Chinese Restaurant Reviews for a Fiftieth of a Century!

Today, we are proud to celebrate bringing you unbiased reviews of Chinese restaurants for a fiftieth of a Century!

We went from zero to Newsday heroes!  Recognized early on by Newsday’s FollowLI, which highlights Twitter feeds that are follow-worthy.  And most recently a full two-page article that appeared in Newsday this past Chinese New Year’s Day!

We’ve come a long way baby!

And, it’s really hard to stay calm, to be honest.

We just want to scream it out loud from on high.

A fiftieth of a century.

WOW!

So, please… enough staying Calm.  It’s time to celebrate!!

Now, a fiftieth of a century sounds like an eternity.  Though some may argue, we don’t act our age.  And after all, a fiftieth of a century is just two years.  We’re mere babies!

For two years now, a fiftieth of a century, we’ve introduced you to some of the best Chinese restaurants on Long Island and New York City (mostly in Queens and Flushing).  Two years.  We’re still toddlers. We have a lot of growing up to do.  And as our palates mature, so does our hunger to find you even better Chinese restaurants than we have already.

Let’s quickly take a look back at some of the highlights over the last two years:

Recognition for @TheChineseQuest:

We are in Newsday for the first time!  Our first public recognition.  No longer are we just legends in our own minds, but other people, notably Newsday, think that we are worthy of even greater recognition.  This very short blurb introduced readers to The Chinese Quest Twitter feed.

Who knew that this little bit of recognition could springboard The Chinese Quest to amazing heights over the next two years?

We knew.  Did you?

Our First Official Chinese Restaurant Review:

The Orient, Bethpage, NY – The Orient in Bethpage, NY was the very first Chinese restaurant review that we wrote.  The Orient came highly recommended as an authentic Chinese restaurant.  And The Orient did not disappoint!  In a strip mall, the Orient has undergone a complete renovation since we wrote our review.  At the time of our review, they didn’t have a liquor license, so we enjoyed the benefits of bringing our own wine.  Hopefully, nothing has changed in the quality of their food.  We will definitely have to revisit The Orient next year.  Without a doubt, The Orient served THE best House Wonton Soup that we’ve ever had the privilege to enjoy.  The other most notable ingredient we remember so fondly was their lotus root.  Chinese really do do vegetables so well!  Go enjoy a taste of The Orient if you’re in the Bethpage area.  And, if you’re not, it’s definitely worth the trip!

One of Our Real Finds in Suffolk County:

Yao’s Diner, Centereach, NY – If it is authentic Chinese Food you’re after, Yao’s Diner fits the bill.  If it’s a romantic setting or Americanized Chinese food, then definitely keep on rolling.  Yao’s Diner is definitely a hole-in-the-wall kind of place, and if you don’t know where you’re going you’re sure to pass it right by.  We enjoyed a hot and spicy dinner of Multi-Flavors Spare Ribs (these are NOT the typical spare ribs you would expect to encounter in a Chinese Restaurant.  These were meaty and tasty… not sweet), Szechuan Pork Dumplings, followed by Sliced Basa Fish w/Silken Tofu Pot (that was a Famous Szechuan Dish.  Well, that’s how it is listed on the menu… so it must be true!), Chicken in Spicy Hot Pot w/Mixed Vegetables, Shredded Pork w/Baby Bamboo Shoots, and Dry Sauteed String Beans.

Our Favorite Restaurant in Flushing:

Joe’s Shanghai, Flushing, NY – This was a real authentic Chinese restaurant.  The kind we’ve been looking for.  No sugars and sweeteners to go with the tea.  No fried noodles to munch on.  No spare ribs on the menu (Heaven forbid!  What were we to do without our staple for comparative purposes??).  Joe’s Shanghai has a few different locations, including one in Chinatown, one in midtown, as well as in China and even Japan.  But, it all started at this very location in Flushing, NY.  Joe’s Shanghai is famous for Soup Dumplings!  But, that’s not all they should be known for.  We had a veritable feast of Braised Pork Shoulder, Soft Shelled Crabs, Chicken w/Hoisin Sauce, Water Spinach w/White Bean Sauce, Scallops & Prawns w/Garlic Sauce, Scallion Pancakes.  And as if SIX entrees wasn’t enough for FIVE hungry Mee’s, we ordered a SEVENTH entree, Lobster w/Fried Rice Cake.  And finally, for dessert they made us a special dish of Fried & Steamed Mini Buns w/Sweet Sauce.  YUM!

We Discover a Secret That’s Buried in Chinatown:

MOTT Street – The Secret (Message)

What’s the secret?  It’s a street sign in Chinatown.  Its meaning is clear.

The Street is MOTT Street.  And the acronym stands forMembers Of The Tribe.  And on Mott Street you will find literally HUNDREDS of Chinese restaurants.

Members Of The Tribe Mee-t here!  This is YOUR promised land.  The food you’ve been patiently waiting for for over a thousand years.  Chinese food.  Chicken soup for the Jewish soul.

Being Jewish (being “a Jew”) means you’re a Member Of The Tribe (a M-O-T-T)

The Chinese Quest Unmasked, and Uncensored:

(Credit: Newsday 2/19/2015, Randee Daddona)

And the pinnacle (to date) of our success, a two page article in Newsday titled “Five Long Island Men on a Quest for Great Chinese Food“.  For the first time, The Chinese Quest is unmasked (for a small fee, we would be glad to don our masks again).

The Chinese Quest Facebook page has been liked by over 830 fans already.  Become one of our fans and help spread the word of our Quest.  The best is yet to come!

Humbly submitted for your consumption,

—Mee Magnum  (“Chop!  Chop!”)