Diverging from my usual search for fine cuisine, I was craving good old Americanized Chinese takeout but not necessarily the unhealthy, bloated, “what did I just put in my body” feeling that usually accompanies such cuisine.
In my search, I happened upon the aptly named Lo-Fatt-Chow. Claiming to cook without MSG in trans-fat free oil, Lo-Fatt Chow “focuses on providing quick, healthy, delicious yet affordable cuisine” as per their website’s copy.
Not really wanting to walk all the way to 7th and Madison Street for takeout (they don’t offer seating), I opted for their delivery option. Gone are the days of having to call up and attempt to convey your order over the phone, hoping that you are properly understood – Lo-Fatt-Chow offers their own online ordering service through their website.
The site is user-friendly and easy to navigate, such that my friend and I spent more time debating what to order than figuring out how to order it. The lunch specials seemed like a good deal as they included rice and soup for $7 or $8 depending on the entrée, and the wraps filled with various takeout dishes seemed a unique offering. In the end, we chose the hot garlic chicken lunch special with wonton soup and pork fried rice, the Tso’s tofu wrap combo with wonton soup and plain lo mein, the broccoli and beef lunch combo with hot and sour soup and chicken fried rice, and a combination of steamed dumplings.
With our order placed and confirmation email received, we waited about 40 minutes before I received the call that our food was on campus. After muddling through an explanation of how to get to Davis, through the entirety of which the delivery woman was very cordial and patient, the food arrived.
I started in on the hot garlic chicken which looked quite good, but something about it didn’t taste quite right. Not as though the food was bad per se, it just didn’t taste like the takeout I had come to know and love. Both the chicken and pork fried rice tasted fine, the rice moreso like white rice with some vegetables and meat sparingly mixed in. It was very much the same story with the broccoli beef, dumplings, and soups. The meat was cooked well, the vegetables weren’t too limp or too firm, but nothing was spectacular, and I was left still craving that salty sweetness that Chinese takeout is supposed to deliver.
The one item that was able to save the meal was the wrap. Very unique and perfect for the student on the go, the Tso’s tofu wrap had the lo mein actually wrapped inside in addition to Chinese coleslaw (coleslaw without mayonnaise). It alone was able to satisfy my desire for takeout.
If you’re really craving takeout, then just indulge, consider your soul and not your physical health for one meal and take the few extra calories or cholesterol or sugar (especially for those of us who are young and can handle such unhealthiness).
Though I will not be using Lo-Fatt-Chow as my go-to takeout spot, they are reasonably priced (the total was $33.75 including delivery fee of $1, tip, and tax) and seem understanding of food allergies and dietary restrictions. I will, however, definitely be going back (or rather ordering) to try more of their wraps.
