1/5 Extremely Disappointing. I Honestly Don't Understand the Hype…read more
I decided to give Dave Wong's on W. March Lane in Stockton a try after hearing so much about this place, and I can confidently say I wish I had never stepped foot inside. From the food to the customer service, the entire experience was disappointing. The food was so unpleasant that I could barely stomach it.
Fried Rice: Absolutely terrible. The rice was slightly soggy, bland, and tasted like plain white rice tossed with soy sauce and a bunch of dehydrated carrots and peas. There was no depth of flavor, no seasoning that stood out, and nothing remotely appetizing about it. Fried rice is one of the most basic dishes a Chinese restaurant should be able to get right, yet somehow this was a complete disappointment.
Sweet and Sour Chicken: I genuinely don't know what they were going for with this dish. The sauce had a strange combination of flavors that reminded me of white wine, lemon, and honey, but without any real balance or richness. It was bland, oddly tangy, and completely underwhelming. The chicken itself was soggy, with some pieces having a slightly bitter aftertaste. Nothing about it tasted fresh or enjoyable. Sweet and sour chicken should have a nice balance of sweetness, acidity, and crispy texture. This had none of that.
Garlic Chicken: This was probably the only dish that had any noticeable flavor, but unfortunately, it was practically drowning in grease. The chicken was so heavily battered that I could barely taste the actual meat. Every bite felt like I was getting a mouthful of oil, flour, and cornstarch. It was incredibly heavy, greasy, and unpleasant to eat. There is a difference between crispy, flavorful fried chicken and chicken buried underneath excessive batter and oil. This was definitely the latter.
Customer Service: Unfortunately, the service didn't make the experience any better. The employees came across as rushed, unfriendly, and lacking basic customer service skills. There was very little effort to make customers feel welcomed. It felt more like they wanted to take your order, get your money, and move you along as quickly as possible. A simple friendly interaction can go a long way, but that was missing here.
What makes this experience even more frustrating is how much hype surrounds this restaurant. I genuinely wanted to enjoy the food and understand why people recommend it, but after trying several dishes, I walked away completely disappointed.
I've become increasingly disappointed with Chinese takeout restaurants in general, and unfortunately, this experience only reinforced that feeling. Too many places seem to rely on excessive oil, heavy batter, and bland sauces instead of properly seasoned, well-prepared food.
Bottom line: Overly greasy chicken, soggy and flavorless rice, unpleasant sweet and sour chicken, and rushed customer service. I paid for a meal that I couldn't even enjoy, and I left feeling like I had completely wasted my money.
I don't understand the hype, I wouldn't recommend this place based on my experience, and I certainly won't be returning. One of the most disappointing Chinese takeout experiences I've had in Stockton.