141 replies to this topic

[Spicy]

I never gave much thought to where they put the reister, but it is at the bar (beer and wine only), and both times I've ordered stuff to go, they've offered me something to drink while I waited, water in the day, beer when I went at night.

It is a small place, but there's not much they can do about that.

As for the knife, spoon, chopstick thing, ask and ye shall receive. I think sometimes they assume that non-asians don't want chopsticks. Each time I've been there the service has been good. One night I had to flag someone down to take my order, but that's about it.

As for the timing of order taking, I think the guy may have been trying to be prompt and attentive rather than rushing a customer out of a nearly empty restaurant.

In any case, if I'm not ready, I tell them to give me a few minutes.

I'd rather have them come right away than have to wonder if they eve know I'm there.

I'd give it a 9 on decor, a 9.5 on food, and an 8 on service. Worth returning for.

Cee-dub

As for the off-menu stuff. It isn't a secret menu, it's just the typical Chinese restaurant.

Most American restaurants say, 'no substitutions, please' where as most Chinese joints you can ask for stuff different ways.

Don't see steamed fish on the menu? Askf or it, they'll steam one up for you.

Chinese vegetables? Ask for ong choi, choi sum, chinese eggplant, chines broccoli.

Want pork with snow peas? No problem. If they've got it, they'll cook it up for you.

Ask what they have.

I hate fake crab.

stevethedad is quite a decent human being.

[Steve Heard]

stevethedad is quite a decent human being.

Wow! Thanks for that. I needed it.

[Twize]

Another thumbsup vote for T2 Yan! Went there last night with the wife and daughter. The Salt/Pepper Fish & Ginger Dungenous Crab was terrific! Met the owner, very nice guy. Service was great.

Definitely going back again.

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

We did take-out tonight and I was not impressed. The Kung Pao Chicken and Mu Shu Pork were significantly better at Jennie's. The pancakes for the Mu Shu Pork were so thin the sauce immediately began oozing through the pores, making for quite messy eating. The Kung Pao was "eh" at best. Also, they charged us for, but forgot to pack, the rice.

Nope, not impressed and won't be back.

[larry89]

We had lunch to go at the office yesterday. Prices were accurate. Food was outstanding. Can't get enough of that salt and pepper fish.

If you buy the orange chicken lunch special, they charge 8.20$ instead of the listed 6.95$

[Spicy]

If you buy the orange chicken lunch special, they charge 8.20$ instead of the listed 6.95$

What time/day did you buy the Orange Lunch Special?
Their lunch time: 11am-3pm, Monday-Friday.

Bon Appétit!

[Warren G]

My wife and I went to T2 Yan last night. The menu was enticing with plenty of appealing choices. The food was good enough to bring us back for another visit, but the food was not quite as good as what we had during our recent visit to Sunny Garden.

The batter-fried items were not too greasy and were kept fairly light, and there were generous amounts of meat in the dishes... I had the "Full Moon Seven Stars". The chicken was good quality and the breading was nicely done, but the sauce was probably straight from a jar-no citrus feel at all, just a lemon flavored syrup. The batter-dipped prawns were mostly breading and the "prawns" themselves were tiny. The beef was plentiful and pounded thin but the sauce was bland and weak with no depth of flavor at all. Steamed brown rice was not available although the waitress said she had asked the owner about adding it to their menu. It seemed odd to me that they charged $1 for white steamed rice because I think rice should be included with that dish. $13.95 total.

My wife had a combination plate and the pork fried rice was good, but close to being too greasy. The egg flower soup decent but was thick with flavorless thickener, kind of an oil feel, which is all too common at Chinese restaurants (this soup was better at Sunny Garden). The kung pao chicken was good except it was a little bland and with no fire-there was no "pow" in the pao.

Next time I might try some lobster-it was alive in a clean tank. The service staff was very good, and the decor and ambiance was well-done for a small space in a shopping plaza. $26 plus tip.
Service: 3+, Ambiance: 3, Food: 3-.

[larry89]

What time/day did you buy the Orange Lunch Special?
Their lunch time: 11am-3pm, Monday-Friday.

Bon Appétit!

I'm absolutely sure they overcharge for the orange chicken lunch special.

Their orange chicken lunch special is 6.95.
Their orange chicken dinner special is 9.75.

I didnt dine in so no dine in tax applied.

[Spicy]

I'm absolutely sure they overcharge for the orange chicken lunch special.

Their orange chicken lunch special is 6.95.
Their orange chicken dinner special is 9.75.

I didnt dine in so no dine in tax applied.

you did not answer my question.
What time/day did you ORDER the Orange Lunch Special?
Their lunch time: 11am-3pm, Monday-Friday.

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

I have to say I was impressed that the owner of T2 Yan called to apologize about omitting the rice in our order and to offer a complementary meal. We weren't impressed with the items we ordered, but the owner's customer service will draw us back in for one more try (we'll try something else next time).

[ChipShot]

What does T2 Yan mean anyway? Some kind of Chinese code for "we'll own the U.S. within 2 years" ??

