Good Chinese Restaurant?
 

So many great restaurants in The Villages but I can't seem to find a good Chinese one. Any suggestions?

Cheng's in front of Walmart on 466 is really good. There is seating and booths, and they serve beer and wine. Portions are large with many meals to choose from. When four of us go there we share the platters for a fun variety.

As far as buffets go Evergreen in Pinellas Plaza is good.

There are n really vs Chinese Restaurant s here. Tried them all. Fried rice is not supposed to be mush! Bamboo Bistro is the best of a poor lot.

If you're from a city with a good Chinatown, you're not going to find a "good" Chinese restaurant. If you're not as spoiled, Evergreen isn't bad. Ditto the one in Colony (owned by the same folks as Evergreen).

Okay, not Chinese, but give the Thai restaurant in Sumter a try. We have had several good meals there. Just remember to ask for "spicy" if that's your taste.

Absolutely dreadful Chinese food here. We always wait until we go back North to get our Chinese fix!

KOYAME

Best we have found.

The quality and style in particular of Chinese food is very dependent on where you come from. I'm from Boston and have eaten Chinese food in many of the major cities in the US. It is all very different. If you're from New York, you probably won't like the Chinese food in San Francisco which many people say is the best. People from Boston don't like the same Chinese food that New Yorkers like.

And then when you get outside of this country is another whole world. What we call Chinese food is nothing like what they eat in China. I went to several Chinese restaurants in The Philippines and it is completely different over there. If you order Chow Mein it's basically soft noodles with this horrible brown sauce.

You have to try around and see what you like. Koyame is very good and as far as buffets go, Evergreen is excellent.

It's the same with Thai food as well. If you eat Thai food in Thailand, it's nothing like what is served over here. In the US Thai food is loaded with sugar. There is very little sweet taste in Thailand.

I like Chengs. Not as good as back home, but still good. Evergreen buffet is good.....however be aware that they use MSG (Monosodium glutamate) in most dishes. I learned the hard way. I was told 3 times by the waitress that NO MSG is used. When I saw the owner (after I ate ) I confirmed with her that no MSG was used.......well, turns out it is. They even brought out the container for the base with the ingredients that is used in most dishes. ( the waitress didn't know that Monosodium glutomate is MSG ), and pointing to the first ingredient which was Monosodium glutamate , declared it was MSG free. I have severe allergy and was Ill for 2 days......I know, my fault....I should have known better. I seldom eat out because it is used in nearly everything.

I also like the Thai restaurant in Sumter when I want something exotic in a quiet restaurant. I like the atmosphere and being waited on by gracious servers. It feels special there.

That's how I remember it but it has been a little while.

Have you tried Yelp? click here

Has anyone tried the Royal Orchid in Ocala? high ratings from UrbanSpoon, Yelp, Google+

We're from Boston area and find that the Japanese restaurant in Spruce Creek Plaza on 441 is good. If you go before 6pm it's $13.95 for soup, salad, noodle course, fried rice, chicken and beef and shrimp (or you can pick 2 out of 3 meats or all 1). It's served hibachi style seating 8 at each table and the chefs interact with guests. I find this is the rice closest to what we are used to. We like Bamboo Bistro also. I can't stand the yellow rice they serve in FL as fried rice and haven't seen a chicken finger in 4 years.

China Max near Five Guys in Rolling Acres plaza is best I've had....
Sorry folks, I really didn't like Evergreen at all and will not be back. Beside Chinese food should be done "buffet".

KOYAME! Head and Shoulders above any others in this area.

KOYAME! Far better than any other in the area

I am happy with Shang Hai in Mulberry. They have a large selection and a number of hot and spicy foods. I have never been disappointed.

Z

Not a fan of Koyame. It's all ok except the rice. I too am not a fan of mushy fried rice. Will give China Max and Shang Hai a try.

Good post. I had a friend that dated a Chinese girl and wanted to take her to a Chinese restaurant in S.Florida. She said "No" I'll take you to a "real" Chinese restaurant and he said the meal was totally different than expected.
It comes down to what you are used to. Many from the North East think that if it isn't the same as NY then it is not good. The world is a lot bigger than "up north".

