An ex used to work around the corner from Jade Cafe, and even after we broke up, we'd still meet there and have a grand old time. It was one of our better shared experiences after moving together to the Bay Area. But we don't go back just for sentimental reasons -- the food is cheap and delicious. A relationship gone awry should never, ever keep you away from a great place to eat.
This review is going to be short, because Jade Cafe is a marvel of simplicity. The menu, for a Chinese restaurant, is relatively short, which is a good sign. They have an ever-changing specials menu that's always a good bet. The seafood isn't bad, the barbecued pork is great, and try the Walnut Prawns -- shrimp in a sweet but garlicky sauce with cruchy glazed walnuts over greens. But their speciality, in our opinion, are their wonton soups.
The roast duck wonton soup is what we order when we're bored, but four out of five times we order the wor wonton soup, which we think translates into "the best f**king soup you've ever had." The bowl comes so crammed with goodies you'll wonder how they fit the savory beef stock in there. Fat, chewy, pork-filled wontons are joined by hunks of chicken, barbecued pork, squid, shrimp and young bok choy -- $5.75 plus tax and tip. And that's all we feel we need to say on the matter.