Universal CityWalk invited special guests to sample a few of the many options you’ll find at the all-new Dongpo Kitchen, which will officially open on August 8,2016. This Sichuan-style restaurant is the first-ever U.S. casual dining concept from Meizhou Dongpo and its renowned and innovative owners, Chef Gang Wang and his wife, Chef Di Liang. Meizhou Dongpo continues to build upon what is already a recognized restaurant chain that has over 100 locations in China alone, garnering the honor of catering for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games for thousands of athletes from across the globe.
What’s incredible about Dongpo Kitchen is that there is literally a dish for everyone, whether you are in the mood for roast duck or shredded pork in garlic sauce, Dongpo’s menu features nearly 50 items. Dongpo Kitchen is located directly in the heart of CityWalk, across from Blaze Pizza, near the main opening of Jurassic Parking. The options are endless and from what we were able to sample tonight, you won’t be disappointed.
The key dishes that were sampled tonight included:
Roast Duck Sliders
Meizhou Pork Buns
Bang Bang Chicken
Meizhou Dongpo Sausage
Dan Dan Noodles
Spicy Chicken
Kung Pao Chicken
House Special Beef
Serrano Beef
Mapo Tofu
Shredded Pork in Garlic Sauce
Sichuan String Beans
Each of the samples offered a glimpse into what we should expect once the new restaurant officially opens on August 8. Tonight, we sampled the roast duck sliders, bang bang chicken, spicy chicken, Meizhou pork buns and the Sichuan string beans. Each item was cooked to perfection and full of flavor. If you enjoy some spice in your food, we highly recommend the Dan Dan noodles along with the Kung Pao chicken – with each dish offering enough flavor and spice to activate the taste-buds. In my personal opinion, the Meizhou pork buns were the standout of the night, having to be resupplied more than any other food offering. The texture of the bun was soft and flavorful and was aided by the incredible flavors from the juices of the pork.
Another surprise? Dongpo’s ambiance, which proved to be a calm and soothing contrast to the hectic streets of CityWalk. Dongpo Kitchen offers both indoor and al fresco dining, making good use of the venue’s space.
The staff also worked out well. Everyone was incredibly courteous to all the diners and were eager to hear and see our reactions and discuss our cuisine.
It was a great experience all around, lending itself towards repeat dining, which is encouraging, given the fact you’ll need multiple visits to try everything on the menu.
Coming off the heels of the successful opening of LudoBird and Blaze Pizza, the highly anticipated opening of Dongpo Kitchen is the next step in the multi-million dollar revitalization of Universal CityWalk that aims to bring boutique flavors to Los Angeles. Considering all the common fast food options at CityFood, this is a welcome change.
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