China Palace

• Cuisine(s): Cantonese, Chinese, Szechwan
  Hours: Sun 12pm-10pm, Tue-Sat 11:30am-10pm
  Price: $$ $$
• Payment Types: MasterCard, Visa, American Express
  Attire: Casual
  Features: Delivery, Takeout
• Serving: Dinner, Lunch
  Reservations: Accepted, Not Necessary
  Parking: Free, Lot Available

Description

Once you get past the modest exterior, entering China Palace might remind you of stepping into one of those authentic eateries so numerous in the Chinatowns of the Northeast -- which is to say the emphasis is on the food, not the frills. This is the place where Miami-based devotees of Cantonese and Szechuan cuisines should go to eat, if they don't already. The menu is extensive. Among the appetizers, the egg-drop soup and the crab Rangoon are standouts. Pass on the overly sweet Day-Glo orange dipping sauce. The pan-fried dumplings are tasty, if just a bit greasy. Among the numerous entrées, the simply billed (no pun intended) roasted duck is bound to be a unanimous favorite: The half-bird is presented sliced, bone-in, flesh juicy, skin crispy, and surrounded by a pool of nicely balanced (read: not over-salted) garlic-infused sauce. Cantonese shrimp with vegetables is nicely prepared, with numerous large shrimp that are not overcooked. Beef with scallops pleases, too, despite being slightly over salted. All entrées arrive with huge portions of steamed white rice. Dessert is cellophane-wrapped fortune cookies, so no need to save room. Don't look for any umbrella drinks; beverages appear to be limited to tea and water, the latter of which is provided without having to ask.