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ehoneygut t1_izehhds wrote

Obligatory, hurts donuts suck.

95

NotBatman81 t1_izeijg2 wrote

But which location??!! It's important.

31

Ganrokh OP t1_izej8gz wrote

Replying to WorldFoods (#885,691)

My wife and I have had tickets for a few weeks and were very excited to go! And then, after 2.5 years of dodging COVID, both tested positive on Tuesday.

Luckily, the tickets didn't go to waste. We gave them to our best friend, who thoroughly enjoyed it and brought us back some merch.

12

Cloud_Disconnected t1_izeknk1 wrote

Hong Kong Inn is the most representative of Springfield cashew chicken. It's the quintessential version.

Chinese Chef is my favorite, though.

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00112358132135 t1_izekxwr wrote

Just go to Corner 21 and save yourself from all the bad Chinese food in this town.

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shavedcow t1_izemv2p wrote

I love AB. I would love to hear his thoughts on Mexican Villa. Lol

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robzilla71173 t1_izepdcy wrote

I don't think I've ever heard Hong Kong Inn and 'the best' in the same sentence before unless it's 'Hong Kong Inn is the best place to find hillbillies stuck in a drive thru line after work'. Seriously, thought this guy was a foodie of some sort and he's recommending the mexican villa of cheap Chinese?

−7

pr1moispfat t1_izeqk5r wrote

Wish I would have known he was here

2

Anima_EB t1_izeqq0n wrote

Canton inn best Cashew Chicken in town. Fight me.

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A_Podcast_From_SGF t1_izerogx wrote

Quick sidebar, got the cashew from Triple 8’s last week and it was some of the worst I’ve had in all my Springfield cashew experiences. Are they slipping or just not as good as I remember?

4

Netzapper t1_izers3l wrote

Replying to robzilla71173 (#886,060)

What you're probably missing is that he likely didn't care much for any of them. If he thinks they're all kinda trashy, going for the one that really leans into the trashiness is right up his alley.

6

Ganrokh OP t1_izet34t wrote

Replying to Netzapper (#886,191)

This is how I'm leaning. This is a tweet he sent out about an hour after he wrapped his show at MSU last night. He didn't spend all day sampling cashew chicken from every other Chinese joint in town. He most likely had an assistant go out/order delivery from three places that had good enough reviews, or got recommendations from staff at Hammonds Hall.

That said, I wish he named who the other two are.

9

NotBatman81 t1_izetu64 wrote

Replying to viront7 (#885,947)

Hong Kong Inn is Midwest American-Chinese fast food and do a damn good job of it.

For contrast, Happy China is New York style...that's why they are a little bit different. I haven't had it, but Corner 21 looks to be more New York style as well.

Then you have Panda Express in town which is West Coast style.

Totally different foods, they should not be compared. Personally, I grew up on NY style and prefer it, but HK Inn is really good too. The rest of the places around town, I could take em or leave em.

I've travelled through China and Southeast Asia for work, and live in Chicago now, and man if Corner 21 is fire your minds would be blown branching out even further. Also, off in another Asian category but the Poke bowls at Craft Sushi are very good by national/global standards.

12

viront7 t1_izeufj0 wrote

Replying to NotBatman81 (#886,309)

Well, its fire for Springfield. I've been around and lived in some top 5 food cities so I know what I'm missing. Lol probably why I don't care much for HKI

−5

hey-suffragette t1_izezmpl wrote

You’re killing me with this pic. I live in Ohio nowgif

2

bthornsy t1_izf1pfp wrote

I feel like I’m the only crazy person that thinks 5 Spice is the best in town. Their crab rangoon is god tier

2

Avaylon t1_izf2mit wrote

Replying to Anima_EB (#886,808)

Sorry my dude. Might I recommend The Urban Cup for your sugar fix? Those cupcakes are pretty dope and no less healthy than a candy covered donut.

1

SoraMuscles t1_izf3nd1 wrote

But your menu says “Galaxy of Prawns”. Three prawns is hardly a galaxy.

3

user10085 t1_izf4768 wrote

Hki is my favorite but their to-go orders are not the best. The chicken tends to get soggy.

