Strip mall Chinese

I'm trying to eat healthy at the moment, and some of the few places I can can go to buy what I can eat are the strip-mall Chinese carryout places, like the many Double Dragon places around town. I'm in Louisiana at the moment and I picked up some steamed vegetables at one of the local joints. While I was waiting I was pondering the fact that nearly every one of these places has an identical menu, right down to the printing. It made me wonder if these are some sort of under-the-table franchises that are sold to Chinese immigrants. If so, who's behind it? I recall a piece posted a few years ago about how immigrants coming in to New York were given a bus ticket to go to some random city and were given a job in a Chinese restaurant.

And no, I'm not wasting an opportunity. For the trip healthy eating is just breakfast and lunch. Dinner is shrimp po-boys, charbroiled oysters and muffalettas. Every grocery store has a vast assortment of king cakes for sale, so I might be doing that too.

Among other things, the documentary Searching for General Tso covers this. There are Chinese immigrant business associations that have perfected this cookie cutter restaurant industry and play a big role in helping new immigrants -- often hailing from the same areas of China -- land in restaurant jobs around the country.

Thanks! I'll look that up. There's a spot in Fern Creek behind Mark's Feed Store that has changed names a number of times, but everything else including the phone number has remained the same. A very personable woman ran the register for years and had nicknames for all of her regular customers. (I was "grandpa") Lately an 8-year old has been working the counter. He knows what he's doing.

These places don't play when it comes to Covid precautions.

There’s one out here in Crestwood that I like to go to. Their Covid precautions are extreme and I feel very safe picking up from there.
Plus...
I’ve noticed the quality of the meats used have picked up considerably. No more funky “is this beef or what?” cuts but rather nice slices of beef or chicken. The chicken wings are huge. Super nice people with the entire family working behind the scenes. I always enjoy my meal and I feel good patronizing them.

Out here in the South End is China Castle located at 3rd St Rd and New Cut. This is a tiny place but Man they have delivered us some huge fantastic meals lately! A single meal can feed 2 people. We are really happy with the quality and it’s hot and fresh when it gets here. Gotta support these small places during these challenging times.

Oriental Palace at 12539 Shelbyville Rd. (next to Clay Oven in the Kroger shopping center) is good! I actually discovered it when my dad called me and asked to place an order at "Oriental Palace" and we'd pick it up our way back from work (in St. Matthews). I wondered, but thought he meant Oriental Palace, as it's near their house. We both laughed as we pulled into the Oriental House parking lot! I actually just ate carryout from Oriental House tonight-- I do think I like the Palace better. They had some unique dishes...Singapore Curry Noodle and Honey Walnut Shrimp-- the shrimp was my favorite! My sister was in town, and it reminded her of the best thing on the buffet near where they live, which obviously they aren't getting now!

Delivery drivers refer to the young lady who runs the counter at Oriental Palace as the General. She runs a tight ship. When covid restrictions were fully in place and they weren't letting anyone in she kept everyone in line and organized.

On a side note, the Asian Pot restaurant on Fern Valley Road near 65 has a similar menu (mixture of Chinese and sushi dishes).

My go to Chinese is China 1 (next to the Buechel Kroger). Closed on Monday. Great lunch special for less than $6. Hot and Sour soup is excellent. Very friendly staff (a little hard to understand at times). They have a web site from which you can order and pay. Covid guidelines strictly enforced...must order from web site or phone and only 2 allowed in the small space at a time.

3614 Buechel Bypass STE 106
Louisville, KY 40218
(502) 479-0003

https://www.china1-ky.com/

My go-to here in Fern Creek is the Double Dragon next to Kroger. In an attempt to somewhat increase my consumption of veggies, I've taken to ordering broccoli chicken here several times in the last two weeks. The food is always hot, fresh, and they aren't kidding with their sanitation processes at least at front of house.

I've also gone to Chong Garden, but it's been a few months. I picked up cashew chicken at Sala Thai the other day, and it was tasty (even though I always complain that places never put enough cashews in the dish).

Asian Pot is REALLY good, but I only get their food when I'm in the mood to pay UberEats to deliver it. I rarely drive over that way for anything (one exception is Sub Station II which is struggling, as a worker said all the Ford/UPS/airport employees are being encouraged not to go off site for lunch).

In related news, I noticed that Jumbo Buffet's parking lot was completely empty on Saturday. It looked like they were closed, not that I would lament that as the food was never good. Yoki Buffet seems to be the only major Chinese buffet still open. Hibachi Sushi Buffet in Fern Creek tried to open back in the fall, but they have not reopened since the holiday dining-in ban was lifted.