Happy China is always my go to Chinese restaurant whenever I'm visiting my boyfriend in Durham. Yes, I would agree with other Yelpers in that service may not be the best, but the food definitely makes up for it. Food comes out super quick and portion sizes are huge. Each entree comes with your choice of a side of steamed rice or fried rice. Go for the fried rice... Always! There's something about it that just makes me want more. Get it, you won't regret it. Interior is very nicely decorated and pretty clean. There are plenty of options since their menu is pretty extensive. I would recommend picking a Sichuan dish if you can handle the heat. More specifically, try their Fish Fillet in Spicy Sichuan Sauce. Will definitely be back the next time I'm in town! read more

Nice authentic Szechuan (aka spicy Chinese) food. Good portions, and good for groups -- actually, better with groups because then you'll get to order more dishes to share. The food is the expected Szechuan flavor: very spicy and also very oily. The portions are generously sized. They only provide a small bowl of rice, though, and will charge you extra for more. Usually, most Asian restaurants provide refills of rice for free. The service was mediocre; the staff was inattentive and had to be hunted down to ask for more water or the check. They have a small parking lot, so that is convenient. read more

I really felt it necessary to expand on my review from 2013. I lived in Durham for 5 years and this was truly one of my top 3 places to eat. The double cooked pork, dry sautéed string beans, and beef with diced hot peppers were my signature go to dishes. I always order off the back of the menu that has the traditional Szechuan dishes. My husband absolutely loved trying the different types of dishes such as the kidney, tripe, etc. We always asked for everything to be at the highest spice level and they were happy to accommodate! We have brought some of our visiting family members here a few years back and to this day they still talk about it. I've since moved from Durham, but definitely tried to get my fill of Happy China before we left. read more

My friends and I got a couple entrees and some sides, wasn't impressed by anything. It was take-away, so not fresh from the kitchen, but regardless the flavors simply weren't there. read more

Wow what a pleasant surprise!! We went here expecting typical Chinese food like Chicken and Broccoli, General Tsos Chicken but no.. the menu was like something I've never seen before. Once we realized this wasn't what we expected, we spent a good amount of time looking over the menu and trying to figure out what to order. We both ended up getting some pretty amazing dishes - delicious in taste and beautiful in presentation. If you are not adventurous and if you like bland food, don't go here. But if you want to experience something different and have an exciting dining experience, I definitely recommend Happy China! read more

Happy China - Chinese Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

We ordered food from Happy China for take out. At home we served our food indoors in a bug-free environment. My son found a bug in the sauce of his General Tso's chicken. It was about an inch long with wings. At that point dinner for my 6 kids was OVER. I went back with everything that we didn't eat. It was a lot of food that I brought back. and I brought back the plate with foil over it with the bug. I calmly and kindly told the very flamboyant tall Asian man that there was a bug in the food. I was about to show him the bug covered in sauce. He dismissed me saying he didn't want to deal with me. He started to talk to the person behind me. After he helped the person behind me he proceeded to tell the women workers that came back to the front stand that I was scammer. He spoke Chinese but clearly said scammer 2 times and walked away and glared at me. I told the women that I'm a mother I'm not a scammer. I showed them the sauce covered bug. They were nice and seemed to believe me and gave me my money back immediately. I then told them I need to talk to the manager and they told me they were busy right now. I said it's very important i talk to them now. Finally what was possibly the manager came out and apologize to me. I told her that I don't make these things up and that we didn't even eat much of the food . She apologized and I told her I had a problem with the man who called me a scammer and was rude to me and she said this is his last day. But she then would say "I think" it's his last day. She never stopped saying "I think" that's it is his last day. So I imagine he can stay to mistreat more people. I just can't get myself to eat Happy China again. It's now "Unhappy China" read more

Happy China - The bug that was in the sauce at Happy China - Chinese Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