[attachment=1378:hill9.jpg]

[Sandman]

Tried it yesterday for lunch and thought it was pretty good. Service was top notch. It is small inside though. I think I counted about 15 tables total with a few large booths. My 4yr old son got a kick out of the crab/lobster tank.

[NewOldCokeDave]

I've been holding off in replying to this thread for a while to see where it was going to go and to give T2 Yan a few visits before posting about it. I'm actually pleased to see that I'm not the only one who has enjoyed this restaurant.

We were huge fans of Golden Lake, as it was "our" Chinese restaurant. After the demise of Golden Lake, we tried several of the other establishments around town to see if we could find a new "our" restaurant, and we always came away with feeling a general lacking in flavor, texture, service or just plain old atmosphere.. We flat missed "our" restaurant, and we were depressed as it seemed like that particular experience was now gone for good. We don't like a lot of change when it comes to "our" restaurants.

I did stop by when they were doing construction and I was please when they told us that another Chinese restaurant was going in the same locale, but we were dubious that it would hold any kind of candle to "our" old restaurant.

We have now been to T2 Yan 5 times, and I can happily and honestly say, without a doubt, it has been consistently great each and every time.. We also have very happily found that T2 Yan is definitely several cuts above Golden Lake, and any of the other places around town we have tried..

The service has always been top notch, attentive and very personable. The food is definitely several cuts above anywhere else I've been in town.

I'm not going to go into a lot of flowery prose about the flavors and tastes, as I want you to experience that for yourself..

I worked in SF for many years and frequented many of the hole-in-wall places around town and there were some AMAZING places there. T2 Yan easily captures the flavors and tastes of those tiny little SF hide-a-way jewels, but with out all the noise, crowding and Peking ducks dangling from the ceiling. I find T2 Yan to be a relaxing and enjoyable time with, in my humble opinion, truly great food.. I don't feel rushed and I feel that the restaurant actually enjoys that we are there.. Not like a lot of other places (Not just other Chinese restaurants) where they seem to want to get you out of there as soon as you receive your order.

I will freely admit that our tastes are fairly pedestrian, but I judge a restaurant on it's basics and if they can pull those off well, then it makes me want to experiment further.. T2 Yan has passed on all accounts, IMHO. My 7 year old son will hands down pick dinner at T2 Yan over dinner at McDonalds, Wendy's or Burger King (And those of you with 7 year olds know that's a pretty high recommendation) So if you don't trust me, ya gotta trust my kid.. LOL We *fight* over who gets the left-overs in their lunch the next day. And the kid will even ask if he can have it for breakfast the next morning.. (I tell him "No", and that he must have the sugar-encrusted artifically flavored cereal up in the cupboard instead.. And then I gleefully pack up the leftovers in my lunch without a shred of guilt.. I figure he'll have a kid someday that he can bully the leftovers from later on.. Seriously there is usually enough to feed the family again the next day, so everybody is happy..) I can't wait to branch out a bit more and try some of the off-menu dishes.

We met Mr Yan tonight and what I can report, is an owner who genuinely seems to care about his clientele and business. He chatted with us for a while tonight and we talked about cooking, the restaurant business and just things in general. You can see where his relaxed demeanor carries over to the atmosphere of his restaurant. He even told me the secret to his incredible sweet and sour sauce.. And I ain't tellin'!!

He told me that he has read this forum when he can get the time and has made note of some of the critiques he has read here and has taken to heart the comments and made or is planning some changes based on some of your comments. He does listen.. He even pointed out that you can email him and he has his business card up front with areas for comments and ratings. He definitely takes this seriously.

I know everybody has their own tastes and what I may like, isn't what you may like, but I have now recommened this restaurant to several people and every single one of them has agreed with me on all points, so I can't be too far out in left field..

And now what I will say is that if you haven't tried it already, give it a try, you may just like it..
I feel it will become one of Folsom's "shining stars"

I know we have found "our" restaurant again.. I hope to be going there for many years to come, because we'll be going back again and again..

Oh yeah, make sure you taste it before you pour soy sauce on it.. You may find some interesting flavors in there!!

[Anthony2173]

After reading all the posts I had to give it a try. I was greeted promptly and upon placing my order was offered a complimentary drink while waiting.

The food was by far the best Chinese I have had Folsom. My wife even liked it and she NEVER likes any restaurant food.

Needless to say, I'll be back.

[Spicy]

After reading all the posts I had to give it a try. I was greeted promptly and upon placing my order was offered a complimentary drink while waiting.

The food was by far the best Chinese I have had Folsom. My wife even liked it and she NEVER likes any restaurant food.

Needless to say, I'll be back.

Try PF Chang in Roseville or Sacramento. Of Course you would have to pay twice more than T2Yan.
My personal opinion: PF Chang is the Best Chinese Restaurant in the Sacramento Region. Fats is almost as good as PF Chang.

The folks at T2Yan are nice folks however. T2Yan is a GREAT asset to the city of Folsom.