Good chinese in the albany area?
we moved up to the area recently and we're still trying to find some good restaurants. any recommendations on good chinese woud be appreciated. also,one that serves brown rice would be nice. my wife only likes brown rice. one place said they could make it and proceeded to make fried rice from white. DUH!
thanks,
dave
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My wife is from China and this is her favorite restaurant in America, so far. She's nuts about the sauteed lobster and the calamari, fried with rice flour not wheat, is the best I've ever had. The Thai is not authentic and haven't tried the sushi, but the Chinese is superb.
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Buffalo Wagon
6 Metro Park Rd Ste 3, Albany, NY 12205 -
eclecticsynergy
Apr 10, 2011 08:33 PM
I like CCK and Shining Rainbow both. I'm told the folks behind CCK used to run the Ocean Palace when it was open.
Ichiban (the one on Central Ave is smaller but better than the one on Western Ave, IMO) has a good Chinese menu even though it's primarily a Japanese restaurant. Well-kept secret.
Koto offers brown rice with their meals but is Japanese. Good fried rice though. They have added some new items, however, pineapple duck and at least one Thai curry on the menu.
And sea bass with a most excellent orange sauce for dipping. -
Has anyone tried Shining Rainbow, a few doors down from CCK? The menu looks like interesting: http://www.shiningrainbow.com/
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re: kilercow
Shining Rainbow on Central Ave, Albany NY is pretty good. Authentic chinese food. I used to go to CCK but now I mostly go to Shining Rainbow. They also have dim sum. I wish they had soup noodle.
Is there any place in the Capital District that has good soup dumpling, ie. Shao long bao?
Also if there is a place for northern chinese style breakfast, eg. soy milk, shao bing, yao tiao, etc. Flushing NY is way too far to travel on a regular basis.-
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re: financialdistrictresident
Buddist Delight, and I am not even a vegetarian. Roast duck is really good... nice, crispy skin. I really haven't had a bad dish yet. Oh, and the steamed flounder was good. They also have "hot pot" which I haven't tried yet but based on the number of tables and customers that were eating that the last time I went (many) I think I will have to give it a shot. I do still go to CCK every so often as they have decent Noodle soup, and CCK dishes, I think, have nicer presentation. It's good that there's some competition though. Emperor's on Wolf Rd is another good place.
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re: StarStrider
caravan70
Jan 26, 2011 05:58 AM
This is quite belated, but is there anywhere in the area to obtain decent saimin (as I grew up with in Hawaii in the 1970s? I lived in Northern California until recently, and there were good places to go there, but I'm having trouble finding good noodle shops in this area. I'd appreciate any ideas!
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re: PSZaas
caravan70
May 6, 2011 03:07 AM
I apologize for the belated reply. I think Ichiban is about the best we've got around here... the noodle dishes are quite decent. This was what I had in mind, if you get out west: the Shoki Ramen House. You'll find it here... the links don't seem to be working: http://www.yelp.com/biz/shoki-ramen-h...
As far as Chinese, I'm convinced that CCK is the best I've had in the area.
Thanks to everyone for the recommendations... they've made my life here a lot better. :
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Ichiban Restaurant
338 Central Ave, Albany, NY 12206Ichiban Restaurant
556 Jefferson Plz, Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776
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re: AmyH
This thread has me craving CCK! I tried Tasty Chinese last night for the first time, only American Chinese dishes.
Also made me curious about saimin:
A bowl of saimin combines soft noodles with wontons and green onions in a hot, savory broth.
What about Phila Fusion (S. Springs)? Not too far from Albany . . .
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thew
Apr 10, 2009 06:17 AM
not exactly close, but the little bear in woodstock is damned good. love their cold sesame noodles, and the soup with rice cakes pork and shrimp
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re: davmar77
PSZaas
May 7, 2009 04:15 AM
The review is annoying. CCK has an extensive menu with a wide range of dishes--the identical menu to the late lamented Ocean Palace, in fact--and the reviewer orders wonton soup and General Tso's chicken. Duck with mushroom, diver scallop, salt and pepper squid, steamed grouper, lamb casserole, are all on the menu or on the specials board; why would you order General Tso's chicken? Really solid food, nice people, comfortable storefront space.