I'd say the food here is very hit or miss based on all my experiences so far. I've tried Americanized Chinese stables and Sichuan dishes alike. Some dishes have turned out good and others just disappointing and bland. I don't know a lot about Sichuan cuisine (or why it's spelled so many different ways), I am however hooked on it and I try to experience it as much as I can. So maybe I haven't had the right dishes here, but I really just like other places in the area better (there will always be a special place in my heart for C&T Wok!). Back when I first tried this place I was still ignorant about Sichuan cuisine and was only all about some General Tso's chicken, Orange beef/chicken, Sesame chicken and Lo Mein. I found this place to do some of those dishes very good and became very intrigued by their specials and Sichuan menu items. So I started diving in here, beginning with the Tri-Pepper Chicken which I liked and thought had decent flavor, and was impressed that it actually had some serious heat to it, as almost all restaurants tout very spicy dishes that really aren't that hot at all. Upon my most recent visit I didn't see Tri-Pepper Chicken on the menu, so I don't know what's up with that, but that was one of the only non Americanized dishes I liked here. I was disappointed with the Sichuan Double Cooked Pork here, and found it to be bland, and compared to other places I've tried it at, the one here is just way off the mark. I've tried a few others here and always seem to end up disappointed. I still used to say that dishes like Orange Chicken and General Tso's Chicken were a step above here, but recently tried the General Tso's chicken here and couldn't make heads or tails of it. One thing I will say is the fried rice is amazing here. I'm not a huge fan of fried rice, but as just as John S. and Ranjay J. say, the fried rice here is kinda amazing and definitely a step above most others, and just a must try for sure. All in all I have had good experiences here and disappointments alike. I like the service and atmosphere here, but I feel like this place is just ok and the quality of food seems to vary more than it should. read more

Happy China - Hot and Sour Soup - Chinese Near Me - Durham, North Carolina

See all

I was excited to have a restaurant with authentic Chinese food pop up relatively close to downtown Durham, but my first experience here with Susan Z was a bit disappointing. We ordered the fish in spicy oil, tofu chow fun, and pea shoots (dou miao). The fish in spicy oil was definitely the best dish of the three, but every dish was excessively oily and felt heavy. Even the pea shoots were sitting in oil and had a strange aftertaste. We tried to dip the pea shoots in water just to get some of the sauce off, but it didn't help very much. Chow fun is usually an oily dish since the noodles stick together so easily, but it also usually has more flavor. I tried to spice it up by pouring some of the oil from the fish onto the noodles, but it falls short of other places even with the added flavor of the oil. I think Christina G's review of Happy China is really spot on, but I know the restaurant is still new and I'm hoping they will improve over the next year or so. Their menu certainly has a lot of potential, but they need to cut back on the oil and try to make their food a little healthier. For now, I would rather drive down to Chapel Hill for Gourmet Kingdom, or up to one of the great places Christina mentioned in her review. read more

Happy China is a great little Szechuan place, but you have to be careful about what you order, because some of the dishes are extremely authentic and may be a rude shock to the American palate. That said, my partner and I only order from the authentic menu (they have a separate menu for standard American Chinese foo). First, the house fried rice that comes with any dish you order is just simply delicious! It's very simple but full of flavour. Make sure you ask for fried rice instead of steamed white rice. We also like some Szechuan favourites, like the spicy pepper fish hot pot, which is a fiery peppercorn-laden red soup with fish fillet. The spicy diced stir-fried chicken is also delicious. We were confused by the double-cooked pork here, because it was lacking chilli oil, and came out looking very pale. We also didn't enjoy the cumin lamb, which had *wayyyy* too much cumin. Nevertheless, order the right dishes and you'll walk away really satisfied! read more

Yay, authentic Szechuanese food in Durham! Pluses: Authentic. About half the customers are Chinese speaking people. Specials written in chinese (Good sign). Nice ambience with pleasing decor (not common for chinese restaurants). Brown rice option. Minuses: was slow service on this saturday night we were there. Small portions for a chinese restaurant. A little more expensive than a typical chinese restaurant. I am half chinese and have lived in SF and Beijing, so i appreciate good authentic chinese food (my chinese half is actually from Szechuan province!). We had mapo tofu and Shui Zhu Yu (boiled fish with hot peppercorns). The fish was especially good and the closest of this particular dish to my experience in China than anywhere I've been to in the US! The Ma La (numbing, spicy) thing is alive and well here, and the degree of oiliness less than most americanized Szechuan restaurants. We probably like the food a little better at Gourmet Kingdom in Carrboro, but the ambience is kinda gross at Gourmet Kingdom, and Happy China is more conveniently located for us. We will definitely be back! read more

