Da Mao Xie

Incredibly friendly staff and delicious food. Portions are large and designed to be shared. Bring your friends and have a good time.

Salt and pepper squid was very bland, very greasy

A new addition to Oakland Chinatown, this Cantonese restaurant serves up a decent mix of wok-fried entrees, salt and pepper done 6 ways, and seafood. Crab is their specialty. The savoury ginger scallion sauce made the added work of extracting the sweet meat well worth it. The hot and spicy shrimp was served in a flavourful tomato sauce, while the salt and pepper spareribs were fried dry (in a good way) — topped with crispy garlic and minced jalapeño. Not expected, but still very good. Hot pot options go beyond the standard: medicinal chicken, old goose, beef offal, and lamb. Portions are generous for the price. K-pop, disco lights and the futuristic kitsch interior gives a sense of younger crowd.