Chef Lee's Element — Restaurant in Gaithersburg

1/19/25 - they are much improved! The old staff who were questionable are no longer there, and service and food are better. Give this place a try!

I heard about this restaurant and thought I'd give it a try. While some of the food were quite tasty, the high prices, inconsistent quality and taste of the dishes, and the questionable integrity of some of the staff and unpredictable nature of when the food would arrive ultimately leaves me not wanting to come back again.

I ordered 9 dishes for a lunch party. First I called ahead the night before to place my order and was told they don't take future orders, and for me to call back again the next day. Strange since this implied my business wasn't important to them, but I went with it so I can try the restaurant out.

The following day I placed a mobile order on their website 9:30am for pick up at 11:45am. I get a text message at 11:05 am telling me my order is processing and it will be ready by 11:50 am. I get to the store 11:45am and was told my order is not ready yet, which I get. Upon asking how much longer it would take for the food to be ready, I was told ~20 minutes.

I was shocked and asked for more details. I was told the restaurant opens at 11:30 am and even though my order was 1st in line, they are cooking as fast as possible and only made 3 dishes. Later I learned this was just not true as other carry out orders were ready and waiting to be picked up. I also saw several people arrive to ask about their carry out order, only to be told it will take longer than what was promised. From talking to some of the staff I learned that delayed orders are a common practice at this restaurant, and the owner knows it but doesn't want to do anything about it for fear of the chef leaving for another restaurant. I did get compensated with a free drink and some soup, so it was nice to see the staff try to make some ammends.

This could all be overlooked if the food was spectacular. Unfortunately, it's not. Most of the dishes were average with some notable highlights, both good and bad. Let's start with the bad: the Kung Pao chicken tasted bland (I can get a better Kung Pao chicken at Panda express), braised pork balls did not look like the photo at all and were too soft and mushy, and Green Beans with Minced Porrk did not have any minced pork and were cooked too soft. Now the good: the Sauteed Diced Chicken is very good - I highly recommend it if you can overlook the high price and ridiculous wait, and the Crispy Pig Feet is worth a try - but be warned portions are tiny for the exorbitant price, and the sauteed fish fillet was cooked nicely with decent price for a fish dish.

Overall I think this is an overpriced chinese restaurant that tries to be like Peter Chang but...

We placed an online order and paid for it at 6:40 pm. The confirmation email stated that it would be ready by 7:35 pm. Taking into account that it was Mother’s Day, I expected the food to maybe take a little bit longer. I didn’t get my food until almost two hours later. I arrived at the restaurant at 7:30 pm. Standing at the front, I was waiting for the host to greet me. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case. No matter how many times I politely attempted to grab his attention, he only greeted guests that came in after me. Assuming they were here before, I tolerated this for about 10 more minutes. However, at 7:40 pm, I was still not greeted. When I saw the host texting on his phone, I had to raise my voice (referring to him as sir) to grab his attention. I asked for the status of my food, to which he instantly responded “not ready yet.” That was the only thing he said to me that night. I’m not sure if he was ignoring me, or what, but he paid no attention to me after that. He would leave the front station for a while and tend to other people who walked in. Knowing that my food was already paid for, I was livid with this service. I ended up speaking to a waitress, along with another customer, who finally checked on my order. I did not receive my food until 8:24 pm. The least they could have done was inform me that my food would be majorly delayed instead of the single, one-sentence answer I received. If I had known that it would take almost an hour past the stated “ready” time for my food to be brought out, I would not have gone here. The only reason I gave it two stars is that the food was good. However, that does not make up for the fact that I had to wait a total of almost two full hours for an order I already paid for, as well as being treated...

As someone who explores a lot of different Asian restaurants and with a wife from Malaysia, I can confidently say that Chef Element in Gaithersburg, MD, is the best Chinese restaurant in Maryland. Our recent dining experience there was nothing short of amazing!

We ordered the Spicy Numbing Chicken (La Zi Ji), Spicy Shredded Pork with Peppers, and Fillet Fish with Spiced Salt. This combination of dishes hit on all cylinders and paired perfectly with rice. Each dish was outstanding:

• Spicy Numbing Chicken (La Zi Ji): The chicken was lightly fried to perfection, using fresh white meat that was both tender and flavorful. The spiciness and numbing sensation were balanced beautifully, making each bite an exciting experience. • Spicy Shredded Pork with Peppers: This dish offered a smooth, savory taste that was simply irresistible. The pork was tender and well-seasoned, with the peppers adding a delightful kick that complemented the overall flavor profile. • Fillet Fish with Spiced Salt: The fish provided a simple, clean taste that perfectly balanced the meal. It was lightly seasoned with hints of salt and pepper, enhancing the natural flavor of the fish without overpowering it.

The harmony between these dishes created a wonderful aftertaste that lingered pleasantly. While I have tried many Chinese restaurants that have standout dishes, the combination of these three dishes at Chef Element surpasses them all. Chef Element is a must-visit for anyone looking to experience the best of Chinese cuisine...