Happy China is not the ordinary Americanized Chinese restaurant and applaud them for that. They have an authentic menu with a focus on Szechuan style. If I wasn't so spoiled by some of the Szechuan Chinese restaurants in Cary (35, Super Wok, and C&T Wok) then I'd probably be more enthusiastic about this place. My wife and I have been here twice and we ordered enough food for three days of leftovers on each occasion (seriously). Portions are good and we liked the variety. So the verdict on the dishes: Fish Filet in Spicy Szechuan Sauce: Probably the best you can get in Durham for this dish. The sauce was less flavorful than some of my favorites in Cary but still very good. I had a lot of leftover oil/broth/water mix after eating the fish so I kept adding rice for a few days until it was gone. Chicken in Spicy Pepper Sauce: Fairly bland. I was not impressed. It was very similar to the Tri-Pepper Chicken at C&T Wok. Super Wok and 35 Chinese have the best version of this dish. Sichuan Double Cooked Pork: Liked this one a lot! Very good flavor and would definitely order it again. Peking Duck: Dry (a little too crispy) and not much meat on the bones. I wish they had Tea Smoked Duck because tends to be more flavorful. General Tsos Chicken: This was our American Chinese guilty pleasure and we enjoyed it. Singapore Style Rice Noodles: Good dish! Reminded me of Chow Fun from East Coast Chinese. Nice curry seasoning. As for the ambiance, Happy China has a nice modern interior with a Red/Black color scheme. It seems like a good place for a sit-down dinner but we have only done take-out (mainly because we wanted to avoid the awkward stares as we ordered enough food for a family of 5). read more

My partner and I have been here several times and have had good and not-so-good experiences. I will start by saying we are always seated quickly, and the staff are always friendly and attentive. The food comes out fast and piping hot, and there are some really stand-out dishes here. The best dish by far is the fried rice. It comes with every order, and is literally the best fried rice I've ever had. I know it's strange to rave about such a basic dish, but we have come to Happy China just for the fried rice. It really is that good. Other yummy dishes are the Spicy Sichuan Fish and Diced Chicken in Spicy Sauce. Both dishes are in my top 10 authentic Chinese Food dishes ever. The not so good dishes are the Double Cooked Pork and the Cumin Lamb. The pork was fatty and chewy, and was lacking chili sauce. It was also very oily. The lamb was completely inedible. I've had cumin lamb many times, but nothing like this. Each piece of meat was literally dredged in pure cumin. It was so powerful, that I couldn't taste anything else for the rest of the evening. We were both only able to eat a bite or two before giving up. The cumin coats your tongue and is extremely unpleasant. I think it may possibly be the worst dish I've ever ordered at a restaurant. So yeah, the place is hit or miss, but the good dishes are worth a try. I still dream of that Fried Rice and Sichuan Fish, and will definitely be back. read more

With our fridge nearly empty in preparation for a vacation, my husband and I headed over to Happy China for dinner (okay, fine: we were also looking for an excuse to be close to LoYo at dessert-time). The restaurant is nice and a bit romantic in terms of decor. Lots of expected red accents (that's when I realized that Chinese restaurants have it made because they can get sparkly red Christmas decorations at a discount after the holidays), plus nice linens and lighting. Our server was really friendly and seemed genuinely excited to take our order, but we actually didn't see much of her after that. She promised to bring me water, but I ended up asking the runner. We actually ended up asking the runner for several other things, too, like boxes and our check. The restaurant wasn't so busy that our server was swamped. My dish, pork and potato with kung pao sauce, was nice and tasty, while my husband's tofu something or other had promise; it tasted good and all, but there was a ton of celery "filler." This made him sour about the price. We'll probably be back, but we won't hurry. Turns out LoYo is worth the trip *without* Happy China. read more

Not a single vegetarian option on the lunch menu! Nothing like understanding your demographic!

