Chinese Food 101 – Chicken Feet’s Best Kept Health Secret

chicken feet

Chinese food is well-loved worldwide; this is why there’s always a Chinese restaurant on almost every corner. From beef noodles to shrimp and lobsters, and even dim sum, everybody can’t get enough of these delicious dishes. However, Chinese cuisine can sometimes be eccentric to some, especially with unique dishes, like chicken feet.

There are still many people who don’t like chicken feet. It’s probably because of the way it looks, its gelatinous and chewy texture, and the notion that you’re eating a pair of feet. However, this odd dish has a bunch of health benefits that are hiding behind its appearance.

One of the essential nutrients you get from eating chicken feet is collagen. Collagen makes up about 25% to 35% of our body’s protein content, and as we age, we decrease the production of this structural protein. Fortunately, you can get this protein when you consume delicious and savory chicken feet.

If you’re still on the fence about trying chicken feet, we understand you, but keep reading. Below are the top three benefits you get from eating chicken feet. Let’s get to it!

It can do wonders for your skin

As your body ages, producing collagen can be more challenging, leading to joint pain and even sagging skin. For people concerned about skin aging, taking collagen supplements is their solution to help their bodies produce sufficient collagen.

Collagen is found in numerous animal parts that have a squishy, gelatinous texture, and one of the popular dishes you can get collagen from is chicken feet. Chicken feet are highly beneficial to you because they have the closest structure to our proteins and are easily absorbed by our bodies.

When you have the right amount of collagen, it will help maintain your skin and hair’s beauty, giving you a more youthful glow.

It helps maintain gut health

Another benefit you can get from the collagen-rich dish that is chicken is that it helps maintain your gut health.

Collagen is known to protect and ease the lining of your digestive tract, preventing you from harboring leaky gut syndrome. When you have a leaky gut syndrome, toxins and germs ooze through the gut lining, connected to autism, food allergies, chronic fatigue and more.

Besides that, collagen also balances your meat intake since muscle meat usually has high levels of amino acids, giving your risks of inflammation over time. But with the help of collagen, its two components, which are glycine and arginine, will assist in balancing and complementing the meat you consume.

It improves bone health

When you visit a Chinese restaurant, you might want to consider ordering chicken feet because another benefit you get is that it’s good for bone health.

Chicken feet contain high amounts of calcium, which prevents your bones and nails from getting brittle and weak. Besides that, chicken feet are great sources of chondroitin and glucosamine, which reduces joint pain and inflammation.

Conclusion

Although they could look a bit weird, chicken feet are packed with a bunch of benefits that your body will love. Now that you know the health benefits you get from eating chicken feet, you’ll hopefully look at this dish in a much better light and maybe even head to your nearest Chinese restaurant and order this alongside other delicious dim sums. So, grab your chopsticks and munch on this collagen-rich dish!

If you’re looking for delicious Chinese food, visit Ocean Palace, a Chinese seafood restaurant located in Houston, Texas. We only serve the best Chinese and only use high-quality ingredients for all our meals. Book a reservation today!

Our Bite on the Health Benefits of Chinese Rice Porridge

chinese congee

Known for its addicting dishes that pack the taste buds with explosive flavors, Chinese cuisine is coveted across the globe thanks to its gastronomic combination of sweet, savory, sour, and unprecedented umami qualities.

World-renowned staples like dim-sum, Yangzhou fried rice, sweet and sour pork fillet, Kung Pao chicken, and other recipes often rise on top of people’s must-eat bucket list when ordering Chinese take-out. However, one humble dish proves to be the ultimate comfort food in more ways than one: rice porridge.

It harmonizes ingredients like fresh ginger and fresh turmeric to give the sticky rice a health-boosting oomph. The chicken’s subtle nuances complete the dish, and every bite feels like giving your stomach a warm hug. Here’s how rice porridge can boost your well-being:

Benefit #1: Rice Porridge Increases Body Moisture

Rice porridge is easy to digest thanks to its simple ingredients, and while it doesn’t impress the palette, its magic typically happens inside the body. For one, it’s an excellent source of water since the rice to water ratio is often 1:8 to achieve the standard consistency you often see in restaurants.

