Los Angeles - Cheap Eats For the Chinese Food Lover

Los Angeles County is home to over 400,000 Chinese-Americans. Undoubtedly, it has one of the largest ethnic Chinese populations outside of China. Many are first generation immigrants from China or are children of immigrant Chinese parents. In areas with a high population density of ethnic Chinese, one can find many skilled chefs and restaurateurs working in and running restaurants that serve good, authentic Chinese food, just like how they are being served in China. The prices are usually very affordable too.

Most of these restaurants are located in five main areas: the official Chinatown in downtown Los Angeles, Monterey Park, San Gabriel, Alhambra and Rowland Heights. Except for Chinatown, all areas are in the San Gabriel Valley. All 5 areas are within the confines of Los Angeles County, California.

To give you an idea about good cheap Chinese restaurants that you will find in the above areas, consider these three popular restaurants where you can enjoy good food at bargain prices:

Kang Kang Food Court (2 branches: Monterey Park, Alhambra)* - Despite the name, this is not a food court with multiple food vendors, but a self-service restaurant. Once you walk into the restaurant, you will find over 15 varieties of delicious entrees and hot and cold side dishes displayed behind the counter. Pick out any 3 items, steamed rice and soup and your check is less than $5. The dining area features two big plasma TV screens that will show popular sporting events like NBA basketball games, World Cup soccer or the Olympics when in season.

Yum Cha Cafe (3 branches: Alhambra, San Gabriel, Chinatown)* - The place specializes in Dim Sum, a part of Cantonese cuisine that includes many small dishes like little dumplings, buns and pastries. Yum Cha Cafe serves arguably the cheapest Dim Sum you can find anywhere in the entire Los Angeles. The quality may not be quite what you will get in higher end restaurants, but it is extraordinary value for the money. A small plate of four pieces of Siu Mai, a small meat and shrimp dumpling, costs just 99 cents.

Shanghai Restaurant (San Gabriel)* - As the name of the restaurant indicates, this place serves Shanghainese cuisine, a type of Chinese cuisine that is fast gaining international recognition. The food is flavorful and rich. During lunch time, the restaurant offers an special value lunch menu with over 20 entree dishes from $5 - $8 each. If you like fish, the fried yellow croaker with seaweed is highly recommended. Visit with a group of friends and enjoy a scrumptious family style meal consisting of a variety of dishes.

These are just three examples of restaurants serving good, inexpensive Chinese food. If you visit the five main areas listed at the beginning of this article, you will be able to find similar gems as well. There are several upscale restaurants offering lunch specials or late night specials, making it very affordable to get a good meal in a pleasing atmosphere.

One last tip - bring some cash with you. Most of these places will accept cash only, no credit or debit cards. A number will accept credit cards but with minimum charge requirements of $10 to $20. The good news is that you will be able to enjoy a satisfying meal on the cheap.

*The prices and locations are accurate at the time of this article's writing in September 2009. For updated information, please contact the restaurants directly before you visit.

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Learn the Basic Terms of a Chinese Food Menu

Chinese cuisine is well known all over the world for its rich history and the various complicated techniques and traditions involved in its preparation. Owing to its rich quality and competitive pricing, there is a growing demand for Chinese foods around the globe.

But, what most Europeans and Americans find mysterious are the several exotic terms that are used in a Chinese food menu. Although most Chinese restaurants serve their menus with English translation and a vivid description of some authentic dishes, it is always better to know some basic terms of a Chinese food menu. These terms will not help you make a better choice at a Chinese restaurant, but also understand the Chinese food recipes when you decide to cook something Chinese.

Following is a list of some basic terms of a Chinese food menu and their meanings:

1) Choy: This term is used to describe vegetables that serve as an appetizer as well as a garnish, and are an important part of Chinese cuisine.

2) Crab Rangoon: Crab Rangoon, a popular American Chinese appetizer, actually refers to deep-fried wontons filled with scallions, cheese, cram, and crab.

3) Dun: This term is very commonly used in Chinese food menus and refers to eggs mixed with rice, beans, chicken, and vegetables.

4) Fon: When you come across the 'Fon', do not get confused. It is nothing but rice, boiled or fried, mixed with carrots, peas, and pork.

5) Gai: The term 'Gai' is used for chicken in Chinese cuisine. For instance, 'Moo Shu Gai' is nothing but chicken served with plum sauce and vegetables.

6) Ma Po Tou Fu: Sounds strange? When you find any such term in a Chinese menu, know that this term simply refers to 'spicy pork in bean curd'.

7) Mien: Although sounds obscure, it simply stands for Chinese noodles.

