SouthCoast’s Lost Chinese Food Gem Still Haunts My Taste Buds

Have you ever started talking about food and immediately felt hungry? That was me during The MGM Show when Michael Rock brought up the best Chinese food spots on the SouthCoast.

When it comes to Chinese takeout, people tend to stick to their favorites.

Maybe it’s because of convenience, loyalty, or just pure habit. Me, I’m always on the hunt for something new, something different, something outside the box. After trying just about every Chinese restaurant in the area, I found the best pork fried rice.

The only problem? You can’t get it anymore.

If you had it, you know. If you didn’t, you never will.

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China Belle in Dartmouth, tucked away on Route 6 near the Westport line, was an absolute hidden gem – and I may or may not have played a role in its retirement.

That’s right. it closed indefinitely, just days after the big rush of 2018.

The first (and only) time I stepped inside that mysterious building – the one that always looked closed but somehow always had an “Open” sign – was May 7, 2018. My buddy Sam Tex and I were craving some good eats. I got beef and broccoli, he got General Tso’s chicken, and together we split some pork fried rice.

That’s when we discovered China Belle’s secret.

Unlike most places, they didn’t cook anything ahead of time. Nothing sat under heat lamps. They fired up the woks only when someone walked through the door.

For 65 years, China Belle was the underdog of Chinese food, and I only got to try it once.

Not trying it sooner is my only regret.

READ MORE: Massachusetts' Best Chinese Food

Now, don’t get me wrong; plenty of Chinese restaurants from Swansea to Wareham are still serving up incredible food. Nothing quite compares, however, to the legendary meal I had that day in May, almost seven years ago.

Who knows? Maybe one day, something will come close; but until then, the memory of China Belle’s pork fried rice will live on.