Happy Chinese Restaurant

When I was a kid I would spend hours digging holes in the yard, because I thought by digging deep enough I would eventually reach China. It wasn’t until I was a little older when I found out that all I had to do is drive to Idaho Falls to Happy Chinese restaurant. The minute you step into the restaurant it seems as if you have taken a voyage to China.  

I am a loyal customer of Happy Chinese Restaurant. I live 30 miles from Idaho Falls, but I am willing to make to drive for many reasons; the food is authentic, the atmosphere is pleasant, and the service is unbeatable. An establishment like this is hard to find.

Food

Anyone who has been to China knows that Chinese restaurants in America are not always authentic Chinese cuisine. Most American-Chinese restaurants try and change their tastes to meet the needs of the American people.  Happy Chinese restaurant on the other hand, offers more authentic Chinese food.

Mr. Jay Li, the owner says his goal is “helping more and more American people understand the real, authentic Chinese food is the goal I am aim at. I hope I can integrate our splendid Chinese culinary art and culture into our food. Customers are not just enjoying our food, but our culture and culinary art.” Chinese food isn’t just stuff to put in your mouth, it’s tradition that comes from an ancient culture. At Happy’s you get more than just great food, you get great food and culture wrapped up in one.  If you ever have a question about the history of any dish, Mr. Li is happy to share his knowledge with you. Mr. Li explained that “Whatever and whenever they are interested in Chinese culture, I will be patient and happy to tell them what I know.”

After years of eating at Happy’s, I have never found a dish I did not enjoy.

There are many “house specialties” at Happy Chinese Restaurant that deserve mentioning. The Seafood in Phoenix Nest, for example, is a mix of crab meat, lobster, scallops, calamari and shrimp with assorted vegetables. The seafood and vegetable assortment is then heaped up on to a phoenix nest made of crispy noodles. Shrimp with Crispy Walnut is a popular dish. It includes a mix of shrimp, crispy honeyed walnuts and mayonnaise sauce, a combination of flavors that you will not forget.  Another favorite dish is the Kung Pao King. It’s a wonderful combination of chicken, beef and shrimp with vegetables and crispy peanuts in a famous spicy Kung-Pao sauce. This is a spicy dish that is exploding with flavor. The Yu-shiang Chicken and the Yu-shiang Beef are also popular among customers. Actually, all the dishes are enjoyed by local customers. Don’t worry if you are a vegetarian, because with choices like Tofu, Stir fried vegetables, and tomatoes with egg, you can’t go wrong. What ever it is you decide to eat, you will enjoy every bite.

Another reason customers love to eat at Happy Chinese Restaurant is how healthy it is. All the food is cooked with natural ingredients. “I always advocate the healthy concept in our cooking, what we use are…natural ingredients. We prepare each item with more time than others, because we need more time to make sure that everything is good enough, and healthy enough. Customers understand us, because they know that good things never come easy,” explained Mr. Li. It is the healthiest Chinese food in town, and they have awards to prove it.

Happy Chinese Restaurant has been rewarded for its excellence many times. The restaurant was featured in Idaho Falls, a local magazine, in 2006; The honor of “Best Chinese Restaurant” in 2007 and 2008. The restaurant was awarded for Top 100 Overall Excellence for three consecutive years by the Top 100 Chinese Restaurants competition from 2006 to 2008.

Location

Happy Chinese Restaurant is located in historic down town Idaho Falls Idaho, walking distance from the Snake River, and breathtaking falls. It is home to many locally owned shops, stores, restaurants, galleries, and theaters. Some business’s struggle in Downtown Idaho Falls as the city continues to expand to the east, but Happy Chinese Restaurant succeeds despite the location. Happy’s has so many loyal customers, some will even drive 30 to 40 miles just to eat wonderful food, as I mentioned before I am one of those customers.

Happy Chinese Restaurant is dine-in and take out establishment with a comfortable 2800 square foot dining space. It is also equipped with an adjoining room that can accommodate 50-60 people. Regular customers often select Happy Chinese Restaurant as the place to hold special parties or gatherings because of the great food and pleasant atmosphere. 

Owner

In 1998, the Owner Jay Li came over to the United States in order to be with his wife. He worked at a Chinese restaurant for 5 years, and then bought Happy Chinese Restaurant in 2003. Mr. Li is where is today because of his hard work and talent.

He is also very grateful for the support he gets from his customers. “I am very grateful for the support of my customers who really gave us consistent support since our establishment, and the recognition of all mystery diners who gave us high praise. Our location is not very ideal, but customers’ sincere support helped us get through all difficulty. I am confident that we can do better and better with the love of our customers and friends,” says Mr. Li. He is also very grateful for the support he gets from his loving wife and son.