1

RealHobbes t1_izf4fpo wrote

Don't forget to ask for your sauce on the side if you don't want to get home with soggy chicken

3

Elios000 t1_izf4uvp wrote

i hate cashew chicken the only one i have tried thats even edible is from Tea House

−1

BannedOnClubPenguin t1_izf6eji wrote

Replying to Cloud_Disconnected (#885,800)

Man honestly fuck chinese chef. I grew up on it, loved it so much but something changed. Now my chicken always has bones in it and INSANE shit like just being mushy meat or just tasting like a different recipe completely. I swear its like one day all the tastes and quality changed, I swear i was addicted to it from age like 7-23 and now its literally impossible to get it how i remember it being. But I did try the OTHER chinese chef across town, and it was honestly like the old times! Maybe the one near me changed owners or something because JESUS the change was overnight.

4

bobone77 t1_izf6okg wrote

Replying to A_Podcast_From_SGF (#886,185)

Triple 8’s “American” Chinese menu is not good. Their “Chinese” Chinese menu is some of the best in town, imo. I go there a lot because I don’t like general chicken or the abomination that is cashew chicken, and I can always order of the “Chinese” Chinese menu, which is always solid.

1

DaddyToadsworth t1_izf7uhi wrote

Golden Palace has the best cashew chicken in town. Change my mind.

3

Avaylon t1_izf94yz wrote

Replying to Anima_EB (#886,872)

Hurts. Sorry, this was supposed to be a reply to another comment, but somehow it isn't. No idea how that happened I'll add an edit for clarity.

Edit: it looks like this showed up on the totally wrong comment. I'm just gonna delete. Sorry for the confusion. Apparently I can't Internet today.

3

snakercakes t1_izfbgrj wrote

My ex was obsessed with this place and would make me go every time we were in town. Honestly it’s fucking trash.

2

AdrenRose t1_izfbote wrote

For me Shanghai Inn has the best cashew chicken with Hing Kong Inn a close second.

6

arcticmischief t1_izfbrti wrote

Replying to NotBatman81 (#886,621)

“Midwest style” is objectively bad. Fight me.

The only people that like it are people who were born and raised here and view it through the rose-colored lens of nostalgia.

Same goes for Mexican Villa.

−7

Numerous-Mix-9775 t1_izffv7y wrote

Hong Kong Inn is my favorite cashew chicken. I feel justified, especially because I have been an AB fan for years.

5

Cloud_Disconnected t1_izfgk33 wrote

Replying to BannedOnClubPenguin (#887,045)

Weird, I've been going there about twice a month for years and I've never had any of those issues. I certainly never got chicken with bones there!

Are you talking about Chinese Chef on Campbell next to Burger King? As far as I know they only have one location.

3

Tough-Ad-9319 t1_izfl53f wrote

I ordered that when I came to town just to see. Yes, totally noticed a lack of cashews and the sauce reminded me of Mccormick brown gravy mix. I decided I would give it one more try but debating about that.

1

Saltpork545 t1_izfm4gq wrote

Replying to arcticmischief (#887,295)

Midwest style Chinese is fried chicken covered in a savory or sweet sauce with varying levels of complexity.

So it's fatty, salty, savory, sweet, sometimes spicy. That's pretty much all tasty foods.

You don't care for Midwest style. Own it. It's not for you. That doesn't mean it's bad.

I don't like Oreos. That doesn't mean everyone who does is objectively wrong.

6

saturfia t1_izfnx4d wrote

Replying to Anima_EB (#886,141)

Canton Inn was my cashew place in college and when I came to OB appointments in Springfield during my pregnancy, you bet I made time after to eat there.

4

AlwaysPaddle t1_izfr20r wrote

Replying to arcticmischief (#887,295)

Agreed! 100%

​

Springfield Cashew Chicken is not Cashew Chicken. It doesn't even resemble it. It resembles more closely to cat turds in a litter box that's been barfed on by the dog. You are absolutely right about how it's viewed by the locals as the best thing ever. I have been here for 13 years now, and the best place I have found to get "Good" Chinese food in from China Wok (& The Wok on Scenic). Their Generals Chicken is the closest thing to what I would get at the best places in Kansas City (Dragon Inn)

Don't even get me started on Mexican Villa.

