Shopping
China Palace Buffett to be demolished for Dutch Bros coffee shop in Hesperia
After serving customers for 30 years, China Palace Restaurant will be demolished for the construction of Hesperia’s first Dutch Bros coffee shop.
The Chinese buffet is located in a 5,600-square-foot free-standing building near Wienerschnitzel in the Hesperia Marketplace shopping center at the corner of Main Street and Eleventh Avenue.
Developers of the new 950-square-foot, drive-thru-only coffee shop are scheduled to submit grading and construction plans before the old building is removed, city spokeswoman Kelly Brady told the Daily Press.
The new Dutch Bros will be the company’s first store in Hesperia after opening its first High Desert coffee shop in 2020 in Apple Valley.
Dutch Bros would later open two coffee shops in Victorville and one in Barstow.
The Dutch Bros menu focuses primarily on beverages. Some of its most popular drinks include:
- Golden Eagle Breve. A vanilla and caramel breve with caramel drizzle
- Passion Water Soda. A refreshing, non-caffeinated option that’s good at any time of day – especially during the summertime, the company said.
- Double Rainbro Rebel. A strawberry, peach, and coconut-flavored “Rebel” energy drink. Energy drinks contain ingredients such as taurine, caffeine, and natural flavors. The coffees are brewed using a three-bean blend from Brazil, Colombia, and El Salvador, and blended with a choice of milk, creams, and syrups.
- Strawberry Smoothie w/ Whip. A strawberry smoothie with whipped cream
- Majestic Forest. A blend of blue raspberry, blackberry, and kiwi flavoring. This can be ordered as a lemonade, tea, Frost, soda, or Rebel.
- Bob Marley. A popular drink choice on the Dutch Bros Secret Menu. It is a frosty milkshake that contains dark chocolate, banana, and coconut for a creamy tropical flavor.
Food options at Dutch Bros include chocolate chip muffin tops, lemon-poppy seed muffin tops, orange cranberry muffin tops, and granola bars.
China Palace
China Palace Restaurant was featured last year in the Daily Press story “China Palace in Hesperia remains a culinary tradition.”
Since it opened in 1994, customers have had the opportunity to enjoy a variety of handmade Asian dishes.
China Palace has had just three owners since it opened, with Luis Jimenez taking the restaurant’s helm in 2020.
Despite the ups and downs of the economy and the COVID-19 lockdown, Jimenez told the Daily Press that he is proud that his restaurant never closed for an extended period. He led his staff as they pulled together to follow the necessary regulations to remain open during this time. They added the outside canopy for diners and expanded their curbside take-out and delivery options.
Jimenez told the Daily that he considered two possible name changes, including “Rincon Latino” ─ Latin spot ─ or “China Palace International.”
In 2023, Jimenez expanded his team by adding manager Alfredo Ortiz, who brought more than 17 years of experience in Taco Bell management where he worked in product development, marketing, and product testing.
The rest of the China Palace team included 15-year veteran chef Andres Maravilla, who knows the secrets to creating good food. Servers Myra and Maria are also experienced in both presentation and prompt attention to detail.
Most recently, there were nine sections from appetizers to vegetarian, with at least six variations in each except for soup, which offers wonton, egg drop, and hot and sour.
Two signature dishes are included, as well. China Palace chow mein and China Palace fried rice include chicken, beef and shrimp. The seafood section includes shrimp with lobster sauce, Kung Pao shrimp, and spicy Thai shrimp, and fried fish filet.
There are also dessert options.
China Palace Restaurant is located at 15555 Main St. Ste. F, Hesperia. For menu selections, store hours, and more information, call 760-978-2298 or visit China Palace on Facebook.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz