Help or tips on translating Mei Shung Taiwanese menu...

I don't think anyone has done it yet, but some of the items are mixed in on the Mei Shung online menu http://www.meishungtogo.com/ (but not all - I don't see oyster pancakes).

Though I may start with working with my in-laws during a visit this week, or later my parents, I could use help from LTHforum readers who at least are literate in Chinese or even better, familiar with Taiwanese cuisine.

I took some photos today of the menu, but I think I'll need to stop back and retake them (no flash and not missing any gaps between close up photos).

I haven't done this before with a crowd-source approach - any tips on how?

-elvin-

Just post the photos up and someone (or me!) will probably translate it...

Are the lunch specials available on the weekends?

Hi,

This is an example of how I got a menu translated. If you go scroll down several posts, it was translated by Kelly of Sun Wah BBQ.

Post it and people will help.

Regards,

Sorry for the delay. We were out of town for a bit and then just needed the time to scan and annotate the copy of the menu that the owners were happy to provide. They did note that they were hoping to have an English translation done but they didn't seem certain when it would come. They did encourage anyone interested in the Taiwanese menu to talk with the servers or the owners especially if you were unfamiliar or not able to read Chinese.

(Oh and yes lunch specials (from the regular menu) are available Sat/Sun from noon to 3 p.m.)

I've uploaded annotated menus with letter-number keys next to each dish for easy reference. They are at my MobileMe site at http://gallery.me.com/elvinc#100650

Anyone with familiarity with Taiwanese cuisine or at least interest and the ability to read Chinese - help would be welcome. If the project is successful, I'll provide the menu to Meishung to either have on hand or get a head start on their formal translated menu.

Hey hey - I'm back. I don't know if the owners already beat me to having a translated menu, but after getting on the phone with mom I put together this draft. There are dishes that my mom wasn't familiar with, so you might find some of these pretty rough (like intestine dishes 1 through 4).

We'll probably be back to Meishung soon to try some of these dishes and possibly get some of the mystery items cleared up, but for those who are already familiar or beat us to the restaurant, here's a draft to work with and give me feedback on.

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Meishung Taiwanese Translated Menu (draft: 4/3/2012) by Elvin Chan
(photos of menu in Taiwanese with letter references: http://gallery.me.com/elvinc#100650)

AA1: Oyster Omelet (o-a-chian)
AA2: Shrimp Omelet
AA3: Pork on sticky rice cake

A1: fried stuffed tofu skin (chicken)
A2: scallion pancake
A3: jellyfish (cold dish)
A4: taiwanese sausage
A5: glutinous rice stuffed with pork

B1: hot sour soup
B2: chicken sizzling rice soup
B3: shrimp sizzling rice soup
B4: crab corn soup
B5: seafood soup
B6: chinese mushroom, beef/pork soup

C1: lu rou fan - pork belly rice
C2: niu rou tang mien - beef noodle soup
C3: pickled vegetable and pork noodle soup
C4: beef tendon noodle soup
C5: seafood noodle soup
C6: combination noodle soup
C7: dan zai mian - braised pork noodle soup
C8: chow ma mian - spicy seafood noodle soup

C9: la jiao mian - hot pepper noodles (assumed stir fried)
C10: taiwanese style chow mi fun (rice vermicelli)
C11: shrimp chow mian
C12: beef chow mian
C13: chicken chow mian
C14: shredded pork chow mian
C15: combination chow mian

D1: sacha beef
D2: beef with chives
D3: hot fermented soy bean beef
D4: beef short rib
D5: cilantro beef
D6: slow-cooked pork shoulder
D7: pork belly dish
D8: twice cooked pork
D9: dry fried pork/beef

E1: intestine dish
E2: san bei ji - three cup chicken
E3: intestine dish 2
E4: intestine dish 3
E5: intestine dish 4
E6: tripe dish

F1: roasted soybean topped fish fillet
F2: pickled veggie fish fillet
F3: pickled veggie squid
F4: fish fillet
F5: cumin lamb

G1: to fu dish
G2: to fu dish
G3: eggplant
G4: hollow vegetable greens
G5: pea pod tips

H1: fermented soybean lamb
H2: sacha lamb
H3: lamb with chives

J1: unknown fish/seafood dish
J2: unknown fish/seafood dish
J3: soft shell crab
J4: spicy salt fish
J5: spicy salt shrimp
J6: spicy salt scallop

K1: fried? duck
K2: fried to fu dish
K3: wrapped beef
K4: wrapped chicken
K5: wrapped shrimp
K6: salt-baked chicken
K7: garlic chives with taiwanese sausage
K8: garlic chives with pork belly