FORTUNE PALACE CHINESE RESTAURANT

FORTUNE PALACE CHINESE RESTAURANT
(Chinese * Thai * Malaysia Cuisine)
Tel.: 919-850-0086
2815 Brentwood Road, Raleigh, NC 27604
Stony Brook Shopping Center
(Between Capital Blvd & Brentwood Road)

Business Hours:
Lunch Mon-Sun: 11:30am-2:30pm
Dinner Mon-Sun: 4:30pm-9:30pm
Fri.~Sat.: 4:30pm~10:00pm

                                                    Fortune still shines
                                                            BY GREG COX
                                                                                             CORRESPONDENT

In the 11 years since Fortune Palace first opened its doors, the Triangle's ethnic dinning scene has changed dramatically. The number and variety of options have blossomed into a diverse assortment of cuisines, from Salvadoran to Singaporean.

Unfortunately, while the number of Chinese restaurants has roughly doubled over the last decade, most of the newcomers have been little more than clones, each serving up the same old Americanized McChinese fodder we know too well. That's why Fortune Palace, which was the best Chinese restaurant in the Triangle when it opened, is even more valuable today.

Not that the restaurant has changed significantly. The cavernous dinning room, which somehow managed to look well-worn even when Fortune Palace was brand-new , looks pretty much the same as always. From the silk tapestries on the walls to the big round tables outfitted with lazy Susans for family- style dining, the atmosphere is reminiscent of a Chinatown eatery in a major city.

the most notable change in the menu is that the authentic fare has been made more accessible to non-Chinese customers. Once relegated to a separate menu, available to most patrons only by request, the authentic offerings are now appended to the "main" menu of popular Chinese-American dishes. For those unfamiliar with the cuisine, photos of each dish are posted in the entryway.

I should note for the sake of squeamish that the authentic offerings do include a handful of dishes such as tripe with pepper sauce, and spicy sliced pig's ear. But these account for only a fr4action of the 100 listings.

More typical is fried calamari with garlic, which according to our server is "the favorite starter of American customers." Or shredded pork with chile pepper, a downright addictive dry stir-fry that emphatically demonstrates how little flavor that gelatinous sauces of Chinese American dishes actually contribute.

Only a slightly more adventurous palate is required to appreciate baby fish with peanuts, a popular beer-drinking snack in China. Once you've tried the dish, a salty-spicy melange of peanuts, scallions and crisp-fried whole fish barely longer than their companion peanuts, you'll understand its popularity.

Pork with pickled cabbage soup is a refreshing alternative to the familiar hot and sour. It's served for two, as is a clam and ginger soup that sparkles with the clean, bracing taste of the sea.

Among entrees, three cup chicken (so named because the original recipe is said to have called for one cup each of soy sauce, rice wine vinegar and sesame oil) is a must. Featuring bone-in chunks of chicken in a coffee-dark sauce deeply redolent of ginger and anise, this dish comes at you with layer after harmonious layer of flavor.

In comparison, the brown sauce is undistinguished in an otherwise respectable dish of stir-fried duck with celery.

Such disappointments are rare and invariably minor, however. You've much more likely to land a keeper like the ambrosially sauced filet of flounder with crispy fin. Or score a bull's-eye with the best beef chow fun this side of New York's Chinatown,

It's obvious that Choa Hui Chen, who bought Fortune Palace three years ago, knows to leave well enough alone. His only tinkering of note was to supplement the two Chinese chefs with a third from Malaysia, whose native cuisine dominates a supplemental menu of specials. Judging by two of these Malaysian dishes- and appetizer pastry called curry puffs that's reminiscent of Indian samosas, and a musky-spicy stir-fry of Chinese watercress in shrimp paste called kang kung balacan- I'd say that Chen's tinkering hasn't hit a bit.

I'll confess that to date I've only ordered two items from the Chinese- American menu: crispy and salty whole shrimps, which happen to be among the handful of dishes that appear on both the Chinese-American and traditional Chinese menus, and spring rolls, hands-down the best in the Triangle. Based on that admittedly limited experience. I'd wager that those who come for sesame chicken or sweet and sour pork won't leave disappointed. personally, i find it impossible to pass up the opportunity - still so rare in these parts - to feast on the real thing.

