Northeastern Kitchen, as far as I know, might be the first restaurant in Pittsburgh with northeastern Chinese cuisine. Weather in northeast China is close to Pittsburgh, with massive snow in the harsh winter. The cuisine is influenced by the cuisine of Russia, Mongolia, Korean, and Japan. My friend recommends me this restaurant, as “his favorite one in the US.” From my point of view, it’s an above-average home-style restaurant, and it’s friendly for people who cannot eat spicy food. Waiters are friendly, they are willing to explain dishes on the menu. I highly recommend Northeastern Kitchen.
Northeastern Kitchen is in Forbes Ave, Squirrel Hill. It’s a bit hard to notice it since it’s located in a basement, with a nail spa. Honestly, I won’t walk in without friends’ high praise to the restaurant. Space is small: three to four booths for groups, eight desks for four people, and some small tables. The inner decoration is simple but carefully designed. There is a big mirror on the wall, and it released the pressure in a narrow space. Desk and chairs are clean, so as the dishrag. I appreciate staffs’ continuing efforts to maintain a clean environment.
We ordered Dong Po pig knuckles (actually it’s Northeastern pig knuckles), di san xian, and stewed four white. Pig knuckles (feet) is a strange part for Americans, but it’s popular in China. Knuckles is cooked with lots of spices, and the unpleased smell of the meat is eliminated. It’s cooked with pork broth in wok or pressure cooker. After one to two hours cooking, meat and skin would fall off the bones. Meat is tender and greasy, and it is cut into pieces.
Di san xian, is stir-fried eggplant, potato and green pepper. The name translates to “three treasures from the earth” since it is made with three common vegetables in China. The dish contains crispy potato, fresh green pepper and carrots, soft eggplant, and onions.
Stewed four white is made by Chinese cabbage, pork belly, cellophane noodles, and tofu. The name is from the white soup and white ingredients in it. Chinese cabbage is the main ingredient in northeast China. After the long winter begins, people store cabbage in cellar, and some of them are picked. The picked Chinese cabbage is sauerkraut. Cellophane noodles are made from potato starch. It’s also called “glass noodles” since it’s in a translucent light grey or brown. The soup is made by pork bone, ginger, garlic, star anise, and cinnamon.
Panther Eats 