Ordering curry/chips/chickenballs at the Chinese: missing the point?

MagicSean

The King of Moo wrote: »

One where you sit at a nice table in a nicely-decorated place, and the food's more expensive but there's a better selection, and it's more likely to be higher quality food cooked with more care.

As opposed to a counter with an occasional tiny glimpse of the cooks slaving away in horrible conditions when they pass out food through the little window .

Also the center of the table spins around. Thats the best bit.

stephen_k

zie wrote: »

What's a 'proper' chinese restaurant then?

http://www.china-sichuan.ie/home.html

Great restaurant...

UnknownSpecies

The majority of Chinese restaurants have Chinese cooks and Chinese owners, so I doubt it's a case of them not knowing what real Chinese food is :rolleyes:

So I'd imagine the fact the Chinese meals aren't traditionally accurate is because the majority of Irish people have no interest in trying something more interesting! They are trying to run a business so if they only have all exotic and traditional Chinese food they aren't going to make as much money as they would by throwing out the usual boring but safe meals like 3-in-1's or chicken balls!

Wetai

Chinese takeaways are more like chippers that sell Chinese food.

MagicSean

MagicSean wrote: »

I have a mate who used to order a dry breast of chicken and chips. Then he would smother it in ketchup. Not very oriental.

But if you want to talk about missing the point. I used to work in a Wimpy Burger. The amount of people that would order massive meals and then look for a diet coke was mental. Like the diet drink would somehow make it a healthy meal.

some of us prefer the taste of diet to normal coke

Joey the lips

Most chinese is open after the pub. What ever change i have they get. It usually only amounts to a 3 in 1 if i have enough its noodles.

UnknownSpecies

bluewolf wrote: »

some of us prefer the taste of diet to normal coke

Yeah, while I don't prefer the taste of diet coke over normal coke, I do prefer Pepsi Max over anything!

stupidusername

I love chicken balls... nom nom nom batter...! Could eat it forever

mikemac

jimthemental wrote: »

Used to serve this weirdo in the local who didn't drink (not the reason I consider him weird by the way!). About 17 stone weight and he got two bags of tayto and a can of diet coke, then a snack bar for the road. No point to it unless it tastes nicer. Which it doesn't.

MagicSean wrote: »

But if you want to talk about missing the point. I used to work in a Wimpy Burger. The amount of people that would order massive meals and then look for a diet coke was mental. Like the diet drink would somehow make it a healthy meal.

I've seen this on boards before

People who order a takeaway and a diet coke are noted as if it's strange

Not at all, Diet Coke is nicer in my opinion and many agree

Even if the calories were the same, I'd still order Diet Coke over Coke

Lady Chuckles

The King of Moo wrote: »

What do you think?

Does it say something about our reluctance to experiment with food, or can you convince me that Chinese curry, chickenballs and chips is the food of the gods?

In Ikea in Dublin you can get Swedish meatballs with chips!! It's the strangest thing I've seen... That sauce you get with it isn't meant for chips, it's strange :P

... But then again, I suppose Thai people wouldn't be too thrilled to see me have mashed potatoes with a spicy chicken "Thai stew", but it's marvellous :pac:

So to sum this up: we're all weird people, I guess

Badly Drunk Boy

zie wrote: »

If the corned beef dish is what came about because it's what immigrants used to eat then that's understandable. but what reason do we have for having chinese dishes so wrong?

I was watching a recent episode of Shameless, and in a scene in the pub, I saw a brilliant sign:

"Corned Beef Curry & Chips £2.50"

yeppydeppy

Why have so many people got it in for MSG? It is a natural extract does less harm than salt or so I was told.

Chuck Stone

Chicken balls, chips and gravy is what a friend of mine gets almost every time.

If he's feeling adventurous he'll say it and ponder for some minutes before getting chicken balls, chips and curry.

