Being new to the place and a resident in Dinky Town for only four months, I asked my friend Brandy to take her to a restaurant in Dinky Town. She recommended Shuang Cheng as her preferred option as it’s a good go to spot. When asked for her choice, she responded with a smile that it offered sumptuous Chinese cuisine at affordable prices. Of course, that defines the restaurant’s success. The restaurant opened in the 1990s and has been a top favorite with the student population for decades. Situated on 4th Street SE, the restaurant roots back its existence in the year 1990, when two brothers, better known as Lam Brothers, from Vietnam and China, decided to realize their American dream, by opening their restaurant in Minneapolis.
After toiling hard for years by working in the various restaurants in the United States, motivated by a close Chinese friend, a chef, who had taught them to make Cantonese-styled food, they worked all their way up since then, to make it a success story. Their success and hard work have inspired their future generation to join their venture to sustain and grow it. This is evident by Jenny, the restaurant manager, and the niece of the owner, who supports her uncle in this venture. I interviewed her to learn about the restaurant, the food, and the story behind it. She is very humble, supportive, and dedicated to her work. She continued to give the interview, while, serving the guests at the same time.
The restaurant is better known for the seafood, especially, deep fried walleye with meat sauce. The clients also relish baked spicy crab, fried lobster with ginger and scallion, and steamed oysters in ginger hot oil. On the meaty side, I tried their hot sellers, General Tso’s chicken, which was savory, tangy, and a little spicy as well as the Sesame chicken, which was crispy and slightly sweet. The beef lovers would love beef brisket with lettuce and the one with curry sauce. Spicy Eggplant is vegan’s favorite. Their specialty, the Cantonese-styled cuisine- The Peking Duck, is a three-course meal, that has become more popular and often ordered on the Thanksgiving traditions in place of an American turkey dinner at home. All the Cantonese-styled preparations are light on spice but big on flavor; however, spice lovers can add the in-house chili oil to the meal, to raise the spice level to the expectations. The freshly prepared oil tastes smoky and is also available for purchase. Starting with 12 ounces, which costs $5, the oil can be also bought in 16 ounces and 32 ounces bottles, for $10 and $15.95 respectively. Another off-menu item is the fresh green specials, mentioned on the whiteboard in the restaurant, which are daily seasonal specials of fresh greens and seafood.
The unique selling point of the restaurant is that it is open for 365 days and never closes. An interesting fact told by Jenny is that the place has become a part of the tradition for Jewish families in the city to commune and have a meal together at the restaurant every Christmas. The restaurant also offers Lunch Specials to the students living on campus, because of their cheap, nutritious, and flavorful food. Another interesting about the restaurant is its brand-new flooring done since the Covid era. A part of the brand-new and shiny floor consists of recycled stones from the Foshay Tower in the Downtown. The place also serves beer and wine, which a weary visitor, can have and relax and enjoy with the food. All the food items have hearty portions, good for families and large groups. So, it can be a good place to give treats to friends for those with a budget, as all the items are affordable. It’s a must-visit place for the ones seeking Chinese cuisine as it brings authentic taste to the palate. Based on my experience, I would rate it 10/10, based on the taste, authenticity, and care shown by the staff. The restaurant is an embodiment and a good example of true family values, hard work, and compassion.