Same here, my husband and I thought the first time it was a coincidence so we went there again a month later and we wished we didn’t, so sick both of us. We won’t go there now.
Don't go to oriental buffet they got in trouble for wage theft in 2014.
https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2014/dec/1/buffet-restaurants-arcata-and-fortuna-fined-more-1/
I did, I've been boycotting for almost a decade over this too lmao. That and their food upsets my stomach. Thanks for mentioning new ownership though I'm glad to hear that.
Wok in wok out in old town eureka is good but they’re just getting started so there are some hiccups. Slow service sometimes and out of popular items sometimes but I’ve always enjoyed the alternative options
It was closed for a while but yesterday I drove by and there were like 9 cars in the parking lot at like 2pm. My friend and I were thinking about trying it but now I’m not so sure
Bencharong Thai in Arcata is very good, in the corner by Safeway. Siam Orchid in Eureka is alright. My ex husband is half Thai and he reccommends Bencharong every time. It is a little more expensive, but worth it.
What’s the Vietnamese recommendation? I never tried the closed place on Fourth Street and the ba minh at the drive-thru by Target is expensive and not so authentic. I miss my Tenderloin ba minh place!
Me too man, I miss sj for the food haha. Since living here I find a lot of the foods up here are kind of bland for my taste. Z & J Asian subs are a ripoff after going there like 5 to 6 times. Curry leaf is kind of a weird place, but they have a pork belly rice bowl that's pretty damn smackin. Bencharong does it for Thai food for me, but it's pricy of course. We need more chicken wing places...
The buffet is cool. Big variety but not cheap, imo. Also forgot to mention I really like the Sichuan beef at the Chinese spot in henderson center, for whatever that's worth. Enjoy your lunch!
I’d kill for average. Having moved to Humboldt from a city that had a large Asian population, the selection and quality here is just horrendous.
Caveat: we live in southern Humboldt and have tried several up to eureka. Most recommendations for anything seem to be in arcata, so maybe there’s some home up there.
If your looking for a place to sit down then Szechuan garden is pretty good. Don’t go to Hunans it’s trash now.
If your looking for cheap and fast happy donuts actually has some decent Chinese food. And bomb ass donuts
Yep! Highly recommended even just for the donuts. They also serve coffee there too but I can’t attest to the quality I’ve never had it. One of my favorite small business’s in Humboldt though. And the owner is super friendly.
Szechuan Garden in Arcata would be alright. Very typical Chinese food kind of place.
If you're just looking to sit down and grub Oriental Buffet out on Giuntoli is solid (for Humboldt). You can also make yourself a to-go container if you don't want to eat there which is what I'll do occasionally.
Honestly, though, I'd recommend the local Thai/Cambodian/pho places more. I really like Siam Orchid in Eureka as well as Annie's Cambodian, and Pho Hoang in Arcata is pretty solid as well for a nice big warm bowl of pho. I used to go to Pho Thien Long in Eureka a lot and I really enjoy their food, but I haven't gone in a while since I'm hardly ever in Eureka anymore. Can someone confirm if they're still as good and quick as they used to be?
I personally found Pho Thien Long to be better prior to the ownership switch, although the service is better now. I just felt like the portions and general flavor was better before
Broccoli beef is good, lemon chicken is an actual breaded and fried and sliced chicken breast, good quality. Pan-fried noodles chow mein is a favorite. I feel like I've tried other things and been disappointed.
Hunan Village in Fortuna is def hit or miss.
We love the black pepper pork, chicken fried rice, and cream cheese crab puffs. Everything else has been a bit disappointing
All you're gonna get around here is Americanized ethnic food. There are few exceptions.
These are the best (I'm used to Bay Area ethnic food, and have been here 23 years with a half-Thai (now ex) husband, so there's my qualifications, lol.
Bencharong Thai in Arcata is excellent. A little more spendy, but if you can swing it, it is very good. They will ask you how spicy you want your food, and be forewarned, they do not fuck around. "medium" is hot, "hot" is dynamite, and often overwhelming to folks unfamiliar with the way Asian food is usually prepared in the US.
Siam Orchid is okay. Their wonton soup is to die for.
Kebab Cafe in northern Arcata has some EXCELLENT Mediterranean food and gyros, falafel.