Sooopie

Kites in Ballsbridge is the nicest chinese restaurant I've been in over here. That Good World one on Georges Street isn't great really. The Imperial on Wicklow Street used to be lovely a number of years ago, but its gone very cheap and tacky

My name is URL

My local Chinese take-away recently added ******s to the menu. They're way nicer than chicken balls. Nothing like a tray of chips with mushy peas and a couple of meaty ******s.

edit: wait.. that's not how it appears on the menu =/

Dave!

I don't go to Charlie's to broaden my cultural horizons... I just want some nice food. I don't care if it's not what they eat in China, just give me a 3 in 1 plz.

tolosenc

yeppydeppy wrote: »

Why have so many people got it in for MSG? It is a natural extract does less harm than salt or so I was told.

It doesn't taste very nice.

The King of Moo

Dave! wrote: »

I don't go to Charlie's to broaden my cultural horizons... I just want some nice food. I don't care if it's not what they eat in China, just give me a 3 in 1 plz.

Don't get me wrong, a 3 in 1 is nice, but so is a nice chicken satay or kung po (more so, in my opinion).

And the Chinese food you get in a takeaway here is probably a long way from what they eat in China .

emul8ter25

considering chinese food here is absolute garbage, id have no problems ordering chicken balls from a chinese takeaway. its better than the fake rubbery processed chicken in about every other dish.

if anyone knows a good chinese place in dublin that uses real chicken please tell because ive given up on chinese in this country.

emul8ter25

Dave! wrote: »

I don't go to Charlie's to broaden my cultural horizons... I just want some nice food. I don't care if it's not what they eat in China, just give me a 3 in 1 plz.

wait.... you go to Charlies for nice food? what alternate universe are you living in where that muck is considered nice food?

Son Of A Vidic

Personally, I'll try a lot of different dishes over time but that's just me. Because even my favourite dishes bore me after awhile. Others I know, well they just order the same dish over and over again. Each to their own I suppose though.

Saint_Mel

My 1st ever visit to a Chineese take away when I started college, about 20something years ago ... I remember it well, such a novelty and new experience att he time ... and I ordered a burger & chips

Jimoslimos

yeppydeppy wrote: »

Why have so many people got it in for MSG? It is a natural extract does less harm than salt or so I was told.

Don't have a problem with it personally, indeed many far east countries rely on it for the 'umami' taste - just using too much ruins the taste of food, kinda like using too much salt. The main culprits tend to be cheap chinese restaurants.

Never understand this obsession with Chinese takeaways here. Its pretty rank, with no discernible taste advantages over supposed boring Irish staples such as bacon & cabbage. Chicken balls are an abomination.

Indian, Thai or Vietnamese food FTW, but there's precious few good restaurants/takeaways of that sort here, so home cooking it remains.

Azureus

I cant stand the majority of food in Chinese takeaways, so yeah if Im getting something out of one Ill order a 3in1/chickenballs or something. Unless they have yuk sung, then Ill get that cuz its the shiznit.
That said, I cant stand authentic chinese food either-and you wont (or very rarely) find that in a Chinese takeaway here no matter what you order

stovelid

People in eating what they want shocker.

smurgen

The King of Moo wrote: »

They usually have a number 34 (coddle) with either a 47 (stew) or a 53 (bacon and cabbage), with a side order of a 12 (boiled shpuds).

hopefully they don't batter the lot of it like ourselves, imgine tucking into a plate of battered tripe and drisheen!

gonedrinking

emul8ter25 wrote: »

considering chinese food here is absolute garbage, id have no problems ordering chicken balls from a chinese takeaway. its better than the fake rubbery processed chicken in about every other dish.

I had lunch in a chinese restraurant the other day, but the chicken was terrible. So I called the waiter over and said "this chicken is rubbery." And the waiter said "ooohhhhh fank you velly much!"

IITYWYBMAD

Oranage2 wrote: »

LOL

spaghetti bolognese is as tradionally Italian as Dominoes pizza!

TBH that's a very condescending and mis-informed remark. Pizza is a totally traditional Italian food.

