China Garden Restaurant — Restaurant in Orono

HANDS DOWN the best Chinese food you will find in the state, I have lived in New Jersey and had access to New York City, least to say I had plenty of FANTASTIC options for Chinese. I recently moved back from New Jersey with my fiance. I was born in Bangor and grew up in Brewer, so I went to the typical spots you'd find around town. I have put off going to this place for so long because I thought I would be in for another low class, non-authentic and stomachache for later experience. I was wrong, the rice HANDS DOWN is the best rice I have ever had in my experience EVER. The boneless spareribs ARE ACTUAL rib tender fall apart tips that are TOP TIER and the Chicken Fingers OF COURSE I know is typical American Chinese, but still they were cared for and made with fresh ingredients.

THE ONLY IMPROVEMENTS I CAN SEE TO BE MADE ARE: More portions for chicken fingers and the rice. For the price of the rice and chicken fingers I expected a larger portion. With the last bit of the AMAZING rice I had, I took the PLENTYFUL leftover ribs I had for lunch the next day. Fantastic the next day as well. Christine was a sweetheart and explained the difference in non-authentic and an authentic Chinese experience and even offered to curate a custom meal for my fiancé and I when we go in to dine in next.

Fantastic experience, I expected less and of course Christine and her staff went above and beyond to prove me otherwise. THIS IS OUR NEW SPOT. Much love from ours to yours China Garden, any bad reviews are people with bad taste buds and...

Save yourself the time and just don't. I ordered online thru their website to same myself some time while I was on my way home from Bangor. When I got their to pick my order up the girl at the front informed me that their online ordering doesn't work anymore because the printer is broken.... So, fix your printer, or take online ordering off your website? So I re-ordered while there. After placing my order she told me to sit down. I told her I was going to browse IGA while I wait for my food (that should've been done already). She told me to make sure I don't spend all my money, I forced a laugh while walking outside. I go back and get my good and try eating it once I get home. I ordered the Pupu for 1, pork fried rice, and a small order or crab Rangoon. None of it tasted right. The crab rangoons were disgusting, not like any other I've had before. My pork fried rice had no pork in it and basically lacked any vegetables. All of the meat in the Pupu for 1 was very tough and chewy, the chicken didn't look or taste like chicken, and the spare ribs were the same. The best tasting thing that I got from this place was the fortune cookie, and I think that's because they aren't made there. I used to love eating here and could count on the food being delicious everytime. But after this order of mystery meat, I'm turned off from eating any Chinese...

I have been waiting a long time to write this review. There is no way I can adequately summarize the continuous experience at China Garden. Christine is amazing, we love spending time with her. She makes delicious and creative meals. She is hilarious and entertaining. She is down to earth and insightful. Every visit is healing, she puts love into her food and love into her business. Casey and Ashley are fantastic staff members. Casey has the best personality and Ashley is so kind. The food usually isn’t even the best part of the trip, but honestly it’s out of this world good. She makes amazing fresh rolls that you can only get once in a while, so when she offers them never refuse. That rule can be applied many ways, when Christine offers something never refuse, it’s always amazing, especially when it’s something new to you. So many of her dishes are homemade and her recipes are unique to her. Her drinks are great too, awesome Mai-tai and Pineapple Passion! She has been a vegetarian for many years and has many options. My favorites are spicy string beans with tofu, hot and sour soup, general tso tofu, moo shi, chinese style fried rice, fried vegetables, scallion pancakes, DUMPLINGS, 5 cup tofu, but...