Best Chinese in Richmond (Mechanicsville, Fairfax: house, shopping center, garden)

[Sushi2Go]

Full Kee's quality is inconsistent - it's as if they rotate their chefs or something. The food is so-so most of the time but once a while the food is superb. You do get pretty authentic food if you ask for some dishes that are off menu or their Chinese menu. The fresh steamed (whole) seasonal fish with ginger and soy sauce is awesome.! They have good tofu/seafood dishes and their garlic bakchoy/choysum are superior. I would not recommend the dim-sum selection unless you are desperate in need of a fix....

[vapetlover]

Chuckle, chuckle. I know what you mean! It's a cult! We use their bank and once in a while go there for salad lunch as they have a wonderful salad bar. Otherwise, I find everything so expensive. However, you always get primo products, esp. produce. And, of course, I love the groceries taken to my car! It can be addictive. BTW, I'm a VA Yankee, also. Born in Mich., spent 11 years in Chicago, and 27 years here.

[oleo]

Originally Posted by VA Yankee

I'm actually amazed that for once someone didn't recommend Ukrops.

...I think you need to get out more.

[Teebyrd86]

Originally Posted by vapetlover

Chuckle, chuckle. I know what you mean! It's a cult! We use their bank and once in a while go there for salad lunch as they have a wonderful salad bar. Otherwise, I find everything so expensive. However, you always get primo products, esp. produce. And, of course, I love the groceries taken to my car! It can be addictive. BTW, I'm a VA Yankee, also. Born in Mich., spent 11 years in Chicago, and 27 years here.

Comming from a 6 year associate of Ukrop's I can tell you it is not a cult but rather a wonderful family owned business that helps keep revenue in Virginia. And no I wouldnt recommend Ukrop's for Chinese Food.

[jhrichmond]

I don't think they were being serious about Ukrops being a cult... Off topic, but I think the quality of the goods at Ukrops has gone downhill very quickly recently, while the prices remain at a premium. I bought some softshell crabs there last Summer and when I opened the package (a few days before the exp. date) they smelled horrible. When I returned them, the manager on duty was very unfriendly and unapologetic about it.
I think they need to step up to the plate with the new and better stores coming into the Richmond market recently.

[oleo]

Originally Posted by jhrichmond

I don't think they were being serious about Ukrops being a cult... Off topic, but I think the quality of the goods at Ukrops has gone downhill very quickly recently, while the prices remain at a premium. I bought some softshell crabs there last Summer and when I opened the package (a few days before the exp. date) they smelled horrible. When I returned them, the manager on duty was very unfriendly and unapologetic about it.
I think they need to step up to the plate with the new and better stores coming into the Richmond market recently.

They fell off ever since Trader Joe's and WholeFoods came to Richmond.

[PaliBoy20]

Originally Posted by vapetlover

Chuckle, chuckle. I know what you mean! It's a cult! We use their bank and once in a while go there for salad lunch as they have a wonderful salad bar. Otherwise, I find everything so expensive. However, you always get primo products, esp. produce. And, of course, I love the groceries taken to my car! It can be addictive. BTW, I'm a VA Yankee, also. Born in Mich., spent 11 years in Chicago, and 27 years here.

I work at the bank, you do know you get 10% off on the salad bar and some other items in the store right? And the more accounts you have with us and higher balances, you start earning 5% and 10% your ENTIRE grocery bill. Definitely helps because Ukrop's can be expensive!

[oleo]

China Star is a hidden place in the West End that also has some pretty good Chinese Food. Just make sure to ask for the Chinese Menu, Americanized Chinese food unfortunately rakes in the most profit, they have some really good stuff (lots of vegetables, good sauces that are not overly oily or fatty)

One of my friends recently went to Full Kee and said it was horrible. That is too bad. That place use to be really good. You guys should check out China Star, or switch to Vietnamese. PhoSo1 behind Full Kee is still really good, the best Vietnamese food in Richmond, screw Mekong.

[Sushi2Go]

Has anyone tried City Light? Someone at work recommended it and said it's one of the best Chinese around.

[oleo]

Originally Posted by Sushi2Go

Has anyone tried City Light? Someone at work recommended it and said it's one of the best Chinese around.

I've been there a couple of times. It's okay. They have an American menu and a Chinese menu as well. We got the corn soup/chowder or whatever it was, I didn't really care for it. We also got the Beef w/ Green Pepper which was pretty good. From the American menu I have had their Sweet & Sour Chicken, which was good, but not any better than any other Chinese place. I would just go check out it out and see what you think, I wouldn't make a long distance journey for it though. I thought China Star was better than this place.