My girlfriend and I moved about a month ago and are testing all of the takeout spots in the neighborhood. Pizza and Chinese food, as takeout staples, require the most research. Tonight we went for a walk harvesting menus and are testing out one of the hundreds of Chinese food places in the area. Chicken lo mein, chicken chow fun, wontons in sesame oil.

So here's the question: when ordering (American) Chinese food, what is your go-to dish or what dish would you order to test out a new (to you) Chinese joint?

I only normally go to Chinese restaurants that serve dim sum.

I can understand some chinese and I go where they are speaking cantonese.

For a fast food type one I would order the basics. Roast pork, a noodle dish (Moo goo gai pan, or chow fun), a simple fried rice dish, and a simple stir fry. No "kung pow", fried crap. Beef and bok choy. Simple stir fry.

Stay away from anything named "generals chicken". I wont eat chinese food at a place with that bac hui/lo fan doi, **** on the menu.

Bullitos

Testing? Sounds too much like work. What ever happened to just trying new places?

As for your answer, there is only one Chinese place near me, it's good, but I live in a rural area where choices are pretty damned limited.

Before the marriage, however, I'd have said the tallest waitress at the place.

I like orange peel chicken.

Cream cheese wantons are the shiz, too.

First of all, I'd check out the hot & sour soup.

I can tolerate sloppy entrees, but good soup is a must.

Mongolian or Szechuan beef, or Moo Shoo chicken, and hot & sour soup. Where are you on the UES? I used to live at 87th and 3rd. Love all the great restaurants around there, especially 2nd Ave. in the 70s and 80s.

General Tso's and the wonton soup. If they do those two thing right, I move on to the rest of the menue.

Menu even.

I'm with MACS on this one.......orange chicken. If it's got red chilis in it, it usually is good.

2 things....1.) I'm with andy on the soup. Gotta have good H&S soup.

2.) Shrimp and Lobster sauce. LUV it when it's good.

(LIB)

(;’;.’;) CARROT LO MEIN !!

(")_(")

agree with gringo. also, the egg roll is tell tale.

but mostly go there. if the patrons are chinese, that is a good sign!

last year when i went home, my mom took us to her favorite chinese place. big, beautiful, nice. the only chinese were relatives. the sweet and sour pork was atrocious! beef and broccoli are my mainstay, and it was good (there is no such thing as beef and broccoli here in japan), but the rice was very low end.

Taste is subjective. Try YOUR favorites. A restaurant may have terrible egg rolls because the owners come from a region that makes them differently than the ones you prefer. Consider health. Do you care if they use MSG? Thai food is often much more healthy and is awesome. Almost all places have dishes that suck. I dont like things doused in oil so I'd try some noodles or chicken friend rice and see how oily it is.

I guess the best test is how you feel later.

You could always ask the locals, but, that requires approaching strangers. But, I still think that trying other people favorite dishes will only distract you from finding the place YOU actually prefer.

But. Since you asked.

Appetizers:

Crab Rangoons

Potstickers

Hibachi sticks

Egg Rolls

Entrees:

Mongolian beef

Chicken Lo Mein

Kung Pao Chicken

Orange Peel Beef

I really like a place that makes good duck. Duck is pretty pricy though.

Happy Family

Report:

Egg roll was outstanding

Chicken lo mein was excellent, although the noodles were a little skinny than standard lo mein.

My GF's chow fun was pretty middle of the road.

Still, based on the egg roll and lo mein, this place moves to the top of the list.

^ #7

robert - We live on 81st between York and East End. It's kind of a hike to the train, but the neighborhood is really mellow and super kid and dog friendly.

If you lived at 87th and 3rd you may know of the place we ordered from last night - it's been around forever. Pic Up Stix on Lex @ 91st, I believe.

For "actual" Chinese food, we sometimes head to Chinatown where there are still a few reliable spots. But for incredibly tasty, cheap, and occasionally unidentifiable authentic Chinese grub, Flushing is the place, and it's definitely worth the hike out on the 7 train.

My two guage meals are:

- Hot & Sour soup (look for taste and the amount & type of mushrooms and tofu used)

and

Sesame or Gen Tsao's Chicken (look for chicken to be moist and fresh with not too much breading)

Good eggroll and good sushi...that doesn't necessarily have to come from the same place.

Other than that, just go to PF Changs. 🙂