Chinese Restaurants in Miami, Florida

I love Chinese Food. I grew up in New York and used to go to Chinatown frequently and often ate some dishes that I wasn't even sure of what I was eating. Later in my life, whenever we traveled to a city with its own Chinatown we would always make a point of going there. The best, besides New York is, in my humble opinion, in San Francisco...but alas, I live in Miami so I have search out and try as many Chinese Restaurants as I can, all over the city. Though I do tend to stick to the South Dade and Miami Beach areas, closer to home.

Here are a few of these Oriental eateries I consider the best.

I'll start with my favorite;

One: New Chinatown

Located in the South Miami, it is considered an "institution" in the area and has been for over 20 years. The food they serve is always top of the line in quality and preparation since they use all natural ingredients, and use no chemicals, preservatives or processed meats. Their menu is extensive and I always go thinking I will have something new, but I end up with my favorite meal, Lobster with Ginger and Scallions. What an exceptionally delicious dish. They even have live lobsters in a tank so you know that your meal is as fresh as can be. They are a bit pricy though, having just recently raised their prices along with a new menu. A meal for two can be had for $30 and up, but for lobster, expect to pay more. You can't go wrong at this 4 star restaurant. They deliver and you can order ahead for pickup.

Location:
5958 S Dixie Hwy
South Miami, FL 33143
305-662-5649

Two: Original Canton Restaurant Of Dadeland North

Also in the South Miami area, the Original Canton's is noted for their scrumptious Canton Steak and fantastic Honey Chicken. They have an extensive menu with quite a variety of delicious food. They state they use only the freshest ingredients in their dishes and as far as I'm concerned the taste of each dish confirms that, they too make a wonderful Lobster dish which I order often. Their prices have also gone up recently with main courses in the $15 to 20 price range.

Whether you go to the Canton's original or to any of the other locations in the Miami area a good meal awaits. They offer takeout and delivery within a 3 mile radius. And, they do offer lunch time specials.

Location:
6661 S Dixie Hwy
Miami, FL 33143
305- 666-5511

Three: PF Changs at the Falls

You can't miss the tall twin horses in front of this stylish restaurant, where diners sip tall tropical drinks at the bar while families with children feast around large tables or in the spacious booths. The menu offers Chinese classics with a contemporary tweak. Each dish I have ever had has been beautifully presented, with delicious sauces made at your table by the servers. One of my favorites is a signature dish of theirs and includes diced chicken and fresh vegetables wrapped in cool lettuce leaves, I also enjoyed the wok-fried Scallops with lemon sauce. They make a delectable Lobster Cantonese, one of my all time favorite dishes. I also love their soup, which is my taste test at most Chinese restaurants. Their prices are in the $20 and up category for main courses, but I've gone there and just ordered the appetizers.

Located in the Falls Shopping center in South Dade County
8888 SW 136th St
Miami, FL 33176

Four: China Grill

This Chinese restaurant is a trip in itself and provides a culinary adventure in a spectacular setting on Miami Beach. They state on their menu that the meals they offer are "World Cuisine" and feature a true Asian dining experience, food with unique flavors. Most of their dishes are prepared on either grills or woks using ingredients gathered from all over the globe. The generous portions are brought to your table in a dramatic way & meant to be shared family style. The inside is a beautiful setting with a large exhibition kitchen in the center. China Grill on South Beach is a place to see and be seen so you never know just who will be sitting next to you.

There are two things though I was not happy with, one, the noise level...boy, does it get noisy as the evening progresses the other, the prices, which are very high. Very very high. But the food really is fabulous and I will go back again when I win the lottery for that Shanghai Lobster and a few of the dishes we shared with our friends one memorable evening. This restaurant is considered elegant and casual. Prices start at $31

Located on South Beach
404 Washington Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
305-534-2211

Five: Tropical Chinese

People from all over Miami flock to this Southwest Dade restaurant for the wide variety of Dim Sum they serve, especially on weekends. It really can be hard to get a table unless you go really early.

