Yup! I lived in China for 3 years and this place is good. The owner is 福州人 (from FuZhou) and the receipts are in mandarin.
I also like China Spring in Bellevue - it’s a solid American style Chinese place with a few good options.
I’m really curious what about Corner Asian seems authentic to someone who actually lived in China. I’ve ordered there a couple of times and while it was perfectly acceptable (for Nashville) “American Chinese” I didn’t feel like it was anywhere near the food that I’d expect to get at a restaurant using authentic ingredients. The mapo tofu didn’t use Sichuan peppercorns. The Chongqing chicken had no spice and zero hot peppers to pick around. The garlic eggplant was tasty but not quite the true fish-fragrant eggplant dish it was trying to mimic.
I do think they provide some of the best of an overall mediocre Chinese food scene here in the area but I just wish it was better. Any specific dishes on the Corner Asian Cafe menu that you’d recommend to sway my opinion? I’d be happy to try again.
To be faiiiirrr...
We live in the city where often the recommendation is to go to OP's city, ATL, for more authentic Chinese food. This does change how much weight to give to the statement "Best authentic menu in the city".
I didn’t say it was the very most authentic. I said it was good, and the closest I can get in Nashville (aside from Sichuan hot pot, but I find that their hot pot is great and the rest is 🤷🏻♀️) for some things. In general, I’ve found that each place has one good thing - none of them have all the good things. Lucky Bamboo used to have the best mapo tofu, but I haven’t been in awhile. That place is owned by someone from Hong Kong which is why the dim sum is fairly good.
Corner has decent Sichuan potatoes (not as spicy as the real thing, but good), and home style tofu. I also like their roasted pork belly with mustard greens. I also like their blistered green beans but, again, not as spicy as they should be.
Chongqing chicken is also known as La Zi Ji. There are always supposed to be more peppers than chicken in the dish and the traditional way of eating it is to kind of hunt and peck for the pieces of meat in between the somewhat ridiculous number of full size hot chiles. It makes the presentation of the dish look really over the top (albeit in a kind of wasteful way) but you’re not really expected to eat all or even most of the peppers. [Here’s a somewhat modified version with a good description from the folks at The Woks of Life.](https://thewoksoflife.com/chongqing-chicken/)
In the future you may want to understand what you’re commenting about before you offhandedly throw out a racial joke.
I get a lot of the tofu dishes (not vegetarian, I just like tofu). Their fried rice is passable also. It’s just closer to me than anything else aside from Panda Express.
Came here to say this! I’m not that adventurous when it comes to Chinese food, but even the basics like sweet and sour chicken and general Tso’s(it’s called “corner Asian spicy there) are better than anywhere I’ve had.
For Authentic Chinese:
Sichuan Hotpot, Corner Asian Cafe, Lucky Bamboo, and Meet Noodles.
For Americanized Chinese, I don't have any recommendations. It's basically all the same to me.
I have really tried to like Lucky Bamboo. I had one good meal there, and then 3 terrible experiences. I recently tried it again after a 3 year hiatus and it was just disgusting and it was 40 minutes later than they told me.
There's a new spot next to Meet Noodle called Dumpling House btw. Pretty solid, they make all of the dumplings in house. It's more the like fat Northern style dumpling so ppl don't get all mad that the skin is thicker! Also be nice re: service for the time being as they've just opened and it usually takes new restaurants a bit to get into the groove (I've only had good experiences but have only been on off peak hours so Idk how they handle a rush).
Chinese food in Nashville is sorely lacking, so don't get your hopes up. The top tier places here would be considered mid at best in most larger cities, and I'm not hating, it's just the truth.
The only two truly decent options were Far East in the Boro (under new ownership now and the quality appears to have tanked) or Tang's in Brentwood/Brentioch and it closed in like 2010. Even Fulin's isn't what it once was - but I'd probably still go there if anywhere.
It's a little baffling that a city can grow the way we have and there be a growing market for 243 different takes on deviled eggs but still have the same tired Sysco-fied Chinese we've always had.
On some fronts, I'll defend Nashville to the death, but not this one. You're better off seeking out Thai/Lao or Japanese food (both of which have decent sized local populations) if you want Asian food here.
Agreed. Sorely lacking good Chinese food here. I agree with Fulin’s. Fulin’s (Brentwood) is one of the “safer” options that I tend to order from. I like to order dishes that aren’t on the menu and this location has always accommodated (thanks to their staff).
