Chinese Food Court Street: What’s the Big Fuss?

Alright, so everyone’s talkin’ ’bout this Chinese food court street, right? I ain’t no fancy food critic or nothin’, just an old lady who likes to eat. But let me tell ya, this street food thing, it’s somethin’ else.

First off, there’s just so much food! I mean, you walk down that street and it’s like a whole bunch of kitchens just threw open their doors. You got smells flyin’ everywhere – some good, some a little weird, but mostly good, ya know? Makes your stomach rumble like a tractor.

What Kind of Food You Findin’?

Now, I ain’t gonna lie, I don’t know half the names of these dishes. They got all sorts of noodles. Some are skinny, some are fat, some are flat… I like the fat ones, they fill ya up good. Then there’s the rice. Always rice. White rice, brown rice, sticky rice… Rice is rice, ya know? But it goes with everything.

• Noodles: Like I said, all kinds! Some with meat, some with veggies, some with both. They got this one noodle dish, I think they call it “Lo Mein”? It’s got them noodles and some vegetables and little bits of meat. Pretty tasty.
• Rice Dishes: Can’t go wrong with rice, right? They got fried rice, which is rice with all sorts of stuff mixed in. And then they got plain rice, which is just… rice. Good for soppin’ up sauce.
• Chicken Dishes: Oh, the chicken! They do chicken every which way. Fried chicken, sweet chicken, spicy chicken… There’s this one dish, everybody seems to love it, somethin’ called “General Tso’s Chicken”. It’s sweet and tangy, crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Kids love it. I like it too, but it’s a bit too sweet for me sometimes.
• Dumplings: Now, these are little pockets of goodness. They got meat inside, or sometimes veggies. You dip ‘em in this sauce, soy sauce I think they call it, and pop ‘em in your mouth. Yummy!
• Soups: And don’t forget the soups! Some are hot and sour, some are thick and hearty, some are just plain broth. Good for a cold day, or when your stomach ain’t feelin’ so good.

Is it Better Than Other Food?

Well, that depends on what you like. This Chinese food court street food, it’s different. It’s got more… I dunno… flavor? Like, they use a lot of spices and sauces. And it’s greasy, gotta say. More oil than, say, that Korean food I tried once. That Korean stuff was alright, but it wasn’t as… I guess, “exciting” as this Chinese food.

But it ain’t all fancy, mind you. It’s just good, plain food. The kind of food that fills you up and makes you feel good. It ain’t like those tiny plates you get at them fancy restaurants. Here, you get a big ol’ plate of food, and you eat it all. And it’s cheap, mostly. Good for folks like me, you know, gotta watch your pennies.

Where to Find This Food Court Street?

Now, I ain’t gonna give you exact directions, ’cause I don’t rightly remember. But these Chinese food court streets, they seem to be poppin’ up everywhere these days. I hear tell there’s one in Raleigh, that Ni Kitchen place everyone’s on about. And up in New York City, Brooklyn way, they got a whole bunch of ’em on Court Street. Hunan Delight, Shan, Wing Hua… names I can’t even pronounce, but the food’s good. You just gotta keep your eyes peeled, and your nose open. You’ll smell it when you’re close.

So, What’s the Verdict?

Look, I’m just an old lady. I ain’t no expert on nothin’. But I know good food when I taste it. And this Chinese food court street food, it’s good. It’s tasty, it’s filling, and it’s cheap. What more could you want? So, if you see one of these food court streets, don’t be shy. Go on in, try somethin’ new. You might just find your new favorite dish. And if you don’t like it, well, there’s always another stall to try. That’s the beauty of it, I reckon. So much food, so little time.

Just remember to bring cash, ’cause some of them stalls don’t take no fancy cards. And wear your eatin’ pants, ’cause you’re gonna need ’em!