After a 5 year dry spell of not eating in a Chinese restaurant in Cuenca, I finally found a real Chinese restaurant. No beef and broccoli on the menu. Not a beef item at all! When the Jia family finally found their choice location in Gringolandia they opened the Jia Ji Comida China. The menu consists of 27 main entrees. None are the American inventions chow mein and fried rice.
On my first visit I ordered the Braised Whole Fish. Thinking that would not be enough for me, I also ordered Mapo Tofu (medium heat). Surprise! The whole fish was at least 24 oz, deep fried, and then served in a gravy. Easily enough food for leftovers.
Just to be sure the first visit was not a mistake, a friend and I went today. We ordered the Sweet and Sour Whole Fish and Steamed Braised Pork Belly. The fish had to easily be 32 ounces swimming in a rich sauce with no vinegar taste and a faint sugar taste. The sauce competed with the pork belly sauce for the rice. The pork belly was braised and then steamed before being cut into 1/8” servings and placed on a bed of lettuce leaves. A delightful brown sauce was then poured over the pork belly. Again a delicious meal presented nicely and ample portions. Chinese leftovers again.
The entrees are competitively priced. If enough people try Jia Ji, I think they would agree with me no other Chinese restaurant in Cuenca would be in the same category. If others have a good Chinese restaurant, send me the name, address, and suggested entrées. Be glad to try it out. Six have failed so far.
Jia Ji can be reached by taking the #3 bus to the 2nd stop after the SuperMaxi circle. Get off and Jia Ji is right there!
Address: 6-108 Ordonez Lasso, Cuenca
Contact information: 096 139 9316
Recommended by David Chinn: dwchinn@yahoo.com
