Arizona Chinese Restaurant (Chula Vista)

mmm-yoso!!! continues as a food blog.  Cathy is writing this post while Kirk continues with a busy work week.  

Since 1982, this family owned and operated restaurant has been in the same location, offering a Cantonese menu.  It is not an ABCDE (American Born Chinese Dining Establishment) type of restaurant, even though no chopsticks are offered and hot tea is not free.

 You may have noticed the signage and just kept driving.
 The simple menu includes a page of lunch specials.
 Lunch specials include this home made soup, filled with chicken and lo mein noodles.  The broth is very rich and deep flavored- and not in a 'MSG' way.  Every table receives a plate of fried noodles after ordering.  You can ask for some sweet and sour sauce (made here) as well as Chinese hot mustard.
 Chicken Chop Suey (when have you seen that on a restaurant menu?) ($9.75) is simply delicious!  Fresh sautéed sprouts and snow peas in a tasty white sauce with canned water chestnuts and a lot of chicken is quite a meal.  You can have white rice or cantonese pork fried rice with lunch.  The pork fried rice is a meal in itself, with plenty of flavorful bits of chopped barbecue pork...notice, no egg, no pea and carrot mix with the rice. The Sweet and Sour Chicken lunch special ($10.75) emphasizes the frying expertise of the chef.  Light, crispy, crunchy batter covered in an in-house prepared orange sauce which has a honey consistency. So good.
 From the regular menu: Pork Lo Mein ($14.75).  The wok hei- a cornerstone of Cantonese cooking- and my latest craving.  The smoky/charred aroma-flavor, is perfected here in all the lo mein menu choices.  The BBQ pork pieces are sweet, tender and plentiful in this dish.  
 Of course, I must mention the Egg Foo Young (chicken, $12.75).  The patties are topped with the gravy and meat choice.
 The eggy patty does contain sprouts but no onion.  Crispy edges and the light center add texture to each bite with the meat.  Quite a nice version.

In summary: no chopsticks, no egg drop soup, no egg or pea and carrot mix stretching out the fried rice, no MSG, no free hot tea; only quality without shortcuts.  Also, there are Fortune cookies, but no photo. 

Arizona Chinese Restaurant 2650 Main Street Chula Vista, CA 91910 (619)575-1513 Open Tue-Sat 11-9, Sun 12-9  Closed Monday Website

Comments

[Junichi]

I grew up eating Arizona. Even been to their TJ location. Still go when visiting my parents. Our go-to is the Cantonese chicken/fried rice/chow mein. The tomato fish dish is good too. Never imagined them getting a post here!

[Elle]

I love how you constantly introduce your readers to local gems, Cathy! Thank you for sharing, the lo mein had me drooling. Can’t wait to check this place out!

[kat]

such a gem!

[Cathy]

What a great restaurant to have for childhood memories, Junichi! Thanks for the recommendations; definitely will try during our next visits. We know everyone has a favorite restaurant/taco shop/bakery close to their home; it's nice that this is still it for your parents.

Thanks, Elle. We are in this part of the County about twice a month for errands and ask people where they go for lunch nearby; so many times over the years we had just driven past the signage. Enjoy your meal!

It is so wonderful, Kat.

[Soo]

Looks like my kinda place.

[Cathy]

You'll like it, Soo! Arizona serves quality and you'll like the fry. (Less than a mile away is Otay Farms Market, one of our other stops on our trips down here; pick up some tortillas...)