Chinese Garden Restaurant — Restaurant in Idaho Falls

Ah, dear patrons of the culinary arts, allow me to regale you with a tale most delightful—this marks my second illustrious sojourn to the very establishment that is this charming eatery. Verily, we find ourselves consistently enamored with the delectable feasts presented before us, a veritable cornucopia of gastronomic delights that dazzle both palate and purse alike, for the ratio of grandeur to expenditure is quite simply, astonishingly remarkable! The ambiance here is less of a dreary diner and more akin to a reverie, resplendent with a cleanliness so pristine, it could likely host the Queen’s tea party, paired with decor that would make even the most fastidious of interior designers swoon. Furthermore, the service—oh, the service!—is as swift as a caffeinated gazelle, with employees who are eager and attentive, a true testament to professional hospitality. However, one must note that the establishment tends to resemble a bustling hive of activity, buzzing with patrons clamoring for either tantalizing takeout or hastily orchestrated pickups, whilst the sit-in clientele is rather scarce, like a rare Pokémon. Now, when it comes to the necessary lavatories, they are, in all their tidy glory, akin to a diminutive airliner’s cubicle space—neat as a pin yet snugger than a bug in a rug! The tables glisten, the floors sparkle, and the overall ambiance encapsulates that quintessential nostalgic vibe one desires for an enchanting evening immersed in the splendors of Asian gastronomy. My recommendations are as hearty as the dishes served, with one minor caveat that has bestowed upon the service a mere trio of stars: A mishap involving a family member who, alas! Found herself the unwitting victim of nefarious card theft, resulting in a rather unfortunate fraudulent escapade the very next morn, despite the card being as fresh as morning dew. I am not insinuating that any ne'er-do-wells lurked among the genial staff, but one cannot ignore the realities of our world—my dear acquaintance had traversed to no other locales where the treachery could have occurred. And thus our tale concludes, leaving a mélange of flavors and the faintest hint of caution...

If you told me the owners were white Americans trying to pull this restaurant off with Panda Express knowledge, I would believe you.

My roommate spent $60 on this place, we’re both full time college students and we both work over 40 hours a week, so we DoorDashed it as even an hour away from work or studying is really bad. This was also my first Chinese restaurant experience living here as I just moved here, and boy, was this one for the books in the worst way! I take back what I said - if I could do it all over again, I would go to Panda Express, even for “traditional” this place misses the mark. If you want authentic/traditional, take a trip to the Seattle area, it’s the closest place to Idaho that actually has it. I’m disgusted. Why you ask?

Egg roll? Half of it was fully cooked, until I bit into the second half and it was uncooked dough. Think slimy, raw dough texture, and not the chewy texture of egg rolls. My cashew chicken? One singular cashew. If I wanted hoisin chicken and veggies I would order that. The fried rice? Wait, did that say fried? They mean steamed white rice, with oil and ham mixed in to be “fried.” That’s before I get into the problems with her meal.

I usually give people the benefit of the doubt, especially after working in restaurants. We called twice, and the horrific employees (I am HOPING they are not owners because that would be an embarrassment) hung up on us both times. So now we have food that is either a safety hazard to eat (the egg roll) or is just so poorly made I have to recook literally everything. Will never order again. This “establishment”...

I had the Lunch Special, with the Hot & Sour Soup and the Mongolian Shrimp and Lo Mein.

Please NOTE: The prices on the website and Google for the Lunch Specials is $1-$2 higher! Still, a shrimp lunch for $7.95 is a great price!

The soup was quite flavorful, albeit a little on the spicy/hot side. I was fine with it, as it was tasty, but should be avoided by young kids and those who don't like spicy/food 🔥.

The Mongolian Shrimp was again, excellent, with deep flavors and just the right amount of heat for me.

The Lo Mein was good. A bit lite on the veggies, which I identified as carrots, yellow and green onions and cabbage, but again, this is just a little side remark.

I also ordered a Lunch Special to go, for my wife, which included the Cashew Shrimp and Lo Mein.

I was very surprised when the waitress told me that the takeout orders do not include any soup. Or, I can add the soup for an additional $2. Wait, what? Why? The only explanation I can think of is that the amount of soup they give you in the restaurant is very little, and if they give you the same quantity in a to-go cup, you will be very displeased to see how little it actually is.

Bottom line - good food and very good price. I will give it a 5-Star rating and I will definitely be coming...