I love the options for Japanese food and pizza in the area, but am wondering if there are any Chinese restaurants that are actually making and cooking the food? Everywhere I've gone it seems like they are defrosting and heating up packaged food. I'd love to sit down or call in and pick up a meal where there was some actual prep and cooking going on.
Are there any out there in the area?
Hey Miss Minda, Welcome to the hood. Simple answer No. Not here anyway.
Hmmm. Big City flavor with a neighborhood owner.
Silver Star on Blanding has been pretty good for years and now has Dim Sum available most times if you ask for the menu. Tumptin Thai on Roosevelt. Chung King, 2771 Monument Rd. (Arlington) and Cali Vietnamese R est. @ Hotelnotel University/ I95 5624 Cagle Rd. are the few I can think of.
We are the Orlando of Chinese organized hot takee outee wok n roll whatever money laundering .... I think all the buffets are also connected.
Please Jacksonvilians, show me a place I've missed!
Not a big of Pho Cali, and rejoiced when Bowl of Pho opened up.
Unfortunately, Hung Thinh closed recently.
Pattaya Thai is good, as an alternative if you like Tumptin.
World Food Mart on Beach Blvd also has a good lunch counter.
Mr Chans is decent... reminds me of all those sit-down places you find in Frisco.
Unfortunately, this is more of a Jax-centric list and nothing to do with Riverside/Avondale.
It's not Chinese, and it's not in Riverside, but I second Pattaya Thai.
Really fantastic place, and the owners are incredibly nice as well.
Quote from: fieldafm on December 28, 2011, 10:43:04 AM
Unfortunately, Hung Thinh closed recently.
Buck-up Field, they didn't close, just relocated. They opened up behind the Arby's across the street into their own building on their own land.
New Store, New Merchandise, Same Smell.
+1 for Silver Star, and though not strictly Chinese, Indochine downtown is really great.
Any opinions on the Pagoda on Baymeadows? I've driven past it many times, but have never eaten there.
How about Chopstick Charley's on Phillips? I think they're still open but I've always been way too terrifed of being dragged next door to the Joe Motel to be horrifically tortured and/or murdered to ever try it, regardless of how much I enjoy Chinese food/roadside Americana.
Riverside sucks for ethnic fare...long story short. No Vietnamese, no Thai, no (real) Japanese (but I guess I'm being unrealistic wanting L.A./NYC style Japanese), no Middle Eastern (sorry, Casbah is decent, but not nearly what people make it out to be), no Indian. The lack of ethnic fare on our side of town is, in my opinion, it's biggest downside.
Best Vietnamese in town: Bowl of Pho (probably best I've had outside of NYC or the West Coast).
Best Thai: Indochine (downtown), Tumptin (Roosevelt), Pattaya Thai.
Best Indian: India's Restaurant (Baymeadows--Lunch buffet is 10/10 quality, but selection is kind of slim), Flavors of India (also Baymeadows--quality isn't as high as India's Restaurant, but quantity alone makes up for it's downsides--they have about 35 dishes to India's 10).
Best Middle Eastern: Nora's Cafe (University Blvd & San Jose--best for meat pies, raw kibbeh Thursdays, hummus, tabbouleh), Karam's (University Blvd, near Beach--best for gyro's, grape leaves, okra, fried kibbeh).
Best Japanese & Chinese: the day I can utter the words "Jacksonville has good Japanese and Chinese food" is the day I've officially died and gone to heaven. If you want heavily Americanized Japanese, well, there's probably a dozen in Riverside alone. Chinese...well...kinda out of luck. I've heard good things about Silver Star on Blanding, but I've also heard it's greasy-as-hell.
Can't find good Korean, either.
I hear there's some good Filipino places, haven't tried any of them.
Quote from: L.P. Hovercraft on December 28, 2011, 11:29:48 AM
How about Chopstick Charley's on Phillips? I think they're still open but I've always been way too terrifed of being dragged next door to the Joe Motel to be horrifically tortured and/or murdered to ever try it, regardless of how much I enjoy Chinese food/roadside Americana.
Chopstick Charley's serves food!?!?!?! Figured it was an ex-crime-scene meets the Bates Motel. ONLY ENTER if you want to be raped and tortured, as the above post explains.
