My wife and I essentially never eat out...

[marsupial]

We occassionally meet somewhere for lunch - Cafe Rio, Olive garden (for soup & salad, I can't stand anything else there), Chili's, etc. But, for the most part, the obligatory, dining-out on our weekly date night is a thing of the past. Too many disappointments that cost too much money. One of us just takes one for the team and makes something at home...

Why go out when (1) I can make food that's similar, if not better, at home, that's, (2) cheaper, and, (3) I can enjoy it in my own home that's much nicer than most restaurants.

This is why I typically avoid chain restaurants. I could replicate most anything on the menus of Chilis or TGI Fridays, etc, and it would be better. When I go out, I usually want something ethnic. I have tried making a few Thai and Indian dishes at home and while they are good, they are nowhere near as good as what I can usually get at a Thai or Indian restaurant.

[Portland Ute]

You're not missing much. Not worth going out of your way to get Chinese food for white people.

You are in Oregon, right? Where would you suggest going for Chinese in either Utah or the Portland area?

[Tim]

I met some people there for lunch this summer but passed on the food because the only thing on the menu were fries topped with mayonnaise, and hard waffles (like Dutch stroopwafles) served dessert-style.

However that being said, I've walked past two other times and there are always people in line, so maybe there's a secret animal-style menu that I'm not privvy to.

Fries topped with mayonnaise rocks!!!!!!

[YOhio]

You are in Oregon, right? Where would you suggest going for Chinese in either Utah or the Portland area?

There aren't many authentic places in Utah. The closest thing I've found is Little World on 13th and State. It's a pretty dirty place and you have to go a few times to figure out exactly what you like, but when you do you'll love it.

[DU Ute]

There aren't many authentic places in Utah. The closest thing I've found is Little World on 13th and State. It's a pretty dirty place and you have to go a few times to figure out exactly what you like, but when you do you'll love it.

Little World rocks!

You are one wise Daytonian

[MarkGrace]

You are in Oregon, right? Where would you suggest going for Chinese in either Utah or the Portland area?

Seattle.

[RobinFinderson]

I've never had duck. If you were explaining it to a person who's going to have it for the first time (i.e., me), how would you describe it?

Duck is to chicken what lamb is to beef.

[RobinFinderson]

There aren't many authentic places in Utah. The closest thing I've found is Little World on 13th and State. It's a pretty dirty place and you have to go a few times to figure out exactly what you like, but when you do you'll love it.

There is a little Japanese Kitchen (the word 'kitchen' is in the name, and it is a Japanese restaurant) in SLC that is very nice. Also, I went to a moderately fancy vegetarian restaurant in SLC that was quite excellent. The experiences at both places was very fun and unique, and the food was really tasty. I wish I remembered the names of these places, because they were great. If someone said the name of either one I would recognize it.

[falafel]

Duck is to chicken what lamb is to beef.

That sucks. I don't like lamb.

[RockyBalboa]

There is a little Japanese Kitchen (the word 'kitchen' is in the name, and it is a Japanese restaurant) in SLC that is very nice. Also, I went to a moderately fancy vegetarian restaurant in SLC that was quite excellent. The experiences at both places was very fun and unique, and the food was really tasty. I wish I remembered the names of these places, because they were great. If someone said the name of either one I would recognize it.

There's a place called David's Kitchen that used to be on the corner of 33rd and State just across from the Century 16 Movie theaters, but that corner was demolished for a new building and they moved down the street on 33rd closer to I-15 overpass there.

[Green Lantern]

There aren't many authentic places in Utah. The closest thing I've found is Little World on 13th and State. It's a pretty dirty place and you have to go a few times to figure out exactly what you like, but when you do you'll love it.

In the Salt Lake City Weekly, the food critic listed 100 of his favorite restaurants in Utah and he listed a few Chinese restaurants where, if you know what you're doing, you can ask for the "real" menu when you go in (the "non-gringo" menu, if you will.) You're then presented with some more authentic options than what would have been available on the "normal" menu. I can't remember if Little World was one of those places, but it sounds like it.

[statman]

You must be a hell of a cook. I have honestly never had better food at home (anyone's home, not just mine) that is better than the food at good restaurants.

Most restaurants are a far cry from 'good'

[statman]

Don't build it up in your mind, too much. It is good. Probably the best "americanized" Chinese I've had anywhere.

However, I don't make any claim to it's authenticity. I've tried "authentic" chinese a couple of times and it's just not my cup of tea.

The Mandarin is so far ahead of strip mall chinese places or Pei Wei or PF Changs. It really is good stuff. For me, that's good. Good is good, right?

They call it "Pan-Asian" cuisine, or something like that. A little Chinese, a little thai, a little vietnamese, etc. All done with little twists that makes them very inauthentic, but very tasty. It's definitely NOT your typical chinese restaurant. There are a couple things there that I LOVE - (honey walnut shrimp, hot and sour soup.). But others that I've been completely unimpressed with.

But if you measure quality by the number of GAs that you see at a restaurant, it's one of the best places in the state! Every night, it's a Mormon who's who...

[Katy Lied]

we've been to Ruth's Chris (before it closed) and to Spencer's a few times,

Ruth's Chris Steak House will return to SLC. In the former Chase bank building. Remodelling starts next month and the restaurant will open probably in March.

[RobinFinderson]

There's a place called David's Kitchen that used to be on the corner of 33rd and State just across from the Century 16 Movie theaters, but that corner was demolished for a new building and they moved down the street on 33rd closer to I-15 overpass there.

I just looked it up. Koko Kitchen. Check it out. It is pretty nice little mom and pop shop.

702 S 300 E
Salt Lake City, UT 84111
(801) 364-4888