Chinese food, scorpion bowls and comedy.

Why is this such an intoxicating mix; such a formula for fun?

While the answer might be drifting around with the great mysteries of the universe, there's one secret that's out of the bag: Stand-up has returned to the China Blossom in North Andover.

Dracut comedian Johnny Joyce is organizing shows of three and four comedians in a side room at the 40-year-old, recently renovated North Andover restaurant. Scheduled for Friday nights, they'll complement the restaurant's established night of improv comedy on Saturdays. "This has been a fine establishment for years," Joyce said. "We're just making sure we put this place back on the (stand-up comedy) map."

In the past, the China Blossom featured weekend comedy shows, but they were canned several years ago in favor of disc jockeys and dance music. Today, the music continues at the restaurant, but before the music come the laughs in the new China Blossom Comedy Room.

At a recent evening, Joyce hosted a show featuring Mark Bedard of Dracut, Pat Napoli of North Andover, Kris Earle of Tewksbury and Tony Moschetto of Salisbury. The room was filled, most of the 100 seats occupied. And the comedians occupied a small, bare stage where the jokes and stories flew in rapid succession from comics who turned their wit on everything from family life to travel.  "It's good food, a good night," said Evan Wiitala of Billerica, who recently laughed alongside a group of 30 friends celebrating a birthday. "I loved Kris Earle. He's really funny."

Consider yourself warned: This is not a family show. "It's adult humor," Joyce said.

An example from Napoli on the vagaries of visiting Maine: "I was in Bangor, and my room had a funny smell to it. I went to the guy at the front desk and said, 'My room has a funny smell.' He said, 'Sorry, a man hung himself in there last week.' I said, 'I understand, but can you get the body out of the room? I paid for a single."

Here's another example from Moschetto:  "I just got my eyebrow waxed. I had one eyebrow until two Tuesdays ago. ... I remember when I had the one eyebrow, I grew a mustache, too. It looked like I had a huge equal sign on my face. I went to a night club and the bouncer carded me and said, 'You don't belong here, pal. You belong in a math equation.'"

Joyce plans to bring in local, New York and Los Angeles comics. Upcoming shows will include well-known comics Don Gavin and Frank Santarelli, though dates haven't been set yet.

"There are a lot of new comedians out there that are really great," he said. "You try to keep it fresh."

This week, expect to see John Turco of Attleboro, Winston Kidd of Tewksbury and Johnny Joyce, hosting and opening the evening. "They have a lot of energy and are very well polished comics," Joyce said of the lineup.

If you go:

What: The New China Blossom Comedy Room

When: Every Friday and Saturday beginning at 9:30 p.m.

Where: China Blossom, 946 Osgood St., North Andover

How: Admission ranges between $10-20. Dinner is separate. If you mention this article, you get $5 off the show. Call 978-455-0978 for more information.

Information: Visit chinablossomcomedy.net.