Just thought I'd share what I sent directly to Elizabeth regarding this topic:

The Hunan Manor in Columbia MUST absolutely be considered one of the area’s best Chinese restaurants, if not the best period. Even the USA Today has ranked in their top 10 nationwide. No Top-10 list of Baltimore area Chinese restaurants should be without it.

For people not on the Western side of the Baltimore area, it’s is so worth the trip. The House Chow Fun, the “Shrimpy Toast” (as WFBR’s Charley Ekman used to call it), the hot crispy beef, the General Tso’s Shrimp, the orange chicken, the crispy duck, the salt and pepper pork…these all are truly wonderful, as is the the vast majority of the menu (including the shark fin soup). It’s a crime if this establishment is not on the Top-10 list.

They are also open on Christmas Day, and in fact the host told me that it’s one of their busiest days of the year.

Yep... right on the Avenue. Pretty scary looking place, but great food. I only knew about it as the place with the grates on the doors.

If you're looking for old holes-in-the-wall, people of a certain age remember Mee Jun Low downtown on Mulberry. (not that I am saying that you're of a certain age!)

Mee Jung Low was memorable for so many reasons -- good food; Irene the waitress who always said she was of American Indian extractions; and eating dinner when the kitchen staff came out to eat theirs. The best hole-in-the-wall in Baltimore.

Memorable, yes. Take a look at my one Fab Five Friday (under categories to the right of the page).

Picture looks like Pinebrook. Around the corner from MJL on park was White Rice Inn, for slightly more dressy dates.

You're right. We used to call it the cheapest Chinese restaurant in the universe.

I fondly remember the White Rice Inn.
You could always tell which chef was there by the fried rice. It was very different (both excellent) depending on that.

In the back of my mind, I seem to remember that it was owned by the same family that owns(ed) The Golden Star on Greenmount. Anyone know if this is true?

We will drive all the way from Severn to eat at the Mandarin House in Howard County Laurel.

One of my favorite Chinese restaurants is Hunan Szechuan in Hillendale Shopping Center. The food has always been very well done and reasonably priced.

I know that they are not open on xmas but Szcheuan on south charles street is great. I've been going for about 14years.

anybody know of anything in Hunt Valley. Tried Bamboo house and it was terrible. I gave it two chance.
The place in the hunt valley mall is too expensive.

Please help!

Bolgiano--I knowm this won't help you, but there was a great one in Timonium called Ming's. It was there for a really long time. But the people who owned felt the time had come for them to retire. Good for them, very nice people....but I really do mis that restaurant.

AHHH, The Golden Star. Now THERE was a fantastic place. I hadn;t eaten there in close to 20 years. Back then it was awasome. is it still around? Still good?

Oh, and Dotti, I too have eaten at the place in the Hillendale shopping center, and it was indeed very good.

And the first reccomendation abour Hunan Manor in Columbia, it's not just one of the nicest "chinese" restaurants I've been to, but it's one of the nicest overall restaurants I've been to (not including fancy 4-star paces). It really is good!

I love Chinese food. Great topic!

Now that someone has mentioned Mee Jung Low, remember Jimmy Wu's on North Charles just south of 25th - for quite a while he was one of the few Chinese restaurants around.
And - perish the thought - the Hutler's Lunchenette in the basement of the flagship store (you could hear the trains running through the infamous Howard St. tunnel) - they featured chicken chow mein!

The most authentic Chinese restaurant in the area, I think, is Oriental Manor (may have changed its name) at Chatham Station on Route 40 in Ellicott City. It is the real deal for Cantonese food, with duck's blood and jellyfish and all of that. A friend and I have eaten there three times, and each time we've been the only non Asians. The first time we ate there I ordered jellyfish and the entire kitchen staff came out to see if I would really eat it. If you want real Cantonese food, I hgily recommend it. Also, the Chinese restaurant behing Howard County Hospital in Columbia has a separate, Chinese menu, if you request it, or at least did the last time I was there. It, too, is authentic.

I've heard it's closed. When I call, no one answers the phone. If you find out what its new name is, please let me know.

In general, Howard County has some of the region's best Asian cuisine. Chinese for sure, but there are also many wonderful Thai, Vietnamese, and Japanese restaurants in the Columbia & Ellicott City area as well.

Elizabeth... have you done a top 10 on restaurants that are no longer with us? Jimmy Wu's and MJL are just two...

Not yet. But it's on my list.

Ding How in Fells Point, Bamboo House in Cockeysville and Joey Chiu Greenspring Inn in Greenspring Station!

Speaking of Howard County, Jesse Wong's Asean Bistro is great. MUCH better than Hunan Manor, but to be fair...it's been years since I've been to Hunan Manor!

I can't include it in this list because it's pan-Asian. Of course, to a certain extent all Chinese restaurants have to be to survive these days, but you know what I mean.

I second the nomination for Ding How - they have excellent Crispy Beef, offer large portions for the price, and have both dine-in and delivery as options. It's one of our neighborhood standbys.

I just called, and unfortunately they will be closed on Christmas Day.

Elizabeth... have you done a top 10 on restaurants that are no longer with us? Jimmy Wu's and MJL are just two...

Haussner’s, of course; the old Miller Brothers; Café des Artistes; Pimlico Hotel… You will have trouble limiting the list to just 10 “old” restaurants. Criteria could include how long it was in business; how long ago it closed; reputation in the community; etc. The fact that we still talk about MJL or even Jimmy Wu, The New China Inn and his bartender, Wun Long Pour, should tell us something.

Not yet, but it's on my list.

Here's hoping you include the Orient in Towson. Consistently excellent -- especially the Crispy Duck (large, luscious portions) and my wife's favorite, the Shrimp in Lobster Sauce. My wife isn't Chinese but she's an expert of sorts; her mother owned the first Chinese restaurant in the Pocono Mountains. The restaurant is also handy when you're returning books to the Towson library across the street. Just park in their garage and take advantage of validation.

Greenleaf in Hunt Valley is the Best!! Sushi is great, food wonderful, and Charlie and his wife make you feel so at home

You guys have brought back so many great memories of great eating in years gone by. Jimmy
Wu's was the perfect late night spot for great Chinese food on the way home. And what ambience that place had with all the levels and cozy nooks and booths. Gone but never forgotten. Happy Memorial Day everyone