Meizhou Dongpo Restaurant

近幾年許多來自中國規模宏廣的餐飲集團，陸續都在美國華人群聚的南加州開設，而這間之前查理已經介紹過位於其中央廚房旁的 眉州小吃 的 眉州東坡集團，更是以富麗堂皇的用餐環境著稱，完整地將來自中國的高大上餐飲路線在美國呈現。餐廳發源自北京主打的是川菜，但不少菜色融合大江南北的元素而加以創新，在南加州陸續開設了幾間頗具規模的分店，其中又以位於 Arcadia 的店面最受到華人族群喜愛，並為中式餐點在美國的發展帶來了嶄新的風貌。反應在其餐廳規模之上、這裡的餐點價格並不是日常性的用餐選項，但趁著由 吃貨小分隊 主辦的中式餐廳週活動，特別來這品嚐難得一見的實惠套餐組合，其中還包括了這裡最具人氣與代表性的烤鴨。

著顯的藍底金字，無論是英文或是中文的餐廳名稱，透過傳統風味的匾額或是燈飾招牌，在類似木質浮雕的底座呼應下，在萬千氣象中透著古今時代交錯的美感。

佔地寬廣採用挑高空間的大廳設計，是多數顧客來此時會被安排的用餐座位，雖然看似擁擠但實際上與鄰桌還是有段距離，用餐時的舒適感還是不差。

流水行雲的毛筆、古樸典雅的木窗、蘊藏智慧的古籍，餐廳中大量地採用具有中式歷史美感的擺設與鋪成，打造出一個風格突出又不失古意的美學路線，猜想這些擺設或許都是直接從中國空運來到美國。

作為一間強調完整呈現中式高大上風格的餐館，招待重要貴賓的私人包廂當然也是佈置地格外用心，在大量中式元素的擺設與桌椅搭配下，這個與用餐的圓桌區緊連的休息區讓人回想起以往在海外造訪高級路線的中式餐館時的經驗，更是在美國本土較少出現的設計。

居住在世界各地、家人之間久違的溫馨聚會，招待來自國外、生意上重要的合作夥伴，在這間華麗包廂之中不斷地紀錄著一次又一次在許多人心中留下深刻印象的用餐體驗。

從品牌經營的背景開始、招牌菜色的說明介紹等，透過一張又一張專業拍攝的精美照片與細膩的文字編排，帶著到此用餐的食客們進入了一個由中國當地原汁引進的美食饗宴。以下附上豐富的菜單，可以點小圖放大看詳細內容。

華麗精美的菜單設計，搭配專業的照相排版與文字解說，真的可以感受到來自到由大型餐飲集團所呈現的專業感，看起來就像是在欣賞一本精美的畫冊，除了偏高的餐點定價看起來比較刺眼外。雖然在上述圖片中沒有出現，但是這裡的飲品選擇也相當豐富，囊括多種亞洲與西式美酒。

附上本次餐廳週活動的訂製菜單，對照起原本的菜單售價真的是實惠許多，可以感到主辦單位的努力與店家的配合，不趁著這難得的機會來造訪實在可惜。

涼粉這道從街邊小食到聚餐和菜都可以出現在餐桌上的國民美食，帶有粉滑順清涼食感的粉條浸泡在辣油與香料醬汁裡頭，透著油光與紅裡透白的色澤，看來誘人吃起來更是開胃過癮。

在菜單上寫得是夫妻肺片，但送上的卻是棒棒雞，比起以往在眉州小吃吃到的具有更完整的份量與精緻的處理也帶來更佳的口感。透過辣油香料的調味下吃來確實越吃越順口，接續著前一道涼粉的開胃。

有著不錯勁道的細麵浸泡在鹹香的肉末與醬汁裡頭，就份量上來說就比較像是一道佐餐的小點心，入口後讓人回想起還是在他們中央廚房附設的 眉州小吃 吃到、來自足量的麵條與湯汁吃來還是的比較過癮。

對於嗜辣的朋友們來說，這道看似火辣的辣子雞實際上吃來的味道卻是出乎意料的溫和，除了辣椒的豔紅看起來比較驚人，辣度風味也跟雞肉的份量一樣都失色許多。

西紅柿蘑菇蝦茸湯，在鴨架熬出的濁白湯色中透著淡淡、有些平淡無奇的的香甜，直到加入了釉黑的醬汁後風味瞬間提昇，也讓手打的蝦肉丸多了股鹹香的風味，菇類也變得更有味好吃。

