Great food! I would definitely recommend getting takeout from here. Service is fast too!read more

We had other plans for Thanksgiving, but after all the driving around, both of us were too tired to…read moredo anything but call around looking for something good and open in Albany. On my short list of Chinese restaurants to try was Ocean Palace, and thankfully, they picked up right away. This was our first visit, and we will probably be going back. There were quite a few customers, but the place has an airy feel that was quite comfortable. Lots of windows, comfortable tables, and a very calm feel to it. Staff here was great: attentive and friendly, and very accepting of my ridiculous enthusiasm for soup dumplings. :) We lived in NYC for 30+ years, and a considerable number of my dining out experiences were weekend mornings in Chinatown in Manhattan (sorry, no experience with Flushing). We've eaten a lot of dim sum over the years, so we started with a dim-sum-esque variety (the edamame dumplings in veg broth were very good, but the spring rolls were too oily), then my husband ordered baby bok choy and shitake mushrooms, beautifully presented and which he loved. But me? I ordered a *second* steamer of soup dumplings. Yes, my Thx dinner was almost entirely soup dumplings, and I'd do it again next year (don't tell my grandma). The soup in the dumpling and the meat filling were excellent. The *ONLY* quibble I have is that the wrapper was thick, almost doughy. The regular steamed vegetable dumplings had very thin wrappers, much more what I was expecting. The thickness made it much easier to get it into your spoon with chopsticks, but, again IMO, it put the proportions off. As is probably obvious, I'm neither a chef nor Chinese, or I'd have a much bigger frame of reference. There is also always a wide variety in how different families make their biscuits, etc. The food at Ocean Palace was not the best I've ever had, but it was very tasty, and though the soup dumplings were not perfect, I'd have them for lunch today again if I could.

Northeast Chinese Restaurant II is one of my favorite local Chinese restaurants. All of my favs are…read morenorthern Chinese. That means they can serve up some deliciously spicy dishes. But if you're looking for something milder, they're great at that, too. I think the large menu has been updated since my last visit. The first few pages include dishes that I would describe as "soul food." There's frog, beef tripe and pork intestine-- you get the picture. I never really got into that. On this visit, my friend and I picked Stir Fried Spicy Squid, Crispy Chicken with Crunchy Red Pepper and Bok Choy with Garlic. We were hungry. The veggies came out of the kitchen almost immediately. Crazy fast. We were grateful. The other two dishes took a bit more time. When you see all of the ingredients in those dishes and how finely sliced they are, it's no wonder. I loved the chicken dish. The chicken was a little crunchy but the red peppers were super crunchy. It was a bit spicy but deliciously so. I liked the peanuts and what looked like slivers of jalapeño peppers, too. The squid was also great. Here, I think they used more jalapeño peppers and spices. There was more heat to this dish but it was deceptive. The more I ate, the more I could gradually feel the burn. By the time we were full, I could feel my face starting to sweat a little. That was fun. The restaurant is clean and attractive with a remarkable amount of seating. The back portion is reserved for hot pots which I have yet to try there. The staff is friendly, helpful and bilingual. They will make suggestions if you'd like. This restaurant generally gets a bit noisy because it's where large Chinese families gather when they want to go on the town. That's a good thing. There's also a large screen tv that plays cooking shows. With so much going on, the customers seemed pretty happy.

Been here a bunch of times now and they never disappoint…read more The review is really that simple. It's going to be really good every time. Order something spicy and get excited. Also get the ribs!!!

My partner and I drive from NYC to Vermont at least once a year, and every single time we make a…read moremidpoint stop here. Taiwan Noodle consistently serves absolutely delicious food. The spicy wontons are our all-time favorite the sauce is incredibly flavorful, and unlike many places where the wontons are mostly dough, these are generously filled with meat. We also ordered the beef chunk soup and the salt-and-pepper fish. Even though I've been here many times, the salt-and-pepper fish was new to me on this visit, and it was fantastic crispy, perfectly seasoned, with little bits of fried garlic and a sweet-and-sour dipping sauce that was so good. If you're in the area, definitely stop by!