Quote from: L.P. Hovercraft on December 28, 2011, 11:29:48 AM
Any opinions on the Pagoda on Baymeadows? I've driven past it many times, but have never eaten there.
I've been to Pagoda and wouldn't recommend it. Was not all that clean the food was average.
PF Changs??
Truth of matter is that most americans can't handle authentic chinese food..you know like roasted ducks and pigs or fish served with the bone. The restaurant probably get sued if someone choked on the bone. Most doesn't even know what's a Bok Choy, which is like the most popular veggie in china..Well my point is there's SOME weird menu item in a authentic chinese restaurant that some americans find it unpleasant..
Quote from: Rynjny on December 28, 2011, 12:03:44 PM
Truth of matter is that most americans can't handle authentic chinese food..you know like roasted ducks and pigs or fish served with the bone.
I'm just being argumentative, but most southern, american food has bones in it. I've never had grandmas 'boneless' fried chicken. Uncle Mike never told me to gnaw away at the catfish becuase it was boneless. Hell, one of the best parts of a bone-in ribeye is getting the marrow out.
If you mean leaving the heads on, well, that's another story. Personally, I don't have a problem with it, but it definitely turns some people off. I'm the guy that eats the eye, not the one that covers it with a piece of lettuce. ;)
Honestly, I don't think the lack of authentic Chinese in Jax has anything to do with squeamishness or ignorance. I just think most of the guys who own these hole-in-the-wall, drug-front-esque places have done a cost/benefit analysis, and the money is in the dirt-cheap, shrimp-from-Asia, sesame chicken joints. You're going to be hard-pressed to find an owner that wants to hire more staff, cook more food, push carts around, and hire more chefs just to satisfy a few dozen "I want dim sum"ers.
Quote from: ben says on December 28, 2011, 12:30:15 PM
Honestly, I don't think the lack of authentic Chinese in Jax has anything to do with squeamishness or ignorance. I just think most of the guys who own these hole-in-the-wall, drug-front-esque places have done a cost/benefit analysis, and the money is in the dirt-cheap, shrimp-from-Asia, sesame chicken joints. You're going to be hard-pressed to find an owner that wants to hire more staff, cook more food, push carts around, and hire more chefs just to satisfy a few dozen "I want dim sum"ers.
+1
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on December 28, 2011, 11:26:26 AM
Quote from: fieldafm on December 28, 2011, 10:43:04 AM
Unfortunately, Hung Thinh closed recently.
Buck-up Field, they didn't close, just relocated. They opened up behind the Arby's across the street into their own building on their own land.
New Store, New Merchandise, Same Smell.
What??? Cari texted me the other day they had closed. Wow, this is great news! Think I might swing by this weekend for some bahn mi!
QuoteKaram's
Karams on Hodges/Beach is pretty fantastic.
it would be nice if jacksonville have some kind of asian/china town in its downtown..
The only place to get any authentic Chinese food anywhere in the southern US is on the Buford Hwy Atlanta. Sorry.
Quote from: fieldafm on December 28, 2011, 12:50:32 PM
QuoteKaram's
Karams on Hodges/Beach is pretty fantastic.
Haven't been to this location. Would love to check it out.
Quote from: Rynjny on December 28, 2011, 12:56:54 PM
it would be nice if jacksonville have some kind of asian/china town in its downtown..
HAHA
Quote from: fsujax on December 28, 2011, 01:01:32 PM
The only place to get any authentic Chinese food anywhere in the southern US is on the Buford Hwy Atlanta. Sorry.
Went there last weekend for Dim Sum. Fantastic...also worth going to near there is the Dekalb Farmers Market. Wow.
Quote from: MissMinda on December 27, 2011, 11:30:06 PM
am wondering if there are any Chinese restaurants that are actually making and cooking the food? Everywhere I've gone it seems like they are defrosting and heating up packaged food. I'd love to sit down or call in and pick up a meal where there was some actual prep and cooking going on.
Are there any out there in the area?
I grew up near San Francisco Chinatown, and so I know what you mean! You might want to check out China Joy on Margaret St/Five Points--two doors down from Starbucks. They have an open kitchen--you can see them chopping and woking madly away. I don't think they use defrosted/heated up food. I have seen their stacks of shrimp in the kitchen too.
