Black Pearl
Review and photos by Carolyn Keopanya
Who can turn a selective vegetarian into a ravenous carnivore? The same
ones who can create a leftover sauté enthusiast out of my picky 10 year
old food separatist - Black Pearl. With inviting dishes of brightly
colored crisp vegetables, and tantalizing smells of marinated meats,
Black Pearl is a wonderland for the experienced and new to Chinese
cuisine.
My family and I recently visited Black Pearl for lunch. Black Pearl is a fantastic Chinese restaurant on the north side of
Goodwill on 15th NE and 145th. They have an open line concept so you
can watch your food being prepared while you wait. Lunch is a great
time to try a variety of items there for a really great price. Each
entree item comes with a choice of rice, choice of soup (their hot and
sour is the best!) and either a spring roll or bbq pork.
We
chose to share our entrees family style. I couldn't believe the
enthusiasm that came from my kids - never witnessing such eagerness to
try new foods before! My children are as selective as they come, so this
can only attest to the offerings at Black Pearl.
We chose to have
General Tso's Chicken, Stir-Fried Green Vegetables, 10 Ingredient Chow
Mein, and a full entree size of the Mongolian Beef. My boys had a fork
fight to compete for who got the last of the General Tso's - one of them
being the aforementioned vegetarian.
This General Tso's is like
none other I've had. Light and crispy coating, large pieces of breast
meat chicken, and a sauce that is the best blend of all that the palate
desires: Savory garlic and soy with just the right touch of sweetness,
followed with that bit of spice the dish is known for. Nothing needed,
nothing missed.
The Green Veggies was a total hit! Those picky
kids I mentioned.... wouldn't leave them alone! Frosted in garlic,
simply sautéd to an
al dente perfection, this dish was a great
accompaniment to our meat and noodle dishes without overpowering them.
The
Mongolian Beef was definitely the favorite all around, eliciting the
highest amount of praise from the crowd. When I asked what made the beef
so tender, Chef giggled and said she bought a machine especially to cut
the meat for this dish. First the beef is defatted, tendons removed,
then marinated. The sauce for the final preparation is as delicate as
the meat itself, tossed with green onions, and poured over crispy
noodles.
The 10 Ingredient Chow Mein combined an array of meats,
shrimp, and vegetables with soft noodles. This dish is available with
the house homemade noodles ($1.25 up charge) which is a recipe Chef
learned from her mother. Other recipes Chef Tieth-Sun Cheng brought
from home are the Mu Shu pancakes and Pot Stickers.
Fresh,
healthy ingredients are important to Black Pearl. They use absolutely no
MSG, no nitrites, as well as no artificial colors. And they limit the
amount of sugar, sodium, and corn starch in their dishes, and use only
white meat chicken. So often I leave Asian restaurants feeling sluggish.
This wasn't the case with Black Pearl - I was satisfied and energized!
 |
Chef Juei-Hsi Cheng and Chef Tieth-Sun Cheng, "Ray" and "Marlene", owners of Black Pearl |
Chef
Tieth-Sun Cheng and husband Chef Juei-Hsi Cheng, who most know as
Marlene and Ray, moved to Shoreline in 1987. In 1989 they opened the
first Black Pearl in the Wedgwood neighborhood.
Ten years later,
they opened their current location here in Shoreline.
They are the
kindest people and treat their customers as an extension of their
family. Their restaurant is clean, and staff is courteous. Free delivery
to a 3 mile radius with a $10 minimum order.
Lunch Specials $6.75-8.25 (served until
4pm)
Appetizers $1.75-7.50
Entrees $8.25-11.95
Specialty Items $13-15
14602 15th Ave NE, Shoreline, WA 98155,
206-365-8989Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 11-9pm
Friday, Saturday
11-9:30pmSunday 4-9pm
Monday Closed
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