The food was very tasty and the service was pretty good. The only complaint was that I had trouble getting across that I like my Sichuan food extremely spicy. Eventually they brought me some excellent chili in oil. I will go back just for that chili. The place was full and I was the only non-Chinese in the joint. The place is a little dirty but the food is worth the visit. If you like true Sichuan then order off the second menu you have to ask for if you are not Chinese.
(4)
Regan L.
Awesome restaurant, best Chinese food I've had since coming to Miami. Very authentic dishes, my favorite is the pork and tomato with eggs. The lamb skewers, crabs and Peking duck are also incredible! The staff are friendly and very helpful. Highly recommended and a personal favorite in Miami!!
(5)
Andrew M.
Fantastic mapu tofu, and i love a lot of their dishes. It is a bit small, and the service is not always great, but the good is still really quite good. Do NOT go here for the typical american faire of chinese food, this is not the place for that, go for the sichuan style food for sure
(4)
Arturo B.
Authentic Chinese food which is SO MUCH BETTER than the usual 'american'. After visiting China this summer, I have been looking for the real deal in Miami and thankfully found Dragon 1. Most of the patrons visiting are from the motherland - which is ALWAYS a great sign. Ask for the Chinese menu (with english translation) and be adventurous. Order different things. Let them show you what real Chinese food is. Adventurous souls will enjoy dinner here. Can't wait to be back and enjoy some more.
One of the first things I noticed since I came to the States almost 4 years ago is that all the early Chinese immigrants (before 1990s) are from far south China, and all the typical Chinese stereotypes and Chinese food are associated with south Chinese people from 1 to 2 provinces(out of 32). As a north Chinese guy, it is nearly painful for me not to be able to find Chinese restaurants that present food that taste like home. But it seems that, the pain is over after I found this place, as the chef is from north China! I ordered Tianjin pancake, which is a very popular breakfast for north Chinese. The flavor is very good, although not exactly what I used to have, I am still really satisfied. I also ordered the spicy pot, which is very good as well. The Chinese barbecue also tastes great. They also offer Beijing duck, but you have to call ahead of time for them to prepare. I will definitely come back for more.
(5)
Mia H.
I am from Sichuan, so I thought I was in position to judge the authenticity of their food. I was surprised they offer lamb skewers. I went there twice, the food was okay-- I could have given 4 stars but the service just wasn't good. The servers were not attentive AT ALL. I was never greeted with a smile. I told the server to bring me a soda, but I never received my drink, and they brought me a check with a charge of soda on it. tl;dr: Food is OKAY; service should be improved.
(3)
Diane H.
So gooooooddd!! I've been here several times and I always have my roommate order for me since she is Chinese. Though I never have any idea what she ordered, it's ALWAYS good. Some of my favs are the sesame noodles, noodles with minced pork, twice fried pork, garlic bok choy and chili pepper chicken. If anything, their chicken in chili oil can be more flavorful, but the chicken is still very tender. They also serve a variety of Chinese drinks to make your meal even more authentic. I also love how the owner can always be found mingling with customers and even sharing a beer with them. My favorite Chinese restaurant since I've moved here from CA :)
(5)
Claudia J.
Authentic Szechuan food, mom & pop operation. Don't expect much!! they might sometimes forget to bring you something, but it seems they are short staffed. Small place that fills fast! See pictures please. The cabbage, chicken, pork belly was yummi, lamb stick... all of it, super yummi. Better know what you want to order, menu is in chinese only. Yes, this food tends to a bit on the spicy side - but not too spicy!
(4)
Isabel L.
Our first time to this restaurant for lunch. Waiters were very helpful and friendly. Meals are excellent! We didn't wait for too long for our meals to come up, they served very fast! If you like authentic which yang cuisine, then this is the place! This is not the normal Shichuang food that you normally eat in chinese restaurant. This is authentic! 好åƒçš„å››å·èœï¼Œå¦‚果您喜æ¡åƒéº»è¾£ï¼Œä¸€å®šè¦ä¾†é€™è£¡ï¼ è€é—†èªªå†éŽå¹¾å€‹ç¦®æ‹œé‚„有北京烤鴨åƒå“ªï¼å¤ªæ£’了ï¼
(5)
Sam P.
