It's more of a cultural thing. There really is a difference between "authentic" chinese food vs. somewhat of an "americanized" chinese food. It's the biase towards why most chinese people won't get to places like that.
Fung's Kitchen all the way. It's the only place where the Chinese Engineers (from China) would eat when they visited my old company.
Actually just went to Mala Sichuan (Bellaire location) based on the recommendations. Got the Sweet and Sour Tilapia and it was really, really good. Will definitely be going back for that. Got Cumin Beef as well which was alright. Pretty good overall.
Mala Sichuan is OK. It's definitely overhyped, some things are really good, some things are meh. Certainly not on the level of Pho Binh for Vietnamese food
Now that I think about it... I actually don't think I've ever had great Chinese. It either doesn't exist in Houston (like great pizza) or the Chinese dishes I choose just aren't that special. I like Qin Dynasty near 59/Kirby due to good service and atmosphere. The food is good but it's not changing any lives.
Have not been in a while but Yao's has (had) the best Peking Duck I've ever tasted outside of Beijing. I know they lowered the price at one point but the quality was still good.
I haven't had Chinese food in Houston in awhile. I think the last I did was at Yao's Restaurant in 2007. From what I remember when I lived there was that there were a lot of good authentic Chinese places including some good Cantonese, Shanghainese, Sichuan and Taiwan restaurants. The Houston Chinese population is among the largest in the US and has only grown since I lived there so I would figure there are plenty of very good Chinese places.
Definitely people need to distinguish between what is actual Chinese food versus what is American Chinese food. Places like PF Chang's are not actual Chinese food anymore than Taco Bell is actual Mexican food. Further when talking about actual Chinese food the region is very important. When I was in Sichuan in January some of the people I was with wanted to eat something different than what we were eating most of the time so they found a Cantonese restaurant in Sichuan. To a foreigner it might seem weird that eating Chinese food from another part of China is considered exotic but that is the case.
On the subject here is a story about some Americans who are bringing American Chinese food to Shanghai. http://www.cbsnews.com/news/china-gets-american-chinese-food-at-restaurant-fortune-cookie/
Funny bc I prefer Pf's to most of the Chinese food I've had in Houston. I rarely eat Chinese food. Thai and Viet for me.
Man i'm pretty sure i'm going to get flamed for this but when i want chinese food, i go to Fu's garden on san felipe and fountain view. The beef broccoli is simply amazing. I know its not the most traditional of chinese food, but i've been going there for years and really enjoy it. One day I will man up and try the real stuff in the bellaire area.
