Yu Ying Gardens (Formerly Mandarin Gardens) on Shattuck in downtown Berkeley near the old Burger King is a personal favorite. I've been eating there since about 1994 and they have always been consistent, friendly, and super yum! Also, everytime they deliver, they bring extra food. but I think it might be because they've watched my son grow up and he always comes to greet them at the door. :) They're really nice people and my best experiences with restaurants have always been with them.

Anyone have any other recommendations for places that deliver, especially in Berkeley?

My roommates got truly mediocre delivery from King Dong this evening and swore it off.

I really like Chef's Wok for dim sum in Alameda on Webster and I'm a huge fan of Bay Fung Tong Seafood Tea House, 1916 Franklin in Oakland. Both of them it's best to show up at slightly off hours (5 pm for dinner or 11 am for lunch or dim sum), as they have large families eat there regularly.

You're talkin' chinese and you're not talking China Village on Solano?

First, you get weird shit there, like the szechuan eels. I thought it would be slab-o-eel, like unagi, but it's mess of eel, like plate-o-worms. And thousand-chili-chicken. And those really-slow cook pork dishes. And the poorly named "boiled beef", which is astonishingly good (should be called "beef soup with an inch of peppercorns on top".

Second, you get water dumplings in house sauce.

Third, you get the huge guy who looks like Sammo who says "YOU LIKE IT SPICY???" and tells you what to order.

Fourth, it's never crowded, because they have the side room with the big tables.

Fifth, it's cheap. And they have "regular chinese dishes" (American-chinese, like Lemon Chicken, and they're pretty good too.)

Sixth, if you eat enough szechuan peppercorns, you get this strange buzz across your entire skin that lasts for about 24 hours. At least, I do.

Sorry, they don't deliver.

-b

I love Kirin on Solano in North Berkeley. Always wonderful, fast service and good size (but not disgusting) portions.