Good Chinese Food

[Doglegg]

Good luck Charlotte.

Feedback is appreciated since you understand UBS which means your taste buds and standards may closely match my own.

I am not so adventurous when it comes to money and food, although I will pay for mediocre when there are no other alternatives. At that point I know what I am going to get, the price I will have to pay and the empty feeling that 'making do' leaves.

I rate Panda Express or China Harbor above my Ding How experience of 15 or so yrs ago. It could be better, I await your report.

[foxyred73]

I am not a big fan of chains food and more an pasta lady

[Doglegg]

Ok Charlotte, you are officially back from vacation, I saw you hang your shingle out under advertisements.

In your opinion, did you find GOOD Chinese/Asian in San Antonio?

Enquiring minds want to know.

[Dunnfounded]

Golden Wok... Only place in SA for real dim sum. Enough said!!!!!

[Charlottehoney]

Yes I am back from Vacation and I can say I had fun!

Ok so the story begins day one with an attempt to go to Kim Wah on Bandera Rd. I should have paid more attention to the website because that restaurant has strange hours.
Monday — Friday 11:00 am - 2:30pm ( 2:00 pm - 2:30 pm TO GO ONLY)
5:00 pm — 9:30 pm ( 9:00 pm - 9:30 pm TO GO ONLY)Saturday 11:00 am — 9:30 pm ( 9:00 pm - 9:30 pm TO GO ONLY)Sunday ** Closed **

I arrived hungry on a Thursday at 3:45pm and they were closed. The weird hours turned me off so I proceeded to Ding How on loop 410 and Callaghan. I missed the exit but from the freeway the parking lot looked empty anyway. Since these are on the other side of town from where I live I didn't make it back.

I did however make it to MaMa Fu's which is closer to me and the Pad Thai noodles were good but not what I was looking for. Plus I added some peanut sauce at my house so that may have made it better.

I ate at Aw Dang in Schertz. Super close and the Orange Chicken actually had orange pieces in it! I loved the dumplings but man it was a super long wait for them. Might as well order and go to Spec's for some plum wine. That's what I did. The ribs were good too. Rice was so so.

I will get to Kim Wah next week when I'm closer to that side of town.

More to come!

[satexasguy]

There are no "real" chinese food places here. The best thing to do is go with someone who is actually from China and go to a place that has actual chinese owners/workers. We had several business guests from china here lately and we took them to Beifang (close to I-10 and Huebner/Fred area). They talked to the owner and had specially made meals for them. It was excellent.

Now if you are talking about Chinese/American places then I like PF Changs.

[chubby]

Lien Hung 280 Remount. Eisenhower and Fratt Rd. area. Looks like a dump on the outside,but is clean and nice on the inside. Vietnamese food and Chinese. I've had the Vietnamese food and it's great. My buddy likes the Chinese and it looks good. Family run and customers are 80-85% Asian. Lots of military, too. The real deal in my opinion.

[Charlottehoney]

Originally Posted by satexasguy

There are no "real" chinese food places here. The best thing to do is go with someone who is actually from China and go to a place that has actual chinese owners/workers. We had several business guests from china here lately and we took them to Beifang (close to I-10 and Huebner/Fred area). They talked to the owner and had specially made meals for them. It was excellent.

Now if you are talking about Chinese/American places then I like PF Changs.

OK so I'm definitely with you there after this experience I had yesterday......

So I couldn't wait to for next week to eat at Kim Wah. I went Yesterday. I looked at the menu online in order to avoid surprises and on the menu they had a description that included the UBS calling it "Chef's Special Brown Sauce" and they also have a UWS or "Chef's Special White Sauce" I had to laugh to myself about it all.

I had Cheese Rangoon, Fried Dumplings (Charlotte's Favorite!) Hot and Sour Soup, and Sesame Chicken with Fried Rice.

Cheese Rangoon was dark brown and way over cooked as well as the Egg Roll. The fried rice had no vegetables or egg in it. It seemed like steamed rice with flavor. The Hot and Sour soup had no pieces of anything in it, it usually has Tofu and veggies. The sesame chicken was dry and looked day old. The sauce was actually dried to it leaving none in the bottom of the container to swirl the meat in. The dumplings, my favorite, were so overcooked and crunchy that I almost cut the roof of my mouth with one and the sauce for those tasted watered down. I will never go back here. I spent the better portion of the day getting here only to be really disappointed and I threw it away after a few bites.

I'll stick with Aw Dang on my side of town thanks. At least they make good dumplings.
Sorry Honeys but I tried.

And for those of you saying I told you so like satexasguy. I know ...I know

[NikkiWhite]

Texas has the worst chinese food I have ever encountered.

[Doglegg]

Originally Posted by NikkiWhite

Texas has the worst chinese food I have ever encountered.

Then you haven't tried Chinese in Mexico.

Lowers it to a all new low.

Charlotte, I tried to warn you.

If you want really mediocre Chinese try Formosa Garden, or any of the others that seem to be San Antonio favorites.

You have to be able to settle for Thai, Vietnamese, or Korean.

SA has become so inured to UBS that it's become the 'real' thing.

Normally if I have a hankering for Mongolian BBQ I go to Ghengis Khan on Walzem. You do all the selecting, they do the cooking.

If you like it a bit sweeter then next time you add more rock sugar water.

Not spicy enough? Next time add more pepper sauce.

Is it the best I have ever had? Nope, but it is as good as I'm going to get. And if I don't like it then it's my fault for adding more or less than recommended.

I went to Formosa Garden last week for the third time in ten years and I can guarantee you that the orange chicken and general cho's will taste the same. Isn't that comforting to know? Mediocrity at its finest.

Better luck in your quest, and let us know if there is a diamond in the rough out there.

Dogg