With us losing the Dot Wo Garden soon, I am at a loss for a good Chinese restaurant to go to. Does anyone have a restaurant close to the 73116 that I might try? I love Dot Wo Garden and am so sorry they are closing, but I need a good Chinese restaurant. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

The 7 Bistro down on Classen is pretty darn good.

Always felt that Chows and Golden Phoenix were both much better than Dot Wo. VII Bistro is one of our go-tos for pho but never had Chinese food there.

I have been going to Szechuan Bistro at Western and Memorial for quite a while. Really good food.
C. T.

Is Kang's still open? It used to be fairly decent.

i'll second bistro vii... everything i've ever ordered there has come out hot and fresh.


Is Kang's still open? It used to be fairly decent.
i used to really like kang's but went around 6-8 months ago and was really disappointed. i don't know if they were in the middle of a remodel, but even the dining room was looking really threadbare. while i don't know whether or not they're still open, it wouldn't surprise me if they've closed since my last visit.

I agree with Bistro VII on Classen and we have also enjoyed Ding on 39th in Bethany, west of MacArthur.

Is Kang's still open? It used to be fairly decent.

Nope.... If I recall correctly it is the same owners but rebranded to Nhinja Sushi.

Szechuan Bistro on Memorial and Western is very good.

Szechuan Bistro on Memorial and Western is very good.

Agreed.... I've eaten there a couple of times and it was great both times.

Going the complete opposite direction with this one but.... Fantasy Chinese Cuisine (http://www.fantasychinesenorman.com/) in Norman is my new go to spot for sit down Chinese.

It meets both of my requirements for Chinese.... Good chopsticks at the table and I'm usually the only non-Asian in the place.

Chows

Sichuan Bistro has some dishes that are very authentic to traditional Sichuan cuisine. It's my favorite Chinese place in the city.

Chows on N May, Golden Phoenix and VII Bistro on Classen are the Three we frequent.

Fung's is one of the best as well.

I have been going to Szechuan Bistro at Western and Memorial for quite a while. Really good food.
C. T.
Definitely. Ask for the other menu for the more authentic stuff.
Chows is also great. My go to for inner OKC Chinese.

Definitely. Ask for the other menu for the more authentic stuff.
Chows is also great. My go to for inner OKC Chinese.

I thought Szechuan Bistro had all their stuff, both authentic/weird (to Americans) and Americanized all on one menu, it's just a big menu. I've always ordered the authentic items off the standard menu...

Agree with Chow's and Szechuan Bistro as being great, Chow's is probably closest to 73116 (my old zip code) out of all that have been listed, since it's just down May on 30th in 73112 (my new zip code).

Here is an interesting read from the Gazette on Dot Wo Garden... http://okgazette.com/2017/11/01/dot-wo-garden-closes-its-doors-and-makes-time-for-a-less-frantic-future/?utm_content=bufferf3736&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Didn't realize how closely related a lot of the restaurants mentioned in this thread are to one another.

Golden Phoenix, Schezuan Bistro and Fungs are the best Chinese food we've found in OKC.

Now if we could only get some Northern Chinese cuisine places...

I thought Szechuan Bistro had all their stuff, both authentic/weird (to Americans) and Americanized all on one menu, it's just a big menu. I've always ordered the authentic items off the standard menu...

Agree with Chow's and Szechuan Bistro as being great, Chow's is probably closest to 73116 (my old zip code) out of all that have been listed, since it's just down May on 30th in 73112 (my new zip code).

No, they have two menus, one for Americanized Asian food and the other for people that prefer authentic Asian choices. It has both Chinese and English to describe the different foods. I'm also a fan of spicy food and they will spice it up for you if you request it. By the way, I haven't been there in a few months (I was living in MWC and it was a little far), so they might have combined their two menus in to one.
C. T.

