BLUE & FLY ASIAN KITCHEN
Hoppen Hierarchy:★★★★
District: Aksarben
Traditional and American Chinese Cuisine
Perfect For: Casual Dining; Lunch; Takeout
Standout Dishes: Bulgogi; Scallion Pancakes; Sautéed Lamb with Cumin
As you flip through the first few pages of the menu at Blue & Fly Asian Kitchen, you’d be tempted to think this is your standard Chinese takeout joint. All the familiar favorites are present: orange chicken, broccoli beef, kung pao chicken… you know the drill. The restaurant understands what most of its diners want and expect from Chinese food, and it’ll give you an excellent version of your Americanized favorites.
But if you journey to the back half of the menu, you’ll find what the cooks are excited to serve you: traditional Chinese dishes like salt & pepper ribs, mapo tofu, a variety of noodle soups, and dishes with pork intestine, beef stomach strips, and pork kidney.
Whether you want to stay on the shallow side of the pool or launch off the diving board into the deep end, Blue & Fly has you covered.
Located off 72nd and Dodge, Blue & Fly is a cozy joint with impeccably friendly service that’s happy to walk you through the less familiar portions of the menu. This proves very helpful, because if you choose to go the traditional Chinese route (which I’d recommend), you might need some assistance deciding what to order.
Blue & Fly Asian Kitchen's Traditional Chinese Dishes
Take, for instance, the Bulgogi. Many Americans are familiar with the Korean version of this dish, which is highlighted by a sweet, tangy sauce. But China’s rendition pairs the thin, chewy slices of beef with a savory sauce heavy on black pepper. It’s a tad spicy, though sauteed onions add some sweetness.
That’s what I love about Blue & Fly; I learn something new about culture and cuisine every time I visit here. I never would’ve known about this twist on the dish had the server not graciously informed me; I’m a smarter diner because of that meal.
Same goes for the Seafood Noodle Soup, which starts with a rich, savory broth that has a subtle sinus-engaging heat. The delicious homemade noodles have a nice bounce, but the seafood elements—squid, octopus tentacle, clam, shrimp—are a bit chewy. But, thanks to this dish, I learned chewy texture is valued in Asian cooking. It causes the food to be on your palate longer, allowing you to taste it more.
Blue & Fly also offers several specials each week to reflect what chef/owner Yue “Joe” Cong is interested in and the current season. Take, for example, the Spicy Lamb & Mushrooms. Blue & Fly run this special during the winter because lamb, chiles, and black mushrooms are considered “warming foods” that could also help reduce cold symptoms such as cold body, clammy skin, stomachache, lack of energy, and sore joints.
And warm this incredible dish does. The lamb is delicious and the mushrooms have a nice meatiness, but it’s the spice that stands out, as it slowly builds throughout the meal until your sinuses are fully engaged. It’s a delicious dish, and a great example of why you should always check the specials board when you come in.
While not every dish includes a culinary tidbit of wisdom, they’re all packed with flavor. The Sautéed Lamb with Cumin has a good chew, and it’s lean and bursting with flavor. The cumin adds earthiness and a bit of spice that’s accented by red pepper flakes and small sautéed peppers and onions.
Whatever entree you choose, your meal should start with a plate of Scallion Pancakes. With a crispy, flaky exterior that gives way to a slightly chewy interior of thin layers, these savory discs are downright delicious.
And your meal should absolutely end with the Candied Sweet Potato, a dessert unlike any you’ll find in Omaha. This dish comes with instructions: you’re supposed to take one of the cubes of sweet potato, which have been covered in gooey melted sugar, and dunk it in a bowl of water. The result is a brilliant, crunchy caramelized crust around the soft, warm inner sweet potato. It’s a wild bite that messes with your brain a bit, causing you to dive in again and again and again to figure it out.
Blue & Fly Asian Kitchen's American-Chinese Style Dishes
Much as I encourage you to explore Blue & Fly’s traditional offerings, the restaurant serves some excellent versions of the familiar Chinese takeout classics, too. The General Chicken is everything you want out of this takeout staple: heavily-battered, crispy chicken doused in a sticky spicy, sweet sauce. The Sizzling Beef & Shrimp is served in a cast iron pan hot enough to singe your eyebrows off, and the proteins are perfectly cooked. The brown sauce is aggressively salty, but it’s flavorful and balances the rich beef well.
The Pot Stickers are solid but unspectacular. The pork/veggie mix is tasty, and the accompanied dipping sauce (think a sweetened soy sauce) is excellent. The texture could be a bit crispier, and and a bit more filling would make this appetizer more of a win.
Portion size is far from a problem at Blue & Fly, and considering most entrees are between $13-20, there’s a lot of value to be had here. You’re either going to leave with leftovers or loosening a few notches in your belt.
I’ll always encourage diners to branch out and try the dishes a restaurant is excited about, and Blue & Fly offers you plenty of dishes that expand your culinary boundaries. The traditional Chinese dishes are where Blue & Fly truly excels.
But even if you’d prefer to stick with the familiar tried-and-true plates, this restaurant will provide something as delicious as you’ll find in Omaha.