Something different in Chinatown

rachael / April 6, 2007 10:00 AM

Ah! Their tea smoked duck is the best - good call. I also can't get enough of the spicy cabbage they bring to the table when you sit down. Dang I'm hungry...

Gino / April 7, 2007 7:29 PM

"Lousy Chaan," as we refer to it among my friends in family, is tremendously overrated as is Joy Yee's, as evidenced by the proportion of Chinese to non-Chinese in those places. The service is terrible and on the occasions I've been there, downright hostile. Recommend Spring World's Yunnan influenced cuisine at the other end of the mall, the new KS Seafood, which is Taiwan-based, almost kitty-corner from Lousy in the mall, or Mandarin Kitchen, which I think is Shandong/Beijing-influenced, two doors down from Phoenix, for your northern fixes, but, here in Chinatown, the (Chinese) South Shall Rise Again.

Gino / April 7, 2007 7:33 PM

Also, owing to the influx of professionals from Taiwan to the western suburbs in the post-1965 era, I'd also say International Mall in Westmont, for more Taiwanese goodies, especially Sunday when everyone and their family seems to flock there for noodles and starchy goods. =)

paul / April 8, 2007 11:09 AM

interesting... when we were there there were only a couple of non chinese in the restaurant. but in any case i'm not sure how that would be evidence that the restaurant is overrated.

also, in my experience there the service has always been very friendly.

Gino / April 9, 2007 10:21 AM

Service aside, which on every occasion I've been there was brusque at best, hostile to the point of ripping a menu out of our hands while we were still reading it, we agree that tasty is as tasty does!

Without being disagreeable, I would also say that in a city which is divided along ethnic and racial lines as ours is, and given I am a local resident of the neighborhood, and my daily observations of what non-natives order traditionally in Chinese restaurants, that I tend to be suspicious of restaurants that draw a larger non-Chinese crowd, and also that I have a strong preference for restaurants that are frequented more by natives than non-natives as a test of authenticity. It is what it is.

paul / April 9, 2007 10:45 AM

again, i can only disagree with you on the service.

but i wonder: are you at all concerned that these attitudes of yours might be perpetuating the racial and ethnic divisions you mention? your version of agreeableness doesn't exactly make me want to go back to chinatown anytime soon...

Gino / April 9, 2007 10:28 PM

Heh. It's just food, folks. 8D

You really think I could give a pile of chilis if you come back or not? I'm not looking for your approval. In the long term it matters little what you or I think. The attitudes and divisions in this city, the daily conversations people have amongst themselves about how they choose to see, think, and talk about people in different parts of the city will persist whether you and I mouth liberal platitudes towards race and ethnicity. I'm just pointing out what I see as a local from this neighborhood. You know. The one you happen to be "a little disappointed with." I'm just saying. Not to say that you're not enlightened cause you choose to eat the more "exotic" foods. They're certainly not exotic to us. But if that is your enlightenment, well. Maybe you could do a little soul-searching of your own. . .

Again, it's just mapo dofu, folks. No need to get your panties in a bunch. =)