The closest you'll find to proper Sichuan food in the area ... go for the dry pot and some Sichuan wontons in chili oil.

Hmmm, I hadn't been back to Happy China since my last review almost two years ago. Not because I didn't like it the first time, but I just don't get Chinese out that much. Anyway, I ordered take-out with shrimp and broccoli and an egg roll and was not impressed this time. The shrimp and broccoli dish was bland and some of it was even cold (cooked unevenly). The egg roll didn't taste very fresh and wasn't crispy. I think my food had been sitting out a while, but that shouldn't have happened since I picked it up right after it was ready. I might try Happy China again, but I won't be in a hurry to do so because my latest experience didn't make me happy. read more

If you come to Happy China to eat there is a good chance that you will leave with a wide smile on your face. Happy China specializes in Sichuan style chinese cooking, but they do offer the usual dishes you find in just about all chinese restaurants in North America. Their menu has a wide variety that even Bizarre Foods host Andrew Zimmern would be happy such as tripe, tongue and intestine. The good thing I really like about Happy China is that the dishes were not overly sauced. For example, I ordered Kung Poa chicken from the lunch special list for $7.00 and it came out with not one chili but six and had a lot of flavor. The spring rolls were fried and were just ok. Service was superb and attentive. Food B Staff B Decor B Location B Health Inspection Grade 98.5 read more

When I first saw this place, I thought to myself: How can a place that specializes in Chinese food _and_ sushi be any good? I grumpily dragged myself over here to meet with some friends and was instantly converted. The first time I went we had tofu in lettuce wrap, walnut shrimp and a vegetable stir fry. They also gave us some sushi, compliments of the house. I just got back from my second visit - we had chow fun and scallion beef. Both times the more Americanized Chinese staples (chow fun, walnut shrimp) have been totally decent. Pretty much as good as only-average dishes get. It's the Szechuan dishes that should be your choice here. They are Szechuan spicy and well-flavored. The only thing I didn't like is that if you order tea you get crappy tea bag tea. Blech. But beyond that, give me any dish on that menu and a bowl of white rice, and I'll happily shovel the whole delicious thing down my gullet. Let's be honest - it's impossible to get SF Bay Area quality Chinese food (my yardstick for Chinese food in this country) in Durham. As far as Chinese restaurant food in this area goes though, I think Happy China is the pinnacle. If I'm wrong, please correct me! Lastly, the restaurant is tastefully decorated, the servers are extremely friendly and just-attentive-enough. There's always lots of Chinese people eating here whenever I go, which is the best sign I know of to indicate the quality of the food. I can say that cuz I'm Chinese ;) read more

I came here with a classmate looking for some really good and fresh food and was initially very pleased but my main dish let me down. There were a lot of people in the building for the dinner rush but the servers handled it all really well. Our orders were taken promptly and when the appetizers came out it was all steaming and fresh! My companion got the miso soup and Mongolian beef and really enjoyed his meal overall. The miso soup was really tasty and fresh and he said the Mongolian beef was equally delicious. For my appetizer I had the wonton soup which was perfect especially with the little crisps they serve it with. I tried the chicken mei fun (broad rice noodles) and I didn't particularly enjoy it. There was a lot of chicken with it and I feel as though I should have gotten the thin rice noodles but I doubt that would have changed the unpleasant taste of the base sauce. I've never tasted a lo mein/mei fun with that kind of flavor so I wasn't keen on it. Maybe I would have had better luck with my meal had I tried something different. read more