A bit like the Chinese food, it has been "adapted" for the non-indigenous populous. Tagliatelle al ragù alla Bolognese is a fantastic dish found in many many restaurants in Italy.

While Bolognese is not traditionally served with Spaghetti in Italy (you can still order it) it's roots can be traced back to Tagliatelle al ragù alla Bolognese.

Oranage2

IITYWYBMAD wrote: »

TBH that's a very condescending and mis-informed remark. Pizza is a totally traditional Italian food.

A bit like the Chinese food, it has been "adapted" for the non-indigenous populous. Tagliatelle al ragù alla Bolognese is a fantastic dish found in many many restaurants in Italy.

While Bolognese is not traditionally served with Spaghetti in Italy (you can still order it) it's roots can be traced back to Tagliatelle al ragù alla Bolognese.

Sorry dear but it's neither condescending or mis informed -

Also todays Spaghetti bologese is basically spagetti, mince and ketchup - a far cry from the tradition dish from bologne

Also I said dominoes pizza not pizza -



As for the chinese take away debate - Dont fool yourself - getting a kung po is not experimenting the mystical exotic tastes of the orient - far from it - its just the same as ordering chicken balls - its all junk food so pick what you like best

Also what is chinese cuisine? well like italy its made up of different regions from the main land including dim sum from Hong Kong -

Chinese Take-aways are just the equavilent to 'italian' take aways and ordering peking duck is just like getting gaerlic mushrooms -

Chuck Stone

My favourite food is northern hemi-sphere food.

Handsome Bob

Can't say no to a chips/chicken ball/curry combo after one too many.

If I wasn't drunk, I'd probably get a chicken chow mein with no veg....and a side order of curry sauce.

:pac:

joseph brand

Chinese dishes have very little to them. Very simple food. A chop suey has no flavour, watery. I'm sure their dishes are just water, sugar and maybe garlic.

Go get an Indian for a sauce packed with ingredients, thick and delicious. The only dish I would order from the Chinese is a curry. Mayyyyyybe some chicken balls. And oh yeah, some chips perhaps. The rest of their menu is sh*te.

Temptamperu

Man I love chicken balls. I am probably missing the point but who the fúck gives a shít you eat what you eat and i will eat what i eat.
Thank you and good day.

louthguy25

Forget your 3 in 1s and 4 in 1s in Dundalk they have a chinese doing a 5 in 1, its curry chips rice chicken ball and a sausage its the nicest ever. The chinese is the one in Muirheavna Mor cant think of name of it great value for everything in there, chippers down here in Maynooth havent a patch on it

Dave!

emul8ter25 wrote: »

wait.... you go to Charlies for nice food? what alternate universe are you living in where that muck is considered nice food?

I'm not picky at 3am... When I want to class it up I go to the Gigs Place.

I went to an authentic Chinese family run place on parnell street years ago with a townie mate.

i couldn't read the feckin Chinese menu so i just asked for chicken balls and sweet n sour sauce with rice.

Que me getting laughed at and slagged in Chinese by the lot of em.

OakeyDokey

Fucking adore the chicken balls! I'd eat them everyday if I could.

Saganist

Chinese food is so easy to make. I don't understand why people constantly go to their local Chinese ?

Its mostly just stir-fry which you can do at home in minutes.

General Tso Chicken this evening for me with a mountain of fried rice :-)

Potential-Monke

I'm a fan of Chinese, but my favourite place is actually a Thai restaurant - Kambo in Waterford. Always get the Thai Green chicken curry with flied lice and chips. Frackin amazin!!!

Also, General Tso pwns!!!

The King of Moo

Man I'm hungry now.

Just for the record I feel I should reiterate that I'm not arguing that the szechuan or satay in your local Chinese takeaway is absolutely authentic and super-delicious. It's still takeaway food at the end of the day.

Just posting my observation that the most popular orders seem to be the ones that to me are closest to food found in your average chipper, which is curious to me, and throwing it open to the floor.

I don't mean to be condescending to the many lovers of chickenballs out there. I know they're tasty myself, I just like to try lots of different things on a menu.

