57 new of 130 responses total.
Dinersty is willing to leave out the salt for us, I expect they could learn to add more hot stuff for you.
I live in the metro detroit area but go to ann arbor alot one of the intresting things in Orental Resterants I have noticed is that The Chinesse Buffet Style resturants. You can have fun mixing and matching what you want to eat. In down town detroit There is a restrunt called Tai Chi's They are cool they have tai food and chinessse food and have jazz and blues music.
(Re 73: I think you meant "Gourmet Garden on Stadium near Liberty".)
Went to San Fu (A^2, South Main Market) with a friend this evening. Not as good as i recall from a few years ago, and my friend (who eats out Chinese much more than i) was not favorably impressed. );
San Fu remains my favorite Chinese Delivery. They're quick, reasonably cheep, and i love their beef fried rice. What more can you ask for? :)
My 5 year old son and I went to Szechuan West on Saturday. He's pretty stubborn about his Chinese restaurants and likes a buffet place in Adrian best, but admitted the General Tso's Chicken at Szechuan West was great. (We got it mild.) I think we're going to take my parents there the next time they come to visit. They're just learning about Chinese food from their new small-town Chinese/Polish/American restaurant and the buffet I mentioned, and need to expand their horizons.
There is also a Chinese buffet place in Westgate or Maple Village, something with the word Garden in the name. We found it singularly lacking in garden-type foods (heavy on the meat, few vegetables). Lots of batter-fried things.
Went to Gourmet Garden (W. Stadium north of Liberty) with a "church" group Sunday. Very nice service; good food, prices, & atmosphere. Many of the (older) group though very well of the food (i'm uncultured and/or blind to "really good" Chinese cooking...or maybe it's just not my thing). Enjoyed a lovely walk home (~70 minutes).
I like Great Lake -- it's very authentic (we've gotten opinions from Hong Kong experts), and the food is great as long as you order the Hong Kong-style stuff. Americanized and Szechuan dishes (e.g. General's Chicken) are okay, but I don't find them exceptional. Recommendations: Beef Tenderloin with Black Pepper, Salmon with Garlic, Pan-Fried Noodles with Seafood (Beef is also good), Braised Noodles with Black Mushroom (this one can be made vegetarian), Mixed Seafood with Spicy Salt, whole fish in any sauce (for the adventurous), Roast Duck, Shrimp with Honey Walnuts.
Great Lake used frozen vegetables in their buffet. We never went back.
I don't eat the buffet, and buffets aren't a good indication of a restaurant's quality in my experience.
I don't like most Chinese buffets. They always run out of the best items; many items are often left sitting out for too long; I'm not much in favor of eating anything that 20 other people have poked through anyway. Naturally my son's favorite food in the world is Chinese food from a buffet. Darned kid...
He's a'ight by me.. I love Chinese buffets. Granted, there are a few places around my area that are simply buffet, and nothing but; but I remember one in Yakima that *was* really good. The food was served on catering dishes with Sterno burners instead of a steam table, and it was much better quality than most buffets I've seen. I'm sure jmsaul is right by his comments in resp:84, but from what I could tell, the menu items looked quite a notch above the typical Chinese place, too.
We like the large selection in buffets, and the fact that we can pick out the vegetables and leave the meat behind so this also increases the selection. Sometimes people help by picking out the meat and leaving us the vegetables. I don't know of any good Chinese buffets in or near Ann Arbor, but Hong Kong Inn says if we cannot find what we want in the buffet they will cook us something extra. They did this twice when there were only meat dishes there, and just brought our vegetables straight to the table. This is essentially an all-you-can eat price of our choice of dishes (they know we will not pick any of the expensive (meat) dishes).
Eating dishes where the meat has been picked out and the vegetables left behind in not eating vegetarian let alone vegan. The meat enzemes are in the entire dish not just the pieces of meat.
Re #87: I'm not sure there's any point in you and I swapping restaurant
recommendations, honestly. I just don't think we're from the same
planet.
