arfycat t1_j4e02ih wrote on January 15, 2023 at 1:16 AM

You want real Chinese?

Pepper House for their noodle dishes and the dry pot.

Nan Xiang Express for their world class xiao long bao. Their other items are great too by HoCo standards. Unfortunately the xiao long bao can be inconsistent and suffers from the way it is served in takeout containers rather than directly from the steamer like in the full restaurant in Flushing (and really every other restaurant where you can eat there).

Jumbo Jumbo is Taiwanese and has an excellent beef noodle soup. Their fried chicken is also amazingly good and reliably consistent.

Tea Top also has a limited menu like Jumbo Jumbo. Personally I prefer Jumbo.

There's also a variety of hot pot restaurants, all of which are at least decent. Urban Hot Pot is actually in Columbia by the mall.

Zen Garden has a huge menu including real Chinese dishes that actually taste good and aren't full of garbage ingredients.

dashinny t1_j4e6mgn wrote on January 15, 2023 at 2:04 AM

Zen garden is definitely the most authentic sichuan I’ve had in forever. Braised pork belly is so good there

iluvsweatshirtz t1_j4euz1s wrote on January 15, 2023 at 5:14 AM

agree on Pepper House!! actual chinese food. if you don't mind driving like 20 minutes, check out Grace Garden in Odenton ! the food there is amazing

nahxela t1_j4eyekz wrote on January 15, 2023 at 5:48 AM

Jumbo Jumbo salt and pepper chicken my beloved

TheTsar1 t1_j4y1mtb wrote on January 19, 2023 at 1:29 AM

Pepper House is really good! I usually get the dumplings in chili oil and it always hits the spot

regulate213 t1_j531ssy wrote on January 20, 2023 at 1:20 AM

You seem like you have a clue - where can I find Three Cups Chicken (San Bei Ji / 三杯鸡 )? My go-to was lost in the explosion a few years ago.

arfycat t1_j537wxi wrote on January 20, 2023 at 2:05 AM

I can't recall seeing it anywhere in HoCo lately, though it's something we, we being my wife 😅, make at home so generally we're not looking out for it. I think Jumbo Jumbo down in Rockville might have it though.

regulate213 t1_j57uzzy wrote on January 21, 2023 at 12:32 AM

Thanks - I checked their menu and didn't see it, but I'll give them a visit and try for off-menu.