Chinese restautant in northshore

Thank you both for the info. I will look into these places.

bearmi in Chicago Area

Chinese restautant in northshore

"Restaurant"... Sorry for the typo.

bearmi in Chicago Area

Chinese restautant in northshore

I am going to Chicago's Northshore suburbs for business soon. Are there any reco for Chinese food? I have been to Szechuan North in Glenview/ Northbrook and Joy Yee's Cafe in Evanston a few times. Are there other places you would recommend? Please advise. Thanks in advance!

bearmi in Chicago Area

japanese breakfast?

Sounds good to me. I travel within the US mostly, I wish they serve Chinese breakfast in Iowa, Minneapolis , and upstate NY :)

bearmi in Manhattan

japanese breakfast?

Thank you!! Yeah I hope they would serve Korean breakfast too!! I want to try it one day!!! Hopefully with the strong Korean economy, there will be more Korean travelers to the US and these hotels will start serving them. Although I am Chinese, I think the Japanese breakfast from the Four Seasons has the most substantial food and looks the best. I should try it one day.

bearmi in Manhattan

japanese breakfast?

Wow.. thank you for posting these. Do you remember how much the breakfast cost? Are they in the $40's per person? It's interesting that all the upscale hotels have similar Japanese Breakfast menu items and they all have Chinese Breakfast Menus too. I suppose they are popular with Asian travelers.

bearmi in Manhattan

Asian reco in Rochester area

Thank you! Sodam is good? I will have to try it out! I stay at a hotel near by so I have driven by it before. Thank you!

bearmi in New York State (exc. New York City)

Foods you eat strangely

I am Chinese but I hate to use chopsticks (the disposable ones give me splinter) so I only use fork at home. When I go out for Chinese food with my non Asian friends, I usually request for a fork too. Most of the time the waiter/ waitress will give me a funny look because I am the only Chinese at the table and also the only person who isnt using chopsticks, but what can I say. Forks are easier to use if you are eating from a plate!!!

And speaking of eating strange food combination, when I was in high school, I came across a Chinese cookbook written by Chinese Americans. Most of the recipes were from the 1960's when Asian ingredients were scarce, especially for expats who lived in small rural towns. One recipe was Hot and Soup Tuna Soup. Basically, its canned tuna + eggdrop+ soy sauce + chicken broth + vinegar + white pepper. Not sure why, but I was so obsessed with it and made the soup almost daily. Now I think back... I dont even know how I ate it!! Sounds kind of gross to me!

bearmi in General Chowhounding Topics

Asian reco in Rochester area

Do you have any suggestions for Asian restaurants in the Rochester area? I am mainly interested in Chinese and Korean cuisines but will consider other ones too. Thanks in advance.

bearmi in New York State (exc. New York City)

Sichuan at Imperial Wok in N White Plains: thumbs up

I guess you are not "weird" like me. Haha!

bearmi in New York State (exc. New York City)

Sichuan at Imperial Wok in N White Plains: thumbs up

How was the service? Last time I was there to get takeout I ordered in English. Assuming that I dont speak any Chinese (not to pad myself on the back but my accent is kind of faint), the hostess told the waiter "this guy is kind of weird!" in Chinese. Not the most pleasant experience because of that. And I havent been there since then!

bearmi in New York State (exc. New York City)

American food used globally--

When I was growing up in Taiwan, I ate hamburgers made with pork. Five spice powder, soy sauce and sugar were added to the meat mixture and instead of sliced pickles, sliced cucumber were used. Kind of a strange combination now that I am more used to American style hamburgers.

bearmi in General Chowhounding Topics

Best sushi in Manhattan

I am so confused by the recos too. I am afraid to try them because I am not 100% convinced that they really are good, whether authentic or not (seem to be not always authentic though).

bearmi in Manhattan

Anyone know where to find hong zao jiang 紅糟醬 (red wine lees / red wine dregs)?

I am so glad that you found it. I actually have seen some in my local Kam Sen (Chinese) market in White Plains, both in plastic containers and foil pouches (can either be made in China or made in Taiwan). Here is a photo I found on-line that resembles what I saw in the market upstate:

http://f.hatena.ne.jp/godmother/20090504042336

I think one problem is that there maybe different translation of this ingredient in English (not always "Red Wine Lees"... sometimes called "Red Yeast" or "Anka Sauce" ) so it's hard to find.

I assume there will be similar formats sold in the refrigerated section of a grocery store in Manhattan. I will look out for it next time I am shopping in Chinatown.

bearmi in Manhattan

Guava - where to buy?

