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Friday, March 29, 2024

Simple and Satisfying

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Anyone who has read this column for any significant length of time knows that I have enjoyed discovering the key differences in the seemingly cookie-cutter restaurants that sell Chinese cuisine.

After a couple of months, I decided to undertake another Far East excursion, this time visiting China King, located in the Eastwood Shopping Center on East 38th Street.

The restaurant is among a handful of stable enterprises that continue to serve as an anchor of the shopping center while other businesses have come and gone.

As far as food goes, China King is perhaps the best kept secret of this particular area, if youā€™re not too judgmental about aesthetics.

Honestly, when you walk in the first time, you might feel a slight urge to do an about-face. The restaurant has an industrial, Soviet look: Mostly bare white walls, a few plain tables clustered together with the most colorful thing around being the menu board. Not really much fancy Asian art, characters or decorations.

However, like most regular working guys, Iā€™m not bothered by lack of dĆ©cor as long as a place is clean, so I decided to go ahead to the counter. Iā€™m very glad I did.

First of all, the lady and the gentleman who greeted me were very friendly, warmly welcomed me to the restaurant, and were very helpful as I explored the menu options. Other staff members were busily preparing what I assume were carryout orders. Still, they managed to have what I requested in a quick and timely manner.

Now on to the most critical matter: the food. Of course, China King provides all the traditional Chinese favorites, from sweet and sour dishes and Kung Pao chicken, to chop suey, egg foo young and fried rice served with beef, chicken or shrimp.

Some notable standout items include the very tasty Moo Shu Wraps, or five pancake style bread pieces with pork, chicken or shrimp; and the Tong Ting shrimp, a special dish from the Lake Tong Ting (or Dongting) region of China which has jumbo shrimp stir-fried with fresh vegetables in a light egg white sauce.

Another standout choice is the Singapore Rice Noodle dish, a Southeastern Asian favorite with thin rice noodles stir-friend with shrimp, chicken, pork and vegetables in a spicy curry sauce.

I opted for one of the dinner combinations, which for $6.95 gives you a main dish served with pork fried rice and an egg roll. I chose General Tsoā€™ chicken as my main entree, and the restaurant prepared a version with plenty of rich flavor and tender, quality chicken.

It occurred to me then that repeat customers donā€™t come here for a date or to impress a business client; they come to pick up a satisfying lunch or a fresh evening treat after a hard day at work. Many customers also call in to get quick delivery orders (note: orders must be at least $10 for delivery.)

China King offers various lunch specials every day, along with items such as a fried special box, which includes a main fried item like chicken wings, crabmeat sticks, sparerib tips, scallops or shrimp with a side of French fries or rice for under $6.

Overall, the service and cuisine at the Eastside China King is impressive. Make a visit or call soon – they are very much worth it.

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