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| - I grew up in this neighborhood and Golden Gate Chinese was one of the first places I ever ate Chinese food that wasn't La Choy canned chow mein. I am happy to see that after all these years it is still going strong.
This restaurant makes standard Chinese food - sweet and sour pork, moo goo gai pan, etc. not any sort of new Thai or fusion or other unusual new stuff, which for me is frankly a relief. I am willing to give them four stars just because they make a decent pressed duck which seems to be unavailable at 90 percent of the Chinese restaurants I've been to in four different states. Golden China also makes a lot of its food, such as dumplings, egg rolls, ribs etc. fresh on site and the difference from most other Chinese places is noticeable. I know of a few spotty experiences over the years where something wasn't made quite right or wasn't fresh as expected (for example - they usually make the sweet sauce homemade but a couple of times they must have run out or something because we got packaged sauce with the order), but I have heard many more tales of people who drive all the way from Avon to get dumplings here. They had a fire last Christmas but have bounced back nicely.
The sauces do tend a little towards the bland unless you order a dish specifically advertised as "Hot". I still think they're very good though, and would rather have it bland than loaded with onions like I get at some other joints.
I can't comment on the wait service as we almost always get takeout to go, but the folks who provide the takeout are always friendly and helpful, and the dining room is a pleasant place for the couple of times we did eat in. You do need to ask if you want extra condiments - they give you very little otherwise, not like some places that throw a whole fistful of soy sauce packs in.
With the huge number of trendy restaurants in Lakewood, it's nice to see a few old favorites like Golden Gate Chinese live long and prosper. They will continue to be my Lakewood go-to place for takeout Chinese at a good low price. I think they do deliver as well, if you need that.
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