China House — Restaurant in Des Moines

China House of Gao, 2916 E. University Ave., Des Moines – During a March 17 2023 visit, a state inspector cited the restaurant for 14 violations, an unusually high number. Among the issues: The person in charge was not a certified food protection manager; the person in charge was not fulfilling their duties as evidenced by the number and severity of the violations; raw chicken was stored above cream cheese and ready-to-eat noodles, risking cross-contamination; and containers of pork eggroll, fried chicken and crab Rangoon were all stored at 55 to 62 degrees, which was far too warm to ensure their safety.

The inspector also found that were no food items anywhere in the establishment that had been marked with their preparation or opening dates — including cooked noodles, cooked chicken, cooked shrimp and fried chicken.

In addition, plastic food containers were not adequately washed and had food debris on them after being cleaned; food-contact surfaces, equipment and utensils were not being sanitized; staff access to the handwashing sink was blocked by multiple objects; bottles of bleach and maintenance tools were stored directly above bins of flour, sugar and salt; and multiple foods — including crab Rangoon, fried chicken, eggrolls, raw chicken, raw fish, cream cheese and raw eggs — were stored throughout the kitchen without any form of temperature control to maintain their safety.

Also, a dead rodent was found behind the main cook line, and rodent droppings were seen behind the kitchen’s freezer chest and on the lid to a container of soy sauce. In addition, a bag of onions was stored directly on the floor, close to a collection of rodent droppings; the dry-storage shelf in the kitchen and a platform holding bulk containers of food ingredients were soiled with rodent droppings; and the floors were soiled with accumulated debris.

The visit was in response to a non-illness complaint pertaining to rodent activity. The inspector deemed the complaint to be verified. According to state records, the restaurant was last...

I've been hunting for decent Chinese food in central Iowa, and this place has been the biggest waste of my money so far.

I ordered broccoli beef, chicken chow mein, chicken fried rice, general's chicken, and some crab rangoon.

Everything came in rectangular plastic cases, and I was disappointed that the lady taking my order didn't understand I wanted the "small" or "pint" sized portions. I spent almost 50 bucks on the order and barely touched each dish.

The chicken chow mein contained exactly 0 noodles and was composed of soggy slices of chicken and veggies in a slimy grey sauce that had no flavor at all. The broccoli beef was probably the most decent, but the amount of flavorless sauce it was swimming in wasn't appetizing at all.

General's chicken was supposed to be spicy, but instead it had a mild smokey flavor to it and nothing more. The chicken's breading was very soggy and I also couldn't finish it.

The amount of filling in the rangoons was generous, but they were incredibly greasy and not worth the belly ache I had afterwards either.

I wasn't going to let this food haunt my refrigerator, so I tossed it, knowing that reheating this stuff wouldn't make...

Very rude when I got there (9pm on a Monday, close at 10pm). Lady at counter looked at me while I was looking at the menu and ran in back to talk to the cook (presumably about me, as I have Rosatia and my nose is unusually large). After chatting and giggling with the lady, the cook came out to take my order. Ordered General Tso's chicken dinner and a couple spring rolls on menu, then used the restroom (which smelled like sewer line was backing up). When I came out of that stink closet, I noticed my order on the special sign by one of the drink coolers. I asked about it, and the lady that practically ran in back when I got there just kept repeating "You get more" from the kitchen. Told me to sit down to wait, as she obviously didn't like me watching my $11 order get made. Get home to eat one of the most disappointing meals in recent memory. No offer of anything other than white rice, was nuked by cook to reheat (watched him do this, mind you), and dry. Chicken was dry as well (as in overcooked, not fresh, premade and boxed, was not done there), too much sauce and had way too much broccoli. I will never go here again, and will tell everyone I know about my...