I came here with a Chinese colleague of mine for lunch. It is a bit of a 'hole in the wall' kind of place (i.e. not much ambiance), and it is pretty small (10-12 tables). But the food is very good! Authentic Chinese served 'family style'. They do not have traditional American Chinese dishes. Rather, they have several meat dishes, and a couple of vegetable dishes, and they come in large portions that are meant to be shared with the table. Prices were a moderate. I will be back!
(4)
Michael T.
I have eaten at many, many of those run-of-the-mill Chinese food places in my lifetime. You know, the kind that are on virtually every corner? I went to this place expecting to get that kind of quality, taste, selection but I left with sooo much more than I could have expected!! For the record, I didn't Yelp this place before going so I didn't exactly know they had a wider selection than the "American Chinese" menu from which I ordered. Even though I picked a regular dinner item, the food was NOT the same as those other places, it was absolutely delicious. Not only were the spices and flavors more authentic, but the quality was just above the rest. The dumplings aren't filled with that weird light brown pork paste - instead, there are what I think are chives, the pork is chopped and the outcome is a flavorful, light and airy dumpling - even fried! The General Tso's chicken has REAL, big pieces of chili pepper with it! That is a first. The chicken is not overly breaded and the sauce is actually really spicy. So perfect. We also had the Hot and Sour soup. I knew this place was different the moment I opened the container because instead of that weird, clear "gel"-like consistency of typical Hot and Sour soups, this one was dark and brown and decidedly missing that odd gelatinous feel to it. I get Hot and Sour soup every time I eat Chinese and this was without a doubt the best one I've had. I will order this again and again! The fried chicken wings are small compared to other places, but way less battered (if at all) and pretty cheap at $6.50 for 10. As for the staff, they were very helpful and courteous. The waitress took the time to figure out exactly what we wanted despite a bit of a communication barrier. I would prefer that to someone who just gives up and gets our order wrong. The owner is really awesome and was out there making sure everything was running smoothly. Overall I really enjoyed the experience and I plan on going back to try their "Chinese" menu. I'll come prepared with what I want and maybe make a few friends in there who can make suggestions! I saw a crawfish dish that looked phenomenal and will totally be getting it next time. Will update!
(5)
William L.
I don't know how this place gets good reviews. I like traditional Chinese food but the people here just treat you like a outsider. They don't really have a broad range of chinese food and the place looks like it's overdue for a inspection.
(2)
Jason W.
If you're craving authentic Chinese food near FIU, Dragon 1 is one of the best in Miami-Dade. Opened up only a month ago, this place serves up hearty Chinese food for a reasonable price. Not the greasy, overly salty stuff you find in most other places in Miami. It's always a good sign when you go to a Chinese restaurant and find that most of the tables are occupied by students from China. The owner is from Tianjin, China, and has lived in the U.S. for 14 years. He's very friendly if you can talk to him in Chinese. This place was recommended to me by a friend of a friend, and if I lived closer to this area, I would definitely choose this restaurant as a regular place to get my Chinese food fix. Definitely worth the drive, however. I recommend the mapou tofu, and if you're feeling adventurous, the crawfish. The kebabs are exactly how I remember it tasting at a Xinjiang restaurant in Beijing. If you don't like spicy foods, be sure to clear that with your waiter beforehand since some of the food can be spicy. If you don't understand the menu, you could always point to a dish you like from someone else's table :). A great place to make your Chinese friends take you so you can get a taste of what some of the food is like in China.
(4)
Krys P.
