A&J Restaurant — Restaurant in Annandale

I've been coming here off and on for over 10 years. Over the years there's been some issues here and there which is common as no ones perfect. But it's how you handle those situations that truly matter and separates you from the rest. The way the staff handled this past issue was the nail in the coffin. After taking my to go order home. I took a bite of the sesame pork biscuit, as I was chewing it tasted off, like cardboard. I spit it out and opened the biscuit to find napkins inside. I understand things happen but this was done on purpose! Who knows where those napkins have been which is what goes in your mind after something like that.

Packed up my meal and drove all the way back there to explain the issue. The lady kept trying to tell me there isn't anything in there. Then she says it's plastic wrap no big deal. Come on, plastic wrap is clear, the napkins are brown and yes it's a big deal! After numerous times explaining this to her she finally says "oh ok it's napkins". She offers to remake the biscuit, but offers nothing more. As all my other food has gotten cold, I lost my appetite after this. She then offers to give me an entree now or my next visit. Told her I will take it next time as I lost my appetite.

When I returned to get the entree the lady and manager kept talking in their language going back and forth numerous times. The manager with the glasses has said some rude things to me over the years, but I always bit my lip. She made me feel very uncomfortable not talking in english. Then to my surprise the lady only offered to give me the same item last time which was an app not an entree. Trying to explain over and over that she said entree, she then went back to the manager again not talking in english. I could tell by the managers body language that she insisting to not honor what the lady originally offered me. Only to comp me an app.

She then came back again going back on her word numerous times, then having the nerve to tell me the entree I want is a few dollars more. That she will not give me the entree I chose unless I paid the difference of $4.xx. No matter how many times I tried explaining it to her, the manager was telling her not to. The entree is $8.35! I'm at a loss for words the way they treated me upon my return.

They embarrassed me in front of the entire restaurant. The manager not having the respect to speak english right in front of me while giving me that rude look. Never have I been treated so badly, embarrassed or disrespected at a restaurant. I never once asked for anything in particular, I never raised my voice, I stayed calm, I even ordered other items on top of the entree. If an establishment is going to treat a loyal customer the way they did, then I will no longer...

A&J is one of my most beloved restaurants that offer the most items that qualify my 'death-row' meals list. It's not Michelin-starred, not $$$$-rated, not anchored by a celebrity chef, not based on some comeback story nor backed by mono-culture based food chain corporations. It is one of many pinnacles of Asian food .... it's Taiwanese (TW) food culture.

I've come to know the flavors of many TW food items to pair flavors that are original, not reserved for the exclusive, and doesn't require a whole month salary to try (like in most high-end restaurants that lack flavor these days). For example, take sugar sweet, peanut flavor, sour pickles, soy sauce meat flavors, and cilantro flavor which gives you a balance of flavors I personally believe no Michelin chef could imagine. There is no sourcing of ultra rare ingredients or super-secret french preparation required to achieve this balance. There are so many more original flavor combincations I can think of too. Each Asian culture has invented their own original food flavors that exemplify truly delicious food for the masses, not just for the exclusive few. Here's my shameless plug: A&J is one of those places that offer these original TW dishes.

TW food is what I believe to be the most evolved of Chinese food flavors compared to all other Chinese food categories (ok, Cantonese is up there too!). When one thinks of truly original, balanced, and insanely delicious Chinese food, one typically calls out Cantonese which I believe is equal in flavors to Taiwanese food and essentually the crowning achievement of the Chinese culture [that is not lost to dumb despotic cultural movements].

While my write-up will likely never be read in the sea of Internet's humanity, I just felt obliged to leave this humble verse like a note in some fictitious time capsule. Everyone I've introduced to A&J is utterly and pleasantly surprised by the flavors they've tried. Aside from the mainstream TW-founded recipes like TW popcorn chicken, bubbletea, mei-fun noodles, TW porkchop rice, stinky tofu, and beef noodle soup, here are some other classic hits that you will only know how good it is when you try it at A&J: any/every TW breakfast items (Xian Fan Tuan, Xian Dou Jian, Shao Bing Jia Dan) 麻辣黃瓜 MA LA HUANG GUA, 牛肉牛筋麵 NIU ROU NIU JIN MIAN, 紅燒牛筋麵 HONG SHAO NIU JIN MIAN, 滷肉飯 LU ROU FAN, 乾拌牛肉麵 GAN BAN NIU ROU MIAN, 鮮肉鍋貼 GUO TIE, 蘿蔔絲酥餅 LUO BO SI SU BING, 蒜爆牛筋 SUAN BAO NIU JIN, 麻辣耳絲 MA LA ER SI, 芽菜海帶 YA CAI HAI DAI, 泡菜 PAO CAI

Good luck and hope my thoughts guide your...

We had a bad customer service experience or We would have given it 5 stars. We have been coming to this place for over 3 years now. Even after we moved to another city. You can get very good authentic Taiwanese style food like noodles , steamed dumplings, other delicious side dishes and bubble drinks there.

BUT , customer service was not as good as it used to be especially during Saturday dinner time. We come as family of 4 with two kids, 4.5 years old and 2.5 years old. This recent Saturday , we order 2 wontons bowls, 1 spicy beef noodle, 1 congee , 3 side dishes to share as a family. My husband finished his noodle while my kids and I are still eating. The elderly lady with glasses (speak Mandarin ) came by and asked me if I want the check while I am still trying to help the younger one and finish my food. (you know how it is with kids as a mom while eating). So I told her no, I don't want the check as we are not done eating yet. You usually ask for the check when you are done with everything you want right? She came back with the check few minute after. We feel being rushed . We know there are people waiting for tables. BUT, there are other customers who arrived before us and they were still eating. Why trying to rush us and when I said no you need to give me the check. We were charged about $44.50 and I gave her 2 $20 and 1 $10. I told her I want change and the elderly lady with glasses gave me a stink face. so She gave me a $5 with some coins and said "your meal is about $45 and you want change???? why?" Then, I took that $5 and left 3 $1 and left...they normally will say thank you to their customer when they leave. But they didn't. And I am giving A&J Annandale little tips as less than 10% because of the WHOLE DINNING EXPERIENCE IS RUINNED NO MATTER HOW GOOD YOUR FOOD IS! Don't rush your customer to finish eating just because you have new customers waiitng for table. Who give people check without them asking? what is this non verbal communication with giving check and stink eyes means. I gave 20% tips when I have good experience.

Dinning at a restaurant is not just about food, environment!!! most important is the customer service😑

P.S. the workers will put their thumbs in the bowls when you ask for extra bowl . It is very unsanitary coming from a Asian background restaurant.

We will NOT be driving over 1 hour to eat at that...