New Wongs Garden in Fordingbridge

A neon sign marks New Wongs Garden at 38 Salisbury Street, where Chinese takeaway classics sit alongside fish and chips. The place opens most evenings from five until ten, Tuesday through Sunday, and closes midweek for a breather. Phone ahead on 01425 653402 if the timing is tight, or collect in person from the shop on the street.

Starters include salt and pepper chicken wings that stay crisp outside and juicy within, plus prawn crackers that arrive still warm. Mains cover sweet and sour pork balls in sticky sauce, beef in black bean with the crunch of peppers and onions, or the house special chow mein loaded with noodles and vegetables.

On the chippy side, haddock comes wrapped in golden batter alongside fat chips that hold their fluffiness. Egg fried rice, curry sauce and vegetarian options round out the order. Portions hit hard enough that leftovers often stretch to the next day.

The menu stays with familiar dishes cooked for collection rather than a sit-down meal.

Peak hours can mean a short wait, so timing orders around the busier stretches helps. The shop sits in the everyday row of Salisbury Street, close enough to the River Avon that a bag can be carried down to the water after a market day or a walk through town.

Residents use it for quick evenings in, and it fills the slot for straightforward Chinese and chippy food without adding extras. After time on the New Forest trails it works as a straightforward refuel before the drive home.

The combination of Chinese staples and proper chippy fare keeps it in the regular rotation for both locals and people passing through.