Top 5 lists for Chinatown

[mattohara]

I know there are already a couple of threads dedicated to Chinatown discussion, but I'd like to get succinct here. it would be nice if we could have a series of lists, one by each person, no repetition if possible, of the must-haves in Chinatown. I'm planning on multiple week-long outings where I sample one or two dishes in each place (I've already talked to a bunch of you about this!) And it doesn't matter if I've already been to a place, I'll go back for stuff I haven't tried. I'd like to try to find a consensus on the killer dim sum joint as well. So here's some stuff I've already chowed on:

1. Four Rivers - House Special Sweet Ham

2. Nan Zhou - Everything (or rather, anything with noodles in it)

3. Shiao Lan Kung - Crispy Dumplings

4. Szechuan Tasty House - Golden Coins

5. Chung King Garden - Cold Noodles, Allium Dumplings

6. Lakeside - Almond Bubble Tea

7. David's Mail Lai Wah - Scallion Sauce

8. New Harmony Bakery - Thousand Year Egg pastry

Stuff I want to chow on:

1. David's Mai Lai Wah - Salt and Pepper Squid

2. Four Rivers - Thousand Year Egg/Squid dish

So that's it, one person, one list. I'm planning this for next week. Any and all help is greatly appreciated!

EDIT: Tim, thanks, I already know about those other posts. Just looking for a list, 1 per person, of people's favorites. No, philadining, it does not have to be just five! I'm looking for a thread to be just lists, not the normal back and forth. It will be a concise resource!

Edited October 22, 2007 by mattohara (log)

[Tim Dolan]

I'll just throw in this link as a good starting point. I'm currently addicted to the Braised Beef Filet with Szechuan style from STH. I seriously think I've gotten it once a week for about the past 2 months.

http://forums.egullet.org/index.php?showto...05&hl=chinatown

[philadining]

I'm not sure I understand the rules: do you want just 5? Do you want one thing from each place? 5 from each place?

Anyway, just to get started, I'll do one selection from each place, my top 5 things to eat in chinatown, in no particular order.

1) Roast Pork noodle soup at Sang Kee.

2) Spring Ginger Salad at Rangoon.

3) Three Pepper Chicken at Szechuan Tasty House (although the Double-cooked pork, the braised beef, the golden coins and the cold chicken in spicy sauce are close runners-up. )

4) Hand-drawn noodles with ground pork at Nan Zhou

5) Barbecue platter at Vietnam

that's if we're sticking to five...

[KatieLoeb]

Lee How Fook - Hot and Sour Soup

David's Mai Lai Wah - Salt and Pepper Squid with scallion dipping sauce on the side; Beef and Boccoli Chow Fun with Satay Sauce;Whole Steamed Tilapia with Ginger Scallion Sauce

Pho Xe Lua - Beef Satay Soup with Pineapple; House Special Pho; Spring Rolls

Jade Harbor - Sliced pork with Bean Curd and Vegetable Soup; Lobster with Ginger and Scallion

Four Rivers - House Special Sweet Ham

Shiao Lan Kung - Oysters with Ginger and Scallion (bigger than your head!)

Edited October 22, 2007 by KatieLoeb (log)

[Rich Pawlak]

1. BBQ Platter at Vietnam (it's $25 now! wow!)

2. Sauteed pea shoots at Shao Lan Kung

3. Fried dumplings with scallion ginger sauce at David''s Mai Lah Wah

4. Thousand layer pancake at Rangoon

5. Hand drawn noodle soup with duck at Han Zhou

[philadining]

just gotta say I can't argue with anything on Katie or Rich's lists!

[MarketStEl]

This demonstrates how infrequently I dine in Chinatown and how badly my memory serves me, for I have participated in at least three wonderful meals with many of you and cannot for the life of me remember the standout dishes other than those Golden Coins at Szechuan Tasty House. (Well, actually, I can remember a pepper-and-<mumble> dish there that was so hot it had even me in tears -- gotta try that one again! -- but can't remember what it was called.)

However, since I am in the minority on the Vietnam-vs.-Vietnam Palace debate, I figured I should at least get a recommendation in for one of my favorites:

Vietnam Palace -- Tomato Crab Soup

Edited October 23, 2007 by MarketStEl (log)

[TarteTatin]

You're not in the minority, Market St. El- we are Vietnam Palace people too.

Their Jicama rolls are great.

Or Rice Paper with shrimp, you roll your own. Served with Mint, Daikon, Carrots, Bean Sprouts, etc. - delish!

Or, their 7 courses of Beef.

Of course, our favorite of all is the Han Zhou or Nan Zhou hand made noodle house. I almost always get the pork soy sauce noodles- with extra scallions. Or the peanut butter (or is it sesame?) noodles. And, their greens are great too.

[percyn]

Does anyone know of a place in or around Philly that serves Singapore Chilli Crab ?