The Great Lakes Chinese Restaurant
1851 44th Street SW
Wyoming, Michigan 49519
Out on the south side of Grand Rapids on the outskirts of Wyoming, a most unlikely spot for good Chinese food, there is a little strip mall just west of 44th St. and Burlingame. Usually the strip mall is fairly empty, but there is always a flurry of activity down at the end. It's where all the cars are. It's the Great Lakes Chinese Restaurant. Yes, I agree. This is the worst name anyone ever dreamed up for a Chinese Restaurant.
But that's where the bad taste ends.
Usually upon entering, one is greeted by a beautiful Asian woman named simply "Moon". She is a delightful and sparkling woman and in no time at all, even with her broken english, will charm you and make you feel welcome.
Moon as often as not will take your order and then begin serving you the best Chinese food in town. If you've ever had to choke down the garbage pulled out of a drain trap and slapped on a plate at PF Chang's, you are in for a culinary treat.
We've tried several dishes at the GLCR and we have never stumbled on a clunker. My wife will travel around the menu more than I do, and she enjoys everything she tries. I usually cannot resist the Almond Boneless Chicken - it's just so darned good. The full meals come complete with the best egg roll in the city, rangoons, and soup. (The Won-Ton is my favorite).
When we go out for Chinese food this place is always worth the extra drive for us. And not just because it becomes the instant favorite of everyone we take there.
So here goes with the good and bad:
The Good:
Delicious food. Seating is always available. They offer a lunch buffet. The best eggroll in town. Reasonable Prices. Plenty of parking.
The Bad:
The name (they bought the place from someone else and it was already named. And with signs costing what they do......). Not incredible atmosphere.
This place gets a strong recommendation from me. And besides the delicious food (good sized portions too), Moon knows us and our families. Everybody loves Moon. We call the place "Moon's". They are talking about opening another restaurant and we are trying to convince them to call it "China Moon." I hope they do.
Grade: A-