This place specializes in Sichuan cuisine and offer many of its signature dishes, like tea smoked duck, twice cooked pork, cold beef tripe, mouth-watering chicken, chili fried chicken, beer duck, mapo tofu, kung pao chicken and more. The dishes are on the small side, and best served family style. Be warned that Sichuan food is known for its spiciness, and not just spicy, but ma-la, numbing spicy. Sichuanese peppercorn has this special effect that will gives you a tinkling, numbing sensation. Which can be totally addictive like crack... - The cabbage looks bland, simply stir-fried with a hint of salt and chili pepper but is addictively delicious. - Lamb skewers are $2 each; the meat is a little mushy but flavorful with a good kick. - Spicy smoked tea duck comes on a bed of fiery red chili pepper. Slightly on the dry side. - Beer duck, stewed in a rich broth, is rather spicy but very delicious. - Huà guŠròu, twice cooked pork belly, is another winner with crispy but not greasy pork belly with bell peppers. - Sichuan jelly is some white jelly (made with rice and bean flour) with cucumber, swimming in a sauce of chili, green onion, peanut and garlic. So delcious! - Hand torn chicken was just okay, probably won't order again. - Clay pot ribs has a few chunks of ribs atop napa cabbage and bean threads and taste rather bland by comparison, its only virtue being the only non-spicy oasis in an ocean of chili oil. Yup, Sichuenese is known for its fiery spice. If you can't handle it, be careful what you order. - Squid with green bell pepper - would like more pepper. Squid was chewy. - Fried croaker: a plate of fried whole fishes, about 4 or 5 inches long. You can eat the whole thing except the head. I like it overall though the croaker can sometimes taste a little fishy. - Cumin Lamb: tasty with good spice. - Water Boiled Fish: Don't let the word "water" fool you. The fish is swimming in red chili oil, not water. Fish is tender and you'll keep eaten in spite of your swollen lips. - Peking Duck: a plate of roasted duck, sliced mostly skin with a little meat, is eaten along with scallion, cucumber and sweet bean sauce wrapped inside thin crepes. The leftover duck is used in a soup. They slice the duck inside, so without the table-side show, $40 seems rather steep for a plate of duck skin and a soup. Authentic restaurants in Beijing uses fruit tree wood, so you're missing some nuance of flavor, but the crepe and the presentation is really authentic. Needs to pre-order. We enjoyed the dinner so much we came back on a Sat afternoon for lunch. Walk in at 11:30, half hour after opening, they are still mopping the floor and there are trays of dirty dishes from the night before. We try ordering the handmade dumpling, are told they sold out last night. Plan B and C come back with the same reply. We end up with the beef noodles and pork veggie bun. The buns were microwaved, not steamed, as evident by patches of dry dough. I definitely felt like I'm helping them clear out left over. Brisket could be more tender and I am disappointed that the restaurant doesn't make it own noodles as most Northern Chinese places do. All in all, ok lunch, great dinner.
(4)
Iris C.
I was recommend by my boyfriend's dad to eat at this place. I have been here about 3 times. This place is very authentic and it serves Northern Chinese cuisine. It is unlike most Chinese restaurant in S. Fl that serves mainly Cantonese style dishes. The first time I came here, it was with a very big group, and we literally ordered what seemed like the whole entire menu. All the dishes are very flavorful and different from what i normally have. You know a Chinese restaurant is authentic and tasty, when you see it filled with Asians. The authentic Chinese menu is written in Chinese, so if you don't can't read it, it's best to look over at the neighboring tables and see what appeals to you, or ask the waiter/waitress for their recommendation. They also have a American-Chinese menu that is written in English for those who are unwilling or not really to try real authentic food. The service there is decent, the restaurant is pretty small,so if you come with a big group, it's best to let them know ahead of time. The group of people that i went with, expected everybody to speak somewhat perfect English. So, before coming here, you must understand that majority of the workers do not speak perfect English, therefore, you must be patient and understanding. I absolutely fell in love with one dish. Their beef noodle soup is different from what i normally have, and their noodles are awesome. its not the thick cut flat noodles, but instead it looks like Chinese lasagna looking noodles. The texture is chewy of the noodles allows it to absorb the flavorful soup. Plus, the noodle dish was only $7!! I also had this dish that looks like stir fry chinese bacon, with black bean sauce. It was delicious and spicy. ***If you cannot handle spicy food, you should let them know, because their level of spicy is not your average tabasco sauce, but rather pure hot oil from fresh hot peppers. ***
(4)
Donna W.
Based off of the other reviews me and my friends decided to try Dragon 1 Restaurant. I have to say I was disappointed because I was asking for the Beef Noodle Soup and they told me they did not have it on the menu. We were given the "English" menu and it is true there is a Chinese Menu for the patrons who are obviously "Chinese". I ordered the Mongolian Beef, and my friends ordered Boneless Ribs, and Shrimp LoMein. I feel like I was cheated out of an experience. The Chinese Patrons had big bowls of food and it did look delicious, but I have no idea. The English menu was just like all the others. Very disappointed and I feel discriminated against because I'm American. Maybe they should consider adding photos of the different plates. We don't all have a Chinese friend to translate for us.
(2)
Gus M.
