Five ‘Star’ General

It’s hot, steamy and filled to the brim.

An order of General Tso’s chicken from Temple Star Chinese Restaurant also comes with a delicious smell that sends shivers from head to toe.

The appearance of the dark brown chicken in orange sauce, sitting beside the golden pork fried rice topped with two pieces of broccoli, causes Homer Simpson-type salivating and stirs hope that it tastes as good as it looks.

Luckily, it does.

Temple Star gives customers what they want: a lot for a little. For $7.75, students can purchase a combination platter and a 20-ounce soda. A combination platter includes a large portion of a dish of your choosing, plus a side of pork fried rice and an egg roll. The portions are large enough for more than one person or more than one meal for those nursing late night cravings.

“The food is good and cheap for the price, and you get a lot,” said junior Tammy Gammage. She suggests trying General Tso’s chicken or shrimp because both foods taste like dishes from genuine Asian cuisine restaurants.  

Along with the combination platters, Temple Star offers more than 100 different food choices.

The restaurant also offers specials when purchasing large orders of hot food and non-lunch orders. For example, if a customer spends $10 or more they receive a free homemade tea. Spend $20 or more, and get a free pint of chicken or pork fried rice. Spend more than $30, and pick up a free quart of General Tso’s chicken.

Temple Star also offers an array of candies, medicine, such as Tylenol and Advil, cigars and cigarettes. They deliver on purchases of $10 or more, which includes non-food items too. That’s right: They’ll deliver cigarettes with your meal.

The restaurant has an indoor ATM and two tables to dine inside.

Patrons should carryout, however. The restaurant’s two tables are accompanied by six chairs. During a recent visit, remains of fried rice blanketed some chairs while another had a cigarette burn.

One of the tables wobbles at the touch, which can lead to an interesting eating experience with a charm of its own.

David Beach, a senior, said he thinks it is better to carry-out than eat-in because “there are always tons of people in there at night and it’s so loud and hot, plus there are always bums asking for change,” he said.

Temple Star Chinese Restaurant, 1412 W. Diamond St., is open seven days a week.

Although the menu lists different hours than those posted at the store, according to the restaurant owners, the posted hours are correct. Temple Star Chinese Restaurant is open Monday through Thursday 2 p.m. to 3 a.m. Friday and Saturday 2 p.m. to 4 a.m., and Sundays 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. (215) 236-8990.

Alex Yalch can be reached at yalcha@temple.edu.