What is your favorite Chinese takeout menu item?

[bcla]

I've seen crab Rangoon mentioned a few times. On the authenticity scale, crab Rangoon pretty much rates a zero. It's even bizarre how it ever became a staple of generic Chinese-American restaurants, since it came from the tiki craze of the 1950s and was supposed to be vaguely Polynesian. There are even some almost angry treatises about crab Rangoon and its bizarre relationship with Chinese cuisine.

https://jeffchu.substack.com/p/i-do-not-like-crab-rangoon
https://krui.fm/2015/11/23/global-perspective-chinese-foods-arent-china/

But regardless of all that then I'm not sure it's that great a takeout item since the crispiness of fried wonton skins goes away quickly when the center soaks through. I have seen similar appetizers at a buffet where they're kept kind of crispy under a heat lamp.

But here's the original, which Trader Vic's still has. This is from the Emeryville location, which I'd say is as close as possible to a flagship location. $19. Looks pretty good, especially straight out of the fryer.

However, authenticity is overrated. If you like it, who cares if it's authentic or not. There's often too much of a hangup about authenticity.

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

If it’s a buffet there is other stuff u can find but I don’t remember what it is called

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

Crab Rangoon
Hot and Sour Soup
Cashew Chicken
Sweet and Sour Chicken

We agree so much

 

[AntJulie]

Beef Chow fun
Fried wontons
Shrimp with broccoli in garlic sauce

 

[DaisyDuck001]

Difficult to find, but I like tomato beef chow mein.

 

[Kameron Milne]

Mongolian beef I guess. The combo of tender beef, savory-sweet sauce, and green onions over rice is just too good.

 

[North of Mouse]

Rather eat in - never do take out
Me - Kung Pao chicken
DH - Shrimp lo mein
Hot and Sour soup

 

[clh2]

Oohhh…our go-tos are:
Chicken Almond Din
Beef with broccoli
Shrimp with Peapods

Love some crab rangoons and potstickers too!
Love egg rolls, but we get those from a Hmong market in our area, not the Chinese restaurant.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Favorite (special occasion only) - Peking Duck
Favorite (regular dining) - Crispy Beef, although I have to share and offset with a veg dish b/c I can't handle this much fry anymore...no one here minds sharing, so it works...

 

[Praying Colonel]

Favorite is Crispy Duck, when I can find it. Otherwise, I like sweet and sour shrimp the best.

When DW and I were dating, there was a Chinese restaurant that served egg rolls as big as your first and free hot oolong tea. A date night for 2 poor students was tea, 2 egg rolls and splitting a Kung Pao Beef at that restaurant, followed by 2 tickets at the $2 movie theater down the street.

 

[tazdev3225]

I used to love getting Sweet and Sour Chicken, Pork Fried Rice, Vegetable Lo Mein and Beef and Broccoli with mushrooms instead of beef. My husband and I would split it.

Sadly I can no longer order Chinese food out as I developed a severe seafood/shellfish allergy and I can't risk cross contamination. I miss the occasional Chinese take out

 

[Deb]

I used to love getting Sweet and Sour Chicken, Pork Fried Rice, Vegetable Lo Mein and Beef and Broccoli with mushrooms instead of beef. My husband and I would split it.

Sadly I can no longer order Chinese food out as I developed a severe seafood/shellfish allergy and I can't risk cross contamination. I miss the occasional Chinese take out

I don't know where you live but if it's in a metro area, see if there is a kosher chinese restaurant and you would not need to be concerned with shellfish

 

[Buzz Rules]

I used to love getting Sweet and Sour Chicken, Pork Fried Rice, Vegetable Lo Mein and Beef and Broccoli with mushrooms instead of beef. My husband and I would split it.

Sadly I can no longer order Chinese food out as I developed a severe seafood/shellfish allergy and I can't risk cross contamination. I miss the occasional Chinese take out

You can always make some at home:

https://cjeatsrecipes.com/

 

[tazdev3225]

I don't know where you live but if it's in a metro area, see if there is a kosher chinese restaurant and you would not need to be concerned with shellfish

I'm in Philadelphia so I'm sure there are kosher restaurants around but I'm also severely allergic to seafood. One bite of tuna, without even swallowing it and I was massive hives.

You can always make some at home:

https://cjeatsrecipes.com/

I can, and I do on occasion but there is just something about bringing it home in those little containers.

 

[NYCgrrl]

I love a lot of different things (some more authentic than others) but if I have to pick just one favorite, it is probably crab rangoons.

You know what? I’ve never had crab Rangoon but I’ve seen it on menus and in the frozen appetizer section. Someday, I’m going to give it a try

 

[NYCgrrl]

You can always make some at home:

https://cjeatsrecipes.com/

Yep. One of my favorite ways to use up leftovers is incorporating them in fried rice or noodle dishes like chow fun, lo mein, etc.