When May Chen moved to Wilmington in 1999, she noticed that many of the Asian eateries in town offered only take-out or buffets. She didn’t see the kind of food she enjoyed in her native China. She and a partner opened Double Happiness in 2006 to offer that kind of dining experience. In 2010, Chen became the sole owner of the restaurant at 4403 Wrightsville Ave. and added a location in the Ogden area at 7122 Market St. in 2018.
Changing tastes: Chen said that there were some challenges early on. People were asking for American-style dishes (like egg fu young and chow mein) or wanted to order take-out style combos. “We wanted to do home-style cooking,” she said. “Everything made fresh.”
What to try: But Wilmington has grown to love Double Happiness. “We have great customers,” Chen said. Favorites include the Dry-wok Chicken, where lightly breaded chicken is stir-fried with vegetables, and the Sichuan eggplant. Chen also suggests shrimp with ginger and scallions, “Ants climbing a tree” (or pork cooked with thin, transparent bean noodles), and the Twice-Cooked Pork.
Family-style: Chen said she is still trying to encourage more people to order family style, like the custom in China for a group of people to share dishes. The Wrightsville Avenue location also has an area with the traditional low tables where guests can sit on pillows.
For the New Year: Celebrating the Lunar, or Chinese, New Year has always been an important tradition at Double Happiness. Chen and the staff create a special menu that includes dishes eaten for symbolic purposes. “They always have a meaning,” she said. Spring rolls and dumplings, for example, are eaten for luck and prosperity. Guests also get a souvenir of appreciation. In 2024, the Year of the Dragon begins Feb. 10.
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Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at [email protected].
