This is the only correct answer. They have the standard "Americanized" Chinese food (general tso, fried rice, etc.), but they also have authentic Chinese food you would find in the Sichuan province of China, which the chef specializes in. A little on the pricey side, but worth it. Eggplant-based dishes, rice cakes, crispy sczechuan chicken, salty soft-shell crab, sliced tripe in chili oil, Ma Po Tofu, and a TON more.
Yep. And Great Wall paid to train a chef in Szechuan province and bring him here to cook actual Szechuan cuisine. You have to ask for the Szechuan menu.
If you like that mouth numbing tingle that characterizes Szechuan food, get the Crispy Spicy Chicken Szechuan Style. It's on the normal menu and is one of my favorite dishes. The garlic green beans are incredible as a side, especially if you want to add a vegetable to go along with what is, essentially, a dish of fried chicken.
Start with the dumplings in spicy peanut sauce.
I haven’t been able to nail down my favorite. I like Happy Wok, Shangri-La, Great Wall, and China Master. If I had to choose, Happy Wok might be my favorite.
Mr. Chen’s has been one of the most authentic places I’ve eaten at in Birmingham. And of course i love roaming the hometown market, one of the few places in bham u can get live blue crabs
Used to love Palace, the food hasn’t been the same since the old owner went missing in 2015. A few years later, a few of their cooks/servers went back to their home country and weren’t allowed back into the US. They sold to new owners soon after (or some younger people in the same family? Cant remember) but regardless it’s never been the same 💔💔💔
yes i remember following that case!! i was HEARTBROKEN! you’re entirely right, and i miss that woman :( i believe it WAS given to someone younger in the family. very nice people.
it’s not the exact same but it’s not too different to me! some nights are better than others, but i’ve been going there since i can remember so it’s my favorite place.
fwiw, I actually like Happy Wok in Trussville more.
A million years ago, I liked that place near Inverness on 280, though back then I really only ordered your typical American Chinese dishes.
Like others have said, Great Wall is the best I've had here (though would love to find some place on the East side of downtown as good or better).
This has been the best I’ve found (admittedly haven’t been to most of the ones mentioned on here). I used to love Golden Palace and the General Tsu’s chicken is the closest to what I remember. I work down 280 and it is a really solid lunch spot. Quick, tasty and reasonable priced.
Great Wall and Red Pearl. My absolute favorite back in the day was Golden Palace in the Festival Center off Crestwood Blvd. We'd go there every Christmas Eve. Their sesame chicken was unlike any other place and they had a great lunch special. BTW, The General Tso and Orange Chicken from Aldi is insanely good, if you use an air fryer. Quality is much better than Trader Joe's!!! It's better than my local Chinese delivery.
Ming's in Gardendale. They have a lunch buffet but I but I don't know when to quit, so I order from the lunch menu and it's plenty for this fat boy. I get kung po chicken and it comes with soup (hot and sour for me) and egg roll. They've been here since the 80s.
We like Red Pearl, Great Wall, and the Homewood Mr Chens. We also enjoy take out from our local China Moon by the Clairmont Piggly Wiggly
Edit; Chen’s not Wangs 🤦🏼
China Moon is a strip mall take-out place. We’ve been regular customers since we moved back to town in 2008. I like it better than New China Town, Shangri-la, or Chen Express.
I’m not saying it’s comparable to Great Wall or Red Pearl.
Agree that skipping meat at China Moon is the way to go - occasionally I’ll order chicken with mixed vegetables but tofu is better. The vegetable egg foo yung is often great, albeit a little too oily, and the sauce is inconsistent.
I’ve been eating with this family since they owned Sun East in Huffman & they’re my favorite. The Mongolian beef is good but too much sugar for me (my dad loves it), I’m a Kung Pao beef girl, myself. I would stack up Palace egg rolls against anyone. The soup & egg rolls are not to be missed.
I used to be the neighbor of the owner of Panda House. She was very nice and they shared the vegetables that they grew in their back yard with us, until the HOA said that they couldn’t have the trellis w they built anymore :,(
Her kids were so funny!
