Springfield's best sweet & sour chicken

China King

I like a restaurant that boasts being a culinary potentate. China King, on Republic Road, definitely was a step up from Lucy's. The space was very clean and well set up. Calligraphy-inlaid tables, a horse mural and a saltwater fish tank spruced up the atmosphere, and the metal woks were being scraped in the open kitchen secured the idea that the food was going to be freshly made.

Pros: Freshly flash-fried, bite-sized chicken pieces were paired with rice and two pieces of crab rangoon. Any meal that comes with tasty sides will automatically gain points in my eyes. The chicken was flavorful and juicy with a crispy batter coating. The sweet & sour sauce was a perfect balance of, um, sweet-and-sourness from the rice wine vinegar and the accents of pineapple and citrus flavors. It also had a thick viscosity for maximum coverage, and the bright red color to which I am accustomed. 

Cons: The chicken wasn't tossed with the sauce, which some may like. Also, I was hoping the meal would come with sweet peppers and pineapple chunks. It's also a tad more expensive than the other restaurants I tried.

The Price: $7.43 -- tax included (dinner price)

Overall Score: 5 out of 5. The closest contender, so far, in the race to sweet and sour perfection. In this review, China King is reigning supreme.