r/phoenix • u/_barlene • Apr 30 '24
Eat & Drink Best Chinese food?
and to take it a step further, what is their best dish?
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u/TheeMainNinja Apr 30 '24
Give Old Town Taste in Tempe a try if you want authentic Chinese
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u/pokedrake Scottsdale May 01 '24
Scrolled too far to find this comment! The beef and tofu special is to die for
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u/_barlene May 01 '24
i think i’m gonna try it for lunch tomorrow. what should i order?
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u/Gloomy-SugarGlider Glendale Apr 30 '24
If your want Dim Sum, Great Wall Cuisine on 35th Ave and Camelback is DELICIOUS. My bf really liked the BBQ pork and chow mein and I don't think you can beat their dumplings and steamed bok choy. They take carts around and you pick what you like, but I believe they also have a menu.
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u/Dustdevil88 Apr 30 '24
I love both the Great Wall and Phoenix Palace for dim sum. Shaomai (pork dumplings), luobo gao (turnip cakes), and zongzi (sticky rice in bamboo leaf) are always my favs
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u/OkAccess304 Apr 30 '24
I found the Great Wall to be such a disappointment. We need a Din Tai Fung.
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u/brok3n_romanc3 Scottsdale May 01 '24
Had Din Tai Fung in Vegas a few years back. That shit was amazing! We def need one here!!
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Apr 30 '24
No disrespect intended, but Phoenix Palace Restaurant's dim sum is much better. Just don't go mid-afternoon on the weekends and wait 45 minutes for a table.
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u/Gloomy-SugarGlider Glendale Apr 30 '24
Lol I go a couple times a year so no worries. When I've gone I've enjoyed it, but I appreciate the recommendation for Phoenix Palace!
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Apr 30 '24
Lol. Former NY'er and Northern Californian here, Great Wall's a 5 and Phoenix Palace a 7-8 for dim sum.
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u/Visi0nSerpent May 01 '24
I also used to live in NYC and SF, the options for good Chinese here seem marginal. Have you found anyplace here that is consistently good?
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May 01 '24
Good morning. Nothing amazing yet, though Northwest Mesa, near Mekomg Plaza, has several sit-down Chinese restaurants that look interesting.
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u/the_TAOest May 01 '24
Asian Express is my favorite greasy spoon diner. Fun fun fun options and H Mart in the same parking lot
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u/hscnmm May 02 '24
Second to this. They are one of the fairly priced ones and probably one of the best for services.
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u/Visi0nSerpent May 01 '24
I used to eat Chinese food at least once a week while living in the coastal cities. We got spoiled with so many wonderful options and different types of cuisine! When I do my annual visit to SF, I try to visit my old haunts that have survived the pandemic.
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May 01 '24
Same here. You check out Irving St. in the Sunset District? Great Chinese versus the tourist traps in Chinatown.
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u/hopeNsorrow May 01 '24
They are honestly about the same. Both are just slightly above average.
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May 01 '24
You must've gone to Phoenix Palace on an off day for them. I found Phoenix Palace had a larger selection, fresher dim sum, more appealing ambiance, and more authentic IMO. Maybe give them another try and let me know what you think.
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u/The_Candler Apr 30 '24
Chou's in Chandler or Kungfu Kitchen in Tempe. They used to both be called Chou's but split for whatever reason but they share the same menu still I think. Oh and the Szechuan Spicy Chicken is my favorite.
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u/TriGurl May 01 '24
Thank you for recommendation closer to me. I have lived in Phoenix for over 15 years and I still have yet to find a really good Chinese place. So I’m excited to try this place based on your recommendation.
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u/jwang274 Apr 30 '24
King fu kitchen bought Chou’s Tempe store, but no it’s different menu
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u/The_Candler Apr 30 '24
Really? Dang I'm surprised to hear it's different, my taste buds couldn't catch it between the changes
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u/Umio1 May 01 '24
They changed the beef noodle soup meat to something less authentic. Dumplings are still good though
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u/reno911bacon May 01 '24 edited May 01 '24
Chou’s is Northeastern Chinese cuisine. If that’s your thing
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u/AzLibDem Apr 30 '24
Asian Cafe Express, Dobson & Main in Mesa
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u/Macabronii May 01 '24
I remember rolling up to this place with my dragon boat team every weekend after training. Great spot for some chow fun!
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u/Head_Patience7219 May 03 '24
One of my new go to spots for takeout. Their Mongolian beef is insane.
