A Rockingham restaurant has won a spot in the “Top 100 Chinese Restaurants USA Awards” for the second time.

Peking Wok, located at 722 Highway 74 East, in the Falling Plaza shopping center, won a spot in the top 100 list in 2006, and again in 2009.

Owner Atlas Chen received his award Jan. 5 at the Ventian/Palazzo Hotel in Las Vegas.

“It’s a great honor to be in the top 100 Buffets,” Chen said. “We work hard seven days a week and try to keep everything in good shape.”

Only one other North Carolina Chinese buffet placed in this year’s list — the Hong Kong King Buffet in Winston-Salem.

The Top 100 awards are organized by the Chinese Restaurant News along with the National Restaurant Association, Healthy Dining —the restaurant educator — and About Face — the mystery diner service provider.

About Face is the organization that sends “customers” into restaurants nationwide to review the food and overall restaurants without the owner’s knowledge. They report back to the committee and then actual customers of the restaurants are asked to vote online for the restaurant.

Peking Wok has been in Rockingham since 1995.

Other criteria for winners included having 50 percent or more of their menu dedicated to Chinese cuisine and being in business for at least two years. The taste and quality of the food as well as decor, atmosphere, service, cleanliness and presentation were also ways in which the restaurants were rated.

Chen started his business in Moore County but after customers from Richmond County suggested he find a spot for his business in here, he did. He still has his Peking Wok in Southern Pines and is opening one in Carthage.

In the United States, the Chinese restaurant business, nationwide, does about $20 billion in annual sales with more than 46,000 Chinese restaurants nationwide.

In Richmond County, the Peking Wok has won the Daily Journal’s Readers Choice award for best Chinese restaurant for the last six years. For Chen, his restaurant is the American dream realized.

Chen moved to the United States when he was 24 after graduating from college in China.

“America was the place I wanted to come and discover my future,” Chen said. “I’ve worked hard since I came here 20 years and we love it here.”

Chen said he and his wife, along with his son and daughter, live in Richmond County and think of it as their second home because they’ve lived here for 15 years — almost as long as they spent in China.

“We love it here, and our kids love it,” Chen said. “Our restaurant is family owned and operated and everyone works hard together.”

Staff writer Eren Tataragasi can be reached at (910) 997-3111 ext. 19 or at etataragasi@yourdailyjournal.com.