When Ami and Rivka Schreiber couldn’t find Kosher Chinese food nearby, they bought a Chinese restaurant and remade it into one that offers the highest quality Chinese food that is also kosher. After renovations and upgrades, Ami, a software developer, and Rivka, a financial planner, opened Holy Chow in March 2018 in the Kemp Mill Shopping Center in Silver Spring. All the chefs at Holy Chow are Chinese with significant experience at traditional Chinese restaurants and, although Ami estimates that 90 percent of his customers keep kosher, many come just because the food is fantastic. It is also more expensive than other Chinese restaurants. “Our prices are higher because costs are higher,” said Ami who explained that, for instance, the price of kosher meat can be three times as high as meat that is not kosher.
Make it a Holiday from Holy Chow
The Holy Chow menu is full of Chinese favorites, including beef with broccoli, sesame chicken and General Tso’s chicken (or General Chow’s, as it’s known at Holy Chow). Everything on the menu is free of MSG and there are plenty of gluten-free and vegetarian options as well. Of course, to keep kosher, there is no pork or shellfish. The restaurant offers takeout, delivery and catering, all of which make it easy to include meals from Holy Chow as part of a holiday celebration at home. At Ami and Rivka’s home this Hanukkah, they’ll make traditional potato latkes with help from their kids (aged 7, 10 and 15) and maybe include some of Ami’s favorite dish from the restaurant: crispy chicken. One of the house specialties, crispy chicken “is a great combination of sweet with a hint of spice,” said Ami who explained that this dish is very popular with his customers. “I’ve yet to find anyone who doesn’t love it,” he said. The Schreiber children prefer the restaurant’s chicken noodle soup. Ami explained, “It’s hearty and they could eat that every day.”
