Fulins is a Chinese restaurant located off Highway 72 in Madison. The restaurant is usually busy for lunch but has no wait since the dining area is large enough to accommodate the lunch crowd.
Pricing
The prices at Fulins are very reasonable. The Chinese lunch combos cost $11, the Japanese sushi lunches vary from $13 to $16, and the dinner prices vary depending on the type of dish.
Appetizers
Crispy String Beans: The crispy string beans are lightly battered and fried. They have a mild flavor and are fried well giving them a nice crunch. The string beans are served with a ponzu sauce that adds brightness to the dish.
Calamari: The Calamari are served battered and fried like the crispy string beans. The calamari has a meaty texture and the flavor is not fishy. They are fried well, and the ponzu sauce balances the flavors perfectly.
Entrees
Chinese Lunch/Kung Pao Shrimp: Fulins offers a variety of Chinese lunch specials. The lunch specials include a choice of entree, rice, and egg roll. I always order white rice which is standard quality for Chinese rice. The egg roll has a choice of either vegetable or pork. I have only had the pork egg roll which is fried well and has good flavors. There is a large list of choices for the entree, but one of the better options is the kung pao shrimp. The shrimp are large and meaty, the vegetables are cooked perfectly, and the sauce is better than the other nearby Chinese restaurants. The sauce is a red paste that has a mild spicy flavor and works well with the flavors of the shrimp.
Maki Set: The maki set is one of the Japanese lunch specials offered at Fulins. This dish is served with a salad and miso soup. The salad is massive and has a fantastic ginger dressing. The miso soup is above average. The maki set comes with a choice of two sushi rolls. Out of the list of rolls offered, my personal favorite is the eel and avocado, and the Alaska roll. The eel is cooked nicely and the avocado adds a creamy texture giving the roll a warm and rich flavor. The Alaska roll is salmon, avocado, and cucumber. The salmon has good flavor, and the avocado and cucumber balance well with the salmon.
Pad Thai: This is one of the more unique dishes at Fulins. Pad Thai, which is a Thai dish, consists of rice noodles cooked with a protein, egg, and vegetables. Fulins give a unique spin to Pad Thai by bringing Chinese flavor to this dish. The chicken, shrimp, and beef, are very tender. The noodles are cooked well and have a unique flavor that sets the dish apart from the nearby Thai restaurants.
Eggplant: This is a vegetarian dish offered at Fulins. The eggplant is cooked so that it is neither too hard nor too mushy. The sauce mixes well with the eggplant giving the dish a rich savory flavor. Many people dislike eggplant since it is usually prepared poorly, but the eggplant is worth trying at Fulins.
Score: 5/5