This does not exist in Jacksonville.
Either Peony Asian Bistro or Blue Bamboo. Everywhere else is crap.
Does anyone else remember the Silver Dragon off of Rojero Rd. way back in the day? Man that place was so good.
Chopstick Charley's on Philips Highway.
Peony Asian Bistro:
(http://s3-media2.ak.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/Uqbs8fRx-cBt75gmcUnPuA/l.jpg)
(http://s3-media2.ak.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/eleIxXDcaieKBSiRpacaew/l.jpg)
(http://s3-media2.ak.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/E6MOxAfHuFxgzol2fgmIpg/l.jpg)
(http://s3-media2.ak.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/fEF1fnAhtheIKzTwr5D2NQ/l.jpg)
Blue Bamboo:
(http://s3-media2.ak.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/2v54XNVeB3dcFfFQ4qZjJQ/l.jpg)
(http://s3-media1.ak.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/tg87lOrMRSm51ya1pwTi4Q/l.jpg)
(http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/_t5edcIR2UlZd-Im1gvO_g?select=iAwSVkD7xlV6gWJq_G1F7Q)
(http://s3-media3.ak.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/uRaA1qvQ2WT7XxVe-HeH0g/l.jpg)
Ben says, is that a "no" to chopstick charley's? Have you been there?
Mr Chans:
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/44/1347675/restaurant/Southside/Mr-Chan-Asian-Cuisine-Jacksonville
Very clean, reasonable prices, and great lunch prices.
Chan's Chinese Bistro on Beach Blvd is pretty amazing. Just in a strip mall but it caters to an almost exclusively asian clientele and the food is always amazing when I'm there.
Quote from: konstantconsumer on March 16, 2012, 05:21:51 PM
Chan's Chinese Bistro on Beach Blvd is pretty amazing. Just in a strip mall but it caters to an almost exclusively asian clientele and the food is always amazing when I'm there.
Are we talking about the same place?
Quote from: TheCat on March 16, 2012, 05:09:41 PM
Ben says, is that a "no" to chopstick charley's? Have you been there?
I wasn't trying to be sarcastic. No, I've never been there. Been driving by that place since I was 5, and everytime I think "Bates Motel"....didn't even realize it was open?
Yeah, I go by it pretty frequently and I've only seen one car out front, had no idea it was still open. Is it still run by the same lady- Ms. Kitty, I think? Pretty funny though, my aunt worked at the bellsouth building on Emerson in the 80's and her co-worker swore it was the best chinese she's had outside of NYC.
Peony make good peking duck...its the closest authentic chinese food in jacksonville and I don't know why they never look busy in that place. Would be nice if they offer Dim Sum.
How's PF Chang's? No one mentioned it, so I guess that it's high priced and overrated. I get that it's a national chain, and not 'authentic' or whatever, because everyone knows that only authentic food is the 'holy grail' of eating or something like that.
I-10east, yes.
Quote from: I-10east on March 16, 2012, 09:34:07 PM
How's PF Chang's? No one mentioned it, so I guess that it's high priced and overrated. I get that it's a national chain, and not 'authentic' or whatever, because everyone knows that only authentic food is the 'holy grail' of eating or something like that.
Besides all that, it's like going to olive garden for italian, blech....
I'll be honest, I don't hate PFC. Don't love it either, I've only been two or three times. One thing they do really wells is their brown rice. The charred lamb thing they serve is pretty good as well. The first time I went there, the music was so loud that I honestly could not hear the person sitting across from me. I don't think I'd go there on my own but if someone wants to pay, I'll do it.
The pics from Peony look good, I need to give it a try. Menu seems different from a few years ago, back then I heard a couple of bad things about it. Don't think it was called Peony though. Been looking to try peking duck.
I don't think I'm really down for super-traditional chinese food to be honest. A coworker brought in some stuff and I found it pretty off-putting. The best way I can describe the steamed/boiled chicken's feet is a bowl of snot with tiny bones in it. I also can't stomach turtle, it's horrid any way you cook it. Trying to fight my way through it, he confessed that he couldn't stand it either.
I really like Mr Chan's on beach blvd out east. Great traditional offerings.
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/44/1347675/restaurant/Southside/Mr-Chan-Asian-Cuisine-Jacksonville
Quote from: thehill on March 17, 2012, 10:37:54 AM
I don't think I'm really down for super-traditional chinese food to be honest. A coworker brought in some stuff and I found it pretty off-putting. The best way I can describe the steamed/boiled chicken's feet is a bowl of snot with tiny bones in it. I also can't stomach turtle, it's horrid any way you cook it. Trying to fight my way through it, he confessed that he couldn't stand it either.
