As with most things I enjoy, great caveats often accompany them. Jade Asian Bar & Restaurant is no exception. Oh, nothing like 'great place, if you can get a seat', or 'you have to drive out to the suburbs to get it'. More like 'please everyone, go there, before it has to close like all the rest!'
I stopped in to the Midtown Global Market last night to grab some dinner. It was a very long week, and I was in the mood for comfort food. Midtown, with Holy Land Deli, Safari, Manny's Tortas, etc., more than satisfies for comfort food, but when we happened by Jade (somewhat busy in the bar) and saw a sign for a $7.95 Pu Pu Platter for two, the call had been made.
We were greeted and seated by possibly Minneapolis' kindest waiter, then sadly not at all surprised we were the sole table in the dining room. The menu at Jade is pretty impressive. Not long, mind you, just stocked with staples and delicious sounding specialty items. Immediately I declared my desire to come back - if for nothing else but the sushi ... but more likely for everything else. This of course came before we even ordered.
We decided on the Pu Pu, and a happy hour order of cream chee won tons (8 for $3!). House wine and rail drinks are also on special at happy hour, but I had to nab a Kirin Ichiban 241 at $4. Four dollars, man!
Our food arrived nearly as quickly as the drinks, and we dove in. The Pu Pu features mini chicken egg rolls, shrimp bread, foil steamed chicken, beef skewers, and bacon-wrapped tofu, along with three dipping sauces (plum, sweet and sour, and red pepper). Each item was perfectly delectable. The mini rolls were crisp, but not brittle. The steamed chicken was subtle, yet flavorful. The shrimp bread was positively delightful and full of flavors of the sea. The two heads-above winners on the platter are the beef skewers and the bacon-wrapped tofu. The beef skewers are perfectly fired with caramelized black bits on the outside, and wonderfully juicy pink meat on the inside. These were org-tastic. A party in your mouth. The tofu was everything pu pus ought to be. bite-sized and beautiful. The smokey flavor of the bacon and the soft creamy texture of the tofu were perfect partners in what has to be named one of favorite new dishes.
I cannot forget to mention the won tons. For your $3 you get eight of these monsters. Each won ton is large, crispy, and filled with warm soft cream chee. If I'd had these and these alone, I'd have been happy, but the Pu Pu sealed it. (Two Kirin's didn't hurt, either).
All told, our bill was $15.07. Are you kidding me? The waiter, again, the kindest in town, was nothing short of spectacular, so rounding it out to $20 almost felt cheap.
They've been in the MGM roughly one year, and man, I hope they make it. My only caveat for Jade is you might miss if it if you don't seek it out. I'm looking to try more of their menu the next time around, but if you do nothing else, hit the Pu Pu some night between 3 and 7 (or 8-10). Delicious and cheap. My favorite kind.
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