New (Soon to Be 'Old') Auspicious Chinese & Japanese Restaurant

Restaurant: New Auspicious Chinese & Japanese Restaurant
Address: 11 Cricket Avenue Ardmore, PA 19103
Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Style: Chinese / Japanese
Food: Well done for the most part, with a few missed marks
Atmosphere: Asian inspired and sleek
Parking: Ample metered parking spots are available in nearby lots
Service: Good
Price Range: Average
Unique Feature: There were many unique menu offerings, but with a new name and menu in the works, we'll have to wait and see what emerges.

Merriam-Webster defines "auspicious" as an adjective, showing or suggesting that future success is likely. As business names go, using a word like auspicious is a brave and unusual route. But on a recent visit to the New Auspicious Chinese & Japanese Restaurant in Ardmore, it seemed the name was indicative of the establishment: promising.

There's a twist to this name, though. First, the food.

With just one step in the door, an eight-foot tall set of chopsticks erased any question of what kind of place I had entered. My friend and I were seated in the dining room, around the corner from the sushi bar. Each black lacquer table and booth was adorned with a vase of fresh flowers in the brightly lit room.

We perused the lunch menu, which was split nicely between the Chinese and Japanese options, but offered some unusuaal choices for a typical Asian-style menu. We decided on a Shrimp Teriyaki Bento Box ($9.95), the Any 2-Rolls special ($8.95), and the Mango Chicken with Fried Rice ($9.45).

Both the bento box and mango chicken came with a bowl of soup, so only a moment after placing our order, our server brought out two steaming bowls of wonton soup. The broth was especially tasty, much saltier and more flavorful than the run-of-the-mill Asian soups that I’m accustomed to. The wonton wrapper was also thinner and more delicate, making my comparative experiences feel like I had been drinking from a kiddie-cup. This was the way wonton soup should be.

Next came the sushi; the Philadelphia Roll and a Spicy Tuna Roll. The spicy tuna was unique and enjoyable, as the chef had mixed in scallion and roe with the tuna, giving it a little added texture and flavor. The Philadelphia Roll was surprisingly delicious. The smoked salmon, as advertized, had a wonderfully smoky flavor that mixed nicely with the cool cream cheese and creamy avocado.

As we finished our sushi, the server reappeared with the Mango Chicken, preemptively warning us of his dissatisfaction with the current preparation. Apparently, there was a much better sauce on its way, but delivery of such specialty items would take a couple of weeks.

We nodded, and dug in. The flavor was intriguing. Like nothing I’d ever ordered before, which is exactly why it drew our attention. The spicy sweetness of the mango and red and green peppers mixed with the chicken was quite nice. A few spoonfuls of the fried rice and I was pleasantly happy with the choice.

Though the brown fried rice was tasty, the fresh egg did little to hide the frozen pea and carrot mixture that had obviously been used: a sad shortcut.

Our Bento Box arrived. It was beautifully plated with a mound of white rice, three goyza, four perfectly shaped California rolls and a heaping order of teriyaki shrimp.

The shrimp were delicious. Perfectly cooked and served atop a bed of sliced carrot, onion, pea pods and mung bean sprouts. The accompanying broccoli had missed out on the teriyaki treatment, or any seasoning for that matter, but was well cooked. The California roll was next to perfect, but the goyza's pork filling seemed more like cabbage.

I returned to the plate of mango chicken, only to realize it must only be eaten hot. The cold sweetness was not as enjoyable this time around, and I suddenly understood the warning of the server.

What's 'New' is Old?

As he came back to clear our plates, the server explained that he was actually the new owner and that he had recently taken over. He would be changing the name and the menu in about a month. It will be called Mung’s Court and will offer a much smaller menu. He planned to get rid of the canned items like water chestnuts and baby corn and instead replace them with all garden fresh vegetables.

I was surprised to hear of the change. The menu was impressive with some very unique options. I had hoped to come back and try a few of the other items I had reluctantly opted against, like the Peking Duck Roll and Sriracha Buffalo Wings. But fresh is always better, and I look forward to revisiting the space after the changes.

Patch Place Listing:
Website & Menu