I tried these spots on or around East Colonial on Friday at lunch. The first is in the old Peter's Kitchen location near the Executive Airport. That's about halfway between I4 and 43. The second is in the second strip mall on the left after you go north on Goldenrod.
Ming Garden - Open for two months. I'm a little confused as to the history. Even after asking. I thought this was a re-emergence from hibernation/retirement. Maybe just a move down the street? The guy said the old location (unsure if he said was still operating) was down the street. In my mind, I had eaten at a Ming's on I Drive. And if it is where the guy led me to believe it is/was on 50, I believe I had eaten there too. But, I can find no evidence even when I use the "master" search I have over this site. Anyway. I had the $13 lunch special because they really pushed it. Excellent value. The service was suspect. In seconds they delivered the egg drop soup. You have a choice of two options on most courses and around eight on the main. Then the main came out around fifteen minutes later. It was NOT a challenging lunch service. Then the dessert (sesame ball) came out around five minutes after that. Then the appetizer har kow (2) came out ten minutes after that. The egg drop soup had a touch of sesame oil. Good. My main (shrimp with broccoli and carrots) came in a pleasant clear sauce. Probably chicken stock and garlic. Six, huge, plump, not too iodine flavored shrimp. Ten stalks of broccoli. A little mushy at the florets. slices of fresh carrot. It came with rice. I chose well with the pork fried rice. Tons of wonderful roast pork. They must do that well too. Big portion. The sesame ball (I usually don't have these) was delightful. Huge. Filled with black bean paste. The har kow were the best in recent memory. Filled with real shrimp. I dipped them in the leftover sauce because I couldn't find soy sauce and figured shrimps is shrimps. Smart figuring. Worked like a charm. They still do the AYCE dim sum For $20 on Sunday. Although with the pace of service, you might have to spend hour there to break even. The dim sum menu prices from Small to XXL ($5.45-$9.25). Thirty four items. Only pork buns at the small price. Typical, large Cantonese menu. Soup, Rice Dishes, Roast & BBQ, Seafood, Chicken, Beef, Pork, Noodles, etc. Fair to generous pricing. That part is locked down. The ambience is weak. The did nothing to the interior. And it was a bad retro-fit of a fast food place before that. Off white (from age) and black. Bar on left as you enter. Five family tables. Around ten twos and fours. Five other tables seated at lunch. Plenty of parking. Closed on Tuesday. I got the feeling that business isn't meeting expectations. You may have to give them a boost sooner rather than later. I feel I'm giving out Favorites like candy, but, it probably will be one. 100% because of the food and the value.
Tambayan at Kusina - They said it means "gather around the kitchen". Receipt says Tambayan Kitchen by Maya. I just read about them. They said they have been open for a year. Filipino. I tried Pinin Yahang Manok Sa Gata (chicken with pineapple stew in coconut milk) for $16 to go because I hadn't had it before. It was good. Not Thai good. But, good. Lots of skin on (that makes it yucky for me - slimy skin) de-boned chicken. Alot of dark meat that I don't think pairs well with coconut milk. Tasteless pineapple. Ginger. Carrots. Potatoes. Big portion. Came with white rice. Over-fluffed. Big menu. They even claim to do sisig with pig face. Many others don't. I didn't memorize the menu, so, you will have to put in the work. I remember lumpia! Narrow floor plan. Counter in front. Around ten tables in an L shape around it. TV playing Rihanna. One waitress. One cook. She said the kitchen staff is from Mindanao and Cebu. That may influence the menu/experience. I've never been to either. Just Manila. Haven't had enough Filipino food to be able to differentiate regionality. Beige. Wood. Tiny stage with bongos. Not bad.
*Next door to Tambayan was a new deli (Deli Counter?) serving $14 sandwiches and $11 baked potatoes. And that pincho place that was on 3D is still there.
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