I give it five stars for the food, the service can be better, but the food is worth the service. I've never been to China, but I'm sure the authentic style of North China is on target. We had a large sampling of the menu, Spicy chicken, spicy stew pot, spicy lamb, fish dish, steamed cabbage, Beef tripe, Pork belly, and some other things, stew pot was my favorite, but it was all awesome. Can't wait to go back to try the duck. Forget American Chinese food, try the authentic stuff.
(5)
ZS G.
This place was recommended to me by a friend who has been there three times. It is the first Northern China Cuisine place I've been to. Most items are spicy, even if you ask for no spice (they are known for their spicy food). The authentic Chinese menu is super authentic. This place is not good for those who are no willing to try new items/way of cooking. This place, compared to other authentic Chinese restaurants nearby, is very different in the way their food is prepared and the spices they use. I ordered the beef noodle dish, duck in the gold pot, chicken wing in ceramic hot pot, bok choy, mopo tofu, intestine with hot pepper stir fry. WARNING: if you get the duck dish, it might be a little "bone-y"; you will probably not get the duck breast part. Overall all dishes were really good and the flavor was great. The noodles in the beef dish is chewier than the other types of noodles. It seems very homemade. Mopo tofu is average, it had a nice flavor but isn't a "must order dish". The chicken wing was very flavorful and spicy; it's more dry than sauce-like. I will definitely try this place again and bring my parents.
(4)
Dorby D.
Spicy sichuan in Miami! Only one spot! authentic. Get ready to sweat!
(4)
Ji Z.
The most authentic Chinese Sichuan food in Miami. Highly recommended.
(5)
Rosie C.
This place is a dump! My husband and I were looking for a Chinese restaurant in our neighborhood. We were going to check out the Chinese guy restaurant down the street but they were closed on a Wednesdays. We drove down a block and saw this place. From the outside it looked decent but like with everything looks can be deceiving. We ordered crab rangoons and egg rolls for appetizers. Once they arrived, the egg rolls were dark gray and the rangoons were card board there was no sign of cheese or crab, their frying oil must be so old it's scary. We should have left right then and there but we decided to wait for our main course and see. I ordered orange chicken which that's not what I got, they brought me what looked like sweet and sour chicken but just the fried chicken, no sauce. I asked the server if that was orange chicken, she looked at me confused and went back in the kitchen and brought me what looked and tasted like simple syrup. No one in this place speaks English which is expected in my neighborhood being the majority of the population is Hispanic but the Chinese too? The fact that I had to reapet crab rangoons 3 times while pointing it at the menu, she still didn't know what I was trying to order. My husband ordered the beef lo mein which he managed to eat just some of the noodles because he said the beef tasted like old meat, you might as well eat shoe leather cause it was the same. I asked for soy sauce for my chicken and she brought me old vinegar in a soy sauce bottle which when I poured on my food it stunk so bad I almost puked, it was old vinegar. I'm scared to know what their kitchen looks like. The little bit we managed to eat came right out when we got home, it was not good. I hope this place gets shopped by dirt dining or health department because no one deserves garbage food like this. Unacceptable!
(1)
Olivia G.
This is the most authentic Chinese restaurant in Miami. My Chinese friend took me here right after they opened a few months ago and I fell in love. I have been back probably once a week ever since. I always get a noodle dish, zhajiangmian, niuroumian or dalumian, since they are completely irresistible. It is very close to FIU and most of the people who eat here are Chinese FIU students. This is definitely not another American-Chinese restaurant!
(5)
Paul H.
great people. Great restaurant. Gan Guo Ji is amazing. The owner is amazing. If u r a Chinese. U will fall in love with this restaurant.
(5)
Ethan Y.
Wow. Finally an authentic Szechuan restaurant with very reasonable prices and great spicy dishes yo my taste. I would definitely try the fish soups! I highly recommend it. I wish they put ice in their water though.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
Jorge B.
The food was very tasty and the service was pretty good. The only complaint was that I had trouble getting across that I like my Sichuan food extremely spicy. Eventually they brought me some excellent chili in oil. I will go back just for that chili. The place was full and I was the only non-Chinese in the joint. The place is a little dirty but the food is worth the visit. If you like true Sichuan then order off the second menu you have to ask for if you are not Chinese.
(4)Regan L.
Awesome restaurant, best Chinese food I've had since coming to Miami. Very authentic dishes, my favorite is the pork and tomato with eggs. The lamb skewers, crabs and Peking duck are also incredible! The staff are friendly and very helpful. Highly recommended and a personal favorite in Miami!!