Terrible experience. My group had a reservation for Christmas evening. We were asked to come at 4:30 so they could start our meals before they became too crowded. When we arrived at 4:30, the restaurant was already half full and they were not prepared for us - even though the person organizing our group had called three times over the past week to make sure they were prepared for a group of 20. First, each table got one menu to share - they said they didn't have any others. Then, although our orders were taken at 4:45, 6:00 rolled around and no one had been served. One of our 3 tables began to have a few dishes served - one at a time. By 6:30 part of our group began leaving. Others tried talking to the staff and the "manager" to find out what was going on. They argued that we hadn't really been waiting 2 1/2 hours (which is hardly the customer experience you desire after being kept waiting for dinner) and were told our food was coming. Finally, after 3.5 hours, everyone left in disgust. Meanwhile the rest of the restaurant was being served without too much delay. If Happy China did not want a large group - they should have said so up front, not let us waste more than three hours of our lives. The service was terrible. The manager and staff's attitude was even worse. I can't tell you whether the food was good or bad. I will never step foot in Happy China again. read more

This place is a hidden gem. Went here for lunch with co-workers, I couldn't believe we were one of two tables in the place. Obviously service was amazing, the server was awesome. The lunch specials were cheap and large. I have only good things to say about the food, it was great. Highly recommended! read more

I found an eyelash and a strand of hair in my order. I was outdone. And we were expecting my from this our first Chinese food experience in our new city. And the shrimp weren't all that. read more

Update: See my original review below. I really liked this place but was sorely disappointed when I ordered a to-go dish that was utterly inedible. It was advertised as spicy but the chef obviously had no idea what (s)he was doing: double handfuls of black peppercorns and a huge amount of hot dried red peppers completely overwhelmed whatever flavor might have been present. The result was a bitter, over spiced concoction. I should have called them or gone back, but I was angry and just tossed the awful mess into in the trash. Haven't been back since. ------------- Think 'authentic'. Easily the best Szechuan restaurant in Durham and Chapel Hill. In addition to the usual fare, they prepare an array of exceptional authentic dishes and offer a great list of specials (see the board when you walk in as the servers don't always mention them). If you truly like Szechuan, tell them not to dial down the peppers. I would rank this restaurant with the best authentic Szechuan restaurants I've been to in San Francisco, L.A. read more

First and last time Greasy mooshoo pork and oversalted. way too much black pepper in hot sour soup and I chewed enough red pepper flakes to make me sick. General tsao chicken was so sweet breaded heavily. Egg rolls dripping in grease. Not sure what the good hype was for... read more

The Chinese was good here, but a noted step down from my first visit. The dumplings lacked any apparent flavor and the singapore rice noodles were just not very tasty - coming from someone that typically loves them. The sesame chicken was good, and the egg rolls were excellent, though overall I came away from my recent visit a bit disappointed. Will try again, and will hope this was a fluke. read more

Wow, I can't believe I'm giving a Chinese food restaurant 5 stars, but I am. Happy China is a treasure in Durham. I received their flier in the mail and saw a lot of their social media presence via Facebook. Decided one night cooking was too much effort, so I ordered take-out. I opted for the Chow Fun with Chicken and General Tso's with Beef. YUM. Incredible flavors. Not that sickly-salty Chinese food experience I tend to normally have. It actually tasted fresh. I am still impressed with the high quality. Yes, it was a pricier than going elsewhere, but I think it's absolutely worth it. While I did do take-out, I noticed the warmth of the restaurant interior. I hope they continue to do well. I'm also very interested in trying their sushi selection. read more

Chinese food not in a major city is often a crap shoot. It can be amazing, handmade by a great cook, or it can be Panda Express like. This place, although the ambiance and space was nice and clean enough, the food was Panda like. Perhaps it's because the students here are so desperate for a slice of home, they will eat any asian food, or the others in town who have never had good Chinese food. I got the MaPo Tofu, hard to make bad, but this was bad. The spicy was coming from something that had a bitter after taste. The rice was overnight rice or at least rice that tasted like it was microwaved to be warmed. It's just tofu and spicy people, you should be ashamed that you call yourself a Chinese Restaurant. read more

