Frequently Asked Questions
WHAT KIND OF CUISINE DO YOU SERVE?
We serve Asian food, inspired by East Asian cultures of Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, China, Japan, and Singapore.
When Gan Shan owner Patrick O'Cain was a child, Mrs. Chiangs Szechuan cookbook was the most popular cookbook in the house. Gifted to the family by beloved Uncle Ray, Mrs. Chiang was a weekly feature around the family dinner table.
At Gan Shan West, we focus on comfort and simplicity a West Asheville neighborhood staple. We explore our deeper passion for Asian foods in our daily and weekly specials.
DO I NEED A RESERVATION?
We don’t accept reservations. However, we have a wonderful outdoor patio space (space heated during the winter), limited indoor dining room, and a dedicated to go pick up window.
WHO IS THE CHEF, AND WHAT IS HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS KIND OF FOOD?
Ray Hui was born and raised in Southwest Florida on the Gulf Coast to Jen and Charlie Hui. He is a first generation Chinese American chef that loves to cook to bring people together.
Ray brings a wealth of cultural knowledge and deep passion for cooking to Gan Shan West. Outside of work, you can find Ray... well... cooking for himself and the people that he loves. It's in his DNA. More about Ray's background on the About Us page.
ARE YOUR DUMPLINGS HOMEMADE?
Yes! The our Asian dumplings are made in-house. Our team arrives before dawn throughout the week and hand folds each dumpling at our Haywood Rd restaurant. It is a full labor of love.
HOT SAKE OR COLD SAKE?
We have both!
Even still, here are some reasons why most of our sakes aren't available hot:
Our sake is high-grade, flavorful, and balanced; each of these virtues would be destroyed by heating, which dulls the sake’s nature.
In other words, we don’t need to warm up our sake to make it drinkable. Just like you wouldn’t use a fine bottle for mulled wine, we don’t heat our sakes.
We serve high-quality, intentionally chosen sakes that complement the flavors in our food, and invite you to ask for direction if you’re curious and/or confused about what to choose. If you want a hot beverage, we have teas specifically selected to blend well with our Asian food.
DO YOU HAVE VEGETARIAN, VEGAN, AND GLUTEN-FREE OPTIONS?
Yes, all of the above. Some of our dishes can be altered upon request to become vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free. We do also have Asian dishes that are made precisely for those palates.
DOES YOUR FOOD HAVE MSG IN IT?
Monosodium glutamate (or MSG) – in the way it’s generally thought of – is a flavor enhancer that’s added to a lot of Asian food. At Gan Shan, we don’t add MSG to our food, because we let our bold, rich, and clean flavors speak for themselves.
That being said, MSG is a naturally occurring amino acid, and so no one can accurately claim to serve food that’s “MSG-free.”
I DON'T LIKE SPICY FOOD, IS THERE ANYTHING I CAN EAT HERE?
Definitely. Our focus at Gan Shan is on flavor, not spice. You can find plenty of things (in fact, most) to suit a non-spicy palate. Most of our ramens, noodles and other dishes start with mild to no spice with room to add! We have indicated our spiciest dishes on our menu and, if you're still having trouble, give us a call and our waitstaff will happily help steer you in the right direction.
HOW OFTEN DO YOUR MENUS CHANGE?
We serve asian dishes that reflect the current season. Although, our menu is largely static, we rotate daily and weekly specials and are largely informed by changes in local produce availability.
WAIT... WASN'T THERE ANOTHER LOCATION?
Yes, Gan Shan Station on Charlotte Street was our flagship restaurant. It operated from January 2015 to January 2020.
Owner, Patrick O'Cain was looking to simplify his life (pre-pandemic) and decided to focus on only his West Asheville location. We are now located on Haywood Rd with the same delicious flavors and focus on authentic Asian food with a Western twist.
Gan Shan Station was then sold and recently re-opened mid-pandemic as Jettie Rae's Oyster House, a seafood concept by experienced Asheville restaurateur Eric Scheffer and his business partner Jim Diaz. Jettie Rae's continues the strong legacy of Gan Shan Station in a beautifully re-imagined space with excellent fresh seafood and a food and drinks menu not to be missed.