62005 Thu Aug 05 02:58:25 -0700 2004 5 2 Los Angeles Area 0 330311 Thanks to everyone who answered my last post. One thing that I am still looking for is authentic Chinese food. Obviously, there is a lot in Monterey Park, etc., but is there anything closer to downtown/Chinatown? Depending on the suggestions I may just make a trip to Monterey Park anyway. I don't have any particular regional cuisine that I'm looking for (although I am interested in all possibilities), but I would like it to be as far from the Americanized version as possible. Thanks. Thu Aug 05 02:58:25 -0700 2004 0 BlueCrab 1 330328 Mandarin Deli in dowtown LA is actually pretty good. They have really good homemade dumplings and hand pulled noodles. I always get their scallion pancake and seaweed salad as well. Mandarin Deli 727 N. Broadway, suite 107 inside the same plaza as pho 79 (213) 623-6054 Warning, they close early for dinner. I think the one in little Tokyo stays open later. Good for lunch, though. Thu Aug 05 11:32:57 -0700 2004 330311 0 Ninja 2 330337 I love Mandarin Deli! Just a quick warning: Mandarin Deli in Chinatown seems to be closed for lunch some days. We tried going 2 Fridays ago and it was closed! The Little Tokyo branch was open though. If you don't want noodle dishes, I second Jerome's rec for Empress Pavilion. Or, you can try Golden City (downstairs from Empress) which is pretty good too. All three of these restaurants have been reviewed on this board many times so you can do a search for more info if you want to. Thu Aug 05 12:19:24 -0700 2004 330328 0 Macy U. 1 330334 aaaaaaaaaaah foochow has real fujian dishes. empress pavilion has many many authentic dishes. Go for clay pots. Fishball and meatballs in soup at the fujian and anything in red wine lees sauce (hongzao). the dimsum at empress is real enough. fullhouse has fine yuecai/cantonese food. Get the iron skillet dishes. THey eveh have authentic horrible cantonese/hong kong versions of szechwan food just like you'll find in hong kong. Avoid them, authentically "chinese" as they may be. They also use the term hongshao on the chinese menu to mean what it means in Canton which ISN'T the famous meaning of the Jiangzhe region (braised [slowly] in soy-based broth). Lots of fish and good shrimp dishes, doumiao (peashoots, or however you translate them) in season, etc. Thu Aug 05 12:15:44 -0700 2004 330311 0 Jerome 2 330514 What dishes do you recommend at Empress Pavilion? Fri Aug 06 00:56:58 -0700 2004 330334 0 BlueCrab 3 330738 I usually go for New Years banquets there. Excellent minced squab. Good steamed whole fish with ginger and scallions, a tieban (iron plate) dish, a clay pot dish. If you're a big party and you have some money, order IN ADVANCE the whole winter melon soup - it's served in something out of a Flash Gordon movie. It's about 50 bucks. Not too bad for a party of 8-12. And of course, a giant clam dish, or a clear cooked shrimp ball dish. And a stir-fried dish or two. Sat Aug 07 18:30:32 -0700 2004 330514 0 Jerome