by Gary Weinberg on May 9, 2010
Here’s the story, of some Chinese chicken… served with different styles of rice… all of them had different sauces, the lightest one not very Spicy.
Here’s the story, of beans and burritos… some black beans, others refried. Both of them were very tasty, but also guaranteed to keep you on the pot all night.
So, this one day when the chicken met the beans and burritos… they knew that it was much more than a hunch… that this group should somehow join together, and that’s the way they all became my greasy lunch.
While I was developing this article I tried to categorize Chino Bandido. I went back and forth between Mexican and Chinese over ten times before I just put it under both categories. However, Chino really isn’t Chinese, Mexican, or Chinese-Mexican Fusion; it’s really its own type of food. Speaking of Fusion, what the hell is that? The only Fusion that comes out of Chino Bandido is the mix of ethnic food in your stomach that will prohibit you from any sort of activity while it’s digesting. Anyway, let’s get into it.
Chino is nothing fancy. It’s discreetly hidden behind a Walgreens off the main road. When you walk in you will notice that it is furnished with Costco folding tables and chairs, exposed duct work, concrete floor, and very little decoration on the walls except for an autographed Guy Fieri poster in the back. It’s pretty simple. Gentleman, a word to the wise: don’t expect to get laid if you bring a lady here on a first date.
As usual, I checked out Chino’s menu on their website before I left the house. I’m no rocket scientist, but you need a quantum physics degree to figure out their ordering system. However, Chino has attempted to make ordering a bit easier by implementing ordering instructions and a simulator on their website. The staff at Chino’s is awesome and will guide you through the ordering process and let you sample everything on the menu first anyway. If you read my previous post on Costco samples, you know that Chino giving samples wins hearts and minds in my book.
My first time at Chino I tried the Jade Red Chicken, the BBQ pork in a burrito, refried beans, and Jerk Fried Rice. The Jade red chicken was decent. It was like a General Tso’s Chicken on steroids. A fried texture; super spicy and super sweet. The BBQ pork was alright but a little bland. While reading Yelp I remember running across someone’s Yelp review that stated he loved the Jade Red Chicken so much that he was pissed off that the BBQ pork had to share the plate with it. Uh yeah, it didn’t bother me that much. The Jerk fried rice was pretty good as well… it included jerk chicken and green onions. Chino’s gets props for originality, giving you a lot of food, and making it easy to take home the leftovers. Once you slap on the cardboard lid you are all set to take it home and have it for breakfast the next day.
The best part about Chino Bandido (and best value) is the bonus they give you; the Snickerdoodle or Chocolate Volcano cookie (baked during weekends).
I opted for the Chocolate Volcano cookie and let me just say that thing was damn good. I will admit that the food was probably not enough to bring me back to Chino Bandido that often, but that cookie just might make it happen. And as for fusion, maybe next week I will try some Korean-Ethiopian-Chilean mix. You just never know.
Chino Bandido
1825 W Chandler Blvd
Chandler, AZ 85224
(480) 889-5990
www.chinobandido.com
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by Gary Weinberg on September 2, 2009
Craving sandwiches? Well before you walk into Subway for that $5 footlong take a look at Lee’s Sandwiches for almost half the price. In fact, repeat after me: I vow to never eat Subway again!
Lee’s is a small San Jose, CA based chain that only has one location in Arizona. They are a one stop shop for Vietnamese and Euro Style sandwiches, but specialize in the Banh mi style of sandwich, which stems from the French influence over Vietnam. The Chandler, AZ location is nestled in a strip mall in a section of Chandler that is predominantly Asian restaurants and markets. The outside of the building has some cool diner like neon lights. I also noticed that the size of the building is misleading; this place is a behemoth when you walk inside. They bake all their bread on site daily, so it’s always
fresh. And just one more one more bit of goodness; Lee’s is extremely clean.
I ordered the #5, the Grilled Pork Sandwich. For $2.85 you get a delicious , robust 10 inch crusty Baguette (a real Baguette, not a crusty hoagie roll) with grilled pork, fresh carrots, cilantro, onions, and mayo. Throw down another 75 cents and you can have double meat. I was really fond of the bread – soft, crispy outside, soft, gently chewy insides, good stuff. The grilled pork was delicious, a nice flavor that was just ever so slightly sweet. Besides their selection of 20+ sandwiches, Lee’s Sandwiches also has a more than respectable selection of Euro style sandwiches on croissants, smoothies, iced coffees, and gelato.
Bottom Line – Service is efficient and fast, the sandwiches are delicious, and you can easily get full with $5 or less with a drink.
Lee’s Sandwiches
1901 W Warner Rd
Chandler, AZ 85224
(480) 855-1778
http://leesandwiches.com
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by Samantha Owens on July 31, 2009
My nose is running, tears are falling and my mouth is dripping. I ordered the Kung Pao Chicken extra spicy and it is so good! If you can take the heat, totally do it.
China Gourmet is my new treasure for Chinese delivery. When I lived in Tempe, I knew all of the best delivery but now that I am in my new home I need to find the new places! I yelped delivery and called about 3 places who did not actually deliver. LAME! I finally came to this place and it was the last place with an actual review. I will never order Chinese from a place without a review, I think it stems from childhood horrors about Asians using cats instead of chicken; anyway that’s my rule of thumb. Thankfully, this place actually delivered and the people working were so sweet. His English wasn’t the best but he tried. I was able to place an order and it was right so he understands English very well. He recommended the orange chicken so I ordered that and the Kung Pao extra spicy. He goes “Hehahaha you like is berry spicy?” “Yes, I LOVE spicy!” “Ha, ok I make berry hot for you” Spicy I want, spicy I get!