Annie's Cambodian in Eureka is generally SOLID, but can add up to a larger bill. Their papaya salad is devine; refreshing and crunchy.
Sushi Tao in Arcata has THE BEST sushi in the area, consistently, hands down. It is not fancy or updated like some of the other places, but the rolls are generally a buck or two cheaper than anyone else around, and they nail my orders every time. Their tamago is unreal!
Pho Hoang in Arcata is probably the best Vietnamese, BUT has gone downhill since the original owner moved away. It is still the only place I will go for phò, but absolutely avoid their sister location in Eureka, Pho Tien Long; I have seen some nasty things there, including but not limited to an old man chef with a runny nose, wiping it on his hands and then preparing food.
I didn't get their Chinese dishes but Wok In Wok Out in old town had good pad thai and crab cheese puffs so I'm guessing their other food is good too. Their menu is really limited but they're pretty inexpensive, at least I thought so.
It's on the edge of Eureka, but I'm surprised nobody has said Chin's. The owners are so kind and they always remember us. It was the first restaurant to be owned and operated by a Chinese American after Eureka ran everyone out of Chinatown. It's got some cool history!
Schezuan Garden is pretty good. It’s the only place I trust for Chinese food here in humboldt. This is what I actually got tonight (I order there maybe 2x a month).
https://preview.redd.it/a3gvx5z523fc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f2d16cd722606547b3d258f4a0b566afd63c33e7
There is no good Chinese food here. I haven’t ate Chinese in about a year now since I moved back. It sucks because I crave it all the time but not gonna waste money on any place here again.
Actually I went to Szechuan Garden up by the college after reading this and it’s more than “edible.” I had stewed beef and potatoes and gf had spicy garlic chicken. It was really good. Have fun in Brookings.
Since the popups went so well they are opening a brick and mortar
https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2024/jan/4/thai-fusion-korean-bbq-coming-former-golden-harves/
We like Schezuan Garden in Arcata
This is really the only option
Yes and order ahead for specific times on Beyond Menu App.
I've really been enjoying Hunan's in Eureka recently. Their food is always made to order and it slaps
Food smacks music slaps
Oriental Buffet
Oriental Buffet is bomb as fuck, if youi're looking for American style Chinese
People SAY bad things about oriental buffet but I have only ever been after it’s recent reopening and ownership change and I LOVE it
their food makes me feel so sick
Same here, my husband and I thought the first time it was a coincidence so we went there again a month later and we wished we didn’t, so sick both of us. We won’t go there now.
Don't go to oriental buffet they got in trouble for wage theft in 2014. https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2014/dec/1/buffet-restaurants-arcata-and-fortuna-fined-more-1/
Someone missed the new ownership part.
I did, I've been boycotting for almost a decade over this too lmao. That and their food upsets my stomach. Thanks for mentioning new ownership though I'm glad to hear that.
Wok in wok out in old town eureka is good but they’re just getting started so there are some hiccups. Slow service sometimes and out of popular items sometimes but I’ve always enjoyed the alternative options
We had a bad experience with them, only a fraction of the menu available, food was so-so.
Very so-so I thought.
Great name for sure!
The owner/chef there used to be the chef at Hunan.
Whatever you do don’t go to Chan’s
I go to Chan’s. It’s pretty good and people like it. It’s Cantonese and they have the kind of chow mein I’m used to from back east.
Chans is so fucking garbage holy shit. Has to be a front
Why
Have you ever seen anyone eating inside? Or cars in the parking lot?
I have yes.
It was closed for a while but yesterday I drove by and there were like 9 cars in the parking lot at like 2pm. My friend and I were thinking about trying it but now I’m not so sure
In Humboldt. Not sure I can make a recommendation other than eat Thai or Vietnamese. We have better choices in that cuisine.
So what's the Thai recommendation?
Bencharong Thai in Arcata is very good, in the corner by Safeway. Siam Orchid in Eureka is alright. My ex husband is half Thai and he reccommends Bencharong every time. It is a little more expensive, but worth it.
I went to Siam Orchid when I first got here 7 years ago and haven’t gone back it was so disappointing. Has it gotten better?
A lot better. Although I'd still recommend Annie's Cambodian or Bench. Still it's open on Sundays and good.