(5)Andrew M.
Fantastic mapu tofu, and i love a lot of their dishes. It is a bit small, and the service is not always great, but the good is still really quite good. Do NOT go here for the typical american faire of chinese food, this is not the place for that, go for the sichuan style food for sure
(4)Arturo B.
Authentic Chinese food which is SO MUCH BETTER than the usual 'american'. After visiting China this summer, I have been looking for the real deal in Miami and thankfully found Dragon 1. Most of the patrons visiting are from the motherland - which is ALWAYS a great sign. Ask for the Chinese menu (with english translation) and be adventurous. Order different things. Let them show you what real Chinese food is. Adventurous souls will enjoy dinner here. Can't wait to be back and enjoy some more.
(5)Melody T.
I cannot figure out how this place gets such high reviews. Maybe their food is generally executed better than our experience. I was so excited to discover that Miami finally has some authentic Chinese food, and was pleased to find a menu with dishes that reflected it. So what went wrong? We came in at 5:30 pm, and tried to order no less than 4 dishes (in mandarin)- all of which we were told they ran out of. No problem. I quickly scanned the menu and decided on sautéed cabbage, beef brisket with napa cabbage, and double cooked pork. Our food came... And this is where it got really really bad. Strike 1: beef brisket/tendon dish- the meat was completely inedible due to the fact that it was not cooked long enough. The tendon was so hard and chewy that we spat it out, eating only the tough beef surrounding it. This dish, if cooked properly, is delicious, with soft tendon and melt in your mouth meat. I have never made such a horrible rendition of it myself, much less ordered it at a restaurant. Strike 2: double cooked pork- again with the poor execution. The pork belly was overcooked to such jerky like consistency that even the fat surrounding it could not save its texture. It was also way too salty. Strike 3: remember when they told us they were out of all those dishes? One of them was the beef noodle soup I saw being placed on the table of a couple who arrived 30 min after we placed our order. And so i left thanking my stars that I do not live in this city anymore, and will be hightailing it back to Rockville, MD for some real food soon. End Note: the two stars was for the cabbage. It was delicious and I highly recommend you order it.
(2)Marcus Z.
One of the first things I noticed since I came to the States almost 4 years ago is that all the early Chinese immigrants (before 1990s) are from far south China, and all the typical Chinese stereotypes and Chinese food are associated with south Chinese people from 1 to 2 provinces(out of 32). As a north Chinese guy, it is nearly painful for me not to be able to find Chinese restaurants that present food that taste like home. But it seems that, the pain is over after I found this place, as the chef is from north China! I ordered Tianjin pancake, which is a very popular breakfast for north Chinese. The flavor is very good, although not exactly what I used to have, I am still really satisfied. I also ordered the spicy pot, which is very good as well. The Chinese barbecue also tastes great. They also offer Beijing duck, but you have to call ahead of time for them to prepare. I will definitely come back for more.
(5)Mia H.
I am from Sichuan, so I thought I was in position to judge the authenticity of their food. I was surprised they offer lamb skewers. I went there twice, the food was okay-- I could have given 4 stars but the service just wasn't good. The servers were not attentive AT ALL. I was never greeted with a smile. I told the server to bring me a soda, but I never received my drink, and they brought me a check with a charge of soda on it. tl;dr: Food is OKAY; service should be improved.
(3)Diane H.
So gooooooddd!! I've been here several times and I always have my roommate order for me since she is Chinese. Though I never have any idea what she ordered, it's ALWAYS good. Some of my favs are the sesame noodles, noodles with minced pork, twice fried pork, garlic bok choy and chili pepper chicken. If anything, their chicken in chili oil can be more flavorful, but the chicken is still very tender. They also serve a variety of Chinese drinks to make your meal even more authentic. I also love how the owner can always be found mingling with customers and even sharing a beer with them. My favorite Chinese restaurant since I've moved here from CA :)
(5)Claudia J.
Authentic Szechuan food, mom & pop operation. Don't expect much!! they might sometimes forget to bring you something, but it seems they are short staffed. Small place that fills fast! See pictures please. The cabbage, chicken, pork belly was yummi, lamb stick... all of it, super yummi. Better know what you want to order, menu is in chinese only. Yes, this food tends to a bit on the spicy side - but not too spicy!
(4)Isabel L.
