Forgive me if I sound like a sarcastic food writer, but I have been burned too many times by a promise of a fresh homemade eggroll or beef with stir fry vegetables that is really beef with real Chinese vegetables. Even a few chef friends, their names withheld for fear of bad Chinese food recommendation retaliation, gave me a bum steer when it came to Moo Goo Gai Pan and Mo Shu Pork. With the encouragement of Iris Starr, however, who knows New York Chinese, I ventured for lunch at China Taste in Paradise Plaza and was completely and delightfully surprised.

The group of men to our left that were, shall I say overwhelmed by the fact that I ordered seven items for the two of us, erupted in glee when I declaredthe eggplant with garlic sauce a homerun. They shared that they have become two-to-three day-a-week regulars at this little five-table take-out spot. The lunch deal is the bargain buster of the state. For $5.25 between 11:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. you get your choice of more than 30 items- from a very delish Moo Goo Gai Pan to a spicy Pork Szechuan style or a healthy diet version of chicken and mixed vegetables in garlic sauce. Served with a can of soda or egg roll (go for the eggroll) and pork fried rice- honestly you cannot afford not to indulge. The beef with Chinese veggies at $5.25 is a steal and loaded with meat, and the brown sauce isauthentic.