Why go: Diners are more likely to hear “ni hao” than “hello” at this Chinese-Taiwanese hybrid in the new Chinatown of northern Rockville. The bistro lights set a downtown mood, and the house-made noodles and potstickers will make you forget the fare at the usual Chinese takeout joint.

What to get: Steamed pork buns and potsticker dumplings from the dim sum menu; pork-lo-mein-like Shanghai noodles; Hainan rice and chicken, a boneless poached breast with subtle layers of flavor; slow-roasted beef-and-noodle soup with a healthy hit of anise; shredded pork with dry bean curd from the Taiwanese section of the menu.

Best for: Diners open to trying new things—it would be easy to dine here every week for a year and never eat the same dish twice.

Insider tip: Dim sum fans don’t have to wait till the weekend; the menu lists more than a dozen dim sum dishes that can be ordered anytime.

Open daily for lunch and dinner.

>> See all 2009 Cheap Eats restaurants here