Chef Mings Restaurant

When I moved from West Hollywood to Long Beach, I had mixed feelings. I loved moving to the beach, and Long Beach is a lovely town, with nice folks and many great places to eat. However, I miss a few things I had in WeHo. One of them is Chef Ming's. Outside of The Opium Den in Oxford England, Chef Ming's is my favorite Chinese restaurant in all the world. It is a small place, with a plain but pleasant interior looking out onto a bustling corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Crescent Heights Avenue. Although well isolated from the street noise, Chef Ming's provides a dandy vantage point for watching the local flora and fauna. Now, to the food . . . Like the Michelin Guide, I rate according to "house specialties." Every restaurant should serve a good steak, just like every Chinese Restaurant should make a good moo shu pork. And Chef Ming does this admirably. Where this restaurant earns its 5 stars, however, are its specialties; though they are all d ... more

When I moved from West Hollywood to Long Beach, I had mixed feelings. I loved moving to the beach, and Long Beach is a lovely town, with nice folks and many great places to eat. However, I miss a few things I had in WeHo. One of them is Chef Ming's.
Outside of The Opium Den in Oxford England, Chef Ming's is my favorite Chinese restaurant in all the world. It is a small place, with a plain but pleasant interior looking out onto a bustling corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Crescent Heights Avenue. Although well isolated from the street noise, Chef Ming's provides a dandy vantage point for watching the local flora and fauna. Now, to the food . . .
Like the Michelin Guide, I rate according to "house specialties." Every restaurant should serve a good steak, just like every Chinese Restaurant should make a good moo shu pork. And Chef Ming does this admirably. Where this restaurant earns its 5 stars, however, are its specialties; though they are all delightful, I shall mention just a few:
Their Shrimp with Walnuts is to die for. A row of prawns is nestled in steamed broccoli, given a sweet egg glaze, then topped with roasted walnuts.
Another shrimp specialty is Salted Crispy Shrimp, a spicy dish of shrimp sautéed in the pan in-shell, with a light outer coating of salt, and garnished with medium hot sliced Chinese peppers and mild green onions.
Now, here are two secret treats, that only those who read this review and regulars at Chef Ming are privileged to know:
China Dynasty Chicken is listed as a specialty, and it is wonderful, but ask instead for China Dynasty Fish. Both dishes are dipped in a light egg batter, then sautéed to a golden brown, then served in a light, buttery broth. (The butter is a rather un-Chinese touch, but it works!) Snow peas and Chinese scallions finish the dish. As I mentioned, the chicken is wonderful, but cod or other light fish is, to me, the best foundation for this truly gourmet experience.
Now, if you want a main course that's also its own dessert, be sure to order the Crispy Spicy Beef. It really is crispy, beefy and spicy. And the sweet glaze that covers this dish makes Crispy Spicy Beef, Chef Ming's style, as sinfully delicious as candy.
Now that I live in Long Beach, I'm well out of Chef Ming's delivery area. But, like the Michelin guide says about its 3 Star restaurants, Chef Ming's is "worth a journey". less

When I moved from West Hollywood to Long Beach, I had mixed feelings. I loved moving to the beach, and Long Beach is a lovely town, with nice folks and many great places to eat. However, I still miss WeHo. One reason is Chef Ming's. Chef Ming's is my favorite Chinese restaurant. It is a small place, with a plain but pleasant interior looking out onto a bustling corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Crescent Heights Avenue. Although well isolated from the street noise, big windows provide a dandy vantage point for watching the local flora and fauna. Now, to the food . . . Like the Michelin Guide, I rate according to house specialties. Every restaurant should serve a good steak, just like every Chinese restaurant should make a good moo shu pork. And Chef Ming does this admirably, but it earns its 5 stars with its specialties, and though they are all delightful, I'll mention just a few: Their Shrimp with Walnuts is to die for. A row of prawns ... more

When I moved from West Hollywood to Long Beach, I had mixed feelings. I loved moving to the beach, and Long Beach is a lovely town, with nice folks and many great places to eat. However, I still miss WeHo. One reason is Chef Ming's.
Chef Ming's is my favorite Chinese restaurant. It is a small place, with a plain but pleasant interior looking out onto a bustling corner of Santa Monica Boulevard and Crescent Heights Avenue. Although well isolated from the street noise, big windows provide a dandy vantage point for watching the local flora and fauna. Now, to the food . . .
Like the Michelin Guide, I rate according to house specialties. Every restaurant should serve a good steak, just like every Chinese restaurant should make a good moo shu pork. And Chef Ming does this admirably, but it earns its 5 stars with its specialties, and though they are all delightful, I'll mention just a few:
Their Shrimp with Walnuts is to die for. A row of prawns is nestled in steamed broccoli and given a sweet egg glaze, then topped with roasted walnuts.
Another shrimp specialty is Salted Crispy Shrimp, a spicy dish of shrimp sautéed in the pan with a light outer coating of salt and garnished with medium hot sliced Chinese peppers and mild green onions.
Now, here are two secret treats, that only those who read this review and regulars at Chef Ming are privileged to know:
China Dynasty Chicken is listed as a specialty, and it is wonderful, but ask instead for China Dynasty Fish. Both dishes are dipped in a light egg batter, then sautéed to a golden brown, then served in a light, buttery broth. (The butter is a rather un-Chinese touch. But it works!) Snow peas and Chinese scallions finish of the dish. As I mentioned, the chicken is wonderful, but cod or other light fish is, to me, the best foundation for this truly gourmet experience.
Now, if you want a main course that's also its own dessert, be sure to order the Crispy Spicy Beef. It's crispy, beefy and spicy. And the sweet glaze that covers this dish makes Crispy Spicy Beef, Chef Ming's style, as sinfully delicious as candy.
Now that I live in Long Beach, I'm well out of Chef Ming's delivery area. But, like the Michelin guide says about its 3 Star restaurants, Chef Ming's is "worth a journey". less