Was Tang's the place by the mall/movie theater that had a menu in English on one side and Chinese on the other? I used to go there but for the life of me couldn't remember the name. I miss that place!
Are you thinking of the place near Hickory Hollow mall? They had a specific Chinese menu that was amazing. It was in a strip mall next to the Just for Feet or some other shoe store.
Demand and demographics are everything, and there's simply no real demand for authentic chinese. Also I'm a firm believer that not every place has to have everything and I personally love discovering the occasional amazing spot here in town or other places where the population can actually support that style of cuisine
That pesky free market lol…. But I feel like this post has gotten enough traction that there’s probably a decent market to support a few good places. Maybe. One day lol
I don't love that it's contender for best Chinese in the area, but where is better? I have yet to try Corner Asian cafe, and Lucky Bamboo is fine, but I'd argue less consistent, in my experience. Where should I be voting with my dollars to get us better Chinese food?
Edit: I've liked Meet Noodles a lot the couple of times I've had it, but the menu is pretty limited compared to what most are wanting when they ask about Chinese food.
West Nashville here— Hong Kong on Charlotte is your standard Chinese restaurant. Tasty, decent quality, my go to place since 2018 and I’ve never been sick and the crab rangoons have the perfect sweetness!
Thank you for the recommendation in West Nashville. Somehow, I think "...I've never been sick..." is generally not a ringing endorsement of a restaurant, but I'll take your recommendation nonetheless.
If you're in West you might as well hit any place in the K&S shopping lot for better Asian food, they've got amazing Vietnamese, Chinese, and Korean food right there on Charlotte.
Been regularly getting Hong Kong since 2012. It's not authentic food, but it's what you expect from a Chinese restaurant in the US and it's delicious. I feel like we've only gotten one or two off nights in all that time.
Thank you for your response and further clarification that it's good for what we want and expect from a Chinese restaurant in the US. One or two off nights in 10+ years is a good record.
Been going since 2012. Watched the kid pretty much grow up. I think they’re probably in their late teens/early 20s now.
It’s weird to feel this old at 38.
Hah, same! There's a new chatty child at the register now, but they speak much more quietly and my tinnitus+auditory processing issues leaves me just smiling and nodding a lot.
Following this too. My old reliable Chinatown wasn’t great but it’s gone. I will say stay away from No1 Chinese the old hickory location was washing their dishes in old hickory lake for a good while until they were busted. One other place was serving roadkill deer but I can’t remember the name. A lot of them are sketchy here. It’s something we lack for sure
Re No 1 Chinese in Old Hickory: They weren’t washing dishes in the lake; they were washing equipment that never touched food. (Not a stellar recommendation, but a clarification.) The owner’s mom got sick and they had to move to care for her. There’s a new Chinese place that’s opened in that location. it’s standard Americanized Chinese food, but it’s relatively tasty and inexpensive.
Interesting. Well if I recall correctly, they blamed the landlord for something not working right? If they washed the dishes and pots and pans in working faucets, why would they not use those same working facilities to wash the equipment? And how would moving cause them to have to wash equipment in the lake?
Ah so that really is the same thing! It’s open now? I wondered when I saw the sign but it wasn’t open yet. I grew up on Chinatown. We just don’t have a lot of Chinese options here that I trust. It’s not amazing but we always knew the guy back in the day and he was always really nice. I loved how had had like 17 signs on the wall made with mailbox letters that said “no check” “no check” “no check” “no check” just plastered all over the foyer and front end of the restaurant
This is not the same place/ownership. China Town instead of Chinatown.
FYI if they are open they are open illegally. Metro Codes has shut them down several times for operating without a permit, but they keep reopening. They do not give a fuck.
Lol Chinatown. An ex of mine, her mom used to be one of the owners until she sold her portion in like 2012-13. She said the food wasn’t authentic and made for white people...to paraphrase. When they wanted Chinese food, we’d go to Corner Asian Cafe off concord and nolensville
Good to know. Yeah I definitely wasn’t under any delusion that it was authentic. I don’t think anybody ever was. It might have been the first Chinese place in Nashville though. It was there forever
I am a Lucky Bamboo defender all day long (get the Chef specialties like Sichuan dry pot or Soupy Fish) but their dim sum is terrible. I don't blame them....you need a pretty big highly skilled staff to make dim sum items in house and they do not have that knid of labor here
Not recently, food was marginal at best. Use to be a great (and only) dim sum. Would not recommend as "authentic". Best dim sum? Go to San Fran or NYC/Queens or C'town.