We just eat Chinese up north. It's just easier

Has anyone tried the Royal Orchid in Ocala? high ratings from UrbanSpoon, Yelp, Google+[/QUOTE]

We lived in Thailand for several months and Royal Orchid is the best Thai food we have found in this area. We go there every 4-6 weeks.

Koyame is our pick for Chinese but as someone else said it is not the same as you will find in a "Chinatown."

If you happen to be in the Fort Lauderdale area, try Thai Spice for excellent Thai food although it is pricey by Villages standards. We were just there last week for a celebration.

China buffet resturant on wedgewood lane their food is by far the best other than VKI's in lake sumter but china buffet has the best and most authentic chinese food in all the villages i go their to eat everytime after dance class

I had Chinese friend in the Boston area. We went to a Chinese Buffet once and he said, "I'm going to take you for some real Chinese food."

He took me to a Chinese breakfast in Boston's Chinatown on a Sunday morning. It wasn't exactly a restaurant. It was in a private room upstairs from a restaurant. There must have been 50 Chinese people in there eating. It was nothing like what we consider to be Chinese food.

He told me that he and his friends go there when they want real Chinese food.

We ate there once and wouldn't go back.
If you want to go outside The Villages, the Koy Wan Buffet in Altamonte Springs has great food. I go there primarily for the sushi, but have sampled so of the other stuff as well. They claim to the the biggest Chinese buffet in Florida.

KOYAME gets my vote too. Great, clean restaurant with some of the best fried rice I've had.

Not in The Villages, but Mr. King's in Crystal River is very good. We have been eating their for 12 years.

That is because there arn't any

Where is Evergreen? Never heard of it? Same with Colony. Are they the walk up types or true sit down service restaurants?

Fugeddaboutit. There ain't none.

IMHO, good Chinese food depends on the quality of the ingredients and the taste of the sauce. It seems like most of the Chinese restaurants we have been to around here use pre-made frozen chicken nuggets and bottled sauces. Can anyone recommend a Chinese restaurant in the area where the food and sauces are made to order?

Totally agree!! Just tried Evergreen and it was ok at best. Koyame depends on how old the oil is again just ok. For a treat of fresh tasting Asian food Bamboo Bistro is by far the best! Good old Chinese does not exist down here so I fill up when back in Chicago.

I THOUGHT IT WAS ONE OF THE WORST, couldn't even imagine it to be that bad. Same comment from my visiting friend from London. Not what you would find on the West Coast for sure.

Why should we expect great Chinese food when you don't have a Chinese community? It is the same with any ethnic food. You need a population base that demands the greatness and brings on the businesses that can meet that demand. TV is a melting pot of persons from different areas of the country with different tastes that can draw many businesses but few that are truly world class regarding ethnic foods.

So we pick what we find best.

Have tried Koyame and Evergreen. Koyame was very good every time we ate their. Good value for your money. Look for their coupon in the paper. Evergreen is a typical Chinese buffet. Average food quality.

The general taos chicken at Bamboo Bistro is really good. So is their curry basil sauce. So for Chinese food, I would look there.

Bamboo Bistro is our go to place for sushi and Asian food. Can't beat the price for the quality!

Orlando seems to be the closest place to get good Chinese food, authentic dim sum, hot pot, even was able to get pigs ears there.

They are the best! The owners are sooooo nice.

:agree:

:popcorn::popcorn::popcorn::popcorn::popcorn:

I just went to a Chinese buffet in Leesburg right before the mall called Ichabon and I loved it. It is really big and the food was piping hot - I don't like when it is lukewarm. I would recommend. I like Koyame, also for one here in the area.

I am Chinese (of Cantonese descent) and we have tried all the various Asian restaurants. Most are Fusion style except the buffets and Cheng's. We had Peking Duck at Cheng's which was nice, but for us the best food is at Panda Express beside Home Depot. The food is always fresh and there is all kinds of choice. It is better than a buffet as they only cook as needed and the food turns over fast. Their honey walnut shrimp are terrific and the lo mein is the best around. You can order whatever you want and the prices are reasonable. It is sit in or take out so you aren't dining as such but the food makes up for the lack of atmosphere. I haven't found any really good buffet yet in TV. JMHO


LW888