Lincoln Lunch: Chinese
(not my actual lunch) I'm biased against Chinese food. The first thing that comes to mind when somebody suggests it is grease. So I approached Eastern Palace Chinese Restaurant, where a reader said I would find a $4.75 Lincoln Lunch, with dread.
As soon as I arrived that hesitation began to dissipate. For starters, the parking lot had many open spaces and at the entrance two bright red doors emblazoned with lion's heads greeted me. How can you go wrong with lions?
Inside, a server noticed me immediately and pointed me to a side table. I ordered the $4.75 daily lunch special, which comes with soup, salad, an eggroll, rice, an entree, and dessert. Today's entree was pork chop suey - you don't get to choose.
My hot and sour soup and side salad were on the table before I finished reading the front page of the Daily News. The soup had soft tofu chunks and was quite spicy. The iceberg salad had a few shredded carrots, pieces of red cabbage, and had a tangy dressing that tasted like apple vinegar.
A steaming plate of pork chop suey with two scoops of rice and an eggroll arrived just as I was finishing my starters. The eggroll was crispy but not as tough as a chew toy, like many eggrolls. The main dish was slightly salty but I ate most of it in the interest of research.
Dessert was an orange slice, which I ate because the meal seemed more of a bargain that way, and a lone fortune cookie. "You will be transforming a situation in your life now with a positive attitude." I hope so.
Other lunch specials were $5.95 and up. Read the whole menu here. The quiet restaurant is outfitted in traditional Chinese decor and has pipped in music. The speedy service would feel rushed if it were dinner, but at lunch it just seemed timely.
Visit them at 14429 Victory Blvd in Van Nuys. (818) 785-9888.
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About The Bargain Hunter
Daily News staff writer Julia Scott loves to find bargains on everything from groceries to Gucci. Her tips will help keep your hard earned cash where it belongs - in your pocket.
Hot Wok Cafe on Reseda and Nordhoff in Northridge also has lunch specials. The food is good, the restaurant is clean and pretty. The lunch specials start at $4.95 but they don't have a website. Check it out. Lunch comes with soup, salad, rice, and a fruit dessert.
There is a place called Mandarin Island at
15446 Devonshire St. Mission Hills, 818 893 5483
They have some awesome lunch specials from 11:00 to 4:00 they start at 4.25 approx they also deliver within a 4 mile radius.
My Favorite is the Garlic Sauce Chicken, for 4.95 you get the chicken with pea pods, water chestnuts, white rice and an egg roll you get soup but not for takeout or delivery, and there is no mininum for delivery
They have every kind of lunch specials vegetable, beef, pork, fowl and seafood.
cant find a website but good food, made well.
I agree with Tami, Mandarin Island is one of the best, my favorites are the Tangerine Chicken and the Corn Chowder.