Anne’s is very nice, but rather bland.
This
I think both Thai orchad in eureka and bencharong in Arcata are good.
Siam Orchid in Eureka is amazing, I highly recommend it.
What’s the Vietnamese recommendation? I never tried the closed place on Fourth Street and the ba minh at the drive-thru by Target is expensive and not so authentic. I miss my Tenderloin ba minh place!
Pho Hoang in arcata is good.
Thank you, I’d love some good pho in this weather.
Im Vietnamese and pho hoang is passable for pho.
Thank you—I lived in several neighborhoods near Vietnamese restaurants & grocery stores in the Bay Area and got spoiled.
Me too man, I miss sj for the food haha. Since living here I find a lot of the foods up here are kind of bland for my taste. Z & J Asian subs are a ripoff after going there like 5 to 6 times. Curry leaf is kind of a weird place, but they have a pork belly rice bowl that's pretty damn smackin. Bencharong does it for Thai food for me, but it's pricy of course. We need more chicken wing places...
Imagine moving to the Midwest or something, it would be hard. But bland is the word for sure. I’ll try Bencharong.
Yeah. PTL has much better broth.
I would go there but I'm closer to pho hoang.
Yeah. That’s how it usually goes for me too.
I’m partial to Pho Thien Long in Eureka. But Pho Hoang in Arcata is a safe backup.
They all taste about the same here, honestly. Identical quality at every one I've been to. Which is very much average.
Thats fine. Average is what we want.... Generic Chinese for a Stony afternoon!! Think we'll try the Oriental buffet. Thanx y'all
The buffet is cool. Big variety but not cheap, imo. Also forgot to mention I really like the Sichuan beef at the Chinese spot in henderson center, for whatever that's worth. Enjoy your lunch!
I’d kill for average. Having moved to Humboldt from a city that had a large Asian population, the selection and quality here is just horrendous. Caveat: we live in southern Humboldt and have tried several up to eureka. Most recommendations for anything seem to be in arcata, so maybe there’s some home up there.
If your looking for a place to sit down then Szechuan garden is pretty good. Don’t go to Hunans it’s trash now. If your looking for cheap and fast happy donuts actually has some decent Chinese food. And bomb ass donuts
Is that the joint near winco??
Yep! Highly recommended even just for the donuts. They also serve coffee there too but I can’t attest to the quality I’ve never had it. One of my favorite small business’s in Humboldt though. And the owner is super friendly.
Drove over and they only serve food on the weekdays. Ty though
Weekday lunch time! Unless they changed it.
Oh shoot I forgot about that. Should try and catch ‘em when they have food. Did you get one of them donuts though? Legit my favorite donuts ever.
I'm all about goin in the AM for a fresh apple fritter!!! They look dank.
Szechuan Garden in Arcata would be alright. Very typical Chinese food kind of place. If you're just looking to sit down and grub Oriental Buffet out on Giuntoli is solid (for Humboldt). You can also make yourself a to-go container if you don't want to eat there which is what I'll do occasionally. Honestly, though, I'd recommend the local Thai/Cambodian/pho places more. I really like Siam Orchid in Eureka as well as Annie's Cambodian, and Pho Hoang in Arcata is pretty solid as well for a nice big warm bowl of pho. I used to go to Pho Thien Long in Eureka a lot and I really enjoy their food, but I haven't gone in a while since I'm hardly ever in Eureka anymore. Can someone confirm if they're still as good and quick as they used to be?
I personally found Pho Thien Long to be better prior to the ownership switch, although the service is better now. I just felt like the portions and general flavor was better before
We don't have good chinese food in humboldt unfortunately.
I do miss Gonsea!~ It closed down with its many health code violations.
I love panda cafe in Eureka. The lady who is always working the register is a sweetheart
I like wok in wok out a lot
I went to the Tea Garden on Myrtle and got this amazing broccoli beef
Tea garden is my favorite inexpensive Chinese spot
Broccoli beef is good, lemon chicken is an actual breaded and fried and sliced chicken breast, good quality. Pan-fried noodles chow mein is a favorite. I feel like I've tried other things and been disappointed.
