J.R. Bistro chef-owner Bing Kuen Lee prepares a shabu hot pot. From front, clockwise: mushrooms, beef, lamb and mixed seafood. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
A waiter, seen through a glass, prepares a table at J.R. Bistro in L.A.’s Chinatown. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
String beans are prepared in a seafood-based, brandy-infused XO chile sauce that brings out the beans’ sweetness. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
The Lotus Special stir fry is made with sautéed lotus roots, Chinese sausage, preserved meat and mixed vegetables. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
Bie Ng, with her daughter Shang Ng, and her father, Lun Hua Tan, have lunch at J.R. Bistro in Chinatown. (Stefano Paltera / For The Times)