The menu is the standard pre-printed thing, but they will change it up for you if you ask. The young Asian guy with the pink hair is usually who will take your order. He and another young woman work the counter and speak English. They shout orders only in Chinese though, and your ticket will be in Chinese.
I eat take out from them about every week and overall am always satisfied.
Quote from: 5pointy on December 28, 2011, 01:33:46 PM
Quote from: MissMinda on December 27, 2011, 11:30:06 PM
am wondering if there are any Chinese restaurants that are actually making and cooking the food? Everywhere I've gone it seems like they are defrosting and heating up packaged food. I'd love to sit down or call in and pick up a meal where there was some actual prep and cooking going on.
Are there any out there in the area?
I grew up near San Francisco Chinatown, and so I know what you mean! You might want to check out China Joy on Margaret St/Five Points--two doors down from Starbucks. They have an open kitchen--you can see them chopping and woking madly away. I don't think they use defrosted/heated up food. I have seen their stacks of shrimp in the kitchen too.
The menu is the standard pre-printed thing, but they will change it up for you if you ask. The young Asian guy with the pink hair is usually who will take your order. He and another young woman work the counter and speak English. They shout orders only in Chinese though, and your ticket will be in Chinese.
I eat take out from them about every week and overall am always satisfied.
But that's like any other chinese take out restaurant, IE Wok and Roll, Hot Wok..they're not real chinese food.
Quote from: JaxNative68 on December 28, 2011, 12:32:23 PM
Quote from: ben says on December 28, 2011, 12:05:58 PM
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on December 28, 2011, 11:53:29 AM
Quote from: Rynjny on December 28, 2011, 11:52:31 AM
PF Changs??
+1
+2
-1 (bringing the current total to +1)
I'll take PF Changs over the MSG-drowned cheap Chinese food you find in most strip malls here in Jacksonville.
Even Panda Express.
The 904 isn't exactly a haven for authentic Chinese food.
Quote from: 5pointy on December 28, 2011, 01:33:46 PM
Quote from: MissMinda on December 27, 2011, 11:30:06 PM
am wondering if there are any Chinese restaurants that are actually making and cooking the food? Everywhere I've gone it seems like they are defrosting and heating up packaged food. I'd love to sit down or call in and pick up a meal where there was some actual prep and cooking going on.
Are there any out there in the area?
I grew up near San Francisco Chinatown, and so I know what you mean! You might want to check out China Joy on Margaret St/Five Points--two doors down from Starbucks. They have an open kitchen--you can see them chopping and woking madly away. I don't think they use defrosted/heated up food. I have seen their stacks of shrimp in the kitchen too.
The menu is the standard pre-printed thing, but they will change it up for you if you ask. The young Asian guy with the pink hair is usually who will take your order. He and another young woman work the counter and speak English. They shout orders only in Chinese though, and your ticket will be in Chinese.
I eat take out from them about every week and overall am always satisfied.
I also go to China Joy on Margaret, mainly because it's convenient. I, too, like how you can see that it's a clean kitchen and run by Chinese. That being said, everything I get from them seems to be pretty bland and dressed in their gooey/glue-like sauce they use. I tell them "please make it spicy," hoping maybe the spice will inject some flavor...only addition is a few chili flakes that get drowned out by the "sauce."
Quote from: KenFSU on December 28, 2011, 01:59:31 PM
Quote from: JaxNative68 on December 28, 2011, 12:32:23 PM
Quote from: ben says on December 28, 2011, 12:05:58 PM
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on December 28, 2011, 11:53:29 AM
Quote from: Rynjny on December 28, 2011, 11:52:31 AM
PF Changs??
+1
+2
-1 (bringing the current total to +1)
I'll take PF Changs over the MSG-drowned cheap Chinese food you find in most strip malls here in Jacksonville.
Even Panda Express.
The 904 isn't exactly a haven for authentic Chinese food.
I highly disagree. P.F. Changs
is identical to those cheap Chinese food places...take away the square-footage, the name brand, the million square feet, the high rent, and the snotty waiters, and go into their kitchen...I bet they use the same ingredients China Joy does. Last few times there I've actually gotten pretty sick from their sauces and their meats. It's not a good sign when a restaurant brings three complimentary beef and chicken dishes to the table. The quality is so poor and the prices are so cheap, they're literally giving the food away! At least China Joy is cheap...
