Claudia Looi

Fish Tanks, Feng Shui and Chinese Food in Dallas

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If you google "Why do Chinese restaurants have fish tanks," there are about 1.3 million searches. So why are there fish tanks in Chinese restaurants? You can find them in Chinese restaurants worldwide.  From Paris and London, Bombay to Kuala Lumpur and Montevideo to San Jose, you'll find at least one fish tank in every Chinese restaurant.

According to Chinese culture and Feng Shui, fish symbolize fortune and water attracts good luck, money and wealth. Fish eyes are always open, and that shows the ability to see obstacles and evil.

Most of these tanks are found at the entrance of  Chinese restaurants.

The New China Grille in Dallas has a fish tank and indoor pond for koi. Koi fish show perseverance, strength, the ability to withstand adversity and bring good fortune. I'm not one who seeks out Feng Shui, though I believe in uncluttered rooms and a minimalistic lifestyle.

In Mandarin Chinese, a menu is called "chai pu" 菜谱. (See photo above). The New China Grille in Dallas has some unique dishes that will surprise you. They have two menu; one is called authentic Chinese and the other U.S. Chinese. Inside the authentic Chinese menu, you'll find a list of "weird foods."

The photo below is fried chili and pig's intestine. We didn't disclose to our kids what it was when they were eating this pig's intestine.

When asked how it tasted, my son said: "it's gamey!" Hmmm...really ?:)

The above dish is a typical stir-fried beef with onions and scallions.

Here's a whole fried fish with sweet and sour sauce. Ordinarily, whole fish prices are not listed in Chinese restaurants. They are priced according to market price.

No big family gathering is complete without a whole fish served with a bowl of white rice. To the Chinese, fish is a lucky food - a dish that symbolises abundance and increases prosperity.

We learned a new dish in Dallas - stir-fried potatoes. Who would have thought to make crunchy stir-fried shredded potato with garlic and salt? It is not a typical Chinese dish.
Tofu is another must-have dish for a gathering. Tofu originated in China over 2,000 years ago. There are many types of tofu. The most common are silken white tofu, firm tofu and fried tofu.

Chinese restaurants do not serve typical western desserts. Dessert in Chinese restaurants are usually some kind of fruit or cookie. New China Grille impressed us with their version of a sweet potato dessert. This was the best dish for our dinner out with extended family in Dallas.
You dip the sugar-coated extremely hot sweet potatoes in a dish of water before eating. The water cools down the temperature of the sweet potato. You can see gooey sugar threads in the picture above.
Dining out at New China Grille was an experience for our family. As an immigrant from Malaysia who has never lived in China and was not exposed to the authentic Chinese culture, eating at a restaurant like New China Grille was an eye-opener.
Food and eating is one way of discovering the richness and cultures of a destination. Every dish that is served on our table has historical and cultural significance. Through the passage of time and the intermingling of cultures, some of these dishes have been modified and adapted.
Seen fish tanks in Chinese restaurants lately? What strange food have you eaten at a Chinese restaurant that you were not told what it was until you ate it? Let us know.

Comments

  3. Susan McKenzie says

    Come to think of it now, I have seen fish tanks... I just never realized the reason why. It makes me want to get an aquarium. I used to have one for many years, but then moved... I loved hearing the reason why chinese restaurants have aquariums...

    And the food... wow, what a "job" you have, Claudia! To travel and taste food, what an amazing adventure and also quite an education for your children 🙂

  5. Michele says

    Claudia,
    Thanks for the mini culture lesson. I never gave it much thought but you explanation of the fish tank makes sense and I think I need one in every doorway of my house LOL!. I just love reading your posts about restaurants. Thanks again for some fun info!

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