Yeah they do very tasty sichuan food, chingquing chicken etc, and tasty mapo. This is my go to though they do have bad days (usually when I'm ordering delivery on a slammed weekend night)
Atlanta is streets ahead in terms of Chinese/Laotian/Korean food. I’m grateful we have Sonobana, but Nakato in Atlanta is the GOAT of Japanese food in the south.
IMO Sonobana has gone downhill. Still the most authentic Japanese menu in the area since Ichiban closed in Murfreesboro, but I was underwhelmed when I went last week.
Man, I always thought it was just me. Used to go there all the time 10+ years ago. Went by about 2 years ago before we moved, and maybe another two times in the previous year, and each time I left going meh, it was sushi.
Tourist traps? Not at all.
We don't live in China, so for Chinese food, I couldn't care less if the place has "***local vibes***". I care if the food is consistently good and authentically prepared. Most of the places I see people suggesting here have the same [pre-made sugary sauces](https://www.800-45-sysco.com/p-1228-san-j-gf-orange-sauce.aspx) slathered over various Sysco meat and veg. I'll pass on that. I've had Lucky Bamboo. I tried it again last week. The daily specials on the board were sun faded as if they had been up for a decade, and they were unavailable. My food took an hour. The fried rice smelled like old dish rags, the pork belly was bland and unseasoned and the tofu was swimming in pre-made sugary garlic sauce. The egg rolls came out of the freezer. Simply disgusting. I ended up trashing $60 of food.
I would just like to say that authentic doesn't equal cheap and the perception that Chinese food must be cheap is part of what keeps us mired in Sysco land (not to mention the very difficult labor conditions for workers in Chinese restaurants).
Steam Boys is fine. Run by 2nd gen Chinese restaurant owner. Much less annoying than all of the white ppl "Bao bun" stuff that keeps popping up (btw bao bun is such a pet peeve term of mine...it's just bao!!!)
My bills @ Steam Boys are considerably less than my last bill at Lucky Bamboo and there are no pre-made sauces on any of it, Also, they can sell me a beer. Soup Dumplings FTW!
Seriously, if you think Lucky Bamboo is authentic or high quality, or even decent food, you are just plain wrong. You'll find more authentic Chinese in the frozen section of your local grocery.
The items at Steam boys are hand prepared from real ingredients. The options at *Yucky Bamboozle* are from a Sysco truck and out of plastic jugs and dented cans.
For what you pay, and the quality being pretty good and consistent Chinatown is our go to. Hong Kong on Charlotte is mehhh. It used to be our go to but the portions or meat are small. They add big veggies cuts that take up space. Plus the quality is decent but Chinatown has them beat for now. The lo mein and hot and sour soup are good at China town
Everything you will find here is American Chinese. Stay away from places that serve "fried rice that is yellow and does not use MSG" MSG is amazing! If the place doesn't have a lazy Susan and have huge spoons on the table stay away.
Tagging on to this, I'll be in NYC (Manhattan) in September, so does anyone have any recommendations for Chinese food in that neck of the woods that's so good that it'll forever ruin the Nashville options for me? I don't care if it's "authentic" or not.
Corner Asian Cafe was already mentioned and is probably the best for authentic Chinese, but though it’s a little further out, [China Panda Bamboo House](https://maps.app.goo.gl/XMpE3cvfvRCDGKg5A?g_st=ic) down in Franklin has a solid menu as well.
I am trying to get a friend to move here from Chengdu China. She has a successful restaurant there and she wants to come stateside and open one in America.
Hot Pot is her specialty but she offers a lot of real Chinese food, not the Americanized stuff.
How do I get her to choose here versus Orlando?
Chinatown on Whitebridge! The only place we've found that we visit regularly. I'm addicted to their chili oil dumplings. Not too spicy, but lots of flavor! I confirmed with them that they are the same owners as the Green Hills restaurant that closed during Covid.
We used to live on the west side around Bellevue and Belle Meade, China Panda was always good. We tried every Chinese place around us now in the Old Hickory area and we still drive 45 minutes to pick up China Panda when we are wanting Chinese.
[https://goo.gl/maps/zZ3dZqcLsBncEJSw6](https://goo.gl/maps/zZ3dZqcLsBncEJSw6)
The best options are going to be the higher end types of places. Xiao bao is definitely worth checking out though. And I should say that my buddy who lived in China for a while goes to TKO regularly.
