The year of the Dragon is the only animal in the zodiac that is legendary; the luckiest year! So where should you celebrate it this month?  Here are ThriftyHipster's favorite authentic Chinese Restaurants. Please feel free to add your favorites in the comments below!

Mandarin Kitchen

8766 Lyndale Avenue South
Bloomington, MN  55420
-Website-  952-884-5356

Well known for it's great Dim Sum brunch, which is always jam packed on the weekends. This is one of the few places to get a truly authentic experience and cuisine.  Dumplings are their specialty, but the House Special Duck is to die for.  They also have lots of seafood and specialty items you'd never find anywhere else.  Most entrees in the $12-14 Range.

Rainbow Chinese

2739 Nicollet Avenue S
Minneapolis, MN  55408
-Website-  612-870-7084

Rainbow Chinese is one of the original and best authentic Chinese restaurants in Minneapolis. Located at the end of Eat Street, it has received less attention than it deserves lately.  If you're looking for a chef-inspired New Years Celebration (of the Dragon of course) then this is the place! The chef even put together a special menu for the occasion.

 

Little Szechuan

422 University Avenue West (they also have a West End location)
St. Paul, MN  55103
-Website-  651-222-1333

Right at where all the construction begins on University Avenue us one of the Twin Cities best authentic Chinese restaurants from the Szechuan region of course! The best part of Little Szechuan is the way they really highlight their region, with spice and garlic.  Add the smoky-spice and fried garlic to any dish to make it amazing.  Kung Pao, large-slab pork, and green beans are the top picks; all running at around $8.  The spicy/crispy fish is also amazing, crunchy and simple with salt, garlic, spices, and scallion, it's a must try (though my favorite is still the Spicy/Crispy squid at Peninsula).

Ahh, Halloween in the twin cities.  The greatest time of the year in many peoples’ opinions! Corn-mazes, falling maple leaves, and fun activities to keep you busy every day. Now that the Zombie Pub Crawl is over, we thought we’d give you some ideas to stay in the spirit of things.  Here is a list [...]

Last weekend we attended Bye Bye Liver, infamously dubbed the “Twin Cities’ Drinking Play.” I have to say, the only thing disappointing about this show is when it ends 90 minutes after it starts.  The cast is fun and the stories are humorously relate able to seasoned drinkers and bargoers.  The sketches leave you with a familiar [...]