2984Yueyatan Parkhttp://www.gokunming.com/en/listings/item/yue_32407/Xinyi Xiaolou#http://www.gokunming.com/en/listings/item/xin_32656/#, a Wa Ethnic Minority restaurant that we had heard about on Kanglong Lu along the park's western side.

We weren't really sure what to expect from the food of the Wa people, who are also called the Va and form the bulk of the population of the breakaway Wa State in northeastern Myanmar. Aside from more mundane foods, the Wa are also apparently known for eating a variety of insects, including caterpillars.

When we arrived at the restaurant we were somewhat relieved to not see any caterpillars on the menu. Instead it was populated with many items that would look at home on any Chinese restaurant menu—if not for having "Wa style" (佤味) appended to the front.

We ordered Wa style grandma's mashed potatoes (老奶洋芋), a bitter melon omelet (苦瓜蛋饼), stir-fried tomato and tofu (番茄炒豆腐), Wa style cucumbers (佤味黄瓜), and Wa style pestle-ground pork (佤味舂肉).

The food was similar to much other standard Chinese restaurant fare, but with some interesting flavor twists. Was that mint in the cucumbers, softening the blow of the lime and chili peppers? Dill in the potatoes and shredded ginger and sesame seeds in the pork?

The pork, cucumbers and potatoes were the standouts, while the omelet was humdrum and the tofu tasted a bit on the old side.

Our verdict was that the outing was well worth it and we'll return some day to sample more of the menu. The post-lunch walk in the park wasn't so bad, either.

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