Red Ginger China Bistro hits the spot

Another restaurant in our repository of local favorites is Red Ginger China Bistro in Temecula. We’ve been eating there for years and have never had a bad experience and the food has always been delicious.

The restaurant is usually very busy during lunchtime and it seems to be a popular place for casual business lunches. It’s simply decorated and the service is dependable.

What really stands out is the food. The luncheon specials are reasonably priced ($6.55 and up) and offer variety including soup, salad, rice and the choice of an entree.

My favorite is the Twinkle Walnut Shrimp. It’s a dish I’ve never seen anywhere else. The shrimp have a light batter-type coating and the sauce is a transparent, glossy, sweet concoction that when teamed with the shrimp and the walnut halves makes for a true taste treat.

Other dishes we like are the Tangerine Chicken Salad and the Grilled Shrimp Cilantro Salad. The Thai Chicken Lettuce Wraps come with bean sprouts, cucumber carrots and two sauces, a fresh cilantro and a spicy peanut and are delicious. There is usually a negotiation involved with deciding between that and the Minced Chicken in Lettuce as an appetizer. I do love the minced chicken with its spicy combination of flavors.

Red Ginger offers more than 100 dishes to choose from so ordering takes a bit of decision making. For those wanting healthy alternatives, a no oil or sodium menu offers steamed chicken, shrimp or fish in six different combinations. There are three children’s menu items to choose from also.

There is a catering menu with prices that range from $8.95 to $9.95 and the dinner specials with soup, appetizer and entree choices ranging from $11.95 to $15.95.

The portions are very generous and we always take food home after dining there. I do recommend eating at the restaurant, as the food is best enjoyed hot and fresh from the kitchen. Though when I’ve been sick with the flu I crave the hot and sour soup and I’ll order something that isn’t deep fried and that can be reheated in the microwave easily.

Red Ginger has a great Web site that makes take-out ordering easy at http://redgingerchinabistro.com for those who do the office lunch run.

Red Ginger is open from 11 a.m. until 9:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Red Ginger China Bistro is at 40405 Winchester Road in Temecula. They can be reached at (951) 296-1625.