Western Style Chinese Food

[Jingthing]

They're fermented.

Look for Yada brand salted beans, from China, the label is also in Thai.

You can make your own black bean sauce with those beans, mashed garlic, and use ginger in the dish too.

[FolkGuitar]

Beef with black bean sauce, Shrimp with Lobster sauce (same as Lobster Cantonese but made with shrimp,) Ma Pwo Tofu, Sweet and sour Pork or chicken... all of these are fast and easy to make, and the ingredients easily available here. 20-30 minutes prep time and 3-5 minutes cooking time. Just a wok and spatula needed. Easy to get good western-style Chinese food here.

Where did you find the black beans? I've been looking for years here and haven't found them. And just to forestall posters who volunteer that black beans are plentiful here...these are not the whole dried black beans. These beans are what remains of the soy bean after soy sauce is made.

Every supermarket has them, as do the grocery vendors in Wararote Market. The biggest problem to locate them is the packaging.

The most common package I've found is a small glass jar about 3" tall and 4" across. White label with black lettering, most often found on the lower or bottom shelves in Tops and Rimping, in the same general areas as Shrimp pastes, spices, or Chinese sauces (although these sauces generally are on the top shelves...) In one of the supermarkets I saw them in the same area as the salt!

If you can't locate them yourself, print out two or three pictures from a Google Image search and show them to the vendors in Wararote Market who sell the bottles and jars of various sauces. They should recognize what it is that you want. As I said, I see this being sold all around Chiang Mai. Not difficult to find once you recognize the packages used here.

[mudscrubber]

They're fermented.

Look for Yada brand salted beans, from China, the label is also in Thai.

You can make your own black bean sauce with those beans, mashed garlic, and use ginger in the dish too.

That's what I was looking for. Not a premade sauce. Do you know what stores carry them?

[mudscrubber]

Beef with black bean sauce, Shrimp with Lobster sauce (same as Lobster Cantonese but made with shrimp,) Ma Pwo Tofu, Sweet and sour Pork or chicken... all of these are fast and easy to make, and the ingredients easily available here. 20-30 minutes prep time and 3-5 minutes cooking time. Just a wok and spatula needed. Easy to get good western-style Chinese food here.

Where did you find the black beans? I've been looking for years here and haven't found them. And just to forestall posters who volunteer that black beans are plentiful here...these are not the whole dried black beans. These beans are what remains of the soy bean after soy sauce is made.

Every supermarket has them, as do the grocery vendors in Wararote Market. The biggest problem to locate them is the packaging.

The most common package I've found is a small glass jar about 3" tall and 4" across. White label with black lettering, most often found on the lower or bottom shelves in Tops and Rimping, in the same general areas as Shrimp pastes, spices, or Chinese sauces (although these sauces generally are on the top shelves...) In one of the supermarkets I saw them in the same area as the salt!

If you can't locate them yourself, print out two or three pictures from a Google Image search and show them to the vendors in Wararote Market who sell the bottles and jars of various sauces. They should recognize what it is that you want. As I said, I see this being sold all around Chiang Mai. Not difficult to find once you recognize the packages used here.

Is this black beans or black bean sauce?

[FolkGuitar]

Beef with black bean sauce, Shrimp with Lobster sauce (same as Lobster Cantonese but made with shrimp,) Ma Pwo Tofu, Sweet and sour Pork or chicken... all of these are fast and easy to make, and the ingredients easily available here. 20-30 minutes prep time and 3-5 minutes cooking time. Just a wok and spatula needed. Easy to get good western-style Chinese food here.

Where did you find the black beans? I've been looking for years here and haven't found them. And just to forestall posters who volunteer that black beans are plentiful here...these are not the whole dried black beans. These beans are what remains of the soy bean after soy sauce is made.

Every supermarket has them, as do the grocery vendors in Wararote Market. The biggest problem to locate them is the packaging.

The most common package I've found is a small glass jar about 3" tall and 4" across. White label with black lettering, most often found on the lower or bottom shelves in Tops and Rimping, in the same general areas as Shrimp pastes, spices, or Chinese sauces (although these sauces generally are on the top shelves...) In one of the supermarkets I saw them in the same area as the salt!

If you can't locate them yourself, print out two or three pictures from a Google Image search and show them to the vendors in Wararote Market who sell the bottles and jars of various sauces. They should recognize what it is that you want. As I said, I see this being sold all around Chiang Mai. Not difficult to find once you recognize the packages used here.

Is this black beans or black bean sauce?

It's just the fermented black beans, not the sauce. In the supermarkets, I find the beans in jars. In Wararote Market, I've seen them in plastic bags that look like this. Tops is now carrying several different pre-made sauces such as Hoisin, Guillin Chili Paste with Garlic, etc., but not carrying Black Bean Sauce. I have to make that myself when I need it, but that's pretty easy to do.

