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.

Ok, it's definitely Peter Chan in the kitchen after my skepticism in previous update. I know this…read morebecause first, a regular customer came in and called out "hey Peter how you doin?" Second, because the hard working chef is once again quietly exerting his authority with small acts of independence. He brought out my lunch special himself but declined to give me a dinner plate (needed because the serving entirely covers the oval plate it was delivering on) and, once again, my pork with pickled cabbage had no pickled cabbage. Touche, Peter. The regular customer ordered items I would never consider, like walnut shrimp and egg foo young. But I'm sure it was still great, as was my no-pickles pork, as is everything Peter cooks. The guy is a gem. And he looks to be in good health after that mystery hiatus so I hope he'll be around awhile.

If you're in the Capital Region and appreciate authentic Asian cuisine done right, Ala Shanghai…read morecontinues to set the bar. The fried sea bass with sweet and sour sauce was absolutely superb--perfectly crisp on the outside while still tender and flaky inside, balanced beautifully with that classic tangy sweetness that doesn't overpower the fish. And of course, the soup dumplings are always on point. Each one is delicate yet packed with flavor, with that rich broth that bursts out the moment you take a bite. It's the kind of consistency that keeps you coming back because you already know the quality will be there every time. What also makes this establishment stand out is the ambience. The atmosphere strikes that perfect balance--comfortable, lively, and welcoming without feeling rushed. You can tell the place runs on pride and discipline. The owner and waitstaff are always diligently moving, making sure every table is attended to and every guest is taken care of. That level of attentiveness is something you don't see everywhere anymore. For me, this has become my go-to Asian bistro in the Capital Region. Great food, strong hospitality, and a kitchen that clearly respects the craft. If you know, you know.

The food is so tasty. I cannot wait to return to try one of the fish dishes. I really enjoyed the…read moreveggie dumplings. We had tangerine chicken (one of the specials of the week), sautéed pea shoots, veggie fried rice, the dumplings, spring rolls, and the scallion pancakes. If all I had were the pea shoots and the fried rice, I would have been satisfied. The service was great. The tea was smooth. The room was dark. I can't explain it fully, but it reminded me of a few restaurants I experienced in China. The place was packed! I was able to take a photo of the inside after a few people left.

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.

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!

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!!!

Meh, at best. For…read moreChristmas Eve, I wanted to do something easy. I picked up some tenderloin steaks from the Market32, and thought I would just grab some fried rice from the Northeast Chinese Restaurant nearby. I ordered a large pork fried rice and fried wontons. Stupid Me: As I waited for my food, I began to read the reviews. Should have done that before ordering lol. Not just one, but several reviews claim finding roaches in the food, with photos. I was instantly grossed out about my choice. In my head, I was convinced that I too would find roaches in my food. The Good: I slowly dumped the rice into a large bowl, inspecting every bit of it for roaches. I did not find any LOL. The Bad: The fried rice was Meh at best. The only real flavor was SALT. The Ugly: The fried wontons were missing just one thing: Flavor. Like, there was absolutely none. You taste the grease they were fried in, and nothing else.

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.

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!

Picnic Garden is one of the few retailers that has survived in the City Station complex, being open…read morealmost 3 years at this point. Are they going to survive? Who knows, but being the closest takeout to a couple hundred college students certainly helps. I have tried Picnic Garden on multiple occasions: once for the lunch buffet and for takeout the other times. The lunch buffet I had was mediocre, average for generic American Chinese restaurants with a small selection. The takeout was absolutely abysmal each time. The food was flavorless and the Szechuan dishes I ordered had no spice. What a shame. I live close enough to this place and prices are so low that I would be a frequent customer if it were at least average, but it's some of the worst Chinese food I have had in this country. I give this place another chance every few months only to be disappointed. I considered giving a second star because of the good prices, but you're better off buying (cheaper) food from the warmer at the nearby Stewart's.

How does anybody rate this place? We got our order an hour and a half after we ordered it and it…read morewas absolutely disgusting. It's actually amazing to me how terrible the food is here. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone. It's all very slimy and over cooked.

This place is an absolute disgrace and should've been condemned yesterday. The food? Cold, rubbery,…read moreand tasted like it had been nuked in a microwave from 1992. Calling it a meal would be an insult to actual food. The sweet tea? A sad, watered-down mess that clearly gave up on life halfway through being poured. Let's talk about the black mold--yes, black mold--on the ceilings and in the women's restroom. That's not just gross, it's a full-blown health hazard. The entire building feels like it hasn't seen a cleaning crew--or basic maintenance--since the early 2000s. The windows are caked in filth, and the air has that special "what died in here?" aroma. We were charged $140 for six people to sit in what felt like a biohazard zone and nibble on food so repulsive it should be illegal to serve. We left after 10 minutes because honestly, it felt like our immune systems were under attack just being there. My sister started having stomach pains within five minutes of leaving. I'm not saying the food caused it--but I'm also not not saying that. This place needs to be shut down, fumigated, and bulldozed. I will absolutely be calling the town, the health department, and anyone else who will listen. Do everyone a favor and close this dump before someone ends up in the hospital.

I don't say this often but don't come here. My Dad wanted to come here for lunch while we were out…read morerunning errands. It was dead, which is always a concern and the food on the buffet was all cold or luke warm. I could tell certain things weren't fresh, like it was turning but they cooked it anyway sort of idea. I'm honestly surprised that we didn't get sick.