We are not religious vegetarians. The point is to eat low on the food chain, not to have the restaurants throw out vegetables because they have been 'tainted' by association with dead animals and the meat eaters won't eat them because they have no meat with them.
At least you said "eat low on the food chain." Some friends of ours once told us they were trying to "get lower on the food chain," and we teased them mercilessly about what kind of predators they were planning to get munched by.
Mosquitos.
Yeah, but that happens already.
I'll throw in a comment about Great Lake Seafood. My brother in law has eaten in chinese places around the world, and said it was the best chinese meal he has ever eaten. I'll go to Dynersty when I'm working downtown for a quick lunch, but Great lake is where I go for a top quality dinner.
We tried their lunch buffet several years ago and it was awful - the vegetables were frozen, not fresh. Dynersty uses all fresh vegetables (or dried mushrooms). Dan, I hear you are trying to start up the lunchtime meetings for self-employed people again - is this related research?
I had lunch at Great Lake yesterday. I couldn't taste the crab in the "crab cheese Rangoon", but the Mongolian beef and the rice were good. :)
The one time I ate at Great Lake, I was underwhelmed. I haven't been back, but maybe I'll try it again.
I've not been to Great Lakes in awhile (they have little to offer veggies), but their shrimp is always perfectly done. We've always been impressed with them!
Ok, I'm looking for an all-you-can-eat Chinese buffet in Ann Arbor/Ypsi area. What is your recommendation?
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I can't think of the name off the top of my head and I've never been to it, but there's one on Washtenaw Ave in Ypsi, just past Golfside, on the right [KMart's on the left]. I'd say its probably within the first 1/4-to-1/2 mile past the interesection. Nearby is an Asian grocery store [that I haven't checked out yet, either].
I'm looking for "quality versus cost" and "variety versus cost" comments. Got a hungry 20 something to feed.
Dynasty, about $6.50 each for lunch, on Washtenaw Ave, has more than the standard fare, including things like daikon salad, fried plantains, and a lot of vegetable dishes, and has a good reputation. Supper costs more and includes crab legs. On the west side of Ann Arbor near K-Mart i (Westgate) is 'something Garden' which is salty and mostly meat.
The place Denise is refering to is China Buffet II. We feel that the quality is much, much better than Dynasty which is referred to as Die Nasty at work.
I think i've been to the China Buffet II (if its the one next to the Arby's), I stopped in and stuffed myself silly. Pretty decent selection in the buffet for the price.
China Buffet II is probably the best Chinese buffet in the area. It's not next to Arby's, it's on Washtenaw east of Golfside. It used to be Hunan Garden. A number of people have told me that they got less-than-fully-cooked food at Dynasty on Liberty. There's another Chinese buffet on Washtenaw, west of Golfside, across from the entrance to Spicetree. That one is also called Dynasty. Some people rave about it, but I always liked China Buffet II better. Keesan is right, though...China Buffet II is not very vegetarian-friendly, if that's a consideration for your group of 20+.
re #106 are we talking about the same place? http://homepages.wmich.edu/~j4castee/buffet.jpg http://homepages.wmich.edu/~j4castee/inside_buffet.jpg
The place on Liberty is Dinersty, not Dynasty. They are not connected. We have had both horrible service and unacceptable food at Dynasty Buffet. The food is ineptly prepared, not kept at the proper temperature, unevenly cooked and spiced and not logically laid out. We have had battered foods where the batter was overcooked on the outside and raw inside. Things that are labeled spicy often have no spice at all. We tried more than once. We will not be back. China Buffet II, a couple miles up Washtenaw and on the other side of the street is much better.
