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I'm going to take this another direction---perhaps trying some new rolls might surprise you!
B&T (Ben Thanh Vietnamese cuisine)--supremely good Vietnamese spring rolls. Different than egg rolls, these are a particular roll (Vietnamese call them Cha Gio) boasting a plump shrimp and pork filling with a crispier exterior than the typically thicker egg roll dough. $3.50 for two, I think. These are wrapped in a rice paper and fried, and are much more savory than egg rolls owing to the filling and the texture of the pastry.Harvest Moon Chinese cuisine-try the spring rolls here, also, or the shrimp rolls (the latter are tiny rolls, almost finger-thin, and wrapped in a thinner pastry than egg rolls, also....). These are part of the "all day dim sum" menu (dishes start from $1.99- by the way, best Chinese food in the city in my opinion!) Spring rolls can be dodgy, with stringy flavourless filling, or a gelatinous texture owing to too much cornstarch--rolls at Harvest Moon, however, meet the flavourful filling requirements, and are always served freshly deep fried (an oxymoron, maybe....) ensuring a flaky, crisp exterior that crumbles (inadvertently into my lap, most times....)
Thai Memory-a relatively new eatery that has won accolades for its authentic Thai cuisine boasts 4-5 different kinds of "spring rolls." These include the taro crispy spring roll, (menu description is "taro with cabbages, carrots & glass noodles wrapped in spring roll pastry"), Thai memory crispy shrimp spring roll (menu description is "marinated tiger shrimp with veggies& glass noodles wrapped in spring roll pastry & seaweed served with dipping sauce") and spicy chicken spring roll (menu description is "marinated spicy chicken with veggies& glass noodles wrapped in spring roll pastry served with dipping sauce"). These are a bit pricier, ranging from 4.25-6.50 for 4 pieces. Thai Memory actually features a "roll lovers platter" (again, to quote their menu: "a Combination of 2 Taro Crispy Spring Rolls, 2 Thai Memory Crispy Shrimp Spring Rolls,2 Spicy Chicken Rolls,1 Fresh Spring Roll,1 Cold Fresh Spring roll") for $13.95 if you're serious about roll sampling!
I've tried to cover only those rolls which I think bear a ressemblance enough to the "egg roll" of which you speak, although other rolls (such as Vietnamese fresh rolls) definitely are worth a try, they have been ommitted to give a list closest to what you might be thinking of when you have a hankerin' for crisp, deep fried, asian-inspired treats in roll-form :)
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B & T Restaurant
115 Park St N, Hamilton, ON L8R, CAHarvest Moon Chinese Cuisine
80 James St N, Hamilton, ON L8R2K5, CAThai Memory
25 King William St, Hamilton, ON L8R1A1, CA
