Sat 02.23.08

house special

at Chinatown Express, Washington DC Chinatown.

My friend Mark and I were wondering around Chinatown the other day and happened upon this place. Two ways to tell you're at a good Chinese restaurant: ducks hanging in the front window and no offers of free sweet and sour soup with your meal. I mean, look at this place. It has to be good.

We first had some dumplings which were so-so, but the clincher for me, the thing that ensured a return trip, was the "house special chicken": half a chicken, roasted to crispy-golden-skin-goodness, served on pool of soy sauce and drippings. Mighty, mighty tasty. I have to say, good, properly roasted chicken doesn't get its due often enough. There are more interesting foods to eat to be sure, but come on. Crispy skin.

Oddly enough, the chicken didn't appear anywhere on the menu, only listed on a unceremonious green sign incidentally located right above our table. The two of us tried are best to finish everything, but this must've been a big chicken if we couldn't finish one half. We agreed that it would be better shared among three or four. Next time I vist: barbecue plate.