Steve wanted to stay in Birmingham. Pearl's Chinese restaurant owners were willing to strike a lease deal. It took two months to renovate the former Pearl's to the updated version of Mountain King. Mandarin, Szechuan and Cantonese specialties served at lunch and dinner. For the uninitiated in the differences among Mandarin, Szechuan and Cantonese styles of cooking, Tsung explained that Mandarin is more flavorful.
Dishes are prepared with garlic and ginger.
He cited Mongolian Beef as an example. Szechuan style is spicy brown sauces with ginger, such as General Tso's Chicken. Chop Suey and Chow Mein are Cantonese. He also gave the following glossary of terms. Kung-Pao includes peanuts.