Readers' Choice dining guide: Chinese

Oriental Wok isn’t your average Asian diner - this is a sprawling, high-ceiling banquet hall, capable of holding wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners and other events. Just stopping in for lunch or dinner? Enjoy specialties like the spicy volcano chicken or the seafood wor bar with shrimp, lobster, scallops and fish. They serve plenty of seafood, plus your typical chow cein. Vegetarians rejoice with items such as vegetable tofu, five-spice tofu over spinach and Szechuan eggplant. The family-owned business -Mr. and Mrs. Wong and daughters Angela and Susanna - also offers popular cooking classes, where a restaurant chef teaches patrons how to prepare a four-course meal. The classes typically sell out, so check their Web site for future dates. Oriental Wok has been serving food for 33 years.

This Chinese-chain restaurant is located in the center of the Rookwood Commons shopping center. It is recognized for its great Chinese cuisine and unique ambience, combining ancient Chinese designs with modernity. Although P.F. Chang's is known for its food, they also offer a great centrally located bar with the featured Asian Pear Mojito cocktail. A favorite menu item is the Chang’s Chicken Salad wraps as an appetizer. And don't worry about getting lost: its 11 foot tall horse out front should guide you right to the spot.

Self-proclaimed as the "best food in the Tri-State," Shanghai Mama’s brings you a huge menu of traditional Chinese food. Open until 3 a.m. - so you can get your late night snack on after a night at the bars or theater! Grab one of their classic “Shut up and eat your noodles” shirts or maybe even enjoy a drink from their full service bar. Be sure to try their homemade noodles or wontons or one of their feature drinks Gekkeikan, "Zipang" or Sparkling Sake.

China Gourmet is your ticket to classic Chinese cuisine in an upscale, fine-dining setting. They feature traditional Cantonese and Szechuan but can also prepare custom and unique dishes for their guests. Gourmet favorites include classics, like the fresh rainbow trout or the wok-seared sea scallops. New menu features call for a sense of adventure, with dishes like mandarin chicken walnut or the conch with bean sprouts. They also have traditional favorites like sweet and sour chicken, curry shrimp and beef with snow peas. Pair your dish with a glass of wine, a martini or imported or domestic beer.

It might be easy to overlook this Asian restaurant tucked away in a strip mall near Tri-County Mall. This mostly Chinese eatery is very small, but the table arrangement makes it never feel claustrophobic. Highlights of Lu Lu’s are: the signature egg roll sauce you will find at every table made from mostly plums and leaves, the scrumptious wonton soup and the friendly and fast service. Lu Lu's is famous for its fried chicken wings in Szechuan sauce.

The name speaks for itself; this is a small Chinese restaurant with a genuinely friendly staff. It might seem to an outsider like your typical strip mall Chinese joint—but its legions of devoted regulars might have something to say about that. It’s great for those who don’t feel like cooking, but still want to pay a reasonable price. Among the most raved-about items are the Pad Thai and the “original” egg rolls. Owner Harry Hsu uses a secret method of cooking noodles and other dishes, bringing crispy and tasty to higher levels. You’ll probably want take-out, but there’s also limited seating available for those who are simply too hungry to wait. Lunch specials are quite a bargain as well (ranging from $4.30-$4.95 until 3 p.m. daily). If you like Casual Chinese, try its sister restaurant J'ams Chinese, Montgomery. J'ams' chef won a Gold Medal in the 2008 Culinary Olympics.