
The Happy Valley
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Quick info
About The Happy Valley
On Severn Dr in Preston, The Happy Valley is a Chinese takeaway with 148 dishes on its menu. Salt and pepper preparations run through much of it, including salt and pepper spare ribs, chicken pieces, shredded chicken and wings, alongside salt and pepper chips and mini vegetable spring rolls. Chicken balls, chow mein and crispy shredded beef also feature. Orders are taken on a walk-in basis, with no reservations. Payment is cash only, so customers should have cash ready when ordering. The takeaway opens Tuesday to Sunday, evenings only, and stays closed on Mondays.
Good to know
- ParkingFree of charge street parking · Free parking lot · Plenty of parking
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Menu & Prices
148 dishes- Salt & Pepper Spare Ribs
- Salt & Pepper Chicken Pieces
- Salt & Pepper Shredded Chicken
- Salt & Pepper Chicken Wings
- Salt & Pepper Chips
- Mini Vegetable Spring Rolls
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention sweet and sour chicken balls, chow mein, salt and pepper chips and crispy shredded beef.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention sweet and sour chicken balls, chow mein, salt and pepper chips and crispy shredded beef.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers are sharply split, and the most repeated complaint is the sweet and sour chicken balls, described as rock hard and inedible, with thick or undercooked batter. Several say the salt and pepper chicken and chips were rubbery, over salted or flavourless, and the crispy shredded chicken and beef came out soggy in an oily brown sauce. The chow mein draws mixed remarks: generous but fatty, chewy beef, bland or very thin noodles, and dry chicken that tasted of cold fat. Others say the chips were rock hard, and one calls the battered fish very thin and dry. Many longtime customers say quality dropped after a change of owners, though one reviewer reports the old owners appear to be back and the food was as good as before. Praise centers on chicken in OK sauce, which one reviewer still drives from Blackburn for, along with reliable phone orders, friendly staff and Chinese food a decade-long customer says they cannot fault. One diner who rang to complain about prawn toast and chow mein says they were offered no apology or refund.
Customer Review Summary
Reviewers are sharply split, and the most repeated complaint is the sweet and sour chicken balls, described as rock hard and inedible, with thick or undercooked batter. Several say the salt and pepper chicken and chips were rubbery, over salted or flavourless, and the crispy shredded chicken and beef came out soggy in an oily brown sauce. The chow mein draws mixed remarks: generous but fatty, chewy beef, bland or very thin noodles, and dry chicken that tasted of cold fat. Others say the chips were rock hard, and one calls the battered fish very thin and dry. Many longtime customers say quality dropped after a change of owners, though one reviewer reports the old owners appear to be back and the food was as good as before. Praise centers on chicken in OK sauce, which one reviewer still drives from Blackburn for, along with reliable phone orders, friendly staff and Chinese food a decade-long customer says they cannot fault. One diner who rang to complain about prawn toast and chow mein says they were offered no apology or refund.
Featured reviews
- Linda Finn
“We ring in the order and it's never been wrong. We still drive back from Blackburn for chicken in OK sauce. It's a taste sensation 😋 👌 staff are great too. …”
- Dave Smythies
“So I have used this takeaway in the past under the previous owners and it was fantastic. However last night I ordered Singapore noodles, crispy shredded chicken, salt and pepper chips, and sweet and sour chicken balls. Singapore noodles…. Bland and tasteless Crispy shredded chicken…. Rubbery and and tasteless Salt and pepper chicken…. Rubbery chewy and an unpleasant very dark sauce. Salt and pepper chicken….over salted and lacking the normal onion and chilli Sweet and sour chicken balls….. completely inedible, disgusting hard chicken that I was unable to chew, batter thick and heavy. Sweet and sour sauce wasn’t put into our bag. Now I’m not fussy about food at all, in fact I’ll eat pretty much anything but this was the worst takeaway I have ever had, I would of taken it back but I was to far away to walk back. Disgusting and a complete waste of twenty quid.”
- Louanne
“I do nt really like to diss businesses as its hard enough out there without receiving negativity .....now i m referring to their fish and chips and not their chinese menu....their chips have never been that good in all the time i ve used them small and scratty but the fish was terrible it looked big and long but was so thin could nt believe how thin it was..the edges of the fish welded into the batter making almost inedible the rest of the fish was so thin it was dry and unappealing and it certainly was nt cheap so basically they are ripping off the customer..the fish used to be ok so they have changed the product obviously to get the most profit.. so come happy valley give the customer something they can enjoy cos they re certainly paying for it.”
- Katrina Claydon
“Maybe had an unlucky experience as it was busy - NYE. But only time ever I have had sweet and sour chicken balls that were inedible. 3 or 4 we could eat but v tough. Had to throw two away as I honestly couldn't get surgery through it, rock hard - batter and chicken. Salt & pepper chicken bit harder than usual but edible, taste was nice just firmness too much. Not my fav chow mein I've ever had - generous meat but noodles themselves a bit bland. Probably won't come back but will go to my previous regular, which is a shame as this is super local and I had high hopes.”
- linda allen
“Been coming for 7 years an was my go to Chinese but lately its not been the best infact I won't be coming again, Forth time I've had food from Happy Valley chippy an it's Absolutely disgusting 🤢. I don't know if they are warming up chips or using cheeper produce but they are rock hard like you could knock a nail in the wall with them😳. The beef chow mein was also not very nice the beef although there is plenty off it its all fatty an chewy, again maybe cheeper produce or new cook 🤔 not sure but it's not the same as it used to be. Such ashame as this was the best Chinese chippy by far.”
Hours
- Monday
- Closed
- Tuesday
- Wednesday
- Thursday
- Friday
- Saturday
- Sunday
Highlights
- Popular for popular for dinner
Amenities
- Free of charge street parking
- Offers delivery
- Offers takeaway
- Casual
- On-site services available
- Quick bite
Show more amenities
- Parking· 2
- Free parking lot
- Plenty of parking
- Dining options· 1
- Serves dinner
- Popular for· 1
- Popular for dinner
Location
Chinese restaurants near The Happy Valley
- Gwok Hing4.61720.3 mi
special fried rice, salt and pepper spare ribs, beef chow mein
- Golden City4.3860.7 mi£1–20
salt and pepper chips, munchy boxes, egg fried rice
- 1.9 mi
salt and pepper chicken, crispy shredded chicken, sweet and sour sauce
| Place | Rating | Distance | Price | Mentioned in reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Happy Valley | 4.1230 | — | £10–20 | sweet and sour chicken balls, chow mein, salt and pepper chips |
| Gwok Hing | 4.6172 | 0.3 mi | — | special fried rice, salt and pepper spare ribs, beef chow mein |
| Golden City | 4.386 | 0.7 mi | £1–20 | salt and pepper chips, munchy boxes, egg fried rice |
| Kowloon | Chinese Takeaway | 4.2134 | 1.9 mi | — | salt and pepper chicken, crispy shredded chicken, sweet and sour sauce |
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