Wan Lai - Atlanta Restaurant Review, Chinese
When food comes out fire hot and the steam rises from the plate as if to say I'm alive, I have soul, devour me.
A certain response is required, a certain affection towards the restaurant, the cook, and the experience.
Whether this happens in a restaurant or your mother's kitchen, it's always welcomed and appreciated.
It's difficult to try the stripmall Chinese restaurant these days.
There's a chance you'll get simple americanized food that's as interesting as eating at Panda Express.
It becomes even more difficult when the popular Malaysian restaurant Penang sits at one end, and then next door a lies a Vietnamese spot full of diners - while Wan Lai the Chinese restaurant sits nearly empty.
Do you really want to risk it? After so many uniquely great experiences in a row without a single miss, why take the chance? Why try something new that might be just like everything else? The signs don't look good.
I would comment on the decor (no comment) but I stopped focusing on such things a while back in favor of the food - always the food now.
Feed me.
Feed me at the side of the street.
Feed me out of the trunk of your car.
Just make sure it's really good.
Wan Lai isn't on anyone's radar and it probably won't ever appear on anyone's radar - I almost prefer it that way.
Generally avoiding anything I can get at P.
F.
Chang's these days, I ordered chow fen si (basically beef strips cooked with onions and thin rice noodles) while my girlfriend asked for Yu-xiang qie-zi (Chinese eggplant cooked in one of several main sauces from Sichuan.
) After a few moments, both orders arrived extremely hot, with the steam rising from the food as if the essence from the fire wok had been flash infused.
Maybe it was the fact that we didn't order general Tso's chicken.
Maybe not ordering orange beef and Kung Pao anything was appreciated.
Who knows, but on this particular day the food was special.
Perhaps the cook felt like flexing a bit and fired all burners, adding some heart to our meals.
There is always an unidentifiable quality within food that soars.
Beyond simple flavors derived from obvious spices, beyond any attempts at being impressive and actually delivering fulfillment.
Wan Lai is a hole in the wall and no one knows it.
If the food is always this good, I hope it stays that way.
It's a comfortable spot to stray away from the regular menu and search for some excellent surprises.
Review Summary: 4.
6 out of 5 4897 Buford Hwy Suite 104 Atlanta, GA 30341 (770) 216-8587
A certain response is required, a certain affection towards the restaurant, the cook, and the experience.
Whether this happens in a restaurant or your mother's kitchen, it's always welcomed and appreciated.
It's difficult to try the stripmall Chinese restaurant these days.
There's a chance you'll get simple americanized food that's as interesting as eating at Panda Express.
It becomes even more difficult when the popular Malaysian restaurant Penang sits at one end, and then next door a lies a Vietnamese spot full of diners - while Wan Lai the Chinese restaurant sits nearly empty.
Do you really want to risk it? After so many uniquely great experiences in a row without a single miss, why take the chance? Why try something new that might be just like everything else? The signs don't look good.
I would comment on the decor (no comment) but I stopped focusing on such things a while back in favor of the food - always the food now.
Feed me.
Feed me at the side of the street.
Feed me out of the trunk of your car.
Just make sure it's really good.
Wan Lai isn't on anyone's radar and it probably won't ever appear on anyone's radar - I almost prefer it that way.
Generally avoiding anything I can get at P.
F.
Chang's these days, I ordered chow fen si (basically beef strips cooked with onions and thin rice noodles) while my girlfriend asked for Yu-xiang qie-zi (Chinese eggplant cooked in one of several main sauces from Sichuan.
) After a few moments, both orders arrived extremely hot, with the steam rising from the food as if the essence from the fire wok had been flash infused.
Maybe it was the fact that we didn't order general Tso's chicken.
Maybe not ordering orange beef and Kung Pao anything was appreciated.
Who knows, but on this particular day the food was special.
Perhaps the cook felt like flexing a bit and fired all burners, adding some heart to our meals.
There is always an unidentifiable quality within food that soars.
Beyond simple flavors derived from obvious spices, beyond any attempts at being impressive and actually delivering fulfillment.
Wan Lai is a hole in the wall and no one knows it.
If the food is always this good, I hope it stays that way.
It's a comfortable spot to stray away from the regular menu and search for some excellent surprises.
Review Summary: 4.
6 out of 5 4897 Buford Hwy Suite 104 Atlanta, GA 30341 (770) 216-8587
