The Riksha — Restaurant in Springfield

I'll say it flat out: this is a top three on my list of favorite cashew chicken dishes in the area and sits solidly at the top of my list for general chicken.

I used to work at a place relatively close to The Riksha, and a coworker and I got in the habit of going there. As a result, I ate here once a week for four years, and not only did I never get tired of it, but I still go back any time I'm close to the area. The cashew sauce is light, perfectly complements the breading on the chicken, and is great for dipping side items. The general chicken is not sweet at all, and since the cook adds the peppers by hand, you can specify anywhere from mild to insanely spicy. There are other items on the menu, but I don't see why anyone would ever order them when these two dishes are so good.

This is one of the places I recommend to friends or out of towners, and the first thing I say is "I swear you won't get sick." The decor hasn't been updated in a long time, the chairs and tables are as basic as you can get, and the building is showing its age. But like I said: I've literally eaten here hundreds of times without issue, and for what it's worth, nobody who followed my recommendation has reported back with any either. I'm sure the fact that you can get a complete lunch for less than $4 contributes to the feel of the place.

The same cook has been in the back every time I've been there, and it seems to be a family rite of passage to run the cash register for a few months or years since it's a bit of a revolving door. The quality of service is dependent on who is behind the register and how busy it is, but it is normally on the friendly side and has never crossed into actual rudeness for me. It's just one of those small, family-owned hole in the wall joints.

I've established that I love the food, but as noted by other reviewers, there are some annoyance which keep me from being able to give The Riksha five stars:

White meat costs extra. Soda refills cost a quarter (yes, you read that right). Limited seating means you might not have a place to sit if the lunch rush is heavy. Payment is cash-only.

I will continue to frequent The Riksha as often as possible and recommend it as one of the shining examples of Americanized Chinese food in Springfield. I'll just have to drop by...

My hopes were not high walking into this establishment. The linoleum floor was a little worn (which was a good sign), but there was no 12 year old sitting in the corner doing homework and the menu was displayed on crystal clear LCD screens.

But when I took my first bite of the beef lo mein, something happened.

I was transported back to 2003. Oakland CA where my Dad had taken us to a hole in the wall shop after church. Both English and Chinese menus were available and the dancing melody of Mandarin was being called out from the kitchen.

The smells and flavors of that restaurant enchant me to this day, and I have been longing for a taste of it for over 2 decades. The Riksha is the closest thing to perfection I have found in Springfield (and I've tried a number of places).

Lo mein is my favorite dish and The Riksha's beautiful rendition of it awakened that part of my childhood that I thought was lost forever.

Needless to...

In Springfield & didn't eat at The Riksha? Congrats, you played yourself.

Update : 04/28/2022 - After not stopping by Springfield for over a year, I HAD to eat from The Riksha. From my understanding it's new management but the food & standard has wonderfully been maintained. The Famous Springfield Cashew Chicken is superb as well as their General Chicken ( try medium spicy ) . Beside the tasty sauces, the quality of chicken used is some of the highest I've seen, & that's coming from a NYC dweller with a high standard for Chinese food. The fried rice served with every dish is unique, delicious, and truly balances the flavors. The Beef Fried Rice ( try medium spicy ) is in my top list for best Fried Rice west of the Mississippi. Traveling for work nationwide, The Riksha has earned a spot in my Top 3 best Chinese Food restaurants in the country. I will always look forward to a meal from...