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Chinese takeaway, but make it healthy. That’s what Eaping Fresh Chinese, a new fast-casual concept in Mountain View, aims to achieve.
“People have a stereotype (that) Chinese cuisine is cheap and is not healthy, (with) so many deep fried stuff, so we’re trying to let people know we serve Chinese food very healthy,” said owner Jian Shi.
Eaping – a modified spelling of “yi ping,” meaning number-one taste and quality in Chinese – will hold its grand opening on Saturday, Dec. 14, offering 50% off all day. The express-line style restaurant offers four-piece mix-and-match boxes of vegetables, protein (like six-ounce cuts of grilled salmon or organic tofu), dim sum (like potstickers or housemade soup dumplings) and more ($12.50-$16.50). For the kids, three-piece mix-and-match boxes are available ($6.95).
In addition to build-your-own boxes, Eaping offers “Hearty Bowls,” made from organic spring mix, organic quinoa, sauteed cauliflower and kale, avocado, sweet corn, seasonal fruit and your choice of protein, including crispy chicken with General Tso’s spicy sauce, grilled sliced beef with sweet soy glaze sauce and more. ($10.95-$15.95). Homemade boba tea is notably only $2.95.
Eaping replaces Lucky Chinese Bistro, created by Peter and Sue Cheung in 1996. Looking to retire, the Cheungs sold the brand to Shi last year, who continued to operate Lucky until changing the concept to Eaping in October. Longtime Lucky customers will be glad to know that 60% of the food is the same, including General Tso’s chicken, orange chicken, black pepper chicken, chicken salad and broccoli beef.
“We try to keep the best part of (Lucky) and just add better choices (and) more healthier ingredients (and) premium ingredients to our menu, and lower the price, because we want to have more people be able to afford it,” Shi said.
Shi said Lucky charged almost $15 for a mix-and-match box, whereas Eaping’s mix-and-match boxes begin at $12.50. Shi noted that at Eaping, it’s not a requirement to order a starch with the box and customers may also choose duplicates.
In addition to Eaping Fresh Chinese, Shi owns Sichuan restaurant LeShan Beef in San Jose, as well as online food delivery service Chefus. He formerly owned Sichuan Fortune House, a restaurant that continues to operate in Pleasant Hill, and full-service sit-down restaurant YiPing in San Ramon. Shi hopes to expand Eaping into a chain store, “offer(ing) much healthier, better choice Chinese food to our community,” he said.
Eaping Fresh Chinese, 1040 Grant Road, Mountain View; 650-988-8998. Instagram: @eaping_freshchinese. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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