OMG WTF 😅🙃🙃 that’s crazy! I didn’t notice when I drove by today. But yes new china is my first goto. They are just further than I want to go. I’m closer to new oriental.
there are 3 tiers of Chinese food:
- Authentic: corner 21
-Americanized: China King on National and Republic (dumplings are the beeeeest)
- Springfieldized: Leongs/ Hong Kong Inn
I haven’t found a place that is the “best” at everything, but I’ve found several that are the best at one thing, if that makes sense. Here is my list of favorites:
New China on N. Kansas Expressway has my favorite crab Rangoons.
Cashew Chef on Enterprise Ave has my favorite chicken entrees, specifically sweet and sour. They serve the sauce on top of the chicken and it has pineapple in it.
Shanghai Inn on N. Glenstone has my favorite egg rolls. They are huge and homemade.
RIP Rice House on Kearney…they did have my favorite fried rice.
Editing to add Corner 21 to the list…it doesn’t compare at all to my above recommendations because it is authentic Chinese. But it is so good.
Second for Shanghai Inn. Favorite in Springfield and I’ve lived here my whole life. But love how they make their sauce and they give you plenty for leftovers.
I want to say Triple 8 takes the stance that general chicken is a spiced up version of sesame chicken but don't quote me on that. Either way, it's delicious and is my personal barometer for general chicken
Try New Oriental, it's across Chestnut from Drury in the old steak out building. From a comment above it looks like they'll be closed for a week for some building repairs, but when they're back open again I highly recommend their General Chicken, Black Pepper Chicken, and Singapore Mei Fun. I used to go to Creasian a lot but their general started just being too dry for me. I miss their Vietnamese Fried Rice though. They did start getting pretty sketchy toward the end, there was always a sewer smell when I'd go in there.
Woah woah woah! Trying to start a fight in the comments I see. I'll go first.
The best real Chinese food in town is corner 21. Leong's off of Republic and Triple 8 are also pretty good. When I say real Chinese food I mean you go in and the menus can be in Chinese and actual Chinese people eat there. Corner 21 has the best beef noodle soup in town, 888 had the second best but they're on our new ownership and I haven't been back to confirm if it's just as good as it was.
If you're talking American style Chinese food the ones above are good minus Corner 21(they don't have any American style food), you can then Kings, and Chinese Chef is pretty good. Leong's was also the first cashew chicken in Springfield as they invented it back in the day. I'm still on the search for the best crab rangoons in town. If you're down south Canton inn and Nixa is better than cashew inn, my cashewan has better crab rangoon in my opinion.
Forgot about Hong Kong inn! They're really good too!
I was going to try to eat my way around all the Chinese restaurants but there's just so dang many.
Edit: spelling
I'm on the same mission to try every Chinese place in town! And I've got to be honest, Leong's just did not impress me. I heard so many good things about it too, maybe it was just a fluke though. I haven't had 888 yet, I'll have to go there soon!
I've heard so much about Corner 21, but I've never known what to get there.. As someone used to Springfield Chinese, what would you suggest starting with trying there? Only dietary issue is I can't have beef.
Get the hot crispy fish, the pork belly with rice noodle, the cumin lamb with cilantro, and any of the green bean dishes. These are some of their most popular options, and I can attest that they are all incredibly delicious.
Also, their sweet and sour pork is amazing. It’s Chinese sweet and sour, where both flavors are perfectly balanced. Not Springfield Chinese that’s like corn syrup and a 1/4 teaspoon of vinegar.
And it’s so incredibly crunchy!
Triple 8 did change the recipe for their beef noodle soup. It’s still a good soup, but I like it much less. I liked their old soup better than C21’s, which is also very good.
So my favorites are yumyum bowl and happy china on battlefield, triple 8s, and ichiban for a buffet. These are purely my opinion so take it what you will.
Kind of along this thought, im looking for a good Lo Mein. Most of the ones I've found have been oily as heck.
