Chinese Banquet near San Leandro

[kungful]

I am looking for a good Chinese Restaurant for a banquet style dinner for 20 to 30 people in a couple of weeks. It needs to be close to San Leandro.
None of us speak Chinese, so someplace were the banquet menu is available in English would be ideal.
We have considered Daimo (but the one in San Leandro is not our favorite)
We are currently leaning towards Chili Palace, but we can't read their banquet menu and would have to order off the regular English menu (not a bad thing, but not ideal).

Any thoughts ?

[Melanie Wong]

On Tuesday I was in San Leandro and had a chance to try Chi Li Palace for lunch. My first time here, I was pleasantly surprised by the attractive contemporary interior.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/5418512581/

The spicy basil chicken is one of the house specialties, and I ordered that from the lunch specials menu for $5.95. This came with a small salad and a very good hot and sour soup.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/5418512573/

Spicy basil chicken made with dark meat and generic, sticky brown sauce and served with a bowl of steamed white rice. Fresh jalapeño chile slices and fresh basil rescued it from the ordinary, and squares of sweet red pepper added some welcome color. Not bad, and certainly a good deal for the price.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniewong/5418512563/

The reason I'm posting is that I picked up the Chinese language menu and it offers far more than the one in English. In case anyone is looking for a spot to celebrate Chinese New year, here's the banquet menus for 6, 8 and 10 diners. This is the regular offering. I asked and there are no specials for CNY.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniew...

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Chi Li Palace
699 Lewelling Blvd Ste 270, San Leandro, CA 94579

[Chandavkl]

Is Chi Li Palace a slightly reincarnated version of Chili Palace?

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Chi Li Palace
699 Lewelling Blvd Ste 270, San Leandro, CA 94579

[Melanie Wong]

I asked, and my waiter said it was the same owner. The name on the restaurant is Chili Palace, but the restaurant is often listed as Chi Li Palace and in old posts on this board.

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Chi Li Palace
699 Lewelling Blvd Ste 270, San Leandro, CA 94579

Chili Palace
177 W Calaveras Blvd, Milpitas, CA 95035

[theSauce]

Their English name is Chili Palace, but their Chinese name is pronounce is Chi Lin hence Chi Li Palace. We use to go there pretty often and typically we get the Chinese sauerkraut claypot, which is really a thinly sliced salted pork with sauerkraut and thick mung bean thread soup. They also serve northern China dim sum on weekends.

The reason I said use to, so the dishes are often over seasoned and last time we went we found a big ol' fly in our favorite salted pork sauerkraut soup...

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Chi Li Palace
699 Lewelling Blvd Ste 270, San Leandro, CA 94579

Chili Palace
177 W Calaveras Blvd, Milpitas, CA 95035

[shanghaikid]

prince dim sum house on e-14th is available but wouldn't recommend cuz they use way too much msg.

the regular fare at chili palace isn't that overstanding. their hot & sour soup is awesome. cumin lamb isn't bad also. seems many regulars at chili palace are non-chinese. am sure you can get a translation of the banquet menu from the manager and/or owner.,

[Stephanie Wong]

East Ocean Seafood in Alameda is very user friendly for non-Chinese speakers. You might even be able to arranging to eat & try some of the dishes prior to ordering for your event.

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East Ocean Seafood
1713 Webster St, Alameda, CA 94501

[shanghaikid]

east ocean seafood uses a lot of msg. keep this in mind when ordering.

[Melanie Wong]

Every place that I've been is happy to translate the banquet menu into English, if you are there in person and ask. They won't put it in writing but they'll give you a verbal translation and it's up to you to write it down and ask questions if you don't understand the full gist of a dish.

[Ruth Lafler]

Also, if there's a dish or two on the banquet menu that doesn't appeal to you, you can ask for an alternative, or even an upgrade (for an upcharge).