No one has ever accused the Chinese and Thai restaurants in this country of presenting genuine Chinese or Thai cuisine. Despite the clear Westernization of the dishes they present, dining at such places can be great fun. Following is a list of what I consider the best Chinese-Thai restaurants in the country that are open on weekends. All are appropriate for going with children who are well enough behaved not to embarrass their parents or other diners.

Yin Yang: Sederot Rothschild 64, Tel Aviv. Open daily from 12:30 - 23:00. Tel. 03 5608833. For my money (as it is said), this is the best and most interesting Of all the Chinese restaurants in the country. Even though you can stay with the old standbys such as egg rolls, sweet and sour beef and wonton soup here, it is well worth exploring the more playful dishes such as the chicken salad with litchis, the cold sliced pork with spicy garlic sauce and the spicy cucumber. Also try the Szechuan style calamari, the beef in anise sauce, the deep fried shrimps wrapped in bacon, the crabs in black bean sauce, and the pork with black Chinese mushrooms and any of the reliably good duck dishes. Moderate to expensive.

Ha Sinit Ha Tseuba, In the gas station on the Ramle Bypass road, Ramle.,Open Sunday - Friday 12:00 - 16:00 and 18:30- 24:00 and on Saturday from 12:00 - 24:00.Tel. 08 9233149: Very likely the very best restaurant of this genre in the country. The dim sum are especially good and not to be missed and the soups are all worth trying (my own favorite is the hot and sour fish soup). Try as well the green peppers, eggplants and lettuce filled with meat and rice; the steamed fish in vegetable stock; and any of the dishes based on duck. Prices are reasonable.

HaBayt. Opposite the Lido Beach, Tiberias. Open Fridays 13:00 - 24:00 and Saturday 13:00 - 17:00. Telephone 06: 6725513. Because this attractive restaurant has such an exquisite view of the Kinneret , one can forgive that the menu offers somewhat standard dishes. Best bets here are the good, crisp egg rolls, the fried wonton, the chicken or beef with green peppers, and the chicken with squash. Also worth trying are the hot and sour soup and the Szechuan style beef . Prices are moderate.

Rungsit: Rehov Jabotinsky 2, Jerusalem. Open Sunday - Thursday from 12:00 - 23:30, on Friday until 16:00 and on Saturday from after Shabbat. Telephone 02 5611757. Kosher. Good options are the satai gai ( herbed chicken breast marinated in rice wine and served with peanut sauce), the mi-krob (fried rice noodles in a lightly sweet sauce), the Pad Thai (rice noodles fried together with cubes of chicken, eggs, ground peanuts, bean sprouts and spring onions) and the yam pett, a cold salad that contains an abundance of duck seasoned with lime juice, chili peppers and red onions. Prices are moderate to high.

Siam, Hamat Gader. Open Monday - Saturday 12:00 - 23:00 and on Sundays from 12:00 - 16:00. Tel . 06 6709292: Set above the hot mineral springs and with a lovely view from the windows and terraces, this somewhat kitchy but attractive restaurant offers an interesting mix of Thai and Japanese food. Start off with the good sushi, go on to corn fritters, pastries filled with ground beef and peanuts, and chicken and tofu seasoned with coriander and sesame seeds. Try as well the soup of chicken, lemon grass and coconut milk. If fish is your passion, try the red Saint Peter's fish in tamarindi and lemon sauce or the bass wrapped in banana leaves and steamed with coconut milk. Moderate prices.

© Daniel Rogov