The body easily absorbs the heavy starch and water mixture, but the best part is that it stays longer than any other dish, making it great for improving your digestive system.

Benefit #2: Rice Porridge is a Low Calorie yet Heavy Meal

Eating a full bowl of rice porridge can make anyone feel like slipping into a food coma. Still, if you dig deeper into its nutritional facts, the filling dish has a surprisingly low-calorie content. The more water you add to the dish, the lower the carbohydrates, allowing you to derive 30 calories for every 100 grams of rice porridge compared to the 100 calories you would get in plain rice.

Benefit #3: Rice Porridge is Stomach-Friendly

Whether you’re watching your weight or want to eat dishes that won’t trigger any flare-ups in your stomach, rice porridge is the perfect dish that can safely sate your cravings. For one, the dish can aid your digestion and ease any inflammation, allowing you to cure your intestinal pains and mitigate diarrhea.
It’s the go-to dish for anyone who feels sick, as doctors see it as a delectable recipe that aids a person’s recovery.

The Bottom Line: Indulging in the Deliciously Healthy Properties of Congee

With all its health-boosting properties, congee proves to be a simple dish that offers more value than the sum of its parts. It’s tasty proof that even the humbles recipes can provide more to the table than meets the eye, making Chinese rice porridge worthy of its long-standing popularity worldwide.

Why Dine with Us?

Are you craving to indulge in authentic Chinese cuisine? Hungry locals and travelers looking for the best Chinese restaurant in Houston can order up Asian favorites here with us at Ocean Palace Restaurant.

We can whip up traditional recipes that are sure to delight your taste buds – from dim sum delicacies, seafood, congee, and more classics. We also deliver during the pandemic, so check out our menu today and let us serve you on your doorstep.

5 Things to Have an Enjoyable and Authentic Dim Sum Experience

5 things to have in dim sum

Dim Sum means “to touch the heart” in Mandarin Chinese. In fact, these little dishes are so good that it will surely leave a mark on your heart! Traditionally, these are eaten for breakfast or brunch—but it has since evolved into an all-day affair, especially in cities like Guangzhou in China.

Dim sum is guaranteed to be a hearty meal, whether you eat it in places such as the Ocean Palace Restaurant in Houston or at home via Chinese food delivery. Here are five things to remember to have an authentic dim sum dining experience:

1. Pick the Right Restaurant

When trying to decide which restaurant to eat at, it’s a good idea to choose places filled with happy Chinese people—especially if there are many elderly and families in them. Since elderly Chinese people are very fond of their traditional cuisine, having them flocking to a restaurant means that the place serves authentic Chinese food.

2. Have It With Tea

Before getting a table, decide on what tea you want to drink. The first thing that a waiter will probably ask when you get to your seat is the kind of tea you want to get. Do you like Green, Black, Ginger, or Jasmine? Oolong, maybe? Whatever you might fancy, tea will always go with your dim sum experience.

Dim sum is usually associated with the word yum cha, which means the act of drinking tea. So if you’re in Southern China and you’re told, “let’s go get some tea,” they also mean “let’s go eat some dim sum. Remember to leave your teapot ajar if you want more tea. This signals the waiter to serve you
more.

3. Eat Slowly

I know it’s easy to get so overwhelmed when you see food, but remember to calm down and get only one or two items at a time. Don’t try to fill up your table within minutes. This will give you time to revel in each taste and texture. Eating slowly will let you enjoy the flavors more.

It is essential to know that dim sum is best when eaten hot, so order only two to three items first.

4. Know Your Chinese Manners

When dining with Chinese people, it is essential to know a few ground rules. Always serve other people with tea before serving yourself. Also, when someone serves tea for you, as a sign of respect, tap the table with two fingers (pointer and middle). In Chinese custom, this gesture means thank you.

The food is always for sharing, so never lay claim to any one dish. Use a serving spoon when getting food or serving others. Never eat directly from the steamer basket or communal plate. Before taking the last piece of a dish, make sure to ask everyone first before digging in.

