Brookings Rice Bowl — Restaurant in Brookings

First off, I'm not a snooty tourist from LA, SF, or PDX who judges this little town's restaurants based on those metros. I'm a local, and we've eaten here with family (usually take-out and especially now with COVID) probably close to 50 times in the last 10 years. I have no complaints about the food--it's not great but just OK for the price and you get big portions. And up til tonight, never had a problem with the place.

I'm also not one of those social media "problem customers." I've posted twice as many positive reviews as negative ones over the years, and I have to be REALLY motivated to trash a small business publicly. But this time it's wholly justified.

Because of the pandemic of course they are takeout-only now, and I went to pick up my family's order of four entrees (around $50). The owner put it in a paper bag, I paid, put the bag on the car seat next to me and left. Peachy.

I drove home (10 mins. away--again I'm A LOCAL), parked in the garage, picked up the bag by the paper handles, walked halfway across the garage, and BOOM the bottom of the bag opened up and one of my 4 entrees went all over the garage floor. After my expletives, I looked at the floor behind me and saw a trail of liquid leading from the car to where I was standing. Obviously not very well packed by the restaurant.

After 15 mins. of nasty cleanup, I called the restaurant and told the owner what happened and asked her if she would please replace the entree that ended up on my garage floor. She hemmed and hawed and started making excuses, "well, bag ok when I hand it to you, not my fault..." etc., etc. If you're still giving Rice Bowl the benefit of the doubt by this point, please see my accompanying photo that shows clearly that one of the containers was leaking on the bottom.

I couldn't believe it. We had been eating at the restaurant for close to a decade (she should have even recognized me), and she was giving me the runaround and refused to do anything about it ("not my problem"). Arrogant business owners usually don't survive long in this town. Word gets around fast.

So many AWESOME little bars and restaurants in Brookings/Harbor have been busting their butts struggling to get by since the pandemic started, and they're all bending over backwards to provide great customer service so they don't lose any more business than they already have. But we already have two other decent Chinese restaurants in town. We really don't have a need for a third with poor service like that.

Hard to believe the owner made the calculation that she would rather save the $10 or so that a replacement entree would have cost her than to lose a family of regular customers for life (and probably more too when we share our story with our friends). But there you have it.

Stay away, and take your business to the friendly, customer service-oriented people at Chan's or Dragon...

Service was rushed. The woman at the counter was unfriendly to the senior citizen picking up an order before me. I felt like an unwelcomed burden and a bother the moment I walked in to pick up my order. I asked for hot mustard and was looked at like I was asking for the moon. I said I would pay for it as she walked away. It was a tiny cup for $1 so I asked for another. She said it's really hot and was disturbed that she had to go fill another tiny cup and I mean really tiny. Got home and everything was dried out and cold. The appetizer combo platter I ordered was horrible, 2 of each item and they had to have been cooked in the morning and by 4:30 pm were looking as if they were. $18 was way too much for food that had been sitting all day or at least tasted as if they did. The #8 plate was cold and nasty tasting for another $19. Worst Chinese food I've had in a long time. I was really looking forward to it and couldn't have been more disappointed. I don't normally give bad reviews but felt I needed to speak up about this because $39 for one plate of appetizers, one dinner and $2 for hot mustard for a total of $39 was ridiculous. Needless to say I won't be back. I don't know what happened to this place but back in the day it had better service, way more inexpensive with much friendlier staff. They also have an old menu on Facebook that proves the major increase in prices. I would definitely pay for good Chinese food but it wasn't even close....

Hello my fellow foodies, I rarely take the time to rate a restaurant, but I think this one’s worth it. This place actually stands out. The management and service is heart full and genuine. I actually felt the pride they take in preparing their delicious food. I’ve lived here in town for 5 years and have been to all the other Asian cuisine places. I wasn’t very much impressed with those experiences. I just gave up trying to get good Chinese food in Brookings when all of a sudden I decided to walk into the rice bowl at the last minute. I got perfectly cooked food and left feeling like a fool for not trying it years ago. Who would thought that the last place I tried was the best place of all. I asked a million questions while having dinner. Found out that they don’t use bottled sauces. They make it fresh every day, and u can taste the difference. The portions are fairly large, and the ingredients have been fresh every single time even late at night. I took my time to check the place out. I can honestly say it’s the cleanest restaurant in this entire town. I even peaked in the kitchen, it was spotless, during a busy hour. WOW!! That impressed the heck out of me. It’s definitely my go to spot for Chinese food in this area. If good, honest, hardworking, clean, homemade, great flavors, cooked properly food matters to you, this is the...