China One — Restaurant in Batesburg-Leesville

I moved to the Lexington/Gilbert area of SC over a year ago from NY. You may not know this, but NY is the home of the absolute best pizza and Chinese food ANYWHERE. That said, since I have been on my new hometown, here in SC, I have been in search of both. I’ll leave the pizza discussion for my review of the best pizza place and I’ll focus here on the BEST CHINESE FOOD in the Lexington/Gilbert/Leesville-Batesburg areas. That place, THE BEST CHINESE FOOD is China 1 at 245 W. Columbia Ave.

The food is made fresh as you wait, the food is nuclear hot temperature, so it’s hot when you get home with your take-out. The meats like the pork in the fried rice is perfectly flavored and perfectly trimmed. No fat in mine whatsoever.

This is my new go to place for Chinese food and it’s a 15-20 minute drive each way, but so worth it. Great food, great prices and it is a 16 or so year old, family owned business. One of the best parts of my experience there was the owner brought my food out and a lady named “Sunshine” who was working the counter cashed me out. (I’m afraid to attempt to spell her real name, but I think it’s Kiaun, but I’ll stick with “Sunshine”. She is as much a part of the family there as anyone in the kitchen. That’s my words based on my observations and from talking to Sunshine and a long time customer who was there that same time I was. Just her sunny disposition and incredible vibe is a reason to try the place, and you’ll keep coming back for the food and to see Sunshine. She has been working there for almost as long as the restaurant has been open. They have an incredible selection of chicken wing flavors. A pic of the wing menu is in the photos attached.

As far as ambiance or atmosphere, the place is a Chinese restaurant, the majority of whose business is take-out. That said, it was clean, it was busy and had tables to sit at in the event you can’t wait to get home to eat the best Chinese food in SC. Sit down, chill out, enjoy your food and chances are you’re gonna see your neighbors come and pick-up and you might even meet a friend who you haven’t met yet. I’ve included a menu shot and some food pics!!!

See...

I'm rounding the food up to 4 from what I'd say is a 3.5. It's the best I've had around here so far but the rest is a very low bar. I really wish I could find good Chinese food but this is about as good as it gets here. The service is nicer here than some others. I'd give the atmosphere a 3 but they just basically stacked the tables out of the way. I guess taking your food to go is standard for mediocre chinese food now too. Takeout wasn't bad though. Again, the food was better than what I had tried around here so far...

Service was not even close to friendly and the food was just as bad. Seafood combo tasted awful. Shrimp tasted like it'd been cooking all day. Teriyaki chicken was also completely overcooked. Pair that with the price increase adds up to me never eating here again. Really disappointed in this place. Used to be the best Chinese place in batesburg. Maybe the kids (and I do mean kids) running the registers were just tired, who knows. But that's no excuse for terrible food. Hope they get their act...