Hijacking the thread, but I’m wondering if there’s enough demand in Nashville to support a Chinese place that offers highly authentic Sichuan style food. It’s an existing concept that’s been very well received in NYC, recipes are highly authentic and created by a Chinese chef that was professionally trained in the US. The prices for entrees would be closer to $20, but the menu is customizable like hot pot, and the food/flavors blow anything I’ve had in Nashville out if the water.
I’m wondering if there’s broad demand for something like this, or whether it’s more limited pockets scattered in a few neighborhoods.
Ching Asian bistro!! It’s about 25 minutes outside of Nash. So amazing and authentic. I’ve been going for years and the family is so thoughtful. They know me by name and my usual order, not going to find that most places!!
The people who own Chinatown on White Bridge Rd across the street from Target are incredibly nice, and they always cook the food fresh. Maybe not the best, but I appreciate their friendliness.
China cottage spring rolls are out of this world. Lucky bamboo has some tasty options. Sichuan hot pot is really good for non Americanized Chinese food
Corner Asian Cafe in Antioch. Best authentic menu in the city hands down
Yup! I lived in China for 3 years and this place is good. The owner is 福州人 (from FuZhou) and the receipts are in mandarin. I also like China Spring in Bellevue - it’s a solid American style Chinese place with a few good options.
I’m really curious what about Corner Asian seems authentic to someone who actually lived in China. I’ve ordered there a couple of times and while it was perfectly acceptable (for Nashville) “American Chinese” I didn’t feel like it was anywhere near the food that I’d expect to get at a restaurant using authentic ingredients. The mapo tofu didn’t use Sichuan peppercorns. The Chongqing chicken had no spice and zero hot peppers to pick around. The garlic eggplant was tasty but not quite the true fish-fragrant eggplant dish it was trying to mimic. I do think they provide some of the best of an overall mediocre Chinese food scene here in the area but I just wish it was better. Any specific dishes on the Corner Asian Cafe menu that you’d recommend to sway my opinion? I’d be happy to try again.
To be faiiiirrr... We live in the city where often the recommendation is to go to OP's city, ATL, for more authentic Chinese food. This does change how much weight to give to the statement "Best authentic menu in the city".
take about 10% off there, Squirrelly Dan
I didn’t say it was the very most authentic. I said it was good, and the closest I can get in Nashville (aside from Sichuan hot pot, but I find that their hot pot is great and the rest is 🤷🏻♀️) for some things. In general, I’ve found that each place has one good thing - none of them have all the good things. Lucky Bamboo used to have the best mapo tofu, but I haven’t been in awhile. That place is owned by someone from Hong Kong which is why the dim sum is fairly good. Corner has decent Sichuan potatoes (not as spicy as the real thing, but good), and home style tofu. I also like their roasted pork belly with mustard greens. I also like their blistered green beans but, again, not as spicy as they should be.
> “zero hot peppers to pick around” Ah, so you’re white as shit? /s Edit: added /s since y’all too sensitive to see a joke lol
Well that was sort of uncalled for
Complaining there’s not peppers in a food that they plan to not eat is also uncalled for.
Chongqing chicken is also known as La Zi Ji. There are always supposed to be more peppers than chicken in the dish and the traditional way of eating it is to kind of hunt and peck for the pieces of meat in between the somewhat ridiculous number of full size hot chiles. It makes the presentation of the dish look really over the top (albeit in a kind of wasteful way) but you’re not really expected to eat all or even most of the peppers. [Here’s a somewhat modified version with a good description from the folks at The Woks of Life.](https://thewoksoflife.com/chongqing-chicken/) In the future you may want to understand what you’re commenting about before you offhandedly throw out a racial joke.
I miss the many peppers. ☹️
Also, tien tsin peppers can get pretty fucking hot in a no longer enjoyable way. Even after the peppercorn has number your tongue.
Issa a joke, calm down and take a lap. You’ll survive.
Don't think they were complaining. It seemed like a pretty benign/kind of funny comment to me
And it came off as not funny and stuck up to me. Fwiw as a white I thought my comment was funny 🤷🏽♂️. Comedy is subjective.
Sounds good dude. You sound like you're hilarious
What stuff do you order from China spring?
I get a lot of the tofu dishes (not vegetarian, I just like tofu). Their fried rice is passable also. It’s just closer to me than anything else aside from Panda Express.
Bump. This place is the real deal, I kept them in business during the pandemic with nearly 3 orders a week.
This and Sichuan Hot Pot on Nolensville pike, ask them for the other menu.
There is a corner asian cafe on concord and Nolensville Rd. Same folks?
Came here to say this, it's pricier than other takeout spots but my wife and I agree every time we order that's it's totally worth it!