^^ Fung's is the same way

No, they have two menus, one for Americanized Asian food and the other for people that prefer authentic Asian choices. It has both Chinese and English to describe the different foods. I'm also a fan of spicy food and they will spice it up for you if you request it. By the way, I haven't been there in a few months (I was living in MWC and it was a little far), so they might have combined their two menus in to one.
C. T.

This link shows the menus I've seen when I've been there (which was probably 2 years ago) and it has authentic and Americanized food, plus it has both Chinese and English (and it was all in one menu, didn't have to ask for 2 menus, the authentic dishes are the back pages of the menu, IIRC). They also bring out a laminated card that has specials on it, both Americanized and authentic and in both languages. Maybe they have an extra-extra secret special Chinese menu, but I've gotten plenty of authentic dishes from the regular one they give out (with the C-numbered items in it) - they even ask if I'm sure I want the weird (to Americans) things I order there. :)

https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/szechuan-bistro-oklahoma-city?start=60

This link shows the menus I've seen when I've been there (which was probably 2 years ago) and it has authentic and Americanized food, plus it has both Chinese and English (and it was all in one menu, didn't have to ask for 2 menus, the authentic dishes are the back pages of the menu, IIRC). They also bring out a laminated card that has specials on it, both Americanized and authentic and in both languages. Maybe they have an extra-extra secret special Chinese menu, but I've gotten plenty of authentic dishes from the regular one they give out (with the C-numbered items in it) - they even ask if I'm sure I want the weird (to Americans) things I order there. :)

https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/szechuan-bistro-oklahoma-city?start=60

One of the nice things about being married to someone from an Asian country is that restaurants like this automatically give us the Asian menu, rather than the Americanized one.

I think I've recommended these before but at Schezuan Bistro, jumbo shrimp sauteed in XO sauce and fried fish in sweet and tangy sauce are my favorites.

This link shows the menus I've seen when I've been there (which was probably 2 years ago) and it has authentic and Americanized food, plus it has both Chinese and English (and it was all in one menu, didn't have to ask for 2 menus, the authentic dishes are the back pages of the menu, IIRC). They also bring out a laminated card that has specials on it, both Americanized and authentic and in both languages. Maybe they have an extra-extra secret special Chinese menu, but I've gotten plenty of authentic dishes from the regular one they give out (with the C-numbered items in it) - they even ask if I'm sure I want the weird (to Americans) things I order there. :)

https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/szechuan-bistro-oklahoma-city?start=60

Actually, I think we are both right. As you said, the authentic dishes are the back pages. That's two menus but they are all in one binder. When I first started going there (just after Rick's Mexican closed) I was the only caucasian in the place and they handed me two separate menus, but I do seem to remember that they have combined them into one binder
C. T.

Actually, I think we are both right. As you said, the authentic dishes are the back pages. That's two menus but they are all in one binder. When I first started going there (just after Rick's Mexican closed) I was the only caucasian in the place and they handed me two separate menus, but I do seem to remember that they have combined them into one binder
C. T.

Yep, the menus are different looking now that I think about it, they just stuck them all into one binder, probably to save the server another trip to the front to get the Chinese menu when someone asks for it, lol...

Actually, I think we are both right. As you said, the authentic dishes are the back pages. That's two menus but they are all in one binder. When I first started going there (just after Rick's Mexican closed) I was the only caucasian in the place and they handed me two separate menus, but I do seem to remember that they have combined them into one binder
C. T.

We tried Rick's and my wife LOVED it. We went back a few weeks later and they were closed down. She still hasn't tried the Rick's down by the capital and I don't even know if it's the same people.

Can’t believe I been living in Oklahoma City since 1996 and I went to Chows for the first time Friday, man that the best Chinese food period in the City.

Best in the city? Debatable. Dingy ass building too.

Can’t believe I been living in Oklahoma City since 1996 and I went to Chows for the first time Friday, man that the best Chinese food period in the City.

Chow's is very good, but I would still choose Szechuan Bistro if I had to make a choice. I do like a change, so there are several I enjoy. Trouble is, I'm just not eating out much anymore. Somewhere on this thread there are comments about Chow's, and somebody posted a comment about their lobster dishes. I haven't been to Chow's since that post, so I need to check it out.
C. T.