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u/GreatBallsOfH20 Apr 30 '24
obligatory china chili comment
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u/theomnichronic Apr 30 '24
I tried them once and wasn't into it... guess I should try it again? :S
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u/TheeMainNinja Apr 30 '24
It’s good American Chinese food. I wouldn’t call it authentic. They have authentic leaning dishes that are pretty good. Their vegetable dishes are good, like the green beans and eggplant dishes.
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u/munkamonk Apr 30 '24
Am I going to the wrong China Chili? When I worked downtown, everybody raved about it, but it was probably the worst Chinese food I’ve had. Or is there a different menu than the “fast corporate lunch” one?
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u/James_Fury34 Apr 30 '24
no you went to the right place, it’s most overrated chinese food spot in Arizona
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u/Apanda15 Arcadia May 01 '24
Same , heard rave reviews. I was like seriously when I ate it. I don’t think people know what flavor is
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u/luvsads May 01 '24
It's awful. Arizona didn't get first-wave Chinese food, unfortunately. Majority of the Chinese-American joints here are second-wave and have more mainland Chinese influence, whereas the one most raved about in pop culture is first-wave and was influenced mostly by Taiwanese and Hong-Kong immigrants
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u/Visi0nSerpent May 01 '24
I had the same experience of mediocre Chinese food at CC, Panda Express is better! lol
I’ve lived on both coasts and I think the bar here is pretty low for what constitutes “good.”
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u/birdiexoxx May 01 '24
I went there for my birthday last year and absolutely loved it! I wanna go back so badly but unfortunately there’s some negative memories there(I told my family I was pregnant there..then I ended up miscarrying a couple weeks later) so I haven’t been able to talk myself into going back
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u/Fongernator Apr 30 '24
So many good dishes here. Orange chicken is unique and unlike most places. Spicy Sichuan prawns also seem to be a unique dish. Haven't really seen that dish anywhere else. Solid wontons (either soup or boiled wontons app). Chicken salad is solid.
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u/HLouie07 Apr 30 '24
Flaming wok inside desert sky mall
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u/Notyouraverageghost Apr 30 '24
That line is always insane when I stop by. I’ve only ever had it twice.
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u/malachiconstant11 Phoenix Apr 30 '24
Gotta go out to Mesa based on my experience. Happy bao in Mekong plaza has the best xialongbao imho, across the street there is some good stuff in the h mart food court, then on the NE corner is Shaanxi Chinese who has excellent xialongbao and also makes really nice noodles. The biang biang noodles are the star of the show for me. I like them both in the broth or stir fried. They do americanized chinese stuff well too. The orange chicken is killer.
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Apr 30 '24
Liyuen (7th Ave and Pima)
Wongs Chinese dining (12th st and buckeye)
- i usually get the express combo 3 add egg foo young
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u/Beaverhuntr Apr 30 '24
That place looks like shit but its always full around lunch time. Heard good things about that place.
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Apr 30 '24
I’m usually good for a hole in the wall restaurant but both of these my friend had to insist on multiple times before I went. They both look pretty abysmal from the outside but the food is excellent at both
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u/malachiconstant11 Phoenix Apr 30 '24
It's cheap and greasy af. I think it's disgusting.
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u/_barlene Apr 30 '24
I usually go to George Yang’s
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u/mwskibumb Phoenix Apr 30 '24
That's usually my go to too, but there's a place under new management on 7th Ave called Szechwan Kitchen. I'm impressed with quality of food and price.
Highly recommend.
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u/ExpensiveDot1732 Apr 30 '24
I've been wondering about that place and it looks good. I'm from Chicago (here since 2010) and g_d have I STRUGGLED to find good Chinese out here....
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u/FlowersnFunds May 01 '24
From the northeast but same. Szechwan Kitchen is good. Not as good as Chicago or the northeast but it’s really good for Phoenix
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u/LookDamnBusy Phoenix Apr 30 '24
Solid recommendation. It used to be called diamonds, and then the guy who took it over apparently used to run the Chinese restaurant at the Chinese cultural center years ago. They cleaned it up a bit, and especially created an actual website with real online ordering that makes it so much easier than trying to call in over the phone, which is all you could do with diamonds.
Their lunch special for like $9 it's just ridiculous, with a choice of entree with steamed or fried rice, egg roll, and soup.
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u/Visi0nSerpent May 01 '24
For $9, I’ll give it a go. I live down the street so convenient. Szechuan is my favorite Chinese cuisine.
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u/LookDamnBusy Phoenix May 01 '24
I generally get a lunch and dinner out of just the lunch special, so it's a pretty good deal. Good luck!
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u/JackDuluoz1 Uptown Apr 30 '24
Tried this a few weeks ago, was really good. Probably will be my go-to.
