9 Things To Look For To Make Sure A Chinese Restaurant Is Legit

[DaveAndAnastasia 2,101]

2 hours ago, TBoneTX said:

What does she say is wrong with it?

Dunno, but I thought most of the typical cheap takeout Chinese food menu items were actually invented in the US ....

[TBoneTX 47,504]

10 minutes ago, DaveAndAnastasia said:

I thought most of the typical cheap takeout Chinese food menu items were actually invented in the US ....

Unless it's authentic Dim Sum, this may well be right.  Will defer to experts on it.

[Dashinka 25,855]

49 minutes ago, yuna628 said:

I've had a hard time finding a Japanese place that is cooking actual authentic food too.

 

Next state over there is basically the Walmart for Asian food called Hung Vuong. Whatever you want you can find there and some of the produce is better than I can find in the regular grocery store.

We have an H-Mart locally, and some of their offerings are sourced from China, Korea and Japan.  We also have a smaller Vietnamese market not far from us, and it has a good selection of rice noodles, and other Vietnamese groceries.  The big issue is produce which is much harder to source from the home countries.

 

[Nywoek 130]

I had never heard of orange chicken or general tsos before I visited america. XD

We have a nice place in my hometown, but I am picky so I will often do the sweet and sour pork, lol.

 

Closest I have been to real chinese food was eating it in Hong Kong. But they used knuckles in the pork and I was not a fan. 🙈

[TBoneTX 47,504]

40 minutes ago, Nywoek said:

they used knuckles in the pork

They wanted you to knuckle under, N ma'am.   

[Dashinka 25,855]

On 3/25/2025 at 4:00 PM, Nywoek said:

I had never heard of orange chicken or general tsos before I visited america. XD

We have a nice place in my hometown, but I am picky so I will often do the sweet and sour pork, lol.

 

Closest I have been to real chinese food was eating it in Hong Kong. But they used knuckles in the pork and I was not a fan. 🙈

I always love it when food/meals are labeled generically as Chinese, Mexican, Brazilian, etc.  The food in those countries are immensely diverse from region to region.  Food in the Shanghai area is different from Beijing which is different from Sichuan, etc.  I suppose people sample some fares, and then label it generically.  Another great example is Thai, as compared to Vietnamese, as compared to Cambodian, as compared to Hmong.  There is a lot of differences in those cuisines.

[Boiler 47,472]

 

[TBoneTX 47,504]

16 hours ago, Dashinka said:

I always love it when food/meals are labeled generically as Chinese, Mexican, Brazilian, etc.  The food in those countries are immensely diverse from region to region.  Food in the Shanghai area is different from Beijing which is different from Sichuan, etc.  I suppose people sample some fares, and then label it generically.  Another great example is Thai, as compared to Vietnamese, as compared to Cambodian, as compared to Hmong.  There is a lot of differences in those cuisines.

Very true.  Around here, Sichuan is typically specified, but not the other Chinese varieties.

 

Among all south-of-U.S.-border cuisines, only Mexican is spiced up, to my knowledge.

During visits to Ecu, I always had to bring along little restaurant packets of black pepper for any flavor at all.

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Oh -- a quick off-topic diversion regarding south-of-border:

https://ifunny.co/picture/will-a-latina-be-the-death-of-you-si-yes-GlSeRN628?s=cl

 

Edited April 5 by TBoneTX

[JoooonMoi 37]

On 3/25/2025 at 1:44 PM, yuna628 said:

I've had a hard time finding a Japanese place that is cooking actual authentic food too.

 

Next state over there is basically the Walmart for Asian food called Hung Vuong. Whatever you want you can find there and some of the produce is better than I can find in the regular grocery store.

Have you tried Temari Cafe in Rockville? If not, please give it a try! There is also a tiny grocery store upstairs called Maruichi Japanese Grocery. I believe both establishments are owned by Japanese folks.