China City — Restaurant in Albuquerque

We’d seen the China City Restaurant any number of times when we’d stopped at a favorite hamburger/steak place, just across San Mateo.

It always seemed busy at lunch and we thought we’d pop in for a change in food styles. As you can see from the pictures, it seemed like a fairly nice place.

I really liked the traditional decor and the wooden wall decorations. The jasmine tea, unfortunately only so, so.

We struggled a bit getting across our order. The waiter had difficulty understanding our statements (allergic to shellfish and mushrooms, is the food fried in same oil as the shrimp, and do you use MSG?). No, to our questions. He came back a few minutes later and said the soup had “MS-Gay” in it.

Our normal reaction to MSG is swollen joints, and did they ever swell up. Maybe I misunderstood the waiter, perhaps he meant everything except the soup had MSG added. We switched soups and proceeded with the wait.

When the food was delivered, we found it over cooked and the deep fried items were a dark brown color (in our experience that indicates the cooking oil is too old). The taste wasn’t the normal crisp and flavorful we found in good Chinese restaurants.

We were very disappointed further, not long after we left. Both of us had a greasy feeling in our mouth.

Now, don’t totally misunderstand, we like Chinese food, but not the style served here.

So, if you like greasy, overcooked food, and are willing to play Russian roulette with food allergies then, go ahead and visit this restaurant.

Otherwise, run as fast as you can very,...

Not sure what has happened but our visit was not like all our other past visits. I will try one more time and if not to our likeing we will find another chinese restaurant to frequent. 1) the second we walked in it was cold, either the heater was not working or they didn't want to turn it on 2) the waiter was not very courteous. He was just going through the motions, not guest orientated. He questioned why we were ordering 4 plates when we were two, (two other family members were on their way) I ordered the chicken chow mein plate and asked for a side of Sweet and sour pork ( there was not a lunch entree with this combo) he said two dollar more four pieces. I said okay. When we received our order he was giving me a Lo mein and rice plate, I told him I ordered the chicken chow mein with sweet and sour pork. He looked perturbed and took back the plate, he then came back with the menu and pointed to an item and said you ordered this combo. (As if to insinuate I was in the wrong) He was not very attentive, he checked on us one time for drinks and that was when we were almost done. 3) the food was not what we were used to. The fried rice was rice and soy sauce; no egg, carrots or peas, the sodas were flat and being served...

Update: it is with great sadness that I must inform everyone that China City has changed & not for the better. About a month ago the waitress who has been there for many years told us that the restaurant had "new bosses". At that time everything seemed about the same. We just left there and we won't be going back. The service was terrible, forgot what we ordered, no refills, forgot items and they were not that busy. As far as the food, that was the biggest disappointment. The egg drop and sweet and sour soup was very watered down. Both dishes we ordered were not very fresh or warm, egg rolls were not very warm and everything had an old taste to it. As far as I can tell all of the old owners and staff are gone and they seem to be cutting corners in food quality and staff. China City was always quick, fresh and a good quantity of food as well as friendly service. All of that is gone. we have been going there for 15yrs, My friends and I will not be going...