Rating: ***
Prices: $$
Atmosphere: Chinatown, well-wore
Service: eager to please, usually attentive
Recommended: spring rolls, shredded pork with chile pepper, clam and ginger soup, filet of flouder with crispy fin, three cup chicken, beef chow fun.

Open: Lunch and dinner daily. Noodle brunch served Saturday and Sunday.
Reservations: accepted for parties of 8 or more.
Other: Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, beer and wine, smoking section; kid-friendly.
          The N&O's critic dines anonymously; the newspaper per pays for all meals. We rank restaurants in five
          categories:
          ****Extraordinary
          ***Exxcellent
          **Good
          *Fair
          Zero stars: Poor

For descriptions and reviews of more restaurant, use the searchable restaurant database at http://triangle.com/

                                                                          $ 38 ( Per Table For Three Persons)
                                                                          $ 58 ( Per Table For Five Persons)
                                                                          $ 98 ( Per Table For Seven Persons)
                                                                          $ 139 (Per Table For Ten Persons)

Appetizers

1. Vegetable Roll (1)	1.35
2. Egg Roll (1)	1.35
3. Shrimp Spring Roll (1)	1.35
4. Crab Rangoon (6)	3.95
5. Teriyaki Chicken (3)	3.95
6. Steam or Fried Dumpling (8 Pcs)	5.50
7. Barbecued Spare Ribs (4) or Boneless Spare Ribs	5.95
8. Seaweed Salads (Cold dish)	5.75
9. Seaweed Salads	5.75
10. Malaysia Curry Puff (4 pcs)	5.95
11. Fried Chicken Wings (4 pcs)	(4pcs) 4.5 (6pcs) 5.95
12. Hot & Spicy Chicken Wings	(4pcs) 4.5 (6pcs) 5.95

Soup
Red color mean hot and spicy

	16 oz 32 oz
S01. Egg Drop Soup	1.55 2.95
S02. Wonton Soup	1.55 2.95
S03 Hot & Sour Soup	1.55 2.95
S04. Chicken & Corn Soup (For Two)	4.95
S05. Spinach & Tofu Soup (For Two)	4.95
S06. House Special Soup (For Two) A combination of chicken and shrimp, beef and mix vegetable in chicken based broth.	5.95
S07. Subgum Wonton Soup (For Two) Four wontons steamed with chicken brotj	5.95
S08 Seafood Tom Yam Soup (For Two) Thai style spicy hot & Sour w. seafood, mushrooms, lemon & lime juice	7.50

	16oz	32oz
C1. Curry Chicken	5.25	7.95
C2. Hunan Chicken Sliced chicken sauteed w. mushroom, waterchesnuts, baby corn, red bell peppers & snow-peas in spicy brown sauce	5.25	7.95
C3. Lemon Chicken Deep-fried chicken, tender & crispy in special lemon sauce	5.25	7.95
C4. Moo Goo Gai Pan Sliced chicken w. fresh vegetables in white sauce	5.25	7.95
C5. Chicken In Garlic Sauce. Sliced chicken w. red bell peppers, black mushroom, scallions	5.25	7.95
C6. Kung Pao Chicken Diced chicken sauteed w. peanuts, mushrooms, yellow squash, red bell peppers, waterchesnuts & carrots in spicy brown sauce	5.25	7.95
C7. Sweet & Sour Chicken Chunks of chicken deep fried, coated w. sweet & sour sauce	5.25	7.95
C8. Chicken w. Cashew Nuts.	5.25	7.95
C9. Chicken w. Broccoli White meat chicken w. broccoli in white sauce	5.25	7.95
C10. Sesame Chicken	5.25	8.95
C11. General Tso's Chicken		8.95

Pork
Red color mean hot and spicy

	16oz	32oz
P1. Sweet & Sour Pork Chunks of pork deep fried, coated w. sweet & sour sauce	5.25	7.95
P2. Pork In Garlic Sauce Shredded pork sauteed w. vegetables in garlic sauce.	5.25	7.95
P3. Mongolian Pork Sliced pork sauteed w. green & white onion in brown sauce	5.25	7.95
P4. Peking Pork	5.25	7.95
P5. Mu Shi Pork		8.50

Duck


D1. Duck w. Pineapple		12.95
D2. Duck with Celery		12.95
D3. Hong Kong Style Roast Duck (served onBone) Duck roasted to crispy w. the Hong Kong style brazing sauce	11.95	23.00

