Chop Suey

Podcast #6: The Best Chinese Food for Christmas Merry Christmas!! 🎅🎄🎁

The air is cold, the carols are playing, and the turkey is safely tucked away in the freezer. For millions of families, especially in New York and surrounding areas, the greatest Christmas tradition has nothing to do with mince pies or roaring fires—it’s the satisfying rattle of plastic containers filled with dumplings, spareribs, and lo mein. Chinese food on Christmas Day is more than a cultural phenomenon; it's a rite of passage, a rebellion against holiday labor, and a culinary beacon for those seeking authenticity and warmth on a cold winter night. To guide your annual pilgrimage, we consulted the definitive source for metropolitan-area Chinese dining: The Chinese Quest, a dedicated collective that ranks the best restaurants across Long Island and NYC. Their suggestions shouldn't be a surprise to their followers. If you're not a follower, check the article, and if you like what you read, please consider following us. Happy Holidays!

For decades, going out for "Chinese" on Long Island wasn't just a meal; it was an event. It was a destination dining experience rooted not in the bustling streets of Beijing or Shanghai, but in the strip malls of Commack, the turnpikes of Levittown, and the boulevards of Great Neck. While the giants are falling, a few classics remain hidden in plain sight across the Island. If you want to pay tribute to this fading era, don't order Grubhub. Go sit down. Order the combination plate with the dark pork fried rice. Get the drink with the umbrella in it. Crack open the fortune cookie and actually read it out loud. And tip generously—because the servers have likely been working there since you were in elementary school.

The Quest to find the best Chinese restaurants on Long Island often leads us down paths paved with nostalgia, but lately, those paths have ended in heartbreak. We mourn the loss of two foundational institutions of Americanized Chinese cuisine: Jade King in Roslyn Heights and Hoi Ming in West Sayville. Though separated by geography, both shared a similar, vital role: serving as beloved, reliable community hubs that ultimately succumbed to time, economics, or retirement.

Join us on our podcast journey, where our intrepid team is "interviewed" after posting their review of Sweet Wonton House in Little Neck, NY. Are you enjoying our podcasts? What Chinese restaurants would you like us to review next?

Baby it's cold outside! Time for some piping hot soup to warm you up. We present you with this recipe for Matzo Ball Egg Drop Soup! This recipe aims for a savory, aromatic chicken broth base, delicate matzo balls, and the classic wisps of egg. Enjoy!!

We are still shaken by the closing of Jade King last week.  As I'm sure you're well aware of now, but after 45 years, Jade King suddenly closed their doors, leaving the neighborhood in a lurch.  There are fewer and fewer old-school Chinese restaurants around.  White tablecloths are being hung up for good.  It's sad.  While Jade King wasn't our favorite Chinese restaurant, by far, it's still a shame.  Years ago, we lost Hoi Ming, and now this. Please share your thoughts in the comments ("Reply") box below the article.

If you stroll through Manhattan on Christmas Day, you’ll witness a migration as predictable as the seasons: herds of Jewish families—decked out in their finest puffer coats and Hanukkah sweaters—bee-lining for the best Chinese joint uptown. Forget figgy pudding; tonight, it’s all about crispy duck and those addictive little fried noodles you pretend you’re “just nibbling.” Click to read the rest of the story.

Join us for our fourth podcast, "The Rise and Fall of Jade King".  As we detailed in this article, Jade King, an old-school Americanized Chinese restaurant that, for 45 years, was a staple in Roslyn Heights, NY, has closed.  The King is Dead 😭.  Long Live the King!    Sure, we had our differences, but we are as dismayed as you are by this tragic news.  So, we took to the airwaves to discuss our feelings and discuss what went wrong after all these years. Please write your own obituary, or share your comments beneath the article.

Please enjoy our third podcast, which delves into the rich history, chronicling the birth and rise of The Chinese Quest.  From humble beginnings to the Gospel on finding the best Chinese restaurant on Long Island and in New York City. We hope that you will enjoy it!