****NOTE: This review was done prior to the Covid-19 outbreak. Of course, things are much different at the moment, but we hope things will get back to normal soon and hope you will continue to support these local businesses****
Chiang’s Gourmet
Recommended by: We realized upon writing a blog post for Dumpling The Noodle that we have never done a review of one of our favorites, Chiang’s Gourmet.
Description on the Chiang Gourmet’s website:Whether you are looking for a light lunch of award-winning dim sum, a relaxing dinner, or an elegant party, the Chiang’s attentive staff will make your visit a memorable one.
Neighborhood/Type: Lake City
Address: 7845 Lake City Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115
What we ate/drank: Pan Fried Noodle In Spicy Hot Sauce With Shrimp, Fish Fillet w/Spicy Hot Sauce On Soybean Cake, Fried Or Steamed Dumpling (8), Spicy Fried Chicken, Pan Fried Noodles Shanghai Style With Chicken, Fried Rice W/Chicken
Comments: Don’t be surprised if you’re looking for Chiang’s Gourmet and all you see is an abandoned building. The building is actually not abandoned. It just looks like it. If I had to guess, there have been no updates to Chiang’s Gourmet since it was Triple XXX Barrel Drive-In from the 1930’s that you can read about here.
Once inside Chiang’s Gourmet, there’s not much difference either. It looks like it’s been stuck in time since the building’s inception. It’s almost like you’re eating in somebody’s house. The word, “comfort” comes to mind. But let’s get one thing straight, you don’t come to Chiang’s Gourmet for ambiance. You go there for some damn good Chinese food and if making no updates to the building keeps the costs down, we’re all for it.
Chiang’s Gourmet is our favorite Chinese restaurant in Seattle and a Seattle institution for our family. We’ve eaten here when our families have come into town to visit us from other states and countries and have had many a impromptu lunches and dinners with friends. We’ve done take out on Christmas, coming home from the hospital after our daughter’s birth or whenever we’re too lazy to cook.
First thing you need to know is that there are multiple menus at Chiang’s Gourmet and if there’s one piece of advice we can give, don’t order off the “American” menu. I don’t want to disparage anybody from getting their normal egg roll, sweet & sour pork or General Tso’s chicken, but you can get these from any Chinese restaurant. I encourage you to be a bit more adventurous and order off the Chinese menu. Whenever we’ve done the ordering on behalf of family or friends who tend to “stay in their lane” when it comes to Chinese food, they’ve been pleasantly surprised.
We tend to mix it up with more traditional dishes like pan fried noodles and fried rice, but we’ve also had the more exotic spicy hot lamb w/cumin, crispy pig’s intestine in garlic & hot pepper and shredded beef tripe w/hot sauce. Our absolute favorite dish which a server recommended is the fish fillet w/spicy sauce on tofu. This was actually our 6th favorite dish of 2018:
….our favorite dish is the Fish Fillet with Spicy Sauce and Tofu. It may not look so appetizing from the photo below, but it’s damn tasty. It has generous portions of fish, but the main reason you get this dish is the sauce. It’s not overly spicy and ohh sooo.. flavorful. A hack we learned is to take the sauce home even if we eat all the fish. We then pour the sauce over rice at home and create a brand new dish. Two yummy dishes for the price of one!
We’ve made some light hearted comments about the physical appearance of Chiang’s Gourmet, which we feel adds to its charm, but there is no denying the quality of their food. There are so many dishes on their menu that we have yet to try, but we always have our mainstay dishes, because it is so damn good. Don’t forget to be adventurous.
Ratings:
Atmosphere: 4.00
Service: 4.75
Food/Drinks: 4.75
Bang for the Buck: 4.75
Overall: 4.65
Locals Only Factor: “Locals Only” grading-We’ll assign a grading as to how “local” a place is.
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- Well known or Touristy. Most locals don’t go there unless they have business dinners or visitors in town.
- Most locals know about it
- Locals “in the know” know about it
- Only those who live close by know about it.
- You’re in on the secret. Don’t tell anybody!
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