Thoughts on the best Chinese restaurants in NYC

[Dari]

I think there are 4 types of Chinese food. Cantonese, Sichuan, Shanghai, and Beijing.

Cantonese

My favorite Chinese restaurant is Congee. Best fried rice I've ever eaten and the best fried fish as well. Are there any others that are excellent?

Shanghai

Shanghai Joe comes to mind but that's about it. My wife loves it but I'm indifferent. Are there any others that are excellent?

Sichuan

Tried one today and was severely disappointed. Any that people would recommend?

Beijing

Never eaten food from Beijing but I'm willing to try something new. Any that people would recommend?

 

[JulesMaximus]

PF Changs

 

[MontyAC]

Check Yelp.

 

[Dari]

Check Yelp.

How do I look for these regional types of Chinese food?

 

[Lyfer]

Chicken feet dim sum = da best!

 

[Rumpltzer]

How do I look for these regional types of Chinese food?

Read.

Many Yelp reviews post menus.

 

[Dari]

Read.

Many Yelp reviews post menus.

Read what? Care to list some restaurants for the aforementioned regions?

 

[MontyAC]

http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=chinese+food&find_loc=New+York,+NY&ns=1&ls=b70450d2c48d4d62

 

[Lifted]

Read what? Care to list some restaurants for the aforementioned regions?

http://www.yelp.com/c/nyc/chinese

At the bottom of the page you'll see

Categories

Cantonese
Dim Sum
Shanghainese
Szechuan

 

[Dari]

http://www.yelp.com/search?find_desc=chinese+food&find_loc=New+York,+NY&ns=1&ls=b70450d2c48d4d62

Thanks but it's impossible to go beyond 'Chinese' on that website and I'm not interested in reading dozens or hundreds of reviews of a restaurant until someone mentions the type of Chinese food that's served there.

 

[Dari]

http://www.yelp.com/c/nyc/chinese

At the bottom of the page you'll see

Categories

Cantonese
Dim Sum
Shanghainese
Szechuan

I see. Do you need an account to see these?

EDIT: I don't need an account. But i Can't find any for Beijing. I guess it's not popular...

 

[dud]

OP, since you are obviously having first world problems here ... I present a solution for you:

PFChangs.

Their food basically sucks but you won't mind ...

 

[rh71]

you meant Joe's Shanghai - they're just known for their dumplings.

 

[quikah]

There are a lot more than 4 styles.

 

[alkemyst]

What's your budget? You seem like a Taco Bell type of guy.

 

[Dari]

There are a lot more than 4 styles.

What else is there?

What's your budget? You seem like a Taco Bell type of guy.

Funny, you're the one that mentioned budget. I would consider a place cheap if I spend $60 for 2. Expensive if it's more than $500. But these are more along the lines of French/Japanese restaurants, not Chinese. You can spend less than $80 at a an excellent Chinese restaurant and leave satisfied. No, I don't eat at Taco Bells. We have better options in New York. What I do wish we had was more cajun food. There was ACME at Great Jones place but, one day, they suddenly changed to some sort of romantic restaurant. Shocking and funny at the same time.

you meant Joe's Shanghai - they're just known for their dumplings.

Yes, you're correct.

 

[Rakehellion]

OP, since you are obviously having first world problems here ... I present a solution for you:

PFChangs.

Their food basically sucks but you won't mind ...

I think he's just trying to impress us with the fact that he knows four different kinds of restaurant and Google won't pat him on the back for his cultural depth.

 

[Ns1]

High end Chinese food = $$$ or $$$$, pretty much dominated by seafood restaurants. Live seafood ain't cheap.

 

[MontyAC]

I want to eat a succulent Chinese meal.

 

[alkemyst]

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/forkintheroad/2013/02/our_10_best_chi_3.php

http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2013/07/where-to-eat-best-chinese-food-new-york-nyc.html

 

[quikah]

What else is there?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_cuisine

 

[Dari]

http://blogs.villagevoice.com/forkintheroad/2013/02/our_10_best_chi_3.php

http://newyork.seriouseats.com/2013/07/where-to-eat-best-chinese-food-new-york-nyc.html

Hey, thanks. I'll pass it on to the wife.

 

[Dari]

I think he's just trying to impress us with the fact that he knows four different kinds of restaurant and Google won't pat him on the back for his cultural depth.

Hardly. It's my wife that told me about these different types. She likes to try different things. But there are so many Chinese restaurants in New York that I don't want to waste my time finding the best ones. THe last one we went to came highly recommended and it was not good. For me, once I find a meal that I like, I stay committed for years and years, eating the same thing.

 

[alkemyst]

Funny, you're the one that mentioned budget. I would consider a place cheap if I spend $60 for 2. Expensive if it's more than $500. But these are more along the lines of French/Japanese restaurants, not Chinese. You can spend less than $80 at a an excellent Chinese restaurant and leave satisfied. No, I don't eat at Taco Bells. We have better options in New York. What I do wish we had was more cajun food. There was ACME at Great Jones place but, one day, they suddenly changed to some sort of romantic restaurant. Shocking and funny at the same time.

Well budget is a key thing in these kinds of things.

I don't eat out much, however; our cooked meals are a bit pricey at the same time. She likes to cook, so it's premium cuts of meats, expensive cheeses, nice spices and other additions. It does make a difference over a frozen boxed dinner.

Plus with a nice home theatre, why go out to eat unless we are meeting friends/family.

That said her and I usually do a few breakfasts, lunches and dinners together and out during the week. Just a few days ago we spent $30 on breakfast when I had a late start to my day. It was all of about $10 if you made it at home, but it was a nice atmosphere.

We've spent almost $200 quite a few times on just brunch. Late start to a day and enjoy the sites we are relaxing at.

"average" date nights prior to Friday night grocery shopping are like $50-60 (however; we get a military discount usually so it's more like ~$40).

When we are really going out, with drinks and the like it's easy to be around $100-200.

 

[yuchai]

Ping's seafood in Chinatown is one of the better ones for Cantonese food.

Szechuan Gourmet in midtown is pretty good.

Have not had any good Shanghai or Beijing type food.

Overall, the quality of Chinese food is pretty mediocre in NYC (compared to for example Toronto/Vancouver)