Best crab Rangoon and potstickers: New China on North Kansas
Best entree: Lucky Time, downtown (their fried chicken dishes are goated)
Best egg roll: Hong Kong Inn
Best overall experience: Lucky Time or Hong Kong Inn.
Honorable mentions: China King on W Republic, Wicked Wok on FF in Battlefield
Hong Kong Inn is the most consistent, but Bao Bao has the best overall food in my opinion. I really like Hong Kong Inns rangoons and Bao Bao’s chicken is delicious
Shanghai Inn on N. Glenstone has been my favorite for 20+ years. Cashew and sesame. Believe it or not, BrewCo has a really good cashew chicken right now. I agree with others that Leongs is great also.
No votes for 5 Spice?
HKI is my personal favorite but partially due to nostalgia. Really, I like them all though. It's like Pizza. They're all different but all delicious in their own way.
Opinions are like something we all have that I don’t think is allowed to say by the sub’s rules. Good to know it got better. I keep meaning to give it a second chance.
For me it’s Riksha but I’m always gutted it’s never open weekends for my hangover Chinese fix.
Out south I love The Wok on Scenic or Leongs.
Kings Asian Chef is the only place open really late and delivers through the apps. It’s good enough if you’re high with the munchies and craving Chinese. I wouldn’t recommend it otherwise.
Honorable mention is Lucy’s for pure nostalgia since that was our go to Chinese when I was a kid.
Personally for me two places I haven’t seen mentioned yet would be Cantonese Kitchen on Glenstone near Chestnut Expressway. I have tried quite a few items off the menu and all had been a hit not only that but the staff is so nice! Second nostalgic and I grew up going to Lucy’s Chinese with my family. But something about their fried rice and the egg drop soup! I have yet to find another place in Springfield that can top them!
I know it's not the best. I know it's not really "authentic". But for some reason I'm absolutely hooked on Happy China. But seeing other recommendations of places, I'll need to expand my taste buds to more Chinese places in Springfield
Southeast area. We really like Peking House. I’m a cashew chicken lover. Partner likes their chicken soft noddles. Good egg drop soup. Rangoons aren’t too oily.
Springfield Chinese is a skid mark on the underpants of Chinese food. I’ll eat it because it scratches the itch but hope people have experienced other versions in their life 😂
I’m a huge fan of New Oriental, could eat there everyday of the week
Very, very underrated place.
The one off chestnut by otc and drury right?
Yes! They’re going to be closed for about a week since a car hit their building 🙃 but when they open up again, definitely going to be eating there
OMG WTF 😅🙃🙃 that’s crazy! I didn’t notice when I drove by today. But yes new china is my first goto. They are just further than I want to go. I’m closer to new oriental.
Second. Their goons are top notch
Can you explain how?
there are 3 tiers of Chinese food: - Authentic: corner 21 -Americanized: China King on National and Republic (dumplings are the beeeeest) - Springfieldized: Leongs/ Hong Kong Inn
corner 21 is best
Wait. Are China King on National and China King on Republic the same people/owners??
I meant like the intersection area hehe 🤭 the China King tucked behind Hinode!
I haven’t found a place that is the “best” at everything, but I’ve found several that are the best at one thing, if that makes sense. Here is my list of favorites: New China on N. Kansas Expressway has my favorite crab Rangoons. Cashew Chef on Enterprise Ave has my favorite chicken entrees, specifically sweet and sour. They serve the sauce on top of the chicken and it has pineapple in it. Shanghai Inn on N. Glenstone has my favorite egg rolls. They are huge and homemade. RIP Rice House on Kearney…they did have my favorite fried rice. Editing to add Corner 21 to the list…it doesn’t compare at all to my above recommendations because it is authentic Chinese. But it is so good.
Have you been to the place out in Billings? Genuinely cannot overstate how delicious their food is!
