China Taste — Restaurant in Centreville

Gross & Ghetto: Gray Duck For You!

Our family rarely eats MSG but when we did it was typically from China Taste. Always the standard order: lo mein, fried rice &/or triple delight. Always heavy on the onions/veggies. Always light on the meats. Sub par but on brand.

Last night, my neighbor stopped by unexpectedly. We decided to order crispy duck as we love Peking Gourmet in Fall Church and haven’t been in years. Colossal mistake. This was NOT that.

The first thing we immediately noticed after opening the container was what appeared to be a large, chewed up bone sitting on top of the bit of crispy skin. B/C it was mostly bare, we were confused. Why anyone would think to include it? Was this a mistake? Was I given an employees meal by accident? Was it a disgusting mistake?

After removing the gnawed on bone, we saw the duck meat looked old, gross and gray. Samantha took a bite and said it was tasteless and rubbery. I called the restaurant and spoke to the same guy who’d sold me the culinary catastrophe. I emphasized the random, chewed up bone and he stated I could bring it back for a refund.

Today, as soon as I entered, I was met with contemptuous glares by the cooks; an old man in a dusty blue hat and filthy apron sitting in the back of the restaurant & an old woman picking her greasy scalp while cooking without gloves. REPULSIVE. It was a look behind the curtain that I never asked for. I couldn’t unsee it, though I desperately wanted to.

The cooks began yelling at each other and pointing to the bag of BS I’d brought back. Then, as I’m handing the cashier my card for the refund, the old man comes over and begins to scream in my face. I don’t speak the language but I smelled his hot & sour halitosis breath. I turn my face and take a step back in an attempt to shield myself from his offensive stench. It was repulsive, ungodly and deliberate.

Curious but calm, I asked the cashier what the old man said and he laughed at me. I asked again and he nervously said, “nothing, nothing, nothing. It’s ok. Everything ok” as the old woman aggressively stomped by me to trash her gastronomic repugnance.

I must’ve stuck a cord as it seems most reviewers state they took the loss. Glad I was reimbursed but my goodness, talk about insult to injury! Do yourself a favor: forgo the trauma, drama and vulgarity. Get the duck from Peking Gourmet Inn, in Falls Church and get the MSG...

I’m so glad I tried this place, so that I know where to avoid the next time I’m craving Chinese food!

Chow Fun - I’m seriously impressed because I’ve never tasted anything quite as bland as this dish. You keep eating all of its congealed globby mess yet there’s no taste whatsoever. Not salty, not sweet, not sour… it’s just a bland squishy texture. So odd.

Crispy Beef - it tasted nothing like the usual crispy beef dishes at other Chinese restaurants. The beef is not crispy; rather it’s just soggy globs of beef smothered in a thick sour sauce. Huge miss.

Peking Duck (Half) - I get it, why would we even order this? We were curious and just wanted to try it. Obviously we’ve been spoiled by Peking Gourmet so we can’t even compare. However, how dare you give us store bought Mission flour tortillas instead of the handmade pancakes. How DARE you. As if that’s not insulting enough, the duck was way too gamey.

Egg Rolls - they gave us spring rolls instead. There’s a distinct difference between egg rolls and spring rolls. Was it a mistake or do they think spring rolls are the same as egg rolls? We’ll never know.

Just go to Red Pepper down the...

DON’T EAT HERE! So I ordered Mongolian Beef and not an order of onions. Just look at the pics there is barely any beef and I even ended up throwing away half of the food that was just onions. The taste wasn’t good either and I went back hours later after work to get my money back and they said “our policy says that if you want your money back you have to return your food untouched just like if you want your money back in a retailer store you have to return the item back” I am was mind blown by her saying this. This is a disgusting type of business with COVID going on why they want the food back? To just re-heat it and give it to other clients? THE OWNER NEEDS TO CANCEL THIS POLICY BECAUSE ITS ABSURD AND UNSANITARY!!!! I am so mad, even fast food restaurants and others don’t take back any food for...