Hong Kong offers a Houma treat

Modestly situated on a small commercial strip not far from the Southland Mall in Houma, the Hong Kong Chinese – Houma is easy to miss. But it should not be passed up.

Cozy and quiet, Hong Kong offers good, basic food at good, affordable prices.

We have dined in, ordered in and also ordered for pickup, and each experience has been pleasant.

“I’ll be happy to drop an order off for you. I’m heading home,” a woman who works there said, during a pickup that had the customer noting that they live a good distance from Houma.

The menu offers standard Chinese restaurant fare, but the determination is in the tasting. And the management at Hong Kong has been able to avoid – at least according to our experience – some of the pitfalls that can make Asian food outings or innings less pleasant than they should be.

The Bo-Bo Tray ($9.95) on our recent visit provided the perfect sampling of Hong Kong’s flavors. The appetizer includes two egg rolls, several fried shrimp, chicken teriyaki on skewers, shrimp toast and an ample serving of barbecue pork. It’s a great introduction to Hong Kong’s fare and required a to-go box because it was so much food.

Two offerings that veer from the standard menu at Chinese restaurants are the sizzling rice soup, a tasty variation, and the chicken with mushroom soup. An entire section of the menu is devoted to some specialty soups not seen in these parts, which we haven’t sampled yet but look forward to in the future. The egg drop and spicy hot and sour soups are sure bets.

The Sweet and Sour Chicken ($8.95) is a winner, with the chicken morsels just so and the sauce ample but not overbearing. The accompanying fried rice is served in an ample portion. Scallops with vegetables are succulent and not overcooked.

The menu’s imagination is impressive, with entrees like Phoenix Shrimp, Flaming Chicken and even Curry Chicken or Beef.

Food that takes a little longer to prepare but is cooked fresh to order is another plus this restaurant has going for it.

Speaking of ordering, Hong Kong’s goodies can be ordered online for delivery or pickup. Our order was nicely packed and courteously delivered, without too much of a wait time. A call to ensure that the order was received – some of us wear suspenders in addition to our belts – was courteously received and assurances were politely given. Just go to www.hongkonghouma.com.

If you’ve any room left for dessert, be sure to try the Chinese Beignets ($3.95). Lightly dusted with powdered sugar, these fried balls of dough are a great ending to any meal.

With the dearth of restaurants providing direct delivery in these parts the convenience is appreciated.

For originality, civil and pleasant atmosphere and other amenities, we find Hong Kong a hard place to beat. •