Our first time to this restaurant for lunch. Waiters were very helpful and friendly. Meals are excellent! We didn't wait for too long for our meals to come up, they served very fast! If you like authentic which yang cuisine, then this is the place! This is not the normal Shichuang food that you normally eat in chinese restaurant. This is authentic! 好åƒçš„å››å·èœï¼Œå¦‚果您喜æ¡åƒéº»è¾£ï¼Œä¸€å®šè¦ä¾†é€™è£¡ï¼ è€é—†èªªå†éŽå¹¾å€‹ç¦®æ‹œé‚„有北京烤鴨åƒå“ªï¼å¤ªæ£’了ï¼
(5)Sam P.
I came here with a Chinese colleague of mine for lunch. It is a bit of a 'hole in the wall' kind of place (i.e. not much ambiance), and it is pretty small (10-12 tables). But the food is very good! Authentic Chinese served 'family style'. They do not have traditional American Chinese dishes. Rather, they have several meat dishes, and a couple of vegetable dishes, and they come in large portions that are meant to be shared with the table. Prices were a moderate. I will be back!
(4)Michael T.
I have eaten at many, many of those run-of-the-mill Chinese food places in my lifetime. You know, the kind that are on virtually every corner? I went to this place expecting to get that kind of quality, taste, selection but I left with sooo much more than I could have expected!! For the record, I didn't Yelp this place before going so I didn't exactly know they had a wider selection than the "American Chinese" menu from which I ordered. Even though I picked a regular dinner item, the food was NOT the same as those other places, it was absolutely delicious. Not only were the spices and flavors more authentic, but the quality was just above the rest. The dumplings aren't filled with that weird light brown pork paste - instead, there are what I think are chives, the pork is chopped and the outcome is a flavorful, light and airy dumpling - even fried! The General Tso's chicken has REAL, big pieces of chili pepper with it! That is a first. The chicken is not overly breaded and the sauce is actually really spicy. So perfect. We also had the Hot and Sour soup. I knew this place was different the moment I opened the container because instead of that weird, clear "gel"-like consistency of typical Hot and Sour soups, this one was dark and brown and decidedly missing that odd gelatinous feel to it. I get Hot and Sour soup every time I eat Chinese and this was without a doubt the best one I've had. I will order this again and again! The fried chicken wings are small compared to other places, but way less battered (if at all) and pretty cheap at $6.50 for 10. As for the staff, they were very helpful and courteous. The waitress took the time to figure out exactly what we wanted despite a bit of a communication barrier. I would prefer that to someone who just gives up and gets our order wrong. The owner is really awesome and was out there making sure everything was running smoothly. Overall I really enjoyed the experience and I plan on going back to try their "Chinese" menu. I'll come prepared with what I want and maybe make a few friends in there who can make suggestions! I saw a crawfish dish that looked phenomenal and will totally be getting it next time. Will update!
(5)William L.
I don't know how this place gets good reviews. I like traditional Chinese food but the people here just treat you like a outsider. They don't really have a broad range of chinese food and the place looks like it's overdue for a inspection.
(2)Jason W.
If you're craving authentic Chinese food near FIU, Dragon 1 is one of the best in Miami-Dade. Opened up only a month ago, this place serves up hearty Chinese food for a reasonable price. Not the greasy, overly salty stuff you find in most other places in Miami. It's always a good sign when you go to a Chinese restaurant and find that most of the tables are occupied by students from China. The owner is from Tianjin, China, and has lived in the U.S. for 14 years. He's very friendly if you can talk to him in Chinese. This place was recommended to me by a friend of a friend, and if I lived closer to this area, I would definitely choose this restaurant as a regular place to get my Chinese food fix. Definitely worth the drive, however. I recommend the mapou tofu, and if you're feeling adventurous, the crawfish. The kebabs are exactly how I remember it tasting at a Xinjiang restaurant in Beijing. If you don't like spicy foods, be sure to clear that with your waiter beforehand since some of the food can be spicy. If you don't understand the menu, you could always point to a dish you like from someone else's table :). A great place to make your Chinese friends take you so you can get a taste of what some of the food is like in China.
(4)Krys P.
