China One Restaurant Keeps it Simple and Savory

China One Restaurant Keeps it Simple and Savory

China One Restaurant is located in the downtown area of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Covering only 1500 square feet and with a capacity of around 20-30 customers, the humble setting is made intimate by traditional Chinese paintings, a television set to entertainment waiting customers, and a dedication to service and food that makes the customer feel as if they are in their own home.

The owner, Mr. Lin, and his wife launched this business eight years ago. Like many businesses just starting out, the Lin family encountered some challenges shortly after opening. Initially, people were reluctant to visit the new restaurant and the couple didn’t spend any money on advertising. To attract customers, China One kept it simple and simply stuck to the food. The chefs worked hard to offer stunning creations with mouthwatering color, aroma, flavor and presentation. Currently, the thriving business of this small take-out restaurant can be attributed to “word of mouth” promotions made by exuberant return customers. But Mr. Lin credits the business’s success to not only the loyalty of its customers, but to his wife as well: “I want to show my sincere appreciation to my dear wife. Without her, the restaurant wouldn’t have been successfully run for these years. She has spent a lot in this business. Even when she was a pregnant woman, she still worked till midnight.”
But as the saying goes “actions speak louder than words” and the superb dishes at China One Restaurant are ultimately the reason the customers keep coming back. Once customers try one of their signature dishes, they can’t help themselves and will want to kept coming back to satisfy their taste buds. The chefs at China One offer a collection of specialty dishes that are sure to please a variety of tastes.

“Sesame Chicken is always a crowd-pleaser.” Mr. Lin revealed. To acquire a crisp texture, the chicken chunks have to be pickled with super green starch first, and then mixed with starch and egg. After that, the mixture needs to be fried in hot oil until golden. This step requires an experienced chef to handle. Finally, the chef must fry the chicken chunks with sauce, and top with sesames. Then, this splendid dish is ready to be served.

The next “must-try” dish is the Pan Fried Prawns. It is prepared by sautéing prawns in oil and adding the house-made sauce in addition to capsicums and Hoisin sauce. While the recipe appears to be quite simple, the secret lies in the special sauce. Mr. Lin hones his skills on adjusting this unbeatable taste by mixing soy, oyster sauce, sugar, chicken essence and garlic together in a winning combination. Undoubtedly, this unconquerable sauce has wowed a mass of customers and led to the popularity of the dish.

To a takeout restaurant, timely service and affordable prices are also necessary aspects of a successful business. The passionate owner, Mr. Lin, always persists in providing the freshest food, best service and the most reasonable prices to his loyal customers.

Fortunately, constant effort yields sure success. Since opening, the business has prospered and bloomed. To manage the bounty of orders, Mr. Lin employs three chefs to prepare the food and he only checks the dishes’ quality before the food is served. Yet with grace and eagerness, if a customer misses his work, he is glad to tie on an apron and once again cook for his/her pleasure.

The loyalty and praise of his customers is like an elixir to Mr. Lin, reviving his spirits and keeping him working: “Running business in these years, my happiest moments are when I… receive cards and letters from patrons for thanking [me] for having had a wonderful meal. Magically, when I read them, all the sweat is wiped out and the bad mood after a whole busy day is eliminated.”

China One Restaurant
Address: 5355 Government Street, Baton Rouge, LA 70806
Dining Style: Takeout Restaurant
Cuisine: Cantonese Cuisine, Szechuan Cuisine
Capacity / Seats: 30
Year of Establishment: 2000
Phone: 225-926-3222