After my first taste, my reaction was one of comfort from the Chinese influences, mixed with wonder and awe at the fantastic flavors of the middle east. This restaurant has not been open for very long, but I hope it stays in business for a very long time. Located at 1719 Decoto Road, the small but friendly space is adorned with colorful carpets and other decorations exemplifying the colorful array of food offerings.
Here are some of the things I've enjoyed.
https://samacuisine.com/
Samsa. Small pockets of pastry filled with ground lamb, sprinkled with black sesame seeds and baked until golden. These were fun little appetizers packed with savory meat.
Bean Jelly. A familiar Chinese side dish, this is gelatin made from mung beans. After firming up in the fridge, it is sliced and tossed with black vinegar, chili oil, sesame seeds, peanuts and fresh cilantro. The texture is firmer than your typical American dessert gelatin, and the tang and spice of this dish is an excellent palate cleanser between courses.
Marinated Potato Salad. There is no mayo in this potato salad. These potatoes were cut into matchstick size, perfectly cooked until tender with a bit of chew, and then tossed in a tangy dressing of vinegar, chili oil, red peppers and cilantro.
Komilek Chop Qorimisi. These were pearl-sized wheat noodles, pan fried with lamb, celery, red and green bell peppers, onions, black fungus and a savory and spicy soy-based sauce. This had a delicious flavor that was easy to eat with a spoon.
Qurghaq Chop Qorimisi. Similar to the hand-cut noodles above, except the sauce was a bit thicker which gave it a gravy-like consistency and the chives gave it a very fresh vegetal taste. Very comforting and satisfying.
Toho Qorimisi. Sauted spicy chicken with potatoes, red and green bell peppers, chilies, and stewed in one of the most succulent and umami-packed sauces I've ever tasted. This was fantastic and I could not get enough hand-pulled, wide wheat noodles to soak it all up.
One of my greatest pleasures in life is experiencing different cultures and food, which is why I love to travel. But if I can't get to a particular country to try their regional cuisine, I'm very thankful to have restaurants like this, where I can get a taste of a different culture close to home.
