I feel like China Delight, like China Delight

You've all seen it, and you've all wondered about that little white house on the south east corner of Second St and Oxford. Is that place actually open (or something to that effect)? Well I can assure you that China Delight is definitely open and serving up some great eats. It's a case of looks can be deceiving.

Formerly located at 1635 Oxford St. East, it's a stones throw away from Fanshawe and has been in operation for decades. China Delight is strictly a take-out and delivery place, and is great for knocking off that Saturday night craving for Chinese food.

I've been ordering food from China Delight for years and I've never been disappointed with the quality or quantity of food. No matter what I order there always seems to be plenty of leftovers to take care of that Sunday afternoon lunchtime grrr.

Like most Chinese places their menu is quite extensive, offering up crispy egg rolls and spring rolls, chicken wings and spareribs along with other food items under appetizers. They also offer up four types of soup including egg drop soup and wonton soup with bbq pork.

I won't go over the whole menu, I just don't have that kind of space, but China Delight offers up a wide range of foods under various headings like sweet and sour, chop suey/chow mein, rice, seafoods, beef pork and chicken dishes, vegetables, curry dishes, szechuan hot and spicy, egg foo young and special suggestions. No Chinese menu is ever complete without combos, of which there are four. Scanning the menu there are only a couple of items that range past the $8 mark, with most settling into the $6 range.

If you're looking for value and feeding a room, then China Delight's dinner packages are the way to go. There are eight packages to choose from ranging all the way up to a dinner for six. I normally order a dinner for two deluxe, which includes chicken balls, Tai Dop Voy, mushroom fried rice and a Bo Bo Tray. Let me tell you, the Bo Bo Tray is one of the best I've ever had and includes two egg rolls, two stuffed crab claws, deep fried won tons, jar doo chicken wings and beef teriyaki. As a separate menu item this tray rings in at $9.25, but as part of the dinner for two deluxe package it comes included at the just over $20 price. The Tai Dop Voy is a real winner in this package and includes a mix of sea food, beef, chicken, assorted Chinese veggies, mushrooms, bamboo shoots and water chestnuts. Doesn't that make your mouth water?

I've also ordered the dinner for three regular and deluxe, and both those items are totally different other than the mushroom fried rice and chicken balls. The regular includes three egg rolls, beef with mushroom chow mein, chicken ding with almond and veggies, while the deluxe includes the Bo Bo Tray for three, szechuan shrimp (ummm good), and ku-po chilli chicken ding. The regular prices out to about $22 while the deluxe rings in at $37.

China Delight, 519-659-8031, is open Monday-Thursday 4 p.m. -midnight, and Friday and Saturday 4 p.m. -1 a.m., Sunday's their open 3 p.m. -11 p.m. When that craving hits for Chinese I suggest you give this place a try, you won't be disappointed.

Bonus: if you live in rez or close by you can save yourself 10 per cent off your order of $10 or more by walking over and paying cash. If you're lazy and want them to deliver, delivery will be free for orders $10 and over, as long as you live in the area.

My rating 3.5 spoons.

At the plate is a weekly column that features local restaurants, and in particular those that are close to Fanshawe. If you have any suggestions drop us an email.