5. Mind your chopstick positions

Lay your chopsticks horizontally on the edge of your plate and never leave it standing up as it is a sign of death and mourning. Do not leave it stuck on your food too. Always make sure that no food is glued on your utensils.

When you’re done, set your chopsticks parallel to you across the top of your plate. That signals that you’re full.

Aside from all that, remember not to rest your non-dominant hand on your lap. Instead, rest it in on the edge of the table.

Conclusion

The final thing to remember when going out to eat dim sum is to fight to pay for the bill. If you’re eating with Chinese friends, common courtesy requires you to offer to pay for the bill. You’ll make a great face if you manage to get the check. If you do end up paying the bill, be grateful and expect to be treated next time!

The Ocean Palace Restaurant is the top Chinese restaurant in Houston, Texas. The two-story restaurant has been serving authentic Chinese food since 1999 and is famous for its dumplings, chicken feet, tofu, egg rolls, and more. Visit the Ocean Palace Restaurant at our physical location in 11215 Bellaire Blvd, Houston, TX 77072, or get Chinese food delivery online via our website today.

3 Reasons Why Chinese Seafood is a Healthy Choice

3 reasons why chinese food is a great choice

Chinese seafood is one of the most highly regarded cuisines globally for its complex flavors and popular style. It also has a lot of health benefits that you can enjoy. Together we will talk about these subject matters deeper so that you and your family can enjoy your next big healthy dine-out.

This article will talk about Chinese seafood and what you can expect. First, we will discuss its impact on Chinese culture to give you a deeper appreciation for the food. Then, we will discuss key health benefits that you can enjoy. Take this as an opportunity to expand your taste for great food and enjoy your healthy lifestyle.

1. A Chinese food specialty

Chinese food is an iconic cuisine, with popular offerings like orange chicken, egg rolls, and fried rice. However, Chinese cuisine also has a rich seafood menu thanks to its long history and vast ocean resources from the South China Sea. Seafood is also embedded in Chinese culture, particularly during the Chinese New Year. For instance, the Chinese term for fish is Yu Yoo, which sounds like their equivalent for the word surplus. It is why many affluent families uphold the tradition of serving Chinese fish dishes during the Chinese New Year. It is good luck that signifies the increase in prosperity that will open doors for financial success.

Nowadays, Chinese seafood is eaten all year round for special occasions, like family gatherings and intimate get-togethers. Ensure that you get the best Chinese seafood and more from us at the Ocean Palace Restaurant for your next special dine-out.

2. Packed with lean sources of protein

You can enjoy seafood and gain a healthy amount of protein, which helps build and restore muscles. It enables you to do intense workouts without much effort because lean proteins are also jam-packed with good energy. Through this, you can eat a healthy amount of Chinese seafood and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

It’s also important to note that Chinese seafood is the best protein source because there are a variety of lean protein-packed dishes to try. Many types of fish and shellfish have a lot of healthy protein, meaning you won’t get bored since you enjoy different kinds of dishes. That way, you can change up your healthy diet and maintain it.

3. Loaded with good cholesterol

Cholesterol often gets a bad reputation among weight watchers and other healthy eaters, but did you know that there is a good kind of cholesterol that you can enjoy? The healthy cholesterol High-Density Lipids is rich in different kinds of seafood and other healthy foods, like olives and nuts. It can aid in decongestion within the bloodstream, which helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

As such, consume a healthy amount of healthy cholesterol in seafood to keep your heart health in check. Don’t forget to exercise daily to keep your body strong. And don’t fail to positively influence your family by eating healthy seafood together and practicing a healthy, active lifestyle.

Conclusion

You can’t go wrong when you feast on Chinese seafood. It’s delicious, has so many nutritional benefits, and offers a lot of good options. You just need to find the right restaurant that can provide you with the best that China has to offer. Consider all the formerly mentioned facts about Chinese seafood and enjoy them today!

Are you ready to enjoy the best seafood and Chinese food Houston has to offer? Dine with us today at the Ocean Palace Restaurant. We can provide you with an authentic Chinese seafood experience with our specialities and other non-seafood dishes. Enjoy the health benefits of seafood today, and take your tastebuds on a journey!