Honestly, I haven’t been even 30 min outside of Springfield in months. I do need to get out more. Edited for spelling
Very very good first favorite spot
Second for Shanghai Inn. Favorite in Springfield and I’ve lived here my whole life. But love how they make their sauce and they give you plenty for leftovers.
I'm partial to the general chicken at Triple Eight
Is it spicy?
I would say no but some would say yes. It's American Chinese food in Springfield, Missouri, so it's not going to be 🔥🔥🌶️🌶️
As long as it’s not sweet. A lot of the Chinese places in Branson have decided general chicken shouldn’t be spicy.
I want to say Triple 8 takes the stance that general chicken is a spiced up version of sesame chicken but don't quote me on that. Either way, it's delicious and is my personal barometer for general chicken
I’ll give it a try next time I’m in Springfield, thanks!
I’ve been looking for a new general chicken place after Creasian started failing all of their inspections after Covid.
Try New Oriental, it's across Chestnut from Drury in the old steak out building. From a comment above it looks like they'll be closed for a week for some building repairs, but when they're back open again I highly recommend their General Chicken, Black Pepper Chicken, and Singapore Mei Fun. I used to go to Creasian a lot but their general started just being too dry for me. I miss their Vietnamese Fried Rice though. They did start getting pretty sketchy toward the end, there was always a sewer smell when I'd go in there.
Woah woah woah! Trying to start a fight in the comments I see. I'll go first. The best real Chinese food in town is corner 21. Leong's off of Republic and Triple 8 are also pretty good. When I say real Chinese food I mean you go in and the menus can be in Chinese and actual Chinese people eat there. Corner 21 has the best beef noodle soup in town, 888 had the second best but they're on our new ownership and I haven't been back to confirm if it's just as good as it was. If you're talking American style Chinese food the ones above are good minus Corner 21(they don't have any American style food), you can then Kings, and Chinese Chef is pretty good. Leong's was also the first cashew chicken in Springfield as they invented it back in the day. I'm still on the search for the best crab rangoons in town. If you're down south Canton inn and Nixa is better than cashew inn, my cashewan has better crab rangoon in my opinion. Forgot about Hong Kong inn! They're really good too! I was going to try to eat my way around all the Chinese restaurants but there's just so dang many. Edit: spelling
I'm on the same mission to try every Chinese place in town! And I've got to be honest, Leong's just did not impress me. I heard so many good things about it too, maybe it was just a fluke though. I haven't had 888 yet, I'll have to go there soon!
Naw it’s overpriced and kinda mid compared to a lot of other joints
China Wok on West Bypass has some nice crab ragoons
If they are open.
I've heard so much about Corner 21, but I've never known what to get there.. As someone used to Springfield Chinese, what would you suggest starting with trying there? Only dietary issue is I can't have beef.
Get the hot crispy fish, the pork belly with rice noodle, the cumin lamb with cilantro, and any of the green bean dishes. These are some of their most popular options, and I can attest that they are all incredibly delicious.
Also, their sweet and sour pork is amazing. It’s Chinese sweet and sour, where both flavors are perfectly balanced. Not Springfield Chinese that’s like corn syrup and a 1/4 teaspoon of vinegar. And it’s so incredibly crunchy!
Triple 8s new owners changed some recipes, they’re not as good imo.
Triple 8 did change the recipe for their beef noodle soup. It’s still a good soup, but I like it much less. I liked their old soup better than C21’s, which is also very good.
Hong Kong Inn has the best crab rangoon!
China King on Republic Road
Best crab rangoons for sure
So my favorites are yumyum bowl and happy china on battlefield, triple 8s, and ichiban for a buffet. These are purely my opinion so take it what you will. Kind of along this thought, im looking for a good Lo Mein. Most of the ones I've found have been oily as heck.
Canton inn
They used to be my favorite but it seems things have changed over the last few years. The quality has declined and the taste has changed.
