Southeast Lincoln lost a superb Asian restaurant but got another to replace it.
Ms. Chen 56 took over the spot in the Alamo shopping center at 56th Street and Nebraska 2 where Korea House used to be. It opened March 15.
Ms. Chen 56 specializes in American Chinese fare, with a menu featuring more than 100 items for dine in, takeout or delivery. It’s owned by husband-and-wife Ken Xie and Yuki Chen. The 56 part of the name is for 56th Street.
American Chinese is Chinese fare adapted to American tastes. You’ll find such popular entrees as beef and broccoli, General Tso’s chicken, peanut butter chicken, pepper steak and orange chicken – all staples of American Chinese cuisine.
Xie and Chen are from Fujian, a province in southeast China. They’ve been in the United States for nearly 18 years and in Lincoln since January 2014, coming here to join family. They have two children, ages 7 and 4.
“When people ask why we came to the U.S., I tell them we like the freedom,” Chen said. “We like the freedom to say what you want to say.”
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The Alamo, Edgewood and Old Cheney shopping centers at 56th and Nebraska 2 are destinations for Lincoln residents and that’s what drew Xie and Chen to open their restaurant in the area.
Food
Chinese restaurants – oddly – are often judged by their crab Rangoon and egg rolls, and Ms. Chen 56 passes the test. Just check the early reviews on Yelp, with several customers saying the crab Rangoon ($3.75 for four or $6.75 for eight) is the best in town.
The key is the wonton wrapper is thin, allowing the flavors of the cream cheese and crab mixture to come through and not get lost in a crunchy mess from a thick wrapper. The egg rolls also feature thin wontons wrapped around tasty meat-and-veggie fillings.
The American Chinese menu features a variety of chicken, beef, shrimp, vegetarian, lo mein, mei fun and fried rice dishes, ranging from $8.95 to $16.50. There are also a dozen chef specials, including such favorites as Happy Family and salted crispy chicken, costing $12.55 to $16.50. Portions are huge, with most entrees large enough to feed two easily. Most dishes come with steamed white rice.
Also on the menu are several appetizers and soups. The restaurant features daily lunch specials, ranging from $7.50 to $8.25. Those specials come with an egg roll and crab Rangoon.
On our visit, my wife and I enjoyed a shrimp mei fun (thin noodles; $10.95) and salted crispy chicken ($12.75), four crab Rangoon ($3.75) and two egg rolls ($3.50). The mei fun dish included more than 10 shrimp, while the salted crispy chicken was an ample helping of lightly breaded chicken pieces. We would order both again.
Ms. Chen has four grand opening specials that go until the end of June. Ask about them when you call or grab the to-go menu. They’re pretty good deals, especially the “2 for $26.99” cash-only option featuring two entrees (no shrimp or chef’s specials), two egg rolls and four crab Rangoon. Grade: A-
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Atmosphere
Chen and Xie changed the wall color – from yellow-orange to gray – and that’s about it. They kept the layout, tile floors, lower wall paneling and furniture – light gray tables and dark gray chairs and booths – from Korea House. It’s contemporary-looking and very clean. The restaurant features some Chinese wall art, including a large landscape at the back and an aquarium near the register. A big plus is the two-door entry, which prevents cold or hot air from outside blowing in on diners. Grade: A
Service
What I love about Chinese restaurants is they serve the food as soon as it’s ready instead of waiting until the entire order is done. That way you get your food hot rather than receiving one hot dish and one that’s lukewarm. My entree arrived first and my wife nibbled off it until hers arrived a couple of minutes later. The wait wasn’t long for any of the food. Our appetizers came out of the kitchen less than five minutes after ordering and the entrees arrived soon after. The only odd thing about our experience: our hot tea was served in Styrofoam cups instead of teacups. Grade: A-
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Specialty diets
Several choices are available for vegetarians, including a section of the menu with seven entrees (sizzling tofu, General Tso’s Bean Curd, etc.). The menu also includes several nonmeat appetizers (seaweed salad, veggie egg or spring rolls, etc.) and soups. Gluten-free dining is not noted, so check with servers with how food is prepared. Grade: A
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A selection of the most delicious dishes at Lincoln restaurants
Cook’s Cafe
A frosted cinnamon roll is among the options at Cook’s Cafe.
Tavern 180
Tavern 180’s Mardi Gras Pasta.
Dish
A halibut dish at Dish.
Muchachos
Hatch mac (left) and street tacos are served at Muchachos.
High Peak Asian Restaurant
Pad thai (from left), fiery beef with tofu and sesame pork ribs seen at High Peak Asian Restaurant.
Meztli
Moleajete at Meztli Restaurant.
UnbeWingable
UnbeWingable offers a variety of chicken wing sauces, including strawberry shortcake.
Good Evans
The salmon bowl, with crispy hash browns, red quinoa and spinach blend, grilled salmon, pickled vegetables, fried capers, remoulade sauce and two over easy eggs, is among the Power Bowl choices available.
Mughil’s Indian Cuisine
Chicken tikka marsala – Boneless chicken cubes cooked in cashew nut, onion and tomato paste at Mughil’s Indian Cuisine.
Nitro Burger
The Tsunami burger, with wasabi cream cheese, nori-wrapped sticky rice, house sweet chili sauce and Asian slaw on a kaiser roll.
