No.1 Chinese Kitchen — Restaurant in New York

I grew up in this neighborhood and have been back with family during Covid. The Chinese place I went to for decades, while still around, has gone way, way down hill. A decline so steep it is actually depressing.

For months I avoided takeout. As Covid raged on I realized this was an opportunity to indulge in all my favorite "outside" food from childhood. Afraid of my old Chinese spot, I refused to try any place within walking distance. Instead I ordered from nicer, surrounding, neighborhoods. Because of both Covid and distance I tipped extra, waiting over an hour for delivery each time, my logic being that standards elsewhere would be higher and the food, better. As usual, I was right.

For months it was a glorious time of glorious food but between the fees and the taxes and the extra tipping, I eventually grew tired of lighting my money on fire. As I wasn't yet ready to give up Chinese takeout, the only solution was to put on my big girl pants and find a new, local spot.

I spent an eternity reading every review of every Chinese place nearby, then reading every review from commenters to make sure they were real people.

Do you know how many Chinese food places there are within this 1 mile radius? A whole heck of a lot. Do you know how many fake reviews there are on Google? A whole heck of a lot. Do you know how easy it is to read all of someone's reviews, find yourself amused, then fall into a rabbit hole of reading even more people's asinine Google reviews (like mine), making your search take that much longer? Way easier than finding a new Chinese takeout spot.

My exhaustive research eventually led to two suitable options.

Today I was ready to try the first. Neuroticism in full swing, I checked the reviews one last time. Lo and behold there was a new post from what looked like a real person about seeing a rat there. Yikes. OK, tbh I don't believe rat comments, but since I was already skittish it totally freaked me out. Thank you, next.

Ironically, No. 1 Chinese Kitchen was second on my list. It had two good reviews from what looked like real people. Rather than order I figured it would be safer to actually go see place with my own two eyes. SO I DID JUST THAT.

It's clean. Humble, for sure. But clean. Even the people working there...looked...clean? From the boy who took my order, to the older gentleman who immediately began preparing it, to the woman who took payment and presented me with my food. I don't know how else to explain it. They just looked like clean people. Very clean. lol. Everyone was pleasant and the service was AmericanChineseTakeout-Efficient.

I had the General Tso's, and my mother had the fried chicken. My mother complains about literally everything, and she said her meal was good and fresh. High praise, I assure you. The General Tso's was really good. I still got some crunch from the coating, and the sauce, although gloopy and burnt-looking was anything but. It was really, really good. And spicy! General Tso's is always listed as spicy but never is. Their version def has a little kick. Nothing crazy but it did take me by pleasant surprise. I honestly thought it was perfect.

I got duck sauce for the rice but found I didn't need it. The chunks of pork were more of a suggestion but the rice was fluffy and fresh and tasty. I have never in my life had this style of Chinese takeout--anywhere, even outside of NYC, even outside of the US, without putting duck sauce on the rice. It won't blow your mind but it's solid on its own.

Everything tasted fresh. Not greasy. Just right.

I know I seem psycho (sad?) for writing this giant review but I'm just a lifelong American Chinese lover who was hard up for some good ol' American Chinese takeout during an extremely anxiety-inducing time where she clearly had (has) way too much free time on her hands.

So! This is a damn good choice for American Chinese. I'm going...

ABSOLUTELY UNPROFESSIONAL! I've ordered online for delivery from here before with no problem. However, today my address is "out of their range". I mentioned to the receptionist how they've delivered here before so she checked her systems and continued to take my order. An hour passes and I receive a call (thinking its the delivery man calling to say hes downstairs) NOPE! its them calling me back an hour later to tell me they aren't delivering my food that I can go pick it up.

All in all, very unprofessional business, they didn't accommodate me in anyway even after making me wait a whole hour & to top it off the manager didn't even want to speak to me. He kept telling the receptionist that he'll...

I never had an issue before last few times they made mistakes on certain items and when ask for sauce wanna charge .50 extra forc each sauce BBQ,SPICY,BOTTLE Ketchup REALLY ! Why ? There food is Good and fresh but have lately been making mistakes and pass you to a few people to explain order Maybe don't understand and take Orders back to "TRY" & Correct I hope they don't resell COVID Is Still not gone. No Offense to no one its for Everyone's Safety. And Still have to wait 30-40 Minute to get Correct...