From the outside, Leshan Beef looks plain, marked only by a bright red “Open” sign and a matching sign in Chinese. However, the moment I stepped inside the restaurant, my impression shifted. The rich aroma of beef broth filled the air, diners chatted over Chinese pop songs playing in the background and a large poster detailed the history of the restaurant’s signature Qiao Jiao Beef Soup, originating from the Leshan province of China. 

My family and I sat down at a polished table with green plastic chairs, a pleasant modern look I rarely encounter in traditional Chinese restaurants. We ordered by scanning a QR code, and the food arrived at our table in less than ten minutes. I was pleasantly surprised by the efficient service, from seating to the digital menu, especially during lunch rush hour.

We ordered the Steamed Pork Belly with Yibing Mustard ($16.95) as an appetizer, which made the perfect meal opener: the large, thin slices had layers of lean and fatty meat, drenched in a sauce that exploded with umami flavor. However, I found the sauce slightly too oily and the lean layers of the pork belly too firm. Nevertheless, the delicious flavor of the dressing paired well with the rice we ordered on the side.

The Spicy Chili Pork Intestines ($17.95) arrived steaming hot from the wok, stir-fried with bell peppers and spring onion, dusted with chili flakes and drizzled with Mala oil. The pork intestines themselves gave the perfect crunch when I bit down, and the fatty insides melted on my tongue. On the flavor side, I felt that the Mala oil hid some of the intestine’s inherent savory taste. After a few bites, I could only feel burning in the back of my throat from the spicy oil. For spicy food lovers, this dish is a must-try.

I had high expectations of the Qiao Jiao Tender Beef Soup ($15.95) as the restaurant’s star dish, and it did not disappoint. Though the meat looked bland and tough at first, it was incredibly tender, with a light, savory flavor. The soup warmed me from the inside out, delivering the clean, savory taste characteristic of beef broths without being too overpowering or oily. After we finished the soup, our waitress came by and generously refilled the entire bowl free of charge, to our great surprise. 

I also decided to order the Scrambled Egg with Tomato ($14.95), a classic childhood meal of mine and my favorite dish of all time. As someone who regularly eats and cooks this dish at home, I was sorely disappointed by the restaurant’s version. Although the scrambled eggs were cooked and seasoned with a silky smooth texture, the tomatoes fell short of my expectations. They were bland with a hint of sourness, released no juices into the eggs and tasted underripe, making it seem like they were thrown in as an afterthought. 

Thankfully, we ended off the meal on a high note with crispy sticky rice cakes as our dessert. In the past, the rice cakes we ordered at other restaurants were always slightly too soft and covered with too much peanut powder. However, these ones made crispy, ASMR-worthy crunches when we bit down, revealing chewy sticky rice cakes on the inside. The combination of the earthy peanut powder, sweet brown sugar syrup and rich rice cake made for an addictive dessert that had me and my sister fighting for the last piece.

Despite a couple of disappointing dishes, Leshan Beef left a positive impression on me through its unique flavors and efficient service. Most dish prices do not exceed $20 and come in reasonable portions, making it convenient for eating alone or with friends. The authentic Leshan dishes, refreshing atmosphere and friendly staff all make for a relaxing and satisfying dining experience. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a satisfying lunch filled with rich flavors. Since our first visit, my family has returned to Leshan Beef nearly every week for lunch.