Sun Ming Chinese Restaurant — Restaurant in Irmo

Today on Mothers Day, I had the worst restaurant experience of my life. After placing a takeout order for over $85 (order #404), our food was given to us without any regard for its freshness and quality. The order was placed by phone immediately upon their opening (11:30am) and picked up by Noon. The bone-in spare ribs and chicken wings were hard and dry...so much so that we could not even give them away to our next door neighbors (overcooked yesterday's leftovers)! The "steamed pot stickers" were actually so cold that we knew they were taken out of their refrigerator and never even warmed up (yesterday's leftovers)! The "Beef Brisket in Clay Pot" entree was odd tasting and unrecognizable as being anything that should of been eaten. Both of the Lo Meins, Jag Jang and Vegetable, were so overly salted that neither could be eaten (possible excessive msg to preserve from going bad during storage). The mushroom fried rice and egg foo young were good and a saving grace to at least getting something that we could eat from the order. After dinner, with loads of leftovers still on the table, I called in explaining exactly what we experienced and asked to be credited for the items that we could not eat, the ribs, chicken, brisket and both of the Lo Meins and was told that they understood and would give me a credit toward my next order. I was not satisfied with this option, since I could not see us EVER going back and pressed that the credit be applied to this current order which they finally agreed to do. One hour after this I received a call from Tracy, who seemed disinterested in our experience and demanded I return the food so she could see it. In my opinion, she had the opportunity to both see and stop what the restaurant was serving before giving food to the Public. It is not our responsibility prove to a restaurant that what they are serving is doctored and leftover food. Tracy and her chefs know exactly what they were serving and should have tried to make the customer happy. I am an elderly 68 year old man, who went to this establishment to provide a Mother's Day treat for my wife, daughter and grand kids and all were...

The food here is good, but the woman at the register during my visit was extremely rude. I specifically ordered vegetable spring rolls, as I do not eat meat. I clarified upon arrival that I ordered vegetable spring rolls, as when she repeated my order she simply said ‘spring rolls.’ I then asked if there was a difference and she informed yes, there is. The regular spring roll includes chicken and shrimp—amongst other things. I reiterated that I asked for the vegetable rolls. The woman then proceeds to waive her hands at me in dismissal of my response.

If it was not for the fact that I had already driven 20 minutes to the restaurant to pick up my order while on my lunch break, I would have simply walked out. That’s no way to treat customers. Own up to your mistakes. It was a simple error that the gentleman who overheard kindly and quickly remedied.

This one encounter has derailed me from coming here again because sadly, that negative encounter outweighed the few positives that I have had at Sun Ming. It takes 5 positive experiences to make up for one negative experience—if the consumer even returns. Keep that in mind next time you engage with your customers.

Updated to Add: After taking a few bites of my meal, the food is definitely not the same. Perhaps new owners? The vegetable fried rice was greasy and flavorless. Sauce won’t add any taste, especially since I was only provided a few packets on a large order of rice. The vegetable spring rolls are also not the same. It’s rather...

So sad to see such a staple in Chinese cuisine for over 20 years go by the wayside. After 3 sub par take out meals and not seeing any familiar faces, especially the long time smiling face of the restaurant my suspicions were confirmed. New ownership/mgt..everyone that made it a special place is gone. The girl that mans the front is totally clueless, I mean that literally. I listened to her argue with her landlord about putting washer dryer in her apartment last time I called in a order, then after 5 minutes she came back and took my order, which when I picked up was wrong and cold. Today I stop by to order a takeout soup, they still are not open(dining room) by the way. She said 3 minutes. I went out to car to take call, came back in same girl did not know who I was, mind you same guy that ordered and paid munutes earlier. After I gave her my phone number she went to back told me few more minutes, 15 minures after that I got my soup 25 minute wait in total opposed to 3 minutes for soup. I ordered War Wonton..get home most ingredients missing again and surprise ice cold, not even warm. So sad to see the only really good authentic Chinese restaurant in Columbia go away. I along with hundreds of regulars will miss it. Will not see me again. 3 strikes, bad attitudes, cold poor food..I mean cant get worse than...