I am never disappointed whenever I'm here to satisfy my Chinese comfort food cravings. This is a…read moresimple and small eatery serving up tasty dishes that you'll come back for time and again. The overall ambiance is basic and clean. However, they are serving up big and bold flavors. Service here is always friendly and fast. I especially like that they offer complimentary hot tea, and it's really appreciated on chilly days! Actually, tea is my go to whenever I'm having Asian food. I am a creature of habit and mostly order my usual. On this visit I had spicy wontons, General Tso's chicken, stewed beef chuck noodle soup and eggplant with garlic sauce. All delish and certainly enough leftovers for another meal. You've got to try it! Side note, they have an attached private parking lot next to them and that's a plus!

Another fine dinner at Rain Modern Chinese Restaurant. Food,…read moreservice and ambiance was wonderful!

It's amazing how much better the food was then I remember. We walked in as a group of four and were…read morequickly seated by a window. Hot tea came out before we even had a chance to ask for it, which was perfect for a cold November afternoon. We were able to get refills on the tea without issues. When we ordered two servings of wonton soup the server asked if we would like the soups split into four smaller bowls, which we did. The rice came as a single bowl at the center of the table. The dishes were very well seasoned and a good portion size. It was great to eat family style and taste everything. They're fountain that's at the entrance reflected off the windows as we were sitting so it actually looks like it was raining outside, which given the name, is a cool effect. Overall, it's an excellent spot to stop by.

Great great service. Amazing owner and workers. Food was delicious too. Highly recommendread more

If you follow me on Yelp, you might know that one of my comfort foods is Cantonese-style Curry…read moreChicken. It doesn't sound that difficult to find on a menu. I can make it myself if I feel motivated. But what's the fun in that? Lately, I've had difficulty locating my fav meal. Chefs come and go. Some versions don't taste authentically Cantonese. Gold Coin in Slingerlands bills itself as a Cantonese restaurant. So I placed a takeout order. I also ordered Roast Pork Mei Fun. It was very good curry. There were even some red pepper flakes for spiciness. It tasted fresh, definitely made-to-order. The curry dish was actually a healthier version of my old favorite. I'm accustomed to a thicker curry sauce with chucks of curry covered potatoes. In this case, I think change is good. I liked the Roast Pork Mei Fun, too. The thin rice noodles which are called, Mei Fun, were just slightly overcooked. That's easy to do since I wasn't dining in and the noodles still had to make the drive back to my home. In addition to roast pork, the order was packed with veggies including broccoli and snow peas. It's a nice looking restaurant. The interior is prettier in person. Good for entertaining. I'm glad I've found another place for curry chicken. The service was good. The manager offered to get the orders out immediately but I let him know that it was a bit of a drive for me to get there. I also asked him not to include utensils or condiment packets. I have utensils at home and with most authentic Chinese foods, I don't need more condiments. This restaurant might offer fortune cookies to appease some customers. but I think the manager understood that I wouldn't want them. Fortune cookies are not authentic Chinese. They were created in the USA. People who complain when they don't get fortune cookies and take off stars over it sound racist to me.

