Enjoy the Olympics the Proper Chinese Way: Los Angeles Edition

You know that song “Too Much Love Will Kill You” by Queen? Same theory applies here at Sam Woo. Delicious food at very reasonable prices, but the insane quantities of MSG will bring you down if you aren’t careful with the portion control. Their BBQ pork is especially good.

Despite the complete lack of ambiance and terrible customer service, Newport Seafood puts out some delicious food, especially the French Beef plate and their world famous lobster. Take-out is especially frustrating as they add $1.00 for every item packaged to go. After expressing my great disapproval at their policy I furiously pulled out my Basil Fish platter and threatened, “This better be the most delicious Chinese food I’ve ever tasted!” After eating it, I meekly added, “OK, you got lucky this time.”

Personally I think that this place is overrated, but you’ve never be able to tell from the throngs of people that wait outside the doors everyday. The special here is Xialongbao, or “Juicy Pork Dumplings” as they are colloquially named for the round eyed white ghosts. Try it and tell me what you think.

If you believe that PF Chang’s China Bistro is fine eating, I feel really bad for you… not to mention your blood pressure considering the otherworldly amounts of sodium that go into their food. Incidentally, the “PF” stands for Paul Fleming, a noted American restaurateur.

Despite Michael Chang’s brief flash of glory in the tennis world, culminating in an amazing win at the 1989 French Open, Chinese people seemingly aren’t fit for the game. However, they kick ass at its more diminutive cousin, table tennis.

With the large number of Chinese immigrants in the South Pasadena/San Gabriel Valley area, this is the place to go if you’re looking for a good badminton game. “Badminton’s for wimps”, say you?

Lots of toys, figurines and knick knacks at this famous Chinatown institution.

You are going to find a wide range of arcane (and possibly extremely illegal) Chinese herbal products as well as a plethora of fake designer clothing and bootleg music and movies. Truly, a one stop shop purveying the seedy underbelly of Chinese culture.

Good Luck Bar has the “Happy Ending”, a late happy hour from 7-9PM every weekday. There are also lots of specialty Chinese themed cocktails and a wide range of beers and liquor served by Ronnie, the friendly and somewhat myopic bartender. squinting “Who’s that there? Oh, hey John!”

As much as I dislike cover charges at bars, the Mountain Bar in Chinatown makes up for this heinous policy with awesome DJ’s and lots of strange and interesting indie singer/songwriters in their upstairs room. Expect lots of hipsters here, but then again, when should you not?

Shown prominently in movies such as LA Confidential, Formosa Cafe brings a very Old LA vibe with its dark interior and red vinyl furnishings.