Decent chinese food in PDX?
I know, I know - it’s nearly impossible to get good Chinese food in Portland. Or so the legend says, anyway (bolstered by the tons of people who come from Elsewhere and rave about the decent chinese food you can find Elsewhere in comparison.)
And yep - it’s definitely a quest that requires fortitude and plenty of due diligence - especially as Chinatown as we know it decamps for 82nd street (see Hung Far Low), or old standbys lose whatever luster they might have possesed at one time (House of Louie, I’m talking to you.)
Sure, there’s Sungari - if you want highbrow Chinese (and are willing to pay for the privilege.) There’s Wong’s King out on Division and SE 87th (especially for dim sum.) But if you’re looking for some notch above the rest cooking that’s just a few minutes away for the average PDX resident - an ‘everyday’ Chinese restaurant, if you will - I’d argue that you can’t go wrong with Saigon Noble House on S. Macadam (in the John’s Landing area.)
I dragged friends there on my recommendation one Christmas Eve - the friends (who were skeptical about my recommendation, especially since they were recent NYC transplants) were pleasantly and unexpectedly surprised; they’ve now made it a yearly ritual.
Ditto everyone else I’ve brought there - including (as of tonight) my very opinionated ex-NYC-resident ex-husband. My daughter is already a fan - says it’s her ‘favorite’ restaurant, raves about their won ton soup, and managed to try potstickers for the first time there. Plus, they make their own almond cookies in-house, you know.
Tonight is typically the night my ex takes the kids for dinner. Thanks to a sleepover gone bad (note to any other parents of teenagers: cut the wireless network and confiscate the cell phones at a reasonable hour), my cranky sleep-deprived son bailed on dinner - and it was suggested that I join the excursion and suggest a restaurant.
So it was off to Noble House for us, where the ex raved about the generous portions, the child managed to try moo shu chicken, and we left with plenty of leftovers for the still-sleeping teenager without breaking the bank.
I don’t even think I’ll be hungry in an hour..
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I don’t know if it’s remotely authentic, but the food at Mars Chinese Cuisine in east Vancouver is damn good. They usually have coupons on their website for free crab puffs or wontons.
Grr… stupid movable type stripped the link… Mars’ website is http://www.marscuisine.com/
So do they have Vietnamese food, too? Are they an ethnic Chinese family from Vietnam like many of the places that serve both, like Thien Hong, the new Sam Ho, and the like?
Our local browncoats group had one of its recent monthly shindigs at Shanghai Noble House. Service was a little frenetic, but the food was pretty good.
Shanghai Noble House is very good, and we recommend it. Thien Hong, and Zien Hong, too. All wonderful. (Not addressing Vietnamese food here; that’s a slightly different category.)
As it turns out, we have in our close company a Chinese-American friend. His parents operated restaurants and groceries in Southern California. Oddly, when it comes time to eat out with him, he more often than not wants to eat at the Pagoda in Hollywood. It’s not fancy, and it’s dreadfully out of style.
But when Mr. Wong comes to town and wants Chinese, that’s where we always go.
Go figure.
(By the way, we ALWAYS get good service there. Having the Wongster there probably helps.)
if you have yet to dine at zien hong on 55th and Sandy you need to check it out. i have always thought they have the best chinese food in town..
We are big fans of Shen Zhen on 82nd just N of Glisan - the best crab puffs anywhere in town and you get to watch your food swim before you eat it!
Wong’s King Seafood Restaurant at 8233 SE Division. DELICIOUS, fresh, clean, huge menu, fast, packed all the time, great dim sum!!
Wong’s King Seafood Restaurant at 8233 SE Division. DELICIOUS, fresh, clean, huge menu, fast, packed all the time, great dim sum!!
Two words: boiled chicken feet. Can’t say I’d recommend them but there’s a place out in Beaverton that serves them. Here’s a link all about it.
While visiting Long Beach, CA, I came across a chinese restaurant that served anything on the menu vegetarian style. I guess they used soy to make orange chicken, kung pao chicken…you name it…and it was good! Does anyone know of a similar place in Portland?
Soy chicken?
And that, my friends, is why I eat meat.