−5

[deleted] t1_izfsj92 wrote

Replying to robzilla71173 (#888,173)

I feel like I should keep it a secret but Yeah the one on east sunshine is killer. It’s not like the Cambell location. I still feel like yen Ching in Ozark is still the best by far in the area.

2

Connect-Expression-8 t1_izftofm wrote

Leong's is where its at. But I say this as a Springfield lover who visits here and there but has never lived there.

1

Lolo8494 t1_izftzjh wrote

Hi! I just had Leongs cashew chicken for the first time and I thought it was so unimpressive. Do you guys truly think this is good American-chinese food? Is this the standard for Springfield?!

1

Lemonsniffer t1_izful7c wrote

No love for China Wok ever on here? I like that place too. I eat a little bit of everywhere. They all do something pretty good more or less.

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TakeTheWorldByStorm t1_izfuuwk wrote

Since I haven't seen anyone say it yet, there's a ton of good stuff at Asian Hut. I don't remember if I've tried their cashew though.

3

MasterxOfxNone t1_izfyr3k wrote

Nobody like Lucy's anymore? I always stop there when I'm in town.

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dickcheesemcgoo t1_izg1dsj wrote

He came in my store and I wasn't convinced it was him after I told him he looked a lot like alton brown. Said he's "heard that a time or two."

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Zydoxis t1_izg2vap wrote

It's really a shame that Alamo dropped their cashew chicken. Movie theater or not, that place weirdly had the best damn cashew chicken I've ever had.

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uNRAted_squirt t1_izgelji wrote

New Oriental has the best cashew chicken (and Crab Rangoons) in town!

1

Anima_EB t1_izgl5n8 wrote

Replying to Avaylon (#887,177)

No worries. I'm actually glad it was hurts. I can take them being shitty more than I could handle Canton Inn being that way. I need my Chinese fix lol.

2

epeonv1 t1_izgp7do wrote

Replying to arcticmischief (#887,295)

Hi, i did not grow up, nor was i raised in Springfiled and i think HKI is good. I also think Mexican Villa has the best hot sauce i have ever experienced, and i fucking LOVE hot sauces. It's almost as if your dumbass statement holds no water because anyone over the age (mentally) of 12 realizes that everyone has their own individual tastes and opinion on what is good. There is no such thing as an objectively bad tasting food (except for poisonous stuff that our brains are hard wired to avoid) because everyone's tongues and personal tastes are different.

0

shizkc t1_izgt00m wrote

Replying to Zydoxis (#888,762)

I prefer Golden Dragon’s in Ozark, but I’m not a fan of cashew chicken(the gravy texture sometimes weirds me out)and Alamo had the only other one I enjoyed.

Also not being a big fan of it means I’m definitely not the expert on who makes it best.

2

epeonv1 t1_izgv13k wrote

Replying to Marqueso-burrito (#889,206)

My go-to is the General Tso's chicken (i like my chinese food spicy) and the Kearny location tastes like thy finished cooking it, then just dumped a bottle of Aunt Jemima's maple syrup on top. Big let down compared to how great the N. Gelnstone location's General Tso's.

2

Mechanicallvlan t1_izgwra6 wrote

Replying to robzilla71173 (#888,173)

I have no idea who owns these places, but the location on Enterprise changed their name to Cashew Chef quite awhile ago. I assumed the food was the same, but I haven't actually visited the Chinese Chef on Campbell in many years. I grew up off south Campbell, but now I always go to Cashew Chef.

2

akarrsgf t1_izgwyh2 wrote

Replying to Cloud_Disconnected (#885,800)

Historically this is untrue. Aurora Sun's fast-food reworking of Leong's original recipe is the one that proliferated throughout the city in the late-70s and early 80s. The only place left serving that recipe is Shanghai Inn. Hong Kong Inn is much gummier and the sauce is not nearly as viscous.

But also, Springfield-style is kind of whatever whoever wants it to be at this point.

2

akarrsgf t1_izgzgzv wrote

Replying to NotBatman81 (#885,674)

This is a fact. North Glenstone is Mimi’s Hong Kong Inn, and has for many years been operating as a separate business from the original location.

