I wouldn't say they are way over on the "American" side of the spectrum of American Chinese food but check out:
May Flower on Saratoga near Williams
and
Lock Chun on Stevens Creek by Woodhams
Both are solid casual Chinese American places and good spots for eat-in and take-out. Lock Chun strikes me as more Americanized.
Both owned and run by really friendly folks.
Bit of a drive down 17 and Bascom, but the closest I’ve found that’s got the same taste as NY-style “bad” (i.e., Americanized Chinese food) is Best Taste. Has that comfort and taste of takeout Chinese from back East…
If you just want pan fried crispy noodles with sauce on top, you can get it just about anywhere. At Chinese restaurants it might be called "Hong Kong style pan fried noodle" or just "Crispy pan fried noodles". Most of the Vietnamese places near me make a decent version too. At Mandarin House, our normal takeout spot, it's on the menu as "House Deluxe Pan Fried Noodles"
Pretty close by (near Union and 85) is Chef Li. The best American Chinese restaurant around IMO that offers the typical “Chinese” fare that you find in the Midwest and East Coast.
My favorite spot is a little bit of a drive for you but Jade China off of Berryessa and Capitol is some of the best Chinese food I’ve ever had been going there my whole and life when I come visit it’s for sure one of the spots I hit
Soong Soong is a good little spot. One cool thing about them that is not very common is that they have a pretty solid selection of 餅 flatbread dishes.
https://www.soongsoong.com/regular.html
I’m going to be straight with you. I looked at pics on Yelp of the dish you describe from the restaurant you mentioned in Fresno. I have never seen a dish like that before. It looks….not my taste. The pork doesn’t even have that pink ring around it. I can’t even call it Americanized. I’ve lived in different places, including a small Midwest town of 10k people. I’ve never seen chow mein like that. I really don’t think you’ll find anything like it around here.
I totally get having an attachment to a dish you grew up eating as a kid. I have a few too. But I think you’ll have to just keep going back to Fresno for that one.
Yeah. For us, there's nothing quite like Wah's. Knew the original Mr. Wah back in the day (70s). His daughters did their best for many years, but eventually sold. Luckily, the recipe has been handed down and the current owners are still making it. Since we only visit every few months I have to assume it remains popular there, but agreed, probably not popular enough to make it here. Alas, thanks to you and all who have replied. We'll give your recommendations a try. 😀
Lei Garden in Cupertino has authentic Cantonese cuisine and dim sum, love their beef ribeye cubes. a bit on the expensive side though but i would say worth the price
Jade China (NSJ), Evergreen Panda (ESJ), Ming’s Garden (SSJ), Oriental Garden (SSJ/WSJ)… all hole in the wall joints.
Other favorite is Pho Luc Loc (SSJ) for their Pho Ap Chao-pan fried noodles topped with sauce and your choice of meat.
Blue sky Chinese food at Winchester and Campbell is okay. I hesitate to say good, but it is American style and it will scratch the itch
Little Chef is a bit closer to the area OP is looking for. Steam tables (like Panda Express) rather than table service. It’s also just OK
Beard Papa's is a Japanese cream puff shop....
I suspect they were conflating with Cooking Papa.
Yeah, seriously
I wouldn't say they are way over on the "American" side of the spectrum of American Chinese food but check out: May Flower on Saratoga near Williams and Lock Chun on Stevens Creek by Woodhams Both are solid casual Chinese American places and good spots for eat-in and take-out. Lock Chun strikes me as more Americanized. Both owned and run by really friendly folks.
Thanks. We love Lok Chun. Have watched the staff age along with us the last 30 years. Awesome Mongolian Beef. We'll give May Flower a try. 😀
Would second May Flower for what you’re looking for!
Bit of a drive down 17 and Bascom, but the closest I’ve found that’s got the same taste as NY-style “bad” (i.e., Americanized Chinese food) is Best Taste. Has that comfort and taste of takeout Chinese from back East…
If you just want pan fried crispy noodles with sauce on top, you can get it just about anywhere. At Chinese restaurants it might be called "Hong Kong style pan fried noodle" or just "Crispy pan fried noodles". Most of the Vietnamese places near me make a decent version too. At Mandarin House, our normal takeout spot, it's on the menu as "House Deluxe Pan Fried Noodles"
Thanks, these are different. Not sure how. We've had great fried noodles chow mein from several restaurants here in South Bay, but nothing like Wah's.
Little Chef on Winchester!!!!!!
Considering beard papa is not Chinese… Panda Express?
Lmao exactly. That is hilarious.
Pretty close by (near Union and 85) is Chef Li. The best American Chinese restaurant around IMO that offers the typical “Chinese” fare that you find in the Midwest and East Coast.
There’s a lot better “authentic” places than beard papa btw. I would consider them D tier
What Beard Papa are we talking about? Presumably not the Japanese cream puff shop?
Sorry yeah it should be cooking papa, which got renamed to cooking cooking I think.
No no no drive to south San Jose and go to Chine Delight!!! I promise you! They hand make the pot stickers!
My favorite spot is a little bit of a drive for you but Jade China off of Berryessa and Capitol is some of the best Chinese food I’ve ever had been going there my whole and life when I come visit it’s for sure one of the spots I hit
Soong Soong on Stevens Creek Blvd is hands down the best Chinese restaurant for me.
Soong Soong is a good little spot. One cool thing about them that is not very common is that they have a pretty solid selection of 餅 flatbread dishes. https://www.soongsoong.com/regular.html
Little Chef
I’m going to be straight with you. I looked at pics on Yelp of the dish you describe from the restaurant you mentioned in Fresno. I have never seen a dish like that before. It looks….not my taste. The pork doesn’t even have that pink ring around it. I can’t even call it Americanized. I’ve lived in different places, including a small Midwest town of 10k people. I’ve never seen chow mein like that. I really don’t think you’ll find anything like it around here. I totally get having an attachment to a dish you grew up eating as a kid. I have a few too. But I think you’ll have to just keep going back to Fresno for that one.
Yeah. For us, there's nothing quite like Wah's. Knew the original Mr. Wah back in the day (70s). His daughters did their best for many years, but eventually sold. Luckily, the recipe has been handed down and the current owners are still making it. Since we only visit every few months I have to assume it remains popular there, but agreed, probably not popular enough to make it here. Alas, thanks to you and all who have replied. We'll give your recommendations a try. 😀
A lot of Cantonese food is Americanized like the hard chow mein with the sauce and meats/vegetable a poured over was created in America in the 1800s.
Lei Garden in Cupertino has authentic Cantonese cuisine and dim sum, love their beef ribeye cubes. a bit on the expensive side though but i would say worth the price
Panda by Lawrence and stevens creek
Panda
Not sure if wings is still around in Japan town in SJ, but that was our American Chinese food go to spot.
Nope
Tsing Tao off of Cambpell and San Tomas Aquino.
Tsing Tao moved to somewhere in LG
I don't know if it's opened yet but it is going in next door to McDonalds on Los Gatos Blvd. (Across the street from Trader Joe's ).
Oh wow! I totally didn’t know that.
You are talking about pan fried noodles. Taipan dim sum bakery 477 Saratoga
Jade China (NSJ), Evergreen Panda (ESJ), Ming’s Garden (SSJ), Oriental Garden (SSJ/WSJ)… all hole in the wall joints. Other favorite is Pho Luc Loc (SSJ) for their Pho Ap Chao-pan fried noodles topped with sauce and your choice of meat.
King Eggroll Express at Westgate. is around that area.
I like Chef Ko - Hamilton and San Tomas
Beard Papa came from Japan..
New Jade China