One of my favorite Chinese dishes is egg fu yung. It’s a fabulous omelet-like dish of beaten eggs, noodles, vegetables and meat or seafood and is pan or deep fried for a crispy, golden crust. It is traditionally served with a rich brown sauce or gravy and steamed white rice. I enjoy the dish because I find it as hearty and satisfying as it is light and delicate.

I recently visited three San Antonio Chinese restaurants seeking out this specialty. First on my journey was the Golden Wok Chinese Restaurant— a popular place.

The restaurant has thematic décor: a mini-bridge overlooks the koi brook and the large dining room has an artsy and contemporary layout. The Golden Wok staff was friendly and attentive.

I ordered the classic egg fu yung comprised of a combination of chicken, beef and shrimp with bits of vegetables. The ingredients were chopped and whipped into the egg, pan fried first and then quickly deep fried for a golden crisp exterior.

Served piping hot on a decorative ceramic platter, I could see the vapors wafting as I cut into my meal with a large serving spoon. The dish was accompanied by a demitasse pitcher of classic Asian brown sauce and steamed rice. It was very good.  

A few days later, I visited Mencius' Gourmet Hunan Chinese Restaurant, one of my favorite sushi spots. Located near the medical center, this is a very modern, high-energy restaurant and that vibe translated to their lunchtime version of egg fu yung.

The egg was blended with only finely diced scallions and the overall texture was more like well-cooked scrambled eggs. It was topped with the vegetable stir-fry and a soy sauce reduction.

My final food foray was to Van’s Chinese Seafood Restaurant on Broadway. It’s a long-time city favorite with a compact dining room and excellent wine list. Chances are you’ll be attended by the owner, who suggested that I choose pork as a traditional version of egg fu yung.

Van’s added some finely diced sprouts, onion and mushrooms, which were cut into small pieces and blended into the egg that was carefully pan fried. It was presented like a large round cake with a crispy, perfectly even brown crust, garnished with a bit of freshly chopped cilantro and parsley.

This work of art was served with classic Asian brown sauce and white rice. The meal was hearty, delicate and flavorful, and I’ll be back for more.

If you’re in San Antonio and looking for an alternative to BBQ and Tex-Mex, consider a quick trip to the Far East. I have evaluated and recommended over 15 Asian-style restaurants in San Antonio for AAA TourBooks guides.