Best Chinese '98

Best Chinese

Golden Dragon Restaurant
6166 E. Speedway Blvd.
6433 N. Oracle Road
4704 E. Sunrise Drive

READERS' PICK: Although they've reduced the number of locations from four to three since last year, the popularity and quality of the Golden Dragon is undiminished in our readers' eyes. They offer great Chinese food with an emphasis on Szechwan and cuisines from the northern provinces, including the best hot-and-sour soup in town, and a mouthwatering mu shu. Other entrees among the more than 140 choices include Happy Family (scallops, shrimp, chicken, beef, broccoli, carrots, Chinese cabbage mushrooms and more), Hundred Hummingbirds (shrimp, chicken and scallops with veggies in an edible basket), Lemon Chicken, Hunan Beef, Yu Shiang Pork, and Shrimp with Spicy Salt. The luncheon specials are a great way to break up a workaday week.

READERS' POLL RUNNER-UP: Mandarin Grill, 505 E. Grant Road; 2946 W. Ina Road

CLUE IN: A friend of ours, a lifelong resident of Shanghai, insists that China Phoenix Restaurant, 7090 N. Oracle Road, is the closest thing to a real gourmet Chinese restaurant in Tucson. After supping numerous times on delicacies like fiery-hot bean curd, black mushrooms, scallion-poached sea bass, and honey walnut shrimp, we're inclined to agree--and to return again and again. The owners hail from South China, but serve dishes from all over the country, from the mild vegetable dishes of the Beijing region to the peppery beef dishes of the western deserts. Whatever their geographic origins, the entrees are reasonably priced, with most coming in at under $10.

1997 Winner: Mandarin Grill
1996 Winner: Mandarin Grill