Combine the following in a small bowl for the basic black bean sauce mixture:

2 tablespoons fermented black beans, rinsed and mashed

2-4 cloves of garlic, minced

1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger

1 tablespoon Chinese soy sauce

1 teaspoon oyster sauce

1 teaspoon sugar

2 teaspoons cornstarch

1/3 cup chicken stock

Edited May 11, 2015 by FolkGuitar

[FolkGuitar]

I was in Tops supermarket this afternoon, and shot these of the jar of fermented black beans.

[Jingthing]

Yep. Definitely not a rare item in Thailand as the set label includes Thai printing.

[mudscrubber]

I was in Tops supermarket this afternoon, and shot these of the jar of fermented black beans.

Thank you and Jingthing too for all your help.

[sandmonster]

Beef with black bean sauce, Shrimp with Lobster sauce (same as Lobster Cantonese but made with shrimp,) Ma Pwo Tofu, Sweet and sour Pork or chicken... all of these are fast and easy to make, and the ingredients easily available here. 20-30 minutes prep time and 3-5 minutes cooking time. Just a wok and spatula needed. Easy to get good western-style Chinese food here.

Where did you find the black beans? I've been looking for years here and haven't found them. And just to forestall posters who volunteer that black beans are plentiful here...these are not the whole dried black beans. These beans are what remains of the soy bean after soy sauce is made.

I got my last large jar, or should I say urn from Makro I think. The authentic fermented beans come in pottery/clay urn, the lid just held on by a paper seal usually. Never seen them in glass jars..thats usually only pre-made black bean sauce. Easier to make your own...no E numbers needed

[Phrafarang]

Has anyone tried the Chinese in the Holiday Inn, Citylifes new Spoon and Fork dining magazine says they do great Crispy Duck and pancakes.

[mascarabertha]

Has anyone tried the Chinese in the Holiday Inn, Citylifes new Spoon and Fork dining magazine says they do great Crispy Duck and pancakes.

I have

[junglechef]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Has anyone tried the Chinese in the Holiday Inn, Citylifes new Spoon and Fork dining magazine says they do great Crispy Duck and pancakes.

I have

Oh no! Not another food critique!!

[Jingthing]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Has anyone tried the Chinese in the Holiday Inn, Citylifes new Spoon and Fork dining magazine says they do great Crispy Duck and pancakes.

I have

Oh no! Not another food critique!!

Yes, but he did answer the question ...

[junglechef]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Has anyone tried the Chinese in the Holiday Inn, Citylifes new Spoon and Fork dining magazine says they do great Crispy Duck and pancakes.

I have

Oh no! Not another food critique!!

Yes, but he did answer the question ...

Which I replied to, and then you replied and now I'm replying again. So look where this all has got us.

Sure glad we're using the information technology to it's fullest potential.

Think I'll go back to my porn and coffee

(Food porn I mean of course )

[elektrified]

To answer my own question, i just found a review of this place, Hong Kong Lucky cafe, in this months Citylife. Its trip adviser reviews say it's a great place and one reviewer thinks its as good as the Chinese food he has had in Frisco. Has anyone tried it yet and is it worth the trip?

I went once out of curiosity to see if the BBQ meat was really up to HK standards. Because nothing in CM really is. This is what I found

1. Char Sui BBQ pork and Roast Duck way better than anything a Thai chinese can do in CM, but not as good as say an average London Chinatown place, or anywhere in HK. The char sui was very nice. Decent size portion, not your usual Thai kiddy size.

2. All waitresses were mainland chinese, mandarin speakers. Spoke a bit of english and not much Thai

3. All customers when I went were mainland chinese tourists, mandarin speakers. Very loud. No locals or ferang

4. The boss looks chinese Thai

5. All chefs are young mandarin speakers ( u can see open kitchen and hear them ). I suggest not cantonese hence food is like mainland chef cooking HK cuisine.

6. The prices are 20% more than similar cafe in HK. Maybe 3x price of Thai food places but comparable to upper end Thai chinese food

7. What really put me off was seeing them use frozen ARO catering for what looked like a Har Kau prawn dumplings.

8. The egg noodles were better than the eggy thick Thai variety, not really HK very thin al dente like. The wanton were not the usual thin Thai variety. More chunky and meaty but still lacks enough prawn like a proper HK wanton.

Nice try, and I would only go again for the roasts, but tbh, I'd rather pay 33% and have the Thai chinese version. The rest of the menu I didn't try but the chefs looked slow and inexperienced and the ARO catering suggests the rest of the menu wont be worth trying.

I went there tonight. Food is O.K., nothing special.

Waitresses - all 3 of them were Thai. One spoke a little Mandarin but the chef did not understand her and she had to show him the menu so he could read to see what the order was.

All but one table were Thais, the other table H.K. Chinese customers.

