For the past 20 years, China Terrace,1S.616 Midwest Road, Oakbrook Terrace, has been bringing the flavor of Chicago's Chinatown to the Oak Brook area. From the moment you drive under the gold and red Chinese arch that leads into the parking lot, you feel like you've taken a step into a serene and different place.

At China Terrace, the courteous staff greets you at the door and leads you to either a white clothed table or a secluded booth where you can enjoy your meal to comfort and style.

Each day, the chefs and wait staff arrive by van from Chicago's Chinatown, so the experience is truly similar to one you could expedience in the historic Chicago district. All the chefs prepare traditional Cantonese and Mandarin dishes. Cantonese dishes usually milder, and Mandarin dishes tend to have a little spice to them. Dishes, which are prepared fresh, can be prepared to a customer's specific needs such as less or more spice, no MSG, low-sodium or easy-oil.

Stephen Quan, one of the restaurant's owners, has a long history in the restaurant business. A past president of the Chinese Community Center of Chicago, Quan is the Chairman of the Board. The association works with the more than 130,000 Chinese Americans located in the Chicago area to help them mainstream into the American way of life.

In 1972, Quan, and his wife, Virginia, opened their first restaurant in Chinatown, which they operated until 1981. They also operated the Cantonesia in Chinatown. In 1986, they opened the China Terrace to bring an Oriental flavor to the western suburbs. In 2004, Quan sold the Cantonesia so he could focus exclusively on China Terrace. In 2005, China Terrace's kitchen was completely renovated.

With the new professional chefs and the kitchen renovation, the menu was, expanded to include more specialties such as honey walnut shrimp, a sweet but tangy delicacy, fresh Maine lobster prepared baked, steamed or fried, crispy smoked duck and the tropical-flavored Hawaiian chicken served on a pineapple shell. The menu also includes traditional favorites such as egg foo young, chow mein, fried rice, Mongolian beef and sesame chicken.

There is a full appetizer menu, which offers egg rolls, BBQ ribs, pot stickers and crab Rangoon. A combination appetizer platter is available which features egg rolls, fried shrimp, ribs, chicken wings and beef teriyaki. Enjoy one of the house Mai Tai with your appetizer or sample a smoothie from the selection of available fruit choices such as mango, watermelon, strawberry or pineapple.

From 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, China Terrace offers a lunch menu, which includes soup, fried or steamed rice, tea and cookies. Choose from favorites such as sweet and sour chicken or sample a more exotic flavor by trying curry beef with onion or BBQ pork almond ding. A special luncheon carry-out menu is also available.

China Terrace is open from 11:30 am to 9:30 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays; until 10:30 p.m. Fridays; 3 to 10:30 p.m. Saturdays and 2 to 9:30 p.m. Sundays. For information, call 630-620-6700.