Six traditional Chinese restaurants in Barcelona
Barcelona It is a city with a huge range of restaurants that, in addition, does not fall short in its multiculturalism. Apart from the many Italian, Japanese, Latin American or Middle Eastern restaurants that populate the city, it is not uncommon to find multitude of Chinese restaurants in its avenues and streets.
How can we decide between so many offers? The first criterion is usually the aesthetic : many diners tend to mistrust the Chinese restaurants that look like any Spanish bar and, on the other hand, there are also those who tend to avoid those that look like Chinese restaurant "of all life".
The problem with following this criterion is that we can leave aside great gems of Chinese cuisine merely for their outward appearance. Or have we not tasted delicious homemade spanish food in places where aesthetics were not the latest fashion? Isn't it sometimes wiser to take a look at the clientele to see if we've made the right choice?
Sichuan L'Olla You Bao Chicken
Following this criterion, we offer you six restaurants in Barcelona where the Chinese go to eat every day and where you can try a wide range of foods from their land. All with a deeply pleasant homemade and informal touch.
** RESTAURANT D'ARAGÓ (C/ Aragó 104) **
The name and entrance of this restaurant hardly differ from the hundreds of **neighborhood bars that populate the Eixample **. But it is one of the establishments of northern chinese food most appreciated by the locals. On its walls, in fact, we can see exposed various reviews by local Chinese newspapers.
One of the best dishes in this restaurant is the pork in batter with sweet sauce , although it is also worth noting its spicy liver and its sautéed beans . As in most Chinese restaurants , the best is come in a group to order a large number of dishes and thus be able to taste a little of everything, to balance between the stronger and softer flavors.
Sautéed green beans with chilli and pepper from L'Olla de Sichuan
** L'OLLA DE SICHUAN _(Pl. Del Doctor Letamendi 11) _**
This place is one of the most famous in Barcelona both for the Chinese and for the general public. recently remodeled, offers a more spacious and elaborate design , although its food is fully traditional, as well as being based on one of the most famous regional cuisines in China: that of **Sichuan province**.
Going to this restaurant gives us a good opportunity to try a spicy hot pot , one of the favorite dishes of the Chinese. But we can also choose delicacies from the menu such as aubergines in sauce or noodle soup “across the bridge” -in this case, a traditional dish from the province of Yunnan-.
Noodles crossing the Sichuan L'Olla Bridge
SON HAO _(C/ Muntaner 66) _
Just entering this place, the statues of deities, buddhas and warriors of Chinese mythology and religion will surprise us, giving way to a place with a traditionally decorated . There will be no few occasions that we see groups of tourists from that country eating in the back . Its owner will receive us with a big smile and introduce us to the cuisine of the island of Taiwan , specialty of this restaurant.
Some recommended choices are sweet and sour pork taiwanese style wave beef in sauce, also made with the particular style of the island. A good strategy is ask the owner of the premises , who with his sympathy will explain the different dishes available.
XIANHUIJIE CREAMY _(Av. Gran Vía de les Corts Catalanes 480) _
In this place, as its name suggests, we can try one of the most popular dishes in China -but perhaps less known outside of it-: their stuffed pancakes. In most Chinese cities it is not uncommon to find street carts in which this type of delicacies is prepared live and sold.
In this place with a simple atmosphere we can try these savory pancakes and choose various interior contents -depending on how powerful we want our food-. For the most daring there are also some extremely spicy street noodles . All of this can be accompanied by a fresh beer or a typical Chinese canned cold tea.
** CUINA DEU _(C/ Muntaner 10) _**
Another of the city's classics is Kitchen Deu , where we will find a wide range of dishes from different Chinese provinces -and diners from that country having lunch or dinner there at almost any time-. Its interior is simple, but it has interesting 1930s Shanghai-style billboards.
Within its variety of dishes, its Tibetan style beef -with a tasty sauce-, his plate of okra -a vegetable little known in the West, but tasty and healthy- and their Beijing-style noodles -a classic to happily fill the stomach-. It is also advisable to ask the waiters what seasonal vegetables do they have, since we will possibly have the opportunity to Try Chinese vegetables that we have never seen before.
Gongbao chicken with white rice, at Cuina Deu
** TANG REN MEI SHI _(C/ Almogàvers 4) _**
The great achievement of Tang Ren Mei Shi is that it offers all the most basic dishes of Chinese food through a outstanding flavor and a generous amount . Here we will not look for elements of haute cuisine, but the essential ingredients of Chinese cuisine. At their tables we will see both Chinese diners and workers or residents of the area.
In Tangrenmeishi the choices are clear: is it worth taking the noodles (either sautéed or in soup), its rice dishes and its ravioli . That is, the basis of Chinese food. If you want to add more dishes to your meal you can order some crispy cakes, or a delicious lamb entrails soup . To start with, the cold cucumber salad is also recommended, especially in summer.
Its noodles, the most demanded