Although I had never eaten at China King restaurant on the city’s far Southside, I had been told over the years about how good the food is.
More recently, the China King II restaurant on East 38th Street was brought to my attention, and I thought to myself, “If the first China King is good, then China King part two has gotta’ be outstanding.”
China King II may have a title that sounds like the sequel to one of those 1970’s martial arts films, but it’s the real deal.
Customers are able to choose from a very extensive menu with all of the popular Chinese entrées and sides, such as sweet and sour chicken, chop suey, General Tso’s chicken and chow mein.
What makes China King II standout, however, is the bold flavor that its selections have. I’m not sure whether it’s the type of herbs and spices they use or the homemade-tasting sauce some of their stuff is cooked in, but whatever you buy will be an exciting treat for your taste buds. No boring, bland food will be found here, no matter how hard you try.
During my first experience with China King II, I enjoyed the chicken and broccoli with rice and crab Rangoon cakes, and was impressed enough to come back a week later for another round with the pepper steak, fried wonton and egg rolls.
Servers are polite and don’t say much, but listen very well and will prepare an order exactly as requested by the customer.
Also appreciated is the fact that there is a decent wait time, whether you are dining in or carrying out. When I visited the second time there were two women as well as a group of three guys waiting for orders; we were all out of the door in 10-15 minutes.
In addition, the serving sizes are generous, leaving most people satisfied and enough to share or have leftovers for later.
Honestly, depending on what time of day you visit China King II, parking may be a hassle, since the restaurant is located in a strip mall with a narrow, one-way driveway and a handful of parking spaces on the side of the building.
However, even if you have to wait to park, it’s worth the brief hassle to enjoy the cuisine by China King II. Just be ready to have a sequel to your visit.
