Best Chinese Food in Eastern Massachusetts

Life may be harder now, what with working more, driving farther, money tighter, and recession looming. 

But on the bright side, China Chef is along my commute.

I would pit this little Wareham strip-mall Chinese place against any comparable restaurant on Cape Cod.  Tiki Port in Hyannis has tiki style and a giant bronze Bhudda.  Hunan Gourmet in Orleans has an all you can eat buffet.  Boston has lots of exquisite Asian cuisine but little of it is reasonably priced. 

But China Chef has flavor.

Their prices are low too.  House lo-mein, crab rangoons, chicken wings, and General Tso's chicken, all large, came to $32.  That'll be dinner for two and lunch for two, twice.  A suitable treat for recession-era dining! 

I don't know what they do to the house lo-mein beyond piling it with loads of chicken, shrimp, and pork.  It's got a smoky flavor and the noodles are larger than usual, more like a fettuccine noodle than your usual lo-mein, and it has a texture that's a little chewier than most, too.  The noodles are not just filler for the meats they cradle.  They're a treat in themselves.

The crab rangoons hold a huge deposit of...that rangoon stuff, and the chicken wings are meaty and tender on the inside despite being crunchy and fried. 

When we lived in Wareham, China Chef was the place we'd go after a long sailing trip, when the boat was unpacked and we wanted to veg out with TV and fast food.  So maybe that's why it tastes so good to me--it's a sense memory linked to good times. 

Or maybe they cut their MSG with opiates. 

Anyway it's right off of route 25/495, and I'm passing by there a lot these days.  So for the "looking on the bright side" file--hooray China Chef!  We've missed you.  We may not be living in Wareham again (hey, that belongs in the "bright side" department, too) but we'll be stopping by.

Comments

[Rebecca]

PBJ was just saying a few weeks ago that Wareham/Buzzards Bay would be perfect if there was cheap 'mall' Chinese food. Does China Chef have seating?

[Nate]

I think just one or two tables. It's not dining ambiance, though. More like a place to sit while you wait for your order.

Fun thing to try:

If you don't mind eating in your car, it might be fun to grab take out, drive down Onset Ave to Onset beach and eat there. Bring newspapers or a plank for your lap. Don't forget to ask for chopsticks.

What am I thinking? Grab a beach blanket. It's getting warmer, finally!

[Rebecca]

Oh, I could bring an entire picnicking ensemble in the scooter trunk! Just have to plan a little, and not shop so much. Trunk is only so big.