First Hand Freshness

Aurora, Colorado, is an unlikely place to find Asian food. But sometimes you can find a diamond in the rough, and true Asian flavor in the middle of country flavor. Owner Jerry Tsao runs the Tsai Shen Gardens, an Asian restaurant dedicated to offering quality Szechuan, Hunan, and other Asian cuisines to an eager local population. Mr. Tsao is dedicated to his craft, ensuring that the very highest quality ingredients are used in his dishes. To accomplish this, Mr. Tsao personally selects the ingredients from local markets.

Fact Sheet :
- Location: 15200 E 6th Ave # 2E, Aurora, CO 80011
- Cuisine: Szechuan, Hunan
- Capacity: 75
- Offers: dine-in, take-out, delivery
- Signature Dish: Fish Hunan Style, Green Bean with Spicy Bean Paste 
- Year of establishment: 2007
- Phone: 303-366-8818

The Scene

Tsai Shen Gardens is located in a shopping center in Aurora, Colorado. Its dining space is a comfy 2400 square feet. Light pink wallpaper adorns the walls while plush carpeting decorates the floor. Recently, the restaurant was recognized as one the “Top 100 Local Favorites” in the 5th annual Top 100 Chinese Restaurants in the United States competition.

The Food

Tsai Shen Gardens offers both Hunan and Szechuan cuisines. Owner Jerry Tsao decided to offer Szechuan dishes because of the popularity of the cuisine with American diners.

In Aurora, Chinese restaurants are an uncommon sight. Customers tend not to be used to many different exotic flavors as those in New York or San Francisco. To accommodate the customers’ preferences, the owner modified the cuisine to their satisfaction.  Take these following dishes for example: The String Beans in Bean Sauce is a very popular dish with the local population. It is made from fresh string beans stir fried with bean sauce (doubanjiang). Doubanjiang is a spicy, salty paste made from fermented broad beans, soybeans, salt, rice, and spices. Doubanjiang is usually used in Szechuan cuisine, as it can help enhance the flavor. To make it more popular, the owner slightly alters the taste of the bean sauce to be lighter. Now it is highly recommended by customers.

The Fish Hunan Style is also quite popular. The marinated fish is sliced into thin flakes, and stir fried in a special sauce. This dish incorporates a very flavorful sauce that has to be tasted to be believed. There are three kinds of preparing methods for this dish: steamed, boiled, and pan-fried. Any taste preference can be catered to at Tsai Shen Gardens.

Finally, the combo dish is a sure hit with customers. Beef, chicken, and assorted vegetables are mixed together to create a harmonious balance of nutrition and healthfulness.

In addition to the top-selling Chinese dishes, items from other cuisines are included on the menu. Japanese, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisines all make delicious contributions to the menu. The Japanese-style, smoke-flavored Teriyaki Chicken, Edamame, complimentary popular Pad Thai are all available on the menu on any given night. People crave variety and richness in food and these classic dishes can surely tantalize the appetite and satisfy their cravings.

But don’t forget desserts! The coconut-battered deep-fried ice-cream with a crispy texture outside and fruity and icy stuffing inside is a real hit with customers- no matter what their age. The strawberry cream cake and caramel pudding are also delectable treats to compliment the whole dining experience.

The creativity and variety of the menu is not a one time occurrence. The chefs will update the menu every two weeks, and replace older dishes with something new and exciting. The owner hopes to “Just give the customers more choices…in tough economic times, what the restaurateurs try to do is attract more customers.” 

On the healthier side, the restaurant is certainly not lacking. The chefs are accustomed to preparing dishes steamed or boiled for the customers’ satisfaction. The dishes can also be steamed with the sauces served alongside the main course to give customers the option of putting the sauce on the dish or not. There are two kinds of sauces to choose from: a white sauce that combines sugar, salt, vinegar, ginger and garlic; and a brown sauce. Also brown rice serves as one of the healthy alternatives that customers can order. To guarantee the high quality, the owner Jerry would purchase the ingredients by himself from the local markets to make sure that all the ingredients are fresh.

The Service

The staff at Tsai Shen Gardens prides itself on being professional and knowledgeable. The owner explains has instilled basic principles of service into his staff: “It is important to get into the habit of being friendly and courteous to the customers. As a dine-in restaurant, we should pay more attention to customer service and make them happy. After all, customers are our valuable resources, and we should satisfy them as much as we can. We believe that customers will come back again and again for our food, our attentive and friendly service.”

Their efforts have not gone unnoticed. A local mystery shopper once wrote: “The staff members greeted me with a smile. They were focused on the customers and treated everyone in a polite manner. They concentrated on their tasks and serving the customers. The service was efficient.”

But service isn’t just about doing the bare minimal. At Tsai Shen Gardens, they go the extra mile. The owner offer thanks returning customers by presenting them with delicate desserts, such as caramel pudding, cakes, etc. 

Owner

Jerry Tsao came to America from Taiwan in 1984 and moved to Denver later in 1989. During these years, he learned cooking and then worked as a chef before serving as a manager. Eventually, he took over Tsai Shen Gardens and it has been his restaurant ever since. 

To improve the restaurant, owner Jerry hopes to revamp the restaurant decoration to create an enjoyable and cozy ambiance for diners. In addition, he someday hopes to open a theme-restaurant in the future. The current economic slowdown threatens many customers away from fine restaurants, and many restaurants are forced to reduce their prices in the hope of attracting more customers. But in Jerry’s opinion, lowering the prices is not the only way to bring in more customers. Instead, the owner plans to celebrate the traditional Chinese New Year with a spectacular lion dance, and add some creative and special dishes to the already extensive menu.