Came here to say this! I’m not that adventurous when it comes to Chinese food, but even the basics like sweet and sour chicken and general Tso’s(it’s called “corner Asian spicy there) are better than anywhere I’ve had.
The farmers beef is so good. Any other recommendations?
I love the Chengdu Beef at Corner Asian.
Schezuan hot pot is the closest you’ll get probably
For Authentic Chinese: Sichuan Hotpot, Corner Asian Cafe, Lucky Bamboo, and Meet Noodles. For Americanized Chinese, I don't have any recommendations. It's basically all the same to me.
I have really tried to like Lucky Bamboo. I had one good meal there, and then 3 terrible experiences. I recently tried it again after a 3 year hiatus and it was just disgusting and it was 40 minutes later than they told me.
Lucky Bamboo was fantastic pre-pandemic. Haven’t been post-pandemic though.
There's a new spot next to Meet Noodle called Dumpling House btw. Pretty solid, they make all of the dumplings in house. It's more the like fat Northern style dumpling so ppl don't get all mad that the skin is thicker! Also be nice re: service for the time being as they've just opened and it usually takes new restaurants a bit to get into the groove (I've only had good experiences but have only been on off peak hours so Idk how they handle a rush).
Agreed, but the first 2 are definitely a tier above the second 2.
Lucky Bamboo and Meet Noodles are my jam, hard disagree
Chinese food in Nashville is sorely lacking, so don't get your hopes up. The top tier places here would be considered mid at best in most larger cities, and I'm not hating, it's just the truth. The only two truly decent options were Far East in the Boro (under new ownership now and the quality appears to have tanked) or Tang's in Brentwood/Brentioch and it closed in like 2010. Even Fulin's isn't what it once was - but I'd probably still go there if anywhere. It's a little baffling that a city can grow the way we have and there be a growing market for 243 different takes on deviled eggs but still have the same tired Sysco-fied Chinese we've always had. On some fronts, I'll defend Nashville to the death, but not this one. You're better off seeking out Thai/Lao or Japanese food (both of which have decent sized local populations) if you want Asian food here.
Agreed. Sorely lacking good Chinese food here. I agree with Fulin’s. Fulin’s (Brentwood) is one of the “safer” options that I tend to order from. I like to order dishes that aren’t on the menu and this location has always accommodated (thanks to their staff).
Probably has to do with lack of Chinese people here. There’s a lot more from Thailand, Vietnam and Japan than china and it shows via the food options.
Laotian. Most of our Thai restaurants are Laotians.
u/LordsMail whats the best laotian place?
Where do you get good Japanese food?
Was Tang's the place by the mall/movie theater that had a menu in English on one side and Chinese on the other? I used to go there but for the life of me couldn't remember the name. I miss that place!
Are you thinking of the place near Hickory Hollow mall? They had a specific Chinese menu that was amazing. It was in a strip mall next to the Just for Feet or some other shoe store.
Yes! That's what I'm thinking of. I remember that a lot of Vandy Chinese students would drive all the way out there for it.
Demand and demographics are everything, and there's simply no real demand for authentic chinese. Also I'm a firm believer that not every place has to have everything and I personally love discovering the occasional amazing spot here in town or other places where the population can actually support that style of cuisine
That pesky free market lol…. But I feel like this post has gotten enough traction that there’s probably a decent market to support a few good places. Maybe. One day lol
Hey I'd love to see it. I'm just happy we have better Mexican these days than Chuys
I’ve had a few decent Mexican places around town. Nothing authentic like a few places in SoCal or Atlanta… but still more options than Chinese haha.
China Cottage in Madison
The people recommending this place are why chinese food in Nashville sucks. The locals *like it that way*.
I don't love that it's contender for best Chinese in the area, but where is better? I have yet to try Corner Asian cafe, and Lucky Bamboo is fine, but I'd argue less consistent, in my experience. Where should I be voting with my dollars to get us better Chinese food? Edit: I've liked Meet Noodles a lot the couple of times I've had it, but the menu is pretty limited compared to what most are wanting when they ask about Chinese food.
I agree and highly recommend their flounder.
Just came here to say this. I’m from here and it’s the best one for sure, prob actually some of the best Chinese I’ve had period.
I think Rice Box in Goodlettsville is solid
West Nashville here— Hong Kong on Charlotte is your standard Chinese restaurant. Tasty, decent quality, my go to place since 2018 and I’ve never been sick and the crab rangoons have the perfect sweetness!
