Somehow I missed the opening of Hunan Style in 2022. I dined at this Co-Op adjacent place today and the menu made me realize it’s an extension of Albany’s Wojia, to which a few of us have visited including an HO meetup. The server said they no longer serve the fried glutinous rice balls, but that they may come back again. Jelly noodles and the octopus dish under the “7 Wows” section of the menu were both great. I played it safe since it’s a Tuesday afternoon, and look forward to exploring dishes that better test chef skills on a future visit.
An update on the rest of Davis. The owner of Shanghai Town previously had a place on the Peninsula and in 2023 ended its nearly 20 year run on Lake Blvd (now replaced by Essential Hotpot, which serves Sichuan hotpot). The Davis outpost of Berkeley’s Chengdu Style was open for a few years, but recently was demolished alongside the rest of the University Mall. Sacramento-area chain Dumpling House is in the fish fry place next to Sophia’s.
