China Garden — Restaurant in Montevallo

It is decent to be what it is. Too very small buffet tables, and only one of those being the entrees. But what they Do have there, is delicious. But they give you ONE tiny container as your go plate. And if you sat down and eat, you get the usual soup & dessert included with your meal. And anytime I've gotten Chinese food to go anywhere else around Birmingham, I always got my entree in a plate with a generous helping of my choice of white or fried rice, Or it may be in a separate container, (because it was so much Entree in that one regular size go plate), My choice of soup AND a fortune cookie. They don't GIVE you nothing here, But that one small plate that's about 5"x7". Anytime I've asked for a bowl for some egg drop soup, after purchasing the buffet, I always got charged for it. And I have to ask for a fortune cookie every single time. And then get looked at strange, like I'M the greedy one. But it's always seen very clean and very consistent in taste and presentation. But my times going are few and far between because I'm usually aggravated at the small go dishes and not getting The entire buffet order, That cost good money. It's not cheap, that I don't go back for a while. And having to practically beg for a fortune cookie that they freely give people sitting down after they eat. And maybe I'm just reading the cue's wrong, but I don't pick up on super friendly vibes. While I'm fixing my go plate at the buffet, I always feel I'm being watched, like they expect me to stuff rolls in my pocket and go running out the door without paying. That could be in my head but the small go plates aren't. They are the smallest 'Entree' plates I've EVER seen. More like a salad plate in a restaurant. To me that shows greed so I pile that sucker up. I'm going to get my money's worth! And then they begin speaking Chinese rapidly and that gets me outta there! I Don't feel very welcomed so I don't go back for a while. I'm hoping they'll open another Chinese restaurant around here because I could eat Chinese 7 days a week, but in...

I moved out of Alabama for twelve years, just outside of Nashville. There were a few things I missed: Milo's (before it got sold and started to suck), Golden Flake Sweet Heat, Buffalo Rock Ginger Ale, good BBQ and good Chinese food. The Nashville area may have good Indian food, which we lack, but their Chinese cuisine is awful. Contrary to what Marisa Torme said in My Cousin Vinnie, tiny Alabama towns can have excellent Chinese food. China Garden is a fine example. The service has always been great, the food is great and the hot mustard will light your head up like a Christmas tree. They need more veggies in their plates, like more broccoli in Gen. Tao's chicken, but over all it's good stuff, seasoned perfectly and with a decent buffett. The places in Alabaster are good, overall, but China Garden is better, food and service wise. If you're feeling under the weather, I recommend the hot and sour soup. Also get an egg roll and their in-house mustard if you need to clear your sinuses. It hurts, but it works....

Let's be real. I love this place for their predictability of yummy food and good service. They have a 2 line buffet of different marinated meats with vegetables, meat skewer, sesame chicken, noodles, egg drop soup, egg rolls with red sauce, cubed potatoes, chocolate pudding, red jello, vanilla cake pinwheels, and the occasional shrimp offering. They don't change their menu very often, but that is one of the things I appreciate about this place. The servers are quiet, but always smiling and watching in case you look like you need something. I usually eat a late, peaceful lunch...