With how close Great Wall is to me, it's a bit surprising I don't eat here on a weekly basis. I suppose it's the health-conscious, more mature me making that decision. As it stands, I eat here maybe twice a year? But when I do, the experience is magical. Absence, as they say, makes the girth of my waist grow fatter and my physical features exceedingly grotesque.
This place has just been so damn deliciously consistent. While Tokyo Hibachi and Zhuang's Garden have seen their quality steadily nosedive, Great Wall tastes just as good now as it did the first time I tried it all those years ago.
The hot & sour soup is head and shoulders above any other Chinese restaurants' offerings in a 10 mile radius. Now even though I live a few blocks away, I'd drive, well, 10 miles just to have this soup. It has that perfect gloopy, almost gelatinous consistency. This is a gross comparison, but it's almost mucousy? But super flavorful mucous with secret Chinese spices, like MSG. It's so thick, in fact, that you can use it as an impromptu sauce on white rice or lo mein. Perhaps even mei fun if you're feeling adventurous.
Great Wall one of the growing number of Chinese restaurants to move away from those foldable white cardboard containers. You know, the ones that everyone eats out of in movies when they're working late at the office. It's so welcome to see those rectangular plastic containers that stack easier and - perhaps most importantly - are microwave safe. Ever put one of those old containers in the microwave, forgetting they have that thin metal handle and nearly explode your microwave and burn the house down? Yeah, not ideal.
I have to emphasize the lo mein, a fan favorite. There's something that sets it apart, and I think it's a hint of sautéed garlic. Also they fry off the noodles a bit more, allowing them to absorb all the flavor from the wok. Nothing's worse than bland lo mein. I can't even order it at some places anymore because it's my favorite and they've nearly ruined it for me. Luckily Great Wall has restored my faith.
My other go-tos are the moo goo gai pan (a relatively healthy chicken & vegetable dish) and Szechuan chicken (when I want some extra spice).
Parking can be tricky since it's right on Penn Ave. West Reading is pretty much back in full gear, so street parking fills up fast, especially in the evenings. The greedy owners of the parking lot across the street would rather have spots go to waste than let people park there and enjoy the downtown atmosphere (unless they pay premium for a parking pass, that is).
Fortunately I have never run into any rudeness from the employees. Perhaps it's due to the Asian connection. Even though I'm super American, sometimes I pretend to struggle with the English language so the staff of Chinese restaurants accept me as their own. Hey, it's a dog eat dog world, and you gotta take any advantage you can get to make it out alive. read more