Ordering Chinese food on Staten Island? Little luck in this pandemic

AsiaTown favorite heats up your dining experience

Kung Pao chicken is in scarce supply on Staten Island as most Chinese eateries have shuttered. (The Plain Dealer/David Petkiewicz)The Plain Dealer

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- In mid-March most of the borough’s Chinese and sushi restaurants started to shut down. By April 1 only three Asian-style eateries continued delivery and curbside pickup service. And right now there are only two in the game -- Arirang in Great Kills and Oriental Plaza in Willowbrook, both with modified hours.

Jac Mao of Dongan Hills had been operating up until Sunday, April 5, each day with a different set of hours due to staff shortages. Co-owner Mao himself delivered food and manned the phones up until that time. Finally he called it quits.

Mao explained, “We will be closed for two weeks starting tomorrow. It’s getting too dangerous for my staff to work. I can’t put them at risk.” He added that he and his chef will come back for a few days to cook off the inventory for firehouses in the neighborhood and Staten Island University Hospital.

Arirang (PartyontheGrill.com) closes on Mondays but is open for curbside pickup and delivery from 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Fans of the Great Kills eatery still can rely on its dumpling and pork spare rib apps, hibachi dinners and sushi. The Brooklyn Arirang has closed until further notice.

John Butt from Oriental Plaza (OrientalPlazaStatenIsland.com) in Willowbrook is staying open with abbreviated hours -- at the moment it will be from Tuesday through Sunday from noon to about 8 p.m. -- mainly as a service to the community. (Saturdays he might open at 3 p.m. and run until 8:30 p.m.) The proprietor faces limited staff and relies on his brother to help him keep up with the cooking.

“We are working very hard,” said the long-time restaurateur. He apologized to customers for not answering the phone sometimes as he doesn’t have a full staff.

“As far as opening hours there are days we might open a little bit later for the kitchen to get ready,” said Butt. He might also close on Mondays, as he did on April 6, to give everyone a break.

“I appreciate all the support from everyone,” said Butt.

Few Chinese eateries and sushi spots continued to operate after mid-March on Staten Island when Gov. Andrew Cuomo put the kibosh on dine-in restaurant formats.

As the Advance noted on Feb. 27, several borough Chinese restaurants admitted a slump in business -- "likely the result of an overreaction to the novel coronavirus, COVID-19,” restaurant employees told the Advance. The article also said, “The trend has been affecting Chinese-run businesses in other U.S. cities, as well, and has been reported to media outlets by restaurant owners in Washington, D.C., and in other cities from San Francisco to New York.”

Pamela Silvestri is Advance Food Editor. She can be reached at silvestri@sidadvance.com.

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Dim sum at East Pacific are baked, steamed and fried in sweet and savory varieties. One day after the coronavirus crisis it will return to the Staten Island Mall. (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) Staff-Shot

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