China 1 — Restaurant in Florida

This is my new favorite Chinese restaurant in the Ruskin/Apollo Beach area. The place was packed but the line went quickly and our large order was filled in 10-15 minutes. The inside was modest with seating for approximately 20 people. The cooking line was dry clean and full of cooks. The cashiers were kind and spoke fluent English. It was a pleasant experience.

I tried the sesame chicken and the general Tso chicken combination dinners, which come with pork fried rice and an egg roll. The portions were generous and could easily feed both my wife and I. Both entrees were crispy on the outside and tender in the middle. The chicken was lightly breaded, making the chicken the star of the meal. Both meals had great flavor without being too salty.

The crab Rangoon was triangular, which I don’t really care for, but it came with a nice orange sauce instead of the standard gelatinous red goo. I’d order it again. The pork fried rice was cooked perfectly and the pork was actually tender and didn’t have the consistency of jerky. The spicy wanton appetizer was great. The wantons were tightly wrapped and weren’t overcooked. They came poached in a spicy peanut sauce which was absolutely delicious.

We ate like kings for approximately $20....

Under new management or new chef??? Last time I ordered take-out, October, & I do think it is the last time, not just 1 item was different, everything ordered was different - in amount, shape and most important, TASTE. Husband said the BEEF LO MEIN tasted different. The beef was not in strips anymore. Before, every spoonful had meat, not so anymore. Shape not important. Quantity & taste ARE important. BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT - HOT & SOUR SOUP was full of mushrooms before, not any more. BUT AGAIN, it was the taste. Not at all HOT. It tasted WATERED DOWN and was not the least bit hot/spicy. This is my favorite soup and this was the FIRST time ever that I did not finish the soup but threw it away. Also, received only 1 bag of the crispy strips, flat & crispy before, now puffy & stale - before received 2 bags w/quart of the soup & 1 w/pint. SHRIMP FRIED RICE, same as the beef lo mein, always plenty of shrimp - not so anymore and not as flavorful. KRAB RANGOON shape also different. Triangle shape before now pot of gold shape - using less of the dough sheet does change the the taste. I could understand 1 item being off in an order & less quantity to cut costs, but not in the TASTE & not in every...

Food Quantity good. Food EXTREMELY Greasy. Never encountered Chinese food that was this greasy to where it was inedible. Order Beef and Broccoli and you could see the separation of grease in the sauce. Should not see that much grease in beef and broccoli or rice. Order the Teriyaki chicken sticks and could not slide the chicken from the stick as the chicken slid out of my hand from the oil. Had to use a napkin to get chicken from stick. The bag that the chicken sticks came in was coated with the white layer of grease as it dried. I understand that egg rolls and the chicken wings are friend....but they were literally soft from sitting in grease/oil. Unfortunately, this was our first trip and will not be going back considering this meal went in the trash and it became a cereal night. Best part of the meal were the fortune cookies. Pretty sad when you dont feel comfortable giving the dogs a little bit of Chinese due to health concerns. I will continue to make the drive to the Chinese place on Apollo beach blvd and they also deliver. Was excited to have China 1 open minutes from house...but first experience was so disappointing and a...