Chinese classics can do no wrong

Here in the Islands, fusion cuisine is no rare sighting. Our knack for gastronomy and willingness to try new things make it easy for different countries to join forces and form a palatable menu. Sometimes as diners though, we hunger for the classics, a meal so authentic it immediately takes you to a specific land, perhaps to a particular region.

Dining at Chinatown’s Golden Palace Seafood Restaurant offers just that to customers on the hunt for classic Chinese fare.

“We specialize in traditional Hong Kong-style cuisine with some Southern Chinese influences,” says manager Gary Lam. “Some of our dishes may seem a bit off-the-wall, but they are a testament to what Chinese people eat.”

Case in point: the restaurant’s widely popular Jellyfish with Shredded Chinese Chicken Salad ($6.95).

“In our variation of Chinese chicken salad, we lightly season the jellyfish and then cook it in a marinade with lots of shredded chicken, carrots, lettuce and crispy wonton skin,” explains Lam. “Some people are intimidated by the jellyfish, but it absorbs the flavors of the dish so well. It is worth trying.”

Just seconds from an open market, Golden Palace receives fresh produce each morning for that day’s allotment of orders. “Located in the heart of Chinatown, we have access to some of the healthiest fruits and vegetables around,” says Lam.

Not to be missed is the restaurant’s House Special Chow Mein ($6.95), fried noodles served with sauteed scallops, fish, chicken and vegetables doused in traditional Chinese-style gravy.

Another staple is Beef Chow Funn ($5.75), made from thick rice flour noodles and mixed with sauteed beef, bean sprouts and green onions. “Chow funn is a style of noodles that dates back centuries in China. It still is one of our most popular items,” says Lam, noting that it can be served with or without gravy.

In addition to its regular dining room, Golden Palace features a 450-person banquet hall on the second floor reserved for private events.

Golden Palace Seafood Restaurant

111 N. King St., Honolulu
521-8268
Daily, 7 a.m.-10 p.m.