Asian Legend: Taiwanese Snacks Invade Ann Arbor

Rice Cake with Garlicky Mushroom Sauce and Preserved Egg (daily special) at Asian Legend

When Joe and I first read that Asian Legend on William St. was offering Taiwanese snacks, we rushed down there the next day to give them a try. We both love dim sum and Asian street foods, and we were eager to see what new tastes Asian Legend had brought to Ann Arbor.

We weren't disappointed.

Let's just say that we've been there three times in the past month, and we haven't even ordered from the regular lunch/dinner menu yet.  (For the record, it has all the standard dishes you'd expect to find in a Chinese restaurant around here, plus some you won't see elsewhere.  The chef is also trained in traditional Sichuan cooking, but for that you have to order in advance and tell them what you want, since they don't have a Sichuan menu.  Watch for this in a future post; we're planning an expedition...)

The snack menu is separate from the main dinner menu. They're still experimenting with what's popular, so this menu is subject to change. At present, it lists just over 45 different snack dishes ranging from dim sum-sized items like onion pancakes (vegetarian version of the below pancakes) for $2.25 to Wuxi Ribs for $11.95 (which I've been told is a large plate of delicious ribs). In addition to the regular menu items, they add around five or so rotating daily specials -- written only in Chinese. Make sure to ask for translations, or you'll miss out on some very tasty items such as the above rice cake and the below noodles with sesame sauce.

Shrimp Omelet - egg, sweet potato starch, and vegetables with a sweet sauce (regular snack menu)

Big enough to share with two to six people, this "omelet" consists of eggs, plus sweet potato starch (like gelatinous rice paste) cooked with shrimp or oysters and vegetable (bok choi or napa?) topped with a tomatoey sweet sauce that, nevertheless, isn't anywhere near as sweet as its garish color suggests.  Strange, and good.

"Onion Pancake Beef Wrapped" (regular snack menu)

One of those onion pancakes, wrapped around sliced, mildly-spiced, beef.  Joe's favorite.  We first saw this item as a dim sum item at another restaurant in Toronto also called Asian Legend, and we enjoyed it there, so we thought it fitting to order it at this Asian Legend, too.

Seaweed & Dried Tofu (regular snack menu)

I'm a big fan of dried tofu "salads". This dish comes with a garlicky dressing that really enhances both the tofu and the seaweed.

More snacks in the "continued" post...

Cruller with Shrimp Paste filling and Wasabi Mayonnaise (daily special, but it's been there every time we have)

Deep-fried goodness with wasabi mayonnaise. What else needs to be said? (I like this dish, but truthfully if I were by myself I wouldn't get it because there really can be such a thing as too much "deep-fried goodness.")

Cold Noodles with Sesame Sauce (daily special)

A very nice rendition of sesame noodles, topped with carrot and cucumber. Yum.

Taiwanese Panfried Dumplings (regular snack menu)

This is apparently the Taiwanese take on potstickers -- they're folded over, rather than sealed at the end, and served with a sauce with minced garlic. 

Asian Legend

516 E. William (right by Cottage Inn)

(734) 622-0750

Hours:

Mon.–Thurs. 11 a.m.–10 p.m.

Fri. & Sat. 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m.

Sun. 11 a.m.–9 p.m.   

(Unlike dim sum, which is usually restricted to lunch time, they seem to serve the snack menu the whole time.)

Comments

[solomon]

Oh, that's exciting. I'll go try that soon. Cold noodles w/ sesame sauce is possibly my favorite snack. I would try it at every little place I could when I lived in NYC. I've been underwhelmed by most of what I've found around Ann Arbor, but I haven't tasted everyone's take on it by any means.

[Joe, Kitchen Chick's Husband]

For a very different take on it (which I really like) try Szechuan West's version.

[Manya]

Based on your and J's recommendation I ate there yesterday for lunch.

YUM!

I had: anise-seed beef wrapped in something yummy and fried
spicy shrimp rolls
taiwanese potstickers
salt -pepper chicken
wuxi ribs

I can't say enough good things about the anise-seed beef or the wuxi ribs. The salt-pepper chicken, despite a rave review in the newspaper clipping in the restaurant, was missable.

I asked about the daily specials in Chinese and the server tried to tell me they were the lunch specials on the menu. I persevered and was rewarded with the spicy shrimp things and the anise-seed beef.

[Joe, Kitchen Chick's Husband]

We've got to try those ribs...

Glad you liked it!

[Manya]

...and now I've been back again. The pig's ear is great - cold, salty, vinegar-y, just perfect. I also had the watercress with garlic, which was good but rendered me socially unacceptable for the rest of the day.

[lightcnd]

Do the owners have another place in the Novi (MI) area? Please let me know!

[nate]

Nice post KC! When you finally make it to Asian Legend's regular menu, you've got to try the tofu in the earthenware pot. I don't remember the dish name, but it's basically fried tofu in a sweetish brown sauce with bamboo and snowpeas. Delicious!

[Joe, Kitchen Chick's husband]

Manya: we pretty much had our lifetime quota of pig's ears in Zheng Zhou, but if you say they're good here, we may have to try them again. ;-)

lightcnd: I think they do have another place in Metro Detroit, but can't remember if it's Novi or not.

nate: Thanks fr the tip; that sounds great!

[edwin]

i tried the onion pancake beef wrap and it was very tasty. thanks for the recommendation!

[Clay C]

There used to be a great Tiwanese restaurant in Livonia that moved in Februrary to Ann Arbor. It was called Empire Szechuan Garden and it was great. I miss it so much.

Next time I'm in Ann Arbor, I will be sure to try Asian Legend.

I wonder if the same people that ran Empire Szechuan now run Asian Legend?

[Joe, Kitchen Chick's Husband]

I wonder if the same people that ran Empire Szechuan now run Asian Legend?

That sounds right, but I don't know for sure.

[Jessica]

Hey Clay C, Joe, Kitchen Chick's Husband, and lightcnd,
The owners used to have a place in Troy. They moved to Livonia (yes, it was called Empire Szechuan) and finally moved to Ann Arbor in March. I hope that helps!
Jessica

[Joe, Kitchen Chick's Husband]

Thanks!

[Tsubasa]

Yes, he's the same owner.
I know him personally, they are great people and know how to cook.