Top 4 Traditional Chinese Food Dishes You Must Try

top 4 chinese food dishes

As much as you wish to deny it, the Chinese food you get from your favorite takeout spot is far from the real thing. Although they can be tasty, they are most likely heavily Westernized.

The good news for you is that authentic traditional Chinese cuisine has a wide array of dishes, and they vary from region to region. This means that you will never run out of foods to dig into! On the other hand, this can also seem overwhelming—with a plethora of choices, where should you begin?

To help you get started with experiencing the real goodness of Chinese food, be on the lookout for these dishes:

1. Fried Rice

Like in most Asian countries, rice is also a staple in Chinese cuisine. However, there’s something special with China’s fried rice—or Chao fan—that will surely keep you coming back for more.

This fried rice is extra special because it contains a wide variety of ingredients. Whether you’re craving for some chicken, pork, or shrimp, or want a balanced meal with some vegetables, you’ll find all the goodies in this dish. Chao fan is not only flavorful but also very wholesome. What seals the deal is that it is easy and quick to make at home!

2. Peking Duck

If you are interested in trying some duck, you’ll never go wrong with Peking duck. This Beijing dish is an interesting crispy roasted duck dish that is sliced into bite-sized pieces. Additionally, these pieces are rolled up in a wrapper with salad and hoisin sauce.

What gives it its rich flavors is the preparation: the meat is seasoned, dried for 24 hours, and then cooked in an open-air oven.

Because of the intricate steps required to cook this dish, this isn’t something you can easily whip up at home. The upside is that you can get this from Chinese restaurants in Houston, TX!

3. Kung Pao Chicken

This is considered as the most well-known Chinese chicken dish outside of China, and for a good reason. Originating from the Sichuan province, Kung Pao Chicken is a traditional spicy stir-fried chicken dish.

You may have tried this once or twice from your usual takeout spot. However, this is most likely the Westernized version. You can easily tell authentic Kung Pao Chicken from the rest; it is fragrant, spicy, and can even numb your mouth a little!

4. Bao

Sometimes also called baozi, this type of yeast-leavened filled bun has two types: dàbāo, which means big bun, and xiǎobāo, which means small bun.

Both are bread-like dumplings filled with various ingredients such as meat, veggies, and even bean paste. On top of that, they can be made in many different ways. Nevertheless, baos are usually steamed, and it is this process that gives them their soft and squishy consistency.

Bao is usually served with dipping sauces such as soy sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, and chili paste.

Conclusion

Of course, there’s more to authentic traditional Chinese food than the four dishes mentioned above. Nevertheless, trying these four meals out can get you to a great start when it comes to exploring the cuisine of this interesting country. To make sure you’re getting the real deal and that your testing experience will become truly enjoyable, visit authentic Chinese restaurants near your area!

If you are looking for the best Chinese food in Houston, TX, you have come to the right place! Ocean Palace is a restaurant opened in 1999 and is located in the heart of Chinatown at the Hong Kong City Mall. We serve the best Chinese seafood and dim sum in the area. Visit our website today to order online!

Key Dim Sum Vocabulary You Must Know

dim sum vocabulary

Aside from having your fill of flavorful Chinese food, nothing beats the satisfaction of ordering Chinese food successfully. Whether you like to admit it or not, it feels good to be complimented by your friends when you know what you’re ordering—especially when the names are in a foreign language.

This can be easy especially if you’re getting food from a restaurant you’ve always frequented. However, there will be times where you’ll want to try a new restaurant to try other dishes you haven’t tasted before.

Truth be told, Chinese menus can be quite intimidating. While some have pictures to help you, they’re not always there to give you an idea of what a dish is. In some cases, you may end up paying for food you weren’t even craving for. In the worst cases, you may end up ordering a weird combination for your family or friends!

To help you avoid this embarrassing moment and enjoy great Chinese food, here are some key terms you must know when it comes to Chinese dim sum.

1. Dim Sum – Diǎn Xīn (点心)

Dim sum is ingrained deep into Chinese culture. Initially, it referred to the group of small dishes that were eaten during teatime. Eventually, it has been used to refer to any snack eaten between meals.

