Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Although labeled as "generally recognized as safe" by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, monosodium glutamate, or MSG, a food additive sometimes used in Chinese restaurants, has been reported to cause a set of symptoms known as MSG complex in individuals who consume it, explains the Mayo Clinic. A small number of Chinese restaurants in the Cleveland, Ohio, area refrain from using MSG in their dishes, catering to individuals who develop symptoms like headaches, flushing or sweating after consuming the flavor-enhancing additive.
Stir Crazy is a Midwestern chain of Chinese restaurants with a location in the Lyndhurst neighborhood of Cleveland. The restaurant does not use MSG in any of its recipes. Eighteen appetizers lead the menu, such as the pu pu platter, which contains chicken pot stickers, sticky chicken wings, vegetable spring rolls, spare ribs and cold, nut noodles. Among the dinner specialties are the kung pao chicken, the Mongolian beef and the sesame chicken. For dessert, try the wontons filles with bananas and white chocolate, topped with cinnamon-sugar, vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce. The restaurant features a full bar. Stir Crazy serves lunch and dinner daily. Reservations are not accepted. Casual attire is appropriate.
Stir Crazy
25385 Cedar Rd.
Cleveland, OH 44124
216-381-7600
stircrazy.com
The Pearl of the Orient has locations in the suburbs of Shaker Heights and Rocky River, approximately 23 minutes (10 miles) and 17 minutes (9 miles) away from Cleveland, respectively. The restaurant is known for not using MSG as an additive. The menu begins with more than one dozen appetizers such as the prawn toasts, fried calamari and pork and shrimp egg rolls. A dinner specialty is the roasted duck with mandarin sauce, served with Napa cabbage, mushrooms, onions and cherries. Another is the lemongrass pork chops marinated in honey and ginger and presented alongside tomato, cucumber and lettuce. The menu also features tasting menus that can feed two, four, six or eight people. The restaurant has a full bar. Both the Shaker Heights and Rocky River Pearl of the Orient restaurants serve lunch and dinner daily. Reservations are not necessary. Casual attire is appropriate.
Pearl of the Orient East
20121 Van Aken Blvd.
Shaker Heights, OH 44122
216-751-8181
pearleast.com
Pearl of the Orient West
19300 Detroit Rd.
Rocky River, OH 44116
440-333-9902
pearlwest.com
Located in the suburb of Twinsburg, Beijing Garden is approximately 25 miles from Cleveland (around 30 minutes by car). The MSG-free menu starts with eight appetizers, including the chef's specialty Chinese eggplant stuffed with ground chicken. The dinner specialties include salt and pepper frog legs, pineapple shrimp, beef in hot broth and pineapple chicken. Each dinner is accompanied by a choice of white or brown rice. Beijing Garden is open for lunch and dinner daily. Reservations are not accepted. Casual attire is the norm when dining at the restaurant. Vegetarian selections are also available.
Beijing Garden
7995 Darrow Rd.
Twinsburg, OH 44087
330-425-9795
bjgarden.net