Small Town restaurant delights the palate

Glutinous rice mixed with pineapple chunks.[Photo by Fan Zhen/China Daily]

Struggling to choose between the termite mushrooms and the scalded small fungus, we settle for both. The termite mushroom is our first dish to arrive. It is a terrific starter, fried and crispy, and garnished with chilies. The scalded fungus is a good contrast. It is chewy and slippery with vinegar.

As far as recommendations go, the stir-fried shrimps with Yunnan Pu'er tea would be hard to beat. The shrimps are large, with the outside shell acting as a crunchy armor to the hit of tender, juicy meat. The fishy tasting tea leaves that the shrimps hide within, are oily and addictive.

Though there are plenty to go around, we all fight over the last shrimp.

Mind you, the beef with mint isn't bad either. This dish is alive and popping with chilies, and fused with the mint, the relationship is awesome. Mint seems to work with just about anything. This dish proves that it is definitely a friend of the chilies.

Still not full, we order Yun Er fried rice as a less extravagant counterpart to the pineapple centerpiece. It is salty but good. The Yunnan ham packs a punch. It goes well with our other pork dish, the scrambled mince with black delicacies.

Like fried rice, this is a mix of unusual flavors including rose-flavored turnip and green pepper. It is hard to ever imagine becoming bored with a meal at Yun Er Small Town.

Vibrant, conveniently located and with excellent cuisine, it is the perfect restaurant to kick off any night out.