I've got a bunch of meat eaters. Sounds like China Buffet II is the answer. I remember the buffet place that used to be next to Arby's. The space is now a mobile phone store, I think.
re #109 Sounds like China Buffet II is the answer I dunno...you might want to reconsider their restaurant inspection report versus Dynasty's... CHINESE BUFFET II 2905 WASHTENAW YPSILANTI, MI 48197, Washtenaw County Inspection date: 3/16/2006 -EMPLOYEES FOUND TO BE PREPPING READY TO EAT FOODS WITH BARE HANDS. INCLUDING ORANGES, LEMONS, CUCUMBERS. BARE HAND CONTACT IS PROHIBITED WITH READY TO EAT FOODS. -SOUP FOUND COOLING IN 5 GALLON CONTAINER IN THE WALK IN COOLER. TEMPED AT 75 DEGREES F. COOLING FOR MORE THAN 2 HRS. POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS MUST BE COOLED RAPIDLY FROM 140 - 70 DEGREES IN 2 HRS AND 70 - 41 DEGREES IN AN ADDITIONAL 4 HRS. CORRECTED BY DISCUSSION AND PLACING INTO FREEZER TO RAPIDLY COOL THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME TO 41 DEGREES F. -OPEN CUP OF TEA FOUND ON THE MAKE LINE TO BE CONSUMED BY EMPLOYEE. COVERED WITH OVERSIZED LID. OPEN CUPS ARE PROHIBITED. -BULK CONTAINER WITH SOAP FOUND TO BE UNLABELLED NEXT TO THE COOKING EQUIPMENT IN THE REAR. -THE DOOR TO THE PREP UNIT OPPOSITE THE FRYERS IS NOT CLOSING TIGHTLY. AT TIME OF INSPECTION DOOR WAS FOUND AJAR AND AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE OF THE UNIT WAS SLIGHTLY ELEVATED. -BAGS OF ONIONS AND ORANGES FOUND STORED ON THE FLOOR IN THE REAR DRY STORAGE AREA. ASSORTED CARTONS AND CONTAINERS OF FOODS ON THE FLOOR IN THE WALK IN UNITS. -BULK FOOD CONTAINERS NEED TO BE RELABELLED. THE WRITING IS COMING OFF AND THESE PRODUCTS ARE NOT PROPERLY IDENTIFIED. -THE CONDENSATE LINE IN THE WALK IN COOLER IS NOT WRAPPED IN INSULATION. -GASKETS ON THE DOOR OF THE REACH IN COOLER THAT IS USED FOR STORAGE OF BAGS IS TORN AND HANGING OFF DOOR. -MPLOYEE RESTROOM HANDSINK FOUND WITH A NEWSPAPER IN THE SINK BASIN. -ASSORTED FOODS FOUND UNCOVERED IN THE WALK IN COOLER, WALK IN FREEZER. FOODS FOUND IN WALK IN COOLER IN REAR COVERED WITH UNAPPROVED MATERIALS. -CARDBOARD FROM BOXES LINING SHELVES IN THE COOK AREA IS PROHIBITED. -IMPROPER THAWING OF ASSORTED POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FOODS INCLUDING SHRIMP, GROUND SEASONED BEEF, FISH. ALL FOUND THAWING AT ROOM TEMPERATURE. DYNASTY BUFFET 4675 WASHTENAW ANN ARBOR, MI 48108, Washtenaw County Inspection Date: 1/31/2006 -OBSERVED DIRTY CAN OPENER ON THE PREP. TABLE IN COOKING / PREP. AREA. -OBSERVED RAW CHICKEN MEAT STORED NEXT TO RTE FOOD(CHINESE DESSERT CAKE) ON THE SHELF OF WIC. -HAIR RESTRAINT NOT WORN ON HEAD -HANDWASHING FACILITY COOKING/PREPARATION ARE HANDSINK SOILED
dy-NASTY Todd, where do you find those reports?
re #111 Todd, where do you find those reports? See my re #100 (which apparently got ignored by most.)
ewwwww!
In this day and age, I'd take sanitary conditions pretty serious.
What vegetables does China Buffet II offer? Most buffets have ONLY green beans or only bean sprouts, plus iceberg lettuce, olives, shredded carrots and other American salad type stuff. We tried about 5 of them on our 3 week trip and one had at least 5 cooked vegetable dishes (Bloomington IA). We don't eat the fried/battered stuff anyway.
