It's like going to china and asking for chinese food.

Yeah, I discovered Luby’s in late 1992. I get food from there at least once every other week. If you figure it this way: 52 weeks / 2 = 26 x 15 years = 390 meals (roughly).

I remember one time, ONLY ONE TIME, out of all the food I’ve horked down from there that the veggie lo-mien sat a few seconds too long in the pan and was slightly burned. I politely mentioned it to Thomas (the owner) and he hooked me up with a fresh order cooked himself instantly.

One other time he forgot to pack my side of rice. I didn’t realize it until I got home, figured, a buck, big whoop, and forgot all about it. The following week I was back in there and he brings out rice with my meal, that I didn’t order. I asked him about it and he reminded me that he forgot it last time! I really had completely forgotten about it…

-s

Yeah, I'll be stopping by myself after work to pick up dinner! Yum!

I am incredibly surprised that the famous guest had a bad experience there. I've been frequenting the place for 5 or so years and I have never had a bad experience there. It's a hole in the wall. It's not a corporate chain that can afford model waitresses, bright flashing lights, and celebrity memorabilia.

Just remember, everyone has off days, and if the food wasn't good, safe, or acceptable in any sort of way, Luby's would not still be in business!

>Real chinese food can be greasy and smell, thats what makes it authentic.

I tried to bring this up in another thread here once a while ago: people didn't seem to want to accept this idea. When I lived in Zibo (Shandong Province), stuff stunk, and it was SOOOOOOOOO tasty! Most of the time I didn't know what I'd be served, but could guess by what sounds the animals outside would make when they were being killed.

I tried and tried to find ONE authentic Chinese place in Fresno after returning, especially having gone vegetarian by then. The answer IS Lubys, but most just want the heavily sugared dishes they are used to getting at crap places like Panda Express, etc. To each his own...

And with that, I'm off to Luby's for lunch RIGHT NOW!

-s

"They are americanized chinese food. Real chinese food can be greasy and smell, thats what makes it authentic. Only in america do we get dishes that are tampered to our american culture."

really? next thing you'll tell me is that pizza hut isn't like pizza in italy.

sorry, maybe some people don't actually realize that most "chinese" food made in the u.s. is nothing like food actually served in china. i shouldn't be so mean for your attempt to help.

By the way PF changs is not authentic, so is china kitchen and all those other places. They are americanized chinese food. Real chinese food can be greasy and smell, thats what makes it authentic. Only in america do we get dishes that are tampered to our american culture. Ask any real chinese person or even japanese person. The food here does not taste authentic.

He's been going through quite a few changes. I don't think he even has a full-time cook right now! Then again you're ordering a bunch of dead animal dishes, and that's not what I had recommended.

You should SERIOUSLY let Thomas know your experience.

-s

Don't do what I did tonight and try Luby's because of what you read on this thread. Luby's is a dump. The place is filthy and it stinks inside. The food is horrible. I have tried at least 50 Chinese restaurants in Fresno in my years here and this has to rank among the worst. I went there this evening to order take-out for my family based on the recommendations I found here and what a mistake.

The Fried Rice was very average and very greasy. Tiny pieces of chicken and some mushed vegetables. The color was even a little off, almost had a black tint to it. The Low-Mien had better vegetables, but again it was very greasy and very little flavor. It was not bad, just not very good at all – average at best. next is the General Tsao’s Chicken, which is the dish most people complimented so much. Since I will never eat here again I don’t have to worry about trying to figure out why. Kind of a poor man’s orange peal chicken but with large pieces of dried out chicken with skin and other parts of the chicken still in there that I prefer not to eat. Black Bean chicken is one of my favorite Chinese dishes, but this one smelled so bad I couldn’t eat it and my wife almost vomited when we opened it. it took 3 washes to get the smell off my hands. I think he spilled the fish sauce in it or something, but it was absolutely awful and is in the garbage can in front of my house at the present time.

I would write more but I have to join my family in eating frozen TV dinners so we don’t go to bed hungry. Thanks but no thanks for the horrible recommendation. If you want good Chinese food try the China Kitchen on the Bullard Loop. I have not found better recently.

I absolutely loathe the Golden restaurant in the Tower. The chow mien tasted like paste. I couldn't eat it. And the last time I dined there I had to wait 45-minutes for my lunch (the pastey chow mien), when the place wasn't even a quarter full.

I tend to favor small neighborhood restaurants. Mings in the Tower is excellent, and I highly recommend it. So is Golden Star at 1140 N Chestnut Ave. The food is excellent - especially the egg rolls, the portions aren't skimpy, and the prices are affordable. It'd be nice if Golden Star had a larger dining area, but as the place turns a fairly brisk trade in carry-out orders, I guess they don't need the extra space.

I've never been to Luby's, but it sounds great with all of the favorable endorsements.

Thanks for the posts. I will have to try them all. I love spicy chinese food. I just went to Luby's the other day because it is close to my work place. I love the General Tso or tao, the spicy chicken dish, pot stickers. They have great dishes there. I wanted to try everything. I would highly recommend this place. Warning spicy chicken dish can kill you, it was dang hot (they use habenaros).

I agree with all of the above altho I haven't tried Fuji (I will). I must also mention Imperial Garden on the SE corner Herndon & Blackstone.
Try the dim sum menu, maybe 3 or 4 items, steamed ribs in black bean sauce, shu mai, greens, fried squid (best this side of yuet lee), a coupla Tsing Tao, somethin' like that, feed 2 of you for under $20.
Hey, Chinese people eat there.

Hunan at SE corner Cedar and Herndon between the old Savemart and Longs... Best I've had outside China!

We ordered what turned out to be a lot of food, appetizers and all for 3 people. Soup, Bou Tze, and 2 main dishes. Total bill barely tipped over 30$. You look at the bill to see what was written and what cost what, but it's written in CHINESE. Now that's cool.

Diablo

The most authentic Chinese food in North America. Also, the friendliest staff -- they'll prepare all kinds of things that aren't on the menu, to your specifications. Once you've become a regular, you'll have to get used to unordered goodies showing up on the table, but not on the bill. Sweet.

...LUBY's!!!

It's a good day after all!

-s

SOUTH east corner, hidden in the middle next to the dollar store
Diablo

Fuji's cafe on Kern St. behind Central Fish Market. Great food, cheap price, and you never know who you will rub elbows with. Best two person crew in town.

Happy Eating.

North East corner, Cedar and Herndon. Ask for the authentic menu. Great food.

Diablo

LUBY's!!!

Been eating there scince 1993, and been raving about it here for years...

(I may just go have some lunch there TODAY!)

-s

I am horribly picky about my Chinese food. Ming's and Golden Chinese in Tower are good, but nothing beats out Luby Chinese on First & Bullard (in the SaveMart parking lot on the Bullard side). They have the best homemade tofu I have ever had. Even those I know who abhor tofu have loved this stuff.

It's a hole in the wall place, but there is an excellent selection of dishes (including vegetarian and vegan). I've never had a dish I did not like (excepting: I have not tried any of the pork dishes so can't vouch for those).

I recommend the General Tzao's Chicken or the Vegetarian Kung Pao.

~Div