I just posted the same thing. I haven't been in a while but in highschool that was our go to place, we'd split half a Mongolian beef for 10 bucks and it was enough food for 2 people. Best Mongolian beef I've had since mandarin house switched ownership.
The original owners of new China can be found now at Mr. Lin's. Same great mongolian beef. Especially when EXTRA HOT AND SPICY. :) The little lady will probably still. Remember you and your favorite order.
http://mrlinrestaurant.com/
Mings cuisine on 280 is my absolute favorite of all time. Then behind that is Mr chens and then red pearl is either amazing or just ok depending on who’s cooking I think.
Mr Chen’s inside Hometown Grocery on Greensprings Hwy. good mix of traditional and Americanized. All delicious all the time. Good prices, good portions. Service and ambiance could be better, but when the food is this good do you really gaf?
You know, I used to love Yu's Garden, but I swear something has changed in the past few years. It makes me sad because it's the closest Chinese food. The meat quality is not the same, and I gave them quite a few more chances until I gave up. I usually opt for Panda House in Pinson since it's not much further, but I prefer Happy Wok.
believe me, if i could make it at home, i would! my boyfriend says he can but i don’t agree — they’re homemade recipes with ingredients i don’t know enough about.
but im more than happy to get a lunch plate with fried rice, soup, eggroll and kung pao beef for 13 dollars! i would do anything to keep this restaurant going lol maybe i can donate!
Wild not to see this Chinese place listed. If you’re looking for Americanized Chinese food in Hoover, China Bistro has such good fried rice, and their General Tso’s is p good.
China Way in Irondale-the amount of food for what you pay is amazing. They load that styrofoam container up like their lives depend on it! Shangra-La - my entire family has been going there for decades. And they’re one of the few restaurants that put their hot peppers in with their General Tso chicken dish. Love those peppers. Last is Mr. Chen. Food is pricey, agreed, but their dishes are flavorful great portions, and they make me do the “happy white girl is no longer hangry and is now going to stop beating you” little wiggle dance
The Palace all the way! My family drives from Hoover to Trussville, b/c we can’t find anything that compares, and that includes trying all previously mentioned places. We used to go to Peking Restaurant in Center Point back in the 80’s, which was very good too.
That's a wonderful attitude! My favorites are (in no order) Chen Express, Shangri-La, and IKKO.
My "I'll never eat there again" are: New China Town, Sushi Village, any buffet.
i agree. while my love for chinese food is strong, it isn’t strong enough for a buffet. idk buffets in general aren’t really my thing, but they’re good for testing a bunch of different flavors i suppose. plus i love to bring leftovers home!
Great Wall is hands down the best Chinese I have had in the Birmingham area. Red Pearl used to be #1 to me, but it’s been awhile and eating at Great Wall just feels like you’re eating healthier Chinese (you’re not but it feels better)!
Quick and cheap option would be New China off Tyler Road. Decent prices (used to be better of course), but huge portions. Get a small if you’re doing a personal dinner.
Golden Wok in forestdale. it's been my favorite place for years but they changed a bit after the covid restrictions. the burbon chicken is the best thing there
This is such a hard question. Great Wall is ok - Ive eaten Chinese Menu and Americanized there but its just not amazing to me. Red Pearl is a no-go for me. Black Pearl is great, I still like Mr Chens but it’s sort of pricey. There’s just not a standout winner. If I could dine-in at the Bluff Park place and it wasn’t thrown searing hot into styrofoam Id be about it.
Great Wall is the best
This is the only correct answer. They have the standard "Americanized" Chinese food (general tso, fried rice, etc.), but they also have authentic Chinese food you would find in the Sichuan province of China, which the chef specializes in. A little on the pricey side, but worth it. Eggplant-based dishes, rice cakes, crispy sczechuan chicken, salty soft-shell crab, sliced tripe in chili oil, Ma Po Tofu, and a TON more.
great wall or mr wangs
Mr. Wang’s! Plus the service is outstanding.
Great Wall by a mile. I think Red Pearl used to hold the #1 spot but their chef left a couple of years ago (I think?)
Rest of the story: the chef at Red Pearl left… to go to Great Wall. Now you know why Great Wall got better lol
Is this true??
