Sing Hee Restaurant — Restaurant in North Haven

So look, there are Chinese restaurants in this country and there are American Chinese restaurants. The cuisines are not the same. Really, what most Americans think of as “Chinese food” is American Chinese food and let’s just agree that Chinese American food is DELICIOUS. Sing Hee Restaurant in North Haven, CT is solidly Chinese American. They are also a strictly take out spot and they crank out the food here. The menu is EXTENSIVE. Anything you’re thinking you might want in the American Chinese cuisine they probably have at Sing Hee. Plenty of options for the meat eaters and the non eaters. All the choices are here. For Vegan you would have to ask since you know, sauces are the backbone of American Chinese food. You need delicious sauces and fresh ingredients. Sing Hee has both those things.

On the menu there the choice of pint or quart sized portions. Being me I thought a pint was just way to small a portion and I ordered quarts of everything for me and my parents. DON’T LISTEN TO ME. I mean unless you want to have plenty of leftovers. Because we did have plenty of leftovers, which I did eat, cold, directly out of the fridge the next day and I’m here to say that Sing Hee’s food was just as delicious the next day and cold.

Here’s what I did: I was driving down from Vermont to my parents in Branford. I pulled off 91 to look at Sing Hee’s menu and call in my order: Shrimp Egg Rolls, Pork Egg Rolls, Shrimp Fried Rice, Shrimp with Chinese Vegetables, Vegetable Lo Mein. Pro Tip: when you order over $35 worth of food you get to add an item (there’s a list to choose from). I added a pint of Pork Fried Rice for Dad, since I don’t eat pork, but he is a SUPER FAN of Pork Fried Rice.

Let’s review: 3 people and I ordered quarts of Vegetable Lo Mein, Shrimp Fried Rice, Shrimp with Chinese Vegetables, plus 2 shrimp egg rolls, 2 pork egg rolls and the pint of Pork Fried Rice. A stupid quantity of food. For a seriously, reasonable price.

Honestly, I hadn’t had a shrimp egg roll in years. Legit years. Because I live in Vermont and, somehow, for some bizarre reason, Vermont is an American Chinese Food desert. Well….we do have it, but it’s mainly not good. I have to drive an hour for good American Chinese and I have! The Shrimp Egg Rolls from Sing Hee were basically, screaming hot when I picked them up and I ate them both on the drive to my parents’ house. They were everything a Shrimp Egg Roll should be: crispy on the outside, hot and flavorful with fully cooked, shredded filling. Would consider picking up some Shrimp Egg Rolls every time I’m driving past on 91…

When I got to Sing Hee (I was using Google Maps and I had looked at pics online) I 100% would have driven right past the entrance if I didn’t see the little signs for Sing Hee in the ground beside the entrance. Tricky thing is Sing Hee is located behind a deserted/empty/abandoned CVS or Walgreens or something like that. I got it in my head that Sing Hee was INSIDE that shell of a Walgreens and that maybe I was supposed to pull up to the former Pharmacy drive up to get my food…??? HAHAHAHAHAHA

Which, frankly, would be an AMAZING approach to Chinese take out!

No, Sing Hee is not inside an abandoned CVS. It’s behind the abandoned CVS. No drive thru. You park and go in. Once you’re in there you can see the entire kitchen, everything, nothing is hidden. Let’s all get on the same page about the fact that this is a level of transparency that is not “usual” in the restaurant business. Come on, you know that the vast majority of restaurants hide their kitchens out back behind multiple doors. And you just have to rely on faith when you eat there. Not at Sing Hee, they are preparing everyone’s food right where everyone can see it. I love that.

The place runs like a well oiled machine. I had to wait a few minutes for my order to be ready. Then I put it in my trunk, drove to Branford and that food was still so hot we needed to let it cool a few minutes. Everything was really good. Shrimp with Chinese Vegetables had a crazy number of shrimp. Lo Mein was...

When my usual Chinese restaurant in East Haven temporarily closed for a few weeks for holiday, I decided to venture down Middletown Avenue and stumbled upon a hidden gem: Sing Hee Restaurant in North Haven. They recently put up a sign where the old Rite Aid used to be, and honestly, that's the only reason I noticed them. You'd definitely miss it if you were driving too fast! They are behind the old Rite Aid - same parking lot.

I am so glad I gave this place a try. As soon as I walked in, I was impressed by how incredibly clean and bright the space was. While it’s a take-out only restaurant, they have a small, comfortable waiting area and plenty of parking. The staff was incredibly friendly, and my food was ready in no more than five minutes.

And the food? Amazing. Their egg rolls are so much bigger than the ones at most other places I've been—they’re just like they used to be years ago. Everyone knows a good egg roll is a perfect start to a meal, and these did not disappoint. I’ve already been back twice since that first visit! Sing Hee is a definite find and a place I’ll be returning to...

READ FOR TIPS!!!!

Tip for my spicy lovers: ask for chili oil. Yes, oil! It looks very unassuming but is FULL OF FLAVOR! (Comes in a small container, is a reddish/orange oil. Leaves a stinging feeling but tastes very good!) Here's what I do: Step 1: Order any lunch special (If you want a little attention to detail, don't order general tso. Yes, they make it well here with REAL chicken, but I saw another reviewer complaining about it. I'm sure they batch make it for the 500 other people that are ordering the same dish during lunch rush, they have an expansive menu, try to pick something else.)

Step 2: Choose wonton soup as your side

Step 3: Drink broth. (It's really tasty) but leave a scant amount to mix with chili oil. Dump chili oil in with wontons and mix.

Step 4: After devouring wontons, use remaining oil/broth mix for your food/rice. (Pour it overtop or dip)

And there! You have just up-leveled your lunch experience! 😃❤️

To sing hee owners/employees: Thank you...