Quote from: KenFSU on December 28, 2011, 01:59:31 PM
-1 (bringing the current total to +1)
I'll take PF Changs over the MSG-drowned cheap Chinese food you find in most strip malls here in Jacksonville.
Even Panda Express.
The 904 isn't exactly a haven for authentic Chinese food.
I guess we can agree to disagree. I find the little hot-wok places to be on par with PFC (KFC?!?) with regards to the traditional rice/noodle based dishes. I haven't been in the storage area of either to really know where the ingredients are procured from, but flavor-wise.... not seeing a difference.
Quote from: Non-RedNeck Westsider on December 28, 2011, 02:14:41 PM
Quote from: KenFSU on December 28, 2011, 01:59:31 PM
-1 (bringing the current total to +1)
I'll take PF Changs over the MSG-drowned cheap Chinese food you find in most strip malls here in Jacksonville.
Even Panda Express.
The 904 isn't exactly a haven for authentic Chinese food.
I guess we can agree to disagree. I find the little hot-wok places to be on par with PFC (KFC?!?) with regards to the traditional rice/noodle based dishes. I haven't been in the storage area of either to really know where the ingredients are procured from, but flavor-wise.... not seeing a difference.
Hot Woks are so much better than PFCs, and cost way less..just not better service haha..
I have a friend who works at the PFC in Orlando...works in the kitchen. Told me a few months back that most of the food he works with comes from Sysco. The proteins come from China, and the fish/shrimp comes from factory farms from god-knows-where.
PFC is a restaurant/marketing exec's dream...pay the same for food, charge double or triple what your competitors are charging.
Hey Ben, Let's meet at Chopstick Charley's for lunch. I gotcha covered. After we flee there we'll go visit Joseph Karaam and his boys for some Bronx Middle Eastern. Mama and the girls run the Hodges location fyi.
The best Chinese food in Cleveland is buried in the serious hood. Open all night and once you get in the fenced area you are greeted by well armed e.european types employed by Mr. Chan who determine if you're staying.
Sometimes you gotta take a risk for a good meal.
Thanks for all the input. :) China Joy has our house memorized by now. We've even had them knock on our door for a delivery when we didn't order. LOL
I was just curious if there was something else out there, but it looks like I'll have to keep waiting.
Hubby and I ate at a Korean BBQ on University today and enjoyed it. The fact that almost 100% of the customers were also Korean gave me some confidence in the fare. We sat next to two older Korean ladies and had a great conversation about the food. They even insisted on sharing some of their meal with us. Overall a good experience.
Quote from: MissMinda on December 28, 2011, 08:42:24 PM
Thanks for all the input. :) China Joy has our house memorized by now. We've even had them knock on our door for a delivery when we didn't order. LOL
I was just curious if there was something else out there, but it looks like I'll have to keep waiting.
Hubby and I ate at a Korean BBQ on University today and enjoyed it. The fact that almost 100% of the customers were also Korean gave me some confidence in the fare. We sat next to two older Korean ladies and had a great conversation about the food. They even insisted on sharing some of their meal with us. Overall a good experience.
Where was the Korean BBQ on University? I know its a little off topic, but I love Cali Pho near University and I-95.
Quote from: floridaforester on December 29, 2011, 12:15:16 AM
Quote from: MissMinda on December 28, 2011, 08:42:24 PM
Thanks for all the input. :) China Joy has our house memorized by now. We've even had them knock on our door for a delivery when we didn't order. LOL
I was just curious if there was something else out there, but it looks like I'll have to keep waiting.
Hubby and I ate at a Korean BBQ on University today and enjoyed it. The fact that almost 100% of the customers were also Korean gave me some confidence in the fare. We sat next to two older Korean ladies and had a great conversation about the food. They even insisted on sharing some of their meal with us. Overall a good experience.
Where was the Korean BBQ on University? I know its a little off topic, but I love Cali Pho near University and I-95.
The Korean place is on University between Kennerly and Dean Road, in the same plaza as Hala Cafe and Taste of Thai. It's been a while since I've eaten there, but according to my brother who lived in Korea for several years, the food is authentic.
Yes, that's the one.