喝了些湯品解辣暖肚，整體來說餐點的鋪成都算是中規中矩、慢慢地將味蕾的期待逐漸提昇，但是這道作為蔬菜類菜餚的蒜蓉花椰菜，雖說在烹煮火喉與調味上沒有太大問題，但登場的內容單薄無趣，對照其在菜單上也算要價不非的價格，用餐的氣氛瞬間地落起來，大夥默默地吃著蔬菜、心中想著蔬菜對於身體健康的助益，希望下一道餐點快點上桌。

告別了花椰菜帶來的沉默時間，目光轉移到舞台上兩位在巔峰用餐時間不曾停下雙手、迅速地將烤爐中烤好送上來的烤鴨切片的廚師身影，就像是欣賞一場表演般地在舞台下期待著下一隻切好的烤鴨就是送上自己的桌前。

在舞台上廚師的手起刀落演繹下，片好的鴨肉盛裝在鴨子造型的瓷盤中登場，而鴨腿的部份則是放在另外一個分開的圓盤中。不同於以往常吃採用皮與肉分開處理的北京烤鴨，這裡的烤鴨是採用帶皮連肉的片法，或許對於追求極致皮脆油香的食客來說少了些什麼，但這或許就是南方風味的烤鴨的獨特風味。

甜醬、紅糖、黃瓜絲、聰絲，與烤鴨搭配的配菜也準備就緒，其中沾著紅糖的食法，是平時比較少接觸的，來自糖粉帶來的甜膩中襯托著油脂的香氣，既是衝突又融合的有趣風味。

單吃、沾醬、沾糖吃皮、嚼肉、啃骨，一份（半隻）烤鴨帶來的豐美食感，不愧是當晚最讓人期待的料理風味，除了鴨腿的呈現方式讓人有些摸不著頭緒（像是被啃過），以及查理私心期待半隻烤鴨應該會有更充足的份量外。

除了一般的連皮帶肉的烤鴨切片外，也特別地選了一片以皮為主的烤鴨，透過餅皮的包裹將各種配料和醬汁一起食用，變化多樣的烤鴨食法在這裡可一次滿足，但對於平時吃慣薄皮荷葉餅的朋友來說，這裡的餅皮是厚實許多。

連皮帶肉一起送入口中，讓兩種口感截然不同但都一樣是充滿香味的鴨肉，越是咀嚼越是可以感受到讓人滿足的肉香，可以說是自成一格、讓人吃來印象深刻的烤鴨。

心滿意足地吃完烤鴨後，等候多時一直不見另外一道招牌的東坡肘子上桌，跟服務生詢問後才姍姍來遲。這一出場就是氣勢萬千，只見體積驚人的帶骨肘子在看似火辣的紅油醬料簇擁下豪氣登場，像是喚醒了原本已經有些許飽足感的慵懶肚皮要再度上工的聲響。

豬肘子應該是經過多時的蒸煮，除了來自表層皮脂的部份滑嫩無比外，裡層的肉質基本上也是相當細緻，而豬肉的原有的特殊騷味也透過了濃郁的薑蔥醬料中和，轉變為一種溫和的肉香，也讓一道看似風味厚重無比的菜餚，吃來是股意料之外的清爽，不像是以往吃過以濃厚醬滷熬煮多時吃來鹹香濃郁的蹄䠙料理，至於口味喜好則是見仁見智，但查理覺得吃來還挺新奇的。

透過這次餐廳週的活動，雖然吃到了幾項招牌的人氣餐點，但對於像是一本小畫冊般、以及因應時節推出的特別內容的豐富菜色還只能稱是略知一二，待回訪時再來增廣見聞。

想要滿足心中對於傳承至中國風味食物的豐富想像？想要感受原汁原味引進中國風格的豪華用餐環境格局？想要招待非亞洲背景的美國人讓他們眼睛為之一亮？想要滿足以上的需求，選擇來到這裡用餐的話應該都能夠八九不離十得達成，然而對於跟查理一樣都是小資族的朋友們來說，趁著有折扣活動或是特殊聚會時來打打牙祭感受一下不同路線的中餐，倒是也一次挺有趣的用餐體驗。

Made a reservation for 4 at 6:00 pm. Took my parents and my husband here for New Years Eve dinner. Ordered a whole Peking duck with duck soup on the side. Ordered two of the dongpo pork, the jellyfish and Chinese cabbage salad, bang bang chicken, and stir fried A choy.

