May Palace is a friendly, down-to-earth Chinese restaurant in the historic 900 block of Main Avenue, right in the heart of downtown Durango. It has fed Durango for more than twenty years under the same ownership. Locals who ate there as children now bring their own families back, and the same smiling faces still greet them.

The large menu is mainly Chinese, with dishes that also draw on Malaysian, Thai and Vietnamese cooking. Regulars rave about the Mongolian lamb, walnut chicken, Kung Pao chicken, orange chicken and Peking shrimp. For something comforting, there’s hot and sour soup or wonton soup. Portions are generous and prices are fair, and the lunch specials are a local favourite.

The dining room is clean, comfortable and unfussy, and guests often mention the warm, attentive service. It’s easy to relax here.

May Palace opens for lunch and dinner most days and is closed on Tuesdays. Come for a relaxed lunch between exploring the shops on Main Avenue, or pick up a takeaway and settle in back at your Casa Durango home for a cosy night in.