What Makes a Good Chinese Restaurant? It is More Than Just the Food

There is a calming effect of entering into a good Chinese restaurant. The smell of garlic and soy sauce in the air, background murmur of voices, the sound of the chopsticks on porcelain, it can seem familiar and even nostalgic to many. The common denominator, however, is that the best Chinese restaurants are memorable in one way or another. Whether it is a hole-in the wall that you can find somewhere in the outskirts of the city or is a busy restaurant in Chinatown, the nature of the best Chinese restaurants is similar in some way. It is not any more the problem of good food, but we are trying to deliver an experience that can resonate with you even months after the last dumpling. So, what then makes the Chinese restaurant unique? These are some of the major features.

1. Real Tastes, Not Watered-Down Foods: An outstanding Chinese eatery is one that cherishes its culture. It could be Sichuan, Cantonese, Hunan, or Beijing style but the taste must be determined by the local customs. That implies brazen spicing where it counts, light broths where it counts, and proper proportions of savory, sweet and umami throughout the menu. You can feel the difference between genuineness and dish that has been over-Americanized to satisfy all palates. Some of the changes can be excused, but a quality Chinese restaurant never holds back on proper ingredients Animal ingredients, such as Sichuan peppercorns, fermented black beans or garlicky garlic. These are not mere flavors but those of the story.
2. A Menu That Strikes a Balance Between Focus and Variety: Chinese food is extremely stunning and a good restaurant will understand how to combine the menu. To impress, you do not have to have 200 items. Too many to count options leave one to be disillusioned and is usually an indication of limited specialization. The ideal destinations are moderate. They are diverse–dim sum, noodle wares and stir-fries, hot pots, but not to the exclusion of quality. They understand what they are talented in and excel in making it. It is either handmade dumpling, crispy duck, or smooth Mapo tofu and the emphasis is on doing limited but the best.
3. A Friendly Ambience: The atmosphere is not supposed to be luxurious. Among the finest Chinese restaurants, there are some small ones, where simplicity of the decoration and the lack of silence are the brightest characteristics. The thing is that everything should have a living atmosphere: people eating, talking, having fun. A seat with lazy Susans being shared by the families, bowls of noodles being shared by couples and queues at the door at the weekends is a good indicator that you have found a sympathetic place. It has an informal, natural, and well-rooted sense of community.
4. Fair Prices and Generous Servings: Value is one of the trademarks of a good Chinese restaurant. This does not imply that all must be unbelievably cheap but it must leave you contented, in the gut and the pocket. Serving sizes tend to be large, portions to be shared and the prices designed to encourage group eating. It is a matter of culture: the Chinese are people of the food, of the unity, of the placing in the middle of the table and of eating together. An outstanding place also knows that and comes up with a process that unites people.
5. Dependability You Can Trust: Their favorite Chinese restaurants come to reside in. You can guess what to expect and that is part of the attraction. The wonton soup is equally good even when you visit there on a weekday night or invite your friends on a Saturday afternoon. The proper crisp is always there in that sesame chicken. Trust is created through consistency. 
6. Friendly, Effective Service: The service in many Chinese restaurants is straightforward and unpretentious. However, that does not imply that it is impersonal or frigid. Whether it is a brief nod from the chef or the waitress remembering your regular order, the greatest places make you feel like a member of the family.  In a Chinese restaurant, there is a rhythm to good service: the food flows effortlessly, tea is replenished without your request, and dishes are served when they are ready. Additionally, a competent server would gladly direct you towards the house specialities without upselling you if you are ever unclear what to order.

It is not the fancy Chinese restaurant but a good Chinese restaurant. It does not require the use of neon and a cool Instagram base. The only thing it lacks is heart, heart in the kitchen, heart in the service and heart in all the food that it feeds. When you stumble upon a one of those, you realize it. While exploring local cuisine, we stumbled upon a cozy sushi restaurant in Framingham that impressed us just as much as some of the best Chinese restaurants we have visited — proof that great food and authenticity can be found in any corner of the city. You can feel it in the air and gulp it when you take the first bite, and you already contemplate coming back next time. It is not only about food because after all, it is tradition, family, and a common table with love.