Ha.. Buttertart and Pesach, I am originally from California too and, in fact, I lived in Berkeley about 20+ years ago:) What a small world! Glad to know that there are fellow Californians on this board (I know Lau is too)! Too bad I didn't come across guavas back then. Anyway, the ones I saw in NYC was from the Carribbeans and I am pretty sure it's not dark green (it was yellowish) on the outside so it's got to be a different variety.

bearmi in Manhattan

Guava - where to buy?

Yeah. Pesach is right. I thought of the Taiwanese ones too but then I remembered the ones I saw at Agata and Valentina..they are the small ones with pinkish flesh inside (I vaguely rememember that they are from the Carribbeans) I think thats what most Americans are familiar with.

bearmi in Manhattan

Guava - where to buy?

I bought them a couple of years ago from Agata and Valentina in UES but haven't been there for a while. Maybe you can give them a call to check. Wish you good luck!

http://www.agatavalentina.com/

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Agata & Valentina
1505 1st Ave, New York, NY 10021

bearmi in Manhattan

Koreatown Christmas - group of 10 need help

I think BCD Tofu House has big/long tables for big parties. You might want to call ahead to make sure they are able to accomodate 10 just to make sure. According to their website, they do serve beer and wine. Their menu is a little more limited...mostly tofu and a few grilled meat and rice dishes but I thought the service is always very fast and very good and the food is pretty consistent. Wherever you decide to go, you might want to call ahead because a lot of Koreans are Christians so I am not sure all the places in Koreatown will be open on Xmas day like Chinatown.

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BCD Tofu House
17 W 32nd St, New York, NY 10001

bearmi in Manhattan

简简单单的家常菜 还有好吃的便宜小吃 Simple and Delicious Homecooked Food and Inexpensive

Thank you. I have been going to Noodle Village when I am in Chinatown since Sweet n Tart Cafe closed. I should try to visit new places more. The $ I spend at Chinatown Brasserie and midtown Japanese places will prob get me 3 to 5 times the food in Chinatown!! Maybe I will make it my New Year resolution for 2012 :). By the way other than wontons what else is worth trying there? Cantonese style lomein? Maybe congee? If anyone knows, please share your thought!

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Noodle Village
13 Mott St, New York, NY 10013

bearmi in Manhattan

简简单单的家常菜 还有好吃的便宜小吃 Simple and Delicious Homecooked Food and Inexpensive

Thanks for the info. I have never been to New Wonton Noodle Garden... wanted to go years ago but then I read some so-so review. I will have to check it out next time I am in Chinatown.

bearmi in Manhattan

Sushi Azabu - The Best Deal for Quality Sushi in Manhattan

Yeah next time I will make reservation just to eat there in the sushi restaurant!

bearmi in Manhattan

Chinese in Manhattan for a mixed family- Dilemma!

I am from Taiwan and I go to Chinatown Brasserie all the time. I don't see anything wrong with their food and I have been to numerous PF Changs and Chinatown Brasserie is much better than PF Chang's. As long as you stay away from the more fusion dishes, I am pretty sure you will get a relatively authentic dining experience (in terms of food). You can order Dim Sums (which are made to order) during dinner time (I know traditionally they are served during lunch time but if they taste good, why not eat them as appetizers at dinner?). Their Wok-Fried Thin Egg Noodles (similar to Cantonese Pan Fried Noodle) are pretty good as well as the beef stir-fry (last time I ordered beef with asparagus, the beef was very tender, just like what you get at a Chinese restaurant minus the baking soda taste). Their mini custard baos (as dessert) are also really good. Chinatown Brasserie is not cheap but if you want to go to a clean and presentable place that serves pretty authentic Chinese food, I would recommend it. Honestly, this would be the place I take my non-Asian friends to when they visit from out of town, although I personally would go to Chinatown with my Chinese friends. I totally understand where your mom is coming from!! I feel awkward (and embarassed at times) taking my non-Asian friends to Chinatown, where they see the not-so-clean restaurants and not-so-great service and you will end up having to explain every single dish to your non-Asian friends because there is no description and all the daily specials posted on the walls are in Chinese. That in itself will ruin your evening. Let's be honest, many Americans (even if they live in NYC or California) are not foodies and they don't know what they are getting into when they want "authentic experience". You are better off playing it safe so you don't give them an impression of what you and your family is like based on what they see in Chinatown because that can reflect on you.

As to Oriental Garden, I have not been for a couple of years but it's pretty good too. I think their cuisine is more Cantonese style and they specialize in Seafood. However, keep in mind that it is in Chinatown (and service is still not as good as CB) and your mom would prefer a non-Chinatown location but you can figure it out among yourself. By the way, last time I went to Oriental Garden, they only accepted American Express for charges over $60 (I am sure $60 would not be a problem there since their price is pretty high for Chinatown standar). So you might want to call ahead to double check in case you don't have an AE.