IITYWYBMAD

Oranage2 wrote: »

Sorry dear but it's neither condescending or mis informed -

Also todays Spaghetti bologese is basically spagetti, mince and ketchup - a far cry from the tradition dish from bologne

Also I said dominoes pizza not pizza -

Have a re-read...It's both (as is your lame attempt at trolling).

Pizza is pizza tbh, irrespective of the maker/distributor etc....

As for the chinese take away debate - Dont fool yourself - getting a kung po is not experimenting the mystical exotic tastes of the orient - far from it - its just the same as ordering chicken balls - its all junk food so pick what you like best

Also what is chinese cuisine? well like italy its made up of different regions from the main land including dim sum from Hong Kong -

Chinese Take-aways are just the equavilent to 'italian' take aways and ordering peking duck is just like getting gaerlic mushrooms -

Again, read what I said, not what you think I said. I'm actually agreeing with you with regards to European "chinese" food. But don't let that get in the way of your fantastic keyboard warrior skillz....

yeppydeppy

tolosenc wrote: »

It doesn't taste very nice.

It's a flavour enhancer, to be added to food in specific quantities, too much and it will spoil the taste of the food - just like salt.
Your not supposed to consume it on its own.
It is natural in mushrooms and what makes them delicious (I can't remember what else it occurs in naturally).

Sooopie

IITYWYBMAD wrote: »

Have a re-read...It's both (as is your lame attempt at trolling).

Pizza is pizza tbh, irrespective of the maker/distributor etc....




Again, read what I said, not what you think I said. I'm actually agreeing with you with regards to European "chinese" food. But don't let that get in the way of your fantastic keyboard warrior skillz....

MagicSean

mikemac wrote: »

I've seen this on boards before

People who order a takeaway and a diet coke are noted as if it's strange

Not at all, Diet Coke is nicer in my opinion and many agree

Even if the calories were the same, I'd still order Diet Coke over Coke

Diet Coke has little to no taste.

_feedback_

I rarely have any form of takeaway anymore (don't have the feckin money)

When I do order it, it is usually because I have had a really long day working, or seriously hungover and can't be arsed cooking, and want something I find tasty.

I have absolutely no interest in pretending to know anything about chinese food, or being in any way adventurous.

I want a plate, a big pile of chips, and a load of special fried rice on the top. I want a pint of coke. I want the remainder of what is left on the table/floor beside me. I then want to sit with the plate resting on my chest and eat that like a pig. I want to feel extremely full and still lean over and pour the rest of that stuff on my plate.

I want a chinese takeaway now..

Jaysoose

MagicSean wrote: »

Diet Coke has little to no taste.

You sure thats not water your drinking?

MagicSean

Jaysoose wrote: »

You sure thats not water your drinking?

Brown fizzy water i.e. diet coke

Cheapo

I use to love eating in the buffet at Dundrum......Until i saw this - http://www.fsai.ie/news_centre/press_releases/eight_enforcement_orders_served_in_september07102011.html

No more buffets for me...

Fowler87

Deep fried king prawn in kung po sauce ftw

Glenbhoy

I have to confess that once every 2 or 3 months I head to the best chinese restaurant near me and order a curry chip with onions and mushrooms and a portion of chicken balls.

I take it home, cover it in vinegar and eat it with 4 slices of brennan's bread and butter.

Apart from that I eat quite a bit of chinese food, but mostly cooked from an old Ken Holm recipe book and it's been a long time since I ordered anything other than a curry chip from a chinese. Frankly, I don't like the food most chinese restaurants dish out, most of their dishes seem to be a version of either sweet and sour or black bean sauce. I'm always a bit suss about the meat, not saying it's cat or dog or someit, but it normally aint great quality.

I was in an asian store the other day stocking up when I saw frozen (brazilian?) fillet of beef in the freezer at (iirc) €6 odd per kilo, in a butchers here, that would be €26 per kilo. I didn't get it, but I intend to, just to compare of course.