Their specialties feature Cantonese/Mandarin jewels like shrimp dumplings and huge prawns prepared in delicious sauces. And my favorite, the Pineapple fried rice. The dim sum is not too expensive, but dinner can be steep. Exotic entrees like sliced Abalone can cost nearly $50. But other meals are priced from $9 for Singapore Noodles all the way up to $23 for the endangered Shark's Fin soup. Personally I stay away from that soup! When you go for just the Dim Sum experience you will be rewarded with everything made fresh and truly delicious...almost as good as San Francisco, but, I did say almost.

Located in a strip mall near Tropical Park
7991 SW 40th St
Miami, FL 33155-6750.
They open early, especially for the Dim Sum crowd; Sun-Thu 11:30am-10:30pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-11pm

Six: Oriente

"Oriente is the easternmost region of Cuba"

For Chinese food with a Latin twist, Cuban born Gloria and Emilio Estefan have opened a handsome, unusually decorated, East meet West, Latin/Asian creative restaurant on Ocean Drive on South Beach. Not only is Gloria famous for her singing but she and her husband are known for the unique restaurants they own and operate in the Miami area. This is one of them.

The food served really is unique, like crispy Calamari with sweet Chili- tahini sauce. Entrees are served with sticky rice and caramelized plantains a favorite meal by many is a tender Ginger and Soy Marinated Skirt Steak but the most appealing to me was the Tamarind-Basted Ribs, served with Asian Coleslaw and
Ginger-steamed rice, now that was some meal!

All in all, it can only be described as a combination of Asian, Cuban, with some Mediterranean flavor thrown in. A unique place but considered quite expensive, about $10 for an appetizer and about $20 - 30 for an entrée. And up!

Oriente is located in the newly renovated Cardozo Hotel on Miami Beach
1300 Ocean Drive
305-535 6500
Parking is available by Valet

Almost all the chi chi restaurants on Miami Beach are expensive but they certainly are very unique and quite good with many unusual offerings on their menus. They are also busy late in the evenings so reservations are necessary.

But, for a little less money, there are options. A new entity has taken hold in the Chinese restaurant business, "the all you can eat variety". There are quite a few new places now, many mix Chinese with Japanese cuisine, the one which we have enjoyed and frequented a few times when we are in a hurry is;

Seven: China Buffet

When you enter you just can't miss the hot, tangy aromas wafting up to meet your nose from the bountiful buffet in the center of the big room. We always have enjoyed our meals featuring all the classics, from soup to the main courses. The seafood they serve seems quite fresh and nothing sits for long. They constantly refill the table's contents. Tables are roomy and the servers who bring you drinks always are friendly as they remove your plates so you can start eating again on fresh clean plates...The prices are very reasonable, at $10.95 an adult, $8.95 for children on weekends. Two dollars less during the week and at lunch you can get away with spending about $6-7

Located in a strip shopping center across from the Falls Shopping Center at
13605 S Dixie Hwy
Miami, FL 33176
305-235-4331

And for a real bargain, my favorite "hole in the wall" take out place;

Eight: Lotus House Chinese Take Out.

Lotus House is so authentic the Chinese family who owns and operates it hardly speak English. When they first took over from the couple who had owned it for years, I was dubious about how good it would be and I was really pleasantly surprised. It's so much better, I love the Tofu Family dish, that tastes like tofu in lobster sauce but without the big price tag, their Wonton soup is truly a good one with homemade wontons, their egg rolls are filled with fresh veggies, and, each main course, though very traditional are really quite good, some better than others but we've never had anything we didn't like. We take out food from there at least once a week and have never been disappointed.

Located in the Kendall Mall shopping center
9061 S.W 107th Ave, Miami-
305-279-0969

So there you have it...My selection for a few of the best Chinese Restaurants in the Miami and Miami Beach area . A smorgasbord of good Chinese food awaits your pleasure

Bon Appitit!