On a cold, windy day there is nothing like a bowl of piping hot soup. Absolutely nothing. On this…read moreparticular day, the wind gusted nearly 20mph and the temps hovered above 30 degrees. It felt brutal as the wind pierced through my coat. Winter still had us in its icy grip even if the calendar said that Spring was only days away. I was alone and I was happy to take refuge in the warm restaurant with its welcoming decor. There are pretty Chinese lamps at each booth as you enter. In the back, the large round tables were filled with families who appeared to be throwing a party. The server told me I could sit wherever I'd like. I chose the first booth. I was only too happy to come in from the cold and sit. Oh, the bowl of soup that I ordered turned out to be a dream come true! It wasn't just any soup. It was the Wonton Noodle soup lunch special at Shining Rainbow on Central Ave. in Albany. The menu is in both English and Chinese. After looking at the description, I thought I had an option to add some meat to the soup. So I asked for some roast pork. After I placed the order, a young man from the kitchen staff actually came out to ask me what kind of noodles I wanted in my soup: skinny, medium or wide. He spoke to me in Chinese. I must have really confused the staff because a second staffer also followed him out and he asked me exactly the same question in English. I was really surprised. I said to them in (Mandarin) Chinese, " Don't you usually use the thin noodles for this soup? I'll take what's easiest for you to prepare." So I realized later--after they'd gone--that I didn't actually answer their questions. I must have added to their confusion but they were so very nice and polite. About 10 minutes later, a server returns with a huge steaming bowl of soup. I'm still so cold and when I see the steam rising in the distance from the soup bowl, I'm smiling. He places the soup in front of me. It's a thing of beauty. It also had vegetables that I didn't ask for, but that's not a bad thing. I took one look into the bowl and expressed my shock, "Wow. It's huge." The server looked satisfied and walked away. Underneath the roast pork and bright green veggies, there were thin noodles swimming in soup. It smelled divine. But there were no wontons. Should I say something? No. Because this meal looked perfect. Despite the confusion that I might have contributed to-- I wound up with what I really needed--a delicious and healthy hot meal. I almost finished it, too. The servers packed the rest up for me. When the bill came, I wondered what it would be. The lunch specials which are offered Monday- Saturday are just over $10. Almost $11. Sure enough, that's what they charged me. I gave them a large tip. I think $5 or $6. They were just so nice. Perhaps I looked so cold and pitiful. Whatever the reason, it was an awesome meal that didn't break the bank and I hope I can order it again sometime with or without wontons.

I am not a huge fan of the location as I find it congested. Also, I am out of my element as this is…read morenot an area where I normally go. But, for good food I will travel. Luckily there's a Municipal lot next door and it made a difference. Street parking can be a pain at times... I walk in and immediately got a warm welcome. I liked the overall look and ambiance of the restaurant. Once seated, hot tea and menus were given to me straightaway. I especially liked that the menus had lots of visuals of many of their dishes. Especially if you are not familiar with many of their authentic Chinese dishes offered. I ordered their spring rolls and steamed dumplings to start and it was really good! I then had their Peking Duck, General Tso's squid, stir fried sea scallops and shrimp as well as their beef and vegetable pan fried noodles. The taste was excellent and their family sized portions did not disappoint. Lastly, I found the staff to be very attentive and engaging. They went above and beyond to ensure that I had a fantastic meal here. Their menu selection is large, so expect to have trouble deciding on what to order. You'll want to return as every bite is a party in your mouth. I cannot emphasize enough what a great meal I had here, and I will be back!

Some things were very good and I didn't care for others…read more Orange chicken and spring rolls were yummy Fried rice was good Did not care for so to. Soup as the wi tins were kinda doughy The fried wontons had a funny taste to the meat I didn't care for I would order again and know what to get or avoid next time

This spot has pretty decent food. I ordered my usual favorite egg foo young with a couple of egg…read morerolls and some fried chicken wings. The service was fair and the food was swiftly prepared. The only thing I didn't like about this spot which seems to be a trend at all chinese take out locations now is how selfish they were with the duck sauce. A hand full of soy sauce and only 3 duck sauces irritated me. I went to go into this spot to take my food out but I was swarmed by a bunch of homeless guys asking me for money so I chose the delivery option instead. Also, their delivery bags are awesome

