Berwyn Chinese restaurant hits the mark… for now

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N-Joy II, located next to the Harlem Avenue train station in Berwyn, is all you could want and more from a cheap Chinese restaurant.

The tiny hole-in-the-wall restaurant features a tank of koi fish, large quantity of Chinese sculptures and the questionable health standards of a place where you can buy a heaping dish of orange chicken for less than $5. The dim lighting and comfy booths make it the perfect late-night stop, and the atmosphere, nearly vacant of customers, adds a welcome level of privacy.

Is it a little sketchy? Undoubtedly. One of my fellow patrons had to fish a speck of dirt out of her water, and the menus looked like they dated to the rule of Qin Shi Huang. But let’s be real: I wasn’t there for top-notch hygiene standards. I was there for some quality cheap Chinese food. By that measure, N-Joy hit the mark.

I ordered the General Tao Chicken for $6.20 and received a steaming plate of fried rice, spicy boneless chicken and an egg roll only a few minutes later. The food was delicious and definitely worth the price. My friends ordered beef lo mein and orange chicken for a similar price and were equally satisfied.

This restaurant was a hit for both my taste buds and my wallet. Do I have food poisoning? Only time will tell. For now, though, I recommend this Harlem Avenue jewel as a perfect stop for some late-night Chinese.