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re: thew
Without getting too deeply into the questions of the abilities, functions, purpose, etc. of a critic, for whom do you think such a reviewer is writing for? Not the typical CH-er, for sure, but the very average diner, who, unfortunately, if found in such a place as CCK, wouldn't be looking at the interesting, unique dishes, but probably focusing in on the General Tso's chicken. Pardon me if that sounds a little elitist, hopefully it's just the reality of the situation.
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I just went to CCK this evening. I am a transplant from New York who often spent Sundays in Chinatown for Dim Sum. I thought the food at CCK was very good and authentic (but they do not have brown rice). Another place is Plum Blossom in Troy. Trust me, it is worth the 15/20min drive. Their food is some of the best Chinese I have eaten, in a great atmosphere, and excellent service.
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re: LimonZang
jspear
Apr 21, 2009 08:12 AM
I was surprised to hear you put Plum Blossom up so high. I live 5 minutes from there and when we get chinese, it's from there. Sometimes things are overdone, like the sesame chicken but we are generally pleased....I do like the physical plant, wish they would actually finish working on it though............
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re: jspear
Jspear - I have never gotten take-out from Plum Blossom. I have eaten in the restaurant about 4 times. Each time, I thought the food was great for the area. However, you have a better idea of the consistency/quality of food, since you frequent the place more. When I said "best" I meant for the area....nothing really compares to a NYC Chinatown restaurant! Still and all, in the Capital Region I think CCK and Plum Blossom take the cake. I just wish we had a "healthy" chinese restaurant in the region with fresh produce, light sauces, lots of tofu and no msg. Any places like this in the area?
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re: LimonZang
jspear
May 8, 2009 10:47 AM
No and I have a friend who needs to do Gluten Free and that is a real issue with local chinese. I do like Plum Blossom and they are consistent for the things that I get there. I have yet to try CCK or anything out of my neighborhood. We are looking for more tofu and lighter sauces ourselves, mostly because of the gf stuff.....
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re: jspear
I'm seriously wheat allergic. Buffalo Wagon uses semfen and other flours for breading and will happily substitute one for wheat on breadings. Semfen is gluten-free tapioca (cassava) starch. They use rice flour on their fried calamari, to die for!
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Buffalo Wagon
6 Metro Park Rd Ste 3, Albany, NY 12205
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re: davmar77
Dave, it's been two years since your inquiry. Have you gotten to CCK? If so, what is our assessment?
IMO, over the last couple of years there have been ups and downs depending upon whether Chef Peter Chan has been in the kitchen. The original menu didn't include many of the typical American dishes found on Chinese menus, e.g., General Tso's chicken. It was almost exclusively more authentic Chinese preparations.
Another Chinese restaurant that I'm surprised I haven't seen mentioned here that opened over a year ago is Ala Shanghai in Latham. I'd be interested in whether the people who've commented here have been there and how they compare it with CCK , Emperor's Palace, and Shining Rainbow.
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re: Roger K
Roger, Thanks for the info on ALa Shanghai. I went last week and it was absolutely delicious. I will definitely be back. But I'd never have found that on my own. It's hardly someplace I'd walk by & try. Thanks for letting me know about it! Much different from CCK (Which I think is my fav simply because Peter's food seems so incredibly fresh, light and he spins the spices into interesting combos). Shining Rainbow was also good and has better atmosphere than either but if its all abou the food, I think CCK still wins. (sadly, it does lose on decor. but hey, it's Albany. We can't have everything).
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Shining Rainbow
209 Central Ave, Albany, NY 12206 -
re: Roger K
davmar77
Jul 8, 2011 11:15 AM
i did try it for lunch one day and wasn't that impressed but take out is probably not a fair way to judge.
we like buffalo wagon a lot. they have expanded on the sushi specials too. one night we asked the owner about a dish with some spice. he came back with huge plate of shrimp with sauteed jalapenos and other veggies. it was quite good and hit the spot. it was not a menu item.