8) Tiem and Suen: If you wish to order something sour, look for the word 'Tiem' in the food menu. Similarly, things listed under the section titled 'Suen' are nothing but Chinese desserts.

There are many other exotic terms you will come across in a Chinese food menu, but the above-listed ones are the most fundamental ones.

Use the unique Chinese Food Locator to find some of the best Chinese Restaurants in your city.

Also, find more informative articles and tips on Cooking Chinese Food to experience the flavor of the rich Chinese Cuisine.

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Chinese Food Smart Picks

Chinese food can be some of the healthiest food available. It can also be some of the worst. It all depends on what you order.

Ask the server if you can order a child size entrée. That will also reduce the volume of food. It will bring the amount of food to a more manageable level.

Best Picks

1. Choose main courses with mostly vegetables and steamed rice.

2. Pick chicken instead of duck.

3. Avoid or try to eat very small quantities of the crispy fried noodles.

4. Ask that your food be prepared with less oil, soy sauce and salt.

5. Ask that your food be prepared without the MSG.

Instead

1. If you like egg drop soup, try the wonton soup instead.

2. If you like the egg rolls, try the steamed dumplings instead.

3. If like the fried main dishes, try them boiled, broiled, or steamed instead.

4. If you like the fried meat dishes, try dishes with lots of vegetables instead.

5. If you like the dishes with cashews and peanuts, try them with water chestnuts instead.

6. If you like the fried rice, try the steamed rice instead.

7. If you like the lobster sauce, try the sweet and sour sauce instead.

Practice the following

1. Can I have this without the sugar or starch?

2. Can I have the sauce on the side?

3. Can I have this without MSG?

4. Can I have a doggy bag before I start eating? The size of the portions of Chinese foods are often large, so try asking for a doggy bag upfront and putting some of the food away for another meal. Removing some of the food before you start eating will reduce your chances of overdoing it.

Also try sharing the larger portions with your dining companions to make more appropriate portion sizes.

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A Guide to Weight Loss Friendly Chinese Food

Those of us who are on a diet know just how damaging Chinese food can be if we don't order the right thing. Majority of the foods which we purchase at the local Chinese place are either deep fried or pan fried. This means that the meal will be laden with trans fats, calories and cholesterol. Well, in this article I will reveal several tips which will help you make the right decision when ordering Chinese food.

1. First of all, you should never eat too much. Remember that two portions are equal to the size of a light bulb, whereas, one portion can fit in the wrapper of a cupcake.
2. Steamed rice is always a great choice. Rice is low in fat, and calories. Just make sure that you don't order fried rice or lo-main. Fried rice is in fact fried which already means that it is laden with fat, calories and cholesterol.
3. along with your rice you should try to order a wide array of veggies stir friend in minimal oil. Chinese restaurants tend to use a lot of oil and sauces which is why their food always tastes so great. So be sure to specify that you would like your food with light oil and light sauce.
4. Be sure to stay away from fried chicken. We all know how delicious it is, but it surely will not benefit your health or your waistline.
5. Skip the extra sauces. They are often laden with sodium.

These are just a few tips to help make your next visit to a Chinese restaurant a healthier one. If you are trying to lose weight and dieting alone is not helping, you should also try routine physical activity, all natural appetite suppressing hoodoba pills and meal-replacement nutrimelt whey protein shakes.

Lauren S. Johnson writes health articles about fitness and nutrition. Some of her favorite passions include studying the medicinal benefits of herbal remedies & and hoodoba hoodia gordonii. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lauren_S_Johnson Find More : Chinese food , ordering Chinese food , Chinese restaurants

Healthy and Easy Chinese Food at Home

500+ Healthy Chinese Recipes is exactly what it proclaims to be - a guide to make great Chinese food that isn't dripping in fat. Chef Nicholas Zhou is the author of the book, and has over 40 years of cooking experience and is now sharing his secrets with you.

What you get when you order 500+ Healthy Chinese Recipes is a very large amount of knowledge from Zhou. In it, you will learn how to cook popular dishes from four different areas in China: Cantonese, Beijing, Szechuwan, and Hunan. Each of these styles and regions have their own distinct taste and cooking techniques that Zhou will walk you through.

However, what Zhou promotes hardest is that his recipes cut down on the fat content from a Chinese restraint that you and I eat at. Most people think that eating out Chinese is healthy, but in reality, when you order Chinese, most often the food is deep fried and loaded with fat and calories. Zhou promotes cooking techniques such as braising, boiling, simmering, "flavor potting", and smoking, along with others. In using these techniques, along with some traditional deep frying recipes, Zhou helps you cut back on your fat intake and makes a truly healthy eating experience.

