Rain Modern Chinese: Experience Exquisite Dim Sum and Cantonese Cuisine in Albany

Rain Modern Chinese is one of the posher establishments in its immediate vicinity of Lark Street. But excluding their specials, their standard menu is actually reasonably priced, especially given the size of the portions. The Crab Rangoon was crispy and the steamed pork buns were excellent. The beef with string beans, while tasty, was on the oily side. The service is attentive and accommodating.

Considering we’re not in New York City or Boston, this Chinese restaurant is solid. The Peking Duck service was good. Sure, the skin could’ve been a bit crispier and the carving a little more refined, but honestly, just having it on the menu out here is already a win. Flavors 7.5-8 out of 10 if I’m being strict. The soup dumplings had a thicker skin than usual, which we actually prefer, though we know many might not. Overall, the value for money was solid—it wasn’t ridiculously expensive—and all the staff were warm and welcoming. Our server in particular was super friendly and made the experience even better.

Excellent service, drinks were great. Best Chinese food we've been able to find in the capital region.

I was looking for honey wal nut shrimp similar to Panda Express .. And the number one recommended spot to try was Rain Modern Chinese right there on lark street I called in my order on a quiet evening . I was greeted as soon as I walk into the establishment. Everybody I came in contact with was helpful and checked on me while I waited Iv never been here before so I wasn’t sure what to expect First thing first This is not your typical cheap Chinese restaurant  and you can definitely tell everything was fresh and made with high-quality ingredients. The meal had a fried rice Upcharge. But it was so worth it I think that’s the best fried rice i have ever tried And the honey walnut shrimp so so good and crunchy . And the shrimp were huge No complaints on this end

A lot of pricey stuff here and some outright overpriced items (looking at you bao, and some of those lunch specials), but there are also some good deals hidden in the menu, which is what I come here for. I stick to the cheaper stuff so this review only applies to that. I haven't tried any of their premium dishes. But as far as the soup and meat are concerned, they're everything I could ask for at this price. I recommend their "Cantonese Style" Wonton Soup. Other than the broth there's nothing different about it, and it's definitely at the upper limit of what anyone should pay for wonton soup, but it has a nice shoyu broth and the dumplings are packed with meat (far more than your typical wispy takeout dumpling). The amount of soy sauce in the broth varies depending on who's making it, but it's always good. The boneless ribs and their sauce vary quite a bit in quality depending on the night, but they can be great on a good night. Definitely seems they come out of the fridge though (sometimes there are some ice cold pockets). You can also buy garlic sauce on the side. It's... not bad. Incredibly oily and surprisingly bland for something full of garlic (strong smell but less flavor). You'd probably be better off buying lao gan ma or something at the store. That's about all that can be said. Last but not least: I've tried so many places with reviews raving about crab rangoons that turned out to be junk, so I was reluctant to shell out the bucks to try another. But after enough solid experiences here I finally tried their crab rangoons, and I can say they are absolutely everything everyone says. Homemade, and actually have crab in them! And they are unsweetened so the sauce actually has a use. And the sauce itself was not overly dense and had a surprising touch of nuance to the flavor; I'm used to run of the mill "sweet and sour sauce." That's not to say this place's sauce is dramatically different, but I appreciated it being a little more balanced and flavorful than the flat orange syrups most places serve. Pairs perfectly with the rangoons. Whoever put together the recipe here knows their way around a rangoon. Overall, can't speak to the pricier items that make up the majority of this place's menu, but for what I get here I am very pleased. Crab Rangoons are absolutely worth it and the Cantonese Wonton Soup is worth the few extra bucks if you're in the mood for something hot but on the lighter side. Judging by the consistency of the ribs, I probably would not go far above that in price. The staff up front were all young part timers, so going by that and the inconsistent preparation, I'd suspect the kitchen is similar. Not sure I'd risk paying big meal bucks for a place without professional staff. But if you stay in the budget range I can recommend Rain wholeheartedly.

Absolutely delicious! First time here and will not be the last! I love beef chow fun, and it's hard to come by. They have it on their $12 lunch special & I was phenomenal. Everything was great service as well!!

Everything was so tasty but the tofu dishes were especially delicious. The soup dumplings, wonton soup, and Shanghai soup dumplings were also prepared well. I love that the places wasn’t so crowded either. Very pleasant.

Wife and I had a late dinner here and the food was fantastic, the service was impeccable, and the atmosphere was serene. We were actually enjoying the drinks and the company so much we didnt realize it was close to closing time. Even then the staff was kind, patient and sweet. I would definitely recommend eating here. We know we'll be back.