Beef

	16oz	32oz
B1. Hunan Beef	5.75	8.55
B2. Beef w. Snow Peas & Mushroom	5.75	8.55
B3. Green Pepper Steak	5.75	8.55
B4. Beef w. Broccoli	5.75	8.55
B5. Mongolian Beef	5.75	8.55
B6. Curry Beef	5.75	8.55
B7. Spicy Shredded Beef & Pepper	5.75	8.55
B8. Orange Beef		8.55
B9. Crispy Sesame Beef		9.95
B10. Beef w. Onion & Ginger		9.95
B11. Beef w. Onions & Ginger		10.95

Chef's Specialties of Fortune Palace
Red color mean hot and spicy

K1. Crispy Scallions Chicken (Best Selling)	9.50
K2. Diced Chicken with Hot Pepper	9.95
K3. Thai Basil Chicken	10.95
K4. Three Cup Chicken	11.95
K5. Lemon Grass Chicken & Shrimp	12.95
K6. Shao Xing Savory Prawns	12.95
K7. Thai Green Curry Chicken & Shrimp	12.95
K8. Steak w. Black Pepper	12.95
K9. Hawaii Five "O"	12.95
K10. Thai Style Curry Soft Shell Crab	15.95

Vegetarian
Red color mean hot and spicy

	16oz	32oz
	PT	QT
V1. Vegetarian Delight Fresh vegetables stir-fried in white sauce	4.50	7.75
V2. Broccoli in Garlic Sauce	4.50	7.50
V3. Eggplant In Garlic Sauce Sliced eggplant sauteed in hot garlic sauce		7.75
V4. String Bean Szechuan Style Fresh string bean sauteed in hot spicy sauce		7.75
V5. Bean Curd Home Style Fresh tofu w. mixed vegetables in a hot spicy sauce		7.75
V6. Mu Shi Vegetable (w. 4 Pancakes)		7.95
V7. Sesame tofu		7.75
V8. Crispy Eggplant Battered eggplant deep fried crispy w. special sweet brown sauce.		7.75
V9. Basil Eggplant		8.95
V10. Thai Curry Tofu		8.95

By Popular Request Low Cal & Low Fat

H1. Steamed Mix Vegetable	7.95
H2. Steamed Vegetable & Tofu	8.50
H3 Steamed Vegetable & Chicken Breast	8.95
H4. Steamed Chicken & Shrimp Mix Vegetable	9.50
H5. Steamed Shrimp & Scallop w. Mix Vegetable	10.95

Extra Additional


Steamed White Rice	(Pt) 1.25	(Qt) 2.50
Plain Lo Mein (w. Brown Sauce Only)	(Pt) 2.00	(Qt) 4.00
Plain Fried Rice (Onion, Peas & Egg Only)	(Pt) 2.00	(Qt) 4.00
Extra Sauce on the Side (8oz)		1.00
Fried Noodles		0.50
Fortune Cookies (12 pcs)		1.50
Fried Donuts (Desserts)		3.50

Noodles

	16oz	32oz
	PT	QT
N1. Lo Mein (Choice Vegetable, Chicken, Pork, Beef or Shrimp)Perpared w. napa, bean sprouts, carrots, mushrooms & scallions.	4.75	6.95
N2. Combination Lo Mein (Chicken, Shrimp & beef)	4.95	7.25
N3. Beef Chow Fun (w. Shrimp $10.95)		8.95
N4. Singapore Style Rice Noodles		8.95
N5. Mee Goreng (Indian Style Fried Noodles)		9.95
N6. Penang Chow Kueh Teow		9.95
N7. Pad Se Eew (Thai Style)		10.95
N8. House Special Pan Fried Noodles		8.95
N9. Seafood Pan Fried Noodles		10.95
N10. Malaysia Curry Noodle Soup		8.9

Lunch Special

$5.25

Served Daily From 11:30am~2:30pm
All Served w. Small Spring Roll & Plain Rice or White Rice
(Fried Rice Add Meat, Extra $1.00 or up)

