Happy New Year! Pass the eggrolls and hot mustard, please

You can always count on Confucius restaurant owners Shawn and Danielle Xiong to properly celebrate Chinese New Year here at the beach. This Saturday we’re excited to be part of their annual New Year’s buffet. The one time I can get all the salt and pepper shrimp that I want! The fun goes from 11:30 a.m. until 8:30 p.m. 

Considering the relatively limited size of our Cape Region, in addition to Confucius we have a pretty good lineup of Chinese joints for every taste, wallet size and time constraint. It’s a proven fact that Chinese food is good business, so, in the spirit of the New Year, a Chinese roundup here at The Business of Eating seems eminently suitable and especially delicious with a little chili oil and duck sauce on the side. 

Confucius is indeed one of the longtime crown jewels of Rehoboth downtown dining. Everything is made fresh to order, and Shawn prides himself on a few exclusive dishes, including the Crispy Whole Sea Bass, his famous Five-Spice Duck and Confucius’ crunchily addictive salt and pepper versions of calamari, shrimp and scallops. Can’t decide? Join us for this weekend’s buffet. Reservations strongly suggested! 

Lewes offers two neighborhood spots where one can get slightly more Americanized Chinese food, i.e., egg foo young, chop suey and ho fun/mei fun (flat rice noodles) along with traditional favorites for eat-in or carry out. China Garden is in the Villages of Five Points just a few doors down from Weis Market. You’d better bone up on the menu before calling, however, because China Garden offers over 184 individual dishes including combos, soups, appetizers and lunch specials. They don’t deliver but they do take orders by phone. A nice feature is that almost all the dishes can be ordered in half or whole portions. Perfect for the wayward foodie who wants to try everything. 

On Kings Highway next to Mr. P’s Pizza & Pasta is Hing Wang Chinese Restaurant. Hing Wang is a bit more mysterious in that they have very little web presence and only a basic Facebook page. But reviews suggest that this tiny storefront has a very loyal following. They don’t deliver, and remote ordering is by phone only. Hing Wang also offers a choice of portion size for most dishes. I strongly recommend the Singapore Noodles! 

Sandwiched between Pete’s Steak Shop and Michy’s Relaxed Dining in the Rehoboth Marketplace center is Hunan Chinese. This humble spot is well represented online. Not only can you peruse the lengthy menu on your phone or computer, but you can order online and even make table reservations. There’s even a “faves” button where you can store the things you like and access them later with a single click. Chinese food may have ancient roots, but Hunan Chinese is on the leading edge of cyber-restauranting.

And that brings us to Wu’s Kitchen in Lighthouse Plaza near Giant Food. They don’t deliver, but online ordering and table reservations are also just a hungry click away. Along with the standard neighborhood Chinese fare, Wu’s sets itself apart with a menu of non-Asian dishes like Buffalo wings, fried chicken wings, shrimp with Old Bay and even sweet doughnuts. Let’s face it, there’s always one spoilsport when it comes time to order for a group, and Wu’s makes sure that he or she can get something a bit more Americanized. Good for you, Wu! 

In Henlopen Junction on Rehoboth Avenue Extended is China Wok. The storefront may be unassuming, but they have a big online presence including the ability to order with your phone or computer. Try their exclusive Dragon & Phoenix special with shrimp and chicken (get it? dragon/phoenix?). They also have six versions of the very American but still popular chop suey. 

Can’t decide what to get? Does scrolling through those long menus cause you vertigo? Then try the Lin family’s Chinatown Buffet & Grill in the Midway Galleria near Crust & Craft. Since there is no delivery or carryout (unless you have big pockets and can run fast), there is no need for any strong online presence. It’s all right there on the buffet table, and as with most buffets, people have their favorites. Chinatown Buffet and Grill offers all you can eat for one base price. There are some à la carte items, but one can fill up until one falls over and not put too much of a dent in the wallet. The place always seems to be busy. 

Android, iPhone and iPad users can access all the local Chinese joints on the newly redeveloped Rehoboth In My Pocket travel app. Simply tap “Chinese Restaurants” to call them or order online. You can see food photos and even peruse menus where available. So, enjoy! Or better yet, Xiangshòu!