Nanking Restaurant, South Plainfield

There were seven wonders of the ancient world, but there are eight Nanking Restaurant locations in the New York City area. The restaurants are named for a Chinese historical era defined by its fusion of different culinary traditions. Chefs here prepare each dish with an effort to maintain its historical flavor, creating a mix of Asian cuisine in each plate of sweet-and-sour chicken, Thai-style curry lamb, chili paneer, and sichuan shrimp. As diners savor those dishes, they can admire the restaurant's picturesque interior, which includes red-and-gold-checkered walls, crimson accents, and gold statues of lotus flowers grown from carefully planted jewels.