See all

Ok so this is how good Happy China is...before in North Carolina there was only one great Szcheuan place called 35 in Cary. All the Dukies would have to drive to Cary to get real authentic spicy Chinese food and many people would make the commute. However, all that changed, when the chef of 35 moved to Durham and started to work with Happy China. Happy China is the most legit Szhechuan food you can ever get in Durham...and I think it'll stay that way. Although it is still small and doesn't have all my favorites, it definitely is a great improvement for Durham and a must for all Dukies reminiscent of scheucan cuisine! 8/10! http://windoweating.tumblr.com/post/43177930552/2-4-some-szechuan-favorites-spicy-fish-soup read more

The service was ok, but food was terrible. Twice Cooked Pork was salty and gamey. I don't even remember the other two dishes I ordered but they were also very bad. I don't understand how they got so many positive reviews. I will not come back. read more

This review is for take-out only. I ordered the chicken with string beans and the eggplant with brown sauce. The chicken dish was meh -- chicken was cooked fine, a little too much sauce, but the green beans were a disappointment. This being a Sichuan restaurant, I was expecting dry-fried green beans, but instead they were just plain not-as-tasty green beans. Maybe I'll try the straight "ganbian sijidou" next time. The eggplant was good though! Cooked well, good texture, still had that purple color (poor cooking makes eggplant turn brown). I love Chinese eggplant, so I'm glad I found a place that does it right. My friends got a variety of dishes too, and they seemed content. The garlic sauce could have been spicier? Also, the prices are a little steep for Chinese food, but the takeout portions are large. So, I guess I'm still looking for my go-to Chinese place... read more

I was pleasantly surprised by an excellent lunch at Happy China this week. Surprised because the strip mall exterior of the restaurant belies the lovely interior dining room. And surprised, frankly, because the South has its share of mediocre Asian restaurants. Our meal was anything but. I ordered Kung Pao chicken and found the chicken tasty and the peanut sauce spicy. One of the things ethnic restaurants frequently do in the South to please the local palate is to tone down the peppers, but mine was plenty hot. My wife enjoyed her steamed noodles and hot and sour soup. My niece and I both tasted the soup and thought it was excellent. My niece ordered Orange Chicken and asked for it mild, but said it came out pretty spicy. Still, she was very pleased with the dish. Happy China advertises itself as Sichuan cuisine. This end of Durham's Durham-Chapel Hill Boulevard now hosts several good restaurants, including Fosters Market, Guglhuph Bakery Café, and The Refectory Café. In my opinion, Happy China fits right in. There is ample outdoor seating for pleasant days, which we see in any season here in the Triangle, but as I said, the interior of the restaurant is far more attractive. read more

Happy China deserves no more than 3 stars if it were located in a major metropolitan city, but seeing as it's Durham... 4 stars for surprisingly decent Chinese food! In terms of cuisine authenticity, the dishes are hit or miss. I came here with a friend and ordered the seafood soup, walnut shrimp, peking duck, and shredded potato with spicy green pepper. The seafood soup and walnut shrimp were fantastic. The shredded potato was delicious as well, with the right balance of spicy and sour. The peking duck severely missed the mark, especially at $18. Authentic peking duck wraps are supposed to be made with large, crispy thin slices of duck skin as the base. Happy China's duck breast offering was dry, flavorless and had very little skin. The green onion complement appeared wilted, like it had been sitting in the fridge for weeks. The tortilla wrap was without a doubt store-bought judging by its freshness and texture. When I'm in Durham, this will be my go-to spot for Chinese food until I find something better. read more

THis location has turned over many times and I thought it had the kiss of death. I was surprised to see another chinese restaurant open again. I was keeping my eye on the place for weeks and lo and behold I saw a critical mass of cars parked there. I don't think Durham has any Chineses restaurants that stand out as excellent. My wife and I went there last night and were very surprised to find the food and service to be excellent. The wait staff were eager to please. The food was well prepared with distinctive flavors. We had the Sour Cabbage Soup with Fish and Mou Shi Tofu. The soup had a delicious sweet and sour pickled flavor . The Mushi was crisp and good. I have been looking for a great Chineses restraurant for over 20 years . Maybe this is the one. We will be back again to explore the menu. read more

