Beijing Chinese Delights Arizonian's in the Desert

Beijing Chinese Delights Arizonian's in the Desert

Interviewed by Cuiyin Zhang   Written by Elise Krentzel

In 2008 Yang opened Beijing Chinese Cuisine in the Goodyear, the town of Arizona. We presume that Yang knew he was going to awe and wow the locals. He offers a Cantonese so original and pure that describing the authenticity and bravado of Yang's cuisine as piquing the locals' palettes is an understatement.

Perfectly situated in an ideal location, Beijing Chinese Cuisine is in the business strip on Indian School Road, just right next to the famous chain restaurant PF Chang’s China Bistro. There are government departments, offices and residential areas around the nearby area. The reason Yang chose the location was due to several factors. The community was rapidly developing and the nearby residential areas are upscale, bringing him the type of customer he sought.

Hats off for Interior Decoration

We might add to the Beijing brand an honor for top interior décor as well. The upscale furnishings appear lavish for the average diner yet are not at all intimidating in the way some fancy restaurants can be. Although diners' dress code is casual, once they are seated, they feel ten feet tall in the cavernous 2,500 square feet.

Beijing Chinese Cuisine has some classical Chinese elements to satisfy a curiosity about Chinese culture that certainly lingers amongst most patrons. Several red lanterns are hung on the ceiling of the main entrance. “It is a Chinese restaurant which is clear at a glance from the outside,” the owner said, even though the exterior architecture is part of an Arizona styled shopping mall. The front door is applied with a Temple of Heaven window film (they use the Temple of Heaven as logo. For those readers in the dark, it is one of the main tourist attractions in Beijing).

Yang says, “Senior customers like my restaurant’s decor very much. Customers can define at a single glance that this is a Chinese restaurant because of its authentic icons like paintings of peony flowers and red-crowned cranes.” 

Classic redwood tables are orderly arranged in the spacious dining hall for the 80 or so diners. Each table has four sets of elegant white china plates, pink napkins, condiment sets and a flower vase for the final touch. Wooden dado panels and striking golden wallpaper decorate the wall and match the ambience perfectly. Exotic and delicate revolving wooden lanterns hung on the ceiling. The lighting effect is warm and romantic. Premier brownish wood floor are applied in the restaurant. Together, these decorations bring auspiciousness in Chinese culture. You can appreciate splendid Chinese culture through Beijing's decoration while enjoying their irresistible food.

Scrumptious Bites

Adhering to the basic principles of Chinese culinary methods is highly emphasized by Yang. Beijing Chinese will not drown out in the sea with so-called Chinese American restaurants floating nearby because they cannot hold a candle to his methods. From Garlic Steamed Shrimp, Golden Garlic Scallops and Cashew Nut Chicken to Mongolian or Ginger Beef – these signature specials ought to receive a “branding” mark for being the top of class. Beautiful arrangements of animals and centerpieces are typical. And not just in Arizona!

Stir-frying is mainly used although steaming is adopted for healthy cooking. Dining healthy has is no longer a trend that will go away. Steaming is the best method for maintaining nutrition in food. Here, each item is lightly prepared with just-balanced flavor, without the use of MSG. They adhere to a low salt and fresh oil policy. Original healthy dishes include Asparagus, Mango and stewed mixed vegetables.

The Best Kept House Secrets are Real Chinese Stunners

Chinese food has not been popularized in America, admits Yang. “There’s a famous saying, ‘One man’s meat is another man’s poison,'” he tells. Compared with Japanese cuisine, Chinese food features complicated cooking processes and relatively larger portions. Even though the market is saturated with Chinese restaurants and competition is fierce, he thinks, real Chinese food should be introduced into this country.

Yang says the fine dining arena is a tough one to enter especially when the food served is real Chinese and not mimicry Chinese, a La Chinese American which is not the same as what one finds in Hong Kong or in Beijing.

Chinese food stresses freshness and nutrition. The cooking methods can be regarded as an art form. As long as you open the restaurant with the purpose of promoting Chinese dining culture to the world, the Chinese catering industry will win great support. It may eventually become a daily habit for people.

Staying Ahead of the Game

“Service is about people, maintenance of your restaurant and management,” says Yang. Politeness, hard work and honesty are the qualities one who works in this restaurant must possess. “On the occasion that the customer unsatisfied with the dish, we will exchange it and even refund it, whether the dish had been tasted or not.”

On management Yang says, “Our mission is to serve customers wholeheartedly and that is what we live by. We have a clear mind about our future and destination. A price war is never a good way to win for us because getting involved in that means the possibility of lowering quality, which may eventually harm our business. Price war is where you may lose yourself -- your focus and then your customers,” Yang adds.

Challenges

When you need to rely on running a restaurant for your livelihood, it becomes a dull and tiresome job. “Through these years, we have continually upgraded ourselves, from language abilities to enhanced communication skills. When I see that Beijing Chinese Cuisine receives local praise, I know it is a must for me to continually do better. I appreciate the customers’ kindness, support and suggestions. The longer I devote my time to my restaurants, the happier I feel.” Yang said.

The only challenge is that Yang is compelled to elevate the service standard, continuously improve and innovated dishes, since the Americans, many of whom have been growing to understand more thoroughly Chinese food, get more professional in appreciating a dish. It gets harder to stand out in a crowded industry. Double efforts are needed.

Meet the Owner

It is the third restaurant of Yang's in America. It has only one year’s history so it is still new in the district. However, thanks to Yang’s consistent effort, Beijing Chinese Cuisine has become one of the most upscale and appreciated Chinese restaurants in Goodyear, Arizona.

He says, “For years, my wife has shown her greatest support to me. We are both busy all day, so we've got little time to play with our two sons, ages of 14 and 13. They sometimes complain about the absence of a family day, which their friends enjoy. We feel quite guilty for that. We try our best to spare time to be with them. The kids are considerate and understanding when we explain to them that we have to work to support the family.”

With many years’ experience in making outstanding Cantonese cuisine in famous restaurants in Canton, the capital city of Guangdong Province (reputed as one of the “Gourmet Palaces” in mainland China), Yang believes that apart from unalterable Americanized Chinese food, authentic oriental delicacies will surely appeal to everyone as well. He encourages customers to try his Cantonese creations by offering free samples.

If there is any formula to his success he doesn't let on. Success can be copied he says, so keep learning from other successful restaurants is a key. Being diligent and having a good attitude towards life also adds a lot in your career, he shares.

There are no further plans for expanding the restaurant at present. “As I grow old, I don’t seek a dynamic life, just a safe one.”