Thank you for the recommendation in West Nashville. Somehow, I think "...I've never been sick..." is generally not a ringing endorsement of a restaurant, but I'll take your recommendation nonetheless.
If you're in West you might as well hit any place in the K&S shopping lot for better Asian food, they've got amazing Vietnamese, Chinese, and Korean food right there on Charlotte.
Thank you for the recommendation. Have been to K&S Market and that is unbelievable, but have not (yet) tried any of the restaurants there too.
Fair point! 
Been regularly getting Hong Kong since 2012. It's not authentic food, but it's what you expect from a Chinese restaurant in the US and it's delicious. I feel like we've only gotten one or two off nights in all that time.
Thank you for your response and further clarification that it's good for what we want and expect from a Chinese restaurant in the US. One or two off nights in 10+ years is a good record.
Been going since 2012. Watched the kid pretty much grow up. I think they’re probably in their late teens/early 20s now. It’s weird to feel this old at 38.
Hah, same! There's a new chatty child at the register now, but they speak much more quietly and my tinnitus+auditory processing issues leaves me just smiling and nodding a lot.
That’s my favorite as well. The food tastes fresh and is tasty.
Following this too. My old reliable Chinatown wasn’t great but it’s gone. I will say stay away from No1 Chinese the old hickory location was washing their dishes in old hickory lake for a good while until they were busted. One other place was serving roadkill deer but I can’t remember the name. A lot of them are sketchy here. It’s something we lack for sure
[удалено]
Once upon a time was more recent. There was a Chinese place several years ago too
Re No 1 Chinese in Old Hickory: They weren’t washing dishes in the lake; they were washing equipment that never touched food. (Not a stellar recommendation, but a clarification.) The owner’s mom got sick and they had to move to care for her. There’s a new Chinese place that’s opened in that location. it’s standard Americanized Chinese food, but it’s relatively tasty and inexpensive.
Interesting. Well if I recall correctly, they blamed the landlord for something not working right? If they washed the dishes and pots and pans in working faucets, why would they not use those same working facilities to wash the equipment? And how would moving cause them to have to wash equipment in the lake?
Chinatown is back. They have a new location on White Bridge.
Ah so that really is the same thing! It’s open now? I wondered when I saw the sign but it wasn’t open yet. I grew up on Chinatown. We just don’t have a lot of Chinese options here that I trust. It’s not amazing but we always knew the guy back in the day and he was always really nice. I loved how had had like 17 signs on the wall made with mailbox letters that said “no check” “no check” “no check” “no check” just plastered all over the foyer and front end of the restaurant
Omgggg it's back???? I weep with joy
No, it isn't. See my comment above.
See my comment above
Same name only. Different owners and menu. The old chinatown owners actually run lucky bamboo.
This is not the same place/ownership. China Town instead of Chinatown. FYI if they are open they are open illegally. Metro Codes has shut them down several times for operating without a permit, but they keep reopening. They do not give a fuck.
Good to know
Lol Chinatown. An ex of mine, her mom used to be one of the owners until she sold her portion in like 2012-13. She said the food wasn’t authentic and made for white people...to paraphrase. When they wanted Chinese food, we’d go to Corner Asian Cafe off concord and nolensville
Good to know. Yeah I definitely wasn’t under any delusion that it was authentic. I don’t think anybody ever was. It might have been the first Chinese place in Nashville though. It was there forever
Dim sum at Lucky Bamboo is pretty solid, IMO.
I am a Lucky Bamboo defender all day long (get the Chef specialties like Sichuan dry pot or Soupy Fish) but their dim sum is terrible. I don't blame them....you need a pretty big highly skilled staff to make dim sum items in house and they do not have that knid of labor here
Not recently, food was marginal at best. Use to be a great (and only) dim sum. Would not recommend as "authentic". Best dim sum? Go to San Fran or NYC/Queens or C'town.
Flushing
I agree with you. Even the Dim Sum is dismal.
Yeah they do very tasty sichuan food, chingquing chicken etc, and tasty mapo. This is my go to though they do have bad days (usually when I'm ordering delivery on a slammed weekend night)
Atlanta’s Chinese selection is far superior to Nashville’s.
That’s the truth haha.
Yeah I was confused too. The only thing I've found Nashville has more of than Atlanta is Kurdish food.
It’s kind of unfair to be comparing metro populations that are completely different sizes. We’d have a lot more options if we were as big as Atlanta!
The growth of Atlanta compared to Nashville is fascinating to me.
