One will quickly notice that though there are many Asian restaurants on this blog - there are not many Chinese restaurants. Even though the Triangle has quite a few of both chain and non-chain restaurants, it is really hard to find one truly worth writing about. Sure PF Chang's and some of the other big chains will suffice if you have a craving for General Tso's chicken or something similar - but if you really want something in the style of real Chinatown's (NY, Boston, LA, San Fran), you'd be hard pressed to find it.... unless you look inside the local Kroger's on Fayettville Rd in Durham. Across I-40 from the Streets at Southpoint, this little mom and pop shop easily outdoes any of the other local Chinese restaurants that we've tried. The name is East Coast Express.... which does not do justice to their food.
Located just to the right of the rightmost entrance, this store is run by a couple; they apparently used to only many restaurants, and have since decided to focus on providing good food out of their little stall within Kroger's. The English menu is pretty standard and self explanatory - the Chinese menu is plastered all over the wall and display case. Unfortunately for non-Chinese reading folk, including myself, you'll have to make some friends with some people who do. One suggestion that the lady at the counter made was to take a cell-phone camera picture of the pieces of the menu - and show it to someone who can read the language; crazy, I know.
We've tried an assorted set of dishes there - both eating at the tables right there next to their stall, and taking the food home. Our top recommendations - Hong Kong style wonton soup - the wontons are made with a small piece of shrimp and pork - they are not like anything else I've had in the area. They have seafood fried/crispy noodles - crispy noodles served with a generous helping of fresh vegetables and seafood; I'm not sure if it is on the English menu. Everything we've tried there tastes like it comes out of a top Szechuan chinese restaurant - what they don't have in decor, they make up for in value and quantity.
East Coast Express / Chinese Food
East Coast Chinese Food
202 NC Highway 54
919-806-8899
