by: Chad
The original China Express was opened on Coursey Blvd nearly 30 years ago by Nelson Lew. It was the first Chinese establishment in that part of Baton Rouge, and quickly became a popular place for good, fresh Chinese cuisine. Unlike the typical Chinese buffets found everywhere, everything was made to order, nothing sat in bins over boiling water for hours. This resulted in quality and flavor unlike any other Chinese food I have found.
To give you an idea of just how good it was, there were a number of people who ate there daily. Yes, every day they would visit for a meal, sometimes even twice a day. Often, I would be dining there and see people venture back into the kitchen so that they could clean off their plates and silverware. Since it was primarily a takeout place, and prices were so cheap, food consumed in the restaurant was served on disposable tableware. However, die hard customers would actually bring in their own plates and silverware from their homes to keep there for when they visited. That’s how often they were there, and how much they loved the place. How many places can you say that about?
Sadly, as with all good things, they must come to an end and Mr. Nelson decided that he had reached an age where he needed to devote less of his time to running a busy restaurant. He sold the place and it remains open today under the same name, but unfortunately falls into the category of the picture menu based, run of the mill Chinese fare.
I would like to end this on a positive note, and tell you of another location in town where you can find Chinese as good as China Express, but I have yet to find it. While it’s true that some Chinese restaurants and buffets are better than others, I can’t find the quality or taste I experienced there. If you know of a great Chinese spot hidden somewhere in this town, please let me know, because I would love to give it a shot.
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Have you tried Hong Kong? It's in a shopping center on the corner of Millerville and Old Hammond. Hard to see it, but very fresh food. Not really a dine in type of place though.
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