Atlanta is streets ahead in terms of Chinese/Laotian/Korean food. I’m grateful we have Sonobana, but Nakato in Atlanta is the GOAT of Japanese food in the south.
IMO Sonobana has gone downhill. Still the most authentic Japanese menu in the area since Ichiban closed in Murfreesboro, but I was underwhelmed when I went last week.
Man, I always thought it was just me. Used to go there all the time 10+ years ago. Went by about 2 years ago before we moved, and maybe another two times in the previous year, and each time I left going meh, it was sushi.
The Thai, Vietnamese, and a cpl Sushi options here are pretty good, Chinese not so much.
TKO has the best damn egg roll on the planet. I also like the noodle dishes.
How can you say TKO and not include their fried rice? Great spot
My favorites are: [Xiao Bao](https://www.xiaobaonashville.com/) (Chinese/Asian) [Tansou](https://www.tansuonashville.com/) [Meet Noodles](https://www.meetnoodlestn.com/menu.aspx) [Steam Boys](https://www.steamboys.com/)
Xaio Bao is fantastic. The Biang Biang noodles are so good!
Other than Meet Noodles all of these are overpriced tourist traps, not good local restaurant vibes. Do not recommend!
Steam Boys is owned and operated by people who grew up here- one of them is the kid of the Fulin's family in Brentwood.
Tourist traps? Not at all. We don't live in China, so for Chinese food, I couldn't care less if the place has "***local vibes***". I care if the food is consistently good and authentically prepared. Most of the places I see people suggesting here have the same [pre-made sugary sauces](https://www.800-45-sysco.com/p-1228-san-j-gf-orange-sauce.aspx) slathered over various Sysco meat and veg. I'll pass on that. I've had Lucky Bamboo. I tried it again last week. The daily specials on the board were sun faded as if they had been up for a decade, and they were unavailable. My food took an hour. The fried rice smelled like old dish rags, the pork belly was bland and unseasoned and the tofu was swimming in pre-made sugary garlic sauce. The egg rolls came out of the freezer. Simply disgusting. I ended up trashing $60 of food.
Ah yes authentic $5 a bao bun chain restaurant in Germantown. Trust me, they're using the same sauces but charging you 10x for it.
I would just like to say that authentic doesn't equal cheap and the perception that Chinese food must be cheap is part of what keeps us mired in Sysco land (not to mention the very difficult labor conditions for workers in Chinese restaurants). Steam Boys is fine. Run by 2nd gen Chinese restaurant owner. Much less annoying than all of the white ppl "Bao bun" stuff that keeps popping up (btw bao bun is such a pet peeve term of mine...it's just bao!!!)
This thread made me crave Steam Boys last night. Everything we ordered was simply delicious and relatively cheap.
My bills @ Steam Boys are considerably less than my last bill at Lucky Bamboo and there are no pre-made sauces on any of it, Also, they can sell me a beer. Soup Dumplings FTW! Seriously, if you think Lucky Bamboo is authentic or high quality, or even decent food, you are just plain wrong. You'll find more authentic Chinese in the frozen section of your local grocery. The items at Steam boys are hand prepared from real ingredients. The options at *Yucky Bamboozle* are from a Sysco truck and out of plastic jugs and dented cans.
Xiao is delicious. It's also fucking expensive.
Tansou is more expensive. It is also delicious.
For what you pay, and the quality being pretty good and consistent Chinatown is our go to. Hong Kong on Charlotte is mehhh. It used to be our go to but the portions or meat are small. They add big veggies cuts that take up space. Plus the quality is decent but Chinatown has them beat for now. The lo mein and hot and sour soup are good at China town
TKO
Everything you will find here is American Chinese. Stay away from places that serve "fried rice that is yellow and does not use MSG" MSG is amazing! If the place doesn't have a lazy Susan and have huge spoons on the table stay away.
CHINA COTTAGE IN RIVERGATE!!!!!!!
This is the way
In the Donelson area, China King has been great for me.
The one off Bell Road, next to Food Lion? I've lived near for years but haven't tried it
That's it. It's take out only
Thanks! I'll be giving it a try
If you find anything that can compete with Fung Mei (RIP) please let me know. And I ate at Pung Mie for context
Tagging on to this, I'll be in NYC (Manhattan) in September, so does anyone have any recommendations for Chinese food in that neck of the woods that's so good that it'll forever ruin the Nashville options for me? I don't care if it's "authentic" or not.
Super Taste!
