By: Casey Glickman

The 6:30 Tuesday dinner crowd rolls in, and friends and families alike fill Northwest Chinese Food with a mix of languages and laughter. Soft jazz plays quietly in the background, drowning out the faint sounds of noodle slurping.

Bowls packed high with steaming handmade noodle dishes like the Yunnan Style Rice Noodles and the Spicy Beef Rice Noodles make their way to awaiting customers. Savory smells of spices and meat fill the restaurant as diners take their first bites of Rou Jia Mo, a traditional Chinese sandwich served on homemade flaky bread and stuffed with various meat fillings.

Customers enter the restaurant to grab to-go orders, passing a wall filled with praise for Northwest Chinese Food, featuring articles from The Washington Post, Bon Appétit, and signs that read “Washingtonian’s 100 Best Restaurants.”

Northwest Chinese Food, which specializes in dishes from the Shanxi province in China, was named College Park’s 2024 Business of the Year during the city’s Oct. 22 council meeting. The award recognizes outstanding businesses in the College Park community.

“We were so honored,” said the restaurant’s brand manager, Xue Ling. “It’s not only reflecting our hard work but also the support that comes from the community.”

Northwest Chinese Food was recognized for its delicious cuisine, investment in the College Park community, and environmentally friendly efforts, according to the Business of the Year Proclamation.

“Their efforts have helped make College Park a more vibrant and diverse place to live,” said Mayor Fazlul Kabir during the Oct. 22 city council meeting.

Northwest Chinese Food first opened on Baltimore Avenue in 2015 after the owner, Hua Wang, saw a lack of authentic Chinese flavors and culture in College Park.

Wang is originally from Shenyang, a city in northeast China, where she ran her own restaurant. Ever since she was young, Wang has loved cooking and writing down her recipes.

“That’s my passion,” Wang said. “I think I have the talent to create the food and the sauce.”

Wang brought her family recipes with her when she moved from China to the United States. Those are the same recipes that she uses to fuel Northwest Chinese Food today, some of which are 30 years old she said. 

It’s hard to find the flavors Wang uses at other restaurants that serve the same traditional dishes, Ling said. “She always incorporates small details and her own tastes,” Ling said.

Nine years after opening, Northwest Chinese Food has developed deep roots in the College Park community, with students, teachers, and families alike serving as loyal customers, Ling said.

“I think it’s the best Chinese food restaurant in the DMV,” said Alexia, a communications student at Johns Hopkins University from Arlington, who makes a monthly visit to Northwest Chinese Food.

Originally from Wuhan, China, Alexia praised Northwest Chinese Food for offering authentic Chinese flavors in an area that more commonly offers American Chinese food options.

Alexia also highlighted the restaurant’s accessible location near public transportation, allowing her to visit regularly even though she doesn’t have a car.

Located just an 11-minute walk from the College Park-U of MD Metrorail Station, Northwest Chinese Food attracts Chinese food enthusiasts from far beyond the College Park region. 

On a more local level, Northwest Chinese Food is also a common destination for students at the University of Maryland.

Cory Hou, a College Park resident, and Ph.D. student at the University of Maryland, can be found at Northwest Chinese no less than two times a week ordering his favorite dish the Spicy Beef Rice Noodle.

He agrees with Wang that there is a lack of authentic Chinese food restaurants in the area. “There are not that many authentic ones,” he said. “Even where there are, they are usually not that cheap.”

Northwest Chinese Food caters to its student customers, offering appetizers like the Red Oil Sesame Soup Dumplings for as little as $7.50 and dishes like the Spicy Beef Rice Noodles for $15.50.

Students like Hou who are regulars at the restaurant often stay connected with Northwest Chinese Food even after they graduate, said Ling. 

One of Ling’s favorite parts of working at Northwest Chinese Food is forming relationships with students who stay loyal to the restaurant even after they leave College Park.

“They always come back when they visit the area,” Ling said. “Sometimes they pack the food to take to the airport, and they always call me to ship them the chili oils.”

Northwest Chinese Food has shared its love for College Park customers by investing in the community. The restaurant participates in local events like the annual College Park Day Festival and attracts new and returning customers by hosting occasions like Maryland Day, said the Business of the Year Proclamation.  Trim or recraft/lacks news value

Northwest Chinese Food plans to expand its involvement in the College Park community by opening a new restaurant, the Li Chun Café, in City Hall this coming February.

The new café will focus on specialty flavors from Wang’s hometown of Shenyang and will offer a variety of Chinese wraps, rice dishes, and traditional teas.

Until then, Northwest Chinese Food will continue to soak up the love and support from receiving the 2024 Business of the Year Award.

“We are so happy to be in the College Park area,” Ling said.