Jay C
Google
Chinese fast food galore! Among other things.
If you've checked out the Richmond food scene you've most likely heard of the Richmond Public Market. I have not been to China, but from what I hear, being here is much like being in an authentic Chinese market with many vendors crammed into it. Along with that comes the street vendor, hole-in-wall vibe. But that is part of the charm and you are not coming here for the updated, modern ambiance which is not here.
The bottom floor is mainly vendors selling groceries, clothes, etc. But you are here for the 2nd story, where all the food is. Be sure to bring some cash and if you don't there is an ATM so you can pull out cash. Most places are cash only from what I could gather.
I went with what I'll call the "authentic Panda Express" for my meal. It was a 3 item combo with chow mein/white rice. You'll find more than 2x the entree options that you'll find at Panda. The lady who helped spoke enough English that I could understand her. I was trying to order orange chicken as one of the entrees but to my surprise, 3 options which all resembled orange chicken were all pork dishes. So I went with two of those along with a tofu/veggie choice. Also had to get one of the crabs that are on display in front of all the entrees luring you into purchase.
One of the pork entrees was really good & fresh while the other seemed like it had been sitting for a while. The chow mein was quite bland but the food had so much flavor so it was not too bad. I believe the crab is coated in corn starch and then flash-fried. Went with the spicy option which is basically chili & garlic. It had good flavor but it would probably work better as some type of sauce. One win though was the excess garlic & chili tasted good with the chow mein & white rice.The 3 item combo was a large portion but since it was my only real meal for the day I finished it, but was very full.
There are many other options, such as rice rolls, wheel cakes and drinks. It's a pretty big place but still small enough to check it all out pretty quickly. There is a parking structure which is great, but it was very busy so be prepared for that. Also, there are a good amount of tables in the place, so once you grab your food, just find an available table.
Have I had better food before? Yes. Was the food tasty and a good deal? Yes. Do I plan on coming back? Most likely yes.
Cheers!