High-quality Chinese cuisine

J.D. China is a family-owned and operated Chinese restaurant that has been part of the Fayetteville community for more than 30 years.

The owners credit its long-term success to commitment to quality dishes and strong relationships with its guests.

"We have been here so long that we've grown together with the community. Our customers are just like family," co-owner Jennifer Lee said. "Wherever we can, we prefer to give back to the customers and put our resources into the quality of food."

Lee owns and operates the restaurant with her brother, Daniel Chang. Both siblings are fluent in English, Spanish and Chinese. They spent 17 years at their original location in Evelyn Hills Plaza, which had only 15 tables and one buffet station, before moving to their current site on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard near Interstate 49.

"We wanted to be more centrally located, closer to Farmington and the bypass," Jennifer Lee said.

The new location boasts seating for up to 250 people and has a centralized buffet with four hot and two cold tables. There are two private party rooms -- one can accommodate about 60 guests, the other holds up to 75.

J.D. China frequently hosts families and large groups, along with members of the University of Arkansas sports teams, Lee said.

The buffet is the main attraction at J.D. China. There is a plethora of traditional Chinese fare, as well as chicken wings, pork ribs, popcorn shrimp, sushi, mussels, fresh fruit, dessert and soup.

There are familiar dishes such as General Tso's chicken, beef and broccoli, fried rice and noodles. The buffet also presents several specialty offerings, including tempura chicken with peanut sauce, braised brisket, fragrant chicken and seafood feast.

Desserts include flan, banana pudding, sugar puffs, Jello and rich, raspberry chocolate chunk soft ice cream.

A variety of condiments and accompaniments, from kimchi to cocktail sauce, is also included.

All food served is prepared and cooked in the on-site kitchen. Produce from local farms is used to enhance the freshness of popular dishes, such as the sauteed green beans.

Even on the buffet, the dishes are cooked to be crisp, plump and juicy. To maintain the quality, the buffet is replenished frequently and at least twice as often as required by law.

The lunch buffet is priced at $8.69 daily, and for dinner and weekends it is $10.39. Between 2-4 p.m. Monday-Friday, the buffet is offered for $7.99. Children ages 3-8 can dine for $4.99 at all times, and children 9-12 can dine for $6.99. The children's buffet excludes crab legs.

The dinner buffet presents more seafood options, including crab legs and fresh mussels.

Although the buffet is popular and convenient, J.D. China has a long list of menu items that are cooked to order.

Customers often select a menu item because they prefer it "hot from the wok," Lee said.

"Every dish is freshly cooked," Lee said, even drive-thru orders.

The average drive-thru order is served in about five minutes, and the customers can pull ahead and have the staff bring out the hot, fresh order when it is ready.

"Even the daily special is cooked to order," Lee said. "It is not fast food, but it is cooked at a high temperature so it is quick."

The daily specials are a dozen or more popular Chinese dishes served with an egg roll and three crab ragoon for $7.69. Selections include Kung Pao chicken, shrimp fried rice, General Tso's chicken, spicy beef, chicken lo mein, sweet and sour chicken and more.

Frequent customers can take advantage of a six-coupon discount.

"We give the customer a coupon each time they pick up food in the drive-thru. With six coupons, they get a free lunch buffet or daily special," Lee said.

Call-ahead orders are welcome and can be picked up easily at a designated time.

"That is especially helpful between 6-8:30 p.m.," Lee said.

The efficiency of the kitchen is one of the reason that J.D. China can handle the wrap-around drive-thru line, the two large banquet rooms and the bistro seating area near the entrance.

The dinner menu boasts specialty items such as the baby-back ribs, crispy duck served with pancakes and pepper-salt jumbo shrimp.

The baby-back ribs are marinated and coated, both crispy and tender, and served with rice, green onions and sweet peppers. The duck is marinated and deep fried, served with Chinese pancakes, plum sauce and steamed vegetables. The jumbo shrimp specialty is seasoned with salt and pepper, fried until crispy and served shell-on with rice and green onions.

Diners should allow up to 25 minutes for made-to-order preparation of the specialty dishes.

J.D. China is a popular choice for those wanting a freshly cooked and quick meal after work, a day of shopping or for a celebration.

"You can come in and get the buffet and eat right away. It's fresher and easier to digest than fast food," Lee said.

In addition to on-site catered events, J.D. China also has off-site catering options available.

J.D. China is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. seven days a week. More information is available by calling (479) 442-5875 or online at jdchinarestaurant.com.