It's time to eat on the cheap ... but you'll be hungry an hour later.

HAPPY AT THE BAY TERIYAKI
While teriyaki is the mainstay, this restaurant devotes a fair portion of its menu to Chinese selections - more so than other teriyaki restaurants.  The Mongolian beef was surprisingly fresh, sweet and scrumptious.  Portion size was huge and the service friendly. 4040 S. Orchard, Fircrest, 253.564.4707.

EMPEROR'S PALACE
Emperor's Palace is everything you'd want a stereotypical Chinese restaurant to be. The Kung Pao chicken is tasty. 7321 Martin Way S.E., Lacey, 360.923.2323. 

JADE PALACE
Skip the family meals and head straight for the authentic Mandarin/Szechwan dishes such as roast duck Cantonese and orange peel beef, order a powerful potion from the bar, and then work off the fine Chinese food in front of the karaoke machine.  3810 Bridgeport Way W., University Place, 253.564.7170.

SHANGHAI HOUSE
A downtown Tacoma Chinese restaurant that's under new management, the Shanghai House is known for specializing in large portions. Rich spices fill the air. The house specialty - steamed dumplings - are super soft, steamy goodness arriving in a metal bowl on shredded white cabbage. These hot little balls are filled with seasoned ground pork and minced veggies and then dunked in soy/vinegar sauce. We also recommend the The Sizzling Triple Delight - a sizzling dish of chicken, beef and prawns joined by mushrooms, red bell pepper, snow peas, and broccoli. 1126 Commerce St., Tacoma, 253.627.1859.

TACOMA SZECHAUN
Folks, this is as real as it gets around here. Chinese (Sichuan) with a huge menu, well over a hundred options, and the portions are big and the flavors fresh. Their idea of a starter soup is more trough-like than cup. Crispy pork & tofu with hot tomato sauce, hot pepper fried shredded potato, eggplant in hot garlic sauce - they excel in hot and spicy. 9601 South Tacoma Way, No. 102, Lakewood, 253.581.0102.