China Doll — Restaurant in Houston

I don't post many reviews, but this place is THE quintessential chinese food takeout place in Houston. I've done the work so you don't have to! Let me tell you a story. As a New York transplant, I was having an incredibly tough time finding good takeout Chinese food. For the past 6 YEARS I wasted lots of time and money trying all the Chinese food places inside the 610 loop, getting catfished by nice looking pictures on review sites. If you're not familiar with NY Chinese takeout, you really won't understand what I was looking for (sorry not sorry). Anyways one fateful day I see this place come up in my google maps as I was searching for a new place to try (and most likely be let down). I've found that There's one dish that if a takeout place makes well, the rest of the menu will most likely be good and that's the sesame chicken. This dish has so many aspects that must be done well in order to execute properly. The breading must be crispy and the chicken should NOT be breast meat! The sauce is probably even more important it must be sweet with a little tanginess and some savory as well and it must also be thick almost jelly-like, but not all the way. Next, the fried rice, which inevitably will come with your dish at any half decent takeout takeout place. Let's take a look at the sad state of fried rice in Houston. You'll be lucky to be even have actual FRIED rice offered with your lunch special. Typically what I see is white rice that's been tossed with some salt and pepper and some soy sauce. If you're lucky they'll put some egg in it. YUCK! China doll breaks the mold by giving you actual PORK FRIED RICE with your lunch special or dinner combo! That is their standard rice, that comes with peices of pork and all sorts of vegetables, which is a common thing for chinese food places out east, and it's actually good enough to eat on it's own! Is this place in a rundown part of town? YES. Is the person who takes your order short with you and only cares about your order and not that you have a pleasant interaction? YES. Would you NEVER consider dining in because the dining area is questionable? YES. These are the questions that need to be asked and answered yes in order to create the perfect storm that is an amazing chinese takeout place. My only gripe is that the place is a little out of my way and takes 15 mins to drive to but it's worth it to give myself a small reminder of my days back when I was growing up in NY. I hope this place stays in business for...

After 12+ years of driving down Antoine, I finally decided to try this restaurant, even more after reading reviews online. After tonight's take-out dinner, I have to say that this restaurant is the go to spot when you are craving Chinese comfort food. (I am super thrilled about this restaurant because I will not have to drive to any mall for good quality chinese!)

WE RECOMMEND THE CRAB RANGOONS, AND PEKING STYLE SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN 100%! FOR FIRST TIMERS!*

My husband ordered a dinner combination plate, F.) Peking Style Sweet and Sour Chicken. This item came with fried rice, your choice of soup, (he chose Egg Drop), 1 Egg-roll and 1 Crab Rangoon. I ordered a dinner combination plate as well, the G.) General Tso Chicken, which also came with fried rice, choice of soup, (wonton), 1 Egg-roll and 1 Crab Rangoon. We also ordered Fried Biscuits (5 in a box).

Let me tell you, I am a very picky eater but that does not stop me from trying new things. I rarely eat any restaurants egg rolls or crab rangoon's due to disliking cabbage and the staleness and taste of some crab rangoons, but both of these items were AMAZING! The flavor and the crisp was really enjoyable! You can't order food from this place without ordering the Crab Rangoons. I seriously wish I ordered extra.

As for our main course, my husband's plate was tastier than what I ordered. If you want something savory and sweet go with the Peking style sweet and sour chicken. If you'd rather something savory and a bit spicy, the general tso chicken will hit the spot, bell peppers were nice and cooked as well as the carrots. RICE was great with the sauce from both chicken plates. The fried biscuits were different from other restaurants, crunchy crisp flaky outside, soft yummy inside. (I like mine covered in sugar! Get sugar packets while you're there for pick up! And don't forget the FORKS!)

I am very pleased with what we ordered from China Doll Restaurant as well as the portions we got! Thank you...

My first time visiting, my oder was quickly taken and it did not take long for my food to be made. I ordered the sweet and sour chicken and an order of chicken lo mein. The sweet&sour chicken came with pork fried rice, egg roll and a crab rangoon. First off the rangoon was only cream cheese no crab or crab flavor, it was good but the crab would have been nice. Pmus the menu says Crab rangoons but I only got one. The rice had no flavor of any kind and the sprouts were bad, you could actually smell them. My guess is the sprouts expired and maybe the cook did not notice (I hope). As for the chicken it was a little dry but better than I thought. The Lo mein was tasty and I enjoyed it more than the other stuff. And before I forget the egg roll was a nice size and was average. I might give them a second chance, but as some one who cooks for a living I am real harsh and selective on...