Great Chinese on Argyle - Hoang Thanh

Hoang Thanh @ 1129 W. Argyle. Vietnamese name, but fantastic Chinese food. The chef's specials have all been delicious every time I've been there. Salt and pepper soft-shell crabs are the best I've had. Each dish we've ordered has been tasty and balanced - never too salty, sweet, etc. BYOB right now. Check it out and post your reviews. I'm eager to see if everyone's response is as enthusiastic as mine. If so, this could become HTForum.

feedbag wrote:Hoang Thanh @ 1129 W. Argyle. Vietnamese name, but fantastic Chinese food. The chef's specials have all been delicious every time I've been there. Salt and pepper soft-shell crabs are the best I've had. Each dish we've ordered has been tasty and balanced - never too salty, sweet, etc. BYOB right now. Check it out and post your reviews. I'm eager to see if everyone's response is as enthusiastic as mine. If so, this could become HTForum.

The regular readers at LTHForum are not surprised, I am sure, but I went to Hoang Thanh a few times in the first few weeks that it was open. I did not really feel the need to post about it, but since you mention it, I will say that what I sampled was some of the most disappointing food that I have eaten in the Argyle neighbourhood, in particular, and of the Chinese variety, more generally.

I have a special place in my heart for gloppy, bland, Americanized Chinese food, but this stuff, this stuff was beyond the pale.

I guess that it is time for a reevaluation.

Welcome to LTHForum,
E.M.

Erik M. wrote:I have a special place in my heart for gloppy, bland, Americanized Chinese food, but this stuff, this stuff was beyond the pale.

Erik,

How large were the portions?

Okay, so I guess we won't be changing the name just yet... though who knows, it wouldn't be the first place to have improved since opening. Anything besides the salt and pepper crabs you particularly like, Feedbag?

Stick with the "Chef's specials" section of the menu. I haven't tried any of the standard fare, which is perhaps the reason for Erik's bad experience. They do a lot of seafood. I've only been twice, so further menu exploration is in order, but I didn't encounter any gloppy, Americanized dishes. The crispy noodles with chicken or shrimp and bok choy was a basic dish, but still very flavorful. The spare ribs came in a delicious sauce. But the only thing I'm really willing to stick my neck out on is "salt and pepper anything". Go on a Saturday night when it's busy.

Allow me to resurrect this thread about Hoang Thanh with a quick update.

My wife and I just drove up to Argyle for dinner with Tank as our destination, but alas, it was closed for the night (8 o'clock...?). So we passed by Pho 888 or whatver, and went in to Hoang Thanh.

The place is very clean and well-lit. We weren't feeling very adventurous, so we went basic: pan-fried potstickers, hot & sour soup, orange chicken, and garlic beef. Everything was superb. I can't remember when I've had this good Chinese food. Our server was really friendly and walked us through some of the menu items we had questions about. No beer of course, but we walked in with a 6-pack of Singha from across the street. They put the Sox game on per request.

Anyway: give it a shot next time you're looking for really good Chinese.

pcharrig wrote:My wife and I just drove up to Argyle for dinner with Tank as our destination, but alas, it was closed for the night (8 o'clock...?).

Tank is closed on Wednesdays.

E.M.