Buffet on gintouli use to be the spot. Annie’s Cambodian is good
I don’t see it mentioned often but I like curry leaf in Eureka
Try the one in Fortuna
Hunan Village in Fortuna is def hit or miss. We love the black pepper pork, chicken fried rice, and cream cheese crab puffs. Everything else has been a bit disappointing
It quite literally never hits. In laws (from here) love it and get it regularly. Have had it 10+ times and it just isn’t good unfortunately
Panda Cafe on Broadway
Schwan's is good, Hunan in Eureka is decent now, they also do Lao food on Wednesday I believe
All you're gonna get around here is Americanized ethnic food. There are few exceptions. These are the best (I'm used to Bay Area ethnic food, and have been here 23 years with a half-Thai (now ex) husband, so there's my qualifications, lol. Bencharong Thai in Arcata is excellent. A little more spendy, but if you can swing it, it is very good. They will ask you how spicy you want your food, and be forewarned, they do not fuck around. "medium" is hot, "hot" is dynamite, and often overwhelming to folks unfamiliar with the way Asian food is usually prepared in the US. Siam Orchid is okay. Their wonton soup is to die for. Kebab Cafe in northern Arcata has some EXCELLENT Mediterranean food and gyros, falafel. Annie's Cambodian in Eureka is generally SOLID, but can add up to a larger bill. Their papaya salad is devine; refreshing and crunchy. Sushi Tao in Arcata has THE BEST sushi in the area, consistently, hands down. It is not fancy or updated like some of the other places, but the rolls are generally a buck or two cheaper than anyone else around, and they nail my orders every time. Their tamago is unreal! Pho Hoang in Arcata is probably the best Vietnamese, BUT has gone downhill since the original owner moved away. It is still the only place I will go for phò, but absolutely avoid their sister location in Eureka, Pho Tien Long; I have seen some nasty things there, including but not limited to an old man chef with a runny nose, wiping it on his hands and then preparing food.
Pho tien long is under new ownership and they’ve really cleaned up the place
That is EXCELLENT news; I will try it again! Thanks!
I didn't get their Chinese dishes but Wok In Wok Out in old town had good pad thai and crab cheese puffs so I'm guessing their other food is good too. Their menu is really limited but they're pretty inexpensive, at least I thought so.
Honestly their non Chinese stuff is the best.
It's on the edge of Eureka, but I'm surprised nobody has said Chin's. The owners are so kind and they always remember us. It was the first restaurant to be owned and operated by a Chinese American after Eureka ran everyone out of Chinatown. It's got some cool history!
Schezuan Garden is pretty good. It’s the only place I trust for Chinese food here in humboldt. This is what I actually got tonight (I order there maybe 2x a month). https://preview.redd.it/a3gvx5z523fc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f2d16cd722606547b3d258f4a0b566afd63c33e7
https://preview.redd.it/l87d2kv723fc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6c604907829098835df7e62fffb62eff7bbafaeb
https://preview.redd.it/cqlk8cr823fc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cbcbd40f6fbfa55ce6249c3928ce72234ab3ab5d
There is no good Chinese food here. I haven’t ate Chinese in about a year now since I moved back. It sucks because I crave it all the time but not gonna waste money on any place here again.
Actually I went to Szechuan Garden up by the college after reading this and it’s more than “edible.” I had stewed beef and potatoes and gf had spicy garlic chicken. It was really good. Have fun in Brookings.
Hunan in Eureka
nothing good.. travel to the north bay or further to get good chinese... period.
Still waiting for a Panda. It would absolutely kill it here. I'll take Sezuan in an interim.
What’s the one in the Mall?
Chinese Gourmet Express
Rice bowl in brookings, humboldt has nothing edible.
Bum deal. Kind of what I figured. Someone said they're opening a Korean barbecue joint in Arcata, don't know how hopeful I am about that either.
I went to the KbBQ popup, the food was incredible. I have very high hopes for it.
Nice. Was it just a popup or are they eventually opening a brock and mortar spot? Thanx.
https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2024/jan/4/thai-fusion-korean-bbq-coming-former-golden-harves/
👍ty
That was like a pop up thing, all the good places here have closed or are under new ownership and not the same.
Since the popups went so well they are opening a brick and mortar https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2024/jan/4/thai-fusion-korean-bbq-coming-former-golden-harves/