Suzi’s China Grill

7858 Shoal Creek Blvd. Austin, TX 78757 (512) 302-4600

Mon-Thu: 11am-9:30pm Fri: 11am-10:30pm Sat: 5pm-10:30pm Sun: 11:30am-9:30pm

 

Suzi’s China Grill has been an anchor at Anderson Lane and Mopac for many years now. The longevity can be attributed to what most people look for in a restaurant: consistency, great dishes, and good value. And not to mention the indomitable and always entertaining Suzi herself.

One thing I’ve always enjoyed about Suzi’s is her variety of dumplings (or potstickers, if you’re from the West Coast). The Vegetarian Dumplings, filled with shredded vegetables and bursting with flavor, simply light up the plate. Likewise for the Steamed Seafood Dumplings. They are covered in a paper-thin wrapper and filled with shrimp, scallops and crab. A little chile oil and soy and voila! Beautiful appearance and stellar taste. Then there’s the Spicy, Tangy Dumpling filled with spiced ground pork. This has got a fairly strong peanut sauce which I like: gives the dish a nice contrast.

And outside the dumpling family, try the Sesame Scallops. The scallops are flash-fried in a house-made batter that preserves and actually enhances the inherent flavors. Very simple yet evocative dish.

Suzi’s entrées run the gamut of classic Chinese and South Asian fare. And there’s always a bit of an edge to each dish. I like that. Start with the Grand Mariner Prawns. A hint of lotus flour, the prawns, a grand mariner sauce along with mayonnaise and a bit of fruit. This is a crispy delight. I also like the thoughtful Beef Mimosa. The tender beef is sauteed in sherry sauce and (here’s where it gets interesting) added is a zest of sun-dried tangerines and red chili pods. Terrific flavor. I’m also very partial to the Malaysian Chicken. The interesting pairing of sliced chicken and eggplant, sautéed along with string beans and cashew nuts in a mellow coconut curry sauce gives this dish a highly rewarding taste profile. And the Grilled Salmon is a stunner. Freshness is the key and the filet is covered with a very creative jalapeno basil sauce. Served over egg noodles, this dish rewards on many levels of taste and texture. And where would we be without a taste of the proverbial Sesame Shrimp? This is an oldie but a goodie, even if the carbs tend to get a little high.

Other Suzi’s restaurants across the city have come and gone, but this one remains the classic. Hope to see you there.