You won’t find oyster pails at Jade Dragon, an Akron Chinese restaurant known for speedy delivery and reliable, sweet and spicy General Tso’s chicken. “We use the plastic containers,” says owner Jim Xie. “They’re better because you can reheat it right in the container.”
The microwavable packaging comes in handy because Jade Dragon is known for its heaping portions of General Tso’s, sweet and sour chicken and appetizers such as steamed or fried dumplings. “I want to give a lot of food to customers so they’ll tell other people and they’ll come back,” says Xie. He learned to cook while working at his uncle’s restaurant in New York City before moving to Akron in 2006 to buy Jade Dragon with his wife, Min Chai Zheng.
His strategy of serving fresh food, keeping a clean kitchen and hiring friendly staff is paying off. The restaurant serves 200 to 300 customers per day, with about 70% of the business in takeout and delivery. “Our food tastes better because we make it fresh every day,” Xie says.
Try This: The chicken and broccoli special combination plate ($8.20) is stir-fried to order in a light brown sauce, served with fried rice and an egg roll on the side.
How To Order: By Phone, Online, DoorDash
875 E. Exchange St., Akron, 330-475-0727, jadedragon88.com
CLE Takeout Guide: Jade Dragon
Dishes such as General Tso’s chicken are equally delicious as leftovers as they are fresh out of this spot's kitchen.
