Mei Lai Takeaway

Mei Lai has been running as a traditional Chinese takeaway from Exeter Road in Dawlish since 1996, making it one of the longer-standing kitchens in the town - no restaurant seating, just a straightforward takeaway and delivery operation that's kept going for nearly three decades on repeat custom. The menu covers the full standard range: sesame prawn toast and pancake rolls to start, chow mein and fried rice in several varieties, and mains built around king prawn, beef, chicken, duck and pork.

Curries come with rice or chips in the classic British-Chinese style, Singapore chow mein is done properly spicy, and there's a solid vegetarian list too, from bean sprouts in black bean sauce to tofu with cashew nuts. Three set menus for two or three people, priced between roughly £34 and £66.50, make it an easy order for a family night in. It's the kind of neighbourhood takeaway most of Dawlish has a phone number for.