When it comes to Asian food, I sort of know my stuff. Especially when it comes to Chinese food given I’ve been eating it most of my life. Everything from authentic Cantonese to Hunan, Szechuan, Shandong and more, I’ve had most of what you can find in the US. From banquet food (weddings, parties), street food and more, Chinese-American eats are about as ubiquitous as barbeque, Italian and Mexican. And I have to tell you that finding good Chinese-American cuisine is NOT easy at all in Raleigh.
But thankfully you have Chinese-American spots like Jin Jin China off of S. Wilmington in Raleigh! Located in what’s primarily a Hispanic-Latino plaza, Jin Jin dishes out some fantastic Chinese food at a great price. Their menu is expansive and covers favorites like beef and broccoli, roast pork egg foo yung, and moo sho chicken. While 90% of the menu is familiar, there are a handful of items that show off the breadth of their chef’s skills. And their soups are awesome from egg drop to wonton. For lunch you can get an entree with rice for under $7 and I’m guessing you’re unlikely to finish it. You really get great bang for your buck as long as you don’t expect too much. The place is shielded up for the pandemic and service is efficient but not always super friendly but that’s no big deal.
Portions are large and I enjoy their classic onion fried rice which is just way better than white rice! They also offer a homemade chili oil which is a nice touch. Given that business is mostly take-out now, fast and efficient works for me! But for sure, their food is above average using nice vegetables like zucchini, baby corn, and more in addition to the ubiquitous carrots and broccoli. I’m excited to try more off their Chinese-American menu given I now live in the neighborhood but it’s impressive so far. Enjoy and appreciate their solid Chinese-American eats for a great price because believe it or not, it’s not so easy to find in Raleigh…
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