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Abingdon’s Szechuan Express worth a return trip

Not since the Plum Blossom Inn was a mainstay of Harford County dining has a restaurant provided such consistently delicious Chinese dishes as the Szechuan Express Chinese Restaurant in Abingdon.

Unlike the former Edgewood restaurant, Szechuan Express is primarily a carryout restaurant, but it, follows what was a long-standing Plum Blossom tradition of offering unbeatable Chinese food. Dining Out visited the restaurant one recent weekend and, after being exceedingly pleased with the food, returned three days later to sample more of the menu. The second trip was as good as the first.

Located in the Box Hill Square Shopping Center, Szechuan Express offers a wide range of Chinese, Szechuan, Cantonese, Mandarin and Hunan cuisine. Dining Out sampled a variety of dishes from the restaurant’s extensive menu and was impressed with all of them.

Worth a return trip alone were the restaurant’s fried crab cheese wonton appetizers, which cheese wonton appetizers, which sod for $3.25 for a serving of eight A dozen other appetizers, from egg of shrimp rolls to barbecued spare ribs or a pu pu platter, range in price from $1.20 to $5.95.

From nearly 20 chef’s specials, Dining Out ordered the seafood delight for $12.50. Filled with generous portions of fresh jumbo shrimp, lobster, scallops and crab meat, the dish was served with mixed vegetables in a seafood sauce and was large enough to feed two.

Other chef’s specials included green jade shrimp, crispy fried shrimp sautéed with broccoli and red and green peppers in a spicy golden brown sauce, and the customer’s choice of pork, chicken, beef or shrimp moo shu, a Mandarin dish made with mushrooms, golden tiger lily, cabbage and egg and served with pancakes for wrapping.

Dining Out also ordered a large portion of sweet and sour chicken, a pint of Szechuan spicy chicken and a pint of Szechuan spicy Shrimp. Both Szechuan dishes certainly lived up to the “spicy” portion of their names but did so without detracting from the taste (the restaurant will customize hot and spicy dishes to the customer’s liking upon request ). To say any of the dishes was delicious would be an understatement.

Dozens of other menu selections offered diners their choice of chow mein, chop suey, egg foo young, lo mein, or mei fun, vegetable, pork, beef, chicken, duck and shrimp dishes. More than a half dozen steamed dishes also offered low-calorie options, ranging from $3.75 to $5.00 for a pint and $6.75 to $8.75 for a large serving.

Szechuan Express also offers nearly 20 combination platters, all served with fried rice and egg roll, for between $5.95 and $6.95. More than two dozen lunch specials, served with fried rice, sell for between $3.85 and $4.50. Many are hot and spicy dishes that can be altered to taste and all are served Monday through Saturday from 11 am to 3 pm.

Located at 2931 Enunorton Road, Szechuan Express is open from 11 am to 10 pm. Monday through Thursday, 11 am to 11 pm. Friday and Saturday and noon to 10 pm. Sunday. The restaurant also offers catering for small or large parties and for carryout orders of $12.00 or more, offers free delivery.

DINING OUT

Szechuan Express:
2931 Emmorton Road in Box Hill Shopping Center in Abingdon.

On the Menu:
Chinese, Szechuan, Cantonese, Mandarin and Hunan Cuisine.

Critie’s Comments:
Szechuan Express provides consistently delicious Chinese Dishes.

Hours:
Mon.-Thurs.:11:00am-10:00pm
Fri.-Sat.: Until 11:00pm
Sunday: noon to 11:00pm

Tel: 410-569-3506