Abacus
1551 S Valley Forge Rd, Lansdale, Penna.

Hiding in the corner of an aging strip mall 45 minutes outside Philadelphia, Abacus has been one of the best Chinese restaurants in the Philly area for decades. Four years ago, though, owner Joe Chen sold a part interest, and the Yelp reviews show it. All was not lost, as the contract stated the parties could re-negotiate after four years. Joe resumed control of the restaurant with two weeks before Chinese New Year. He called me and other former regulars a week before.

Clearly, this was the best Valentine's Day gift I could give my husband, who has had loved the restaurant since he was a teen metalhead who was still treated with respect by Joe and the staff. Since then, we've been to many Chinese New Year celebrations, and even had lunch the day I was in labor

Of course, the night of our reservation was the same night the ice storm hit the mid-Atlantic coast, and I had a cold.

Let's get started!

Prosperity soup with lobster

Two purses: chicken curry dumpling and baby bok choi. I nearly asked the staff to bring other diners' uneaten bok choi to me. Horse illustration in sauce by Joe's daughter.

Stone crab claw dumplings with long beans. Note the horseshoes in sauce!

Fried prawns with orange sauce. The fried rice was the most delicate I've every had: a definite fried taste, but no heavy soy flavor. I am trying ver unsuccessfully to emulate in my own fried rice.

Red braised pork shank, long-cooked Chinese radish, seasonal snow pea greens.

Molten chocolate cake. Forced myself through it.

Joe and family back at Abacus!

Worth the trip through the storm!