Jasmine Garden

Posted on 2006/03/03 by .

Jasmine Garden, 8106 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA, 703-208-9989, actually on Gallows Rd. next to the 24-hour Safeway at Rt. 50. [Washingtonian | City Paper]
I know what you’re thinking: “I’ve discovered so many wonderful new Chinese places in the last few years I don’t need another one.” Well, you are wrong. This place looks too yuppy and draws a business crowd for lunch. But many of the dishes on their Chinese menu — which you must ask for separately — are petty good. Get the chicken with three peppers, and then experiment on the Chinese menu. Their non-special dishes are often above average, too. The menu has some Thai and Japanese items as well. Plus they have a piano, with occasional performances of, get this, operatic arias.

Related Posts:

Posted in Chinese, Virginia | 1 Comment

Lo’s

Posted on 2006/03/03 by .

Lo’s, 3075 Nutley Street, Fairfax, VA, Pan Am Shopping Center, Fairfax, but very close to Vienna Metro, 703-280-2897 [Citysearch]
Suburban Chinese through and through, and will not satisfy those looking for the real thing. But one of the best of its kind in the area. Will consistently satisfy. The Bird’s Nest is especially good, as is the Lamb of Two Flavors. It’s hard to go wrong here, as long as you don’t expect real Chinese food.

Related Posts:

Posted in Chinese, Virginia | Comments Off on Lo’s

Miu Kee

Posted on 2006/03/03 by .

Miu Kee, Rt. 50, just east of Annnandale Road, 6653 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA, 703-237-8884 [Washingtonian | City Paper | openlist | Citysearch]
Real Chinese food, for Chinese. Family atmosphere, homey, comfortable. I like the soy chicken on rice, and the pork on chowfoon, very soggy but yummy. Not everything here is great, but none of it is bad, and the wise orderer can make a great meal. Cheaper than most, too.

Related Posts:

Posted in Chinese, Virginia | Comments Off on Miu Kee

Lucky Three

Posted on 2006/03/03 by .

Lucky Three, 5900 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA, 703-998-8888 (formerly Fortune, then Maxim, now renamed but has it ever changed?) [Washingtonian | City Paper | Citysearch]
Above average, but it is too close to my other favorites to get major air time. A big dim sum place.

Related Posts:

Posted in Chinese, Virginia | Comments Off on Lucky Three

Fortune

Posted on 2006/03/03 by .

Fortune, web site

The most varied selection of Dim Sum in Northern Virginia, in terms of variety, but not actually my favorite. Not fully consistent and now overpriced. And the new quarters are simply too huge, more suitable for a Chinese wedding, which is in fact what they are used for. By no means a bad restaurant, but I go to Mark’s Duck House for dim sum.

Related Posts:

Posted in Chinese, Dim Sum, Virginia | Comments Off on Fortune

Peking Gourmet Inn

Posted on 2006/03/03 by .

Peking Gourmet Inn, web site, 6029 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA, 703-671-8088 [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Citysearch | Gayot]
An old hang-out for conservative Republicans, like George Bush Sr. and Norman Schwarzkopf. Excellent Peking duck, no advance notice required. The other dishes vary greatly, but if they use lots of garlic, or garlic sprouts, they are probably excellent. I love the Peking Chicken Wings and the leek dumplings. It often pays to go for the fatty and disgusting here, rather than the light and appetizing. Just keep in mind that many dishes here are mediocre. This is an old-style Chinese restaurant, in the sense that the help is surly and rude. But the food does come in time, which is the important thing.

Related Posts:

Posted in Chinese, Virginia | 1 Comment

Kam Po

Posted on 2006/03/03 by .

Kam Po, 5884 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA, 703-578-4017 [City Paper]
They have Chinese dishes and Peruvian dishes, with mutual influence running both ways. Visitors to Lima will be familiar with the concept, the place is run by Chinese Peruvians. An interesting novelty, and reasonably good, but it doesn’t beat trying either cuisine pure up.

Related Posts:

Posted in Chinese, Peruvian, Virginia | Comments Off on Kam Po

Mark’s Duck House

Posted on 2006/03/03 by .

Mark’s Duck House, 6184-A Arlington Blvd., Wilson Center 1, Falls Church, VA, 703-532-2125. Hard to see from the road, on Rt. 50 just east of Rt.7, north side of the street, look for the CVS. Usually opened. web site, [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Citysearch | Gayot]
A real Cantonese restaurant, replete with hanging ducks in the window and everything. Get the crispy pork, and also some variant of the noodles. I love the tofu as well. I am less enamored of the duck and chicken, but this is an excellent restaurant, and very authentic, in the hands of a wise orderer. It’s also very cheap, so take advantage of the prices to order many items. Great dim sum too.

Related Posts:

Posted in Chinese, Dim Sum, Virginia | 2 Comments

Tempt Asian Café

Posted on 2006/03/03 by .

Tempt Asian Café, 6259 Little River Turnpike (just west of where 395 hits 236), Alexandria, VA, 703-750-6801 [Washingtonian | WaPo | City Paper | Don Rockwell]
Update June 2006: The prize-winning chef who used to be here– Peter Chang — is now nowhere to be seen. Some of the dishes here are less complex, but this remains a Sichuan restaurant and still better than the average Chinese place. Future decline may be in order, we will see.
Get the Dan Dan Noodles (it gets better as you dig in), the Scallion Chow Foon, the Dried, Minced Beef in Hot Pot, and the appetizer with fish and cilantro. After that go with the specials. Ignore the American menu. The parking lot, while it always has spots, is an exercise in frustration.

Related Posts:

Posted in Chinese, Virginia | 5 Comments

The Oriental Regency — now closed?

Posted on 2006/03/02 by .

The Oriental Regency, 8605 Westwood Center Drive, Vienna, VA, 703-827-9066, usually open, directly across from Shamshiry (see Persian), behind the American Cafe on Rt.7 [Washingtonian | City Paper | food-plan | openlist | Gayot]
Update April 22, 2008: Phone disconnected, commenter says it is closed.
The chef has come and gone many times, so now you take your chances. But I have heard it is in an upswing again. They do have genuine Chinese items on the menu, like jellyfish. Reasonable prices as well, although the decor and staff are a bit cold.

Related Posts:

Posted in Chinese, Virginia | 3 Comments