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| - This cafe is really ... "Asian" - it's hard to describe, but funnily enough it's always the first word that comes to mind. The decor and silverware and plates and everything is really reminiscent of an Asian cafe, which is appropriate I guess.
I've been here twice so far and it's given me enough confidence that I'd try more of their dishes. The menu is small enough that one can realistically hope for quality over quantity, and it's solely Taiwanese food instead of generic Americanized Chinese.
We had shabu shabu the first time, and while it's no AYCE in Chinatown Chicago, there was more than enough food to completely stuff me for $18 - veggies, tofu, mushrooms, an adequate serving of meat, and mung bean noodles. I loved their self serve sauce station since one of my favorite parts about hot pot personally is mixing and creating sauces.
The spicy soup base tastes and looks just like storebought ma la soup base for $1 - but my friend found hers too mild and they brought a whole bowl out so she could help herself - love the generous auntie in the back.
The salted pepper chicken is delicious :) Crispy fried, delicately seasoned, and very flavorful.
The luroufan (marinated pork with rice?) is a staple, and they definitely nailed it - much better than Everyday Noodle! Excited for the noodle soup, based on this.
Their bubbletea selection is smaller but their original and "mountain" milk tea is pretty good. I find them to be on the sweeter side - esp with honey still stuck on the sides of the cup - but the texture and flavor of the boba and teas is still pretty on point. Maybe next time I could ask for less sweetener and that'd solve the problem, and that's a much smaller problem compared to some other offerings in the city.
The service is a bit removed/shy, but polite and attentive enough in the front. Occasionally the woman (owner?) comes and she's super friendly and makes me want to return more, especially to feel like I'm being taken care of by an auntie or something :)
Overall, very solid taste of Asia in Pittsburgh. I'm so glad a place like this exists now. Love seeing my little hometown grow ;D
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