Green Zone is opening in Pasadena; get ready for organic Chinese takeout

Forget what you know about greasy Chinese takeout for just a second. Green Zone, an Asian restaurant in the San Gabriel Valley known for lacing its ponzu with fresh yuzu and its unique take on Hainan chicken, is opening a location in Old Town Pasadena. And this Chinese takeout is organic.

The restaurant, which bills itself as a “health conscious Asian restaurant” serving Chinese, Vietnamese and Japanese food, is scheduled to open Aug. 22.

“The menu explores different Asian cultures, as well as reinvents the delightful, comforting tastes of home in remembrance of my grandma’s heart-warming recipes,” said Jil Cam, owner and chef of the restaurant, in a statement. “In addition, [we] source only fresh, local, organic ingredients to create our menu, since we believe that the purest ingredients make the best food, and that food should be good for both your body and your soul.”

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That means the shiitake mushrooms in your miso soup, the cabbage in your gyoza and the Japanese yam fries are all organic.

The restaurant’s Hainan chicken, made with poached, organic, boneless, skinless chicken over lemongrass-scented rice, will be on the menu, as well as the grilled Asian porkchop and wonton soup.

Green Zone is holding a grand opening event on opening day from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and Champagne.

The restaurant will be open Tuesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

34 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena, (626) 535-9700, greenzonerestaurant.com.

You should see me attack soup dumplings. Follow me on Twitter @Jenn_Harris_

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