Empress Court Chinese restaurant at 8307 E Washington St. in Chagrin Falls, OH (440-543-8231) is a great place to get your Chinese food fix. My family and I have been eating at this friendly restaurant since I was in high school back in the mid 90’s. It is located in a nondescript strip of stores and provides your typical Chinese restaurant decor. If you want some tasty and fresh Chinese food from the Eastside suburbs, Empress Court is a great option.
My dad and I really like the Wor Sue Gai. This is chicken breast that is breaded and fried, placed over a bed of lettuce with a brown gravy poured over top. It is typically served with white rice. The chicken is always so moist, not dry at all. Typically, I am a fan of dark meat, which tends to have more flavor. But, the Wor Sue Gai, made with breast meat, is perfect.
I have always really enjoyed their wonton soup. The wontons have a great flavor and always taste fresh, like they were just made. The wonton wrapper is a nice thick “noodle” with tasty meat inside, these were not just pulled out of the freezer and thrown into the pot. They serve shrimp chips on the side, which seems to be something offered at only select Chinese restaurants. I could eat those crunchy shrimp chips all day. I like to dip them in my soup and listen to them make that “Rice Krispie” popping sound:-)
Early this week, we ate dinner at Empress Court and tried a new dish…the Sweet and Sour Shrimp. Each piece of shrimp was quite large and the sauce had a perfect balance of sweet and sour. Even the green peppers had a nice crunch of freshness. Of course, the Sweet and Sour Chicken is also great.
You can’t go wrong with Empress Court. The food is fresh, the service is always prompt and friendly and the prices are very reasonable. I think they do a great take our business, too. Everytime we are there we notice lots of people stopping to pick-up their dinner. Next time you have a Chinese food craving, which is like once a week for me, try Empress Court!
Have you ever tried Hunan by the Falls?
They have some of the best Chinese food in Cleveland IMO. (The same people own Hunan of Solon and the food is just as good although the decor isn’t quite as nice.)
I also like Li Wah and I see it’s one of your favorites too.
Hunan East (on Richmond at Wilson Mills) has really good food, and the prices are excellent.
I didn’t like Pearl of the Orient. I know they’re really popular, but I found their food to be tasteless and bland.
Then there’s Japanese food.
I think Tomo Sushi and Hibachi is the best around, although I haven’t tried their Teppanyaki (Hibachi) since I don’t really like that.
Otani also has good food, but they’re easily twice the price of Tomo.
Sakura isn’t so good, and they’re expensive too.