21 Jan 19th–Jan 25th, 2023 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times | cONTeNTs | feeDBacK | OPiNiON | NeWs | feaTuRe | NighT+Day | culTuRe | film | cafe | music | Top Choice The 10 best Chinese restaurants in metro Phoenix. BY NEW TIMES STAFF W hile we do have Mesa’s dedicated Asian District, sadly we don’t have a desig- nated Chinatown in this city. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t find delicious and authentic Chinese food in Phoenix. You just have to know where to look. Some of the city’s best Cantonese restaurants might be hiding right in plain sight, and if you’re on the hunt for some harder-to-find cuisines (Dongbei cai, anyone?), we have some of those for you, too. Good fortune is shining. Here are the 10 best Chinese restaurants in Phoenix. China Chili 302 East Flower Street 602-266-4463 China Chili is a Phoenix institution. The dining room at this longtime spot is remi- niscent of the large and ornate dining halls you’ll often find in San Francisco’s or New York’s Chinatowns. There’s well-worn carpet, sparkling chandelier lighting, and a fish tank. Tables are decked out with rotating Lazy Susans and paper placemats depicting Chinese zodiac signs. The food is classic Cantonese-American fare done well. Tables of friends chat over noodles, families gather, and kids dig into plates of sweet and sour chicken. Takeout orders fly out the door. For something hearty and warming, try the Hunan Chicken, a dish made with a black bean sauce almost like gravy. Whether you’re looking to satisfy a craving, enjoy some nostalgia, or please a crowd, China Chili can’t be beat. Chou’s Kitchen 1250 East Apache Boulevard, #101, Tempe 480-557-8888 910 North Alma School Road, Chandler 480-821-2888 Sure, you can get delicious Chinese food in the Valley, as evidenced by this list. But finding another place that serves north- eastern Chinese cuisine like Chou’s Kitchen in Chandler and Tempe? Well, good luck. This humble restaurant has plenty to offer on its menu of unique Dongbei Cai delights and specializes in doughy dumplings. We like to start with an order of the xiaolongbao, or soup dump- lings. Chou’s version offers a delicate wrapper that holds in a flavorful meat filling and a mouthful of precious juices. Continue your meal with a bubbling hot pot or an order of the cold noodles, a spicy dish that’s actually served at room temper- ature. The Szechuan Spicy Chicken offers a savory, crunchy, and satisfying bite filled with mouth-numbing peppercorns. Dim Sum Cafe 2711 South Alma School Road, #2, Mesa 480-268-9991 Dim Sum Cafe is a tiny, square restaurant that makes smart use of mirrors to give the illusion of a much bigger space. But contrary to the small seating area, the menu is massive. Flip through multiple plastic pages of dishes with helpful photos as you decide what sounds good. Servers also drop off little sheets of paper and pencils for those looking to order the restaurant’s namesake dim sum. We recommend ordering a mix from both menus. Make sure to place a checkmark next to the Shumai, a collection of | CHOW BELLA | t Café Tirion Morris A selection of dishes from Dim Sum Cafe. >> p 22
