General Tso's chicken similar to Foong Lin?

[Anonymous]

I can't seem to find decent Chinese food in Bethesda, especially that delivers. Can anyone recommend someplace that makes a good General Tso's that isn't like pieces of chicken wrapped in donut and drizzled with corn syrup? I liked Foong Lin but they are closed until they find a new location. Any recommendations?

[Anonymous]

Bumping in the hopes of getting a suggestion before dinner time tonight.

[Anonymous]

Try Shanghai Village on Bethesda Ave., or City Lights.

[Anonymous]

I can try shanghai village but city lights is actually the last place I got from that was the donut wrapped chicken I was referring to. Awful. The fried dough to chicken ratio was about 3 to 1. I had a mountain of soggy sticky fried batter left over after picking the bits of chicken out.

[Anonymous]

Where have you tried? Shanghai Garden, City Lights?

I've heard the North China Restaurant on Old g'town has a good chef, at least at one point, but haven't tried it.

[Anonymous]

It's a litltle far, up in Rockville, but the best Chinese food in MoCo is Tony Lin's in Rockville, at the Giant plaza at the intersection of Rockville Pike and Montrose Rd. It was originally recommended to us by the deputy-consul of the Chinese embassy in the 1990's (who knew my parents). My mother, originally from Beijing and a chinese cooking instructor for many years, thinks it's the best of the restaurants that we have tried. We had our Chinese banquet rehearsal dinner for our wedding there, and with some 60 Chinese guests, all naturalized citizens and they loved it. It's not convenient, but we go when we can because it's so authentic.

I don't order General Tso's chicken (it's not real Chinese food, but American Chinese food), but I would trust Tony Lin's more than any other restaurant.

[Anonymous]

Golden House-- the takeout place in the old hamburger hamlet on Wisconsin Ave-- isn't bad either, but I agree that the issue is you are complaining that an American-chinese dish is too American so I think the only thing to do is try it out at a couple of places.

p.s. Somewhere I saw an article that the dish was actually invented by someone from NW China who had to flee to Taiwan.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can't seem to find decent Chinese food in Bethesda, especially that delivers. Can anyone recommend someplace that makes a good General Tso's that isn't like pieces of chicken wrapped in donut and drizzled with corn syrup? I liked Foong Lin but they are closed until they find a new location. Any recommendations?

What happened to Foong Lin? Lost their lease in Bethesda?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't seem to find decent Chinese food in Bethesda, especially that delivers. Can anyone recommend someplace that makes a good General Tso's that isn't like pieces of chicken wrapped in donut and drizzled with corn syrup? I liked Foong Lin but they are closed until they find a new location. Any recommendations?

What happened to Foong Lin? Lost their lease in Bethesda?

I think that block is slated for one of the new tall buildings that are popping up all over Bethesda.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't seem to find decent Chinese food in Bethesda, especially that delivers. Can anyone recommend someplace that makes a good General Tso's that isn't like pieces of chicken wrapped in donut and drizzled with corn syrup? I liked Foong Lin but they are closed until they find a new location. Any recommendations?

What happened to Foong Lin? Lost their lease in Bethesda?

I think that block is slated for one of the new tall buildings that are popping up all over Bethesda.

Will Starbucks also have to move?

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks guys. Yes, Foong Lin lost their lease and don't know where they are re-opening as far as I know. I understand that, by its nature, General Tso's isn't going to be authentic, I'm just looking for something that isn't totally surrounded by a cocoon of funnel cake.

I've tried various dishes at Mei Wah and North China and thought they were ok but I don't order Chinese very often and can't recall what their battered/fried chicken dish situations were. And I've had Shanghai Village too but dont recall if I liked it. The last place I had was City Lights and it was horrible. I think I'll try golden house since its near me. I've never ordered from there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Golden House-- the takeout place in the old hamburger hamlet on Wisconsin Ave-- isn't bad either, but I agree that the issue is you are complaining that an American-chinese dish is too American so I think the only thing to do is try it out at a couple of places.

p.s. Somewhere I saw an article that the dish was actually invented by someone from NW China who had to flee to Taiwan.

Whoa. Just went to the Golden House website. I thought you were talking about a place that's in the shopping center where Hamburger Hamlet currently is. Golden House is that shady looking shack place. I've always avoided that place just from judging the outside. But I'll give it a shot if PP vouches for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
What happened to Foong Lin? Lost their lease in Bethesda?

All the shops on that corner were basically kicked out. It's being rebuilt as a bigger building now. I believe Foong Lin will _not_ be re-opening -- they've been at it for 20 years.

[Anonymous]

We heard that Foong Lin is looking for a new location -

We liked the steamed light food at City Lights (although I will agree, some days are better than others!). It has the flavor of the sauce, but they put it over steamed white meat chix.

We have friends that swear by Golden House, we thought it was so-so.

Anyone ever try Taipei Tokyo on Bethesda Ave.?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Golden House-- the takeout place in the old hamburger hamlet on Wisconsin Ave-- isn't bad either, but I agree that the issue is you are complaining that an American-chinese dish is too American so I think the only thing to do is try it out at a couple of places.

p.s. Somewhere I saw an article that the dish was actually invented by someone from NW China who had to flee to Taiwan.

Whoa. Just went to the Golden House website. I thought you were talking about a place that's in the shopping center where Hamburger Hamlet currently is. Golden House is that shady looking shack place. I've always avoided that place just from judging the outside. But I'll give it a shot if PP vouches for it.

If you like the sweet, slightly spicy taste, I think one of their better dishes is "cranch crispy beef" (no idea why it's called that, but it's sort of like a shredded beef version of General Tso).