THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2021 • THE BULLETIN
GO! MAGAZINE • PAGE 13
FOOD
TRUCKS
& CARTS
p.14
bendbulletin.com/goeat
wonton filling was juicy and tasty, but the wontons were a
bit too delicate and fell apart.
Sizzling rice soup is offered at a few Chinese restaurants
in the area. It has a mild broth that is filled with vegetables
Gee’s Family Restaurant, Prineville
and chicken (or shrimp). It gets its name from the crispy
rice that sizzles when dropped into the hot soup.
Gee’s makes wor wonton soup with a
Hot and sour soup, which is often of-
unique flavor profile. The soup and the
fered as a first course, has fewer in-
wonton filling have a distinct, pleasant
gredients. The savory broth has
ginger taste. The soup was chock full
red peppers or white pepper
of ingredients, including firm
(hot) and vinegar (sour). It
broccoli spears, large onion
also usually has bamboo
slices, snap peas and car-
rots. While the shrimp
shoots, sometimes accom-
were large and juicy, the
panied by tofu and eggs.
other meats were a bit
Gelatinous wood-ear
tougher. The wontons
mushrooms complement
are large, and I could
the hearty broth flavors.
see bits of scallions, and
All of the soups I tried
again, an unmistakable
were traditional recipes (no
taste of ginger. However,
fusion ingredients like truffle
or other creative alternatives).
Cindy’s Chinese Garden wor wonton there was some hard
fat in a couple of the
The soups were either deliv-
derives its smoky flavor from
wontons. If you can over-
ered or ordered for takeout.
delicious barbecue pork.
look it, the flavor was ex-
A common issue with the
to-go soups was not enough broth to properly submerge the cellent and a welcome change.
packed ingredients. If you like it as more of a soup, order a
second container with just broth when you order for pickup Yi’s Wok, Redmond
or delivery.
Yi’s makes a sizzling rice soup
that would have been undoubtedly
Cindy’s Chinese Garden, Redmond
best eaten at the restaurant. It’s always
The wor wonton soup was extraordinary because of Cin-
a better show to listen to the popping
dy’s barbecued pork. The pork was trimmed of all fat and
and sizzling rice as it is dumped into the
marinated in soy, brown sugar and white pepper for more
hot soup at your table. Yi’s provides a sep-
than six hours. It was then barbecued. The result is smoky
arate packet with the rice so it is crisp when
meat that was tender despite its thick cuts. The pork lends
you bring it home and serve it. The mild-fla-
a hint of smoky flavor to the broth. The wontons in this
vored broth was filled with lots of vegetables,
soup may be the best in Central Oregon. And there were
water chestnuts, egg, chicken, pork, shrimp and
plenty of tasty dumplings, which are made by wrapping thin beef. Puffed rice gave the soup a nutty flavor and
wontons around juicy aromatic pork. The shrimp were large crunchy texture. I heated the soup before topping it with
and cooked just enough to remain tender. There were big
rice.
disks of water chestnuts, chunks of tender carrots and other
Yi’s wor wonton soup had wontons with lots of aromatics
vegetables that rounded out the soup.
for a fuller flavor. This was the only soup that included Chi-
Chi’s Chinese and Sushi wor wonton soup
nese cabbage along with snap peas, zucchini and big chunks
is fresh and complex.
Chan’s, Bend and Redmond
of carrots. The beef and other meat were the weak links in
The dark broth of this hot and sour soup was a bit spicier
becue pork. I’ve had this soup several times in the past and
this soup, but the light broth had a tasty complexity.
and sweeter than the others I’ve tried. Nonetheless, it offered
always felt satisfied, but it didn’t compare well to the others.
Double Happiness, Bend
a satisfying tang from a touch of vinegar. It was filled with
The broccoli and zucchini were a bit overdone. Long pieces
small squares of tofu, lily flowers, tomatoes, chewy bamboo
This Chinese restaurant’s wor wonton soup was packed
of celery were tender but firm. The shrimp was overdone,
shoots and wood-ear mushrooms (aka black mushrooms).
full of big, flavorful wontons, tender beef, chicken and bar-
chewy and smaller than other offerings.
Chan’s Wor Wonton soup had the most perfectly-cooked
and juiciest wontons filled with a combination of shrimp
Gee’s Family Restaurant
Cindy’s Chinese Garden
and pork. The wontons were soft and firm, not too large or
Restaurant addresses
987 NW 2nd, Prineville
1362
S
Hwy
97,
Redmond
doughy, and floated in a meaty broth. This meaty broth had
Chan’s
a sweeter profile due to big slices of sweet barbecue pork,
541-447-6115
541-923-9928
1005 SE 3rd Street, Bend
tender chicken and beef.
https://www.facebook.com/Gees-Fami-
cindyschinesegarden.net
Continued from previous page
CHI Chinese and Sushi Bar, Bend
Chi’s wor wonton soup had the freshest flavors and a
complex broth. The broccoli and bok choy retained their
bright green color and firmness, as they were perfectly
cooked. Shiitake mushrooms, chicken, gulf shrimp and
barbecue pork brought protein and a taste of umami. The
541-389-1725
chanschinese.com
CHI Chinese and Sushi Bar
3118 N Hwy 97, Bend
541-323-3931
bendchi.com
Double Happiness
2115 NE Hwy 20
541-319-7886
dhchinese.com
ly-Restaurant
Yi’s Wok
615 NW 6ths Street, Redmond
541-316-1298
yiswokofredmond.com