When I moved to Park Slope, I was constantly amused by a takeout place called Good Friend that specialized in Chinese and Mexican food. “Chinese and Mexican!” I thought, “What better name than Good Friend for a place that specializes in both…It must be one of a kind!” Well, it’s not as I’ve learned. So here begins my attempt to catalog the Chinese-Mexican restaurants in the NYC area.
The photo above is Food House on Dekalb Avenue.
Comments
I saw a comedian on TV a few nights ago saying how he was glad to be back in LA because you can get good Chinese food there. He said he was recently in Wichita, KS, where you cannot get good Chinese food. His reasoning was that there were no Mexicans in Wichita to cook the Chinese food.
Posted by: Flick | April 20, 2009 12:34 PM
One of a kind? Didn't you grow up in Lawrence? Did you ever eat at Tin Pan Alley? The menu had about 4000 different meals you could buy, mixing Tex-Mex, Chinese, and greasy spoon American.
Posted by: Thinman | April 20, 2009 12:51 PM
The neighborhood in which I lived in Denver ("Greektown") was full of Mexican-Greek-American diners "specialties chili rellenos and spanikopita". I always found it a bit odd.
One of my favorite Chinese take-out dishes is Mu Shu, which I always think of as a burrito.
Posted by: plantnerd | April 20, 2009 1:40 PM
Thinman: I find it less odd to serve cuisines of all types, like Tin Pan Alley, than to choose only two cuisines that one doesn't necessary think of together.
Plantnerd: In my perambulations, I've also come across an Italian-Mexican restaurant, but it didn't strike me as incongruous as Chinese/Mexican. It's kinda like Chinese/Japanese places...I see them and think, "I'll buy that...they're both Asian."
Flick: In NYC, it isn't Chinese places run by Mexicans, but Mexican places run by the Chinese.
Posted by: hellx | April 20, 2009 5:43 PM
I am not sure that I ever went into a tex-mex place that wasn't actually Chinese tex-mex. Dare I say only when I moved to Jackson Heights were the Mexican food joints not run by Chinese folks.
Oh yes, I dare.
Point of fact, the Italian restaurant in my 'hood is also run by Carlos' people.
That is just how we roll.
Posted by: jebus4me | April 21, 2009 6:58 AM
Look who's talking, Latino Love.
Posted by: Mr. Guapo | April 21, 2009 7:50 AM
OK, not every Mexican place in NYC is run by the Chinese. Speaking of Mexican places, Tacos Nuevo Mexico is opening up a really nice looking restaurant next to their diner. Piramide, next to Commonwealth, is under new ownership. In an effort to increase business they've moved the decor away from the staid sit-down atmosphere. It hasn't helped.
Posted by: hellx | April 21, 2009 9:58 AM