One of the things I've always liked about Ann Arbor is the selection of
restaurants--especially Chinese restaurants.  At one point, I counted
21 Chinese restaurants in the AA/Ypsi area.  Since then, I know that
one has opened up at the Courtyard Shops and another is scheduled to
open in the old Ponderosa on W Stadium.

So, tell me about the Chinese food you've had lately.

130 responses total.

Last week, I got daring and ordered one of the specials at Dynersty--the 
Hokien-Style Wonton Soup.  For $4.50, they served me a huge bowl of
soup with wontons, noodles, and some Chinese vegetable.  It was
excellent!

If you ask me, Dynersty is one of the best deals in town.

I like Chef Jan's restaurants. The Empress on main street is my 
favorite Chinese restaurant of all, but it's not cheap.
His other, the China Gate (South U at Church) is more reasonably
priced, although higher than Dinersty. I prefer the food to
Dinersty's, but I don't disagree that Dinersty is a bargain.

I also like the Great Wall (around the corner on Forest).

There's a new take-out place on east of the Kroger's on
Washtenaw in Ypsilanti.  But I haven't tried the food
yet.

I think Chef Jan sold China Gate, so his only current restaurant is The
Empress.   Like srw, I also like the Great Wall, but not nearly as much as
the Empress.

He remodeled the China Gate, but the new look failed, so he went
back to the old format. I don't think he sold it.

If you like spicy Hunan food, check out the Hunan Scallops in
China Gate. MMmmmm. (Over $10, but worth it.)

Our favorite is Forbidden City East, on Washtenaw in Ypsi. 

I've always wanted to attend a Chinese takeout potluck where everyone
brings their favorite entree from their their favorite Chinese 
restaurant.  Label the boxes and let everyone get a good sample of
Chinese around town.

I'd bring Orange Beef from Middle Kingdom or Champagne Chicken from
the Empress.  Yum.

That's a good idea.  Wish I'd thought of it!

I'll bring this up again after the holidays when everyone again
has a few free weekend evenings.

I noticed another new Chinese restaurant on Washtenaw between AA and
Ypsi.  It's across the street from the Don Carlos Mexican restaurant
and called China Express or something like that.

I think that's the restaurant which used ot be Forbidden City East.  My
favorite in town is Empress and I love the Crispy Shrimp dish (S-8).  Someone
told me that they had one of the best Chines meals ever in Chelsea at a place
called Chinese Tonight near Polly's market.  Anyone tried it?

The restaurant at Washtenaw and Golfside has been Forbidden City East,
but it has just been purchased by the manager, and will be called
Emerald City. (I asked, and he did not know about the OZ stories.)

RE 12: Chinese Tonight is good. Nothing exceptional, except the lines to
        pick up your order.  They are either way understaffed or really
        disorganized. The unique thing is that they are probably the only
        Chinese restaurant within 20 miles of my home.

Steve, wouldn't Saline be closer to Manchester than Chelsea?
If so, there is a pretty good Chinese restaurant on Michigan
Ave, called The Golden Mushroom (or something close to it).
We've been there a number of times and found it quite good.

It's in the little strip mall on the east side of Saline beside
Leutheuser's Restaurant.  Yes, it is quite good, but if you go,
be careful and don't start laughing uncontrollably.

Er, we did one time, and the wait and kitchen staff all had 
then check us out, peeking from behind doors and such.

Tsk, tsk.  Can't take John anywhere.

Was it the MSG in the food that set off the laughing fit????

RE 15: As to distance it's very close. Chelsea is about 15 miles from home
        and the restaurant in Saline is about 20 I think. Hmm, this
        sounds like a candidate for "now what can I do on my commute into
        work this time?":) ( I drive right by the Saline restaurant.) 

RE 16: As to laughing, I don't remember anything in particular. For some
        odd reason, most Chinese restaurants seem somewhat depressing to me.

I forget what it was we were laughing about -- nothing to do with the
restaurant per se, I think.  But the waitstaff found our behavior
amusing.

Why depressing?

Dunno. Must be those years in the bamboo cages of the Mekong Delta?
Oh and it's 16.8 miles to the Golden Wok and about 12 to Chinese Tonight, but
only if you live at my house.

Gack!  Bamboo cages?

Geometry tells us (if one makes certain simplifying assumptions) that
there are two points at those distances from the restaurants, unless
your house is on a straight line joining them.

John, assuming your assumption was that the distance was measured in
a straight line, then I agree with your assertion that there are two
places that shf's house could be located. I dod not follow that
part about the straight line between them. Those points would
involve shorter distances.

Isn't it shameless the way we highjacked a Chinese Restaurant item to
talk about math?  :-)

Wouldn't be the first time.  :-*)>

If shf's house is on a straight line joining the restaurants, *and*
the straight-line distances are as he stated, then the two circles
whose centers are at the restaurants and pass through his house
are tangent, with a single point of intersection.

*Please* somebody get this item back on Chinese restaurants before
we kill again.

I think I've had it with Christmas-type food.  I think I'll go to Dinersty
for lunch tomorrow.

Yeah, the christmas season should be symbolically closed on say January 2nd
with a dinner involving roast rack of reindeer.

(this is now linked from aaypsi to kitchen)

Is that 21 Chinese restaurants, or are you including Korean, Thai, etc.?

Chinese restaurants only.

Wow.

 Has anyone noticed any Caucasian employees of Dinersty, or are they all
Mongoloid?

They do have at least one Caucasian employee.  You'll love this, Tim.
The guy's got a nose ring.

I like the Golden Chef between Dexter and Jackson off Stadium.  Their
food seems to be a little fresher than that at Dinersty.

Golden Chef is our favorite place for carryout -- good food, close to
home.

They can even adapt if you don't want MSG or lots of salt on your food.

I'm a big fan of both Golden Chef locations.  Yummy!

There is a second?  Where?

Golden Chef Vegetarian is located on Packard, a bit south of Stadium,
two buildings south of Big 10 Party Store.  They're vegetarian at dinner;
both veggie and non-veggie foods are available at lunchtime.  Their lunches
are an excellent deal: under $5 for soup and a neato tray of your entree,
rice, egg roll, fruit, and a fortune cookie.  And all the tea you can drink.
Yummy!  :)

- Backtalk version 1.3.30 - Copyright 1996-2006, Jan Wolter and Steve Weiss