I agree. I wouldn't touch some that traditional crap with a ten foot pole. That's why they had to Americanize Chinese food, or else the majority of America wouldn't eat it. Just looking at some of that traditional rich crap, on TV shows like 'Bizarre Foods' or 'No Reservations' makes me wanna barf, I don't have to eat it to know that I won't like it.
Quote from: thehill on March 17, 2012, 10:37:54 AM
I really like Mr Chan's on beach blvd out east. Great traditional offerings.
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/44/1347675/restaurant/Southside/Mr-Chan-Asian-Cuisine-Jacksonville
I second that. One of my favorite spots to hit on the way back from the beach.
Found the blog article about the place I'm pretty sure that became Peony- http://findingfl.blogspot.com/2010/01/fu-hing-seafood-restaurant.html
Check out the old menu- http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d117/01001111/fu_hing_menu1.jpg http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d117/01001111/fu_hing_menu2.jpg
Mama Fu's Asian house has a good run of Chinese (Americanized)...
A good place to get Dim-Sum... Silver Star Chinese off of Blanding. We never eat off of the regular menu but always ask for the dim-sum menu. We used to go out of the way to Orlando to get it, but this place has it and they really don't advertise they have it. Good stuff for sure.
Peony and Mr Chan's are the only decent options I've found so far here. Not spectacular, but good enough. You'd have to stab me in the eye and lead me in with a leash to actually pay menu price for PF Chang's.
Here is a bit of history regarding Chopstick Charley's. Once upon a time there was a riverfront restaurant on the Southbank known as the Lobster House. One night in - guessing - late 50's or early 60's - it burned down in a mysterious fire. The proprietor was I. D. "Ducky" Glickstein. He went on to open CC's. Frequently he was behind in paying legal fees to a law partner, and we took it out in trade at CCs. It was an okay place to eat back then, but I must agree that the Bates Motel comment is appropriate now. Or maybe it should be the Joe Motel, right behind.
If you want to go to CCs now, may I suggest first getting a carry permit.
I like Silver Star for Dim Sum. they have the best dim sum in town but the owner for some reason don't advertise the dim sum part. I believe if they do some re-modeling in that place, their business would pick up.
I haven't been to a really good Chinese restaurant in a number of years. Mostly settling for the super buffet stuff. Back in the 90's when I lived on the north side, I ate more than frequently at what I think is the original Chan's in Highland shopping center on Dunn Ave. I took a friend from back then who was pretty knowledgeable about Chinese food and he said it was easily one of the best he had ever dined in anywhere.
I remember going to Chopstick Charlies in the 60's with my dad to pick up take out and we used to live in the north side then. I was too young to know if it was any good or not. And are you serious about it being open? I drive by there almost every day sometimes several times. I see cars there but never see any activity that makes me think they are open for business.
I'll tell you what, I had some PFCs and the noodles were frozen in the middle. Pretty Weak.
And avoid PFCs' little cousin - Pei Wei. Ordered 3 egg rolls and they arrived soaking in what I though was duck sauce - turned out to be whatever grease they cooked them in had saturated the egg rolls. Pretty nasty food!!!!!!
I'll second DDC's recommendation of the Chans on Dunn Ave. Easily the best place to get Americanized Chinese food in Jacksonville.
For many years, the best place in Jax was Hong Kong Gourmet in Lakewood. It's been gone for quite awhile now. Wok N Roll on San Jose Blvd. is pretty good for takeout. I usually get their General Tso's chicken made extra spicy.
Pagoda still manages to chug along in Baymeadows - ~25 years I believe.
I see this thread started awhile back and I don't remember if I posted before, but here's my updated answer. Without a doubt, hands down, the absolutely best Chinese Restaurant in town is Peony Asian Bistro.
Of course there are many "styles" of Chinese food so if you don't like Hong Kong cuisine then you might not like Peony. That said, it's the most authentic and tastiest of any place in town.
Silver Star on Blanding has always been very good.
For fast Chinese I still like Golden Eggroll off of Atlantic near Sin City.
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on April 22, 2013, 12:27:54 AM
I see this thread started awhile back and I don't remember if I posted before, but here's my updated answer. Without a doubt, hands down, the absolutely best Chinese Restaurant in town is Peony Asian Bistro.
Of course there are many "styles" of Chinese food so if you don't like Hong Kong cuisine then you might not like Peony. That said, it's the most authentic and tastiest of any place in town.
