Wonton Gourmet in AsiaTown

I don't have a lot of experience in Cleveland's AsiaTown. Actually, looking at this helpful guide, my experience is even more limited than I thought. A go-to lunch spot for Foodbank employees was #1 Pho, and I am a fan of Li Wah for Chinese. But, until recently, that was my short list of visited restaurants in the neighborhood. And Tastebuds, but does that really count?

Lucky for me, a friend took "R" and I to Wonton Gourmet & BBQ. First, I love that all of the menu items are pictured on the wall. It's a little overwhelming for a first-time diner, but helpful! We decided that the best route to go was to share several items.

Turnip Cakes and Chive Potstickers started us out.

"R" and I both love a good steamed dumpling, and these were some of the better ones that I've had locally. I don't like the completely meat-packed versions as much, so this was perfect for me.

Wonton Soup was next, which was plenty to share for three people.

We decided on two main dishes, the Mixed Seafood and Chinese Vegetables in XO Sauce and "R" ordered a Short Rib dish that I didn't catch the name of.

As you can see, the seafood dish was packed with different types of seafood. The only one I didn't care for was the white fish. It was a little chewy. But the flavors of the sauce were enjoyable, and the vegetables still had a nice firmness to them and weren't overdone.

"R" was really the only one eating the short rib dish. Notice the bones still connected to the meat? They had cut the meat into small pieces, but left the bone down the center. The meat was fatty and difficult to chew, so removing it from the bone proved challenging at times. I actually spit out my one bite, which is not something that I normally do. The texture of the meat just wasn't pleasing, for me personally. Too bad, because the sauce was tasty.

Overall, I really liked everything that we ordered. I think that I still prefer Li Wah, but I'd go back for more. Also, it's worth noting that the bill was incredibly cheap for three diners and the amount of dishes that we tried. Really, I should just try a new place and attempt to tackle more on the list.

What's your favorite spot in AsiaTown?

Wonton Gourmet
3211 Payne Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44114
216-875-7000