EAT: Jing Yaa Tang Summer Menu, Root Pop New Menu, Half-Price Slices at Cheesecake Factory

Jing Yaa Tang has introduced a new menu of summer dishes inspired by the cuisine of Guangdong province just in time for the hottest days of the year. Thanks to its hot and humid climate, Guangdong dishes are often created to cut through the haze and stimulate the appetite. Guangdong cuisine also makes the most of fish and seafood from the rich fishing grounds that run in and around the province, so the menu is definitely seafood heavy. The menu is available at lunch and dinner through to Aug 5. 

The standout dish on the new menu (which has more than 10 different items) is the Shunde raw snapper salad (pictured at top). A signature dish from the city of Shunde near Foshan, it features thin slices of fresh raw snapper lightly seasoned with a mild peanut oil and soy sauce dressing. Each patron mixes their own little bowl of salad by adding a variety of fragrant and crispy seasonings including shredded lemongrass and ginger, red onions, garlic, deep-fried taro, and peanuts. We also like the pan-fried three treasures Dace cake (pictured above), which comes with stuffed green chilies and lotus roots.

Over in Shuangjing, vegan restaurant Root Pop has a new menu, once again full of the creative vegan takes on popular dishes that have cemented their popularity with vegans and non-vegans alike. Featuring everything from burgers to hot dogs to salad bowls, the menu has plenty of variety to satisfy repeat visitors, alongside a drinks menu that will easily take you from day (espresso-based coffees made with homemade nut milk) to night (house wine from RMB 35 a glass and fruit cocktails). I've got my eye on the shroom cheesesteak (RMB 45), featuring marinated mushrooms and tempeh topped with vegan cheese sauce, and the pink kimchi burger (RMB 48), with a tofu patty and gochujang sauce. 

Root Pop has also introduced a few weekly specials. On Taco Thursdays, get a plate of three soft tacos for RMB 60, alongside other Mexican-inspired food and drink specials, while on Sunday they do a special veggie paella for RMB 188 (or RMB 268 with two tapas and two glasses of wine), which looks for all the world like it has actual scallops and squid in – see photo above (don't worry, they're mushrooms). See the flyer above for full details. 

Coming from the UK and not having extensively explored America's chain dining offerings, I didn't realize quite how much I needed The Cheesecake Factory in my life until it opened in Wangfujing. If you feel the same way, then you'll be excited to hear that in honor of Cheesecake Day (which is apparently a thing) they are offering half-price slices all day on Jul 30-31. The promo is limited to one slice per person but really, who needs more than one?

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Photos courtesy of Rootpop, The Opposite House, The Cheesecake Factory