Christmas Day Chinese Food, Delivery/Take Out/ Eat in?

[ezsober]

Its that time of year again--time for the non-gentiles to eat chinese food and grab a movie. This being my first xmas in D.C., i'm not familiar with the Xmas restaurant lay of the land.

Anyone have any recommendations for chinese food for xmas day. Delievry, take out, eat in, all fine! I'm in the logan/dupont area but would travel if the place is good and open.

Thoughts?

[plantainsandkimchi]

We ordered from Great Wall from Logan Circle on Christmas (from the ma la menu, of course), and it was as great as usual. Best Chinese in metro DC and since the renovation, the interior looks great, too.

[alkapal]

in NOVA, eden center was PACKED, and so were xo taste, hong king pearl seafood and miu kee -- and that is just the route we went!

PS, it is not only chinese and jews who eat on christmas day at chinese places. re-think your assumptions.

[Lori D]

I tried to go to Eden Center (at 2:00 p.m., sort of an off hour for a meal), and couldn't find a parking space.

I ended up getting carry out at DC Banh Mi Sandwich. It wasn't packed, but they were doing a brisk business. (Got a tofu banh mi for lunch, which I wasn't that impressed with, and a ham one for dinner, which I liked much better.)

(I am neither Jewish or Chinese/other Asian, and I often eat out on December 25.)

[flavrmeistr]

Indeed. Duck and lobster at XO has been our thing for the past two Christmases. We try to get there around mid-day because it fills up later in the afternoon. We hit Joe's on Chinese New Year, which is always a joyous occasion with special dumplings and dishes. Which reminds me; does anyone know the exact date of CNY this year?

[MarietteB]

I think around January 23rd. I have never been to Joe's for New Years - this will be a destination for me now! Thanks!!

[flavrmeistr]

Try to get there by 5, because they close early for a New Year's party for the staff and their families.

[Lori D]

The parade downtown will be January 29: http://www.chineseparadedc.com/

The actual date that the lunar New Year begins is January 23.

[ezsober]

So i tried ordering from Sichuan pavillion,but they don't deliver to me (Q and17). Went with City Lights on Connecticut. Pretty disappointing. Everything was bland and pretty tasteless.

[woodleyparkhound]

They don't deliver to me either (13th and Q). Very disappointing. They do deliver to my office though (13th and L) so that's when I get my fix.

[Elyssa]

Hmmmm I'm at 20th and O and they deliver to me. I'm also lucky enough to work across the street from them.

[Jeserf]

if you go out, you might want to consider a reservation - Mei Wah near my old apartment (Friendship Heights) was booked solid over Christmas.

But you shouldn't have a problem. I like Mei Wah, but have been wanting to try Sichuan Pavilion - they won't delivery to me, though. Sounds like a plot for a Seinfeld episode...hm....

[Elyssa]

I find the Mei Wah in the West End seriously mediocre. I almost full out stopped ordering in Chinese food until I found Sichuan Pavilion.

[Jeserf]

It is mediocre, but it's the only non-horrid Chinese delivery to my place - between Dupont and U St. I don't get why Sichuan Pavillion won't...it's annoying. We sometimes do Mr Chens, but I noticed that whenever I did online ordering with my credit card, there were a slew of unauthorized charges, and it was a pain to deal with (on two different cards), so I gave up and only order if I have cash and really want it (some dishes they do well).

The Mei Wah in Friendship Heights is FAR better - I really enjoy going there.

[Elyssa]

There are a ton of places out in the suburbs that many people recommend but I've never been to (no car).

That said I love Sichuan Pavillion at 18th and K Street. Very good food both for delivery and eat in. Personally I think it's the best Chinese food in DC-proper.

They delivered to me 2 years ago on Christmas and I live in Dupont Circle.

[Breezychow]

I think these days you're going to have to do a hit-or-miss check restaurant by restaurant. While it used to be a given that all Chinese restaurants would be open on Christmas Day, that is no longer the case, since restaurant owners - & the current economy - have realized that business will be at a dearth that day, until "maybe" late at night when the effects of the roast turkey/ham/goose begin to wear off.

[Lori D]

Not Chinese food, but many of the restaurants in Eden Center are likely to be open.

[dining with doc]

I would beg to differ if you go out for Chinese in an area where a lot of Jewish people live. Going out for Chinese on Christmas day Is as much a tradition for American Jewry as honey baked ham, egg nogg and fruit cake is for non Jews!