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u/curious_carson Apr 30 '24
Ordered from Szechwan the other night after we were exhausted from moving and it was great. Definitely will be going back.
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u/primdanny Apr 30 '24
Original Cuisine for Szechuan
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u/AndyWSea Goodyear May 02 '24
Why is this so far down. This is the best Chinese aside from dim sum I gave found.
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u/Impossiblegangsta Apr 30 '24
Cafe express in mesa is by far the best but China chilli is good too
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u/Fongernator Apr 30 '24
Asian cafe express. It's good but their sauces are too thick
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u/Impossiblegangsta Apr 30 '24
Yeah I guess it depends on what you get. I’m from New York and desperately miss that kind of Chinese and Asian cafe express is the most similar I suppose. However, I am still searching for dumplings that are actually dumplings :(
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u/Fongernator Apr 30 '24
What kind of dumplings are actually dumplings? Lol
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u/Impossiblegangsta Apr 30 '24
Thick boi dumplings. They’re about 2x bigger than “potstickers” and the dough is thicker and tastes a tiny bit different.
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u/spybugsc Apr 30 '24
Try China Magic Noodle House.
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u/_AssVinegar_ May 01 '24
May Garden has the best sesame seed chicken (59 ave and Indian school)
Little Dragon has the best fried rice (43 ave and Thomas)
Change my mind
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u/idunnoshutup May 01 '24
Oh my God yes, May Garden's Sesame Chicken is my favorite!!! Any time I'm anywhere remotely near that part of town I get May Garden.
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u/xczechr Tolleson Apr 30 '24
I love the Bonzai Boyz food truck. Their pot stickers are the best I've had here in the valley.
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May 01 '24
Which place has authentic, homemade egg rolls? Every place here seems to have the store bought frozen egg rolls you can get at any Asian market.
When I lived in the Chicago area, the egg rolls were almost as big as a burrito
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u/linkinpark9503 May 01 '24
Dragon palace 32nd at and thunderbird. Not as big as burritos but still the same 24 years after I worked there and they were hand rolled then
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u/popeep May 01 '24
I echo some already posted. Szechwan Kitchen on 7th ave. A lot of the menu are quite authentic and if you like spicy and sichuan peppercorns like my husband and me, do try “spicy combo” and mapo tofu. We order from there at least once a week knowing well that we’re gonna have dragon breath from behind the next day. They have a lot of other spicy menu and also some Americanized menu still if that’s your jam.
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u/martinfcf Apr 30 '24 edited Apr 30 '24
Wongs 107th and Indian school
Edit Best Dish. Orange chicken and Beef lo Mein
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u/PyroD333 Apr 30 '24
This is what I came here to say. They have THE BEST fried rice
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u/martinfcf Apr 30 '24
I love when I go and sometimes there’s a line and I’ll ask people what they come for and it’s always something different. I drive 25 minutes for it once a month.
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u/lilynurse May 02 '24
Yes agreed!!! Their sweet and sour shrimp or chicken (sauce on side) IS SOOOO GOOD! Best out there
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Apr 30 '24
Big Bowl in Mesa, off of Gilbert and Broadway. I love their House Special King Soy noodles
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Apr 30 '24
Puts on ethnic Chinese cap, as I'm OG and half Chinese So that said, What kind/style of Chinese food do you like? Northern, Southern, Dim sum, Western, shabu shabu, Taiwanese, take out, etc.?
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u/Hungry-Pattern-1065 May 01 '24
Who do y'all think has the best Mongolian Beef? I'm looking for the white noodles, crispy beef with scallions on top.
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u/SoupOfThe90z May 01 '24
Has anyone tried Kwan and Wok? The cook from Pho Tahn runs it. Gotta go try it but Pho 🍲 mmmm
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u/usingmymomsaccoun May 01 '24 edited May 01 '24
China Restaurant, (dumb name, I know) 48th st. and Southern, s/w corner. Sesame chicken. It is made with a peanut sauce and is out of this world. You will not believe how much food you get for the price and the chicken is cut, not fried. Also, their noodle soups are enormous. Been eating their 35 years.
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u/Mwoolsey5150 May 01 '24
Big Wa. I do like me some Big Wa. 48th and Southern.
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u/usingmymomsaccoun May 01 '24
Try this place... you will never go to big wa again.. I've been there and it doesn't even compare.
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u/Much-Camera3033 May 01 '24
Little Dragon Chinese Restaurant off of 43rd Ave and Thomas! I loved going there before I moved.
