Found the recipe that I think is the same as what we ate in the restaurant! With the 5 star anise flavor!

https://www.chowhound.com/post/chinese-roasted-peanuts-844566

Here's a recipe for Hom Suey fah song which I've made (and gifted) successfully:

For each pound of raw CHINESE peanuts, boil for 2 mins in
2 C water
6 Tb sugar
5 tsp salt
1 star anise

Cool and soak o'night. Drain in colander 6-8 hrs. Bake on cookie sheet 60 mins @ 250 and then 2-4 hrs @ 200. After 2-1/2 hrs, take a few peanuts out and let cool, if they are crisp, they are ready to be taken out of oven.
Warning: they're kinda addictive!