Hua Qian Dai Grilled Fish

I make an annual pilgrimage back to San Jose for the holidays to visit friends and family, and Hua Qian Dai has become one of my "must visit" spots while I'm in town. I've come here for my birthday now twice, and they've never disappointed. They always give us a private room, no questions asked, and the service has always been great! Unlike the other big-fish in town (Wei's fish), Hua Qian Dai offers full sized grilled fish with options for flavor profiles that aren't as focused on mala spice. I'm personally not huge on sour/pickled vegetables and spice, so Hua Qian Dai is perfect for me. Some of the things we've ordered include:- Original House Flavor (Grouper): Firm, flaky fish. The house flavor broth is to die for and I can practically drink it. The most dangerous part is honestly that rice is 2 dollars a bowl because I the soup with rice is legitimately addicting.- Original House Flavor (Catfish): Soft, delicate fish. Despite being a "bottom feeder" and thus generally considered a cheaper and "lower status" fish, almost everyone at the table preferred the catfish to the grouper. - Sweet and Sour Fish (Catfish - Grilled): Tasted great, my friends who enjoy Mala was hoping there would be a bit more Mala intensity to the broth on it, but I enjoyed it. - Sweet and Sour Fish (normally called "Squirrel Fish): Another hit - just to note, this is different from the sweet and sour fish that's offered as a grilled fish. This is a pretty classic dish served in Beijing and one of my favorites. The fish is fried then a tomato-based sauce is added on top. The way it's cut is kind of like "fish fries" and it's a pretty skill and labor intensive dish. Again.. it pairs great with rice. - Eggplant: Packed with flavor, incredibly tender. Whole table loved it. - Mapo Tofu: Hua Xian Dai does not play with spice. It tastes great, but this is NOT mild. The spice lovers at my table enjoyed it enough that it was ordered twice - unfortunately, I could only handle a couple bites! - Prince's Grilled Lamb: This one was on the house for a promotion they has in December for orders over $100. Cumin flavored and tasted really authentic! - Brown Sugar Mochi: Complimentary dessert! I don't know if this is on the menu or not, but I'd order it if it was. The syrup is kind of like korean hotteok and the mochi is kind of like tteobokki. Yummy! Hope to be back soon!

Second time coming here and I am OBSESSED! The staff here truly care about their food and customer service. Such kind a genuine people and the ambiance of decor is very well thought out! My husband and i had the following dishes: 1. Sweet and Sour Fish: man this is our first time having sweet and sour fish like this and it was truly one of a kind. The fish was so crispy and the sauce wasn't drowning the fish, it was just enough to keep the nice delicate crispy texture. The presentation of how they cut the fish is so different and for a good reason. This fish is the reason why we came back a second time, it is a bit pricey but worth the $. I would order it everyday if it came in a lunch special. (Definately a shareable plate) 2. Mapo Tofu: some of the best map tofu we had! Without being too oily but let me tell you this place doesn't mess around with spice! Not for the faint of heart and my husband and I can tolerate spice. It's delicious with a warm bed of rice 3. Vegetarian Fried Rice: I don't know how to explain it but their fried rice is some of the best I've had and it's made so simple. The flavor they are able to get in this fried rice makes you want to keep coming back for more, whatever seasoning they use is what makes it special. I definitely prefer this fried rice over anywhere else and that's saying a lot. It meshed perfectly with the mapo tofu and the sweet and sour fish. 4. Eggplant with Fish flavoring: very umami and savory side dish. Was so delicious with the fried rice as well and wasn't spicy at all. Super flavorful as well. The customer service here is phenomenal and you can tell the owners truly care about their restaurant and food! You will spend more money here than at your typical Chinese restaurant but the food is so delicious it's worth to indulge every now and then. I Will continue to be a regular at this restaurant. Can't wait to try their fish hot pot dishes next time.

Five stars. My friends have been here a good number of times and brought me here since I wanted to eat sweet and sour squirrel fish. They actually only like this place and the boba shop in the plaza. The staff (who I think were also the owners) were really nice and enthusiastic. The sweet and sour squirrel fish was crispy and tender.We also got the dried green beans, cabbage, and garlic cucumbers, which were all cooked perfectly and flavorful.The restaurant was pretty empty though, so everyone else is really missing out!

The food, the friendly service, the menu offerings... I'm so sad this place closed down, and we were lucky enough to dine here on their last day. I wish the owners the best of luck and selfishly, that they reopen in another location!

Wow, what an underrated place. Place wasn't particularly busy on a Monday evening but the food was stellar. This place should have a wait based on the quality of the food. Authentic fish dishes that give you the option of live or frozen fresh - would definitely recommend opting for the fresh for $20 more! We also got the sizzling lamb and cabbage dishes which were just as tasty! The owner personally explained the menu to us and her recommendations - excellent service to match.

Not too busy on a Sunday evening. Parking is easy with plenty of spots in the plaza. Server (owner?) was very kind, welcoming, and took the time to explain how everything works and recommended the most popular dishes. Two of us shared the $49.99 catfish (house spicy flavor). I'm not too great with spice but this was very manageable and not too spicy. They give free add-ons with your grilled fish order: tofu, potatoes, onions, garlic sprouts, cabbage, and soybean sprouts. I will say they don't give as many veggies and toppings as other grilled fish hot pot places. It sounded like a lot but it was a pretty small bowl (see pic) which wasn't much. We also ordered a bowl of rice in addition. Catfish was pretty good! Lots of meaty and tender pieces. The tofu, potatoes, and veggies also soaked up the spicy flavors nicely.It got busier throughout the night, and it became difficult to flag down the employees. Before it got busy, they had forgotten a few requests too. After it got busy, we ended up asking for the bill 3 times since we had to get going and it had been about 30-40 minutes of waiting. Other than a handful of forgetful moments, the employees were still very nice and food came quickly!

The grilled fish was the star of the show but the side dishes were just as delicious! I would definitely recommend this resturant to everyone. Staff is super nice and friendly too

Small family owned business with cute cozy interior. Perfect for exchange students who miss the taste of a home cooked meal or food from their hometown. Also perfect for those looking to try more Chinese food. Would recommend letting the servers ordering for you for a fun adventure. 100% recommend ordering udon and glass noodles with your fish as it soaks up the flavorful broth and is absolutely delicious.

Delicious new grilled fish restaurant in South Bay! Super friendly service and huge portion sizes.We shared one dish and one fish between three people and it was more than enough (we took home lots of leftovers). The live catfish was much pricier but worth it in my opinion - tasted super fresh. The signature sauce isn't spicy at all -- great for groups who have different levels of spice tolerance.

We had the iced grilled fish, eggplant and green beans and vegetable fried rice. All tasted incredibly good. Nicely seasoned.The service staff was incredibly nice! They explained the menu to us and even served complementary desserts on the house."I imagine myself on a peaceful moonlit night enjoying grilled fish with the sound of the nearby flowing river as my muse. In a world where the present carries stressors and the future carries uncertainties, a single bite into the tender fish is enough to whisk our worries away. It was a place that emphasizes that in the present moment, all that matters is that we have a good time. Only when it was time to pay the bill, was I thrusted from my dream. I left the place with the lingering aftertaste of a life that we used to live. A reminder of the fantastical and carefree spirit we traded for the sterile hum of modernity. And although that world is long lost, it's spirit lives on within all of us, as long as we're willing to seek it.