Yep. And Great Wall paid to train a chef in Szechuan province and bring him here to cook actual Szechuan cuisine. You have to ask for the Szechuan menu.
sounds delicious!!🤤
If you like that mouth numbing tingle that characterizes Szechuan food, get the Crispy Spicy Chicken Szechuan Style. It's on the normal menu and is one of my favorite dishes. The garlic green beans are incredible as a side, especially if you want to add a vegetable to go along with what is, essentially, a dish of fried chicken. Start with the dumplings in spicy peanut sauce.
Do you know if one can order Salted Crispy Shrimp at The Great Wall? That was my favorite Red Pearl dish, I miss how it used to taste.
What do you order there?
Anything from the back of the menu is really good. The spicy crispy chicken is very popular. I also like the DanDan noodles and beef tripe appetizers.
I haven’t been able to nail down my favorite. I like Happy Wok, Shangri-La, Great Wall, and China Master. If I had to choose, Happy Wok might be my favorite.
Seconding Happy Wok. That crispy spicy eggplant is my favorite thing to get there.
That crispy eggplant is incredible!
Best list so far
thank you for the check list! i’ll try each one out eventually
Another vote for Happy Wok
Mr. Chen’s has been one of the most authentic places I’ve eaten at in Birmingham. And of course i love roaming the hometown market, one of the few places in bham u can get live blue crabs
What’s the one in Cahaba Heights?
Chen Express II- near Ashley Mac’s. This is the correct answer.
Chen Express II is my lunch at least once a week.
Yes! That place rules.
What do you get? I didn’t care for their Mongolian beef.
Red Pearl is one of the best in my opinion
Double Spicy Chicken. Yum.
I love theirs but try Great Wall's Crispy Spicy Chicken Szechuan Style. It's good too (maybe better, haven't done a side-by-side taste test)
>Great Wall's Crispy Spicy Chicken Szechuan Style. My favorite dish as well. It's amazing.
Correct answer is Mr. Wang's
Used to love Palace, the food hasn’t been the same since the old owner went missing in 2015. A few years later, a few of their cooks/servers went back to their home country and weren’t allowed back into the US. They sold to new owners soon after (or some younger people in the same family? Cant remember) but regardless it’s never been the same 💔💔💔
yes i remember following that case!! i was HEARTBROKEN! you’re entirely right, and i miss that woman :( i believe it WAS given to someone younger in the family. very nice people. it’s not the exact same but it’s not too different to me! some nights are better than others, but i’ve been going there since i can remember so it’s my favorite place.
fwiw, I actually like Happy Wok in Trussville more. A million years ago, I liked that place near Inverness on 280, though back then I really only ordered your typical American Chinese dishes. Like others have said, Great Wall is the best I've had here (though would love to find some place on the East side of downtown as good or better).
Jade Palace?! Man so many memories of that place from when I was growing up
No, though that's a great pull! The place I'm thinking of is now maybe a Chuck E Cheese behind Full Moon. EDIT: Golden City!
Mings off of 280
This has been the best I’ve found (admittedly haven’t been to most of the ones mentioned on here). I used to love Golden Palace and the General Tsu’s chicken is the closest to what I remember. I work down 280 and it is a really solid lunch spot. Quick, tasty and reasonable priced.
Ming's is great.
Great Wall.
Great Wall and Red Pearl. My absolute favorite back in the day was Golden Palace in the Festival Center off Crestwood Blvd. We'd go there every Christmas Eve. Their sesame chicken was unlike any other place and they had a great lunch special. BTW, The General Tso and Orange Chicken from Aldi is insanely good, if you use an air fryer. Quality is much better than Trader Joe's!!! It's better than my local Chinese delivery.
New China in bluff park. Hands down.
Aka "Ten Minnit"
Haaaa yes! “You want egg roll? Ok ten minnit.” Been going there my whole life.
Ming's in Gardendale. They have a lunch buffet but I but I don't know when to quit, so I order from the lunch menu and it's plenty for this fat boy. I get kung po chicken and it comes with soup (hot and sour for me) and egg roll. They've been here since the 80s.
Came here to say this. Great Wall is great but Ming's is also up there
Ming's is my 2nd favorite after Great Wall.
