Generations of Lubbock families were raised on Chinese Kitchen.
It was the kind of place that worked perfectly for everyone at the table. Chinese Kitchen served a style of Americanized Chinese food that felt approachable, which made it a great introduction for kids who might not have been ready for more traditional Asian dishes. At the same time, it was satisfying enough that parents were happy to make it part of the regular lineup. On top of that, the original location sat conveniently close to the South Plains Mall, making it an easy stop for families spending a day shopping in Lubbock.
So what do people remember most?
For starters, that unmistakably bright yellow rice. Was it natural? Probably not. Was it delicious? Absolutely. And then there were the egg rolls. I’ll go ahead and say it: you can’t convince me they weren’t some of the best egg rolls ever served in this town. Even the classics hit the spot — beef and broccoli, and sweet-and-sour pork featuring those little chunks of pork wrapped in giant puffy deep-fried batter. If you ever ate there, you can probably still taste that sweet-and-sour sauce right now.
Lubbock’s Chinese Kitchen Had Great Food And A Bad Drive-Through
Of course, nostalgia wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the drive-through. It may have been the worst drive-through in Lubbock history. Somehow it managed to feel both claustrophobic and impossible for larger trucks to navigate. And the speaker? Good luck understanding a single word coming through it. But none of that stopped people from lining up.
Toward the end of its run, Chinese Kitchen expanded the menu to include hibachi and other options. Those additions gave the longtime restaurant a little fresh energy while still keeping the original favorites intact. Business records show Chinese Kitchen was established around 1976, and after decades at its Slide Road location, it moved to Milwaukee Avenue in 2020. Unfortunately, the restaurant closed its doors for good in 2022.
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Lubbock’s Asian and Chinese food scene has definitely leveled up since 2020. But for those of us who grew up on the “cheap Chinese” combo-plate concept, Chinese Kitchen still holds a special place in our memories. And honestly, if it were still sitting in that old spot today, it would probably still be on my regular list.
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