Chinese Food

In the past few years, I have come around to enjoying Chinese food.  Growing up, Chinese food was always an order-in or take-out kind of food.  A few years ago, I went to one of those Chinese/Mexican "restaurants" where you order at a counter and sit in a less than pleasant chair, awaiting your greasy entree.  I started to wonder where the legit Chinese restaurants were hiding.

A few months ago, I dined at Chef Yu, a Chinese restaurant on 8th avenue and 36th street.  The restaurant itself was stunning, the lunch specials were cheap, and the food was very delicious.  I want to share the wonders of Chef Yu's great lunch specials, but I ask for a small favor in return.  Where do you dine out for Chinese food?  And I am talking about Chinese food, not Thai food or Sushi.

At lunch time, Chef Yu quickly fills up with the working lunch crowd, looking for something hearty, while still enjoying the company of coworkers, clients, or friends.  There are several tables on the main level, and even more tables upstairs for large parties.  

I sat downstairs with a friend, and went a few days later with a larger party and sat upstairs.  When you get the menu, it is a few pages long, but just turn it over to the back and go straight for the lunch specials.

There are 18 lunch specials, and they are all $7.25 and UNDER.  And look how much food you get!  You get rice, choice or white, brown or vegetable fried.  You get two rolls also as you can see.  And my dish above is the spicy diced chicken.  About half of the dishes are spicy dishes.  You know when you are sitting at your desk at work in the morning, exhausted, staring into space, and wondering what day of the week it is?  Well, spicy lunch will snap you out of that funk and push you through the afternoon.  I also find that spicy food is great to enjoy slowly, as you savor each bite.  It is truly a great lunch.  On the non spicy side, you can order chicken with mixed vegetables, baby shrimp with broccoli, and so much more! 

The lunch specials are so affordable, that if you go with a friend, the most you will spend is $10, including tax and tip.  For good service, a decor that allows you to escape from the white walls of your office, and an enormous amount of food, it is pretty good deal.

Have a delicious day!

NYC Menu Girl