D.C.’s Chinatown is sometimes referred to as Chinablock. Once a multi-block neighborhood, Chinatown’s identity has been slowly eaten away by the booming Seventh Street corridor and what some refer to as “neighborhood imperialism” from Penn Quarter’s pushers. Although, we don’t think that adding Chinese characters to signage at Hooters, Chipotle and Fado’s has done much to stop Chinatown’s erosion, there is still a good selection of Chinese restaurants and stores along H Street east of Seventh Street. Or is there?

On the eGullet food forum, one poster asked where the good Chinese food is in the neighborhood. We think it’s a good question.

From the discussion, it seems that Full Kee and Eat First are two places that stand out. Since DCist used to work in a Chinese restaurant (with a Taiwanese chef … oops, are treading into taboo “One-China” policy talk? …) we’re a bit particular as to what we eat when we get Chinese. But Full Kee is a favorite of ours as well.

Where is your favorite spot in Chinatown? We know there are other good places around the District (though we’ve heard that City Lights‘ take-out quality has been very spotty lately) and especially out in the suburbs.

Filed Under: china, chinatown, Chinese, city, City Lights, dcist, dining, district, entertainment, food, Food and Drink, Full Kee, h street, lights, once, Penn, penn quarter, restaurants, seventh street, Since DCist, suburbs,