Ying Hua Yuan Japanese Restaurant

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Video review by Serpentza (Youtube) here.

Japan has a cult following amoungst many westerners, and a lot of the more fanatical ones use China as a foothold for getting into Japan. But for some, China offers what they thought they could only find in Japan.

Buji is a industrial area. Many Japanese business men come here and set up factories. And as with all people travelling abroad, we all miss a taste of home. So it is not surprising that Buji has Japanese restaurants.

Some would find the location of this particular restaurant surprising. Set amongst a backdrop of slums and small cramped roads, it sticks out like a torch in a coal mine. The interior, modestly furnished and clean. Private rooms, tables set in the floor.

But why would someone want to make the 40 minute trip from the CBD out to Buji to come to this restaurant. Many other, more centrally located restaurants, also offer the set price, all you can eat specials such as the one mentioned here.

Seafood

One reason would be the lack of restrictions. Some restaurants allow you to only order certain foods off the menu if you want to take advange of the all you can eat special. Others allot a time limit. This place has none of these restrictions. If it‘s on the menu you can eat it.

Tempura

The waitresses are Chinese, but can speak Japanese. There are two in particular, who seem to always be at the restaurant. And they are friendly.

 

The have great burger patties that I have not seen at other Japanese restaurants.

 

Beef Burger Patty

And the patrons are all Japanese, so you can be assured that the food is at least close to authenic.

If you are in Buji and are craving Japansese, I recommend giving this place a try.

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Chinese Name: 樱花苑日本料理
Tel: 28270407
Adress: 龙岗区布吉一村街49号
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The New Donnie Yen Movie

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Standing on my balcony overlooking the southernmost side of Shui Wei Cun I saw some people working on a sign that announced “Free beer tomorrow”. My heart leapt into my throat. Could it be true. Was China finally realising that beer should be free, much like the other important element needed for survival, air. Alas, my hopes where shattered…

An, albeit fake, sign advertising free beer

What I had bourne witness to was the creation of a movie prop for the new Donnie Yen move, being filmed on the same street later that week.

The film industry in China seems to have recovered quickly from the ravagings of the Cultural Revolution. China, with a lot of help from it’s new addition, Hong Kong, has brought us some timeless classics such as The Message and Painted Skin and has turned some locals in to iconic heros including Donnie Yen.

The term “sellout” however does not seem to have reached the shores of Asia by any means. Stars such as Jackie Chan have been collecting large sums of money from promoting products such as Bawang, the miracle keep your hair from falling out formula (now with casinogens). Donnie Yen has also fallen prey to the lures of money, pushing underwear and aftershave amongst others on the adoring masses.

Back in the village of Shui Wei things were in disarray. Soldiers where marching up and down and crowds were gathering. Opposite my balcony on the neighboring roof, a huge light was mounted and in the distance a huge crane loomed overhead sporting another massive light. The scene they where shooting was at night. The first few days it seemed as if the crews where waiting for a change in weather. A lot of rehearsals where done and the fake rain machine was constantly being tested. Some days I would wake up to the fake wails outside at 4am.

The place where film crews spent a week filming

 

Police tape stopping people from parking their cars during filming

 

The rehearsals where relentless. One particular scene had a car pulling up into the road. We stood watching the car drive in, stop and reverse back, until 2 in the morning, and they never even turned on a camera.

I had a bit of luck and caught an actual take of two police cars rushing to the scene with a ton of police officers in tail.

I have a new found respect for the rigors of film-making. These guys really earn their keep.

If you have the ability to travel back in time and are in the area I would recommend checking this out.

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Red Star One

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Video review (Youtube) by SerpentZA here.

Ah.. hotpot. The easiest way to cure hunger pains. What could be simpler than throwing a bunch of meat and vegetables in a pot of boiling water and fishing it out when its done? Hotpot restaurants are a dime a dozen in Shenzhen. We’ve already mentioned a good Sichuan restaurant here.

On a readers recommendation we went to Red Star One. Placed in what I thought to be a bad location, at the northern most part of Huang Gang Village, in retrospect is was a good place, right next to the basketball courts where the youths played.

Red Star One at night

Things were not off to a good start. I arrived at noon to find the place closed. Then I called them at 4pm and they said they were just opening. 4.30pm I arrived to find the chefs had not arrived. I postponed till another day…

Another day… My first time… We arrived and one of the two owners quickly seated us and asked a bunch of questions, more irritating that anything. He introduced his cousin who claimed he had been living in England for 20 years. His accent confirmed this.

The food, which was more forced on us than chosen freely, was good. This was a fusion restaurant. Red wine sauce was a unique offering at the restaurant. The beer, imported from Belgium, carried a price tag of 28rmb, reasonable for a restaurant.