1. Crispy Scallion Scallion Chicken
2. Hunan Chicken or Shrimp or Beef
3. Sweet & Sour Chicken or Pork
4. Chicken or Pork in Garlic Sauce
5. Kung Pao Chicken or Shrimp
6. Moo Goo Gai Pan
7. Fried Chicken Wing (4cpcs)
8. Chicken & Shrimp Broccoli
9. General Tso's Chicken
10. Sesame Chicken
11. Chicken with Shrimp Chow Mein
12. Chicken with String Chow Mein
13. Mongolian Beef or Pork
14. Beef w. Broccoli
15. Spicy Shredded Beef and Pepper
16. Triple Delight
17. Vegetarian Delight
18. Lo Mein (Choice of Chicken, Beef, Shrimp, pork or Vegetable)
19. Fried Rice (Choice of Chicken, Beef, Shrimp, pork or Vegetable)

Beverage

Ice Tea, Chinese Hot Tea	1.00
Dr. Pepper, Sprite, Coke & Diet Coke (Can)	1.00

Appetizers
Red color mean hot and spicy

Baby fish w. Peanuts chili pepper and onion	5.75
Shredded pork w. chili pepper & leeks in black bean sauce	5.75
Beef Tendon with Pepper Sauce (cold dish)	5.75
Pork Tripe with Pepper Sauce ( cold dish )	5.75
Spicy Sliced Pig's Ear ( cold dish )	5.75
Chicken with wine Sauce ( cold dish )	5.75
Jelly Fish ( cold dish )	5.75
Seaweed Salads ( cold dish)	5.75
Fried Calamari w. Garlic	5.75
Curry Puff(4 pcs ) (Pastry dough stuffed with chicken, ontion, potato and curry paste)	5.95
Broiled Pork Intestine	6.50
Pork Intestine deep Fried	7.95

Soup

Spinach Tofu Soup (For two)	4.95
Shredded Pork and Pickled Cabbage Soup (for two )	4.95
Chicken Cream Corn Soup (for 2 )	4.95
Seaweed Egg and Tofu soup (for 2 )	4.95
Sour Cabbage with Tofu soup (for 2 )	4.95
Sour Cabbage with Tripe soup (for 2 )	4.95
Baby Clam with Ginger Soup(for 2)	6.95
Seafood Tom Yam Soup(for 2) (Shrimp, squid, Scallop, Clam and mushrooms in Spicy Tom Yam Broth)	7.50
Shark's Fin Soup(for 2)	7.50
Fish Maw Crab Meat Soup(for 2)	7.50

Rice & Noodle

Seafood Tom Yam Rice Noodle Soup ( Rice noodle w. savory traditional spicy soup of lemongrass, mushroom, chili, lime juice and seafood in hot & sour soup.	8.95
Malaysia style Curry Noodle Soup (Noodle with shredded rost pork, tofu and bean sprouts in a coconut curry broth.)	8.95
Pork Chop Noodle Soup	7.95
Pickle Cabbage & Shredded Pork Noodle Soup	7.95
Thai Pineapple Fried Rice (Fried Rice w. shrimp and chicken, cashew nuts, fresh hot pepper, egg and shrimp paste.	8.95
Salted Fish & Chicken Fried Rice	8.95
Young Chow Fried Rice (Home style fried rice with egg, onion, green peas, shrimp and roat pork	8.95
Singapore rice Noodle(Singapore style-fried rice noodle in special soy sauce w. bean sprouts, egg, chinese cabbage, roast pork and shrimp).	8.95
Egg Noodle Stir Fried w. shredded pork	8.95
Beef Chow Fun(Stir fried soft fresh rice noodle w. beef bean sprouts and scallions)	8.95
Mee Goreng(Indian Style Fried Egg Noodles) (Stir Fried rice noodle in special mild sauce w. shrimp, squid, bean sprouts, egg, tofu in specials sauce)	9.95
Penang Chow Kueh Teow (Penang's famous flat rice noodles w. shrimp, squid, eggs bean sprouts in a spicy black soya chili paste)	9.95
Scramble Egg Chow Fun (Fried flat noodle in light brown egg sauce topped w. pork, seafood & vegs)	9.95
Pad see eew(Thai Syle) (Sauteed rice noodle w. bell pepper, egg, basil and choice chicken or beef or shrimp)	10.95

