“When I'm at a Chinese restaurant having a hard time with chopsticks, I always hope that there's a Chinese kid at an American restaurant somewhere who's struggling mightily with a fork.” ~Rick Budinich
There are at least a dozen Chinese restaurants in the Gaithersburg-Germantown-Montgomery Village areas. So how do you know which one to choose? We've compiled what we think are the top five.
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Looking for a Chinese restaurant that serves traditional dishes with authentic flavors? Then Chop Stix is it. They have been around since 1994, so they have to be doing something right? Chop Stix offers wushi spare ribs that hit the spot when you are craving fatty ribs in a brown sauce. They are always packed for lunch and dinner. Chop Stix is highly praised and recommended by Washington Magazine and the Montgomery County Health Department. They have separate party room that holds up to 36 people for your party, also an extra large round table that can sit up to 16 people. They also offer online ordering.
Hours: Sun - Thu, 11:00am - 9:30pm; Fri - Sat, 11:00am - 10:00pm
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Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe this is the only Chinese restaurant in the area with a drive-thru. They also have amazing lunch specials hovering around the $4 price range. Wok Express Chinese Restaurant offers a variety of menu staples, such as Kung Pao Chicken and Moo Shu Pork, while Mongolian Beef and the selection of noodle soups are considered to be Chef Specialties. The Spicy Noodle Soup always has plenty of strips of marinated pork, chinese napa, onions, bean sprouts, and wood ear and of course noodles. Their General Tso's chicken has huge chicken chunks that you could get spicy or non-spicy and the mu shu beef is so good.
Hours: Sun - Thurs, 11am – 10pm; Fri & Sat, 11am – 11pm
Recently, the owners who ran Hunan Palace in the 80s have taken ownership of the restaurant again and thank goodness, because the interim owner’s food was bland, salty and pretty boring. Hunan Palace serves some of the best Taiwanese Dim Sum, otherwise known as dumplings, in the area. Their sticky rice and lobster dishes are some of this reporters favorite menu items. Hunan Palace is conveniently located off of Shady Grove Road and Gaither Road. There are a variety of Chinese dishes available for lunch and dinner, as well as carryout. They also offer free delivery.
Hours: Sun - Thu, 11:30am - 10pm; Fri and Sat, 11:30am - 10:30pm
New Fortune is fabulous and has the proof. Over the years, New Fortune has received such accolades as: voted Washingtonian '100 Best', Featured in the article "No Visa Required" by Washington Post's Tom Sietsema, voted Washingtonian ‘Best of Gaithersburg’ and voted Washingtonian 'Cheap Eats.' New Fortune is an elegant and well-decorated restaurant offering a wide variety of Asian foods. Their shrimp lo mein, barbeque pork with vegetable, lobster with pepper garlic butter, shrimp with cashew nuts and scallops with black pepper are some pretty amazing dishes made by the friendly staff at New Fortune. The restaurant is open late and has a bar along with the option to host private events and catering. A small stage is set up in the restaurant for performances, such as the Chinese New Year Dragon Dance annually on February 13.
Hours: Sun - Thu, 11am - Midnight; Fri - Sat, 11am - 1am
I hate to admit this, but I order from China King so often that they know exactly what I order. China King, located on Snouffer School Road in the Horizon Shopping Center, serves authentic Cantonese and Szechuan cuisine. Their most popular menu item is the General Tso’s Chicken. My favorites include: sweet and sour chicken, pepper steak and pork lo mein. This is a family-friendly business and you will always find the husband and wife team there, along with one of their children. They do provide a few tables for indoor seating but the vast majority of their business is pick-up or delivery driven. They have a $10 minimum order and delivery to certain Gaithersburg areas. Recently they have implemented online ordering, which is quick and easy to use.
Hours: Mon-Thurs. 11am – 11pm; Fri-Sat. 11am-11:30pm; Sunday 12pm-11pm
Bonus Chinese restaurant:
If you take away China King, then that would leave my other favorite Chinese restaurant: Old Shanghai Café in Germantown.
Old Shanghai mixes a blend of old-fashioned and adventurous recipes from the culturally diverse Shanghai. Their spicy eggplant, vegetable & to-fu soup, barbeque spare ribs, roast pork egg foo young, kung pao beef and curry chicken are all definite must-try menu items. They also offer the ever-so-popular sushi. Whether enjoying the warm and lively inside dining room or the beautiful outside eating area, customers fulfill cravings for Chinese and Japanese foods. The restaurant is located inside Milestone Corner on Frederick Road.
Hours: Sun - Thu, 11:30am - 9:30pm; Fri, Sat, 11:30am - 10:30pm
