Dong Bei Mama Chowdown

Twenty hounds hit the Richmond for a Dong Bei feast. I found a parking spot right around the corner on the first pass - good omen.

Our table had:
Assorted Cold Dishes

Sliced Beef Pancake - we had to get this after seeing it delivered to another table. Pan fried pancake stuffed with meat. Crunchy, savory and very yummy

Spicy Crispy Pork Intestine - seemed like a straightforward Sichuan preparation. Good heat and the intestines were cooked nicely

Braised Pork w/ Yam Noodles and Corn Cake - very good. In fact, you could stick with the soups here and be very happy. Golf ball size corn cakes and a nice, rich broth.

Dong Bei Pork Liver - not so great. The sauce had too much starch and the liver didn't excite

Bean Sheets with Noodles in Special Sauce - Interesting due to its surprising heat. We puzzled over the heat source for a while. Chili oil? Cayenne?

Bean Noodle w/ Sour Cabbage and Pork - came to the table late. Just out of the kitchen it was too sour for me. Once it cooled down the vinegar mellowed and the richness of the pork came through better. Eyes closed this could have been served at a German restaurant

Bamboo skin with Okra - Good texture on the okra. Liked this

Simmered Lamb - another good hot pot selection. Rich lamb broth with plenty of tender chunks of lamb. Chinese dates, too.

Chicken & Mushroom Hot Pot - very good. Probably my fave of the night. Tender chicken, mushrooms, and a broth that got more intense as it sat. Yum.

We paid $18 per person for all of the above - a great value. Would I drive out of my way to eat here? No, but if you stick with the soups/hot pots you'll be very happy. Another fun night with the hounds.

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Dong Bei Mama
4737 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118