Today, dim sum is served all day in bamboo or metal steamer baskets and is often paraded through Chinese restaurants in trolley carts.

2. Dumpling – Jiăo Zi (饺子)

Dumplings are a staple in dim sum. They are made of pieces of dough wrapped around a filling and can either be steamed or fried. The dough can be made from flour or potatoes and the filling can either be meat, fish, cheese, vegetables, or fruits.

This dish is prepared and eaten during the Chinese New Year celebration as it represents prosperity according to Chinese tradition.

3. Buns – Bāo Zi (包子)

This is a type of yeast-leavened filled bun that is popular not only for its taste but also its appearance. While you may think that buns are naturally round, there’s an interesting story behind why bāo zis have assumed this shape.

According to history, the buns we enjoy today are invented by Zhuge Liang, a military strategist during the Three Kingdoms period. Bāo zis were made to resemble human heads as a symbolic offering to the gods to end the plague.

4. Siomai – Shāo Mài (烧卖)

Siomai is one of the most famous steamed dumplings—if not the most. Originating from Hohhot, this dish is an open-wrapped dumpling and is usually served as a dim sum snack. It is usually filled with pork and shrimp and resembles a budding flower with its appearance.

5. Radish Cake – Luó Bo Gāo (萝卜糕)

If you’re a vegetarian, it helps to remember this dish’s name. Also sometimes called turnip cake, this is a savoury pudding made from grated radish, rice flour, and bits of Chinese sausage, dried prawns, and soaked dried mushrooms. This is usually pan-fried until the edges are crunchy.

Like dumplings, radish cakes are usually prepared and eaten during Chinese New Year celebrations because they symbolize wealth and prosperity.

Conclusion
There’s a lot more to Chinese dim sum than the five dishes mentioned above. However, if you’re working on your Chinese food vocabulary, starting with these famous dishes is a great strategy. Once you’re confident that you’ve familiarized yourself with their names, don’t hesitate to learn more names and try new dishes. It will take time and effort, but your taste buds will certainly enjoy the experience!

Satisfy your cravings for the best Chinese food in Houston, TX here at Ocean Palace Restaurant! Since 1999, we have been serving traditional Chinese dim sum delicacies and the best Chinese seafood in the area. Visit our website today to order online!

Your Guide to Finding an Authentic Chinese Restaurant

authentic chinese restaurant

Once in a while, you will find yourself craving Chinese dishes. While there are hundreds of Chinese restaurants to choose from, not all of them provide the taste and experience you are looking for. Finding your next go-to authentic Chinese restaurant can be challenging, but you can speed up your search using our guide.

If you are on the lookout for a real Chinese restaurant, here are some tips to help you find the right one.

1. Feel the restaurant’s atmosphere

If it is your first time visiting a restaurant, the first thing you should check is its atmosphere. Authentic Chinese restaurants have the usual red or gold designs.

You may notice the same red or gold color schemes in other Americanized Chinese restaurants, but you will see that these restaurants do not have a shrine. This is how some owners design their restaurant for customers from different religious backgrounds.

On the other hand, traditional Chinese people tend to be more expressive of their religion. In fact, the shrine you often see in Chinese restaurants is a shrine to the god of wealth—the patron deity of millions of Chinese businesspeople.

2. Check their teapot

The next thing you check is how they serve their tea. Chinese people believe that tea burns fatty foods and aids in one’s digestion. For them, teas are a must when eating.

Earthenware or stone teapots are also expensive materials, and they can get broken easily. Authentic Chinese restaurants often use metal or ceramic teapots and ceramic teacups because they are highly durable and easier to clean, making sure that their purchase is worth it.

3. Explore their food serving sizes

Here is the main difference between most American restaurants and a Chinese restaurant: An authentic Chinese restaurant serves food in family-style and on lazy susans. Chinese meals are often eaten with the family. Instead of one person having their individually served food, a Chinese family shares multiple dishes. This eating tradition lets them enjoy a variety of food
through sharing.

