Yin Tang — Restaurant in Plano

I went here with my friends last year and the experience was great, so I came back to the store because I wanted to eat Malatang again since it's one of my favorite foods and it was cold weather as well. However, today's experience was VERY TERRIBLE.

Food was ok, but when we're done eating, the waitress lady came and checked our tips and almost yelled at us saying how could we only pay for this much tips to them. I understand that workers can feel bad about getting a few tips as a person who also work in restaurant, but it's not right to go to customer showing your madness and making customers to pay for more tips because although we want to pay for more tips, sometimes we can't afford it right now especially when food itself is so expensive too... After I paid for more tips, the other worker took my check, and he showed it to that lady earlier talking something about it "in front of the counter where we can definitely see them discussing about us" and I think she was still mad for changed tips. I think all servers here are just very rude.

My honest thought about most asian restaurants and this restaurant is that giving more than 15% tips is too much for me since it's mostly self-service anyway. Does workers actually think they can get a lot of tips when they don't even really do actual "service"? And this was my first experience ever having forced to tip, is that because they're Chinese? I really wonder why lots of Chinese try to disgrace their own nation... making other people to hate them

I went here with my boyfriend and got so embarrassed and felt sorry for bringing him here, making him have this experience together. Although I paid for everything, I was still sorry. We went to meet fresh next door after then I cried so much about this.

Because of that lady forcing me, I paid a little bit more tip, but I don't think I will ever go back to this store. JUST GO TO THE ONE IN CARROLLTON, PLEASE, same company, but people there are way much nicer there.

In additionally, we were just asian couples, but when we were ordering food, she started talking in chinese before we even speak...

So I went there recently. It seems the changes were reverted (or they improved, or the owner changed again). At least the shelf is full again, and the soup base tastes right now - old review: Some significant changes happened recently. I don't know if they have changed the owner or what happened. The nice young lady waitress we knew has left. There are way less options compared to a few weeks ago. The counter was nearly full back then but now it's half empty. The new lady waitress claimed that most of the old items were the "same". I disagree because there are quite a few items I can't find or no replacement. Just for comparison there were about 10 types of green vegetables but now there are only 4 most common ones. Take a look at my photo you will know there is a big difference. Also there is only 1 type of noodle. The food labels are all messed up. There are more types of soup base like beef bone soup, pork bone soup, and special soup, but they are too salty and none is not as good as the old one. The special soup comes with too much sesame sauce for my taste. The new owner or whoever doesn't seem to be prepared for the heavier traffic. I heard people complaining about having to wait 40 mins for their food. (Mine is fine which took about 10 to 15 mins). I really liked store, but it's such a big disappointment of my last visit. 😞 I hope they will add some options to at least match what they had and add less salt...

Yin Tang has some of the most authentic Mala Tang that I've had. The prices are second to none at $12.99/lb, and you can help yourself to as much meat + vegetables that you want. I love the fact that the restaurant is like a self-serve buffet, and you can pick and choose what produce you want cooked. The broth that the food is cooked in is extremely hearty and has extreme depth. The sauce bar is also extensive and has all of the classic Mala Tang dipping sauces, including sesame paste, sacha (Chinese BBQ) sauce, and sesame oil.

The BBQ offered a la carte was pretty substandard, but why come to a Mala Tang place for BBQ, right?

Lastly, the service was absolutely phenomenal. There were only two servers who ran the entire front of house, and even during peak rush, they were able to tend to everyone's needs while getting food out quickly and efficiently.

Yin Tang has quickly become one of my Plano favorites for authentic Chinese food, and whether it's my first time or my 30th time, I'm sure my experience will be amazing. If you've read this far, give the restaurant a shot. I'm sure you...