now they charge you 50 cents for takeout containers.
Shann Xi Magic Kitchen
5950 Balboa Ave (In the 99 Ranch Market Food Court)
San Diego, CA 92111
Thanks for visiting; I've missed you all and it felt great doing a post again! Have a great week!
I missed you too Kirk! With minimum wage at $15 now I don't go out to eat as much as I used to. I was at Gyutan Tsukasa in Costa Mesa last week and got 2 x 12 pc bento boxes to go and it was $50!
Posted by: Junichi | Monday, 17 January 2022 at 02:54 PM
glad you are okay!
Posted by: kat | Monday, 17 January 2022 at 08:13 PM
That's the first place I've seen charge for a takeout container. Last week I got scared off at the deli inside Ranch 99. They were charging $25 for a soy sauce chicken. Last time I bought one it was $9.99.
Posted by: Soo | Tuesday, 18 January 2022 at 08:44 AM
Also increased costs of material and other costs; which I think is affecting things even more Junichi. Thanks for hanging in there waiting for another post!
We are Kat....just really busy at work.
That must have been one heck of a chicken Soo! ;o)
Posted by: Kirk | Tuesday, 18 January 2022 at 11:22 AM