Best Chinese food in Boulder?

[WayneInBoulder]

We used to like takeout from Orchid Pavilion, but since they closed we haven't found a Chinese restaurant in Boulder that we've liked. We're not expecting SF or NY quality, but we're hoping that there might be a small place in a strip mall that we might have missed. Any recommendations?

And please, please don't say China Gourmet. If that's the best that Boulder can offer, there's certainly no hope.

[ClaireWalter]

We got takeout from China Gourmet y'day evening and the food from this perennial seemed a little "less good" than it used to be.

[lotuseedpaste]

Five Spice (Iris and 28th, near the Safeway) has a separate menu with non-Americanized dishes. Not stellar or anything, but better than most of the rest of Boulder (a low, low bar).

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Five Spice
3325 28th St, Boulder, CO 80301

[caviar_and_chitlins]

Wayne,

I'm guessing it's not the kind of Chinese that you are looking for (i.e. Orchid-style), but Zoe MaMa is pretty darmed good when you need an asian fix, and has nice condiments to up the heat level. The menu is pretty limited, but what they do, they do well.

[WayneInBoulder]

Zoe MaMa is pretty good, but not exactly what I'm looking for.

Haven't been to May Wah in years, never been to Lee Yuan. Maybe I'll give them a try. Newport sounds interesting -- it may be too far for a takeout run, but sounds like it might be worth trying for a sitdown meal.

Thanks for the comments and the suggestions, everyone. We'll keep looking, and hopefully something will turn up one of these days.

[ClaireWalter]

Lee Yuan indeed. China Gourmet on N Bwy is good if you order from the "special menu" -- not the regular one. Avoid Tra-Ling on Bwy, across from the CU campus. Recommend Newport (or New Port) in Broomfield for dim sum.

[monopod]

I've ordered delivery and eaten in at Lee Yuan several times (it's just a couple of blocks from my house). It probably depends on what you order, but I thought it was pretty lousy even for cheap Chinese. The steamed dumplings in particular were the worst I've ever had - wrappers were gummy and tough, filling didn't taste like anything (which was sad, because dumplings are one of my favorite cheap Chinese joint specialties. These were quite a bit worse than the frozen ones you can buy at the supermarket). Last time we were there my wife ordered a fish special that was inedible. Their mu shu pork is passable, but that's about the only thing I'd eat there again. Just my $.02, of course.

[ClaireWalter]

Other than (perhaps) fried rice & some robust noodle dishes, Chinese good never seems to travel well. My 2 cents too.

[monopod]

Just to clarify... I had the offending dumplings while eating at Lee Yuan, not for delivery. Even fresh, they disappointed. Same with the fish dish that my wife couldn't eat more than a bite of. Could've been an off day, of course, but after a couple of similar experiences we decided to stick to Moongate, which - while not spectacular - has pretty reliable dumplings, szechuan eggplant, and crispy duck (but no mu shu, dangnabbit, which is the one thing I've had that wasn't too bad from Lee Yuan).

[monopod]

It's not quite in Boulder, but I've heard great things about Newport (formerly Heaven Star) in Broomfield. I've only ever had their dim sum (which is fabulous), but I've heard their dinner menu is also great. Only 10-15 minutes outside of Boulder, so maybe it qualifies.

Otherwise, I got nothing.

[LurkerDan]

I'm afraid that there probably is no hope!

I used to like Moongate (which while not technically chinese, had some of the regular dishes), but the last time I ordered there, I got the same gloppy heavy handed sauces stuff that passes for chinese around here.

I usually order from May Wah or Lee Yuan, but that is mostly because they are close to my house.