Lucky Inn … only place

Chinese food in Columbia sucks

We got amazing food places but Chinese ain’t one

What places do you recommend besides fast food that would be great? I know about Simmies, but I’m Good on that.

Hunan Legend in Dorsey shopping center is amazing. Technically Ellicott City, but still Columbia area

We've had good meals from Pepper House in Ellicott City. Their Chili oil is awesome.

akira ramen

RIP Hunan Taste

May want to be more specific

We do Hunan Manor in Snowden

I second Hunan Legend! Their kung pao chicken is amazing! Order it extra spicy though as it needs a little more heat to it.

Hunan manor is good. I like Hunan diamond a little better though

PF Changs. ;-]

Hunan Family in the Wilde Lake Village Center

Hunan Express in Elkridge is a favorite of mine. Very tasty.

You want real Chinese?

Pepper House for their noodle dishes and the dry pot.

Nan Xiang Express for their world class xiao long bao. Their other items are great too by HoCo standards. Unfortunately the xiao long bao can be inconsistent and suffers from the way it is served in takeout containers rather than directly from the steamer like in the full restaurant in Flushing (and really every other restaurant where you can eat there).

Jumbo Jumbo is Taiwanese and has an excellent beef noodle soup. Their fried chicken is also amazingly good and reliably consistent.

Tea Top also has a limited menu like Jumbo Jumbo. Personally I prefer Jumbo.

There's also a variety of hot pot restaurants, all of which are at least decent. Urban Hot Pot is actually in Columbia by the mall.

Zen Garden has a huge menu including real Chinese dishes that actually taste good and aren't full of garbage ingredients.

Zen garden is definitely the most authentic sichuan I’ve had in forever. Braised pork belly is so good there

This is the way.

More than just Chinese food, but Asian Palace has always been our go to - super friendly, fantastic food, and always quick for delivery.

I haven't seen it mentioned, but for American Chinese Hunan Diamond is our favorite. The only down side is they don't deliver

If you’re talking like American Chinese food - like the kind of place that has $11.99 lunch specials and a rude woman working the front but the food is AMAZING every time… Mayflower VI off of Hickory Ridge.

I love authentic too so everyone else’s suggestions are very good… but sometimes you just need the greasy beef and broccoli with some crab rangoon and a can of sprite

I third, it’s my favorite!

agree on Pepper House!! actual chinese food. if you don't mind driving like 20 minutes, check out Grace Garden in Odenton ! the food there is amazing

The rude woman is how you know it's real.

Jumbo Jumbo salt and pepper chicken my beloved

Pepper House is all you need. Haven't had anything else I've liked

Backing up /u/ligsj

Hunan Legend in Dorsey has been there for 30+ years and their stuff is unparalleled

I took my friend there that had traveled the world for various deployments

He was like "omg, this is the best Chinese food I've ever tasted"

Everything on the menu is good, veg friendly options, delivery, outstanding service

Literally never had a bad meal here.

Every restaurant usually has a bad day once in a while.

I've been a patron for all of the existence of this place, and I've never had a bad meal

I can't think of another restaurant I've been patronizing this long that has been consistently this good

This is my go to take out treat myself and my family experience

Hunan Legend, IMO the professionalism and the food speak for themselves, but Imma still back it up

Jesse Wong's Asean Bistro. Lots of vegetarian options as well!

Lol, sounds like the one at KC Village Center.

Lol. I actually don’t mind them and food is decent, but the service at the one in Columbia is especially bad.

Peter Chang just opened this weekend in the Merriweather district

Welcome to the area! If you're looking for more food suggestions/discussion, there is a sub called HoCoFood that has local food info, and if you're on Facebook there's a group called Howard County Eats that's full of suggestions as well.

Mayflower behind Simmies

THANK YOU EVERYONE FOR THIS!!! I'll be trying most of these places out in the future!

Pepper House is really good! I usually get the dumplings in chili oil and it always hits the spot

You seem like you have a clue - where can I find Three Cups Chicken (San Bei Ji / 三杯鸡 )? My go-to was lost in the explosion a few years ago.

I can't recall seeing it anywhere in HoCo lately, though it's something we, we being my wife 😅, make at home so generally we're not looking out for it. I think Jumbo Jumbo down in Rockville might have it though.

Thanks - I checked their menu and didn't see it, but I'll give them a visit and try for off-menu.

OP specifically asked for one that won’t break the bank.