{"id":343948,"date":"2026-06-03T03:22:21","date_gmt":"2026-06-03T03:22:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/343948\/"},"modified":"2026-06-03T03:22:21","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T03:22:21","slug":"popular-restaurant-in-fresnos-river-park-making-changes-menu-updating-too","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/343948\/","title":{"rendered":"Popular restaurant in Fresno\u2019s River Park making changes \u2014 menu updating, too"},"content":{"rendered":"

When the owner of Spicy J\u2019s Specialty Chinese Cuisine<\/a> was growing up in China, he and his siblings used to eat a dessert that combined sticky rice, boba, watermelon and other sweet ingredients.<\/p>\n

Starting this week, that dish will be available on this menu at the restaurant in Fresno\u2019s River Park.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s one of several changes at the popular restaurant that is celebrating its re-grand opening this week.<\/p>\n

Jason Lin bought the restaurant when it was Dai Bai Dang seven years ago, after the previous owner retired. Lin\u2019s company also owns other restaurants in River Park, including J-Pot Mini Hot Pot & Bar<\/a> and O-iza<\/a>, and others around the city, such as Hino Oishi, Ichi Sabu, Ramen Hayashi and Lin\u2019s Fusion.<\/p>\n

He wants to bring what he\u2019s learned at those restaurants to Spicy J\u2019s, he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe feel like we could do better,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s just an opportunity for a fresh start.\u201d<\/p>\n

That means new uniforms for staff and new dishware are on the way. Staff is being trained to new hospitality standards, he said.<\/p>\n

The menu is changing, too.<\/p>\n

Old favorites, such as orange chicken, will still be available. But new dishes from Lin\u2019s hometown in China, Fuzhou, are now available.<\/p>\n

That dessert, for example, is called changle bing fan.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s like slushy ice with toppings like boba, watermelon and peanuts, and it has sticky rice in it,\u201d Lin said. \u201cThat\u2019s something we grew up eating in the Chinese street food scene.\u201d<\/p>\n

Several other dishes from the Fujian region have also been added to the menu.<\/p>\n

And one highly Instagrammable dish that\u2019s new?<\/p>\n

The sizzling crab fried rice.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s fried rice with soft shell crab and crispy garlic on top that\u2019s finished cooking at the customers\u2019 table.<\/p>\n

Discounts are available throughout June to customers, with details available on the restaurant\u2019s Instagram page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A new dessert that owner of Spicy J\u2019s grew up is now on the menu at the River Park restaurant. Changle bing fan is made with sticky rice, watermelon and other sweet ingredients.<\/p>\n