Liaoning, said the waitress who speaks English best, translating for the owner. That Chinese province — you'd pass through it on the halting daylong train ride from Beijing to Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea — was the first home of this restaurant's chef. In emphasis, the owner brought a magazine clipping to my table about her original restaurant, in Flushing: Golden Palace.
This restaurant is, in fact, the second Auntie Guan's in Manhattan (the namesake auntie still owns Golden Palace, too). It's very new: The fishtank for fresh seafood is still dry, and a refrigerator case, probably intended for plates of cold appetizers, is bare. The grand-opening menu is less extensive than at Golden Palace, and it introduces many dishes from more-assimilated Chinese cuisines. (Greetings, General Tso.) Prices, of course, befit a Manhattan thoroughfare and not a side street off Kissena Blvd. — but factor in the cost of travel time, and a group dinner seems promising. (Hello again, crispy lamb.)
Shown, from a brief solo meal: noodles with minced pork and cucumber, also known as da lu mian or gravy noodles ($7.99); taro and sweet potato "wrapped" with syrup (on the house).
H/T Kim (@garsleat)
Auntie Guan's Kitchen
108 West 14th St. (Sixth-Seventh Aves.), Manhattan
212-206-8388
Also at 219 East 23rd St. (Second-Third Aves.)
212-685-3388
www.AuntieGuanKitchen.com
