When you hear or see the word “garden,” what thoughts come to your mind?
Maybe a beautiful area of land filled with colorful fruits and vegetables? Or perhaps a nice, peaceful outdoor retreat with pretty flowers?
Honestly, Zheng’s Garden might not be pretty to you, but you will never ever forget the food if you visit.
Many people have probably driven up and down 38th Street for years without noticing this small purple restaurant with the big yellow sign located a few blocks west of the Indiana State Fairgrounds.
Recently, I stopped by shortly after the lunch crowd left to see what I would find in Zheng’s Garden, and ended up leaving satisfied.
Plenty of parking is available at the restaurant, which is helpful during the lunch and dinner rush.
On the other hand, once inside, you might notice that there is not a whole lot of space, with just a few simple booths for patrons to sit in. However, the available seating is very clean, comfortable and neat. Besides, I noticed most of the patrons seemed to call ahead and pick up their orders instead of dining in anyway.
At the counter, I was greeted by a friendly gentleman, perhaps Mr. Zheng, who was helpful in making a selection. We enjoyed a brief, pleasant conversation about the restaurant and a friend from high school I knew who also had the last name Zheng.
Once I selected my entrée, it didn’t take much time at all to get it.
Colorful signs show the wide variety of menu options that are available. Of course, Indianapolis has many independent restaurants that sell traditional Chinese cuisine. Like its competitors, Zheng’s Garden offers classic Chinese favorites such as chop suey, chow mein, General Tso’s chicken, various combinations of food with fried rice and the Happy Family.
However, the key to discovering the differences in these restaurants is tasting how they prepare the classic dishes.
Take, for example, the egg roll, which is perhaps one of the most common menu items. Some egg rolls, as you may know, are crunchy and packed with flavorful ingredients, while others may be greasy, or soft, squishy and bland.
Zheng’s Garden egg rolls taste like they are somehow baked instead of fried. They are light and tasty without oil, kind of like the egg roll answer to baked potato chips.
As far as my main dish was concerned, I debated in my mind about getting my usual options such as pork egg foo young, sweet and sour chicken or beef and broccoli. However, like the singer Keith Sweat, my taste buds were pleading for a different, flavorful and stronger tasting treat. I decided to go with the curry beef with vegetables, keeping my antacid on standby.
It was a pleasant surprise opening my bag and seeing a large container filled with thick slices of beef and plenty of big vegetables, which I happily poured over my rice. Zheng’s Garden is more than generous with its portions, which is great considering the reasonable price you pay for them.
Their beef curry has a nice flavor and just the right amount of spiciness. Trust me, you will enjoy every bite and may even have some left for a later meal.
If you don’t have time to sit down and have a fancy dining experience, but still would like authentic Chinese cuisine for lunch or on your way home after work, then go to Zheng’s Garden.