This place specializes in Sichuan cuisine and offer many of its signature dishes, like tea smoked duck, twice cooked pork, cold beef tripe, mouth-watering chicken, chili fried chicken, beer duck, mapo tofu, kung pao chicken and more. The dishes are on the small side, and best served family style. Be warned that Sichuan food is known for its spiciness, and not just spicy, but ma-la, numbing spicy. Sichuanese peppercorn has this special effect that will gives you a tinkling, numbing sensation. Which can be totally addictive like crack... - The cabbage looks bland, simply stir-fried with a hint of salt and chili pepper but is addictively delicious. - Lamb skewers are $2 each; the meat is a little mushy but flavorful with a good kick. - Spicy smoked tea duck comes on a bed of fiery red chili pepper. Slightly on the dry side. - Beer duck, stewed in a rich broth, is rather spicy but very delicious. - Huà guŠròu, twice cooked pork belly, is another winner with crispy but not greasy pork belly with bell peppers. - Sichuan jelly is some white jelly (made with rice and bean flour) with cucumber, swimming in a sauce of chili, green onion, peanut and garlic. So delcious! - Hand torn chicken was just okay, probably won't order again. - Clay pot ribs has a few chunks of ribs atop napa cabbage and bean threads and taste rather bland by comparison, its only virtue being the only non-spicy oasis in an ocean of chili oil. Yup, Sichuenese is known for its fiery spice. If you can't handle it, be careful what you order. - Squid with green bell pepper - would like more pepper. Squid was chewy. - Fried croaker: a plate of fried whole fishes, about 4 or 5 inches long. You can eat the whole thing except the head. I like it overall though the croaker can sometimes taste a little fishy. - Cumin Lamb: tasty with good spice. - Water Boiled Fish: Don't let the word "water" fool you. The fish is swimming in red chili oil, not water. Fish is tender and you'll keep eaten in spite of your swollen lips. - Peking Duck: a plate of roasted duck, sliced mostly skin with a little meat, is eaten along with scallion, cucumber and sweet bean sauce wrapped inside thin crepes. The leftover duck is used in a soup. They slice the duck inside, so without the table-side show, $40 seems rather steep for a plate of duck skin and a soup. Authentic restaurants in Beijing uses fruit tree wood, so you're missing some nuance of flavor, but the crepe and the presentation is really authentic. Needs to pre-order. We enjoyed the dinner so much we came back on a Sat afternoon for lunch. Walk in at 11:30, half hour after opening, they are still mopping the floor and there are trays of dirty dishes from the night before. We try ordering the handmade dumpling, are told they sold out last night. Plan B and C come back with the same reply. We end up with the beef noodles and pork veggie bun. The buns were microwaved, not steamed, as evident by patches of dry dough. I definitely felt like I'm helping them clear out left over. Brisket could be more tender and I am disappointed that the restaurant doesn't make it own noodles as most Northern Chinese places do. All in all, ok lunch, great dinner.
(4)Iris C.
I was recommend by my boyfriend's dad to eat at this place. I have been here about 3 times. This place is very authentic and it serves Northern Chinese cuisine. It is unlike most Chinese restaurant in S. Fl that serves mainly Cantonese style dishes. The first time I came here, it was with a very big group, and we literally ordered what seemed like the whole entire menu. All the dishes are very flavorful and different from what i normally have. You know a Chinese restaurant is authentic and tasty, when you see it filled with Asians. The authentic Chinese menu is written in Chinese, so if you don't can't read it, it's best to look over at the neighboring tables and see what appeals to you, or ask the waiter/waitress for their recommendation. They also have a American-Chinese menu that is written in English for those who are unwilling or not really to try real authentic food. The service there is decent, the restaurant is pretty small,so if you come with a big group, it's best to let them know ahead of time. The group of people that i went with, expected everybody to speak somewhat perfect English. So, before coming here, you must understand that majority of the workers do not speak perfect English, therefore, you must be patient and understanding. I absolutely fell in love with one dish. Their beef noodle soup is different from what i normally have, and their noodles are awesome. its not the thick cut flat noodles, but instead it looks like Chinese lasagna looking noodles. The texture is chewy of the noodles allows it to absorb the flavorful soup. Plus, the noodle dish was only $7!! I also had this dish that looks like stir fry chinese bacon, with black bean sauce. It was delicious and spicy. ***If you cannot handle spicy food, you should let them know, because their level of spicy is not your average tabasco sauce, but rather pure hot oil from fresh hot peppers. ***
(4)Donna W.
