One from Column A and one from Column B: And pass the hot mustard

I don’t think any ethnic cuisine inspires a more varied combination of carryout, sit-down dining, delivery and phone/online ordering than Chinese food. Even the carryout containers have become icons unto themselves! In fact, Ivy restaurant in Dewey Beach serves some of its Asian-style appetizers in those universally recognizable paper containers.

Considering the relatively limited size of our Cape Region, we have a pretty good lineup of Chinese joints for every taste, wallet size and time constraint. It’s a proven fact that Chinese food is good business, so a Chinese roundup here at The Business of Eating seems eminently suitable, especially with a little hot mustard and duck sauce on the side.

A longtime crown jewel of Rehoboth downtown dining is Confucius at 57 Wilmington Ave. Shawn and Danielle Xiong bring their native Hunan cuisine to the growing enclave of eateries that populates the intersection of Second Street and Wilmington Avenue. Everything is made fresh to order, and Shawn prides himself on a few exclusive dishes, including the Crispy Whole Sea Bass, his famous Five-Spice Duck and Confucius’ crunchy Salt & Pepper versions of calamari, shrimp and scallops.

Lewes offers two neighborhood spots where one can get slightly more Americanized Chinese food, i.e., egg foo young, chop suey and ho fun/mei fun (flat rice noodles) along with traditional favorites for eat-in or carryout. China Garden is in the Villages of Five Points just a few doors down from the Food Lion. You’d better bone up on the menu before calling, however, because China Garden offers over 184 individual dishes including combos, soups, appetizers and lunch specials. They don’t deliver but they do take orders by phone. A nice feature is that almost all the dishes may be ordered in half or whole portions. Perfect for the wayward foodie who wants to try everything.

On Kings Highway next to Mr. P’s Pizza & Pasta is Hing Wang Chinese Restaurant. Hing Wang is a bit more mysterious in that they have very little Web presence and only a basic Facebook page. But reviews suggest that this tiny storefront has a very loyal following. They don’t deliver, and remote ordering is by phone only. Hing Wang also offers a choice of portion size for most dishes.

Sandwiched between Pete’s Steak Shop and Michy’s Relaxed Dining in the Rehoboth Marketplace center is Hunan Chinese. This humble spot is well represented online. Not only can you peruse the lengthy menu on your phone or computer, but you can order online and even make table reservations. There’s even a “faves” button where you can store the things you like and access them later with a single click. Chinese food may have ancient roots, but Hunan Chinese is on the leading edge of cyber-restauranting.

And that brings us to Wu’s Kitchen in Lighthouse Plaza near Buffalo Wild Wings. They don’t deliver, but online ordering and table reservations are also just a hungry click away. Along with the standard neighborhood Chinese fare, Wu’s sets itself apart with a menu of non-Asian dishes like Buffalo wings, fried chicken wings, shrimp with Old Bay and even sweet doughnuts. Let’s face it, there’s always one spoilsport when it comes time to order for a group, and Wu’s makes sure that even he or she can get something a bit more Americanized - even if he or she is vegetarian. Good for you, Wu!

In Henlopen Junction next to the Swell Tiki Bar is China Wok. The storefront may be unassuming, but they have a big online presence including the ability to order with your phone or computer. And China Wok will deliver to a limited area. Try their exclusive Dragon & Phoenix special with shrimp and chicken (get it? dragon/phoenix?). They also have six versions of the very American but still very popular chop suey.

Can’t decide what to get? Does scrolling through those long menus cause vertigo? Then try the Lin family’s Chinatown Buffet & Grill in the Midway Galleria next to Delaware Distilling Company. Since there is no delivery or carryout (unless you have big pockets and can run fast), there is no need for any strong online presence. It’s all right there on the buffet table, and as with most buffets, people have their favorites. Chinatown Buffet and Grill offers all you can eat for one base price. There are some à la carte items, but one can fill up until one falls over and not put too much of a dent in the wallet. The place always seems to be busy.

iPhone and iPad users (and Android owners in about a week) can access these restaurants on the newly redesigned Rehoboth In My Pocket travel app. Simply select “Chinese Restaurants” to call them or order online, see food photos and even peruse menus where they’re available. So, enjoy! Or better yet, Xiàngshòu!

Bob Yesbek is a serial foodie and can be reached at byesbek@CapeGazette.com.