Dishes were served fast and there was not much waiting time during the busy holiday season. My family enjoyed every single dish we ordered. I loved that the pancakes that came with the duck were chewy and thick. Thicker compared to other Peking duck places such as happy duck house in RH or duck house in Monterey park. I really wish they gave more scallions for the toppings! There was so many cucumbers and not enough scallions.

The environment was not noisy which I prefer compared to other Chinese restaurants. Loved the interior decorations and seating was spacious. This is my second time here and I will be back.

Honestly, both overpriced and overhyped for what you get. Because the ambience is so grand, and the prices so high, you expect the food to be celestial - which was not the case. Everything was a little bland. The only dish that I truly enjoyed was the sichuan fried fish. Come here for the ambience, not the food.

This place is great. Been here twice in 4 weeks. Service and food wonderful. Had half a duck, oxtail soup, pea sprouts and cucumber salad. Had leftovers and they packed it for us, I love that! One of my new favorites.

Love here true china taste! Peking duck is my fav Can't get enough. Will come back soon

This was a different experience
I have not really frequented a lot of really authentic Chinese places. This was in the heart of Azusa. There are a lot of cool shops in the area.
The food here was good. I went with a Chinese friend who recommended what I should order - maybe not the best idea. She didn't know me and I'm sure this place had better dishes than the one I had. It might be more fun in a bigger group as well so we can all try more dishes.
Service was good but all in Chinese so I don't really know what was said - but that's ok.
Try it! It's a bit fancy.

This was the first time we tried Meizhou Dongpo and learned that they have 500 restaurants in China. This is one of the few locations in the area. We primarily tried this place for the Peking duck and it took a minute to realize that if you added the sugar that comes with the filling, the whole flavor of the duck in the pancake changed everything. Initially, we thought the food was a little bland. Maybe I'm used to a lot of MSG - haha. However, I'd have to say, the food here is clean and pretty easy to digest. The duck was oozing with juice and I loved how they had cut the duck. It was to perfection! I've had Peking duck at so many other places, and I'd say their cut, level of juiciness and presentation for the duck stands out outstanding. Now, I do think they need just a tad more flavor on the food, but then again, I think it's just slightly under salted. Service was great. Food came out quickly for a Friday night and they were exceptionally friendly. We will definitely be back for a celebration to book their private rooms.

The stars were based on what we experienced and ordered that day. Personally, the duck here is better than Ji Rong in Rosemead, so was the service. Duck is smaller than those of Ji Rong. Here, duck was cut table-side, whereas, it was pre-cut at JR. The duck skin at Meizhonu has more meat attached to it, which is also how I would prefer. The skin was moist and crispy! The meat was more tender and juicy than JR (I found the skin & meat at JiRong were dry and cold). We also ordered the combo where the rest of duck bones & meat would be cooked in soup and a salt & pepper fried version. Soup was delicious, not the over-salt bouillon soup base. Also I really like the Dongpo pork belly w/ preserved veggies (梅菜扣肉), best in town, and it would make you ask for more rice to finish up the sauce & veggies. Boiled fish (水煮魚) & sausage were tasty too! I also love their shrimps with scallions. Service was fine dining-esque.
Best to park near Macy.

Great for special occasions and large crowd. Only got pictures of half the dishes. Everything was great. The standouts for me were surprisingly the veggie dishes. Think the wok heat really made the difference between professional and home cooked veggies. The bamboo and sautéed A veggies were delicious along with the slightly numbing mala chili sliced beef. Fish in chili sauce was ok. Braised pork in special sauce was good...it's a fresh gingery sauce that's not spicy or pungent. Kids enjoyed the duck and got two rounds of the steamed and fried buns for the kiddos.

Definitely saucy heavy dishes good with rice. Unfortunately the duck soup was lukewarm.

To be fair, food is a 3.5 star, pretty good, but not as good as the OC location (keep in mind its same pricing as OC tho).
Other servers was pretty nice, but,
our server, we either owe him money or he just got a devorse IDK lol

2.5 in total, not an option so i round it up to 3

LOCATION: located in the outside food area of the Arcadia Mall, it's hard to miss. Sometimes can be hard to find parking, you would need to park in the garage down below and take the escalator up or park outside and walk in.

SERVICE: great service, friendly, food came to the table very fast. Filled up water a couple times. I would think it would be a little better based on the environment of the restaurant. Overall, was good.

FOOD: if you like classic spicy Chinese food, this is your spot. The king pal chicken and string beans are delicious. The big rib for $85 is delicious but a little overpriced. The cold noodles with chili oil was delicious as well.