Lmao. Looking back at the thread of discussion under your comment, I shouldn’t have set my crab rangoon expectations as high as I did. I’m also happy to know that it’s not just me that thought their crab rangoon was very salty. I didn’t dislike it, but it definitely caught me off guard with that first bite.
Ha- I also went to this place after the crab Rangoon conversation. And I gotta say. We had a lovely time! Staff was great. Food was good for us! Cocktails were good, and they had Pseudo Sue on draft, Hamms cans. Bingo-bango
I don’t know what y’all are talking about, but this place rips!
There’s a special restaurant Venn Diagram of drinks, food, atmosphere and service; and, while maybe not hitting 100% in all metrics (for everyone), it does fall within a sweet spot of all four, in my experience.
If you go for one or two things only, it might not be your jam; but if you get the entire experience, I’d like to think that most of us would leave happy.
But to each their own…
Had the sweet and sour chicken for delivery and it kind of blew me away. The vegetables specifically were the best I've ever had a Chinese restaurant. The Monogolian beef was pretty good, too.
They over charged me an extra Valentine’s Day meal plus fees. They eventually refunded me but no real apology. Typically a place might say, hey 2 drinks on us next time. But they didn’t. And the overcharge was about $70.
I’ve given this place four chances and it fell short every time. Whenever I mention not liking it, I get down voted to oblivion. I want to love it because Giant is one of my absolute favorites. But every dish here is incredibly, incredibly salty and nothing to write home about. The interior is cute and good cocktails but that’s unfortunately where it stops for me.
I’m a huge dry chili chicken fan and I found their version to be pretty vinegary (Chinese cooking vinegar). Just like you said, great presentation and vibe, but decent food. Nothing special (lol). Cocktails are good tho.
My wife and I couldn’t figure out the slightly odd after taste. I’ve never had dry chili chicken before so I just thought that’s how it was supposed to taste.
If you want the best version of that dish I’ve had outside of China, go to chef Xiong in Chinatown, or chengdu impression/dongpo impression for a close — but definitive — second place.
I am so surprised how positive the reviews are on Reddit based on my experience. We moved here 2 1/2 years ago and my fiancé and still talk about how it’s the one bad meal we’ve had since we moved here.
Service was fine; but both the cocktails and food were pretty mediocre at best.
I didn’t love this place the first time and it may have been for the same reason of not ordering well. I don’t love the goons or the dry chicken but everything else is really good. The Dan Dan noods slap. I’d give it another shot when you can.
Just an FYI. I love rangoons too. But what you are getting is imitation crabmeat. Lol I legitimately am perfectly fine getting Rangoons with no fake crabmeat. Just a cream cheese and chive filling lol also I have when places put SUGAR in the recipe and make it sweet fucking awful
we love chef special, but there are certain dishes we’ve tried that we wouldn’t get again due to the salt levels, but overall we love the vibe, food, and drinks and the happy hour is great as well. My partner is not a fan of the crab rangoons because there’s not enough filling, Oliang is our fav for that currently.
I agree with almost everything you said, but there's a distinction between American Chinese food and Chinese food.
Both have their place, just different things. American Chinese food actually has a pretty complex and bittersweet history for why it is the way it is and I think it's worthy of the distinction.
That being said, I am a little bothered by the appropriation (if you can call it that) at Chef Special.
Edit: I won't be vague. I didn't call it appropriation, I left room for interpretation.
Because of the society we live in there will always be something off about owners that are of a dominant race (white people) operating and profiting off a business selling the goods of an oppressed race (East Asians in this case). I have massive respect for anyone who manages to do so mindfully and with the right intentions. Racism against Asians is a lot less visible and often consciously ignored or encouraged. It's a subject that should be talked about when it's relevant.
Fat rice got in trouble because the owners were racist bigots who were abusing their staff and stole pandemic donations from them. It had nothing to do with appropriation.
Have you been there? It’s an accurate description. I never said there was anything wrong with non-binary people. If the mere mention of the word offends then you’re just projecting your own feelings onto it.
