La China Restaurant — Restaurant in El Cajon

The server was pleasant and mostly knowledgeable. The one thing she did not know, however, was that the plum sauce was sweet. My dining guest asked if it was sweet or not sweet, and the server said it was not sweet, which my guest was glad to hear. When the plum sauce arrived however, not only was it sweet, but it was watery. It soaked through the moo shu pancakes instead of being a thick, clingy sauce. After we placed our order, the server asked if I wanted rice. Yes, of course. Doesn't it come with rice? At a Chinese restaurant, I expect rice to be included. Nope. $1.50 extra for a small bowl of white rice! I wanted to leave, but my companion was too hungry and wanted to stay, so we stayed. Nowhere on the menu did it say that entrees did not include rice.

My mixed vegetable dish contained about 30% cabbage, which was way too much cabbage. My vegetables were drowning in sauce that was way too salty. It tasted like pure soy sauce. The vegetables were otherwise good, fresh and lightly sauteed.

About 20 minutes before the restaurant was supposed to close, we were given our check without being asked if we wanted anything else. A few minutes later, they rushed to take away our dishes and did so quite noisily. By time we left, 12 minutes before their stated closing time, they had turned off their open sign.

We...

For 5 ppl (2 adults and 3 kids) - $100 (rice wasn't included with any dish).

Sweet & sour pork - heavy on the onions and peppers but not enough pork in a large order for the 5 of us. Maybe 2-3 (fortune cookie sized pcs)

Beef & broccoli - well cooked but more broccoli than beef. Overly priced for a few slices of beef.

General tsos chicken - overly breaded and doughy/chewy as if under cooked or re-breaded and recooked.

Salt & pepper string beans - kids and wife's favorite item. Great crunch and flavor.

Salt and pepper wings - another fav; pepper breading and flavor.

Crab Rangoon - smaller (dime sized crab portion) than other restaurants we've tried but still good.

We usually have leftovers due to the portion size, today it was due to the unfortunate takeout frenzy. 2nd time for take out with similar results and order so we won't be back.

Maybe try the suggested items on the good reviews

Great if you're in a rush and accidentally forgot to take out food to make dinner. However, if you have time, I recommend somewhere else for the...

I don't even know what to say ... You ever had food so bad that it's almost a miracle in itself? So bad it got you wondering what you did in life to deserve this negative karma when all you wanted was a decent hot meal? I've never gotten a meal that was just greasy, no flavor, fried but soft and not crunchy.... Consider my flabbers ghasted and not for any good reasons. Orange chicken was more like fried plantains than any orange chicken I've ever had. Crab ragoons in the crappiest great value version rice paper they could find to include the filling soaked with sour old grease. This food lacked flavor so much I almost went to get a COVID test make sure I wasn't losing my senses. Only thing that was on par with typical Asian takeout spots was the fortune cookie which honestly I'm shocked was included because they didn't send any utensils or chopsticks to eat with. Just a box of slop one typically wouldn't even send his worst enemy let alone charge as much for. If you read this and you still ordered from here you deserve whatever...