Rutabaga’s
The Kale’ing It bowl includes curly kale, roasted sweet potatoes, quinoa, slivered almonds, roasted Brussels sprouts and balsamic maple walnut dressing.
Boitano’s Lounge
Beef short rib flatbread at Boitano’s Lounge.
Toast
Braised pot roast served with mashed red-skinned potatoes and a seasonal vegetable at Toast.
N Zone
A Meet the Press pizza with sausage, hamburger, pepperoni and Canadian bacon at the N Zone.
Yia Yia’s
The Greek pizza at Yia Yia’s new location at 70th and Van Dorn.
Shokunin
The oyako don lunch special bowl, with chicken and egg over rice, at Shokunin, 440 N. Eighth St.
Seyo Thai
Pad kra pow, a dish of ground meat with bell peppers and onions, with a fried egg and rice at Seyo Thai, 501 W. A St.
Koen Japanese BBQ and Sushi
A variety of sushi roll delicacies on display at Koen Japanese BBQ and Sushi at 2601 Jamie Lane: The Last Geisha (top), Samurai Madness (right), Sunshine of Fuji (bottom) and Maguro Sashimi.
The Normandy
A rack of lamb with goat cheese mashed potatoes and a tomato stuffed with ground meat (foreground) and canapes of smoked salmon, Dubliner cheese and balsamic at The Normandy.
Leadbelly
English breakfast nachos (bottom) and chicken curry fries at Leadbelly.
McAlister’s Deli
Pecanberry Salad, with fresh strawberries and blueberries, candied pecans and grilled chicken, served with Fat-Free Raspberry-Pecan Vinaigrette dressing at McAlister’s Deli.
Blaze Pizza
Customers can choose from four sauces, seven cheeses, eight meats, 17 vegetables and seven finishes to build their own pizza at Blaze, 1317 Q St.
Mi Tierra Family Mexican Restaurant
Camarones Mi Tierra (Bacon Shrimp) at Mi Tierra includes shrimp wrapped in bacon, marinated in a special tequila marinade and served over a bed of sauteed onions and green peppers with guacamole, sour cream and pico de gallo.
Sultan’s Kite
The SK: half shawarma (left) and half chicken tikka korma with taziki and Greek salad, at Sultan’s Kite, 7350 S. 13th St.
Screamers
The Best Little Burger in Texas is one of 10 gourmet burgers at Screamers Dining & Cabaret in the Haymarket. The smoked gouda cheeseburger is topped with a jalapeno popper, bacon, haystack onions and barbecue sauce.
Vung Tau
Spring rolls and Bun Dac Biet Vermicelli with grilled pork, fried shrimp and egg rolls are among the favorites at Vung Tau Restaurant, 2708 Y St.
Hacienda Real
Hacienda Real’s Tacos al Carbon is tender flame-broiled skirt steak, sliced and grilled with tomato and onion, then folded into three soft corn tortillas and dipped into a slightly spicy tomato sauce. Hacienda Real has two Lincoln locations, one at SouthPointe Mall and one in the Highlands.
Phat Jack’s BBQ
Burnt ends, macaroni and cheese, and Texas toast tempt diners at Phat Jack’s BBQ’s newest location on West O Street.
The Parthenon
Among the dinner selections at The Parthenon, 5500 S. 56th St., is the Greek-style broiled tomahawk pork chop with rice pilaf, Greek potato and pita bread.
Piedmont Bistro by Venue
Piedmont Bistro by Venue’s 12-ounce strip steak frites (left), sage cocktail and mac and cheese with broccoli and andouille sausage.
The Rabbit Hole
Cream puffs, cake pops, tarts, brownies, macaroons, and cake by the slice are some of the desserts available at The Rabbit Hole Bakery.
Valentino’s
Fried provolone cheese, L.A. lasagne and pepperoni deluxe calzones are among the offerings at Lincoln’s newest Valentino’s on Pine Lake Road.
The Hub Cafe
Moroccan spiced branched oak meatballs made with a preserved heirloom tomato sauce, marinated carrots and sunflower tahini are on the menu at the Hub Cafe.
Perfect Diner
Perfect Diner’s menu includes a Taiwanese pan fried noodle dish, featuring shrimp, beef, chicken, bok choy and more in a brown sauce.
Copal
Chiles en Nogada is a sweet and savory dish served with pomegranate seeds at Copal.
Asian Buffet
Signature Masato cream cheese rolls, dusted with salmon roe, are among the many sushi offerings at the Asian Buffet, 5130 N. 27th St.
Ninja
The Sushi Regular offers a variety of fresh fish at Ninja, 5650 N. 33rd Circle.
Ginger
A Gingertini, Sapporo beer, the Cucumber Breeze and edamame are among the offerings to get diners started at Ginger, 6055 Apples Way.
Lazlo’s
The rainbow chicken (clockwise from left), baby back ribs and salmon salad are featured on the menu at Lazlo’s Brewery and Grill.
Jeff Korbelik is the winery manager at James Arthur Vineyards, former Journal Star features editor and author of “Lost Restaurants of Lincoln, Nebraska.” He’s written restaurant reviews for Ground Zero since 1998.