HOLIDAY HELPINGS >>>
Still reeling from New Year's Eve? Don't pack up the party just yet: The Year of the Dragon is on, kicking off 15 days of Chinese New Year festivities around the world. But it's not just an excuse to get drunk and make resolutions; this is also the most important Chinese holiday of the year, a period of purging, bonding and ritual tied to the lunar and solar cycles of the earth.
In honor of the holiday, let's eat Chinese today.
5104 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.0800
One of the oldest Chinese restaurants in Tacoma with some of the oldest Chinese servers in Tacoma - who happen to be very nice. The mango chicken, Mongolian beef and tangy eggplant are our go-to dishes. - Jake and Jason de Paul
2223 Pacific Ave., Tacoma, 253.272.1544
The small franchise location specializes in fast, tasty and affordable Asian cuisine; Chinese teriyaki dishes dominate the menu with a smattering of Mongolian, Szechwan, Korean, Cantonese and Japanese dishes thrown in - sushi, sushi rolls, sashimi, bento box, tempura, chow mien, kimchi, soups, spring rolls, barbeque pork, yakisoba, katsu, almond chicken, fried rice, beef short ribs and stir-fry. The portions are generous and affordable. What stands out is the friendly attitude of the staff. On each visit, service has not only been efficient and swift but pleasantly provided. - Jennifer Johnson
12926 Bridgeport Way SW. Lakewood, 253.582.9250
Friendly faces serve standard American food alongside Korean, Chinese and Japanese dishes at K & C Burkie Burgers just outside McChord gates. The small, clean and casual eatery does a good job with both East and West offerings - corn dog or gyoza, California wrap or spicy tuna roll, chili cheese dog or chicken teriyaki, curly fries or scallop roll. - JJ
711 S. 38th St., Tacoma, 253.471.8982
At the Lobster House in Tacoma's International District a range of Chinese dishes can be had; radish cakes, congee (rice porridge), chicken feet, salt and pepper squid, chow mein, walnut prawns, hum bao, chow fun and the hot ticket item of the moment: dim sum. Think of dim sum as small meat and vegetable filled pouches, or even simpler as Chinese dumplings. - JJ
9811 South Tacoma Way, Lakewood, 253.983.1777
Chef King Heun Wai, who has won local and national awards, and who has repeatedly been distinguished as one of America's top 100 Chinese Chefs, and who has earned House of Hong in Seattle's Chinatown a place on King 5's Best of Western Washington list of the top five Chinese restaurants, now brings his talent and more than 30 years of experience to Lakewood's Macau Casino as executive chef. The Chinese menu has 87 different items. - JJ
8813 Edgewater Dr. SW, Lakewood, 253.473.4444.\
The tiny joint serves Chinese, Vietnamese and ... yes a full complement of Jamaican cuisine. Green Coconut Tree is a casual restaurant with simple furnishings and minimal décor. Two flat screen televisions on either wall had me mesmerized like staring into a fire. The place was clean, and we were given cloth napkins - a nice, unexpected touch. - JJ
1126 Commerce St., Tacoma 253.627.1859
Shanghai House opened in April 2009. We give Shanghai big props on portion sizes, for sure. The food is average. Read our review here. - Jake and Jason de Pauls
9601 South Tacoma Way, Lakewood, 253.581.0102
Folks, this is as real as it gets around here. Chinese (Sichuan) with a huge menu, well over a hundred options, and the portions are big and the flavors fresh. Their idea of a starter soup is more trough-like than cup. Crispy pork & tofu with hot tomato sauce, hot pepper fried shredded potato, eggplant in hot garlic sauce - they excel in hot and spicy. Thin, marinated lamb strips had a bit of fat, giving the dish a bump in richness. Quite tender meat gave easily at tooth touch. White onion and green and red bell peppers made up half the dish. Plentiful dried chili pepper pods were carefully avoided after a first blind forkful nearly made my head explode. - Ron Swarner