DINING OUT:

It seems as if there is a Chinese food restaurant on every corner in Burbank. Travel outside of the city and you cannot go a mile without seeing another one. Let’s face it, Americans love Chinese food. It is rich, satisfying, and where else can you count on receiving a cookie or two with your check?

At first glance, most Chinese restaurants seem to serve the same tried-and-true dishes that we order over and over again, like chicken chow mein or sweet and sour pork. Chop suey has been a presidential favorite since Dwight D. Eisenhower. And do not forget that great American invention, the fortune cookie!

So how do you find that one Chinese restaurant that stands out above the crowd?

Like a great story, the key to finding great Chinese food is in the details. For Lotus Chinese Cuisine in Burbank, the detail is in the fresh, healthy ingredients found in every dish.

While the decor of Lotus appears stuck in the soft pastels of the 1980s, keep in mind we are here to eat, not film a segment for one of those interior design shows. The booths are comfortable and the overall surroundings quiet, which makes dining pleasant. You may find yourself wanting to see some of those corny, stereotyped pagodas or paper lanterns, but resist the impulse.

Of course, you know me, the first thing I looked for on the menu were the lunch specials.

In my opinion, a Chinese restaurant without lunch specials is like a fortune cookie without a fortune. Lotus did not disappoint. There are 24 lunch specials on the menu, all are less than $6, and they include an entrée, egg roll, fried wonton and rice. Unfortunately, Ron and I arrived 20 minutes after the 3 p.m. deadline.

Lucky for me, my cousin can be observant even when he is starving. He noticed that there were also dine-in-only dinner specials served after 3 p.m. For only $6.45, you have your choice of about nine entrees served with egg flour or hot and sour soup, egg roll, fried wonton and rice.

Today, Ron preferred to stick with the more common Mongolian beef, which is served in brown sauce with onions. I teased him about losing his sense of adventure, especially since he has eaten real Chinese food in China.

I opted for the “Three Ingredients Taste.” This dish offered more than it described, including chicken, shrimp, beef, cabbage, mushrooms, snow peas, celery and carrots in a light sauce.

These dishes did not taste any different than their calorie-overloaded counterparts at most Chinese restaurants. Both were delicious and satisfying and well within anyone’s budget for a dinner out.

Lotus also offers three different family dinners at reasonable prices with seven entrée choices that should satisfy even the finicky eaters in your family. Everyone in my family loves the “China Crown” dinner for just less than $12 per person. This includes hot and sour soup, fried shrimp, egg roll, barbecued pork, rice and an entrée. I love the heat of the garlic chicken, but the moo shu chicken might be better for your younger connoisseurs.

If you order a la carte, be prepared to study the menu. There are so many choices that you should just decide to return and try something new with every visit. For something different, I recommend the combination noodle soup packed with fresh veggies, chicken, shrimp, beef and savory noodles. For a special treat, try the crispy duck. Each piece melts in your mouth.

Another special indulgence is the honey-glazed walnut shrimp.

What makes Lotus Chinese Cuisine stand out is the attention to detail provided in every entrée. It does not have a neon sign that says its food is healthier. It simply cooks healthier Chinese food because using a reduced sodium soy sauce, refusing to cook with MSG, and using less fat and sugar in dishes is the right thing to do.

Sure, there is a Chinese restaurant around the corner, but when the check arrives at your table with those delicious fortune cookies and you can feel good about what you just ate, then why not travel that extra block or two to a restaurant that deserves to be a standout?

 CHRISTINE PUTNAM is a freelance writer. Her first book, “But the President Wants Meatloaf!” is available for purchase at www.buybookson theweb.com. For more information, visit www.christineputnam.com.