[Neils]

Originally Posted by J1ceasar

There are no good Chinese restaurants in the bubble how you could possibly ever compared to New York City. In fact I will say the reason is because people here are too cheap and the restaurants here understand that. If you look at it and egg roll but you will get here it is half the size with no meat inside of it. Fried rice has very little vegetables or cut up roast pork. There are probably 6 or so good New York style restaurants in Florida I have found why not south of Cocoa Beach and several towards Miami. There is also 1 in Leesburg that is takeout only. he is from New York. The problem is cost and cheapest survive in Senior town

It is a great place. So why not go back to NY?? Many people never leave there.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Koyame.

I think that pretty much all of them are Asian Fusion these days.

With the popularity of Thai food and sushi, many Chinese restaurants have added some of those dishes to their menus.

[xkeowner]

Originally Posted by Lonnieme2

Well, one of my favorite things in life is eating and before COVID-19, my husband I would got out to eat at least three times per week, maybe more. I had hopes for the food around the Villages but after reading the replies, I realize that we may be disappointed when we get there. We ate at the Japanese Steakhouse at Lake Sumpter during out 2019 visit and although everyone else has said that they like it, we were not impressed. Maybe it was a bad day for them or a bad day for us!
The one (and only) good thing about where we current live outside of Atlanta is the array of food choices and the quality. A place that does not meet expectation will not be around for long and will be replaced with something better. The Villages will not be perfect and I know that some things must be sacrificed as life is a give and take. Maybe once we get there I will lose weight!!! :-)

Don't despair, there are at least decent restaurants in The Villages area. We have been here just over ten years and have lived four years in the far east and six years in Europe. We went to VKI shortly after we arrived and have never returned. Thai Ruby is Thai in name only. Restaurants inside The Villages cater to both the budgets and tastes (often bland) of retirees. For most "ethnic" cuisines we dine outside the bubble.

Many laud the Italian and Chinese in NYC as the "gold standard." They may be correct, as I have never been to NYC to have a basis for comparison. For many of them, the NYC versions of those cuisines may have been their only exposure and thus set their standards, actually authentic or not. Besides both cuisines have differences depending upon the region in the countries, so for which region are they claiming authenticity.

I have had both cuisines much closer to their origins as well as other locations in the world. We feel there are many good ethnic restaurants within 60 minutes drive from The Villages and we are willing to take the drive. The drive is part of our retirement activities.

Bottom line, be adventurous and get outside of the bubble. The Villages Gourmet website lists hundreds of possibilities and despite their diligence and dedication we know of a few they do not have listed.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

Originally Posted by Eg_cruz

Try the Yummy House in Ocala.... Authentic Chinese food

You've obviously never been to China. Most Americans have no idea what authentic Chinese food is.

I've never been to a Chinese restaurant in this country that serves authentic Chinese food.

As for all this talk about NY Chines food, people's taste in Chinese food, and pizza for that matter depends on where you come from and what you're used to. I'm from Boston. I've eaten Chinese food in New York City and tough it was terrible.

And by the way, I've eaten Chinese food in China and did not like it. It was not at all what I expected. What is called Chow Mein here, in The Villages or in Boston or in New York is very different than what is Chow Mein in Bejing.

For some reason Chinese food is different in every state in the country. It's all what you're used to. If it's not like what you had at home, get used to it because you're not going to find that here. It's not that it's bad, it's just different.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by Dr Winston O Boogie jr

You've obviously never been to China. Most Americans have no idea what authentic Chinese food is.

I've never been to a Chinese restaurant in this country that serves authentic Chinese food.

As for all this talk about NY Chines food, people's taste in Chinese food, and pizza for that matter depends on where you come from and what you're used to. I'm from Boston. I've eaten Chinese food in New York City and tough it was terrible.

And by the way, I've eaten Chinese food in China and did not like it. It was not at all what I expected. What is called Chow Mein here, in The Villages or in Boston or in New York is very different than what is Chow Mein in Bejing.

For some reason Chinese food is different in every state in the country. It's all what you're used to. If it's not like what you had at home, get used to it because you're not going to find that here. It's not that it's bad, it's just different.

I have been to China many times for work and food is night and day from what we have here. Most Americans would not know what to make of it.

Personally I enjoy it but was a culture shock the first time I was there.

BTW in China no such thing as egg rolls or lomein. Chinese look down on simple noodle dishes.

[Aloha1]

Very true about regional differences in Chinese cooking. We've been to China ( Beijing, Hong Kong, and Shanghai) The cooking was different in each city and unlike what you get in the US.

On Maui, there is a restaurant called China Boat owned and run by a couple from Taiwan. The sauces they use on their dishes are unlike anything I have tasted anywhere else. Boy, do I miss it.

[raynan]

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC

So where do you get good potato knishes at a reasonable price.

Only thing we have found is Gabila at Publix price is very very high.

TooJays has knishes.

[raynan]

Cheng's on 466 is closest to what we were used to in Boston and we like Bamboo Bistro also.

[bobdeb]

I had Mexican in Tijuana... (Seriously, but no comment please.)

There are a number of Chinese restaurants here with the very same menu. I've tried more than a few and I can't say I'm dying to go back.

I would gladly pay more for better quality Chinese food like back home... and I'm from New England, not NYC.

[Stu from NYC]

Originally Posted by raynan

TooJays has knishes.

Do not care for that style of knishes.

We bought several dozen of potato and kosher from Gabila by mail order a few months ago. We even qualified for their knish club.

[Taltarzac725]

Angela Dimayuga’s 10 Essential Filipino Recipes - The New York Times

I was wondering with all the Filipino nurses in this area if there are any good Filipino restaurants in this area? The Villages or surrounding area?