Ma Jong's Asian Diner

When I went vegan, it didn't take me long to figure out that I could usually find something decent to eat in a Chinese restaurant.  So when I found myself looking for someplace to catch a late lunch yesterday, I decided to try Ma Jong's Asian Diner.

I was a little worried looking at the first page of the menu because I didn't see a single thing I could eat.  But the second page more than made up for the lack of vegan offerings on the first page!  On the second page, I found that nine of Ma Jong's signature dishes, which are served with white or brown rice, can be made with tofu instead of some form of animal protein.  A picture of a tiny pepper was thoughtfully placed next to the description of each of the dishes that are considered spicy. 

Since I like my food spicy, I ordered the tofu mandarin kung pao, which consisted of zucchini, bell peppers, onions, chili peppers, and roasted peanuts in a chili garlic sauce.  I thought the portion size was exactly right, since I left the table satisfied but without a bag of leftovers.  My second choice would probably have been the tofu General Jong's, with broccoli and bell peppers in General's spicy sauce.  That will give me something to look forward to the next time I dine at Ma Jong's.

For those who don't like spicy food, I thought the tofu with sugar snap peas, bell peppers, and onions in a garlic black bean sauce sounded pretty good too.  There are also a few rice bowls that can be served with tofu.

Ma Jong's is located at 1431 L Street, across the street from Capitol Park.  Their phone number is 916-442-7555, and their website address is http://www.theparkdowntown.com/page.php?url=majongs.  Ma Jong's is open Sunday through Thursday from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.  They offer curbside pick-up if you call in a take-out order, so you don't have to worry about finding parking along busy L Street.