Chicken & Duck

Diced Chicken with Hot Pepper	10.95
Three Cup Chicken	11.95
Wine Chicken with Onion & Ginger	11.95
Thai Basil Chicken	10.95
Frog Legs Kung Poa Style	11.95
Roast Duck Hong Kong style	11.95
Steamed Duck (Half Duck)	11.95
Fried Duck with celery	12.95
Duck with pineapple	12.95

Pork
Red color mean hot and spicy

Shredded Pork with Dry Bean Curd	9.95
Pork intestine with sour cabbage	9.95
Tripe with sour Cabbage	9.95
Ma-Po's Tofu	9.95
Deep-Fried Spare Ribs	9.95
Fish-Flavored Eggplant	9.95
Pork with dry cabbage	10.95
Pork Chop in Sweet & Sour Sauce	10.95
Wu-Shi spare ribs	12.95
Pork intestine in soy sauce	12.95

Pork intestine with sour cabbage in Hot Sauce	9.95
Bean Curd with Crab Eggs	9.95
Thai Style Seafood Green Curry Cooked w. coconut milk, string bean, mushroom, onion bamboo shoot and fresh basil leaves	12.95
Seafood casserole	15.95
Mixed seafood Hot Pot Cooked w. Seafood, tofu, sour cabbage, pork intestine, duck blood in spicy hot sauce.	15.95
Thai style curry soft shell crab Fried bread crumb soft shell crab cooked w. Thai red curry sauce, mushroom, onion, bell pepper & fresh basil leaves.	15.95
Buddhist Yam Pot (Sarang Burong) Shaped fried taro filled w. shrimp, chicken, scallop, baby corn, snow peas carrots and mushrooms topped cashew nuts	16.95

Vegetable

Crispy Eggplant	8.95
Vegetable Any Style (spinach or chinese broccoli or watercress) sauteed w. garlic	8.95
Salted Fish with Bean Sprouts	8.95
String Bean with Shrimp Paste Malaysia Style	8.95
Eggplant with Basil	8.95
Kang Kung Belacan	9.95
Braised Bean Curd in Brown Sauce	9.95
Sizzling Tofu with Brown Sauce	10.95
Yellow Bird	12.95

Curry Squid	11.95
Squid with Celery	11.95
Sauteed baby Clam w. Basil in black bean sauce	12.95
Clams with Hot Sauce	12.95
Sauteed baby shrimp	11.95
Crispy and salty whole Shrimp	11.95
Three Cups squid with basil	11.95
Steam Tofu with Seafood & roast soy bean	11.95
Shao xing Savory Prawns	12.95
Sizzling Seafood Combination Delight	13.95
Flounder (whole dish) Choice: 1. Sauteed fillet flounder with mix veg in oyster with crispy fin 2. Sauteed fillet flounder with crispy fin in sweet & sour sauce	16.95
Cod fish ''any style'' Choice: 1. w. soy bean 2. steam w. scallion & ginger 3. w. ho spicy bean sauce	(seasonal)

	16oz	32oz
	PT	QT
R1. Fried Rice (Choice: Vegetable, Chicken, Pork, Beef or Shrimp) Prepared w. onion, green peas & egg)	4.75	6.95
R2. Combination Fried Rice	4.95	7.25
R3. Young Chow Fried Rice (Chicken, shrimp & Beef)		8.95
R4. Egg Foo Young (served w. Brown Sauce on the Side) Choice: Vegetable, Chicken, Pork, Beef or Shrimp) Prepared w. napa, bean sprouts	4.75	6.95
R5. Combination Egg Foo Young (Chicken, shrimp & Beef)	4.95	7.25
R6. Chow Mein (served w. Fried Noodle) (Choice: Vegetable, Chicken, Pork, Beef or Shrimp) Prepared w. napa, bean sprouts.	4.75	6.95
R7. Combination Chow Mein (Chicken, Shrimp & Beef)	4.95	7.25

Beef with onion and ginger	10.95
Beef with Chinese Broccoli	11.95
Beef brisket with soy sauce	12.95
Tenderloin beef with black pepper in hot pan	12.95
Sizzling Beef Basil	12.95

Salt Fish, Chicken, Eggplant in Pot	10.95
Beef Brisket in Hot Pot	11.95
Seafood Bean Curl in Casserole	12.95
Seafood and glass Noodle in Casserole	12.95
Clam w. Vermicelli Soup in Casserole	12.95