There is a certain utilitarian charm to Fortune House, one of Broadway’s heavily patronized Chinese restaurants, Handily situated across the street from Target, this cavernous establishment has a beige, no-frills ambience—it’s basically a sea of tables serviced by a darting, efficient crew of waiters. There are two bright spots, however: One is the glittery, iridescent chandelier hanging over diners; the other is a bright swath of red on the back wall, showcasing two intricate dragon sculptures. With a big menu to peruse, however, you won’t spend much time contemplating Fortune House’s décor. Concentrate, instead, on the clay pot dishes (try the intriguing clay pot lamb stew with dried bean curd) or the extensive offering of seafood items, from the baked filet of rock cod with spicy salt to the sliced abalone with black mushrooms. If you’re eschewing meat, Fortune House also has several vegetarian options, such as a Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce and a colorful vegetable fried rice. Don’t miss the super-plump, tasty pot stickers (at six to an order, they’re quite a bang for your buck) or the refreshingly un-greasy pork chow mein noodles, with their generous amount of meat. The kitchen also offers up quite a poultry repertoire, including a light and pleasing almond chicken, Peking duck (which you must order ahead of time) and lemon squab. This is a wonderful place to dine with a big group—that way, you can order lots of different dishes and share them. — Kira O'Donnell

Insider tip: Try the economical “family dinner” menu option. At $10.50 per person, it includes 7 to 10 different dishes (depending on the size of the party).

Reservations: Recommended for parties of 8 or more

Payment methods: MasterCard and Visa only

Alcohol: Wine and beer

Corkage fee: No corkage fee

Hours: Lunch 11 a.m.–3 p.m. daily
Dinner 3–10 p.m. daily