Chow Bar — Restaurant in Bloomington

I was in Bloomington for a 5 day conference and I came to this restaurant 6 times (I arrived on a Sunday afternoon). I think the name might sound unappetizing and the atmosphere and prices might make one suspicious of the quality of the food. But let me tell you, if you know what to order and also like spicy food, the food is some of the best I've had. And I've had food in Beijing, Chongqing, Xining, and some town in Gansu in China which covers a somewhat diverse range of Chinese cuisines.

The two that I loved the most are pictured below (rice not pictured). 水煮三样 ("Water Cooked" beef shank, tongue, tripe) Don't mind the English translation which doesn't do this justice. The shank and tongue was extremely tender and flavorful. The tripe had the perfect springiness when you bite. And after you've had the main components, there is some stewed cabbage beneath to round things off. If you enjoy spicy food, I think you should try this.

干煸肥肠 (Stir-Fried Fatty Intestines) The outside is crispy, the inside more chewy and it just packs a great blend of spicy flavors. The vegetables pair well.

Not everyone is used to some of these less commonly consumed parts of the animal but if you're feeling adventurous, give it a try. And both cost less than $18 after tax (in the summer of 2023). If this were served in NY, they could charge $25 at least and I would still happily pay.

The atmosphere is certainly not that of fine-dining but personally, that's fine with me. It was quiet and peaceful and I read some Far Side comics by Gary Larson during one of...

Solid Chinese restaurant. I grew up with both my parents being Chinese chefs, and the only place I've had Chinese food better than their cooking is in Hong Kong, but this place holds me over until I can get home. Decent selection, a lot of Americanized Chinese food for those use to it, but also a lot of authentic Korean and Chinese dishes as well. Lunch buffet is pretty tasty, but order off the menu if you're really craving something or want to try something new. Portions are very generous. Well seasoned and flavorful, can't really complain about the food. Another plus is there are usually at least a few tables of people speaking Korean or Chinese every time I've gone in, so that's a good sign. Decor is rather bland. Tables and floors are decently clean, but they have the while tile that shows even the smallest bit of dust or dirt. Service is prompt, but usually all business and not so much social chatter. They have bubble tea in a wide variety of flavors. Also called 'Boba' in some places, it's tapioca pearls in a tea. Unfortunately they use powder for most if not all their teas, but it seems to be of a better quality than other places in town that have bubble tea but with a grainy...

Maybe we got our hopes up with the sampler platter. We started with the sampler plate which was incredible. The crab Rangoons were delicious, the dumplings were the best with a hint of honey, the chicken skewers were melt-in-your-mouth tender. The ribs were super dry so we left those. They did have a nice sauce but like eating cardboard. I ordered the Chinese bacon and tofu based on another review. The presentation was nice and visually appealing but the flavor was non-existant. SO bland. The only flavor was the brine from canned bamboo shoots which caused the entire dish to taste somewhat bitter. The vegetables were chewy, freezer burnt and overcooked. The meat and tofu were perfectly cooked so it's such a shame the dish wasn't worth eating. Im not sure how tofu could be so flavorless. Same issues with the lo mein and general tsos, no good flavor. The chicken in the general tsos was old and hard. The lo mein was dry and bland but the shrimp was good. Great appetizers, horrible entrees, great portions. I'd recommend getting only meat dishes or appetizers as they were great. Unsure if I...