Restaurant Review: China Garden

Of all the ethnic restuarants lining the streets of America, Chinese restaurants have to rank as one of the most convenient.  Call in your order as you’re walking out the door and arrive at the restaurant greeted by a brown paper bag loaded with your food.  Freakishly fast is an apt description.

And, yeah, sometimes it’s not all that great- a victim of it’s own convenience- but it’s almost expected. Especially when it’s dirt cheap like many of these places are.

When it’s good though, it’s good. That's when it typically becomes a coveted secret among locals who wouldn’t dare divulge it to just anyone.

Well, now we’re in the age of social media and seemingly divulging everything, so I’m letting the cat out of the bag, serves up some of the best Chinese these taste buds have encountered in a long time.

The first course, a wonton soup, a well-balanced managerie of warm, perfectly salted broth, scallions and two monstrous wontons floating in the midst of it.  The wontons were soft and the beef in the center was heavenly tender and flavorful.

After that came the roasted pork lo mein, easily the highlight of all the dishes.  Thin strips of dark, roasted pork were aplenty and tasted right off the wok- not out of the bag like many Chinese food joints.  Onions and soft, juicy cabbage were a great touch and there was little grease at the bottom of the plate when everything was said and done.

A single portion of general tso’s chicken was easily enough to feed two, or just one with no sense of self control, which is understandable with this stuff.  Doused in a sweet, yet deceptively spicy sauce, the general tso’s was perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside.  Huge chunks of chicken went into this, which is good in comparison to many places that seemingly serve up pieces of fried batter and call it general tso’s “chicken”. 

The fried rice on the side was a bit too manufactured-looking. Its bright yellow color is not a a staple to fried rice, but it was suitable and delicious when thrown into the remnant tso sauce.           

Overall, the experience at was a delicious and enjoyable one.  The food was served quickly and was as affordable as it was surprisingly delicious.  If you’re hungry in the Largo area and pressed for time, China Garden will do you solid. 

Happy eating.