Another place you might be able to try is Red Egg (202 Center Street...located north of Canal Street). I have ordered some of their entrees (noodle dishes and salt pepper pork chop) before and they were pretty good. I believe you can also order dimsum during dinner time as well but the decor is a little "modern", not sure if it's too much for your mom. I have not been to Red Egg for a while so I don't know if anything has changed recently. Perhaps other folks can comment on that.

Whereever you decide to go, please report back and let us know how it went. I wish you good luck in entertaining your boyfriend's family. I would love to hear what your mom and your boyfriend's family think about the "authentic" Chinese restaurant you went.

bearmi in Manhattan

Sushi Azabu - The Best Deal for Quality Sushi in Manhattan

Sorry Lau.. I have been soooo busy lately that I haven't been here for months! Anyway, I went around Labor Day weekend and ordered the Chinese Chicken Salad, which was pretty good (a lot of napa cabbage in there, which I don't like that much but they made it very tasty) and that salad was gigantic. My friends ordered other appetizers which were really tiny (can't remember what they had but I think it might have been the fish carpadcio). For entree, I ordered some type of Lamb chop and it was good too. I also ordered some Arancini (fried rice balls) to share with my friends. They were a little too rich for me but overall tasty. I can't remember the exact flavors they were (there were several that came with the order and each had its own flavor. If I remember correctly, one of them had squid ink in it) but I remember the outside was really nice and crunch and the rice inside tasted like risotto. Overall we thought the food was good but I think my dinner tasted better than my friends so I don't know if they enjoyed it as much as I did. Also, one of my friends ordered the $48 Pre Fix Dinner but the portion size was a little small. By the way, during my visit, I wanted to order sushi from downstairs but our waitress informed us that we weren't able to because the sushi restaurant was in full capacity or something like that. So I guess I will have to wait for next time to try their sushi.

bearmi in Manhattan

简简单单的家常菜 还有好吃的便宜小吃 Simple and Delicious Homecooked Food and Inexpensive

Do they sell any frozen wontons? If so, do you remember what flavor(s) they have? I liked the wontons at White Bear in Flushing but it is just too out of th way sometimes :(

bearmi in Manhattan

Taiwanese restaurants near Bellevue, Washington

Thank you!! I am from Taipei too (via California and the Midwest in my teens and twenties..). I will have to check out this place. The food items sound authentic :)

bearmi in Greater Seattle

Taiwanese restaurants near Bellevue, Washington

Hi Guys,

I will be visiting Seattle in a couple of weeks from the NYC Metro area. I am intested in eating at Taiwanese restaurants near Bellevue, where I will be staying. Do you guys have any suggestions? I know Dintaifung is there so it's already on my list of places to go if my local friend is interested in going. Are there other places you have in mind? Please let me know. Thanks in advance!

bearmi in Greater Seattle

Hunan Manor: real Hunanese in Murray Hill?

Thank you. This place is centrally located for me. I will have to check it out!! The Chinese news article stated that they make their own smoked meats so I guess I will have to check that out. I am sure that many of you will be going there before me. If you happen to order their smoked meat dishes, can you let me know if it is very salty? Thanks.

bearmi in Manhattan

Please suggest Chinese restaurant near E.80's or E.90's with great food and decent sized portions.

I don't hang out in that neighborhood anymore but I remember a few years ago Chinatown East (1650 3rd Ave, between 92nd & 93rd St) served decent Americanized Chinese food and overall it wasn't bad. I actually kind of like their noodle soup. Not sure if there has been management change or changes in their kitchen the last few years though. Another place I remember is "Chef Ho's" (1720 2nd Ave, btwn 89th & 90th St). They are sort of calling themselves a "Peking Duck Grill" these days. I remember it was popular with families and served some of the dishes you have posted (such as mu shu pork and lo mein).

Everyone's taste is different but you can give them a try and see if they meet your expectation. Again, like a lot of other posters say, there aren't that many great Chinese places in this area except for Wa Jeal but if you are interested in Chinese American dishes that has decent size portion you can check these two places out. Please let us know what you think... and perhaps there will be others who can give you some other suggestions.

p.s. If you don't mind venturing south a few blocks, you might want to try Cafe Evergreen (1288 1st Ave at 69th St). It's in the 60's but their food (although not 100% authentic like Szechuan Gourmet) is decent too.

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Chef Ho's
1720 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10128

Cafe Evergreen
1288 1st Ave, New York, NY 10021

Chinatown East
1650 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10128

Wa Jeal
1588 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10028

bearmi in Manhattan

Sushi Azabu - The Best Deal for Quality Sushi in Manhattan

Sorry.. I have never been.. but I plan to go next month for my B-day with friends :) I am trying to order some Sushi along as well so I can check out the food from both restaurants at the same time :) I will let you guys know what I think.

bearmi in Manhattan