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re: davmar77
I keep reading here about Buffalo Wagon. Is is chinese or japanese/sushi? I'm confused. But many, many people have mentioned that they like it. Odd name for a Chinese or Japanese joint. Sounds like BBQ. I will have to hunt it down & try it!
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Buffalo Wagon
6 Metro Park Rd Ste 3, Albany, NY 12205-
re: Lolalola
It's pan-Asian. It may have been mentioned here before that the name relates to the Water Buffalo that has been used by the Chinese for many purposes.
http://www.buffalowagon.com/
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CCK on Central is excellent. I like it as much as most of the places in NYC Chinatown (and I've been to quite a few). Chef's version of Singapore Mei Fun is excellent. Eggplant w/shrimp paste is outstanding. They may not have brown rice (most "authentic" Chinese places don't), but you won't find better Chinese in Albany
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jspear
Mar 4, 2009 04:01 PM
Not chinese but My Linn (sp?) is reviewed well for Vietnamese. Albany does have the PF chang chain, unimpressed.
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re: jspear
I can second jspear's suggestion - I have not been to My Linh (Vietnamese) yet but it's one of my SO's favorites . . .
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re: financialdistrictresident
I've been to My Linh once or twice and enjoyed it very much - great for a night out. Van's, a few doors down from CCK on Central, is quite possibly just as good, but the atmosphere's a lot more casual (and it's a lot cheaper). Van's is my go-to place for Vietnamese in the area- their sour fish soup is delicious.
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re: jspear
My Linh was an abomination. I went because they advertise on the local NPR station but it was unbelievably bad. Not only the dirtiness of the restaurant but the stingy portions, boring presentation and chipped plates chased me out and I won't go back. Go to Van's on Central for Good Vietnamese. Don't go to a chain and expect fresh food. Won't happen. :-)
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My Linh
272 Delaware Ave, Albany, NY 12209-
re: Lolalola
Thanks for the warning. My Chinese wife and I live half the year in Nanning, 120 miles from Vietnam. She liked CCK until we were taken by Chinese friends to Buffalo Wagon. It's now her fave Chinese restaurant in America, so far, if you stick to Chinese there. It's hard to get her to eat anywhere else on the occaisions we drive up to Albany.
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My Linh
272 Delaware Ave, Albany, NY 12209Buffalo Wagon
6 Metro Park Rd Ste 3, Albany, NY 12205 -
re: Lolalola
Sorry, but I've never had a poor meal at My Linh, never had too little food, nor was the restaurant ever dirty, or the plates chipped. Service has also always been exemplary. And My Linh is a family owned restaurant, not a chain!
Have tried almost all of the menu, many specials and special requests have always been attended to with grace. And yes, I have eaten a lot of Vietnamese food all over the country.-----
My Linh
272 Delaware Ave, Albany, NY 12209 -
re: Lolalola
I definitely have to agree with mjoyous. I've never experienced what Lolalola has described in the 20 + years that I've eaten at My Linh's. I don't know how long ago you dined there, but if you are referring to their first location on Madison Av. where the landlord refused to take care of such things as broken floor tiles and deteriorating outdoor steps, then all I can say is Linh and her family did the best they could under those circumstances. That was the reason they left that location (which btw was also where Van's then moved into and started their business until they chose to relocate also) and purchased the restaurant on Delaware Av.
I've brought many people to My Linh's and no one has ever walked away hungry or complained about the food. They frequently carry out leftovers. I also agree 100% with everything else mjoyous has said.
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My Linh
272 Delaware Ave, Albany, NY 12209
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I'm pretty sure it wouldn't have brown rice, but CCK on Central is very good - see the Times Union's review here: http://timesunion.com/entertainment/r....
I've been eating there and at Ocean Palace (the owners' old restaurant) for years and years - surprisingly solid dim sum and a pretty wide range of offerings.