OUTSTANDING! My daughter told me there was an authentic Chinese restaurant in a mall…read more Impossible I said. I was wrong. The menu which comes on a tablet is formatted in a way that is a bit foreign but if you are able to stick with it you will find the Chinese specialties Americans are used to under American Style and Staples. My daughter and grandkids ordered from those 2 sections I ordered from Sichuan and Liaoning and made converts of the rest of the table. Dishes we ordered and devoured: Steamed as well as as fried Pork and cabbage dumplings: Plump, not doughy, delectable. The youngest got some pineapple chicken ting that she devoured. Daughter ordered Beef & Broccoli and a rice noodle dish with chicken. The broccoli was tasting, the noodles were not over cooked, the plate was cleaned by 3 at the table. Grandson ordered General Tsaos chicken. Looked good, he ate 90% of it. Thy other Grandmom and myself ordered the Eggplant with minced pork, stir fried cabbage and Mapo Tofu. INCREDIBLE. Daughter and Grandson reluctantly tried the 3 dishes and tucked into them like they'd never see food again. Lastly, I ordered the tea. A small pot with a loose mixture of high quality leaves that you can keep refilling from the carafe of hot water. We pried the mix they use out of one of the waiters because we need to have this again and again!

I just love this place and the staff. My family was delayed with meeting up with me for an hour!…read moreThe staff took the best care of me, and then of my family. The food is delicious. The ambiance tonight was like a house party because there was a work party going on - so it was unusually loud. It is normally pretty quiet there. The pics tell a better story about the food than I can right now, but I will describe one: The poached fillet is a treasure chest of good stuff. It has sea bass, enoki mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, lotus root, bok choy, etc. I did not realize this until I dipped the spoon under the fish. It is worth every penny. The flavor deepens with every bite.

Seven years later and the same group of people ordered from here again. I forgot how bad it was in…read morethe past so I ordered General Tso chicken again. The paper menu indicated that it had a special black bean sauce, which I don't think I have ever seen on this dish from anywhere else. In any event, it was terrible. The chicken was as expected for deep fried food transported in plastic containers: mushy with bloated breading. The sauce tasted nothing like traditional "general Tso" sauce and wasn't spicy or sweet. It was brown though. The fried rice still had no flavor, had no char marks of ever being in the same zip code as a wok, and no egg or vegetables except for onion. My fried, who ordered for us all, indicated that they are hit or miss. Sometimes they are bad, sometimes they are average. If "average" means "good" then there are problems because this is still the worst takeout I have ever had.

This is the best Chinese spot in Albany. I would literally lay down my life for this place. The…read moreRangoons are by far my favorite (they are made with the egg roll wrapper rather than spring roll so they are a bit chewier) and the filling is by far the best I've ever had. Some bozo posted about not liking them but he is clearly a rookie in the Rangoon game. The prices are untouchable and the people that run it are absolute pillars of the community. The entire menu is fantastic and I cannot stress enough how good and cheap this place is. The dedication, personality, and experience this place brings to the table can't be bought or corporatized. I'm sure there are going to be plenty of uncultured critics with soft hands that will complain about everything not being cookie cutter and perfect. They have completely lost touch with their humanity and I recommend they go to Panda Express or PF Changs to quench their thirst for exotic feeling cuisine. Not me. I will rep dragon city til the death of me. The real ones know.

We tried this "hidden gem" (Albany location) 1. Best sweet…read moretea lemonade I've ever had 2. Spiciest Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich we've had No pictures of the sandwich my husband ate it Definitely try them if you haven't already

I drove up from NYC just to have brunch with a dear friend. Now in all fairness while I enjoyed…read morethis restaurant it was just that much better because of the great company I was with. The space is large and spacious. We went for brunch and it appeared to be family friendly. It's a nice place to go after church or to catch up yet you can still have an afternoon cocktail. I ordered the biscuit and gravy and my friend had shrimp and grits. In addtion we had beignets and candied bacon for the table. The beignets are not New Orleans good but would never expect anything this good in Albany. My biscuit and gravy were good. The gravy was savory and the biscuit tasted homemade. It was a little to thick for the amount of gravy. However I would love to try the biscuit by itself with another entrée. The shrimp and grits are not Southern style they are New Orleans style. My friend felt they were ok. Now the candied bacon was a hard NO. It was heavily salted. You could not eat do to the level of salt. I am not sure if this was a fluck or how it's prepared. Unfortunately we returned to the kitchen and I never return anything even if I don't like it. However, our server Alexa was very helpful and provided overall good service. If you are close by you should check out. True rating 3.5