Century Park is not typically the first place that comes to mind when we’re thinking of dining options. But on our way to Ganlanba from the Metro we saw more than a few places we would like to try, and the food at Ganlanba itself is definitely worth the trip out. This is one of the top Yunnan spots in town.

The restaurant has their mushrooms shipped straight from Yunnan, and we enjoyed the delicate fungi sautéed with spicy green pepper, salty bacon and garlic (RMB48). If we had a complaint about the dish, it would be the oil, but we’ll still order it next time we’re in.

The shrimp fried with pu’er tea (RMB68) features unshelled shrimp in a bed of diced onion and peppers with crisply fried pu’er leaves. This dish nicely combines chewy with crunchy and fills the nose and palate with its aroma. The rainforest barbecue tilapia (RMB38) is cut in half and stuffed with scallion, chili and ginger, then charred on the grill. The aromatics imbue the moist, flaky fish with great flavor.

We’re not entirely sure how we feel about beef bacon with lotus root (RMB28). The “bacon” has a strong, almost gamey flavor and resonant saltiness; it may be an acquired taste.

We ended dinner with a couple naughty snacks. There are two ways to eat your goat cheese, so we opted for the thinly sliced and bubbly version (RMB38). It tastes like amazing junk food, but we might still prefer the pan-fried option. And while they’re nothing special, the Yunnan French fries (RMB18) helped round out the meal.

On top of Ganlanba’s very good Yunnan food, the restaurant also brews its own German-style beer (yellow or brown, RMB38). We found the brown to be a hearty, if not simplistic, way to wash down the spice.

DETAILS

What: Ganlanba

Where: 1025 Meihua Lu 梅花路1025号

Tel: 5059-6282