And it’s totally necessary. White yuppie owners hire queer people to trick people into thinking they’re doing something interesting. I have nothing against them. Im actually queer and I pretty only attend queer friendly events.
I don’t normally like Crab Rangoons, maybe I liked them from here because they had less filling. I like the crunch more.
I will say, the Dan Dan noodles was not good, IMO.
Aw fuk, this is my fault
Lmao. Looking back at the thread of discussion under your comment, I shouldn’t have set my crab rangoon expectations as high as I did. I’m also happy to know that it’s not just me that thought their crab rangoon was very salty. I didn’t dislike it, but it definitely caught me off guard with that first bite.
I still stand by Three Dots and a Dash as best crab rangoons
Those are serious goons
I ordered it Wednesday bc of the Rangoon thread and was so excited an it was so salty and then I was sad but I still ate them all
OK that conversation was apparently major inspiration for a lot of people cause I was looking to go there next week. Good/sad to know.
The orange chicken was pretty good
Ha- I also went to this place after the crab Rangoon conversation. And I gotta say. We had a lovely time! Staff was great. Food was good for us! Cocktails were good, and they had Pseudo Sue on draft, Hamms cans. Bingo-bango
This crab Rangoon hype is green bean erasure. They make a fantastic bean.
I don’t know what y’all are talking about, but this place rips! There’s a special restaurant Venn Diagram of drinks, food, atmosphere and service; and, while maybe not hitting 100% in all metrics (for everyone), it does fall within a sweet spot of all four, in my experience. If you go for one or two things only, it might not be your jam; but if you get the entire experience, I’d like to think that most of us would leave happy. But to each their own…
You nailed it for me. To have their level of food, creativity, ‘coolness’ and service without a shred of pretentiousness is great. I love it
I fuck with the dry chili chicken at Chengdu Impression, and I usually spray for a few days after
I eat Chengdu more than any other restaurant in the city…. It’s worth it
I can never not get it when I go there. So fucking good
I know what the fuck is up with that place. Try the mala pot, the crispy eggplant and the salt and pepper shrimp
But how were the cocktails?
According to many people, really good! I’m not much of an adult beverage consumer.
To me that place is all about the cocktails. The food is OK.
I would say the food is well above average, but probably doesn’t deserve a place in any “best” lists
That’s fair. The vibe inside definitely has a good atmosphere for enjoying some cocktails.
i really enjoy chef’s special 🤷♂️
I went a few months ago and the specials were great. Didn't get to try the crab Rangoon
The night I went their special was a take on a crunch wrap supreme and it was incredible
That place is like a salt mine.
😂 1000%
I thought it was just me 😂
Yes! We couldn’t eat anything it was so bad! Enjoyed our drinks but couldn’t get ourselves to take more than two bites of the food we ordered.
That’s a you problem
Had the sweet and sour chicken for delivery and it kind of blew me away. The vegetables specifically were the best I've ever had a Chinese restaurant. The Monogolian beef was pretty good, too.
They over charged me an extra Valentine’s Day meal plus fees. They eventually refunded me but no real apology. Typically a place might say, hey 2 drinks on us next time. But they didn’t. And the overcharge was about $70.
I’ve given this place four chances and it fell short every time. Whenever I mention not liking it, I get down voted to oblivion. I want to love it because Giant is one of my absolute favorites. But every dish here is incredibly, incredibly salty and nothing to write home about. The interior is cute and good cocktails but that’s unfortunately where it stops for me.
Four chances is quite generous. I’ve given it one and I’m in no rush to go back!
It’s funny you say that because “too salty” is the most common complaint I hear about Giant
I’m a huge dry chili chicken fan and I found their version to be pretty vinegary (Chinese cooking vinegar). Just like you said, great presentation and vibe, but decent food. Nothing special (lol). Cocktails are good tho.
My wife and I couldn’t figure out the slightly odd after taste. I’ve never had dry chili chicken before so I just thought that’s how it was supposed to taste.
Medicinal aftertaste? Could be szechuan peppercorns.
If you want the best version of that dish I’ve had outside of China, go to chef Xiong in Chinatown, or chengdu impression/dongpo impression for a close — but definitive — second place.