Btw, I am writing this 79 miles from the actual city of Hong Kong. Kinda cool, I guess.

18

akarrsgf t1_izh06xt wrote

Replying to arcticmischief (#887,331)

I live in China, have spent time in Sichuan province, and have eaten at and reviewed Corner 21. I can definitively say that this is not true. There are some Sichuan-inspired dishes at Corner 21, but it’s primarily Americanized Cantonese food—just not Springfield-style Americanized Cantonese food.

2

Rude-Ideal3053 t1_izh2tmn wrote

And the fact it has to be deep-fried. If you look at legitimate, authentic Chinese cashew chicken, it is not deep-fried. This deep-fried cashew chicken is a Midwest thing. I came from the West Coast and had authentic Chinese and that stuff was done in a wok and it was not deep-fried.

−3

Oak_Shaman t1_izh4q3r wrote

Wasn’t there a place called Gee’s that was a great Chinese restaurant in Springfield?

2

erinlee1172 t1_izhasic wrote

Replying to Oak_Shaman (#890,377)

Yes, Gee’s East Wind, I went there a lot growing up. Upscale and delicious. They brought out on the food and put it on a lazy Susan in the middle of the table. East Sunshine, about a mile east of 65. Edited for spelling.

2

Heavily__Meditated t1_izhbhwn wrote

What were the other two that he sampled besides Hong Kong Inn?

2

Kennon1st t1_izhdvju wrote

Why am I not seeing anyone mention Amazin Asian? They're fantastic!

1

matramepapi t1_izhggbi wrote

Replying to Avaylon (#886,840)

The owners are abusive assholes. I don’t give them my business anymore after a miserable 3 months of working there. Also, they use cake mix, overpriced junk.

1

Federal_Nerve_4539 t1_izhj0gm wrote

I need recommendations for new Chinese places if y’all know any good ones

1

blbrrymuffin t1_izhue02 wrote

Replying to akarrsgf (#890,171)

Also lived in China for several years, Corner 21 is pretty damn authentic. More northern style Chinese food than Sichuan. Talked with the owners and their cook grew up cooking in China before moving to Springfield.

3

cannon_boi t1_izivydz wrote

I went to Parkview I only fuck with Canton.

1

Gaia227 t1_iziz3lt wrote

New Oriental has the best Chinese i've had in Springfield. I don't think many people know about it. It's a small place on Chestnut Exp between Benton and National.

1

somekindofhat t1_izj7wbi wrote

The best Springfield cashew chicken was the stuff from Master Wang's, back 30-40 years ago when it was owned by that Vietnam vet and was 5 locations of varying degrees of cleanliness. Best cashew chicken, best crab rangoons, wontons were ok.

If I remember correctly, the Kearney location was taken over for a while in the late '90s and early 2000s by a nice family, but I guess they're all gone now. The building for the one at Sunshine and Campbell was knocked down a couple decades ago.

1

sgf-guy t1_izmfl1h wrote

Replying to akarrsgf (#890,171)

So many Americans have such a poor insight into what Chinese food is because it quickly became a suddenly altered genre so quickly. It’s what Taco Bell is to true Mexican food but worse.

I have not eaten at Corner but the menu presents as much more real Chinese on the mainland. I’m ok if it’s Cantonese based and not…Northern or Western Chinese. Much the same as I would be ok with knowing it’s “American” but really Louisiana food vs Texas BBQ or upper Midwestern hearty meals or East Coast a mix of genres from Italian to who knows.

1

robzilla71173 t1_izoc4r0 wrote

Replying to shizkc (#889,870)

That second part is my problem too. I don't care for it so I can't really judge it. I've always been more of a general chicken fan and in that, Hong Kong inn is lacking. Maybe cashew is something they do well, who knows. Wish I'd heard that about Alamo when they still had it. I've started going to a little indie theater in joplin with a great food menu. Will have to see if they have cashew chicken.

1

robzilla71173 t1_izvchmo wrote

I tried some cashew chicken today. Hk inn was packed so I went to the Cantonese place at chestnut and glenstone. I'm not normally a fan of cashew chicken but that was honestly pretty good.

1