What do you get when you order the cook book? First, you get over 500 recipes from Zhou himself. You also get a book written by Zhou for novice cookers, geared towards teaching you the multiple different Chinese cooking techniques as a free bonus. Also, as a free bonus, you get a 150 page glossary on Chinese cooking, giving you definitions of different terms, ingredients, and dishes that you will be making. Here is the best part, in my opinion. Zhou is going to continue to make upgrades to his books, and anytime he updates them with new recipes, he will send an email to people that bought the book with his new recipes.

All of this together costs a low price of $19.97...an amazing amount of knowledge and cooking expertise for that price. This is an excellent way for even the most novice of cookers to start making Chinese dishes at home, today.

Visit my blog for helpful hints on easy cooking and recipes, and visit my new website for online cookbooks that can help you learn how to cook just about anything in your spare time.

http://www.fast-and-easy-cooking.blogspot.com/ That is my cooking blog

http://www.cookbooksonline.webnode.com// And that is my cookbook website where you will find Zhou's cookbook.

Any other questions? Contact me at matt.altdorfer@yahoo.com

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Details of Chinese Food

Chinese food holds a popular place among the entire population of the world. You can find a Chinese restaurant in every major city and in many smaller areas of the world as well. Why is Chinese food so popular? Is Chinese food healthy? What is the history of Chinese food?

The History of Chinese Food
The history of Chinese food1 is an interesting one. Unlike many cultures the Chinese believe that the preparation of food is an art and not simply a craft. The art of cooking Chinese food can include dishes and food preparation techniques which are difficult to develop and may require the expertise of a chef with lots of experience. One such technique is noodle pulling (scroll down to the bottom of the page to learn more about this technique). Noodle pulling requires skill and lots of practice and results in a delicious noodle dish. This article will refer to noodle pulling later on, but for now, let’s go back to the history of Chinese food.

Chinese food and the way it is prepared is very much influenced by the two major philosophies, which influence the entire Chinese culture. These dominant philosophies are Confucianism and Taoism. Both have these philosophies have influenced the way that the Chinese people cook and the way that they enjoy their food.

Confucianism and Chinese Cuisine
Confucius was the man behind the Confucianism beliefs. Among many other standards Confucius established standards for proper table etiquette and for the appearance and taste of Chinese food. One of the standards set by Confucius (you might have noticed this at an authentic Chinese restaurant) is that food must be cut into small bite size pieces before serving the dish. This is a custom that is definitely unique to the Chinese culture.

Knives at the dinner table are also considered to be a sign of very poor taste by those who embrace Confucianism beliefs. The standards of quality and taste that Confucius recommended required the perfect blend of ingredients, herbs and condiments--a blend which would result in the perfect combination of flavor. Confucius also emphasized the importance of the texture and color of a dish, and taught that food must be prepared and eaten with harmony. Interestingly enough, Confucius was also of the opinion that an excellent cook must first make an excellent matchmaker.

Taoism and Chinese Cuisine
Those who follow the Taoism beliefs focus on the health benefits of particular foods vs. the presentation of the same. Taoists search for foods that will increase their health and longevity. They search for foods that have healing powers. Many times these benefits were often referred to as ‘life giving powers’. For instance, the Chinese found that ginger, which can be considered to be a garnish or a condiment was found to be a remedy for upset stomachs or a remedy for colds.

Is Chinese Food Healthy?
Chinese food, when authentic is probably the healthiest food in the world. Some restaurants, which are not authentic, prepare their menu with highly saturated fats or with meats that contain unhealthy amounts of animal fat. These Chinese restaurants are not recommended and they are both neither authentic nor healthy.

Good Chinese food however, is prepared and cooked with poly-unsaturated oils. Authentic Chinese food does not require the use of milk-fat ingredients such as cream, butter or cheese. Meat is used, but not in abundance, which makes it easy for those who love authentic Chinese food to avoid high levels of animal fat. Many believe that authentic Chinese food is really the ideal diet.

Chinese Restaurants in Every Part of the Nation
Whether it is in a Tennessee Chinese Restaurant to a New York Chinese restaurant you are going to find culinary dishes that are both healthy and delicious. Savor the flavor with Chinese food!

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A Malaysian Food Tour

If there's one thing that Malaysians love, it's food. The greeting 'have you eaten yet?' is as common as asking about the weather in the UK. It's a national obsession.

There are Malay restaurants, Chinese restaurants, Indian restaurants, Thai restaurants and more. In fact, eating out in Malaysia is a real gastronomic adventure and one of the things that many visitors enjoy most.

