Chinatown: Birthday recommendations for the 'unadventurous'

My mother-in-law asked that we celebrate her upcoming birthday at a restaurant in Chinatown.

While I'm all for ordering the "LTH Forum" specified recommendations, this crowd is a bit more conservative.

So, with that, I'd appreciate your recommendations for a nice, "high-end of the norm Chinatown has to offer" restaurant.

I initially thought of Moon Palace, but am open to all suggestions. While you're at it, any recommended dishes for this crew would be appreciated, too.

Thanks.

Moon Palace is an excellent choice, but don't rule out LTH, either. In addition to the much discussed authentic chow, LTH makes killer American Chinese food as well. My wife is a very unadventurous eater (as many of you know) and she swears by the egg foo yung, S&S chicken & fried rice at LTH. The nice thing is that she can order that stuff and I can order something more to my liking, and I must admit that having sampled some of her dishes, they are quite good.

Steve, thanks again for the suggestions.

Re-reading your post, I've got to tell you that LTH is not a high end of the spectrum looking place as you described, still the food is more than worth the somewhat austere decor.

I think Moon Palace would meet your requirements nicely. Their salt and pepper fish is just fried fish, only much better. The scallion pancakes are delicious and non-threatening, as are the potstickers and the soups. Order a sizzling rice dish if you have people who are worried about food being too spicy. Other good "standards" include orange chicken, any moo shu, and most any of the fried noodle dishes. I like the singapore noodle myself, but if your guests might shy away from curry, try the beef broccoli chow fun or have them do a pan fried noodle with whatever it is you want on it (I suggest wanting the black mushrooms). The only thing I'd avoid is the seafood in nest, or whatever they call it, with mixed seafood in a fried potato basket. We had it once and the potatoes were past their prime.

If going to Moon Palace, I would add Garlic Shrimp or pork to the list that Ann just gave you. Also, the always the braised pork hock that you can get sometimes on a Saturday or by calling ahead, although that might be on the challenging side.

stevez wrote:Re-reading your post, I've got to tell you that LTH is not a high end of the spectrum looking place as you described, still the food is more than worth the somewhat austere decor.

Update: The "Little" Three Happiness of 209 W. Cermak is not the Three Happiness originally referred to in this post. The restaurant (with the same name) on Wentworth Avenue is the one with the violations; the LTH of this forum's namesake appears to be problem-free. Thanks to various board members for the correction.

Having never been to LTH myself, I suggested going there to two of my Chinese friends a while back, as we were discussing dining options in Chinatown. They were taken aback by my remark, as LTH has apparently suffered from health & sanitation violations in the past. I can't remember whether the actual taste of the food was in question, but the regulatory past of a restaurant is not so easily dismissed (at least by the more conservative -- health-oriented? -- folks in our social circles).

fastfoodsnob wrote:

stevez wrote:Re-reading your post, I've got to tell you that LTH is not a high end of the spectrum looking place as you described, still the food is more than worth the somewhat austere decor.

Having never been to LTH myself, I suggested going there to two of my Chinese friends a while back, as we were discussing dining options in Chinatown. They were taken aback by my remark, as LTH has apparently suffered from health & sanitation violations in the past. I can't remember whether the actual taste of the food was in question, but the regulatory past of a restaurant is not so easily dismissed (at least by the more conservative -- health-oriented? -- folks in our social circles).

That may be the case, but they passed their latest health inspection with nary a violation, even minors:

City of Chicago - Food Protection Division

fastfoodsnob wrote:LTH has apparently suffered from health & sanitation violations in the past.

Snob,

For the 800th time, there are two Three Happiness in Chinatown. 'Big' Three Happiness, on the Northwest corner of Wentworth and Cermak and 'Little' Three Happiness at 209 W Cermak.

They have different owners, are not affiliated and it is 'Big' Three Happiness that is the recipient of frequent health and sanitation violations. NOT, I repeat, NOT, 'Little' Three Happiness at 209 W Cermak.

The health code issues, as well as the fact 'Big' serves, at best, ineptly executed Chinese Tourist fare, are the reason I am always quite careful to differentiate between the two by use of little and big.

'Little' Three Happiness is my favorite restaurant. Go early, go often.

Enjoy,
Gary
--

Postscript:

Link to 'Big' Three Happiness City of Chicago Food Protection report
Business Name: THE NEW THREE HAPPINESS INC
Doing Business As: THE NEW THREE HAPPINESS, INC
Also Known As: THE NEW THREE HAPPINESS, INC.
Address: 2130 S WENTWORTH 60616
http://w20.cityofchicago.org/health/sea ... id=1072088



Link to 'Little' Three Happiness City of Chicago Food Protection Report
Business Name: BR & J COMPANY, INC.
Doing Business As: THREE HAPPINESS RESTAURANT
Also Known As: THREE HAPPINESS RESTAURANT
Address: 209 W CERMAK 60616
http://w20.cityofchicago.org/health/sea ... id=1063712

G Wiv wrote:For the 800th time, there are two Three Happiness in Chinatown. 'Big' Three Happiness, on the Northwest corner of Wentworth and Cermak and 'Little' Three Happiness at 209 W Cermak.

Sorry, I needed the assurances (even though I remember trying to distinguish between the two to my friends). Thanks for your patience.

--The Snob

fastfoodsnob wrote:Sorry, I needed the assurances (even though I remember trying to distinguish between the two to my friends). Thanks for your patience.

The presence of two restaurants named 'Three Happiness' so near to one another inevitably leads to confusion and a mistake is a mistake. But the issue of health code violations is a very serious matter. I suggest that FFSnob go back and using the edit function add a note to the post above in which LittleThree Happiness of 209 W. Cermak is incorrectly impugned in order to make clear what the situation is and avoid any misunderstanding on the part of someone who might stumble across the problematic post but not read the whole thread.

The editing function on this board is a valuable tool and this strikes me as a good time to employ it... Just a suggestion.

Antonius

Antonius wrote:The presence of two restaurants named 'Three Happiness' so near to one another inevitably leads to confusion and a mistake is a mistake. But the issue of health code violations is a very serious matter. I suggest that FFSnob go back and using the edit function add a note to the post above in which LittleThree Happiness of 209 W. Cermak is incorrectly impugned in order to make clear what the situation is and avoid any misunderstanding on the part of someone who might stumble across the problematic post but not read the whole thread.

The editing function on this board is a valuable tool and this strikes me as a good time to employ it... Just a suggestion.

Done!

Hi Im new here and have posted on the other chat occasionally and recognize a few I noticed talking of saltnpepper shrimp!Taking a trip to chinatown and am looking for suggestions for that dish.Whats in it besides shrimp???Sounds wonderful and as always all of you are of great help!

Deb W wrote:Hi Im new here and have posted on the other chat occasionally and recognize a few I noticed talking of saltnpepper shrimp!Taking a trip to chinatown and am looking for suggestions for that dish.Whats in it besides shrimp???Sounds wonderful and as always all of you are of great help!

Salt & pepper (sorry, couldn't resist). Actually, if you do a search on Salt and Pepper Shrimp, you'll find several threads like this one, which includes a picture.

I always use my own english and am used to being at.Saltnpepper shrimp looks vonderful.Thanks! LTH it will be!