China Café

China Café

Written by Eric Pulsifer Friday, 22 August 2008

Exotic but familiar, there is something undeniably satisfying about Chinese food. The hunger for that mix of spicy, salty and sweet has led to the construction of countless all-you-can-eat restaurants. But the lamp-warmed troughs of cheap “super” buffets aren’t the only eatery option when it comes to food from the Far East.

Bing Yu and his wife, Jasmyn, own China Café, which has been open for 16 years. Yu is from the Hunan province of China, a region known for its fiery foods.

Yu, who has worked in restaurants since he was a teenager, said his unique take on standard Chinese dishes comes from experimenting in the kitchen.

“If I find something and it’s good, I use it,” he said. “A cook always tries to create something new.”

From the outside, China Café looks like your typical take-out joint. There’s nothing too remarkable about the exterior, wedged in a strip shopping center a few doors down from Hobby Lobby, but Yu’s culinary creations are a cut above the rest.

Any of the standard starters are sure to please. China Café’s egg rolls ($1.50) are vegetarian, wrapped in light, flaky crust and filled with strips of crisp vegetables.

There are several other healthy options available for diners on a tight caloric budget as well.

Without a doubt, the show-stealing surprise of the meal was the hot and sour soup ($1.95). With a broth thinner and more colorful than most, I almost didn’t recognize my go-to Chinese soup. Boasting an intense sour kick and a dynamite mix of red chili and white pepper, it’s the best two bucks you’re likely to spend on soup.

The Szechuan cabbage and shredded pork soup for two ($4.50) is also a treat with strips of cabbage and carrots and thinly sliced mushrooms, and you can’t go wrong with the steamed dumplings ($5.25).

The entrées don’t disappoint either. The coconut curry shrimp ($9.75) is a beauty in yellow, with plump pieces of shellfish and big bites of sweet onion and zucchini.

The beef with Peking sauce ($8.95) has just the right mix of sweet and salty to satisfy that Chinese craving, as does the melt-in-your-mouth sesame chicken ($9.50). Topped with a syrupy brown sauce and sesame seeds, the deep-fried tender pieces of chicken are lean and are served over a bed of steamed broccoli florets.

As for service, the waitstaff is friendly and helpful, answering questions and topping off beverages. Our server made several trips to the table, armed with pitchers in both hands to refill glasses of water and iced tea to stifle the fires of Yu’s spicy cuisine.

China Café is casual Chinese dining that’s just the thing for an affordable lunch or for take-out at home. And like all good Chinese food, the leftovers are equally as delicious when eaten cold the next day. Delivery is available seven days a week from 5 until 9:30 p.m.

Heart Healthy

China Café’s menu lists the calorie and fat content for several dishes. Owner Bing Yu said he added the information to the menu to highlight some of the restaurant’s healthier options.

“Chinese food, for me, is pretty healthy,” he said. “There’s lots of vegetables. Just don’t eat too much fried stuff.”

For calorie counters, Yu recommends spicy poultry or seafood dishes or entrées with white sauce, which include less oil.

For low-calorie appetizers, the egg roll (87 calories, 2 grams of fat) and deep fried calamari (220 calories, 2 grams of fat) are two safe bets.

China Café, 13729 Research Blvd., Ste. 695, 331-7747, Mon.-Thu. 11 a.m.-10 p.m., Fri.-Sat. 11 a.m.-10:30 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m