I hear great things. Look forward to checking it out.
Peony is very good. Was recommended by a co-worker and I tried it a few weeks ago. Good stuff.
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on April 22, 2013, 12:27:54 AM
I see this thread started awhile back and I don't remember if I posted before, but here's my updated answer. Without a doubt, hands down, the absolutely best Chinese Restaurant in town is Peony Asian Bistro.
Of course there are many "styles" of Chinese food so if you don't like Hong Kong cuisine then you might not like Peony. That said, it's the most authentic and tastiest of any place in town.
I've heard this from many people too, just haven't gotten there.
Growing up, we used to always go to Peking Garden on Blanding. I think that place is a auto dealership now. I agree about the Dim Sum at Silver Star; just wish they would renovate that place. It's dark, dingy, and just doesn't appear clean, which of course makes you wonder about what's behind the kitchen door... I can't get enough of their dim sum though, but I usually get it to go.
I am a big fan of Blue Bamboo when i am over on the southside. will have to give Peony a try as well.
It may not be the best, upscale type, but I've always liked Chan's on Main Street in Springfield. Great sweet tea, and typical americanized food. Don't forget, it's cash only.
Growing up in Arlington, we always had Silver Dragon on Rojero. That was always "the bar" for Chinese food in Jacksonville. I miss it so much. I've tried Peony and Blue Bamboo... Peony is probably the closest thing to it. It might just be nostalgia.. but man nothing else in Jax since has come close, and I had to go to California to find something even remotely like it.
Now out on the west side, we're relegated to cheap Americanized Chinese joints. Sickly sweet "sweet and sour" chicken, the same fried dumplings you get anywhere else, and those dumb "crab rangoons" that don't have even the slightest bit of crab in them (so much so that they just relabeled them "cream cheese wontons". I guess my favorite of these places is Hot wok in 5-points, if only because they'll make your curry or sechuan chicken blazingly spicy if you want, and they always have their oil at the right temperature so things don't remain overly greasy when you get your eggrolls.
Since moving to Ortega, we've been eating a lot of Green Lake in the Publix shopping center at Roosevelt. The people are nice, and they always throw in free stuff when you get 20 bucks worth of food. But it's still disappointing, even if it's consistently the same quality food every time you order. And the only thing I really ever get is Singapore Chow Mei Fun, which you really can't mess up.
Kind of off subject but does anyone remember Hale Kau Kau Polynesian on Blanding? I used to love that place as a kid and we went almost every week!
Panda House on Gate Pkwy south of the SJTC is really good.
Just tried Peony Asian Bistro for the first time. Best Chinese in Jacksonville.
Only food that's come close to what I've eaten in China.
Cantonese style. Veggie heavy (snow pea tops!), no American-style deep frying (they have some fried items, but not Chinese takee outee style), lots of fish and tofu. Peking duck is served here, along with steamed bun. They even have hot pot.
I'll be going back.
My fav is Jimmy Fu's on Merrill Rd (near Southside in the Publix shopping center). Super clean and very tasty. They also offer Thai dishes that are very good. The prices are good and the portions are large. They are more of a sit down restaurant, but they do have a few booths if you want to eat there.
I also like Mr. Chans on Beach, but I don't go there as often. They are more of a sit down place and the prices are a bit higher that Jimmy Fus, but the food is really good.
Peony looks on point. I am going to have to try them out soon!
Actually Chans on Main St takes credit cards now. :-)
Quote from: cayohueso on April 22, 2013, 01:44:52 AM
Silver Star on Blanding has always been very good.
For fast Chinese I still like Golden Eggroll off of Atlantic near Sin City.
I've been going to Silver Star since my parents drove all the way from the Northside to eat there. I talked with the folks there who said they've been in business 30 years. I can see why--the food is great, and I love the fact they have dim sum as well.
It's not the same as the "McDonald's" like Chinese take out places; food is made to order and is not pre-made. Great sit down real restaurant place.
And yes, I've eaten at Peony as well, but I get more for my dollar at Silver Star.
I know it's a good sign when almost every time I eat there, especially on weekends, most of the customers are asian. :)
And I am Asian as well :)
Quote from: cyclism on March 29, 2012, 08:47:20 AM
A good place to get Dim-Sum... Silver Star Chinese off of Blanding. We never eat off of the regular menu but always ask for the dim-sum menu. We used to go out of the way to Orlando to get it, but this place has it and they really don't advertise they have it. Good stuff for sure.
Totally agree. Love the dim sum at Silver Star.