Above: Wan Chai Noodle Bar at the San Juan Marriott

IT’S ONE of the greatest pleasures for any foodie: finding that great out-of-the-way eatery — and sometimes in the most unexpected of places.

That’s definitely the case at Wan Chai, a secret Chinese restaurant in the heart of San Juan’s Condado district.

It’s secret, well, because it’s actually located inside of the Stellaris Casino at the San Juan Marriott Resort.

Hidden in a corner of the casino, Wan Chai has a few small tables and a few chairs at the bar, evoking the atmosphere of a tiny noodle shop in a Far Eastern city.

And the food? It’s solid — a mix of Asian fares, from scrumptious dumplings to savory noodles, along with that wonderful feeling of escaping — when you’re already on a vacation escape.

And that’s the real draw — it’s doesn’t really feel like any place in San Juan.

For the tony Condado area, it’s affordable,too — if you don’t run into any slot machines on the way out, that is.

— CJ