Made in China-Call To Readers

I’ve become quite disenchanted with the state of Chinese food in the Capitol region.  I’m stuck wandering between my two favorite places, Chinois and the Mandarin.  The Mandarin is steady, predictable and delicious and Chinois is hit and miss depending on what you order.  Every other Chinese joint in town either offers cheap, greasy, floavorless fare in unappetizing surroundings or skips all pretenses and goes straight to buffet.  What am I missing?  Where, oh faithful reader, should I go to experience fine Chinese cuisine and not grease noodles with grade D meat chunks thrown in?  Where is the fine hot and sour soup, the glazed duck and top rate general’s chicken?  And if anyone says “P.F. Chang’s” I will punch him in the throat.

17 thoughts on “Made in China-Call To Readers”

  1. have you not tried Fortune House? that is some top grade General’s Chicken–i think his name is Tsao.

    Shang Hai Garden is another favorite of mine…great pot stickers and they deliver.

    Mayflower? New Canton?

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  3. Heng Fat on Gerber (between Stockton and Power Inn) has some pretty good food. I don’t know about their duck, but eveything I’ve had there has been delicious. My current favorite is their sesame chicken (fried white meat chicken bits tossed in a tangy sauce). In the past, I’ve binged on the general chicken, kung pao chicken, chicken w/ snow peas and mongolian beef (they put mushrooms in the mongolian beef — something I’ve not seen too often).

    Their service is generally fast and attentive, but there have been times when the kitchen would seem to be overwhelmed by the volume of their takeout orders. It has a small dining room – about eight booths with seating for four along the walls and a couple of tables in the middle that would accomodate larger groups.

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  4. Stop, Egg Drop and Bean Curd Roll down to:
    HoiCin (http://www.hoicin.com/)

    http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=oid%3A39016

    Delicious food…and they deliver for FREE to the boondocks (where I just happen to live!). The Hot and Sour soup is AWESOME! Sac-Eats…check out the online menu for the Honey Walnut Chicken…you might die and go to heaven!!! I have had it and it didn’t really appeal to me, but I have no prime directive to coat all food stuffs I consume in mayo.

    If that doesnt work…what about the Chicken Terriyaki Rice Bowl at Red Robin??

    Seriously..HoiCin. I promise.

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  5. When we lived in Sac we regularly went to Luau Gardens in Rancho Cordova. That was some time ago but we enjoyed the variety. Are they still in business?

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  6. Frighteningly enough, a friend of mine used to work at the Luau Garden. Let’s just say that I won’t be going there any time soon after the many fun anecdotes he relayed about the place.

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  7. Ah, com-on…give us all just a little juicy morsel (get it) about Luau’s. Something you can’t get into any trouble…or not too much trouble…you can’t leave me hangin’ on that remark of yours!

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  8. Bleh, The Fortune House is terrible.
    New Canton is good, but a little pricey. Dim Sum on the weekends is a winner.

    By and large, I am severely disappointed with the quality of Chinese food in this town, but the wealth of great Japanese, Thai, Cambodian and Vietnamese makes up for it.

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  9. I think 7 out of 10 Sacramentans would agree with me that Fortune House is not “terrible.” And if so, I think that would make an excellent banner at Fortune House: “7 out of 10 Sacramentans agree: We’re Not Terrible!!”

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  11. Good point, man. It really is becoming something of a stereotype, especially in California. But it’s not the case with all Asian cuisine. When I think of Thai or Vietnamese or Japanese food, I think fresh meats and vegetables, white tablecloths and spicy sauces. When I think about Chinese food I think about grease coated starches, chain smoking opium addicts bent over molten hot woks and rat feces in a sweet and sour glop.

    Oh, and where is this Fortune House of which you speak?

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  13. I used to go to Sing Hing over by Sac Magazine and Ivy House – but they’re either remodeling or all out done with us over on this end of town, haven’t been able to get in there lately. Now I faithfully eat at China Cafe on J Street (near Bon Lair). They have a yummy walnut shrimp – AND – they deliver! Still greasy though… (mmmm)

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  14. The Sing Hing over by Sac Magazine is “under new management” and has been renamed “Bo Bo” something. I’m not sure if it’s Bo Bo Cafe, Bo Bo Chinese Restaurant or just plain Bo Bo. I went in there a couple of weeks ago on a Saturday evening to pick up a menu and the place was empty. The prices have gone up. No longer do they have the Dinner for Two for $10. (The Far East Cafe on Freeport near Fruitridge still has a $10-range dinner for two).

    The last time I was in Sing Hing, the daughter who served us didn’t give any hint that they were going to be leaving. My guess is that their lease was up and that the property owners were going to double their rate. From what I know, the mom and dad who ran the place were able to put their children (who all took turns working the dining room) through college on all that low-priced wok action.

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  15. Good to know, thanks Norm. Ahhh, good to see the American dream in action sometimes isn’t it? Anybody else upset that the family who owned Sakurabana restaurant on Capitol and 19th left? That Tony roll was the best!!!

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  16. RE the former Sing Hing:

    The new name of the place is actually “Po Po Garden”, not Bo Bo as I previously reported. Also, I tried the General Chicken combination plate (hot and sour soup, pork fried rice, chicken chow mein, egg roll, cream cheese-filled fried wonton and of course, general chicken). It was $7.95. The general chicken had a different flavor than what I normally expect, but it made my mouth very happy. My dining companion ordered an almond-chicken combination plate (same stuff minus the wonton) which was also very good.

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  17. i love chinese food & i personally think hoisin serves probably the best chinese food in sac, their mogolian beef, honey walnut shrimp & the smoke sea bass are my favorites & if u are a big eater, they also have a pretty decent all u can eat thing too for something like $14-15 per person.

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