I wrote a series of articles about this restaurant a few months ago and after a visit to the restaurant today, I decided to continue the series. The mood just seemed perfect, so I asked the owner of the restaurant if I could take some photos of the people as well as some shots of the buffet and he gladly gave me permission. So here goes..meet the gang.
Pictured to the right is Chen, the owner of the restaurant. Pictured to the left is Chen's wife, Opie. Chen and Opie are a very hospitable and hard working young couple. You would be hard pressed to find nicer people anywhere.
Here's a solo shot of Chen. Proud owner, don't you think? This guy runs a very tight ship while at the same time maintaining a friendly work environment for his employees. Pretty impressive for such a young man.
A solo shot of Opie. Opie doubles as hostess and waitress. The restaurant has a couple of part time waitresses who work during the lunch hour and on the weekends, however when they aren't on duty, Opie pulls double duty and I must say that she does a pretty darn good job.
Meet James Bond. Yep, that's his English nickname. James is the chef as well as the resident vocalist. You should hear this guy sing! James was a bit shy to have his photo taken because his clothes were a bit dirty, however I gave my cellphone to Chen and he took this shot of James working in the kitchen.
Below are some shots of the buffet.
Opie suggested that I take a shot of the Sushi bar, so here it is. This Sushi bar is a favorite of the local Asian students. Perhaps that's why it was a bit depleated.
The Mongolian grill. During dinner and on weekends, you get a free Sirloin steak to go along with the food that you choose from the grill. Total cost of the buffet, Mongolian grill and Sirloin steak along with your drink...$10.31. Hard to beat, eh?
Crab legs.
Yep, you guessed it...Crawfish!
Chen must have a hillbilly cooking up these frog legs. Either that or James Bond has been hanging out with some of the locals. Let me tell you, these frog legs taste just like the Southern style frog legs that I have eaten in the past.
Again, these photos as well as this article have been published with the permission of Chen and Opie. I must say that I had a blast taking these shots. Chen and Opie got a kick out of it as well and that made this experience even more enjoyable!
Chen and Opie asked me to e-mail this article to them, so hopefully we can get the couple to chime in with some comments later.
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Comments: 38
Cynthia..Of course Sushi and the food on the Mongolian grill aren't Chinese food, but neither is Serloin steak. However the restaurant serves those food because their customers love those foods. By the way, most Chinese restaurants in this area have a Mongolian grill as well as a Sushi bar. Also, most of the food on the buffets of those restaurants isn't authentic Chinese food either. I've eaten authentic Chinese food and it isn't the same.
And by the way, I can travel 50 miles in either direction and find numerous Chinese restaurants and I've eaten at all of them. So in this case, you and your boyfriend aren't dealing with the stereotypical barefoot hillbilly.
Tell your boyfriend to do some research and get back with me.
Chen and Opie seem like a very nice couple. My family's had a couple of family-owned-and-operated restaurants over the years, so I know how hard this young couple must be working. Good food, friendly owners and staff, plus James Bond the Singing Chef -- what more could anybody ask for?
One thing I gotta know -- do they prepare the crawfish Chinese-style?
Wil...I'm not sure. I've eaten crawfish before when I lived in Louisiana and it did nothing for me. Since then, I shy away from those critters.
BTW....Don't come to the false conclusion that you and I are buds. I still wouldn't trust you as far as I could throw you.
That being said, I much prefer the small 'hole-in-the-wall' restaurants that only have authentic Korean, Vietnamese, Thai foods that haven't been 'Americanized". Gotta go to the bigger cities where there is a large Asian community to find the really good stuff.
I like to find one of these restaurants where the menu is in their native language and just picking something. I have no idea what's going to be set in front of me, but you can bet I will eat it. I'll pretty much eat anything that is set in front me anyway. lol
I'll have to post a pic of some Asian chicken feet I made a few weeks ago. Yummo!
My Asian Chicken Feet
How do you post a picture into a comment, other than posting the link?
Deb.....Thanks.
Sarina.....You gotta try frog legs!
Could you go grab me a plate of those crab legs and some melted butter??? Please???
I enjoyed meeting the people who serve you.
Connie...Thanks!
I loved the peak inside your favorite Chinese eatery.
"Getting to know" the owner & his wife was nice as well.
Chen and Opie look like cool folks.
I loved the proud owner shot, the couple photo and the Sushi bar made me wish I could have been there tonight!!!!
Very funny....Very cool....Small tight-nit families like that in small communities are what make living in places like you do so enjoyable........
Great article!!!!
Todd...you are so right my friend, but for the life of me I don't see what you coonases get out of those Crawfish! LOL !
Joy...Thanks! Chen and Opie had just as much fun as I did taking those photos.
Ooops..That should have been " coonasses "
They seem to have a great business sense about them. Offering food that everyone likes, they'll be in business for a long time with that kind of service and hopitality.
Thanks for putting a 'face' to this series. It gives us a better feel for the restaurant, and the people that you describe. I prefer Cantonese, but there aren't any of those types of restaurants around here anymore. And I LOOOOVE crawdads!!
I agree! Cantonese shrimp, battered with Tempura and plenty of HOT mustard and plum sauce!! Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!!
Here ya go:
Now as for those awful looking chicken feet, not even a nibble.
*Sorry, I threw up just a little.* LOL
That's Lee Ann's picture. I posted it for her because she didn't know how to do it. Ain't I a nice guy?
LOL!!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but, isn't one of those chicken feet flippin' us off?
H.G. .....Looks like the one in the upper right hand corner is flippin' Wil off! LOL !!