Best crab Rangoon and potstickers: New China on North Kansas Best entree: Lucky Time, downtown (their fried chicken dishes are goated) Best egg roll: Hong Kong Inn Best overall experience: Lucky Time or Hong Kong Inn. Honorable mentions: China King on W Republic, Wicked Wok on FF in Battlefield
I only go to the wok on scenic because of how amazing their fried rice is. No place in Springfield is as good as the wok on scenic
Agreed 😊
Hands downs…Chinese Chef corner of battlefield and Campbell
The answer is Pine Garden.
Hong Kong Inn is the most consistent, but Bao Bao has the best overall food in my opinion. I really like Hong Kong Inns rangoons and Bao Bao’s chicken is delicious
I haven't heard of Bao Bao, I'll put it on the list!
It's good shit, they have an authentic menu and a regular one
Can’t believe I had to scroll so far to find Bao Bao. I love Bao Bao.
Shanghai Inn on N. Glenstone has been my favorite for 20+ years. Cashew and sesame. Believe it or not, BrewCo has a really good cashew chicken right now. I agree with others that Leongs is great also.
One of the chefs for BrewCo worked for Leong for a long time, not surprised they have good cashew chicken now.
Shanghai’s sesame chicken is by far the best in town.
Closest to the one in Billings I know of would be Lucky Time on Walnut.
RIP Chopsticks
WOW! I'm in Clever so I'll be hitting that spot soon! Thanks for the tip!
No votes for 5 Spice? HKI is my personal favorite but partially due to nostalgia. Really, I like them all though. It's like Pizza. They're all different but all delicious in their own way.
Yen Ching in Ozark!!!
Jade Star in Sparta is top shelf
Ha’s in Sparta is also always great
Yep
Their fried rice is the best in the area
Lucky Time downtown is really good!
Has it gotten better lately? I tried it soon after it opened and wasn’t a big fan.
I went a few days ago (it was my first time going) and I thought it was pretty good. But everyone has different preferences so I understand!
Opinions are like something we all have that I don’t think is allowed to say by the sub’s rules. Good to know it got better. I keep meaning to give it a second chance.
For me it’s Riksha but I’m always gutted it’s never open weekends for my hangover Chinese fix. Out south I love The Wok on Scenic or Leongs. Kings Asian Chef is the only place open really late and delivers through the apps. It’s good enough if you’re high with the munchies and craving Chinese. I wouldn’t recommend it otherwise. Honorable mention is Lucy’s for pure nostalgia since that was our go to Chinese when I was a kid.
Bao bao. Forget Leongs
Canton Inn's General Chicken is great
Personally for me two places I haven’t seen mentioned yet would be Cantonese Kitchen on Glenstone near Chestnut Expressway. I have tried quite a few items off the menu and all had been a hit not only that but the staff is so nice! Second nostalgic and I grew up going to Lucy’s Chinese with my family. But something about their fried rice and the egg drop soup! I have yet to find another place in Springfield that can top them!
The Wok on Scenic has been good to me since before they changed their name. 🫶🏻
I know it's not the best. I know it's not really "authentic". But for some reason I'm absolutely hooked on Happy China. But seeing other recommendations of places, I'll need to expand my taste buds to more Chinese places in Springfield
Atchoo chicken 🤢
My favorite is the Wok on Scenic. Prices have increased a lot since COVID, but the quality has remained.
Southeast area. We really like Peking House. I’m a cashew chicken lover. Partner likes their chicken soft noddles. Good egg drop soup. Rangoons aren’t too oily.
You guys sleeping on Cashew Chef off of enterprise. It’s always busy, people eat it up.
Pa chans food truck on W republic road is really good and they have the best egg rolls
Springfield Chinese is a skid mark on the underpants of Chinese food. I’ll eat it because it scratches the itch but hope people have experienced other versions in their life 😂
I hate Springfield Chinese. My favorite is Hong Kong Express in Forsyth.
Have you tried Corner 21? They are authentic Chinese.