Tired
of Chinese food to-go? Want some fast casual AND healthy Asian food? Well I've
got just the place - Fortune Cookies Restaurant.
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| Restaurant Layout |
Fortune
Cookies is not your typical cultural setting. First, it's located in a not so appealing
plaza but don't be fooled by its externalities. Ignore the sign outside of the
building seeming as plain as Times New Roman font; just take a peek
through the glass window and you'll be curious to go inside and try the place
out for yourself.
What
takes the cake for this restaurant are the healthy alternatives they have to
offer. There are:
-Heart Healthy options for those watching their cholesterol, blood pressure, and/or blood sugar levels
-Gluten free options on over a dozen menu choices
-Rice substitutions in addition to white rice (brown rice for a healthier alternative, red rice for a nutty, earthy feeling, and black rice for your daily dose of fiber and antioxidants.)
-Healthy sashimi and salad dressing options in any combination you choose and the entrée would be less than 250 calories.
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| Brown Rice Option |
The Eat Healthy, Stay Healthy program helps promote better eating for students and families. Kudos to that! This has also become a tagline, or motto, for their website and
restaurant. It works as a loyalty program using rewards cards every time
they dine. A percentage of their meal goes to a child's school or if it's a family rewards card, points are accumulated and deals are offered
from time to time. (For more info on the program check out the Eat
Healthy, Stay Healthy tab on the main website.
Personally
I like my Asian cultural cuisine to be experienced separately if the restaurant
I'm dining markets as one specific type - though there are a few exceptions. Most of the
dishes were Chinese, but then you get to the end of the menu and suddenly
there’s a full sushi bar. Weird, but I guess it works out as people have told
me the sushi was good.
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| Appetizer |
I dined with a friend one night and our wait time wasn’t long at all. After being seated, our waiter took our drink orders and came back with a complimentary appetizer. Another kudos for that! Feeling the mood for
seafood, we ordered the Veggie Lo Mein, Kung Pao Shrimp, and Fish Filet with
Garlic Sauce. This place gave generous proportions so it was easy to share. Some dishes proved to be more
authentic than others, though that would be because of the healthier option
that was available. The glazes and sauces were not that
sweet/savory, but they did add flavor to the dishes. I guess that’s
where the healthy part kicked in. They weren’t drenched in soy sauce or sweet
and sour sauce, just lightly coated. We also ordered brown rice for a healthy
alternative. The entrées
satisfied. The service was super efficient, considering we came during the dinner rush.
Veggie Lo Mein and Fish Filet
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| Kung Pao Shrimp |
Overall, Fortune Cookies is a better alternative to everyday
chinese food meals we eat. While you won't have that traditional deep fried goodness,
you'll still delight in the taste of savory goodness from other chinese dishes.
Just like their motto, Eat Healthy Stay Healthy, this restaurant is a great
place for healthy eating and happy living.
18774 Brookhurst Street Fountain Valley, CA 92708
www.fortunecookiesrestaurant.com
They also have a second location is in Los Alamitos!