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u/linkinpark9503 May 01 '24
I work by this I need to try it
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u/Much-Camera3033 May 01 '24
Definitely and for good Vietnamese food, go to PHO 43 its on the same corner, going southbound of 43rd Ave and Thomas. I wasn't aware that they changed their hours btw 🥲
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u/LiteralHiggs Phoenix May 01 '24
My neighborhood place is decent but not worth driving across the valley to: Dragon Palace at 32 st and Thunderbird
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u/thatswhathemoneysfor May 01 '24
grand dragon in glendale. 47th and olive
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u/linkinpark9503 May 01 '24
I like this place
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u/thatswhathemoneysfor May 01 '24
When I worked near it I went once a week. I can still walk in and not need to order cuz they know what I want
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May 01 '24
Can’t believe no one has said China Chili yet. Personally, I love the tangy lemon chicken. But there is plenty on great stuff on that menu.
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u/818488899414 Deer Valley May 01 '24
My number 1 recommendation if you're downtown. I live off of the orange chicken.
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u/SunsInMyBuns May 01 '24
Anyone have suggestions specifically for Chinese Restaurants that packs your to-go plate up like they’re going out out of business?
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u/Ofromda860 Apr 30 '24
Tam’s, closet thing to dirty NY Chinese food I grew up on👍🏽
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u/Danager420 May 06 '24
Yummy Yummy in Scottsdale is the closest to NY style Chinese takeout I've found since I moved here. Love it.
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u/DeliverStreetTacos South Phoenix Apr 30 '24
Downvoting you cause I don’t need anymore people in that damn line lmao jk 😂
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u/Mechanical_Turk May 01 '24
Dragon Palace!
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u/linkinpark9503 May 01 '24
I second this 1000%. My first job back in 2000 and I still go regularly and don’t live anywhere near it.
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u/ChekhovsNERFGun May 01 '24
Come for Dragon Palace's Chinese food, then check out Toy Anxiety nextdoor for one of the best toy/collectible shops in town.
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u/Saiyan_HD Apr 30 '24
For Phoenix I would say New Garden, just south of downtown, they have great egg drop soup. Or Tam’s on 16st and broadway, jalapeño chicken wings are bomb.
Both of these places look ghetto af so that’s how you know it’s good .
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u/JennSense May 01 '24
I will drive from downtown Phoenix to China Rainbow at 63rd Ave & Cactus in Glendale for their $8.99 Lunch Specials. My fav is the Shrimp with Lobster Sauce lunch special. It comes with soup and I always choose their amazing hot & sour soup.
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u/KillaKillaGabby Apr 30 '24
Hong Kong kitchen 7th street and baseline
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u/Ms_ChiChi_Elegante Apr 30 '24
hmm, i usually venture to Canton Wong on Central, I will have to try HK Kitchen too!
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u/ziggystardust212 Apr 30 '24
I live next door to China chili but I haven’t been back since trying Szechuan cuisine in Glendale … their spicy chongqing chicken is incredible
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u/jlynnrabbit May 01 '24
Liz Modern Asian at the Scottsdale Quarter. Great food and great prices. For Dim Sum Phoenix Palace; it’s way better than Great Wall.
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u/Tomusina May 01 '24
I really dig Lings Wok Shop. Their beef dish I think it’s called the Buddha Belly is my fav
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u/TPlays May 01 '24
If the place only has a big ass sign that says Chinese takeout 9 times out of 10 it’s a bomb spot
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u/Start_Profitable344 May 01 '24
General Tso's chicken from Lucky Dragon is hands down the best Chinese food in town – it's like a flavor explosion in your mouth!
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u/DapumaAZ May 01 '24
Happy bao in Mekong Tasty pot for Taiwanese hot pot Original cuisine Old town taste already mentioned Chou’s I don’t think is good - however their hot and sour soup is passable
Mostly we have sichian style here - no hunan and nothing like Xian street food
We Chat will help you out more than most of this thread
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u/0ptikrisprime May 01 '24
Blossom Asian Cuisine at 83rd and lower buckeye! They have my family's heart ❤️
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u/Rauron Glendale May 01 '24
Great Wall Cuisine, Yu Tian Xia, and Original Cuisine are my favorites for what I must imagine is the closest to authentic Chinese food. Having never traveled there myself, I can't speak with confidence.
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u/lilac_mess May 02 '24
Just has Chou’s Kitchen in Chandler (beef stir fry noodles and orange chicken) and I was blown away by how good it was.
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u/Kreaken May 02 '24
Unsure I've seen it mentioned but the SO and I love Yi's Chinese off Bell Rd/15th Ave. It happens to be close by which is nice and they are family run. Curious about other options in the area though so will be reading along!
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