If the restaurant you are at does not serve food in this style, it is definitely not authentic. Not following the family style of serving is a huge step away from the Chinese’s communal culture of eating.

4. Check how they serve fish

If you want to triple-check the restaurant’s authenticity, try ordering a fish dish. Get a sea bass—one of the classic dishes—if you can. Authentic Chinese restaurants serve fish dishes with the head still intact. This style is not typically observed in Americanized restaurants.

Americans tend to find dead fish disgusting. That is why they never serve a whole fish. However, for most Chinese restaurant owners, filleting fish ends up with a lot of wasted food. A fillet will not have the fish’s tender cheeks and crunchy skin that a whole fish has.

Conclusion

Finding an authentic Chinese restaurant may be challenging, but using this guide can help you narrow down your choices. If the restaurant you find scores four out of four on this checklist, you will definitely enjoy the authentic Chinese experience they will provide.

If you are looking for the best Chinese food in Houston, look no further. Ocean Palace Restaurant is a Chinese restaurant located in the heart of Hong Kong City Mall’s Chinatown. We have been serving authentic Chinese food since 1999. We offer delivery services for your favorite dim sum or family packed food for selected locations. Contact us today!

3 Lower-Calorie Chinese Dishes to Eat When Dieting

3 lower calorie chinese dishes

There are over 45,000 Chinese restaurants operating in the USA. It is one of the most popular cuisines in the country, as it is both generally affordable and delicious. It also comes in nice, big portions and has so many varieties of flavors and dishes that you could keep ordering it every week for a year with a different dish each time. 

However, if you’re on a weight loss program, choosing the right dish for your takeout might prove difficult. Chinese food has a lot of fatty and sodium-rich dishes that are made to be filling and more delicious than healthy.

The good news is that you shouldn’t have to stop ordering from your favorite Chinese restaurant. There are plenty of items on our takeout menu that are just as healthy as they are scrumptious.

Here are some healthy Chinese food alternatives if you’re trying to keep your calorie intake low:

Steamed dumplings and a bowl of soup instead of egg rolls

Egg rolls are some of the best-loved Chinese restaurant appetizers, but just four fried egg rolls clock in at 680 calories. Depending on the amount of exercise you get, that is a full meal’s worth of calories to put in just your appetizer. 

A delicious alternative to this filling appetizer are steamed pork dumplings. They can go as low as 200 calories per serving of four. If you want a little bit more from your appetizers, try pairing your dumplings with a cup of egg drop soup, which is roughly around 40 calories.

Eating soup at the start of the meal also reduces the average person’s calorie intake per meal by up to 20 percent.

Anything simmered, steamed, or roasted instead of anything battered and fried

There is no denying how delicious battered and fried food is, especially in Chinese cuisine. However, anything fried is not really low on the calorie count. Those fried crispy entrees you might see on a Chinese menu clock in at around 1,000 calories for a portion good for one person. That’s already a significant amount of your daily intake gone in a single sitting. 

On the other hand, a dish like ginger chicken can serve multiple people and is only 530 calories. You could pair it with some vegetable dishes and still have room for dessert. You can even cut that down a bit further by ordering the sauce on the side, as the sauces can be 200 calories per serving. 

Sizzling platter prawns, scallops, or shrimps instead of shrimp-fried rice

Rice is already fairly high in terms of calorie count, but to fry it with shrimp escalates to 600 calories per serving. On the other hand, an entree-sized order of prawns, shrimps, or scallops in a sizzling platter will have the same amount of calories for a greater amount that can be shared with multiple people. 

Sauces used in sizzling dishes contain less sugar than other sauces. Otherwise, these would burn on a hot pan. They are substituted for other sauces and flavors, such as fish sauces and lobster sauces, that have fewer calories. 

In conclusion

It does not necessarily mean that delicious food means more calories. Conversely, it also doesn’t mean that lower calories mean the food should taste less than great. Luckily, there are plenty of options in Chinese cuisine that are both healthy and mouth-watering. 

If you’d like to order takeout from the best Chinese restaurant in Houston, send us a message at Ocean Palace Restaurant. We have a great selection of healthy and scrumptious foods for every person’s preference.