One of the chefs was Chinese, another Thai who spoke some Mandarin.

Owner is Hong Kong Chinese, friendly, pleasant, keeps a close eye on everything.

Even though there were 2 chefs, plus the owner helping out in the kitchen a little, the food came out painfully slow (one bowl of soup at a time was silly), and every table was waiting...waiting...

We ordered 3 bowls of shrimp wanton soup, one order of noodle roll with BBQ pork, 2 ice tea, one water, one small bakery item, total 711,50 THB

Definitely the most "authentic" Chinese food in town, tasty, but way over-priced IMO for such simple items made from locally sourced ingredients. Wasn't worth what we paid.

Worth a try just for the curiosity of real Chinese food in town. I doubt we will go back though.

[PlanetX]

Just found this place and really like it. Passionate Chiang Mai

Location: Huay Kaew Road across street from Malin Hotel (near The Boat restaurant)

Exact directions: https://www.facebook.com/Passionate.ChiangMai

Menu: https://www.facebook.com/download/1751431118416991/P8%20-%20Full%20Menu%20-%20Web%20file%20FV.pdf

[Phrafarang]

So i finally found the time to get to the Hong Kong Lucky in Niman Soi 7, looked at the menu amd could not find anything i recognised from the UK version of Chinese. I drove over to the Chinese in the Holiday Inn and had sweet and sour pork, crispy duck, deep fried crispy chicken and special fried rice. It was all pretty good and, so far, the nearest to the UK version of Chinese food i have had in CM

[Chicog]

So i finally found the time to get to the Hong Kong Lucky in Niman Soi 7, looked at the menu amd could not find anything i recognised from the UK version of Chinese. I drove over to the Chinese in the Holiday Inn and had sweet and sour pork, crispy duck, deep fried crispy chicken and special fried rice. It was all pretty good and, so far, the nearest to the UK version of Chinese food i have had in CM

And what was the damage?

[Phrafarang]

It does not matter what something costs if it is what you want

[mascarabertha]

It does not matter what something costs if it is what you want

perfect answer. I couldn't agree more

[Ulysses G.]

It matters to me. Can I afford to eat it every few days or every few years?

[mascarabertha]

It matters to me. Can I afford to eat it every few days or every few years?

if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it at all

[quidnunc]

It matters to me. Can I afford to eat it every few days or every few years?

if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it at all

That's what JP Morgan said when someone asked him about the price of his massive yacht. It's just plain stupid to use it when asked about the cost of common everyday things. Or are you saying it never makes sense to ask how much something costs? It seems so.

Edited May 22, 2015 by quidnunc

[mascarabertha]

It matters to me. Can I afford to eat it every few days or every few years?

if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it at all

That's what JP Morgan said when someone asked him about the price of his massive yacht. It's just plain stupid to use it when asked about the cost of common everyday things. Or are you saying it never makes sense to ask how much something costs? It seems so.

I am saying that if you ask how much anything costs you have a beer pocket book and champagne tastes. certainly when we are talking about a luncheon meal not a Lamborghini

[Jingthing]

No food review is ever complete without at least some info about price levels.

Sent from my Lenovo S820_ROW using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[mascarabertha]

No food review is ever complete without at least some info about price levels.

Sent from my Lenovo S820_ROW using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

by food critics perhaps . this however is a average guy sharing his experience at the holiday inn

[onthedarkside]

Many posts removed. Members bickering between themselves. The topic is 'western-style-chinese-food'

[Phrafarang]

it was under a thousand baht for a meal for two ok :-)

[Loaded]

It matters to me. Can I afford to eat it every few days or every few years?

if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it at all

That's what JP Morgan said when someone asked him about the price of his massive yacht. It's just plain stupid to use it when asked about the cost of common everyday things. Or are you saying it never makes sense to ask how much something costs? It seems so.

I am saying that if you ask how much anything costs you have a beer pocket book and champagne tastes. certainly when we are talking about a luncheon meal not a Lamborghini

I always check prices before I buy whether it's in a supermarket, restaurant, tuktuk, hotel or a roadside eating place. I always thought it was stupid not to check. Prices can be inflated in Thailand unless they are established before you purchase.

[Ulysses G.]

It matters to me. Can I afford to eat it every few days or every few years?

if you have to ask the price, you can't afford it at all

That's what JP Morgan said when someone asked him about the price of his massive yacht. It's just plain stupid to use it when asked about the cost of common everyday things. Or are you saying it never makes sense to ask how much something costs? It seems so.

I am saying that if you ask how much anything costs you have a beer pocket book and champagne tastes. certainly when we are talking about a luncheon meal not a Lamborghini

When I lived in San Francisco and had plenty of money, there were Chinese places that I would eat at every day and others, only every blue moon, because of the price. All I want to know is, which one is it?