Jea Kim
Google
Decent option for large portion lunch specials.
Been in Lowell quite a bit lately and stopped by twice to try their lunch specials. Both times, I was the only person dining in, though there were a few takeout orders going out. The owner was super friendly and while the restaurant seemed like a single man operation, everything came out quick.
The food. The portions for most dishes were easily double what I’d expected from a typical appetizer/ lunch specials. Unfortunately, the overall quality was subpar. Some small plates, like the spare ribs, were clearly reheated in the microwave, and the excess moisture from the thawing process was clearly visible on the bottom of the plate. General Tso’s chicken had thick and soggy breading and very little meat, which made it a carb-heavy bite. Since it had been fried and frozen beforehand, it tasted almost identical to one of those frozen Chinese chicken plates from grocery stores. Thankfully, the pork belly dishes held better even after freezing. Both the garlic chili pork belly and the double cooked pork belly were genuinely enjoyable.
Overall, better than food-court Chinese, but not quite on par with average Boston Chinese restaurants. Lowell’s Chinese food scene is pretty underwhelming, so it might be worth a stop if you’re looking for an inexpensive yet filling meal.