Although it's a small chain, Sesame Inn seems to be the most prominent winner with my family. Although the prices are not what I'd consider low, they are not outrageous either. One of my favorite things about them is the neat stuff they add to their dishes. I like the fresh ginger slices and (sometimes) even fresh garlic slices in many dishes. Here are some tips from the McKnight Road area: Sesame Inn: Best Moo Shu Pork anywhere. Great General Tso's Chicken (I often prefer the very similar "Amazing Chicken" for a little variety on this theme. It's a little bit sweeter, and has the ginger slices (as far as I can remember). Very good Sesame Beef Soups are ok (not remarkable either way) Fried dumplings are great. It's right next to the grocery store Amarraca north of Ross Park Mall. Empire Szechuan: Very nice, unusual General Tso's Chicken. It's another of my favorites: a very garlic-laden, rich flavor will surprise you. Their buffet is ok, but as with any Chinese buffet, you have to get the food right when it arrives. Other dishes are not very remarkable. We've tried lemon chicken, twice cooked pork, walnut shrimp, etc. Near Sesame Inn, right on McKnight Road. China Balcony: The best Won Ton Soup you'll have: They have a regular one and a fancy one. You REALLY need to try the fancy one (for two). Other than that, their dishes are unremarkable. In McIntyre Square. Szechuan Taste: Two OUTSTANDING dishes: General Tso's chicken: great! (deep fried, as usual) Among the best ever. Sesame Chicken: also great! (not batter-fried) usually a bit spicy. Other dishes seem traditional. In Cranberry in the plaza behind Cranberry Mall. It's a small place between the Cinema and the toy store. China Fan: (Fast food) Again, General Tso's is good--perhaps too sweet and not spicy enough. Decent value. Other dishes are ok. They have a card where you get freebies with multiple purchases. In the Northway Mall. Ross Park Mall also has a Chinese fast food restaurant. It's the worst on my list. They don't make anything fresh, and the dishes seem to be very soggy as they soak in the sauce all day. Obviously, our tastes run to General Tso's and similar dishes. If I were taking out a friend, I'd definitely pick Sesame Inn. They're nearly the best in nearly all categories in my book. They've also won several awards, so I'm not the only one hooked on their ginger and garlic chunks. Eric E. wrote in article ... > Any Restaurants come to mind regarding Chinese food? > > Thanks > > Eric >
Pittsburgh, PA
Looking for good Chinese in North Hills
There are no inspiring examples of good Chinese in the North Hills. What I mean by that is this: if you take a bunch of people who really like Sushi, and take them to Koto Buki, they will most likely all say, "now this is good sushi." I don't think there is a comparable Chinese place in Pittsburgh. 2 good ones: Sesame Inn: not bad. The Garlic Eggplant with Shrimp is good. Overall though, the menu doesn't reach much further than "generic american chinese." Zaws: This isn't in the north hills. A take-out joint in Squirrel Hill, the menu is also not extensively fancy. But, what they do well is VERY good. The roast pork in particular is made on the premises and is excellent. The food is honestly prepared, there is more than 1 color of sauce, things generally aren't too greasy. At its best, is tastes like food I might get at home (Amherst, MA) from my mom, not "chinese restaurant food". At its worst, its still better than almost anything in the city. In particular, the other 3 places on Murray near Zaws are pretty forgettable. The other 2 asian food joins that I've found to be pretty good are Spice Islands Tea House, although its not as good as it used to be, and Himelayan Tibetan, which has decent steamed dumplings. Both are in Oakland. Pete
Pete S. wrote: |> There are no inspiring examples of good Chinese in the North Hills. |> |> What I mean by that is this: if you take a bunch of people who really |> like Sushi, and take them to Koto Buki, they will most likely all say, |> "now this is good sushi." |> |> I don't think there is a comparable Chinese place in Pittsburgh. |> |> 2 good ones: |> |> Sesame Inn: not bad. The Garlic Eggplant with Shrimp is good. |> Overall though, the menu doesn't reach much further than "generic |> american chinese." |> ... When we lived in Ross, we'd frequent a place called China Sea in Westview. It was the basic store-front type place (a few places to sit, but mostly a take-out joint.) Most of the dishes are different from the cookie-cutter recipes you find at almost all other places around Pgh, even though the names are the same. The steamed dumplings are a real treat, because the sauce they serve with them are a spicy bean dip that's very good. Now, I order amost exclusively from Sesame Inn because of proximity, but I miss the days of visiting the China Sea... J
Our favorite is the one across from North Hills Village. It used to be called Cathay Gourmet and I can't think of the new name. They run an excellent buffet, but of course you can order from the menu as well. Eric E. wrote: >Any Restaurants come to mind regarding Chinese food? > >Thanks > >Eric
Excerpts from netnews.pgh.food: 12-Nov-96 Re: Looking for good Chines.. by Ann [email removed] > Our favorite is the one across from North Hills Village. It used to > be called Cathay Gourmet and I can't think of the new name. They run > an excellent buffet, but of course you can order from the menu as > well. > The same family owns three of them. They used to be Cathay in the North Hills, Hunan on South Side, and Mandarin downtown. Now I think they're all Mandarin. I've eaten there for years, really nice people, good food. The buffet of course is not as good as the menu for the freshness factor, but you can still gorge yourself for cheap! Joe Sestrich [email removed]