Extremely large menus, showy instagrammable dishes, multiple truffle dishes is generally a turnoff for me when it comes to Chinese food. Avoid, avoid, avoid. In Hell’s Kitchen especially, the best food is so often found in unassuming places that dont welcome you with chandeliers and mini skirts. This is why it took me over a year to finally try this buzzy Chinese. Besides, just about all my favorite unassuming places in HK are now closed (enter winking, tongue out, wacky emoji).
But sometimes you just have to trust the reviews, and go with your gut. After staring at Chi pictures for longer than I’d like to admit, my gut told me, try it. Maybe I should treat food research just like food supplements and medicine. Consume with food. Best time to go food shopping is on a full stomach, they say. That didnt help me at Costco yesterday. I had no idea I was into Biscotti bigger than my head. How do I even dip this monster.
Simply put, Chi is terrific, and I was wrong to question it. In fact, its some of the best Chinese I’ve had in Hell’s Kitchen in years. The menu reads as if they had a meeting, and the person in charge said yes to every single suggestion. Soup dumplings? Yes! How about other Dim Sum items? Why not, in fact lets have a section. How about some Szechuan? Hmm, its tough to choose, lets do all of them including seafood. Ooh, how about pork belly presented like a pyramid. YAS!!!!! Oh, you may not like this one but how about some American dishes like Chicken with Broccoli. Duh! Its America, lets have another section including two different General Tso’s for good measure.
The space is attractive, comfortable, and the prices are fair. Friendly, spot-on service with one noteworthy feature, important to me. When it was time to pay, the waitress whipped the machine from her pocket, informed me of the cost, and we settled on the spot. Something very common in Europe, but not so much in the US. One of my biggest pet peeves is when they finally give me the check after begging for it for 20 minutes, they assume I need another 20 minutes to examine the three items on it.
As for the food, not a dud in the house. Every visit should start with their Cucumber salad. Doesnt sound exciting, but trust uncle Ziggy. It’s chunkier than the typical, and it comes with the kind of vinegar you’ll want to drink like a smoothy. Being a decent size, it may last throughout the entire meal, and with all the heat that will follow, you’ll appreciate it. It went well with everything we ate.
Another thing you’ll appreciate is the Dan Dan Noodles. The theme at Chi is not being shy with the ingredients. Nothing is dull, and nothing overpowering. The peanut and chili here pop just enough. Eggplant with garlic sauce was pretty much what you expect from a place like this. Again, big flavors. The only issue was that it needed some time to cool off. 20 minutes later it still hurt so good.
Similar story with the Chongquing Spicy Chicken. Unlike others we had lately, plenty of Mala, pleasant heat, and the chicken is properly cut, bone-in. Sometimes they cut them too small and all you taste is Mala. For nostalgic reasons we felt like trying one of the General Tso’s, “Lao-Gan-Ma General Tso’s”. Nicely cooked, spicier than usual. Just wish the balls were a little smaller. Go!
Chi Restaurant & Bar
492 9th Ave (37th, Hell’s Kitchen)
Recommended Dishes: Cucumber salad, Dan Dan Noodles, Eggplant with garlic sauce, Chongquing Spicy Chicken, Lao-Gan-Ma General Tso’s
Eating With Ziggy 