Linh Nam Chinese: A Dining Review

Neighbor Roy, Friend Gus, and I went to Linh Nam Chinese Restaurant on a Friday afternoon in mid-November. I picked this place because it is fairly close to home and is wasn’t Mexican or Italian, both of which we had enjoyed recently.

It is in a shopping center near Ina and Thornydale on the West Side of Tucson. The first obstacle we encountered was the waiter. As he approached our table for the first time, he demanded (yes, DEMANDED) that I move my cane out of his way. I hesitated for a moment wondering where to put it, then picked it up and placed it under the table. He told me he had big feet and didn’t want to trip over it. Fine.

Then we ran into him again when Gus ordered a General Tso To- Go to take to his wife. He wanted the dinner portion but the waiter told him in so uncertain terms that only the lunch portion was available. We wondered what would it have taken for the chef to add another scoop on the To-Go order. Big deal, RIGHT?

We got past all that and ordered our lunches. Neighbor Roy ordered his usual: Mongolian Beef, sliced beef sauteed with bamboo shoots, carrots, green onions, in a spicy brown sauce and served over a bed of fried rice or noodles ($9.50).

Gus ordered his usual General Tso Chicken, lightly breaded chicken served with onions in a special spicy sauce ($9.50).

I ordered my usual Sweet and Sour Pork, fried pork with carrots, bell peppers, and white onions served in sweet and sour sauce ($9.50).

All of our meals came with a small egg drop soup or hot and sour soup, an egg roll, a fried wonton, and either white or fried rice. My meal was very good.

I’ll let Roy tell you about his experience.

“We visited the Linh Nam restaurant on Ina, located in a shopping center. Upon entering, the restaurant presents well, with its Chinese carved gateway. We were greeted and seated rapidly, menus were presented. There was a page of luncheon specials with pictures. Our waiter seemed out of place and not too friendly. I ordered the Mongolian beef, with an egg roll and fried rice. When it arrived, the egg roll was one of the best I have had in quite some time. The beef dish and the fried rice were plentiful and good. I was unable to finish the serving and took enough home for a second meal. The cost was less than $10.00–a big bargain in today’s inflated market. Given the quality and quantity, this restaurant would seem to deserve a high rating–however, the waiter seemed to have an attitude problem, so rather than the 3 1/2 saguaro rating it should receive, I must deduct 1/2 saguaros for the servers attitude problems.”

Now here’s Gus’s take on this restaurant.