Based off of the other reviews me and my friends decided to try Dragon 1 Restaurant. I have to say I was disappointed because I was asking for the Beef Noodle Soup and they told me they did not have it on the menu. We were given the "English" menu and it is true there is a Chinese Menu for the patrons who are obviously "Chinese". I ordered the Mongolian Beef, and my friends ordered Boneless Ribs, and Shrimp LoMein. I feel like I was cheated out of an experience. The Chinese Patrons had big bowls of food and it did look delicious, but I have no idea. The English menu was just like all the others. Very disappointed and I feel discriminated against because I'm American. Maybe they should consider adding photos of the different plates. We don't all have a Chinese friend to translate for us.
(2)Gus M.
I give it five stars for the food, the service can be better, but the food is worth the service. I've never been to China, but I'm sure the authentic style of North China is on target. We had a large sampling of the menu, Spicy chicken, spicy stew pot, spicy lamb, fish dish, steamed cabbage, Beef tripe, Pork belly, and some other things, stew pot was my favorite, but it was all awesome. Can't wait to go back to try the duck. Forget American Chinese food, try the authentic stuff.
(5)ZS G.
This place was recommended to me by a friend who has been there three times. It is the first Northern China Cuisine place I've been to. Most items are spicy, even if you ask for no spice (they are known for their spicy food). The authentic Chinese menu is super authentic. This place is not good for those who are no willing to try new items/way of cooking. This place, compared to other authentic Chinese restaurants nearby, is very different in the way their food is prepared and the spices they use. I ordered the beef noodle dish, duck in the gold pot, chicken wing in ceramic hot pot, bok choy, mopo tofu, intestine with hot pepper stir fry. WARNING: if you get the duck dish, it might be a little "bone-y"; you will probably not get the duck breast part. Overall all dishes were really good and the flavor was great. The noodles in the beef dish is chewier than the other types of noodles. It seems very homemade. Mopo tofu is average, it had a nice flavor but isn't a "must order dish". The chicken wing was very flavorful and spicy; it's more dry than sauce-like. I will definitely try this place again and bring my parents.
(4)Dorby D.
Spicy sichuan in Miami! Only one spot! authentic. Get ready to sweat!
(4)Ji Z.
The most authentic Chinese Sichuan food in Miami. Highly recommended.
(5)Rosie C.
This place is a dump! My husband and I were looking for a Chinese restaurant in our neighborhood. We were going to check out the Chinese guy restaurant down the street but they were closed on a Wednesdays. We drove down a block and saw this place. From the outside it looked decent but like with everything looks can be deceiving. We ordered crab rangoons and egg rolls for appetizers. Once they arrived, the egg rolls were dark gray and the rangoons were card board there was no sign of cheese or crab, their frying oil must be so old it's scary. We should have left right then and there but we decided to wait for our main course and see. I ordered orange chicken which that's not what I got, they brought me what looked like sweet and sour chicken but just the fried chicken, no sauce. I asked the server if that was orange chicken, she looked at me confused and went back in the kitchen and brought me what looked and tasted like simple syrup. No one in this place speaks English which is expected in my neighborhood being the majority of the population is Hispanic but the Chinese too? The fact that I had to reapet crab rangoons 3 times while pointing it at the menu, she still didn't know what I was trying to order. My husband ordered the beef lo mein which he managed to eat just some of the noodles because he said the beef tasted like old meat, you might as well eat shoe leather cause it was the same. I asked for soy sauce for my chicken and she brought me old vinegar in a soy sauce bottle which when I poured on my food it stunk so bad I almost puked, it was old vinegar. I'm scared to know what their kitchen looks like. The little bit we managed to eat came right out when we got home, it was not good. I hope this place gets shopped by dirt dining or health department because no one deserves garbage food like this. Unacceptable!
(1)Olivia G.
This is the most authentic Chinese restaurant in Miami. My Chinese friend took me here right after they opened a few months ago and I fell in love. I have been back probably once a week ever since. I always get a noodle dish, zhajiangmian, niuroumian or dalumian, since they are completely irresistible. It is very close to FIU and most of the people who eat here are Chinese FIU students. This is definitely not another American-Chinese restaurant!
(5)Paul H.
great people. Great restaurant. Gan Guo Ji is amazing. The owner is amazing. If u r a Chinese. U will fall in love with this restaurant.
(5)Ethan Y.
Wow. Finally an authentic Szechuan restaurant with very reasonable prices and great spicy dishes yo my taste. I would definitely try the fish soups! I highly recommend it. I wish they put ice in their water though.
(4)