The two soups - red wine and satay

Some meat bathing in sauce

Belgium Beer

Belgium Beer part 2

 

The meats came in two styles. Western and Chinese, the western having thicker cuts. Boiled quickly and dipped in one of the variety of sauces on offer.

Western Style Beef

Chinese style meat

Tofu came last. Frozen, which the owner explained allowed it to soak up more of the sauce.

Frozen tofu

For two beers, two portions of meat, a portion of tofu, a portion of cheese filled fish balls and the two pot sauces we paid 230rmb. This is not what you would expect to pay in Shenzhen. This restaurant’s prices were misplaced. They belonged in Hong Kong.

The dipping sauces

Fish balls with cheese inside

A complimentary glass of wine comes with the red wine soup

Overall, bar the price, the restaurant was a quaint little stop. Menus had English. For people looking to check out something different, I would recommend this place. Bring a big wallet though.

 

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Chinese Name: 红星一号 Hong Xing Yi Hao
Tel: 8382 6436
Adress: 福田金田路皇岗上围一村35-1号

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Xī Bèi You Miàn Cūn

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Video Review by SerptentZA:

HD Version (YouTube)  found here

Xi Bei is a place I am unfamiliar with, however this restaurant I have frequented often. Situated just behind the Shenzhen Sports Stadium, it’s quite a distance to travel to. Recently however more Metro stops have opened up making it more accessible. On the corner of a quiet street, from the outside the restaurant does not look like much. On entering you are greeted by waitresses in uniforms that remind me of the Cultural Revolution propaganda movies of the late 60′s. Xi Bei and Xinjiang both share a love of lamb which shows in this place’s menu.

Unfortunately, as of late, my eagerness to return has been extinguished. This restaurant suffers from the same fate as many Chinese businesses in Shenzhen, starting by offering a lot and going out of their way for customers until they begin making money and then they just slacking off.

On my last visit, one of the most important dishes at this particular restaurant, the yoghurt, we were told was sold out （this being around 8pm on a weekday）. It’s the dish that brought us back so often, and now were not even guaranteed that it would be available on future returns.

Previously when we put our cellphones on the table, the waitresses would come and slip them into plastic packets to protect them, this has since been done away with.

Waitresses were pretty unenthusiastic about their work.

However the food has not changed in quality at all. Still as good as ever. And unlike the Xiang Mi Hu branched mentioned here, there are no queues to get in.

If you are in the area and want to try your luck at getting some of the honey topped yoghurt, or fancy a lambunctious feast, then give this place a try.

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Off the menu:
自制酸奶 Zì Zhì Suān Năi: Natural Yoghurt 10RMB
黄米凉糕 Huáng Mĭ Liáng Gāo: Chilled Yellow Rice Cake Small 22RMB Large 28RMB
石磨豆腐 Shí Mò Dòu Fu: Stone Tofu 38RMB
烤羊棒 Kăo Yáng Bàng: BBQ Lamb Kebab 35RMB
国仁小烙饼 Guó Rén Xiăo Lào Bĭng: Guo Ren Pancakes 22RMB
生煸牛肉土豆条条 Shēng Biān Niú Ròu Tŭ Dòu TiáoTiáo: Suateed Beef with Potato Strips 46RMB

Tel: 0755-82439282

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The Porsche Protest

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China is internationally renowned for not being friendly towards protesters. Though, a few years ago, before my time, there was an apparent protest against the Japanese staged in Shenzhen and arranged via sms. This protest led to the destruction of many Japanese owned offices and shops (I was told) including Jusko (which is apparently Chinese owned, at least in China).

Once again officials have surprised by allowing a protest outside a small Porsche dealership in the heart of the CBD, near the Exhibition Centre. Two weeks ago (now being the 12th January 2012) on the way to work I noticed some army officials entering the dealership. Upon leaving work my eyes where accosted with a strange sight.

A trailer with a huge 4×4 Porsche strapped on top parked right outside the dealership, so close in fact that it was pretty difficult for patrons to get in. Now I sometimes pride myself in my ability to read Chinese character but in this instance I could not make out a darn thing, but it was evident that someone was angry and wanted to voice their frustration.

I was pretty sure that the car would be gone by the next day but there it was again. Its been two weeks now and the vehicle is still there. Film crews have come to inspect and there has possibly been some media coverage, which I have not thus far found. In the afternoons people use the trailer that it is parked on to eat their food, and I am sure that the culrpits are all too happy to oblige.

People eating on the trailer

People eating on the trailer

I’ll be emploring readers to try and shed some light on this odd event. Keep an eye out for more information. If you have better translation skills or know more about this please leave a comment.

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Related Chinese terms:
维权 wéi quán：to defend (human rights)
保 bǎo : protect
户 hù : family / household
要命 yàomìng ：to cause someone’s death
系统 xìtǒng ：system
失灵 shīlíng ：out of order / not working properly

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