Happy China = Happy Leo I dropped in for lunch after having take-out from here about a year ago. I just wanted to say it was delicious! I had Spicy Garlic Shrimp w/Fried Rice, egg drop soup, and an egg roll for $8!!! Great for lunch. The fried rice some of the tastiest I've had the pleasure of eating. It had this grilled, hibachi, smokey flavor that was unique and amazing. Hopefully that wasn't a one time thing and when I go back, it'll still be amazing. read more

I do not know why it is hard to find some stellar Chinese food in SoDu but I am happy to say Happy China is doing it better than most. A-OK in my book. Service was great consider the place was packed on a Friday night. Food was not super salty which I appreciate. I ordered the I Love Sichuan Shrimp and asked for it to be spicy. I'm pretty sure I got the white girl spice level and will have to be more specific next time. The dish was on the smaller side for the $13 price tag but it was full of large fresh shrimp and veggies. The Spare Ribs were on point and came out lava hot. Boneless preference aside, I would order these again. My husband was not wowed with his Peking Duck and noted that they are not giving you half a duck as the menu states for $19 as his order was missing his beloved leg. The fried rice that came with his meal was outstanding. We took full advantage of their sake and wine menu and glad to see they offer a wide selection. I will have to try more items on the menu but after my first visit, I prefer East Coast Asian Bistro for take-out and Happy China for dine in. read more

See all

Went out to Happy China a week ago , to see if it did have truly authentic fair. I didn't expect to find much but the standard American-style chinese food (which I love, by the way), but was surprised to see a selection of the so-called "sweet meats" in traditional sichuan preparations. The food was OK. I wasn't blown away by my order, but I did order fairly conservatively. The happy family was prepared in a wonton-bowl with the rice on the side. the bowl itself was delicious. I also had the hot and sour soup, and it also was nice, familiar, and well-executed. I thought the prices were a bit higher than the meal warranted, but only by a small amount. I would try it again, but probably go for more traditional items they offer, to see how well the sichuan spices shine. read more

Like Dale H, I wasn't the most impressed by Happy China. I will say that I appreciate how it's got both an authentic Chinese menu and the more traditional Chinese American takeout fare. Furthermore, the service is solid and the environment is great, so it's definitely a welcome addition to the Durham culinary scene. Overall, after sampling 10+ dishes here, I will say that there's definitely a lot of hit and misses. It really comes down to your tastes, but I would highly recommend the Classic Sichuan menu if you're looking for some spicy and authentic chinese food. The fish fillet in spicy sichuan sauce was a highlight as well as the mapo tofu(I'm glad to see they can do the classics right). While it's got a funky english name, I think Happy China's worth a visit, especially if you have a larger party. read more

My family loves getting take-out here! We have made this our regular go-to Chinese restaurant for delicious and somewhat exotic food. I say exotic because in addition to the kind of Chinese choices that you would see in any such eatery, they have a number of more authentic dishes that you just don't get everywhere. Like the memorable Crispy Pork Intestine or Sichuan fish soup, for example. We try something different every time we visit and we always come away pleased. read more

I have never gone to Gourmet China, supposedly the most authentic, aka best (do you qualify quality by authenticity? well supposedly delicious too), Chinese restaurant in the triangle area. But Happy China is my instant favorite in Durham. Great service and great pricing for the portion and quality. If you split a family style meal between a few friends, it ends up around 10, 12 dollars per person. I ordered the double cooked pork, peking duck, and water boiling beef. The flavors are fantastic and spot on, the ingredients are fresh, not skimpy on proteins, and done perfectly right. These are restaurant dishes you'd find on a trip to China, and combined with a great ambiance of 70's hits, what more can you ask for? I'm sure you can order typically Americanized Asian entrees, as some of the other reviews have done, but I would recommend their special entrees. read more

Happy China, not so happy tummy. The food tasted bland even compared to every other Chinese place you get in every city. But its contents were the furthest thing from bland. It managed to twist my innards into knots, along with my fiancé as well. 10/10 will not do again. I will be making the further drive out to Gourmet Kingdom instead. read more