Popular Malaysian dishes include satay, nasi lemak, rendang, roti canai, murtabak, laksa, chicken rice, and fried noodles. Western cuisine is also easily available. In addition, all the usual fast food chains are here so there's bound to be something to enjoy.

It's not just the range of food, but also the amount of places to eat. There are hundreds of restaurants going from roadside hawker stalls (you ought to do it at least once) to fine dining places that are at least 50% cheaper than the equivalent in Western countries.

It's perfectly safe to eat at the roadside. As long as it's served hot you'll have no bother. And restaurants at the upper end, especially hotel restaurants, are as good as anything you'd find in the West.
Here's a quick rundown of some popular food types:

Malay FoodThe traditional culinary style was greatly influenced many years ago by traders from neighbouring countries. Malay food is often described as spicy and full of flavour. The more chillis they can squeeze in a dish the better!

Chinese Food
Steamed seafood dumplings, steamed crabsticks stuffed with fish paste, deep-fried dumplings with salted eggs and red bean paste... or just sweet and sour pork, like back home!

Indian Food
Spices are the heart and soul of Indian cooking... Plus, more often than not, your curry will be served on a banana leaf which makes it an experience to remember - especially if you do like the locals and eat it with your fingers.

Hawker Food
Hawkers selling food, fruits or drinks in push-carts or from roadside mobile stalls are a common sight. If you're going for the basics it's often where the best food is found too. Give it a try for the experience.

Nyonya Food
Nyonya (said: non-ya) people are descended from early Chinese/Malay mixed marriages, so their dishes combine the best of both cultures.

Snack Food
Nasi lemak is rice cooked in coconut milk and flavoured with cloves and pandan leaves. It's the Malaysian national dish. It's often served for breakfast, look out for the small pyramid-shaped packets if you fancy some as a snack during the day.

Richard Ryan is a professional journalist who has worked in the UK, Malaysia and Australia. For more information visit http://www.richardryan.co.uk

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An Introduction to Malaysian Food

Malaysia is a country with rich culture. The population is made of mainly Malay, Chinese and Indians while the Borneo sub origins made out the most of west Malaysian population. Malaysian food, of course is very much reflective of the diversity of the people staying here. Located at the Southeast Asia, Malaysia is in between Thailand and Singapore while West Malaysia is next to the Sulawesi and Philippines.

It doesn't take an adventurous traveler or food enthusiast to appreciate Malaysian food. There are just so much to choose from, whether traditional or modern cuisines, deem to satisfy the choosiest tastes buds. The staple food in Malaysia is rice, just like the other Asian countries. Due to its sunny weather all year round, fruits and vegetables are in abundance while meat, poultry and seafood is inexpensive and readily available. Malaysian food, just like its people, is divided into Malay, Chinese and Indian and is still prepared by their own unique ways.

Malay food, in general is rich with herbs like lemongrass, tamarind, dried and fresh chilies, ginger and garlic. Malay dishes can be distinguished into a few methods of cooking namely masak merah (tomato sauce), masak lemak (coconut milk), masak asam (sourish tamarind) and masak pedas (spicy). Popular dishes that cannot be missed are such as nasi lemak (coconut milk steamed rice), sambal belacan (shrimp paste with pounded chilies), beef rending (dried curry) and serunding (beef floss). Satay, or barbequs meat on a stick, is originated from Malay cuisine has presence in restaurants all over the world today.

Indian food, on the other hand, has very much integrated northern Indian and southern Indian cuisines when they reach Malaysian shores. Popular for their curries, banana leaf rice and breads such as chapati, naan and roti (prata in some countries). Indian food has also been assimilated with Malay food through their mix marriages of Indian Malay. The resultant is Mamak food, which cannot be found in India, itself. Examples are like teh tarik (tea with milk), murtabak and rojak (mixture of fruits with peanut sauce).

Chinese food, like Indian food, has been assimilated with local cuisines. In China itself, Chinese are divided into so many provinces namely the Cantonese, Hakka, Hokkien, Hainan, Teochew and so forth. In Malaysian, Cantonese food makes the most presence with its stir fry and steaming method. Chinese dishes such as dim sum, sweet and sour dishes, char siew (sweet barbecued pork),bak kut teh (herbal soup) are a few popular dishes. Steamboat or fondue is also widely available and can be a great experience.

There is no denial, Malaysia is a food heaven. Restaurants open very early through wee hours in the morning. There is food for every budget. Sometimes a hearty meal come with a small price, yet does not compromised on varieties. Head down to street stalls in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of the country and you will know what I mean.

amy guan loves to cook and shares her recipe on her blog at www.malaysianfoodrecipe.blogspot.com

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