Editor’s note: Welcome to our new series. We can’t dine out right now, but we can order in. I’ll share my chronicles of getting to-go meals, curbside takeout or delivery from various Omaha restaurants a few times a week.
How to order
Crystal Jade is on Grubhub, and you can also call for a takeout order at crystaljadeomaha.com or by calling 402-398-1688. Crystal Jade is at 7255 Cedar St.
What we got
Chicken Rendang, Isa Noodle with tofu and mock duck, Kung Pao chicken and fried dumplings.
How long it took
Grubhub tracks a diner’s order from start to finish; all told this order took about 35 minutes from the time we ordered to the time the driver got to our downtown home.
Critic’s take
I’ve always loved Crystal Jade for its big menu of vegan Asian offerings, and I got one of my favorites: the Isa noodle (named after Isa Chandra Moskowitz) that has a just-sweet sauce, plenty of vegetables, big triangles of fried tofu and the option to add meaty chunks of “mock” duck. Do the last thing if you’re feeling adventurous, though in my humble opinion, the mock duck really isn’t that different, flavor-wise.
The most Americanized of the dishes we ordered, Kung Pao chicken, was great: super hot, super crispy, just spicy. Tender mushrooms are the highlight of the vegetables.
I wanted to get something I’d never had before, so I went with the Rendang chicken, a Malaysian dish with a focus on flavors of ginger and coconut. Texturally, it pleased me the least, but if you like coconut, try it.
The oversized fried dumplings survived the Grubhub trip surprisingly well; they were the only dish we devoured in just one setting. The rest held well through lunch the next day.
8 responses to “Takeout chronicles: Crystal Jade”
Big CJ fan. Try the Pork & Crispy Eggplant, it’s one of the best things on the menu!
Thanks for the recommendation! We will get that next time.
We had never heard of Crystal Jade until your recommendation. Holy cow we’ve been missing out. Got the Isa Noodle, Mock Duck, and Beef Lo Mein All so delicious! Loved all the vegan options!
Glad you loved it! It’s one of our favorites, too.
We also love Crystal Jade, and have been regular customers since they first opened perhaps 5 or 6 years ago. Their curry noodle soup (a vegan option) is so darn good, but really everything is delicious. Thank you for starting this web page, it’s a great idea.
I am in the same boat: never had a bad meal from Crystal Jade. With such a large menu, it’s pretty impressive how many dishes they execute well. Thanks for sticking with me, Bill!
I work in the Omaha Tower right next to Crystal Jade, their lunch specials are among my favorite in the City. Glad to hear the experience isn’t lost during the pandemic
Lucky you! It’s one of our favorite takeout spots.