Jin Da Lai

Jeffrey Lam

2 months ago

★★★★★

Came here on a company dinner as a party of 13. The food was great and I enjoyed grilling the skewers. I probably wouldn’t come here again for any other situations, considering the cuisine is niche and dishes are portioned family style. A great first experience overall.

Kimberly Lim Legaspi

2 months ago

★★★★★

Went for an outing at Jin Da Lai, a Korean Chinese restaurant that focuses on charcoal grilled skewers and classic dishes tied to Northeast Chinese food culture. The skewers were the main reason we came and they were the strongest part of the meal. We ordered lamb, beef, and shrimp, all grilled over real charcoal. Charcoal grilling is central to northern Chinese skewer culture because it cooks the meat slowly and evenly while allowing the fat to render and drip onto the coals. That process creates the smoky aroma that comes back into the food. The skewers are served unseasoned on purpose, which is traditional. This style lets the quality of the meat stand on its own, and diners season afterward using cumin, chili flakes, salt, or sesame based spices. Lamb skewers in particular are closely associated with northern China and Muslim influenced cuisines, where cumin and chili highlight the natural richness of the meat. The lamb here was juicy and fragrant, the beef stayed tender, and the shrimp picked up a clean char that enhanced its natural sweetness. The lamb hotpot came with hearty pieces of lamb and tofu in a clear, savory broth. Lamb soups are common in northern China, especially in colder regions, where lamb is valued for warmth and nourishment. Cutting the meat into chunks rather than thin slices allows the lamb to slowly soften while flavoring the broth. The soup was comforting and balanced, with tofu absorbing the broth and adding softness to each bite. The 东北大拉皮 is a classic Dongbei cold dish. It is traditionally made with wide starch noodles, usually from mung bean or potato starch, and served chilled to contrast heavier dishes. Here, the noodles were mixed with cucumber, wood ear fungus, bean curd, carrots, and cilantro. Wood ear fungus adds crunch, bean curd adds softness, and the vegetables keep the dish refreshing. The dressing of garlic, vinegar, soy sauce, and sesame oil gave it a light tang that helped cut through the richness of the grilled items. We also got 锅包肉, one of the most iconic dishes from Northeast China. Unlike heavier sweet and sour pork styles, 锅包肉 is known for its thin, crisp coating and bright, tangy flavor. The version here stayed crispy and light, with a nice balance of sweetness and acidity. The 三鲜锅巴 is another traditional banquet style dish. It features crispy scorched rice topped with a hot seafood sauce made with shrimp, squid, and vegetables. When the sauce hits the rice, part of it softens while other sections stay crisp, creating that signature contrast in texture that this dish is known for. Other dishes filled out the table nicely. The dry fried string beans were cooked in a northern style with garlic and aromatics, staying crisp and savory. The spicy squid had a steady heat without overwhelming the seafood itself. The kimchi fried rice topped with an egg leaned more comforting and savory than aggressively spicy, making it easy to share. The sugar coated sweet potato is a classic Chinese dessert where fried sweet potato is coated in molten sugar that hardens into a shell. This is a dish meant to be eaten quickly. When fresh, the sugar coating is thin and crisp, but as it sits, the sugar continues to harden and becomes much tougher to eat. Since it was Chinese New Year, the owner brought out a complimentary plate of dumplings, which was a thoughtful gesture. Dumplings are traditionally eaten during the holiday because their shape resembles ancient gold ingots and symbolizes wealth and good fortune. The food overall tasted very good and felt rooted in tradition, though the service was slower than ideal. Dishes came out at a relaxed pace, and being seated on the second floor, it sometimes felt like our table was not getting much attention. For a large group, water refills were also slow and noticeable. Overall it is a solid spot for charcoal grilled skewers and Northeast Chinese style comfort dishes. The food carries strong flavor and cultural grounding, and with more attentive service and pacing, especially upstairs, the experience could be even better.

Kay N

4 months ago

★★★★★

Have been there three times and will still come back again. I love the food, especially the sweet potato, lamb rack, skewers, corn fritters, soup, etc. They are getting busier these days.