Kings Country Imperial has a reputation for serving up some of the best Chinese food in the city and after sitting down and enjoying a delicious dinner, it’s easy to see why. Specialising in Pan-Chinese comfort food, the menu has its fair share of traditional favourites such as Wok Seared Long Dumplings, Chinese Hanging Pork Ribs, Dry Fried Long Bean (my personal favourite) and Soy Braised Crispy Pork Belly, the chefs also have a little fun, introducing new experimental dishes such as Mock Eel (made from Shiitake Mushrooms and their special Soy Sauce, more on that later) which have quickly become crowd favourites.
The fun doesn’t stop at the food. The bar staff get creative with the delicious cocktails, housing them in quirky vessels such as skull cups and gold pineapple containers, making it a great place to go for a drink with friends, or even on date night as it will definitely give you something to talk about!
The interiors are cozy, with a nod back to the restaurant’s Chinese heritage. Dark woods are punctuated with pops of red, and red-cushioned booths and lazy susans, take me back to Chinese restaurants I used to visit in my childhood.
While there is no doubt the culinary team have expertly combined traditional Chinese flavours to create unforgettable dishes, the real hero of the condiment selection is Kings County Imperial is their soy sauce which they brew themselves, and used in all the dishes on the menu. The sauce is made in antique porcelain pots. It’s sun-fermented in a Chinese field for 6 to 8 months which is done to allow the sauce to reach its maximum flavour. Once transported to Kings County Imperial, they run it through a nitrogen line to stop it from oxidising too quickly.
If you want to take your love for Chinese food to the next level, why not book yourself in for one of their weekend dumpling-making classes. Not only will you learn the art of making the perfect dumpling (or entertain yourself watching the pro’s do it!) but you’ll also get to enjoy your hard work, eating what you make after class. Tickets are available through the Leisurely App.
Until other Chinese restaurants, while you walk away feeling full, you won’t feel sick. The food goes easy on the grease but doesn’t sacrifice flavours while doing so. With two locations, one in the Lower East Side in Manhattan and the other in Williamsburg Brooklyn, there’s no excuse not to treat yourself to a delicious feast.
Kings County Imperial
20 Skillman Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211, USA, +1 718-610-2000
168 1/2 Delancey St, New York, NY 10002, +1 212-475-0244
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