The food came quickly and the delivery boy was just as sweet as can be. Meanwhile, my dogs are barking their heads off at him and I can hardly hear him speak over 
the loud yaps. But, I got my food inside and holy moly, the portions are huge! If I ate leftovers there would be enough to last for four days! I always have good intentions and I package it up nicely back in the fridge but never eat it, so in the trash it goes. Back to the Kung Pao- it was hot, fresh and loaded with spices and vegetables. It is my new favorite Kung Pao chicken dish and I will probably become a regular just because of this. I was not pleased with the orange chicken so save your money and taste buds. It was not the worst I have ever had, I just won’t order it again. My meal also came with two fortune cookies and two almond cookies. I love almond cookies! High fives for this little gem, I plan to become BFF’s with the delivery guy- too sweet!
So I paid just under $20 for two dishes that came with rice- it would have been plenty of food for 3-4 people. I have paid more than that for a crummy pizza; this is the way to go!
China Gourmet
3460 E Southern Ave
Ste 109
Mesa, AZ 85204
(480) 325-0558
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by Garrett Treager on July 28, 2009
Yokoso! According to my good friend Google, Yokoso means, “Welcome,” in Japanese. Although it’s a “Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar,” – the whole idea for the night was sushi… raw… recently wriggling…
Upon entering, Yokoso! has a pretty nice and open atmosphere. You’re greeted by a roomy waiting area where you can see the entire establishment. A lone hostess stand is there to request your table (even if you’re just going to the sushi bar, you have to wait to be seated). Just beyond the waiting area is the focus of the establishment, the sushi bar. If you continue your gaze farther still, you’ll quickly identify several hibachi grilling areas – maybe some flames, too. To your right is a bar area set off by a slightly dimmer area with bar tables and chairs. Oh yeah, and the bar itself.
Alright, let’s get to our table already! A quick jaunt into the sushi bar area and you’re quickly and efficiently seated in a comfortable booth with a pretty good view of the restaurant. It still provides some privacy from the other patrons, however. Everything from the 
seats to the table and soy sauce containers, the floor, the walls next to your seat, everything was clean and didn’t have any noticeable blemishes. My dining companion noticed that some of the drywall joints and screws were still visible but I couldn’t see it. She has a better eye for that sort of thing than I do.
There are two different menus to look through. The first is the traditional restaurant menu with descriptions of everything that is available. I’ve been at Yokoso! at least once or twice before so
I skipped straight to the sushi menu on the table. You know the ones I’m talking about, the ones
that have the name of the sushi/sashimi and a couple boxes for numbers. We had to look up a couple items but decided on the following:
- seaweed salad
- one rainbow roll - a California roll with tuna, shrimp, salmon, and whitefish
- one Hana maki – a tuna and salmon roll (nori on the outside)
- one Paradise roll – spicy yellow tail, crab, avocado, and cucumber
- Spicy scallop nigiri – scallops finely chopped and mixed with spicy sauce served on kale leaf on top of grated radish strings
Our waitress was pleasant and helpful and made sure our drinks were full at all times. She even told us the difference between sushi and sashimi – but I forget already.
The succulent sweet but a slightly spicy seaweed salad was a nice starter and got my mouth watering for more. Once our plate of sushi/sashimi arrived, I realized I didn’t mix my wasabi and soy sauce for dipping. Both of us started to it and got each mix just how each of us like it. I started with two pieces of the hana maki – one each of the tuna and salmon. Nice, clean, nothing overpowering, resistant but not chewy. I realized the rolls and sushi are a bit bigger at Yokoso! than most other places because I almost had to cut my sushi… I figured I’d just concentrate a little more, talk a little less, and be happy.
Next bite, paradise roll. The best way to describe it was just that – paradise. Superb blend of
flavors. Note – I decided not to dip this one since it was so good. The spice on the yellow tail
perfectly balanced with the sweetness of the crab, creaminess of the avocado and coolness of the cucumber, heaven. Now I’m going for the rainbow roll starting with a piece with tuna on it – my personal favorite raw fish. Last but not least, the spicy scallop nigiri was simply elegant. A little spice, a little sweet, what a beautiful treat! I almost forgot that we ordered a little sushi rice on the side to eat with the scallops. Careful kids, sushi rice is like superglue, don’t get it on your hands.
So, you pick a piece here and snag a piece there and before you know it, your plate of sushi is gone. Normally, I feel like I still have some room after a sushi run. Today, I was utterly full. I had a couple bites of really fresh pickled ginger and voila! Done. We had the waitress bring the check and, another pleasant surprise; we had a salad, two rolls, some maki and some nigiri and we ended the night under $40.00.
I’m no Siskel and my dining companion is no Ebert, but when it comes to sushi in Pittsburgh, Yokoso! gets our two thumbs up any day of the week.
Would I go back? Yes, I already have.
Yokoso! Japanese Steakhouse and Sushi Bar
The Water Front
153 East Bridge Street
Homestead , PA 15120
412-461-8800
http://www.yokososteakhouse.com
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