Chop Suey

Last week, a new Chinese restaurant, Lucky Dumplings, opened in Great Neck, NY.  They are located at 19 Northern Blvd, Great Neck, NY 11021, in the former location of Coco's Palace.  The restaurant is directly across Northern Blvd. from Moonstone Modern Asian Cuisine & Bar.  Between the grand opening of Lucky Dumplings and the closing of Coco's Palace, Mochinut Donut occupied the space.  But they didn't last long, and the spot remained vacant for a few years.  I was happy to see it reopen as a Chinese restaurant again.  I couldn't wait to check it out. So, I did!

It's my new favorite dish! Pan Fried Pork and Vegetable Wontons from Shanghai You Garden in downtown Flushing, NY. Just thinking about that dish now, I'm salivating. Try them. Now! Call ahead though. Parking is a pain, and it takes 15 minutes to prepare the dish. It's time well spent!

For generations, Long Island’s Chinese restaurants were more than places to eat—they were cultural institutions, social equalizers, and the unofficial dining rooms of the suburban middle class. They were where families celebrated birthdays, where teenagers learned to use chopsticks on awkward dates, where Jewish families gathered every Christmas Eve, and where the American Dream was served with pork fried rice and a side of duck sauce. Today, in 2026, the landscape looks very different. Some beloved classics endure, some have reinvented themselves, and others have vanished entirely—leaving behind only memories, menus tucked in kitchen drawers, and the faint scent of sesame oil that seems to linger in the collective imagination. Long Island’s Chinese restaurants are not disappearing. They are transforming. And in that transformation lies a story about immigration, economics, taste, nostalgia, and the future of suburban dining. What's your go-TO Chinese restaurant on Long Island? Please post in the comments below.

White Bear, famous in Flushing, opened a second location in Great Neck Plaza a few months ago. People line up to takeout from their Flushing location. I was on the fence. Where I perched for a few months before finally succumbing to the hype to try their #6 Wonton with Hot (Chili) Sauce. Now I have. Please tell me what you think of White Bear in the comments.

Last night, my Meetup Group, Meet & Eat, and Make New Friends (Nassau County / Western Suffolk County), met for dinner at O Mandarin in Hicksville, NY, to celebrate the Chinese (Lunar) New Year.  We ushered in the Year of the Horse.  Gung Hay Fat Choy!!  O Mandarin is located at 600 W Old Country Rd, Hicksville, NY 11801. The food was extraordinary, and the celebration of the Chinese New Year, Year of the Horse, was festive!

I was dreaming when I wrote this, so sue me if it goes too far.  I asked Gemini to take into account all the Chinese restaurants we have reviewed over the last 12 years and suggest "new" Chinese restaurants we haven't reviewed yet.  And Gemini wants to send us far, far away on our next Quest.  For now, this will remain a pipe dream.  Or, will it? For over a decade, The Chinese Quest has been on a delicious mission, diligently seeking out the best Chinese restaurants across Long Island and the greater NYC area. They’ve reviewed everything from dim sum palaces in Flushing to neighborhood Cantonese joints, and even ventured out to places like Ohio and Hawaii! But a quest is never truly finished. The time has come to challenge their palates and broaden their horizons. Where should this esteemed band of food adventurers—known for their meticulous reviews, deep love of tradition, and dedication to the perfect bite—turn their attention next?

Last night was my cousin, Mee Kenzo's birthday, and we celebrated with dinner at Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao on St. Marks Place in the East Village.  What better way to celebrate than with Chinese food?  Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao is located at 15 St. Marks Place, New York, NY 10003. Having dined at other Nan Xiang Xiao Long Bao restaurants on Long Island, and in Queens, we knew that we were in for a good meal. And they didn't disappoint. We got to try a few new dishes. Please let us know what you think! It was great to see you Cuz. Happy birthday!!

As we turn the calendar to the Year of the Fire Horse (which officially begins on February 17th), I’ve been doing some thinking. The Horse is known for being energetic, active, and a bit intense. Add the "Fire" element to that, and you’ve got a year that promises to be passionate, volatile, and, well, hot. If that’s the cosmic forecast, then we here at The Chinese Quest believe we should eat accordingly. We’re not starting 2026 with a whimper; we’re starting it with a bang. A mouth-numbing, sweat-inducing, "please-pass-the-soy-milk" bang. This is our guide to embracing the Fire Horse spirit. We’re diving into the spiciest dishes we could find on Long Island and in Queens, searching for that perfect, painful harmony of flavor and fire. Grab a glass of cold water and loosen your belt. It’s about to get hot in here.

The confetti has settled, the ball has dropped in Times Square, and we have officially entered 2026. According to the Gregorian calendar, it’s a new year. According to our stomachs, it’s just another 365 days to find the perfect soup dumpling. Every year, people resolve to “eat less” or “cut carbs.” Here at The Chinese Quest, we believe those resolutions are not only quitters' talk but fundamentally against the laws of nature. Why eat less when there are still menus in Queens we haven’t translated yet? Here are the official Chinese Quest Resolutions for 2026.

2025 was a year of "The Quest" digging deeper. We ventured further into the boroughs, revisited some old faithfuls on the Island, and even argued about whether "authentic" Szechuan is too spicy for a Tuesday night. Here is The Chinese Quest’s Official 2025 Year-End Review.