Kimberly Lim LegaspiLocal guide
★★★★★3 months ago
Went to Jiang Nan in Flushing for a large group dinner and it ended up being a really enjoyable meal. The restaurant is Michelin Guide recognized and focuses on Jiangnan cuisine, which comes from the lower Yangtze River region of China. This style of cooking is known for refined techniques and balanced flavors, often highlighting natural sweetness, soy based umami, and aromatic oils rather than heavy spice.<br><br>We started with pineapple beer, served in a small barrel dispenser with small glasses for the table. It was light, slightly sweet, and refreshing. The fruitiness actually paired well with some of the richer dishes and helped reset the palate.<br><br>One of the highlights was the whole Peking duck, and we ordered two. Peking duck dates back to the Ming dynasty and was once considered an imperial dish served in the royal court. The duck here had crisp golden skin and tender meat. It was served with thin pancakes, cucumber, scallions, and hoisin sauce so you could wrap everything together. The richness of the duck skin balanced nicely with the freshness of the vegetables.<br><br>The cumin lamb on a sizzling plate arrived hot and still sizzling. The lamb was sliced thin and cooked with onions, green peppers, cilantro, cumin, and chili. Cumin lamb is influenced by northern Chinese Muslim cooking where spices like cumin became popular along the Silk Road. The cumin aroma was strong and fragrant and the lamb stayed tender with slightly caramelized edges.<br><br>Another interesting dish was the shredded eel with scallions in hot oil. Eel has long been used in Jiangnan cooking because the region is rich in rivers and freshwater fish. The eel was cut into thin strips and coated in a glossy soy based sauce with scallions and white pepper. The hot oil poured over the scallions released a strong aroma that made the dish very savory and rich.<br><br>The sweet and sour pork with osmanthus was nicely balanced. Instead of being overly sugary, the sauce had a good balance of sweetness and acidity. The pork stayed crispy while the glaze added a subtle floral fragrance from the osmanthus.<br><br>For seafood we had both salt and pepper tiger shrimp and jumbo prawns with salted egg yolk. The tiger shrimp were fried with the shell on and tossed with green peppers, red peppers, and fried shallots which added crunch and aroma. The salted egg yolk prawns were coated in a rich crumbly sauce made from salted duck egg yolks, which gives a buttery, savory flavor that’s slightly sweet and very addictive.<br><br>The sliced pork belly with garlic sauce was another classic cold dish. The pork belly was thinly sliced and served over cucumbers with a sauce made from mashed garlic, soy sauce, sesame oil, and chili oil. The cucumbers helped cut through the richness of the pork.<br><br>One of the more comforting dishes was the striped bass with pickled cabbage. The broth included pickled cabbage, pickled radish, pickled peppers, ginger, garlic, and dried chili. The sourness from the fermented vegetables gave the soup a bright flavor while the fish stayed tender and delicate.<br><br>We also ordered steamed pork soup dumplings, which were juicy with rich broth inside.<br><br>The stir fried pig liver was surprisingly good. Pig liver can easily become tough, but this one stayed tender and was cooked with scallions, onions, ginger, and garlic which gave it a nice savory aroma.<br><br>To finish we had fried rice with preserved ham, egg, and bean sprouts. The preserved ham added a deep umami flavor and the rice had that slightly smoky wok taste.<br><br>There are a few things that could be improved. Since we came with a large group it would have been nice if there were larger private rooms available for big parties. The table also became crowded because empty dishes were not cleared quickly, and plates were not changed very often. Water refills were also a little slow, which becomes noticeable during a long dinner.<br><br>I came here with a big group this time, but there are still a lot of dishes on the menu I want to try, so I’ll definitely be back.
Response from the owner
Hi Kimberly Lim Legaspi. Thank you for your detailed review! We’re so glad you and your group enjoyed the food and overall experience. We appreciate your feedback on service and will continue working to improve. Looking forward to welcoming you back soon!<br><br>Best,<br>Jiang Nan Team