IMG_1562.JPG

We all need a place we can rely on for a quick, relatively cheap, decent meal. A place you can call on when you’ve got no desire to prepare a proper meal at home or to sit down for an extended period at a restaurant. Aside from the often woefully inadequate offerings of most fast food joints, it’s nice to have a place you can drop by, quickly and easily, and snag a complete meal for the family or for any last minute visitors who’ve decided to stick around for dinner. I don’t always eat take-out Chinese food, but when I do, it’s typically under these circumstances. The so-called Americanized Chinese scene gets a pretty awful wrap, most naysayers citing its lack of authenticity with flavors tailored to the sodium and sugar-loving palates of the American people. While often sneered at, I refuse to let this deter me from enjoying a deep fried egg roll now and again. Americanized Chinese is as much a part of our culture as the bastardized American versions of pizza we all enjoy.

Last Saturday, The Mrs. and I had just returned from the hospital after she gave birth to our second. She was exhausted, our first child was hungry, and I was feeling a bit famished myself (because, you know, having babies is really hard work for us men). We needed grub…fast. Unfortunately, the cupboards and refrigerator were as barren as Mitt Romney’s wine cellar. Being the loving husband I am, I offered to take care of dinner. Given it’s proximity to our home, a decent sized menu, and quick service, Chinese Kitchen on N. Rodney Parham Rd. is quickly becoming our go-to dining option when we are in-a-pinch or simply too lazy to exert much effort to acquire sustenance.

Advertisement

At Chinese Kitchen everything is made fresh to order. It’s not a good idea to simply show up there and order at the counter. There is not much indoor dining available (one small table and four chairs) so take-out is generally the preferred dining option. You’ll likely want to call in your order ahead of time to prevent having to wait inside the relatively lifeless restaurant front while they prepare your food in the kitchen.

IMG_1553.JPG

I can’t resist starting a meal with hot and sour soup. Chinese Kitchen’s version tends to be a little more on the sweet side than other places in town, but it retains all the necessary sour, spicy, and salty elements that make this dish so popular. It is often served so piping hot it may take half an hour to cool to a point you would even dare approach it with the delicate mucosa of your tongue. The strips of tofu, dried Chinese mushrooms, and thin, firm strands of bamboo give the soup the contrasting soft and chewy textural elements that make this a personal favorite. They provide you with a generous pile of slightly oily fried wontons to top your soup with, a simple but flavorful addition that gives the soup another gentle nudge towards greatness.

Advertisement

While most of Chinese Kitchen’s reads like the stereotypical Americanized-Chinese menu, with standards such as sweet and sour pork, spicy kung pao chicken, garlic pork, and broccoli beef, a few less commonly seen items deserve special attention. The Cantonese pressed duck is prepared according to an old Chinese recipe. A whole duck is seasoned and steamed, deboned when tender, then flattened and steamed again. Once the double steaming process is complete, the duck is fried until the skin becomes crisp and a deep golden brown. Lastly, the aromatic, slightly sweet duck meat is gently tossed in a rich brown gravy. This is one dish not to be missed from Chinese Kitchen’s menu.

Be a part of something bigger

As a reader of the Arkansas Times, you know we’re dedicated to bringing you tough, determined, and feisty journalism that holds the powerful accountable. For 50 years, we've been fighting the good fight in Little Rock and beyond – with your support, we can do even more. By becoming a subscriber or donating as little as $1 to our efforts, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be helping us hire more writers to expand our coverage and continue to bring important stories to light. With over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, it's clear that our readers value our great journalism. Join us in the fight for truth.

Previous article Sen. Gilbert Baker lands UCA lobbying job at $132,000 a year Next article Citing extramarital affair, David Petraeus resigns from CIA