Dinho Chinese Restaurant

I had heard rave reviews about Frank Ma's on various blogs and from several friends so my expectations were set pretty high. However, the bar did get set lower yesterday b/c I had read a blog about the chef leaving earlier this month and Frank/wife leaving at the end of this month ... so I knew I may not get the same experience like so many other raving fans. Either my friend & I came on an off day or maybe the transition has already started. We both agreed we wouldn't come again. First, there was an uncomfortable vibe about the place. You definitely didn't feel like you were in Atlanta anymore. It didn't help that we got a lot of stares from the staff & Chinese customers. I think some nice music in the background could've helped ... but instead they had Chinese TV. We first ordered the soup filled dumplings but unfortunately got them after dinner b/c they were delivered to the wrong table. They were actually pretty good - better than Chef Liu's on Buford Hwy. We also ordered the onion pancakes b/c they had gotten great reviews - but they didn't taste fresh and they were hard like they had probably been sitting in the kitchen all day. We also ordered the "mapo tofu" ... that was just ok. We had tasted better. Maybe we ordered the wrong dishes. Maybe Frank/wife have already left. Whatever the reason, this restaurant won't make my list of favorite Chinese restaurants. Favorites for Chinese -- Canton Cooks, Namchunhong, and Canton House. Pros: Soup-filled dumplings Cons: Onion pancakes, mapo tofu, ambience more

i heard about this place thru a creative loafing review and after the description of the pork soup dumplings (or "buns") i had to go. the bf and i were shoppping near buckhead last weekend, and i knew that it wasn't far, so we went for an early dinner. its located in a chinese shopping center, but even at the early hour we weren't the only non-asians in there. the decor is.... well.... you wont forget it. the dining room is atop a 70s style light-up disco floor. what else can you say? the owner frank ma visits all of the tables along with his wife, service is attentive and the food....... SO GOOD. we got the soup dumplings along with the pan fried dumplings (which the boyfriend liked better b/c of the crispy bottom), and a scallion-filled pancake. the pancake wasn't for me, but i watched a toddler at the next table devour half of one by himself. then we shared a three-cup chicken, which had a lightly sweet, lightly spicy sauce spotted with whole garlic cloves and basil. unlike any chinese chicken dish i've ever had. be warned--- when dishes like this come "bone-in" that means that it is chopped up into small pieces, then cooked, so there are small pieces of bone you have to eat around (the bf called it 'nawing on chicken knuckles'). also, they dont have a beer/wine license, so its BYOB (which is a plus to some). will i go back? for the dumplings alone, yes--- but also to explore other entrees and find some more favorites. this place doesnt have amazing decor or located in a cool neighborhood or a place to be seen, but if you have friends who love food too, they'll think youre a genius for introducing them to dinho. Pros: dumplings, huge menu, great service Cons: crazy 70s dance floor (or was that a pro.....?) more