We tried Rick's and my wife LOVED it. We went back a few weeks later and they were closed down. She still hasn't tried the Rick's down by the capital and I don't even know if it's the same people.

It's the same people. There's another one in Moore. And my mistake, it's Ricky's not Rick's.
C. T.

I'm assuming most of these places are made to order food places? Anyone have good Chinese buffets that they enjoy?

I'm assuming most of these places are made to order food places? Anyone have good Chinese buffets that they enjoy?

Only one I still go to is Golden Palace but I only go there for the Mongolian BBQ.

I'm assuming most of these places are made to order food places? Anyone have good Chinese buffets that they enjoy?

Golden Palace for chinese at sw 15/Meridian

Not chinese but:

Thai House for Thai buffet at NW23/Walker
Taj for Indian buffet at NW23/ just east of McKinley

Definitely. Ask for the other menu for the more authentic stuff.
Chows is also great. My go to for inner OKC Chinese.

Only been to Chow's once...and that was several years ago...my thoughts then were it was not very clean and you could see gaping holes underneath the doors...I don't mean to speak bad about it, but has it gotten better?

Only been to Chow's once...and that was several years ago...my thoughts then were it was not very clean and you could see gaping holes underneath the doors...I don't mean to speak bad about it, but has it gotten better?

Okay, how was the food?

Food was OK..but the upkeep of the place detracted from it. Again, stressing that this was several years ago.

Only been to Chow's once...and that was several years ago...my thoughts then were it was not very clean and you could see gaping holes underneath the doors...I don't mean to speak bad about it, but has it gotten better?

We've been a couple of times this past year and I didn't notice anything like that, and I generally do notice cleanliness issues pretty quickly at restaurants.

Man this thread made me miss Szechuan Bistro.

This link supposedly shows the best restaurants in all fifty states. They also listed the favorite food in all fifty states and in Oklahoma it was chicken because in Oklahoma they love their chicken fried steak. How clueless is that? And the best steak restaurant was listed as Cattleman's. No clue. But it is nice that they listed Chow's and even though I'm not sure about it as being the best in Oklahoma, their food is very good.
C. T.


OKLAHOMA: CHOW’S, OKLAHOMA CITY
This modest storefront is hiding a showstopper of a Chinese restaurant, serving a pleasing mix of Americanized favorites as well as traditional Chinese fare. If you're in the mood for takeout staples like General Tso's chicken, sweet and sour pork, pepper steak, barbecue pork, and Hunan shrimp, you can depend on its renditions being fresh and flavorful, but if you venture outside of your comfort zone and sample the fried quail, salt and pepper squid, pork belly with preserved vegetables, ma po tofu, or beef stew hot pot, you'll be amply rewarded. If you're looking to get really adventurous, there's pork stomach and intestines, duck feet, cold jellyfish, and tripe. It's BYOB, so be sure you bring something along.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink/casual/the-best-chinese-restaurant-in-every-state/ss-AAtCQxk?li=BBnb7Kz#image=37

On the one hand, that list is legit. I popped over to the Texas page to make sure Asia Cafe in Austin was listed. It was.

On the other hand, while the article is dated this year, they say Asia Cafe is for takeout, and the dining space is not welcoming. While possibly true 7 or 8 years ago (at that time it was in the back of Asia Market, next door, with maybe half a dozen tables), they moved into the storefront next door in late 2009 or early 2010 and became their own separate entity, with a VERY large, bright dining area, with a couple private rooms.

With information THAT out of date, I have to wonder how the list was compiled. Yelp reviews? Foursquare check-ins? And while I haven't been there recently, I understand the original chef left and opened a different place, and Asia Cafe is generally understood to be not as good, while his new place is the new hotness. For those who use this as a barometer, one thing I've heard about Asia Cafe now is "that's where the Americans go", while A+A (the new place) is where the Asians go.