Chinese Restaurants to Try in the Triangle

A. Guo, Editor-in-Chief|January 6, 2022

Five+places+to+get+good+Chinese+food+in+the+Triangle.

Graphic made by A. Guo

Five places to get good Chinese food in the Triangle.

Although 2022 has already arrived, the year of the tiger is still a few weeks away with the Chinese New Year on February 1st. A huge part of the holiday is the variety of dishes and food that is shared among family and loved ones. If you are looking to celebrate or support some local Chinese businesses, here are just a few of the many amazing choices:

 

Grand Asia Market (大亚洲)

Address: 1253 Buck Jones Rd, Raleigh, NC 27606

This Chinese shopping market contains enough food for you whether you are cooking or taking-out a Chinese feast any day of the year (yes, they are open everyday of the year). Their food court has a variety of platters, noodles, buns, and dishes: many of which are under $10. They also have a stellar bakery with savory and sweet pastries, boba, and shaved ice.

*Bonus: come on the weekends for dim sum, tofu pudding, soy milk, and cruellers!

Favorite things to get:

  • Buns
  • Rice with Three Dishes (they are generous with portions)
  • Tofu Pudding
  • Sesame Balls from the Bakery

 

Nice Bowls Asian Cuisine 

Address: 4224 NW Cary Pkwy, Cary, NC 27513

Just a few minutes away from Hmart, Nice Bowls is a small restaurant tucked between LaFarm Bakery and Bruegger’s Bagels. While they serve Thai, Japanese, and American-Chinese, the real stars are the traditional Chinese dishes. They are currently take-out only and are closed on Sundays.

 

My favorite things to get:

  • Sauteed Pickled Cabbage and Vermicelli with shredded pork (酸菜粉丝)
  • Pork Intestine w. Hot Pepper (香辣肥肠)
  • Bean Sheet Jelly w. Assorted Vegetables (五彩大拉皮)
  • Pig Ear w. Hot Sauce (巧拌猪耳)

 

Taipei Cafe 

Address: 9825 Chapel Hill Rd suite g, Morrisville, NC 27560

This restaurant sits across from the Trader Joe’s in Park West with both dine-in and take-out options available. They specialize in Taiwanese food, hence the name, but one of the best dishes to get is the Peking Duck. After trying many different roasted ducks from many fantastic Chinese restaurants, Taipei Cafe’s Peking Duck outcompetes with it’s crispy skin, juicy flesh, and tasty black bean sauce. And as if that’s not enough, you can also add a giant bowl of duck soup for only $6.00.

 

My favorite things to get:

  • Peking Duck with 10 Pancakes (北京烤鸭)
    • Get it with duck soup
  • Salted Duck (鹹水鴨)
  • Meatball with Tofu in Casserole (獅子頭砂鍋) aka Lion’s Head

 

C&T Wok

Address: 130 Morrisville Square Way, Morrisville, NC 27560

Among many of my own Chinese friends and family, C&T Wok has always been a staple. Serving American-Chinese, Thai, Chinese, and Szechuan Cuisines, there are endless options for all! Sichuan (Szechuan) is a region in Chinese that eats lots of spicy and peppery foods. They originated a specific type of spice called Mala, made from Sichuan peppercorn and chili. The flavor can be described as numbing and spicy.

My favorite things to get:

  • Eggplant with Szechuan Garlic Sauce (鱼香茄子)
  • Mapo Tofu (麻婆豆腐)

 

Love Bao 

Address: 1961 High House Rd, Cary, NC 27519

This food stall is inside Hmart’s food court. Though the Taiwanese menu is small, all the options are stunning. The specialty is their pork which is braised in a delicious sweet and savory sauce, to be paired with refreshing pickled veggies, and a carb of your choice. They have also added vegetarian and vegan options to their menu!

 

My favorite things to get:

  • Original Pork Belly Gua Bao 招牌傳統焢肉刈包(五花肉)
    • Pro tip: get 2 for a full meal!
  • Lu Rou Fan – Braised Pork Over Rice 台式滷肉飯