It's been awhile since discussing chinese restaurants in AA/Ypsi. My housemate and I were discussing this topic recently and we both agreed that we weren't crazy about the chinese restaurant in the strip mall on Whitaker Rd in Ypsi, near Aubree's [I think it's called 'The Great Wall?]. I wish it WAS good; I've only gotten food there once. But my housemate concurred with my opinion; stating that he found a piece of plastic wrap of some sort in with his food. Yuck. I noticed a couple months ago that the Chinese Buffet II [located on Washtenaw in Ypsi, next to the Asian Market] is no longer there; the building's been torn down. There's still some machinery on the lot like maybe they'll be something built in its space--but there hasn't been recent work, from what I can tell. I'm still looking for someplace good in the Ypsi area...
We've beem going to Paradise, in the Collonade Mall (883 W EISENHOWER PKWY). Chinese and Vietamese cuisine.
Is that the strip mall on the corner of Eishenhower and State St, across from Briarwood? Or maybe its the one further down past Main St? I'm out near Briarwood for an appt. each week so I may have to check it out someday.
The Collonade Mall is closer to Ann-Arbor Saline Rd. Across from Office Depot.
I dont eat Chinese Food in Ypsilanti too much but there are a couple of places that have pretty decent food. One is called China Chef. It is on Washtenaw in the same mall as the Secretary of State. The other is called Lucky's or something similar and is in that little strip mall next to the McDonald's that is near EMU on Huron River Drive. I havent eaten in either place in at least a year but both places have been in business for years (a good sign) and when I have eaten there, I havent had any bad experiences. Also, there is a Panda Express in the EMU student center which is ok too. Nothing to write home about or anything but it is pretty cheap.
Paradise, by the way, is a family business: the owners are there and serve. They are Vietnamese. Their daughter is in her rotations in medical school, and their son is trying to get into acting in Hollywood. It is like a classic American immigrants success story - so long as the recession doesn't hit their restaurant too hard.
Dear Ken,
Could we try Paradise as a debrief location one of these Saturdays?
I mean, how bad could Paradise be?
Sincerely,
Gladys Tanktop
Mention my name....
Speaking of chinese restaurants and a Saturday debriefing--rumor has it that this week's will be at the Evergreen Restaurant in the Plymouth Mall [the mall is located on the north side of Plymouth Rd, just west of Huron Parkway].
We may go food shopping this Saturday at the Chinese grocery store next door. The restaurant itself is possibly the most uninteresting Chinese one we have been to. Maybe it is okay for carnivores. The food store is the best in Ann Arbor. Dried shiitake by the pound, preserved duck eggs, dried tofu, unusual vegetables, jujube fruits (red dates), various noodles...
Though I've been to the restaurant [Evergreen] several times, I've never checked out the grocery store. Are they owned by the same people? I think I'm going to be in that neck of the woods tomorrow [my sister's in town and will most likely be at my brother's tomorrow through Sunday when she heads back to Chicago]--so I'll probably be seeing her somewhere along the line. I'll have to see if I can work in a visit to the Plymouth Mall, if I can work it in around noon.
I don't know if they are the same owners. The store is doing well and has expanded into several store fronts. They have a vegetable and a fresh fish section too, and lots of snack types stuff, and prepared dishes in the freezer. The other customers can usually explain what things are.
Evergreen is awful. I didn't like it even when I was a carnivore.
I've eaten there a few times and thought it was ok.
On my way home this afternoon, I noticed that the chinese place in the strip mall a few miles from my house was open today. If I had liked the food better the one time I had stopped there in the past-I would've been tempted to stop and bring home some food for dinner this evening. But I passed on the idea, saving the $$ for something else that would taste better and be more economical. Though there ARE a number of chinese places that give you a lot of food for the $$. At least there used to be; I haven't eaten at many since moving back up to Michigan.
You have several choices: