For decades, Malibu has had a shortage of two things—top-notch Chinese food and delivery to your door. Now Kaishin offers both, as well as an elegant and cozy sit-down eatery with a see-through kitchen to boot.
The location has experienced a lot of changes. It was once a bakery, then a wine store and restaurant but it now has had a complete makeover with delicacies from the southern provinces of China and Hong Kong.
Co-owners Sacha Fattahi and his lovely wife Shanaz recently opened in the Malibu Colony Plaza, and the locals are eating it up.
Sacha brought his business experience from years at IBM with its credo of “making a smarter planet.” That philosophy translates right into the local business.
“What I learned from IBM was management, quality and customer satisfaction. I wanted authentic Chinese food and I have authentic Chinese chefs,” Sacha said.
So let’s just dig in.
The Pan Fried Dumplings are a standout, as well as everything from appetizers to the Coconut Milk Pitted How for dessert. The couple also owns the Subway restaurant in Malibu and they pride themselves on offering seasonal, organic ingredients, as well as a gluten-free menu.
In addition to the tasty starters like Stir Fried Chicken in Lettuce Cups with hosin dipping sauce and “Puka Puka” Chicken Wings for those who like it hot, you’ll find something for everyone.
For soup lovers, there is a healthy veggie broth with sugar snow peas, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, straw mushrooms and baby corn or the Lemongrass Soup with lemongrass, cauliflower, straw mushrooms, bamboo shoots, cherry tomatoes and goji berries. If you want some heat, try the Hot and Sour Soup with chicken, tofu bamboo shoots and black fungus.
Salad is a specialty with a classic Chinese Chicken Salad complete with crispy won-tons and ginger vinegar dressing and the latest super food—a kale salad with fennel, sesame, heart-healthy almonds, shaved Brussels sprouts and sugar snow peas in a lemon vinegar dressing.
But Malibu locals Sacha and Shanaz, who live nearby, say that’s just the beginning.
Chef specials include a special Lemon Chicken, Beef Tenderloin in garlic sauce and, for the very ambitious, there is a whole traditional Peking Duck.
Seafood lovers can feast on lots of spice. The eatery offers a Kung Pao Shrimp, Steamed Salmon in a black bean chili sauce and Sautéed Shrimp with asparagus in XO Spicy Sauce. For those with milder stomachs, there’s a Pan Fried Sea Bass Steak served in a crispy garlic sauce or Steamed Sea Bass with ginger and green onion accompanied by a light soy sauce.
“A few customers called me over and asked for the owner, which makes you nervous,” Sacha recalls. “Instead they said it was the best sea bass they had ever had.”
Vegetarians can choose from an extensive menu of tofu, rice and noodle dishes including Moo Shu Veggie with crepe wraps, Stir Fried Green Beans prepared Szechuan style or Sautéed Assorted Fresh Mushrooms and Asparagus in XO Sauce.
If it’s at the Colony Plaza or at home, Chinese food fans are bound to be wowed, so enjoy!
Malibu Colony Plaza, 23715 Malibu Rd., 310.317.4222