MIDVALE. This super-friendly Chinese eatery offers a variety of wonderful Szechuan and Cantonese dishes, including chicken, pork, and seafood options served with fresh vegetables. Specialties include steamed fish, stir-fried seafood, walnut shrimp, and honey nectar pork. Classics like sesame chicken and sweet and sour pork are also available. A word of advice: when the menu says "hot," it really means "Hot!"

SANDY. Located in Jordan Commons, China Lily has enjoyed a good amount of local and regional acclaim. With its sleek, contemporary interior, friendly waitstaff, and terrific prices, the restaurant is high on the list of the young and trendy crowd. Specialties include chicken and corn egg drop soup, Mongolian beef, and the famous Mandarin Triple Delicacy (evenly-spiced shrimp, scallops, chicken, and vegetables). Beer and wine are available.

DOWNTOWN. An interesting hodge-podge of Japanese and Chinese influences awaits you at this refined downtown restaurant, where the friendly waitstaff and comfortable surroundings earn high marks with regulars. The menu features a variety of teriyaki and tempura options served with fresh vegetables, as well as meat and vegetable egg rolls, moo shu plates, and a few spicy Szechwan entrees. Beer is available.

DOWNTOWN. Few restaurants downtown offer better values for the buck than this casual eatery, whose tempting aroma calls out to passersby day and night. Step in, and you'll notice immediately that Ho Ho does not try to dazzle patrons with kicky decorations and elaborate tables; instead, they place stock in their fabulously-prepared food, and for good reason. The menu features the likes of hot and sour veggies, steamed spareribs smothered in black bean sauce, General Tso's chicken, and broccoli with fresh seafood. Vegetarian options are also available.

HOLLADAY. One of SLC's best deals, this casual Asian eatery offers both a traditional Chinese menu and an attractive sushi bar. Start your meal off with one of their lettuce wraps or an order of fried shrimp; then, move on to something more substantial, like Peking duck, orange-peel beef, eggplant, or Kung Pao shrimp. Since most dishes are served family-style, it's best to come with a group.