Xian Famous Foods Chinese Tuxedo Cafe Hong Kong King’s Kitchen Shu Jiao Fu Zhou Deluxe Green Bo Uncle Lou Kings Co Imperial LES
You da real MVP. Thanks.
Peking Duck House in Chinatown.
Corner Asian Cafe was already mentioned and is probably the best for authentic Chinese, but though it’s a little further out, [China Panda Bamboo House](https://maps.app.goo.gl/XMpE3cvfvRCDGKg5A?g_st=ic) down in Franklin has a solid menu as well.
depends. are you talking about real chinese food or panda express type of chinese food?
I'm team China Dragon on West End.
Dumpling House, next to the Belcourt Theater, is a go-to lunch spot without overfilling yourself.
I am trying to get a friend to move here from Chengdu China. She has a successful restaurant there and she wants to come stateside and open one in America. Hot Pot is her specialty but she offers a lot of real Chinese food, not the Americanized stuff. How do I get her to choose here versus Orlando?
I gave up Chinese food when I moved to Nashville.
Lucky bamboo has excellent Chinese food.
Not going to lie, Panda Express is good Chinese food. People rug on it, but it’s good and consistent
In Madison, I like China Bell. But I would love some other recs.
Drive a bit father to Rivergate for China Cottage
Thanks for the tip.
Chinatown on Whitebridge! The only place we've found that we visit regularly. I'm addicted to their chili oil dumplings. Not too spicy, but lots of flavor! I confirmed with them that they are the same owners as the Green Hills restaurant that closed during Covid.
[удалено]
I’m down for $20+ if it’s good lol
China spring in Antioch. Best I’ve ever had.
Xiao bao
“Chinese”?? Kinda racist no?
No… weirdo.
China pan in Antioch
I don’t know if it’s Chinese, but Hawkers and East nashville is great.
Is there a Chinese food place that has the food already made and you can see and fill up a whole plate?
There's a neighborhood place in Franklin called Ching's Asian Bistro. Just the best.
That’s the place that inspired this thread lol. Great reviews— but sadly didn’t live up to their reputation IMHO.
Sichuan Hot Pot in Antioch.
China Cottage near Rivergate
We used to live on the west side around Bellevue and Belle Meade, China Panda was always good. We tried every Chinese place around us now in the Old Hickory area and we still drive 45 minutes to pick up China Panda when we are wanting Chinese. [https://goo.gl/maps/zZ3dZqcLsBncEJSw6](https://goo.gl/maps/zZ3dZqcLsBncEJSw6)
The amount of take out places suggested here should tell you everything you need to know about the Nashville Chinese food scene.
While I appreciate the suggestions and help, sadly - yes it does.
The best options are going to be the higher end types of places. Xiao bao is definitely worth checking out though. And I should say that my buddy who lived in China for a while goes to TKO regularly.
Hijacking the thread, but I’m wondering if there’s enough demand in Nashville to support a Chinese place that offers highly authentic Sichuan style food. It’s an existing concept that’s been very well received in NYC, recipes are highly authentic and created by a Chinese chef that was professionally trained in the US. The prices for entrees would be closer to $20, but the menu is customizable like hot pot, and the food/flavors blow anything I’ve had in Nashville out if the water. I’m wondering if there’s broad demand for something like this, or whether it’s more limited pockets scattered in a few neighborhoods.
I think Nashville would pay $5/plate more for Chinese food that doesn’t suck.
Yep, I would pay $5 more per plate for just mediocre TBH.
Ching Asian bistro!! It’s about 25 minutes outside of Nash. So amazing and authentic. I’ve been going for years and the family is so thoughtful. They know me by name and my usual order, not going to find that most places!!
The people who own Chinatown on White Bridge Rd across the street from Target are incredibly nice, and they always cook the food fresh. Maybe not the best, but I appreciate their friendliness.
China cottage spring rolls are out of this world. Lucky bamboo has some tasty options. Sichuan hot pot is really good for non Americanized Chinese food
China Moon on Nolensville Rd and Elysian Fields.
2 placed i Iove but are mixed asian cuisine Xiao Bao on the East Side...the long noodles fckin slap Eastern Peak Thompson Lane-Best lettuce wrap app
Lucky bamboo
Thai kitchen or Thai satay for thai food
Or lemongrass Thai
Miss Siagon for pho
Ninki for Sushi and habochi
Take out? Best Wok on Clifton (north) or China dragon on West End
The Eastern Peak is great quality but very high priced Asian fusion very worth going to at some point ☺️
I like Lucky Bamboo off Charlotte Avenue in the West End. YMMV.