Asian Dragon — Restaurant in Salem Township

This place was truly a pleasant surprise! It's definitely the best inexpensive/quick take out Chinese food (2 generous entrees and an app for $25) we've found out here in the 'burbs in four years. They also have online ordering--that (mostly) works! You can't yet pay online, but the order I placed while out shopping was ready right on the time estimate.

This looks like a nice family owned business; I didn't ask, but it looked like mom on counter; dad on delivery, and grandpap cooking. A neat desk full of kid toys behind the counter means the whole family is involved.

The inside isn't much; in fact it looks like every other Chinese strip mall restaurant opened since 1980 complete with the picture ordering above the counter and the white and pink vinyl high back chairs in the dining room, but I was there for takeout anyway.

My husband had a hankering for Thai, so I was happy to see that section on their menu. Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, their command of Thai is a lot like other Chinese restaurants' versions--ie, capitalizing on the popularity of a cuisine that is somewhat similar to their own, but not really anything like it at all, but figuring most Americans don't know any better anyway, so what the hell? Why not give it a go? That said, my Massaman curry was really Tom Kha soup with only the most easily procured (typical Chinese) vegetables--mushroom, carrot, celery, green pepper, water chestnuts--NOT the dish I ordered, buy hey, it tasted good! It was MUCH better than other places that just mix up some pre-packaged super salty Thai-"ish" MSG base with coconut milk and hope for the best. Then again, coconut milk hides a MULTITUDE of sins...!

It was the hubby who originally wanted Thai, so to approximate his favorite Drunken Noodles, I chose Asian Dragon's House Special Ho Fun with the awesome wide noodles...and it was GOOD. Really good! Drunken Noodle itch, SCRATCHED! We also ordered a Garlic Wonton appetizer, which I thought would just be fried wontons with a dipping sauce, but was actually steamed wontons in a really nicely intense brown garlic sauce. Also really good!

So in sum, stick with the Chinese choices, don't choose it for the ambiance, and, BONUS, Brown Rice available! Also, SUPPORT A SMALL...

This is one of those best kept secret restaurants of the area. Outside and in it simply looks like another well worn Chinese takeout place with very casual seating and table service with those classic red plastic Coca-Cola cups.

Yet there's three things that really stand out here. First is the quality of food here, more flavorful and better quality than any in the area, even the "fancier" restaurants. They use top quality ingredients, and their skills in the kitchen are outstanding. Even their rice is a higher quality than what most serve, from what I understand it's a mix to get just the right flavor and consistency.

Second, their dedication to providing what the customers want is beyond reproach. My children are on a strict and somewhat unusual diet for medical reasons (not just another gluten free diet) and they have been far more accommodating than any restaurant that we've visited. They've taken pictures of the ingredients labels so that we could verify that our children could eat their foods. They are well known for working with just about any diet that they can, using alternative ingredients.

Third, the people are awesome, very personable and invested in their customers. Friendly and talkative as time allows.

The only down side is that they aren't open Tuesdays, so plan accordingly, everyone needs a day off sometimes right?

Other useful item to note, they are open Christmas day for a total change of pace or for those who don't...

Place was good a couple of years ago. Tried it twice in March and one last week....horrible. general tsos looked and tasted old, pork fried rice was hardly cooked and white rice was a Block of paste. Couldn't save it by adding water this time. Nice lady but I can't afford to throw out $20.00 worth of old stale food and I'm not one to return garbage. I just stop going. Hint ....do what I should have ....ask when food was first prepared. I really miss the food I had years ago before my...