Oriental Aroma ¹úζ
Add: 928 8 St E, Saskatoon, SK S7H 0R8
Introduction of the restaurant:
Best Chinese Food in Saskatoon. I eat out a lot. I actually didn't have this place on my radar but through a series of circumstances my boyfriend and I ended up here. That was back in May. I am here for eat in or picking up take out( Iike tonight) at least once a month, often more. It is where I take friends from out of town when they tell me they want Asian. The service is ok, the dine in cleaner and more appealing than all of Asian restaurants I've been too in Saskatoon but the food is why I go. From the amazing hot and sour soup, black bean chicken, Kung pow shrimp, sizzling pork belly, schezuan beef etc. This is a long list, I could go on and on. I (and all of the people I've taken there) strongly recommend you visit.
Outstanding!. Two of our best friends in Saskatoon are restauranteurs who grew up in Malaysia. Food is always part of our all-too-infrequent get togethers, so we were intrigued when they suggested we meet them at Oriental Aroma for lunch. This small restaurant opened very near our house about a year ago, but for some reason we had never dropped in for a meal - though perhaps the rather unassuming storefront situated on a very busy intersection (Clarence Ave. and 8th St.) left us with the impression that this was just another of Saskatoon's all too common mediocre Chinese restaurants. We couldn't have been more wrong!
We arrived before our friends and perused the menu; it was obvious from the offerings that this promised to be an authentic Chinese dining experience. Offerings like pig ear, lotus root, squid tentacles, tripe in a variety of sauces - as well as some items we had never encountered (e.g.: mala pot) populate an extensive menu that also includes many of the classics (e.g.: ginger beef; kung pao chicken; szechuan green beans - you get the picture). You can expect everything here to be authentic, not compromising or mediocre.
While we had input, our friends took care of the ordering (in Mandarin). When the food started to arrive we knew we were in for a feast. The appetizer was a delicious, perfectly executed sliced beef with five spices and hot chili oil - with BIG chunks of fresh garlic. The beef was well marbled and served cold, and the chili oil was so addictive we poured it over our rice so as not to miss a drop. Absolutely wonderful.
Then came the parade of deliciousness that was our mains. A steaming, large ramekin of tasty, firm white rice (it had a nice, gentle nutty flavour) accompanied our mains. The rice was kept nice and warm throughout by the ceramic ramekin - a nice change from the cheap plastic tubs that one encounters almost everywhere else, which helped the rice stay warm as we ate.
First up, a plate of delicious, spicy squid tentacles with crispy, hot veggies. The spices were delicate and rich at the same time, and the squid itself had a fascinating crunchy/tender texture. First bite led us to think that the tentacles would chewy, but they were not at all - just nice and tender and tasty. We could have eaten just this and been happy.
Next up, the mala pot. This one was new to us, and we loved every bite. There was a large variety of vegetables - including large slices of delicious, crunchy lotus root (mmmm, mmmm, good), sweet peppers, and seaweed. The pot also features some delicious chunks of pork ribs with a crunchy coating soaked in the hot, spicy mala sauce. This sauce is so unique it's hard to describe the taste. Laced with lots and lots of Szechuan peppercorns, cloves, star anise, garlic, and something called douban paste (a fermented broad bean paste), this sauce is heavenly.
Next, Szechuan green beans with chili peppers and ground pork. We're giant fans of stir fried green beans, and a bit particular about the dish. This one used very fresh, very large, and very sweet green beans and overall was a very tasty complement to the other dishes. Our only quibble, and it's a small one, is that we would have liked a bit more garlic and ground pork with the beans.
Last we had a lamb dish, which wasn't on the menu and our restauranteur friends ordered in Mandarin as a favour. We consider ourselves lucky to have gotten a taste. The lamb came in strips, tender and juicy. One of the dominant spices was cumin, and a curry-like Szechuan sauce. Wonderful thin strips of sweet peppers and onions. So unique, we've never tasted anything like it.
We walked away awe struck and kicking ourselves for judging a book by it's cover... or in this case a restaurant by it's location. This is truly an ethnic gem for Saskatoon. We love you Yip Hongs, and will return especially for your dim sum, but as far as uncompromising, unique offerings, Oriental Aroma has won our hearts. We're so pleased it's in our neighbourhood and will be returning with our camera as we work our way through the menu.
tried this place for the first time and was pleasantly surprised. A very large menu that was a bit overwhelming, so we just asked for the waiters recommendations. Out came the chilied garlic green beans with pork and the sweet and sour pork bellies. Both were very different from your typical Canadian-American Asian cuisine, but knocked our socks off with the taste and originality. Service was excellent and it seems like they are going for a semi-classy atmosphere. Winner winner green bean dinner!!
Fresh 'n Tasty. We came for lunch and decided on the Stir Fried Beef Tripe and the Seafood and Tofu Hot Pot. They need to look at changing their menu a bit so that they do not have the same name for items in different places in the menu as there is also a soup called Seafood and Tofu hot pot.
Both dishes were very good and the rice at lunch is free and unlimited.
I will be back... maybe even to try the lunch specials which looked generous in portion size with quality ingredients.
Really good food! Seems to be authentic, definitely not your typical deep fried sugar and msg. Went for supper as my phone was being fixed. Service was quick and friendly. Had my food I front of me in less than ten minutes! Country style pork belly was very good. My only hang up is that the menu isn't very descriptive, but I'm adventurous so I tried something and it payed off. Next time I'm in town I'll be bringing friends in.
I really love eating here. The food is fresh and fast. When we come for an early dinner we are always surprised with how good the food is and the speed at which the food comes out. I would recommend this place to anyone. The food is better quality than many other asian restaurants in Saskatoon.
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