Mai Little China has been named one of the top 100 Chinese restaurants in the United States by an industry group.
The selection was made based on a mystery diner’s visit to the West Park Avenue restaurant.
Owners Matthew and Cathy Mai returned last week from the awards presentation in San Francisco. They hosted a reception Friday morning at the restaurant in honor of the award.
Maurine Flynn of Greenwood, a frequent customer, said Mai Little China’s combination of Chinese food and traditional Southern cooking makes it stand out. She’s also formed a relationship with the Mai family.
“I love the people,” Flynn said. “After a while you just become like family.”
Cathy Mai said they had no idea that the mystery diner had visited and were a little skeptical when they first received a call about it. But the report included the name of the server as well as what he ordered: hot and sour soup, cashew shrimp and pork fried rice.
Matthew Mai mastered his skills as a chef in China and has developed new recipes since immigrating to America. Some of Mai Little China’s recipes were also handed down from Cathy Mai’s grandfather.
When they opened the restaurant in January 2007, each family member picked some of their favorites to form the menu, according to Cathy’s sister, who was visiting Friday from Dallas.
