WARNING: Owner Miao Hui Zhang can be Overly sensitive and easily triggered if you critique his food, he was extremely vulgar and unprofessional because I returned an overcooked order!!
My family and I are Nebraska Natives. Ever since King Fongs closed down China Palace has been our #1 go to spot for Chinese. We spend about $100 a month there between a few family dinners my wife picks up, and me hitting them on the regular for my lunch dishes and egg drop soup. This has been going on for over 10 years now. On average we spend about $1000 a year there as a family. But apparently that means nothing to the owner because he chose vulgarity and disrespect over a $14 order by saying "Fxxk YOU" to me at the end of our transaction.
All my previous encounters with him have been very cordial so I was shocked to see this side of him but I have notice changes. It started in Sept 2021. I would take me and my daughter there after volleyball practice on Wednesdays to eat and the place would be randomly closed without notice on Wednesdays so that was strange.
I get egg drop soup from there faithfully. It was the best egg drop soup in town period. Always add green onion. However I notice one night when his wife was there I got the order and I called back asking did they change the recipe, because it taste completely different. She said "you don't like, the broth is lighter that's all, I like it that way.." this confused me because I'm used to consistentancy from them.
A few weeks later I order my favorite dish from them, Mongolian Triple Crown. I notice the meat taste different particularly the beef, more chewy. Then I tried to order egg foo young but for several weeks they were out, reason I was giving is, *we're short staffed and short on supplies.*
Finally yesterday I called and they had it in. I was excited I've been craving it and there egg foo young is one of the best. I got home and was very disappointed. It was dripping greasy, fried hard. The shrimp was chewy and so was the beef which means it was overcooked. I could only eat half a patty. I was fustrated due to all the weird changes going on and after waiting so long to get my dish I decided to call and let them know.
They told me to bring it back and if it's like I say they'll make me another. Mkay, super inconvenient but I was really craving it and wanted it done right like I'm used to so I did.
I get there and as soon as the owner comes out he looks at it then looks at me and has such a negative energy. "I don't see nothing wrong with this" He said he'll remake but he felt I'm insulting his reputation. I said "C'mon man you know me, I've been coming for over 10yrs have I ever complained or brung anything back?" He says "It's two hours later the composition of the food changes if you let it sit".. I'm like "I ate it soon as I got home, just didn't have time to rush right back to be further inconvenienced over my order."
"I can taste the overcooked burnt patty and chewy shrimp and beef." He snatched it off the counter and throws it in the sink under the counter and says something in his native tongue. I said "Can I just get my money back because I don't like this energy especially if you're gonna go in the back and cook my food where I can't see you."
I told him "nobody's perfect, it happens" he said "I am, I try to be perfect and your challenging my reputation." At this point I pull my phone out and record because I absolutely can't believe this experience Im getting from him. Even the other customer there was shocked and said "sir this is not how you treat nor talk to customers."
I told him "I don't understand why you are raising your voice at me and using this tone when I have been very polite about this awful experience, I spend good money here." "He said so, I have to spend money too." That made no sense but as he notices I'm recording he stops and says "Aww Fxxk YOU" and walks to the back.
I guess 10yrs and thousands of dollars don't mean nothing if I have a one time criticism of his food. The young men at the counter did apologize but at that point we obviously were well past this.
Ladies and gentlemen there are other places just as good, but not as conviently close to me, to spend your money with. I suggest Asian Blue and Fly, Gold Mountain, Dragon Wok, Umami and Golden Palace for high quality authentic asian cuisine. Great customer service, I gureentee you won't get cursed out over returning a $14 order. They actually value their customers. They'll just remake it to your liking and tell you thank you come again.
Update:
After posting other reviews somebody sent me a link from a news article about China Palace Owner Miao Hui Zhang and Jian Zhang the Manager very recently named in a six-figure lawsuit from the Dept of Labor for violating federal minimum wage and overtime laws to their staff. Now it's all starting to make sense. Big Red flags. Well good luck with all that. read more