Orient Express

So I have passed the Orient Express almost every day since beginning work in Oakland.  I always dismissed it because I am not a big bubble tea aficianado.  Today though, my husband suggested we try it out for lunch.  It is a simple restaurant with more ambiance then the neighboring Little Asia but less then Lulu's Noodle. 

I opened the "dinner" menu and found on the last page a lunch menu.  The typical suspects were present but I was pleasantly surprised to see Chinese Casseroles and other combinations on the adjoining page.  I ordered beef curry with rice.  The beef was pleasantly tender, there was no grizzle or visible fat to speak of, the sauce was nice but not over powering, and the portion was enormous.  It could just be that beef potato and rice are filling, but it seemed like a mountain of food.  For under 6 dollars I essentially bought myself two meals, which while not gourmet were nice winter comfort food.  My husband ordered his perennial favorite at all Chinese restaurants, the lo mein lunch special.  The vegetables looked fresh, the chicken was tender, and it seemed slightly less greasy than his favorite version, but on the whole had less soy flavor than he expected.  One the side came a chicken teriyaki skewer.  My husband thought it was good, but I thought it was rather bland and on the tough side.  We both agreed that we would come back for the beef curry though!