Good authentic Chinese food in the area? (Miami, Tampa: fit in, house)

[Uhthaya]

I was wondering if there were any good authentic Chinese food in the area? I spend a lot of time eating in places like china-town Montreal and Boston; I really miss good Chinese food. I wounding if there any good places to get dim sum, Jiaozi, and fresh Dumplings?

[graceC]

You are in Florida, a place known for its beaches but not exactly known for ethnic food of any kind. While there are decent Chinese food places in the area, you will need to lower your expectations by a lot.

Dim Sum King at UTC Mall and Yummy House in downtown Sarasota (across from Sarasota Memorial Hospital) are the two dim sums I’ve tasted and they’re quite decent. Yummy House is slightly better than Dim Sum King, IMO. There’s one in Tampa I’ve been to (can’t recall the name), but they’re not worth the drive.

As far as fresh dumplings shop, I haven’t found one in Sarasota area so I made my own.

[Uhthaya]

Originally Posted by graceC

You are in Florida, a place known for its beaches but not exactly known for ethnic food of any kind. While there are decent Chinese food places in the area, you will need to lower your expectations by a lot.

Dim Sum King at UTC Mall and Yummy House in downtown Sarasota (across from Sarasota Memorial Hospital) are the two dim sums I’ve tasted and they’re quite decent. Yummy House is slightly better than Dim Sum King, IMO. There’s one in Tampa I’ve been to (can’t recall the name), but they’re not worth the drive.

As far as fresh dumplings shop, I haven’t found one in Sarasota area so I made my own.

I gonna post in the Tampa and Clear-water Thread and find out if there anything there?

[Yukenbo]

Ok, not exactly Chinese, but a recommendation on good Vietnamese (and they claim to do Chinese as well) - Pho 101 Noodle House. It's actually next to a Chinese place called New Dynasty so if you don't like one...

I am not Chinese, but I have lived many years in Japan (family) and have spent much time across Asia on business.

[Sunscape]

[graceC]

Originally Posted by Uhthaya

I gonna post in the Tampa and Clear-water Thread and find out if there anything there?

Tampa has more choices for ethnic food, for sure. I personally just haven’t explored it that much because it’s a drag to drive there just to eat.

BTW, if you like Vietnamese food, Thinh Anh in Tampa is great. It’s a small restaurant with one side selling fresh homemade fried seasoned tofu (mushroom tofu, lemon grass tofu, etc) by the pound, as well as ready-made Vietnamese traditional food you can take home, plus traditional Vietnamese deserts. I used to live in Northern Virginia, with fantastic choices for Vietnamese food that’s not just Pho, and even with its much more limited choices, Thinh Anh comes close.

If you are in the mood for fresh long-an (the fruit), there’s an old Chinese couple in Venice with about 30 mature long-an trees on their property and they have a pick-your-own long-an arrangement for anyone who’s interested. $10 for a big crate, and you can cram as many of the fruits as the crate can fit in (enough to feed 10 adults and then some). They announce on Facebook marketplace each year when the season starts.

[FL_Expert]

Originally Posted by graceC

Tampa has more choices for ethnic food, for sure. I personally just haven’t explored it that much because it’s a drag to drive there just to eat.

BTW, if you like Vietnamese food, Thinh Anh in Tampa is great. It’s a small restaurant with one side selling fresh homemade fried seasoned tofu (mushroom tofu, lemon grass tofu, etc) by the pound, as well as ready-made Vietnamese traditional food you can take home, plus traditional Vietnamese deserts. I used to live in Northern Virginia, with fantastic choices for Vietnamese food that’s not just Pho, and even with its much more limited choices, Thinh Anh comes close.

If you are in the mood for fresh long-an (the fruit), there’s an old Chinese couple in Venice with about 30 mature long-an trees on their property and they have a pick-your-own long-an arrangement for anyone who’s interested. $10 for a big crate, and you can cram as many of the fruits as the crate can fit in (enough to feed 10 adults and then some). They announce on Facebook marketplace each year when the season starts.

Tampa does have some good Vietnamese. Thinh Anh is good, like you said. I’ve enjoyed Pho Quyen, and then there’s Saigon Deli for a very authentic (maybe too authentic) experience.

If interested, there are a couple good Thai places too.

[SkyperTyper]

DaRUma is not bad, not great....the one in Naples is good.

[graceC]

Oh, yes, speaking of Naples, I stopped by a restaurant called 'Chinatown' in Naples a few months ago on the way to somewhere else. The restaurant says it's New York style Chinese food, so that got my attention for sure. I saw a few traditional items on the menu that I haven't seen anywhere else (Pork Belly stewed with Chinese preserved vegetables, for example). I ordered the Pork Belly and it was delicious (a bit sweeter for my taste, but it was flavorful and the pork belly was melt-in-my-mouth soft!). The dumplings were good there too! It was a fluke and a good find.

I wouldn't go all the way there from Sarasota just to eat there, mind you! I wouldn't do that for most places since I'm lazy, but if you're ever in Naples area, definitely check that restaurant out.

[Trying941]

Originally Posted by Uhthaya

I was wondering if there were any good authentic Chinese food in the area? I spend a lot of time eating in places like china-town Montreal and Boston; I really miss good Chinese food. I wounding if there any good places to get dim sum, Jiaozi, and fresh Dumplings?

There are many definitions of authentic Chinese food obviously. If we are speaking about true authentic in the USA, outside of San Francisco and NYC, it is almost impossible to find. By Boston standards (as Montreal - i.e., Keung Kee - is better), Miami has almost "authentic" Chinese on a par:

Hakkasan
Fontainebleau Resort, 4441 Collins Ave
Miami Beach, FL 33140

It's not the Hong Kong Club, Lee Ho Fook or Ling King Teen, but it is as close as you are going to get near here.