Firstborn

Name: Firstborn
Address: 978 N Broadway, Los Angeles, CA, 90012, US
Price range: $$$

Modern Chinese American$$$

Wed–Thu & Sun 5pm–10pm; Fri–Sat 5pm–10:30pm; Closed Mon–Tue

Tofu (bean curd): Pressed soybean curd, from custard-soft (for mapo tofu and soups) to firm (for stir-fries and braises). Fried tofu puffs soak up sauce; tofu skin (yuba) is the sheet lifted off simmering soy milk, rolled and braised or fried as a "vegetarian duck". On this menu as: Steak Tartare (mapo-tofu flavors) · Almond Tofu.
Mapo tofu: Soft tofu in a glossy red sauce of fermented broad-bean paste (doubanjiang), chili and ground Sichuan peppercorn, traditionally with a little minced beef or pork. The name honors the pockmarked (ma) old woman (po) said to have invented it in Chengdu; a vegetarian version is common. On this menu as: Steak Tartare (mapo-tofu flavors).
Chongqing chicken: Bite-sized fried chicken buried in a mound of dried red chilies and Sichuan peppercorn. The chilies are for aroma, not eating, so pick through them for the crisp, numbing-hot chicken. On this menu as: Fried Chongqing Chicken.
Cumin lamb: Sliced lamb stir-fried (or skewered and grilled) with whole cumin seed, dried chili and onion, the signature seasoning of China's northwest, especially Xinjiang and Xi'an. Also common in Hunan kitchens, where it gets fresh chilies too. On this menu as: Cumin Lamb Saddle.

Menu