Chinatown Express

In the heart of DC's Chinatown, a block from the Friendship Archway is Chinatown Express. The banner outside says it’s the best lunch bargain in DC. This basement dive offers the ducks and chunks of pork hanging in the window reminiscent of New York's Chinatown. The chef in the window does a constant dough ballet as he prepares the dough for the noodles and the dumplings. He has a twisting, stretching, braiding and resting technique that is pretty cool to watch. We tried seafood dumplings and steamed pork buns which were a bargain for the price. The dumplings were well flavored and the sauces were excellent. The steamed pork buns also at 10 for $5.00 were a great bargain.

The others ordered fried noodles with chicken -$6.50- I got fried noodles with seafood, spicy, also for just $6.50. The noodles were the highlight. They were soft and flavorful and seasoned just right. My seafood had a great kick to it but the main ingredients were lacking. A few shrimp and some sliced squid. Overall very tasty and quite authentic. The key word here is cheap. Dirt Cheap - Pun intended.
The place is dirty. The basement entrance leads to all three floors and I believe a second building next door. The stairs are narrow and the place really needs a good scrubbing.

I am sure there are problems with vermin. I remember working at the Old Homestead in Manhattan. The restaurant was in a four story building. There were apartments upstairs. They had such a horrible infestation they paid to have the entire building sealed with plastic sheeting over the windows and fumigated.They had to put the residents up in a hotel for a couple of nights. This sealed gigantic roach motel had to remain that way for 10 hours. CE may need a full sealed fumigating also.
The service is quick but by no means friendly or accommodating. The turnover is such that the wait staff really does not have to try so hard. If each server does 80 covers at $2.00 tip a guest they make a pretty good wage for the day without any extra effort.
Here is the clincher- the bathroom is on the top floor. From the basement that’s three full flights. No lights - really spooky and since the building was an apartment building before the third bathroom is complete with a tub and shower curtain and 1960's medicine cabinet with cracked mirror. The bathroom is also not too clean ( that’s being gentle).

As a bartender in New York we used to shut down the bars at 4 AM in Rockaway Beach and head to NYC for the authentic Chinese feel. We went to Wo-Hop a 24 hour institution worthy of the trip. Sauteed garlic snails and frogs legs at sunrise as we sat with the kitchen workers from the other local resturaunts. Remember its always a good sign when going to an ethnic place that the business is frequented by people of that nationality. CE also was filled with Asian people for lunch.

So maybe for CE a takeout order is the best deal. You get the noodles and the authentic flavors but you are not subjected to the environment. I think you also get a free soda.

I have read some reviews and they generally say the same thing. I have to confess I will go back- eyes wide shut.

I am sure however if I search I can find a noodle house that may be just as good and clean too.

I sign myself- Always Searching






牧民的食物