![]() The noodles did look impressive with the lobster pieces, but I have to say I felt the noodles were a bit overcook.ĭespite the last two dishes, all the other dishes were well done. Not everyone has to order lobster noodles, but my Mom wanted something special. For Chinese birthdays, it’s important to eat noodles because they symbolize long life like the length of the noodles. ![]() The highlight of the dinner is lobster egg noodles. I found the dish a bit difficult to eat because the skin didn’t easily come off the meat, which is really what I’m focused on. This is also a very simple chicken dish with clean flavors, but one that reminds my Mom of the dishes she had growing up in Hong Kong. This is the steamed yellow feather chicken with a ginger-green onion dipping sauce. The fried tofu creates a brown exterior for the tofu’s silken insides, then covered with an oyster sauce. This is a common dish in Chinese households, one that my Mom often makes at home so it was probably a comfort dish for my Mom to order it at her birthday banquet. Then a plate of fried tofu stuffed with shrimp. the entire dish was tasty and refreshing with the lettuce. The rest of our dinner included a minced squab and vegetables dish served on lettuce bowls. (My favorite parts of this appetizer platter is the jelly fish, sliced thin and dressed in a vinaigrette and the thinly sliced pickled pig’s feat.) Everything on the platter was made with traditional tastes, but with fresh ingredients. Next up was the East Ocean Cold BBQ appetizer platter, which comes with an assortment of items, including Chinese BBQ char siu, soy sauce chicken, pickled pig’s feet (two version) and crunchy jelly fish. ![]() It’s been awhile since I’ve had this soup (yeah, how often do you order an entire winter melon, they’re huge!) so it was nice to start off with this soup. When cooked the flesh is clear and tender. When served, the waiter scraps the actually winter melon flesh from the side. The soup is a clear broth, buoyed by the mild winter melon and accentuated with a variety of Chinese herbs and ingredients like ham and shiitake mushrooms. Still, it was overflowing with ingredients. In fancier places in Hong Kong, they’d actually carve a design on the exterior, but ours was just wrapped in plastic wrap. Then came the winter melon soup, which like I said was served inside the winter melon. These prawns, which just a few seconds were freely crawling all around the tank, were served whole with the head still on (you’re supposed to suck on it, which I just tried once) and arranged symmetrically on the plate. The prawns were so fresh that a few of them still had the roe attached. ![]() ![]() When my Mom arrived, she selected the rest of the menu for her birthday dinner, which started off with this amazing order of fresh prawns, simply boiled and served with a chili-soy dipping sauce. It’s an entire winter melon served at the table, and often requires an advanced order. (They’re shaped like peaches, which are a symbol of longevity.) He told me there wouldn’t be a problem getting them at the end of dinner, and he also asked if we wanted the last winter melon soup, and I said yes. When I arrived before my Mom, I asked the waiter about special birthday buns served at Chinese dinners. The spacious dining room is set up for large family dinners, surrounded by decorative paintings and some aquariums filled with fresh seafood. The restaurant is conveniently located on Webster Street a few minutes after you come out of the Webster/Broadway tunnel from Oakland. In fact, when we went on a Saturday night, there were a couple of birthday parties on our side of the restaurant and a wedding on the other half. And it seemed like everyone having a party these days go to East Ocean. I haven’t been to this Hong Kong-style Chinese restaurant, but I’ve heard good things about their dim sum. I had the task of finding an appropriate place, so for a central location for all the relatives, I zeroed in on East Ocean Seafood Restaurant in Alameda. When my Mom was in town, it was also around the time of her birthday so she had a birthday celebration with her relatives in the Bay Area. Reservations, major credit cards accepted ![]()
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