China Wok — Restaurant in Hagerstown

I used to love this place, but admittedly had not been here for 8-10 years.

Tonight we ordered $60 of carryout for 2 people. We threw all of it out after a few bites.

Main courses were Szechuan chicken in garlic sauce and Hunan Chicken. On the menu both were shown as spicy. Neither one was spicy.But that’s not the worst part. Actually they were flavorless. I was quite in a mood for Chinese tonight, and talked my wife into going along with it, but without a doubt, both of these dishes, disappointed hugely.

I also ordered the barbecue ribs. I’ve cooked a lot of pork and I know when I’m being served leftovers. These ribs had the taste of refrigerator age upon them, despite the attempt to cover up with a lot of sauce. They were dry as they possibly could be, evidence they had been reheated a few times.

I ordered one of my favorites of all time: shrimp toast. It was soggy and soaked in grease. Now I’m going to admit to you that I like the flavor of the oil that the toast is deep fried in. But this was ridiculous, each piece of shrimp toast was soggy, undercooked, and not anything resembling the crispness that is so delicious with shrimp toast.

This was a hard review to write, being that it is a place. I enjoyed so much in the past. I’ve had many good dinners here with good friends, and additionally, there was a server here for a long time who was a joy to have wait on you. She knew you the instant you walked in the door, and she commented Openly and without hesitation about how much you needed to eat, what portions were correct for you, and what you would like or enjoy. She also offered items from the kitchen that somehow needed to be consumed by someone, and she thought you would just be the perfect person to help the kitchen out by taking advantage of something that had misfired.

I miss that place. I hope it comes back to that level. It’s going to take me a while to recover from the experience I had today.

One additional thing: the delivery was perfect and very timeful. I enjoyed meeting the driver and his young assistant, and they lingered on the porch for a while as we conversed about the gorgeous...

Haven't realized how long I've been coming to this place till just now. It's been over 20 years, and they still make some of the best food around town. It's saddens me to read some of these reviews, a lot of them complaining about cleanliness of the place. I don't know when they were here, I don't know what they saw when they were here, but I have never experienced dirt in here. The space is always been clean every time I come in here. Yes, it's not the brightest and well lit looking spot. Yes, some of the lights in the ceiling tiles look like they could use a little spritz of lumens and freshening up. But, no I am never seen dirty or grungy as one reviewer said. Then again, I'm not sure what that review was comparing it to.

However, I didn't come here for the ambience or decor. I come here for the delicious food that I've been eating for over two decades. It's hard to find a family owned business still successful in these days, especially after the pandemic that closed many restaurant doors. The simple fact they are still open after two plus decades and a pandemic is a testament to quality food and good service. Because there are certainly no shortage of Asian cuisine competition in Washington county. Many Asian restaurants have opened and closed within that time, but China Wok is still standing, and for good reason. Their customers who have been with them for a long time like myself, come back often because we get good food at a good price and you can't beat that combo. They have all the iconic favorites on the menu, but if there's something that you want and it's not on the menu, chances are they'll make it for you. What more do you want? Seriously! What more...

Didn't know what I wanted tonight, fridge and freezer full and 77 and didn't feel like cooking. Only lived in Hagerstown for 3 years and have ordered from them maybe 10 times, mainly during Covid and food was "good" . Got a shrimp egg roll, over fried bordering on burnt plus a pint of Pork fried rice which had zero flavor, maybe 8 peas, 6 pieces of pork, no carrots or onion or anything else and finally the fortune cookie was stale, door wide open and no dine in customers and no A/C on. If i could give them a "ZERO" I would, waste of money, couple of mouthfuls ... UGH and down the garbage disposal Wasn't worth my time to take back. Heated up sone chili my sister in law made, shread some cheese over it and wash it down with Southern sweat tea and finish everything with a slice of homemade apple pie, everyhing was "delicious" give her a 10 out of 10, fortunate that when I stop over to visit and have dinner with her and my brother I'm always sent home with some great treats, their both very good cooks. Avoid China Wok at all costs or until you see 5 star reviews. I don't like giving bad reviews but I hate seeing people waste...