Crack Chicken
Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at 8:16PM I haven't written this review even though I've wanted to because I wanted the review to be fresh, I wanted the review to be close to when I actually went to the restaurant. So prior to this visit it's been a few months since I've been there, which isn't that long considering it's in San Diego.
Royal Mandarin
1132 E Plaza Blvd Ste 205
619-477-4151
The first time I went to this place was back in 1998 when I used to frequent San Diego. It was instant love at first bite, the food there is like typical Chinese food ... for the most part. I would write this review regarding the food that I've eaten there, but I'll only write about this one specific order since it's what makes me drive four+ hours back and forth for it.
The Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings is ridiculously insane. It sounds like something so simple and something that just doesn't taste that great, but once you get a bite you ust can't stop.
When I used to go there it was typical that I bought one or two orders of the chicken and left it at that. That all changed when I found out that they had larger orders and when I started to take some chicken home, if possible.
My trips to San Diego have come few and far between. But when I do go there it's a must that Royal Mandarin must be visited.
The restaurant is ordinary from the outside, there are no specialty signs that make it stand out from the rest of the Chinese restaurants in the area, or anywhere. Even when you get inside it's the typical setup for dinning in, but it's actually smaller than most places and quite intimate because of the proximity of the tables next to each other. You can hear other people's conversations without even trying. The menu is lined with typical Chinese food, but you'll notice that they have "Salt and Pepper" items on the menu, from chicken wings, squid, french fries and fish.
It seems that I'm remembered when I go there now, I'm known as the "guy from New York." The recent times that I've ordered there it's been two extra large trays of chicken, which have about 150 pieces each, and the owner/manager lady always gives me extra seasoning as she knows I'll be taking it back to NY.
When you receive the chicken you won't notice anything special on it, just chicken wings with seasoning, some red pepper flakes, scallion/green onions. If you take a closer look you'll see something sprinkled on the wings that most Chinese food places have stopped using, MSG (betchin for the Filipino's). Whatever the warnings and the "horrible" things about MSG, it's just good! Maybe that's what sets Royal Mandarin apart from the rest of the Chinese food establishments because they continue to use MSG ... and they use it wonderfully!
The first bite into the chicken wings is full of crunchiness, but it's not the crunchiness that you might have experienced from other chicken. I'm not sure if this is fried or baked, or even a combination of the two, but the crunch is wonderful, and the added bonus is that the crunch doesn't include oil dripping or oil on your fingers. The only thing left on your fingers are the spices and seasoning that you will end up licking off sooner or later, it would be a waste to just wipe it on a napkin.
As your tongue gets it's tastes buds working with the flavors that come out of the chicken, you'll notice this explosion of taste in your mouth. There is a little hotness to it, but just the right amount, the saltiness of it is also just perfect. After finishing and most of the time sucking on the ends of the bones clean, you'll pick up another one and repeat the process. This will usually go on until there is no more left, and then you'll want to order some more.
This is the reason why it's dubbed "crack chicken" because once you taste it, you'll want some more and do anything to get some, even drive the four+ hours to get some. I've introduced this chicken to some people from NY and when they know I'm going to Cali and possibly San Diego, they want me to bring them some chicken, you can see that look in their eyes that they'll do anything for it.
There have been attempts at other Chinese food places in San Diego to copy the Royal Mandarin recipe, but they have come up short. A place across the street serves the "salt and pepper chicken wings" but it's just not the same, you need to hit the real and original source.
WARNING: This chicken is addictive!
Do not think that you will be able to resist, perhaps it's the MSG, perhaps the taste, but once you have it, you will be hooked. Some responses have gone from "it's ok" to "it's epic" in the matter of days. There have been times when I packed it for check in at the airport, the agent that is checking it in gets a smell of the chicken which strikes up a conversation as to the origins and what kind of chicken it is. She then proceeds to call her daughter in San Diego to tell her to bring her up some chicken from this place called Royal Mandarin next time she comes up to LA. It's changed lives, it's brought together families, friends and it can change the world.
The lineup of food on their menu aside from the crack chicken isn't bad either. While we were there eating in the restaurant, as the 150 piece tray lay in the middle with all other customers watching us eat, we ordered other menu items that added to the taste of the chicken and their fried rice. We had about nine people there eating and the manager gave us a sample of the Salt and Pepper Fish which was amazing! The only reason I can't order this is because it will not survive the trip back to LA then back to NY, fish is fish, but maybe their salt and seasoning mix might preserve it??? Hmmm maybe we can test it out. We ordered a good amount of food, from crispy beef, upside down crispy noodles, fried rice, and some other dish that escapes my memory, but food that was good enough to fill up the stomachs of nine hungry youth (including my dad) and have left overs only cost us $33 ... insane prices and great food.
I will definitely be back here soon, and this is the type of food where I will take a trip to San Diego just for this chicken. I've tried to find a partner who is willing to export the chicken for me, us at a profit to them, but I haven't had any serious parties. So if anyone in SD is reading this and would like to make some extra money just by boxing up and shipping the chicken, let me know ASAP.
Taste : 10+
Price : $ out of $$$
Restaurant : 9 (small and homey, they remember you once you're a regular)
+ mon