The best Chinese restaurant in Washington DC

The best Chinese restaurant in Washington, D.C. is the one that fulfills your own personal expectations. And let’s face it: we all want something different. Some of us want authentic, traditional Chinese dishes (like mouth-searing noodles), while others are happier when the menu items show international influences (Southwestern egg rolls, anyone?).

That’s why it’s lucky for us, the eclectic diners who change our tastes and needs every five minutes, that the District has such a wide variety of Chinese restaurants. From the ethnic authenticity of D.C.’s Chinatown neighborhood to the funky, fusion eateries of Dupont Circle, there’s a “Best Chinese Restaurant” for every need. The following five restaurants represent the best of their particular niches, so you can find Chinese food in D.C. for every mood.

#1) Full Kee: The Best Chinese Restaurant in D.C.’s Chinatown

509 H Street, NW (202) 371-2233 (Mon-Sun 11:00am-2:00am)

If you assume that any Chinese restaurant in Chinatown has to be authentic, you will be sorely disappointed when you end up in one of the cookie cutter chain places that dot the area. Even worse are the eateries that serve authentic cuisine, but you practically have to wear blinders to escape the dismal, hole-in-the-wall surroundings. Full Kee is a standout, and that may be why they’re not just one of the top places in the neighborhood, but also made the list of Top 100 Chinese Restaurants in the U.S.

Full Kee also gets my pick as one of the best Chinese restaurants to take kids. Not only is it within walking distance to MCI Center (so you can have dinner before seeing a game or a show), but it has a menu that will please everyone. Kids can choose simpler items they’re used to, like crunchy egg rolls and Pepper Beef, while adults with more exotic tastes can sample the Deep Fried Spicy Frog or a Sea Cucumber Saute. The wait staff will always let you make a special order too, so if you don’t see it; ask for it. My top pick: the Dungeness Crab in Ginger Scallions.

#2) Raku: The Best Chinese Fusion Restaurant in D.C.

1900 Q St. NW (202) 265-7258 (Sun-Thu 11:00am-10:oopm, Fri-Sat 11:00am-11:00pm)

I have a rule when I visit Washington, DC that I must try a new restaurant every day. Raku, however, is one of the few that I insist on visiting on each and every trip. It’s in a fantastic location in Dupont Circle, so you merely have to hop off the Metro and you’re there. If it seems too busy, Kramerbooks is right nearby, so you can browse the bookstore

The best Chinese restaurant in Washington DC – Part 3

Not only are quality Chinese restaurants a significant part of the Washington D.C. culinary scene, but they are also part of it’s history. Here’s an abridged three-restaurant tour of Chinese establishments that are intertwined with our nation’s history:

1. Located right off the Cleveland Park Metro Station (Red Line), the Yenching Palace, located at 3524 Connecticut Ave is not only the oldest standing Chinese restaurant in the D.C. Metropolitan area but it is famous for the role it played in history in 1962 when ABC newsman John Scali, secretly representing the Kennedy Administration, met with a representative of Soviet Primier Nikita Kruschev to come to terms over the Cuban Missile Crisis. It is also famous for hosting the press conference in 1972 when the National Zoo acquired two pandas as well as being the place where Nixon’s secretary of state Henry Kissinger met with representatives of the Chinese government to open up meetings.

The Yenching Palace has been patronized by a wide Array of celebrities including Marlon Brando, Mick Jagger, Moshe Dayan, Henry Kissinger, Ian Flemming, Antonin Scalia and many others. I once asked the owner/manager Larry Lung who inherited the restaurant from his late uncle in 1991, how he knew who had visited the restaurant and he said that it was because his uncle had the celebrities sign his guestbook. I had the privilege of then seeing the guestbook myself where I picked out names such as Alexander Haig, Betty Ford, Jason Robards, and Daniel Ellsworth among the guests.

The food is delicious, the atmosphere is great and it’s a great place to go after seeing a movie at the uptown theater.

2. It is worth noting that Washington D.C.’s Chinatown is one of the city’s historically richest as it was previously the centers of the German and Jewish communities before its current incarnation. It is located along the route of D.C.’s cultural heritage trail. Historically, the most interesting restaurant in Chinatown is Wok N’Roll, located at 604 NW H Street. In the 19th Century, the restaurant was a boarding house owned by a Confederate sympathizer named Mary Surratt, and it was here that John Wilkes Booth and his co-conspirators met to plan the assassination of President Lincoln. A sign on the sidewalk tells of this incredible story and provides a picture. While the restaurant itself, does not have any overt references to its special role in history, except for a placard near the entrance, it is still a surreal experience to eat

The best Chinese restaurants in Lawrence, MA – Part 1

The city of Lawrence, Massachusetts had an influx of immigrant communities in the 1800s, and that same ethnic diversity still exists in its local restaurants. Irish, Italian, German, Greek, and almost any other nationality you can name feature their cuisine in the varied establishments here. Like most of America, one of the most popular ethnic foods in Lawrence is Chinese. No need to eat a tepid meal at a run-of-the-mill buffet or cookie cutter chain: the best Chinese restaurants in Lawrence are as unique as the town itself.