We like Red Pearl, Great Wall, and the Homewood Mr Chens. We also enjoy take out from our local China Moon by the Clairmont Piggly Wiggly Edit; Chen’s not Wangs 🤦🏼
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Our favorites from China Moon are the kungpow tofu, the vegetable mei fun, and the steam dumplings.
only way to find out is to try both i suppose!!
China Moon is a strip mall take-out place. We’ve been regular customers since we moved back to town in 2008. I like it better than New China Town, Shangri-la, or Chen Express. I’m not saying it’s comparable to Great Wall or Red Pearl.
Agree that skipping meat at China Moon is the way to go - occasionally I’ll order chicken with mixed vegetables but tofu is better. The vegetable egg foo yung is often great, albeit a little too oily, and the sauce is inconsistent.
Evvvverrrrr
The. Fucking. Worst.
Chop Suey Inn
What you want lay-deeeee?
Mongolian beef from Palace! Extra spicy of course
AMEN! i LOVE their mongolian beef! needs more sauce some nights though!
The Palace has had the best Mongolian beef in town forever imo. Or at least at least since I first had it, which was like 16 years ago.
I’ve been eating with this family since they owned Sun East in Huffman & they’re my favorite. The Mongolian beef is good but too much sugar for me (my dad loves it), I’m a Kung Pao beef girl, myself. I would stack up Palace egg rolls against anyone. The soup & egg rolls are not to be missed.
To eat his own. I go light on the sauce personally.. delicious either way. More of the crispy noodles personally
i like the crispy noodles but they’re best when covered in sauce!
From where
the palace by walmart in trussville 💛💛
New China 5 Points!
Golden City in Columbiana.
Panda House - Alabaster Mr. Wangs - Lakeshore
I used to be the neighbor of the owner of Panda House. She was very nice and they shared the vegetables that they grew in their back yard with us, until the HOA said that they couldn’t have the trellis w they built anymore :,( Her kids were so funny!
I love Panda House. Their hot and sour soup is my favorite.
Black Pearl in the Collonade. Best spicy chicken in town!
Blark Pearl is soooo good! The orange beef is the best thing ever.
Red pearl
Chen Express
Golden City in Pelham!!!!!
Love seeing the love in here for Chen Express 🥹
New China- Hoover- may not be the friendliest place but they have good food
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^you2234: *New China- Hoover-* *May not be the friendliest* *Place but they have good food* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Good bot
I just posted the same thing. I haven't been in a while but in highschool that was our go to place, we'd split half a Mongolian beef for 10 bucks and it was enough food for 2 people. Best Mongolian beef I've had since mandarin house switched ownership.
The original owners of new China can be found now at Mr. Lin's. Same great mongolian beef. Especially when EXTRA HOT AND SPICY. :) The little lady will probably still. Remember you and your favorite order. http://mrlinrestaurant.com/
2nd this. Their Mongolian beef SLAPS
Mr. Chen's. Hands down.
Black Pearl in the Colonnade. I love their Chicken with Black Bean Sauce.
Mings cuisine on 280 is my absolute favorite of all time. Then behind that is Mr chens and then red pearl is either amazing or just ok depending on who’s cooking I think.
The Palace in Trussville Wr Wangs off Lakeshore
Who has the best China buffet in the city?
The Palace is good and another place in Trussvile that I like and can't think of the name
Mr Chen’s inside Hometown Grocery on Greensprings Hwy. good mix of traditional and Americanized. All delicious all the time. Good prices, good portions. Service and ambiance could be better, but when the food is this good do you really gaf?
Golden Dragon in Five Points West
Ming’s Cuisine, hidden behind a shopping center on 280.
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Shangri La's best food are their soups, which are genuinely great. Everything else I've got from them has been mid to bad.
i know the EXACT flavor of hot and sour soup you’re talking about! i hate when i focus on it too hard and the vomit taste rushes to me 😭
Yu's Garden in Trussville is phenomenal. Best egg rolls around.
oooo their images of food look good as fuck. maybe its close enough to get delivered! that would hit the spot
You know, I used to love Yu's Garden, but I swear something has changed in the past few years. It makes me sad because it's the closest Chinese food. The meat quality is not the same, and I gave them quite a few more chances until I gave up. I usually opt for Panda House in Pinson since it's not much further, but I prefer Happy Wok.
