One of my all time favorite restaurants in the Dallas area is Yao Fuzi Cuisine.  Yao Fuzi serves authentic Chinese food, which never fails to disappoint me. Yao Fuzi is a great family place to eat if you love to try new things.  Not only is the food amazing, but the excellent service makes the dining experience very personal. One of the waitresses recognizes us every time we come in and remembers what we usually order.   I would recommend ordering the Shanghai-style xiao long bao, soup dumplings, which are dumplings filled with pork and shrimp and hot delicious broth. This is one of my favorite things to eat and I think other teens would enjoy it too. I also suggest the tempura halibut, served with a mouthwatering creamy sauce. My next suggestion would have to be the pan fried duck with mandarin sauce served with fried potatoes and yet another amazing sauce! Another one of my favorites is the Shanghai style stir-fried rice cakes served with cabbage, shredded pork and scallions. Yao Fuzi also has rice dishes, sesame chicken, beef, and other American-Chinese dishes sure to please the whole family’s taste buds. I love Yao Fuzi because they are always consistently good and there is always something new to try.
-Olivia Kahny, 8th Grade Food Writer

Editors Note: Owner and manager Chris Yao is always on hand, greeting his guests and mixing specialty cocktails. His father, Alex, is chef. Make a reservation or prepare to wait for a table; this hot spot has customers driving in from all over the metroplex. Chris’ passion for fine wine led him to open a wine shop two doors down.

yaofuzi.com
Hours: Lunch Monday-Friday 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., dinner Sunday-Thursday 5 to 10 p.m., Friday-Saturday 5 to 11 p.m.
Alcohol: Full bar and a wine list with selections from around the world.

4757 W. Park Blvd., (one block east of Preston Road), Plano; 214-473-9267;

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Food writer, Olivia Kahny, 13, recently travelled to New York City and enjoyed a 9-course tasting menu at Aldea and a 5-course tasting menu at Eataly with Identita Golose 2014. The menus were prepared by renowned Italian and New York chefs, and hosted by award-winning restaurateur Lidia Bastianich (pictured here with Olivia).

If you know of a young food critic or budding chef, we want to hear from you. Contact Bobbi Ames at Bobbie@goodlifefamilymag.com