#1) Lee Chen (230 Winthrop Ave. 978-689-9888)

You might be surprised when you enter this unassuming-looking white block building, because what you’ll find inside is far from the scruffy little Chinese restaurants you see so frequently. Lee Chen is actually a nice sit-down place that is inviting enough to make you want to relax and stay awhile. Except for the Buddha statue in the entryway, you won’t even find the often-cheesy decor some places seem to insist on. The service at Lee Chen is on par with its looks. The wait staff here is attentive and knowledgeable, helping you customize your order, whether that means extra-spicy, no MSG, or even cooked in the style of a specific region.

While you will find plenty of the American-style Chinese dishes that are so popular (Beef and Broccoli for example), the best dishes are the ones that are more authentically prepared. Try the Chicken Soong or the Pork Dumplings with Spicy Peanut Sauce. Both are spicy and saucy, and the veggies here are nicely crisp and fresh, never frozen. For the vegetarians in your group, suggest the Szechuan Style Bean Curd: it’s just like the traditional Mah Poh Tofu you find in real Chinatown eateries. Lee Chen can be fairly busy on Fridays and weekends, so plan ahead.

#2) China Tea House (37 Jackson St. 978-689-4300)

For folks who shy away from the unusual or ultra-spicy, China Tea House has been producing solid, dependable Chinese food to takeout diners and restaurant-goers in the Lawrence/Methuen area for years. You won’t find surprises on the menu, or odd items you have to ask details about. What you will find is well-prepared and fresh longtime favorites. Chicken Chow Mein, Sweet and Sour Pork and the ever-popular Chinese barbecued spare ribs are mainstays here.

China Tea House offers its best deals at lunchtime, where between 11:30 and 2:30 several of its entrees are under five dollars, and that includes a bowl of fried rice. The restaurant has a dependable

The best Chinese restaurants in Norwalk, CT – Part 3

With a population of 85,000, the town of Norwalk, Connecticut is large enough to support several great Chinese restaurants. The town is also part of the New York metropolitan area, so the surrounding Connecticut suburbs are full of cosmopolitan citizens who love the ethnic foods found in nearby New York City. Chinatown has some great food, but it can be a pain to go all the way into the city for dinner- here are the best Chinese restaurants in and around Norwalk, CT.

VILLAGE GOURMET CHINESE RESTAURANT

22 Chestnut Hill Road, Norwalk, CT, 06851

(203) 849-8788

Website

Located at Ellen Street and Chestnut Hill road in one of the most upscale areas of Norwalk, the Village Gourmet has a reputation of being one of the best Chinese restaurants in the area.The dining room is consistently packed with hungry patrons from surrounding cities, because Village Gourmet has an atmosphere, food quality, and service level that has won the restaurant several awards from local newspapers and magazines. This is the must-visit Chinese Restaurant in Norwalk, CT.

PANDA PAVILION

370 Main Ave, Norwalk, CT, 06851

(203) 846-4253

Panda Pavilion is a chain of Chinese restaurants found throughout Connecticut. With the corporate headquarters just 15 miles away in Greenwich, Connecticut, Norwalk has its own location of this Connecticut original. The Panda Pavilion has a casual atmosphere and inexpensive meals. It’s located near the intersection of Main Avenue and Merritt Parkway.

CHINA KING

280 Connecticut Ave #9, Norwalk, CT, 06854

(203) 838-7899

The China King is located at the intersection of Connecticut and Scribner Avenues. The restaurant offers both delivery and dine-in service, though delivery is known to take a bit longer than normal because the restaurant is located in a high-traffic part of town.

JASMINE RESTAURANT

60 Charles St, Westport, CT, 06880

(203) 221-7777

The Jasmine Restaurant is located in neighboring Westport, Connecticut. Located conveniently off I-95, Jasmine is perfect for both dine-in, take-out, and delivery food. In addition to Chinese favorites, Jasmine offers fresh sushi delivered to your door!

CHING’S TABLE64 Main St, New Canaan, CT, 06840(203) 972-2830

Up the street in charming downtown New Canaan, CT is Ching’s Table, a great Chinese restaurant if you’re looking for a bit more upscale experience. The food is more expensive than many other Chinese restaurants in this Norwalk area.

Asian cuisine is found all over the Norwalk, CT area. Try all these restaurants and one of them will become your local favorite!