This is a post by N&O restaurant critic Greg Cox:

Justin Chen, a newcomer to the Triangle but a veteran restaurateur, has opened Chopstix (5607 Creedmoor Road; 919-7781-6268) at Creedmoor Crossing, in the space long occupied by Jin Yuan (and more recently, Rose Garden Asian Bistro).

A native of China's Fujian Province, Chen comes to Raleigh by way of Ocean City, Maryland, where he still owns Blue Fish Japanese restaurant. The broader Asian concept (not to mention the name) for his new restaurant is inspired by Chopstix restaurants belonging to a friend in Maryland. The restaurant is not affiliated with the Chopstix in Durham.

The bulk of the extensive menu is devoted to the reigning champs of Asian cuisine in terms of popularity: sushi and Chinese-American fare. The offering also includes a handful of tempura, hibachi, teriyaki and Japanese noodle dishes, as well as a token nod to Thai cuisine.

Chopstix is open for lunch and dinner daily. The restaurant doesn't have a website yet, but you can pick up a takeout menu that includes a couple of coupons for free sushi rolls. It is not affiliated with the Chopstix in Durham.

The restaurant does have a Facebook page.

Send restaurant news to Greg at ggcox@bellsouth.net. Be sure to tune in to Greg's radio show at 11 a.m. Saturdays on WPTF.

The Triangle Area Chinese American Society is holding its annual Chinese New Year Festival from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 26 at the state fairgrounds in Raleigh.

The family-friendly event is a food lover's dream. President Lisa Chang wrote in an email that the food will include Americanized Chinese food, including sesame chicken and General Tso's chicken, but also more traditional selections by talented local cooks. Those food items include three flavors of bubble tea, sweet and savory steamed rice cakes, moon cakes, dim sum, Taiwanese-style grilled sausage and Asian-style shaved ice. The latter is not the Italian, Hawaiian or New Orleans styles of shaved ice. Instead, Chang explains, it is "a mound of snow-like shaved ice covered with layers of brown sugar syrup and condensed milk and then topped with fruit flavored jellies, red bean, taro and more."

Tickets cost $5 in advance online at nctacas.org or at local Asian stores, such as Grand Asia in Cary and A&C Supermarket. in Raleigh. Otherwise, tickets cost $8 at the door.

I heard from several readers about the closing of Fortune Palace, a much-loved Chinese restaurant on Raleigh's Brentwood Road.

I contacted Lisa Chang, president of the Triangle Area Chinese American Society. As it happens, Chang's godsister, Bobo Liew, owned the restaurant with her husband, sister and brother-in-law. The men were the chefs and the women worked the front of the house.

Chang explained the couples who both have young children struggled to run such a large restaurant with seating for more than 200 people and take care of their families. (It was likely the only Chinese restaurant in the area that had the capacity for large events, including wedding receptions.) And so when someone offered to buy the restaurant, they accepted, Chang said. The restaurant closed abruptly in May.

"You have to try to do what's best for your kids," Chang explained.

Chang did note that the couples are considering opening another smaller restaurant.

We'll keep readers posted if that happens.

Panda Express is celebrating the Chinese New Year by giving you a free entree -- no purchase necessary.

Go to the Panda Express website to download a coupon for a free single-serving Firecracker Chicken Breast entree.

The coupon is good only on Monday, Jan. 23.

Two other coupons will also print with your freebie -- one for a BOGO entree and one for 10 percent off your total purchase. Both of those coupons are good Jan. 24 through Feb. 14.

There are two Panda Express locations in the Triangle:

1000 Beaver Creek Commons Dr.
Beaver Creek shopping center
Apex, NC  27502

120 Science Drive
(Duke University Bryan Center)
Durham, NC  27708

Happy New Year! Chinese New Year, that is, which starts tomorrow. You'll hop into the year of the rabbit in style at any of these restaurants.

Asian Grill
6611 Falls of Neuse Road, Raleigh
232-9488
www.asiangrillnc.com

C & T Wok
130 Morrisville Square Way, Morrisville
467-8860
www.ctwokrestaurant.com

China Palace
5210 Garrett Road, Durham
493-3088
www.mychinapalace.com

Click READ MORE to see the entire list.

Greg's Hot List: Choice Chinese

Fortune cookie says: He who eats in one of these restaurants is in for a delightful meal.

C & T Wok
130 Morrisville Square Way, Morrisville
467-8860
www.ctwokrestaurant.com

China Palace
5210 Garrett Road, Durham
493-3088
www.mychinapalace.com

The Duck & Dumpling
222 Blount St., Raleigh
838-0085
www.theduckanddumpling.com

Click READ MORE to see the complete list.

Greg’s Hot List: Choice Chinese

Every year around this time, America becomes divided into two camps: those who buy long-stemmed roses and plan romantic dinners, and those who complain that Valentine’s Day is just a racket cooked up by the greeting card companies. If you’re in the latter camp, then you’re in luck. This year, Chinese New Year happens to fall on February 14. So, while all those romantic suckers are eating oysters and drinking champagne, you, too, can celebrate in style at one of these fine Chinese restaurants.

China Palace
5210 Garrett Road, Durham
493-3088
www.mychinapalace.com
The Duck & Dumpling
222 Blount St., Raleigh
838-0085
www.theduckanddumpling.com
Five Star
511 W. Hargett St., Raleigh
833-3311
www.heatseekershrimp.com
Fortune Palace
2815 Brentwood Road, in Stonybrook Shopping Center, Raleigh
850-0086
www.fortunepalacenc.com
Inchin’s Bamboo Garden
3532 Davis Drive, in Morrisville Market, Morrisville
467-6705
www.bamboo-gardens.com

BEIJING — I'm beginning to wonder about the signage in Beijing.

On the streets, road markings and walk/don't walk signs are more like suggestions. Drivers, bike-riders and walkers are all kind of on their own program, dodging as they see fit. it all works out from what I can tell. I haven't seen any near accidents.

In buildings, you'll find any number of recycling bins all over the place. But they're so undersized, they can't possibly fit the amount of recyclables that this kind of city and visiting crowd would likely produce. They're like show containers and people dump trash in them all the time.