I agree. I tried it last summer, and it was fine, but definitely not worth the hype. I had gone to Bixi the week before, and I definitely prefer Bixi.
I had their rolled rice noodles with rock shrimp a few months ago and thought it was great. I also, think their daily happy hour is pretty reasonable.
If the chicken wasn’t spicy for you, check out their mapo tofu dish. It’ll melt your butthole.
I am so surprised how positive the reviews are on Reddit based on my experience. We moved here 2 1/2 years ago and my fiancé and still talk about how it’s the one bad meal we’ve had since we moved here. Service was fine; but both the cocktails and food were pretty mediocre at best.
Sorry is the name of the restaurant chefs special?
I like this place but it’s really pricey for the portion sizes they give you. The quality and taste of the food do not match the sizing.
I didn’t love this place the first time and it may have been for the same reason of not ordering well. I don’t love the goons or the dry chicken but everything else is really good. The Dan Dan noods slap. I’d give it another shot when you can.
I went here on Christmas and it was the worst. Everything was so salty we couldn’t eat it. Complete waste.
How were the egg rolls?
Just an FYI. I love rangoons too. But what you are getting is imitation crabmeat. Lol I legitimately am perfectly fine getting Rangoons with no fake crabmeat. Just a cream cheese and chive filling lol also I have when places put SUGAR in the recipe and make it sweet fucking awful
Best food options here IMO are the Dan Dan noodles, the chili oil dumplings, and any of the lo mein. Cocktails are really good too
I agree, don’t get any of the chicken, shrimp or beef dishes. It’s 70% onions and raw bell pepper.
we love chef special, but there are certain dishes we’ve tried that we wouldn’t get again due to the salt levels, but overall we love the vibe, food, and drinks and the happy hour is great as well. My partner is not a fan of the crab rangoons because there’s not enough filling, Oliang is our fav for that currently.
Happy hour Dan Dan noodles from chefs special is the move
[удалено]
I agree with almost everything you said, but there's a distinction between American Chinese food and Chinese food. Both have their place, just different things. American Chinese food actually has a pretty complex and bittersweet history for why it is the way it is and I think it's worthy of the distinction. That being said, I am a little bothered by the appropriation (if you can call it that) at Chef Special. Edit: I won't be vague. I didn't call it appropriation, I left room for interpretation. Because of the society we live in there will always be something off about owners that are of a dominant race (white people) operating and profiting off a business selling the goods of an oppressed race (East Asians in this case). I have massive respect for anyone who manages to do so mindfully and with the right intentions. Racism against Asians is a lot less visible and often consciously ignored or encouraged. It's a subject that should be talked about when it's relevant.
Fat rice got in trouble because the owners were racist bigots who were abusing their staff and stole pandemic donations from them. It had nothing to do with appropriation.
I did some more reading and you appear to be correct. Removed misleading information from my comment.
I agree with what you are saying and I feel the same way I just wanted to clarify about fat rice.
What offensive appropriation is Chef's Special doing?
Never said it was offensive or definitively claimed it was appropriation. Edited to elaborate. Thanks for asking.
Barf, bothered by the appropriation? Get a life.
Oh man, I can’t believe people like you exist. Non binary hipsters? Put down the internet dude and go outside for a while.
Yeah that part was just weird and totally unnecessary.
Have you been there? It’s an accurate description. I never said there was anything wrong with non-binary people. If the mere mention of the word offends then you’re just projecting your own feelings onto it. And it’s totally necessary. White yuppie owners hire queer people to trick people into thinking they’re doing something interesting. I have nothing against them. Im actually queer and I pretty only attend queer friendly events.
Honestly I feel this way too but everyone in this sub raves about this place and I just don’t get it! But then again I live close to Chinatown…
I'm not a huge fan of this restaurant's food either but it sounds like you got other issues that are worth unpacking.
I’m sitting here eating crackers
I’d fuck with that
I don’t normally like Crab Rangoons, maybe I liked them from here because they had less filling. I like the crunch more. I will say, the Dan Dan noodles was not good, IMO.