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AquaW Apr 9, 2009 10:09 AM

Best Zha Liang? (Rice Sheet-Wrapped Chinese Doughnuts)

I've been craving these lately, and want to venture out of my comfort zone (Yung Ho or Har Lam Kee) and hopefully find better versions (HLK's version, particularly, has gone downhill as of late) so want to see what you 'hounds can recommend for the best zha liangs, whether in a dim sum place or a casual Chinese breakfast/lunch spot.

Thanks!

~H.C.
http://la-oc-foodie.blogspot.com

  1. Thi N. Apr 14, 2009 10:03 AM

    Yum Cha Cafe: poor.

    Elite dim sum: excellent

    Yung Ho: pretty damn good

    Har Lam Kee: pretty damn good

    Silver and Gold Amazing: Freaking perfect gorgeous supple crunchy wonder.

    8 Replies
    1. re: Thi N.
      ipsedixit Apr 14, 2009 10:36 AM

      You should check out Yi Mei sometime Thi.

      Yung Ho used to be sooo damn good. Alas, a change of ownership is never good for food stability.

      1. re: ipsedixit
        Thi N. Apr 14, 2009 10:44 AM

        Yi Mei I love - but I love the sort of dense deep rice supple-yet-grainy thing of the ones at Silver and Gold Amazing even more.

        I was just at Yi Mei - the one at San Gabriel Superstore - slurping down some soy and dumplings, last Friday.

        Which Yung Ho changed? The Yung Ho on New (?), or the one to the east... Yung Ho Tou Chien? That one's been my favorite for a while.

        1. re: Thi N.
          ipsedixit Apr 14, 2009 10:58 AM

          Yung Ho King Tou Chiang. Original owner sold the joint because of health problems; been probably about 2 years now since the change in ownership.

          Back in the day the "tsao-bing" was nice and chewy (almost al dente, if you will) but still crisp and flaky -- if that's possible. It was in this case. And with a golden fried cruller nestled in the middle, and a big bowl of soy broth to wash it all down with, I was more than happy to beg my doctor for an extra scrip (or two) of Lipitor ...

          1. re: Thi N.
            c
            Chandavkl Apr 14, 2009 11:50 AM

            Yi Mei at the San Gabriel Superstore became Yee May a couple of years ago. I presumed that meant a new owner and perhaps a new operation. Can anybody confirm?

        2. re: Thi N.
          a
          AquaW Apr 14, 2009 11:57 AM

          Thanks, tried the S&G version this past weekend and it's really good. Yung Ho has regressed a bit recently, the youtiao (by themselves or in a zhaliang) came out way too oily in my last few trips there. I'm all for freshly-fried, but would prefer a little draining/soaking up before it lands on my plate.

          ~H.C.
          http://la-oc-foodie.blogspot.com

          1. re: AquaW
            wilafur Apr 14, 2009 01:31 PM

            i stopped going to both young ho tou jiangs due to the cruller grease issue you experienced in addition to the slight smell of ammonia. no bueno.

            1. re: wilafur
              Thi N. Apr 14, 2009 03:56 PM

              S&GA's version is pretty shockingly greaseless, given that it's a donut in the center.

              1. re: wilafur
                l
                lakeshow318 Apr 14, 2009 04:40 PM

                agreed. i find their yo tiao to be excessively greasy. and i know they're fried. i prefer yi mei.

          2. c
            Chelmoon Apr 9, 2009 10:11 AM

            Good 'n cheap at Yum Cha Cafe.

            4 Replies
            1. re: Chelmoon
              f
              fdb Apr 9, 2009 06:04 PM

              Zha Liang from Yum Cha Cafe is cheap but not very good. Their you-tiau is not crunchy. Elite and The Kitchen make much higher quality ones. NBC also has pretty good ones.

              1. re: fdb
                liu Apr 9, 2009 10:35 PM

                fdb -- I agree with you that "Yum Cha Cafe is cheap but not very good," but my main objection with Yum Cha is that nothing is served hot. Everything we ordered that was supposed to be hot was cool to luke-warm. The items appeared to be rapidly coming from the kitchen fresh and hot, but it all tasted tired and old. How could that be? It looks so good!

                1. re: liu
                  ipsedixit Apr 9, 2009 10:48 PM

                  Odd, never had that problem before.

                  Although to be honest with you, most of the "dim sum" type items at Yum Cha should not be eating piping hot. Lukewarm is about right.

                  1. re: ipsedixit
                    liu Apr 10, 2009 05:45 PM

                    Always nice to hear from you, ipsedixit!
                    Thanks for your input on my issue with the temperature of these dim sum items.

            2. wilafur Apr 9, 2009 10:10 AM

              check yi mei. they should have it.

              -----
              Los Primos
              744 Skyline Blvd, Avenal, CA

              11 Replies
              1. re: wilafur
                ipsedixit Apr 9, 2009 10:17 AM

                Ding! Ding! Ding!

                We have a winner!

                Yi Mei also makes the finest "dan bing" and "mi jiang" in the SGV.

                1. re: ipsedixit
                  e
                  exilekiss Apr 9, 2009 02:22 PM

                  Thanks wilafur, ipsedixit.

                  I can't believe my SGV Hounds never told me about this place! This sounds great.

                  1. re: ipsedixit
                    Ciao Bob Apr 9, 2009 04:05 PM

                    AND WHAT WOULD "dan bing" and "mi jiang" BE?

                    TIA,
                    Bob

                    1. re: Ciao Bob
                      wilafur Apr 9, 2009 04:18 PM

                      dan bing = kinda like an egg burrito
                      mi jiang = rice/sesame paste soup thingy.....i think.

                      1. re: wilafur
                        ipsedixit Apr 9, 2009 10:46 PM

                        Yup, except that "mi jiang" is peanut rice milk.

                        Unless you grew up on it, most likely you'll find it rather "off-tasting".

                        1. re: ipsedixit
                          wilafur Apr 10, 2009 10:01 AM

                          thanks for the correction.

                  2. re: wilafur
                    Das Ubergeek Apr 9, 2009 01:12 PM

                    Yes.

                    1. re: wilafur
                      a
                      AquaW Apr 9, 2009 03:13 PM

                      Cool, I didn't know they have rice sheet-wrapped youtiaos too, and I've been there for years for their rice-minced/dried pork-youtiao rolls (which are also tasty).

                      Thanks! Maybe I can do a side-by-side comparison (literally) with Silver&Gold Amazing next door ;)

                      ~H.C.
                      http://la-oc-foodie.blogspot.com

                      1. re: wilafur
                        f
                        fdb Apr 9, 2009 06:08 PM

                        Hmmm...I've never noticed that Yi-Mei makes Zha Liang because you usually find them in dim sum places as opposed to Taiwanese deli such as Yi-Mei. I know they make Fan Tuan, steamed sticky rice (not rice shee) wrapped around Chinese Doughnut, which is probably the best around. Actually almost everything from Yi-Mei is very good.

                        1. re: fdb
                          a
                          AquaW Apr 10, 2009 09:51 AM

                          my thoughts exactly - I know about (and love) Yi-Mei's Fan Tuan, didn't know they make Zha Liang as well... guess something for me to look into this weekend! If they don't have it, I can always swing next door to Silver&Gold Amazing to try their version.

                          ~H.C.
                          http://la-oc-foodie.blogspot.com

                        2. re: wilafur
                          s
                          silleehillee Jul 3, 2009 07:04 PM

                          We just came back from Yi-Mei this afternoon, and no zha liang to be had. :(

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