Dynasty Taste Inc—A Taste Above the Rest

Dynasty Taste Inc has been successfully serving the people of Staten Island, New York, since its opening in 2002. The take-out restaurant is conveniently located in the plaza on Richmond Hill Road for hungry customers who are on the go. The interior décor is simple, bright, and well ventilated; however, the main focus here is on the service and food. Dynasty Taste Inc is the perfect place for people looking for a delicious meal without having to wait.

Homemade Makes a Difference

Americanized Chinese Cuisine is the general fare at Dynasty Taste Inc with Hunan and Sichuan influences. The most popular dishes are a string of items: the Crabmeat Wanton, Pan Fried Wanton, Boneless Spareribs, Beef Stick, Lo Mein, Fried Rice and Mai Fun. These standard dishes, however, stand out from those at other local eateries because of the food quality and homemade sauces. Take the Crabmeat Wanton for example. Served as an appetizer, the bite-sized wantons are made with fresh dough which is one of building blocks of Chinese cooking. With cornstarch dusted between the wrappers to keep them from sticking together. Fillings are of impeccable taste. A thin and unleavened outer skin holds in the succulent crab meat and cream cheese. The honey sauce gives this dish a surprisingly sweet kick, providing a flavor combination sure to stimulate even the toughest critic's palate.

As for the homemade sauces—after much research, trial and error—the owner ZhengZhao Zheng has reached perfection. The sauces are not too sweet and not overpowering; they have just the right amount of flavor and are absolutely tasty.  “Our customers know our sauce well. There are many sauce varieties:  sweet and sour sauce, General Tso sauce, BBQ sauce, honey sauce and other sauces.” says owner Mr. Zheng.

“I get inspiration from the cooking books and other restaurants, based on more than 10 years of experience.” Adds Zheng.

The sauces make or break a dish. The Beef Stick is somewhat a common dish, with the enticing seasonings composed of BBQ sauce, hoisin sauce and a dash of pepper, Kikkoman soy sauce, and the dish wins the loudest applause from the customers.

Other dish Zheng strongly recommended is the Lo Mein which is claimed as one of the frequently ordered dishes. When there is a party in the nearby middle school, the students would order a bundle— up to 100 orders.

Additional healthy options are available as well. The sauces can be served on the side and there are a variety of vegetable entrées. Some of the more popular items are the Shanghai Bok Choy, Eggplant, and String Beans. All dishes are prepared without MSG, sugar, and little oil. And if a customers requests a dish be prepared a certain way, according to their dietary restrictions, the staff is always glad to make adjustments. According to Zheng, healthy doesn’t have to mean tasteless.

While it’s common for regular customers to have a favorite dish, Zheng believes it’s important to keep the menu changing. Unpopular items are often removed from the menu and replaced with new and exciting dishes. This keeps the customers from getting bored and allows the kitchen staff to use their creativity.

The Service

“Our friendly staff serves customers as quickly as possible,” says Zheng. Because Dynasty Taste Inc provides a take-out service, speed is very important. An important step in fast service is preparation. The staff prepares the ingredients before each shift begins. When orders are placed, it’s very easy for them to finish a meal by adding the already prepared ingredients to the deep fryer, a stir-fry pan, or the steamer. Orders are usually filled within five to ten minutes and deliveries are made within thirty minutes. “Staff should treat customers how they would want to be treated when dining out: smiling face or indifferent gestures? The answer is obvious,” says Zheng. Just because service is speedy, doesn’t mean it doesn’t have to be friendly.

Especially during the busiest times—lunch and dinner time on most weekdays—the staff is exceptionally prepared. The small team is experienced enough to handle even the busiest hours with great efficiency. And if the kitchen does happen to get blocked up, the staff will always let customers know of delays in advance so they are not surprised.

To summarize, Zheng attributes his restaurant’s smooth operation to the following items:

1. Having a small, efficient staff makes the restaurant easy to manage.
   
2. Ingredients must be fresh. The ingredients are responsible for the quality of the overall dishes.
   
3. Everyone works together as a team. Each night someone takes on each role: phones, packaging, and cleaning. This way, everything gets accomplished.

Keeping High During a Low Economy

The economy has definitely had an effect on Dynasty Taste Inc. Zheng is doing what he must to get through it and is sure that his restaurant will survive. He plans on winning over new customers by delivering menus and by advertising in the local paper. And the low prices are great for those with a tight budget. The menu items range from $6.75 to $9.25.

The Owner

Before taking over Dynasty Taste, Zheng owned and operated a restaurant in an unsafe neighborhood around New York City. Zheng made it work as long as he could, but after his children had grown up, he decided it was time to move. The move took Zheng and his family to Staten Island, a safe area in which they are very happy.

Closing Thoughts

“Running a restaurant is my lifelong business. I will continue to serve the community and wow our customers as best as I can with great food and service,” says Zheng.

Message from the Owner:

The staff are very supportive and cooperative, and they have been working for me since our restaurant opened in 2002. Thanks to their consistent support throughout the years, our eatery could survive and stay ahead of competition.

Dynasty Taste Inc.