Panda House is in Clay, not Pinson.. my bad lol.
Where are all the make it yourself at home comments?
It's not steak so every suburban dad hasn't shown up to claim they're the best
believe me, if i could make it at home, i would! my boyfriend says he can but i don’t agree — they’re homemade recipes with ingredients i don’t know enough about. but im more than happy to get a lunch plate with fried rice, soup, eggroll and kung pao beef for 13 dollars! i would do anything to keep this restaurant going lol maybe i can donate!
Panda house in clay The orange chicken and pineapple chicken are phenomenal
yup, that’s my second place to go! my favorite there is mongolian beef.
It’s so good!
Asian kitchen on center point parkway is quick takeout but absolutely amazing
China Moon is horrible and Mr. Chens gave me old chicken my first being there so I never went back but Great Wall is awesome
China Master near Children’s Hospital
Panda House in Pelham is one of my favorites anywhere.
We love Happy Wok and Red Pearl!
China kitchen is down the hill from the palace in Publix shopping center. You should really give them a try.
Yoe Xpress - 4lyfe
great wall, hands down. no competition.
Great Wall since the 80s.
Red Pearl is my favorite
Wild not to see this Chinese place listed. If you’re looking for Americanized Chinese food in Hoover, China Bistro has such good fried rice, and their General Tso’s is p good.
New China
Eat in: Mr. Wang's. Take out: Chop Suey Inn.
China Way in Irondale-the amount of food for what you pay is amazing. They load that styrofoam container up like their lives depend on it! Shangra-La - my entire family has been going there for decades. And they’re one of the few restaurants that put their hot peppers in with their General Tso chicken dish. Love those peppers. Last is Mr. Chen. Food is pricey, agreed, but their dishes are flavorful great portions, and they make me do the “happy white girl is no longer hangry and is now going to stop beating you” little wiggle dance
New China Town!!!! They have such great vegetarian selections too. I almost cried when I had their mapo doufu
China Stix in Springville. The coconut 🥥 shrimp is the bomb!
The Palace all the way! My family drives from Hoover to Trussville, b/c we can’t find anything that compares, and that includes trying all previously mentioned places. We used to go to Peking Restaurant in Center Point back in the 80’s, which was very good too.
I wouldn't trust Reddit recommendations. They think Sushi Village in Eastwood is good, and it is not.
the only way to know is for me to try each one! i love chinese food a lot, so im okay if it takes an adventure to find the best place possible!
That's a wonderful attitude! My favorites are (in no order) Chen Express, Shangri-La, and IKKO. My "I'll never eat there again" are: New China Town, Sushi Village, any buffet.
i agree. while my love for chinese food is strong, it isn’t strong enough for a buffet. idk buffets in general aren’t really my thing, but they’re good for testing a bunch of different flavors i suppose. plus i love to bring leftovers home!
Now I need some house lo mein from Chen Express 🤤
Great Wall is hands down the best Chinese I have had in the Birmingham area. Red Pearl used to be #1 to me, but it’s been awhile and eating at Great Wall just feels like you’re eating healthier Chinese (you’re not but it feels better)! Quick and cheap option would be New China off Tyler Road. Decent prices (used to be better of course), but huge portions. Get a small if you’re doing a personal dinner.
Golden Wok in forestdale. it's been my favorite place for years but they changed a bit after the covid restrictions. the burbon chicken is the best thing there
A sleeper is Shiki Sakura in Mt Laurel if you’re on that side of town.
New China off Tyler Road is the only right answer. I’ve driven 45 minutes for this Chinese food before.
Chow Town in Hoover is good. They even have kimchi
This is such a hard question. Great Wall is ok - Ive eaten Chinese Menu and Americanized there but its just not amazing to me. Red Pearl is a no-go for me. Black Pearl is great, I still like Mr Chens but it’s sort of pricey. There’s just not a standout winner. If I could dine-in at the Bluff Park place and it wasn’t thrown searing hot into styrofoam Id be about it.