Hot Pot

炒菜 is good. Hot pot is not good.

Early afternoon in College Town. It looks like you're in China Town. ???? girls giggling, holding hands, in uniforms walking across the street, here. The southwest corner of Eddy and Dryden. Down the street from Classic Optical. Glassed storefront. Inside, menu in Chinese on the wall. Ponytailed smiling girl behind the counter, thick accent but very friendly, cooperative. Very large, comfortable wood tables, chairs with runners up the back, comfortable seating, better than restaurant grade. But there's not many tables. It's a small place, gets crowded very fast. Subway tiles on the walls, everything immaculately clean. A man stepped out from where the food was being made. Even he looked like he was cleaned and pressed. Tall, slender, well-coiffed, in a perfect tee-shirt and suit pants. Smiling as he looked around. Not like a cook. Well-lit. Cozy. Pleasant. Very soft music in the background. Nothing to offend. Huge sealed broad wood spoons and bowls, like laminate. Had a deep bowl of chicken soup, big pieces of chicken breast so tender touching it made the skin on the back fall off. Loaded with water chestnuts, celery, leeks, bean sprouts, rice noodles. My friend rolled her noodles with her chop sticks on the spoon. Not one drop of fat. I couldn't finish it. Neither could my friend. Fabulous. Some of the tables were filled with food. Folks were chowing down. Everyone was happy. Chinese business men in suits. A UPS guy. People reading while eating. Parking lot close-by, just a buck. Best Chinese food in Ithaca. You'll love it.

Debatably the best Chinese food in Ithaca, although they offer much more than just the typical “American-Chinese” food. This place has good portions, reasonable prices, and the food is top-quality. My go-to for takeout.

The portion size is pretty large. The food is delicious. This might be one of the best Chinese restaurants in Ithaca. You have to go down into the basement to enter it, but inside its very spacious and nicely arranged. The price is a little bit on the higher side for Asian cuisine. Overall, I recommend it.

The service is very poor since they are short of waiters always but the food is tasty. I usually go with my Asian friends and it becomes easier to choose or order stuff.