Pine Tree Garden Chinese — Restaurant in Balch Springs

I'm a native New Yorker so my standard when it comes to most takeout food is super high. I would really recommend this place not just for the food but the customer service! I called to place an order for pick-up and in all fairness to the young man who answered I had a THOUSAND questions! I could hear the phones in the background absolutely ringing OFF THE HOOK but the young man who answered my call stayed calm and never once seemed annoyed or in a rush. In fact he was super friendly and professional! I am used to buying fried chicken wings in a combination place with pork or shrimp fried rice. Apparently they package different items very differently here. That is why I had so many questions. I was actually profoundly impressed with how patient and friendly the staff member was to me. When I arrived to pick-up my food it was ready in the exact amount of time that I was quoted over the phone and the place was absolutely SLAMMED!!! The young man who greeted me was warm and friendly and I could see that the staff were all working together. It was so refreshing to see people working that seemed to be upbeat and not bummed out that they had to work hard to take my money from me. They asked me how many condiments I desired and gave me twice that amount! I left VERY impressed! The food was hot and very fresh tasting. The only TEENY issue was that the wings had a slightly sweet flavor to them which I LOATHE and I asked if there was any sauce on the wings and was told no. I hate meat in sweet sauce but the wings were PERFECT. The texture was absolutely PERFECT. I hate rubbery under-cooked wings and DRY, tasteless overcooked wings. Not only were these the PERFECT texture to the taste, they were gorgeous to look at. Perfectly browned! In light of all of the other perfect aspects of my experience, I even ate the wings and truly enjoyed them! I HIGHLY recommend this restaurant!!!!!

Sincerely, SUPER hard to please when it comes...

I have been going to Pine tree for decades and a few weeks ago I encountered a coworker who absolutely hates this place. Well of course I had to defend it. Sure, it's a hole in the wall built into what was obviously a dairy queen in another life, but nowhere have I found food both crispy from the batter and soft from the sauce in such a great balance. Their hot and sour soup is THE best I have ever tried and I have had many hot and sour soups over the years. P.T. Shrimp. All I have to do is mention P.T. Shrimp to my family members and we start to desire this amazing appetizer.

Oh, and since I bring up family, I am pretty sure my extended family has adopted the Pinetree Staff to be part of the clan. When we have relatives come to town we gather the clan and take up most of the tables (alas, pre-covid) and now that I've moved 30 miles across town, if I find myself back in Balch Springs it is mandatory that I take food back home on pain of ..well pain of pain I suppose.

Look, the point is that this place is great and should absolutely be on your list of chinese restaurants to...

I had given up on finding genuine old school Chinese food from a Chinese restaurant. I am so excited to have found this wonderful gem in the most unlikely place at the corner of Elam Rd. and Shepherd Ln. in Balch Springs, Texas. It's not hard to spot as it resides in what, many moons ago, was a Dairy Queen.

IMHO, this is a destination restaurant. The ambience and charm are evident through the slightly hazy front window. (P.S. please never clean that window)

Most restaurants that have exceptional, made to order food have long since moved to a more financially beneficial area, NE of the I30/635 juncture. The smaller, independent restaurants left in this area (from Buckner/175 down through Mesquite, Crandall and Terrell) are either struggling to adjust to all the changes brought on by the arrival of and continued presence of the "Big P" and all unwelcomed idiosyncrasies or are gone entirely.

With great sincerity I submit this glowing review of a restaurant that soothes my soul and, if just for a moment, reminds me of the quality of so many things lost with the changing of...