Taste of China — Restaurant in Havelock

I think I'm going to start rating places to eat by Praise Reports, Or Prayer Requests, and this place is in need of some Prayer.

Gave this a chance after my bad experience in James City, having finally recovered, willing to try Chinese Cuisine, I am determined to find some place that's at least 4 stars, well Taste of China looked like it might be it as it had that hidden hole in the wall feel and look, but as soon as I opened the door and was greeted by this dinning room, and order off paper sheets cafeteria style I was having a serious deja vu moment back in James City.

I and Agent 113, Ordered: Egg Rolls Steamed Dumplings Beef and Broccoli Chicken Chow Mien Orange Chicken Hot and Sour Soup Teriyaki Beef Skewers

Drinks are in caned form only, no alcohol. Sprite, Dr. Pepper, Orange Soda, Mountain Dew, whatever you pick, remember 2 cans per-person, you will be thirsty , and will want another can, this trick will save you from waiting.

The room is odd, when we ate there we're order after order going out, but none dined in. Place was dead, I will say it was clean, had a kind of 80s feel to it. Unlike the place in James City, this place was at least clean and organized.

Well, we talked to a guy who said he went there at least once a week, he said some times it's good, sometimes it's bad... interesting. Ours was bad.

Never had orange chicken that was bread and fried, served with this orange goop, looked like Slimer from Ghostbusters trying to pass a kidney stone. The chicken was hard and dry, more like a chicken nuggie from Gold Arch World than anything I've had in Chinese restaurants before, was bummed out looked forward to a classic titan.

Hot and Sour Soup was Hot, like that it, couldn't taste the sour which is usually from the Chinese Black Vinegar, this was like eating a bottle of hot sauce, but you only taste burning. It was so hot, spicy hot, now I can take some hot stuff, but this wasn't classic Hot and Sour. This was just Hot and Hot.

Beef Broccoli would have been fine, but the broccoli was raw, hard, too bad, as it was the only thing we had that held that classic flavor, think this was the last places problem too in James City.

Egg rolls were dry, tasted like they were old, as was the oil they were cooked it.

The Steamed dumplings were so thick and gooey I thought I was eating globs of glue, the insides weren't bad, ate two or three by gutting them.

Teriyaki beef skewers were actually the only really good thing though a bit tough.

And the Chow Mien was oily. Into the trash bin it went.

You bus your own tables here, there is a tip jar so if you have cash hold back from tipping, as this place hits you first then you see what it's like... Been seeing this kind of thing more and more popping up in Asian Cuisine style restaurants, you tip good or big then feel like you got robbed, I tipped fair and good but still felt robbed and disappointed.

I saw one baby high chair the classic wood style.

The young woman who took my oder from the counter was friendly, had no issues with customer service, yet that's easy there really isn't any.

No I'll not be going back, any time soon, maybe in a year and see if some things have changed...also if eating in and it's early evening and sun is going down, sit on the left side, as the Right side gets washed out with blinding sunlight. Bring a jacket too, gets very cold in there.

When after a few weeks or months pass and I feel up for Asian Cuisine again, I'm hoping to find, determined in fact to find one good Asian place. I'm amazed places like Taste of China have lasted this long, serving sub-par or low food, no real service, place is drab, food way too spicy, too dry, tastes old, of old oil, or oily...sad. I guess when there isn't any other option but this people just take what they can, but that's the only way, they've stayed up and running. Wasn't even worth what I paid, dropped almost a hundred bucks...never got a free 2 liter soda either as advertised on the menu...I guess tips don't count, my wallet...

After seeing the rest of the reviews here have been written a year ago or longer, I feel like people need a serious update on what's up with this place because I can't believe I'm seeing "the food is amazing" actually being written about THIS place. We normally at China Garden in Newport next to Food Lion where the food is always nothing short of actually BEING utterly amazing. We mistakenly got food from this place and it was absolutely terrible. I got sesame chicken which was totally half-assed, the chicken cooked in sauce with tasteless sesame seeds sprinkled over the pile in one small spot (did they expect me to stir the sesame seeds into it myself?). The chicken in the chicken fried rice seemed a little on the under-cooked side. The egg drop soup was more like an egg drop gelatin which made me leery about eating anything that came out of that kitchen, and to top it off, instead of getting real fried noodles to go with our egg drop gelatin, they give us these cheapo bland excuse for noodles that look like strips of cardboard. I'm not making this up. The fact that this place had a higher review rating than China Garden is ALL twisted and an absolute travesty. If you want REAL, GOOD chinese food in this area, I highly recommend China Garden, you can't go wrong with that. But this place really sucks and we will not be coming back, by accident...

This is a very good place to eat. I have been a customer for a very long time. I've never been disappointed or dissatisfied with my order. When calling in an order, I prefer to actually say the name of the dish that I want instead of using the menu number codes attached to the dish. I once used a old menu that did not match the updated menu and I ordered the wrong combos. The combos that I received in error due to my old menu was very good as well. I also like to purchase food that may not be considered Chinese take-out such as French fries and chicken wings. I enjoy multiple items from their menu. If you ever do decide to order their delicious French fries, request that they do not staple the lid shut. Having the lid stapled shut causes the steam from the hot fries to create condensation on the lid and the fries get wet from the drips of water. They are not lacking in providing a good amount of quality food or sauces. I recommend this establishment for those that enjoy Chinese food and French fries. When you get sick from a cold, try their vegetable soup, egg drop soup, or wonton soup. Better yet, mix the egg drop and wonton soup together. It's just as good of a remedy than Campbells soup....