China Lake Chinese Restaurant — Restaurant in Rowlett

I stopped here for lunch because it looked like a place to sit down. I walked in and the person asked me if I was there for to go and I said no. He stood there so I just grabbed a menu and looked at it while looking at the picture menu. I was asked 2 times if I was ready to order, I indicated I have never been here so I don't know what I want. I was asked a 3rd time so I just chose the sesame shrimp and asked for very light sauce. I paid for my meal and then asked if I could eat it in the dining area. The cashier looked at me and said I thought you wanted it to go? I told him that I said no when I first walked in. The cashier told me that he did not know what I wanted because when I walked in I was on my cell phone. (I was on my cell phone when I walked in and ended the call as I walked in the establishment) The cashier made me feel like eating there was a problem now that he had rung up my ticket as a to go order. I told him forget it I will just take it and eat at home. I got my food and sadly the shrimp were drowning in the sauce. The portion size was more than enough. I would not personally visit this place again unless I was in the mood to pay for food not made the way...

This place used to be so good. I used to live in Rowlett many years ago. And I came back back in December of 2023. I was looking for a Chinese restaurant. And I found this one. They used to give you so much good food. Now it's all vegetables and brown sauce. Last night I ordered the Happy family and all they gave me was the family. Nothing happy about it. Very little meat and a bunch of veggies. And this is the third time this has happened. So the first two times I was like okay let me check and see. But third time's the charm. They don't want to give you any meat or seafood whatever. They just want to give you lots of vegetables and rice. And they charge a ridiculous amount for the vegetables and rice. I'm not vegan or vegetarian. So that probably will work for those people. I need protein and lots of it in my food especially if you give me lots of vegetables. So you give lots of vegetables you should get lots of meat. So for that reason I'm more than likely will never return again. And I was a lawyer customer. But they have really slipped on quality of food and the amount of protein...

China Lake - Rowlett, TX

The interior of the restaurant feels a bit run-down and could definitely use some refreshing and a deep clean. I ordered the Mongolian beef, which, unfortunately, was overwhelmingly salty and quite ordinary overall. There wasn’t anything particularly remarkable about the dish—it was mostly rice, with a very skimpy amount of beef. They were generous with the rice, but I’d have preferred a better balance with the main ingredient.

I definitely would be a bit apprehensive about what's waiting in the kitchen!

A mess, an experiment gone wrong, or a stack of dirty dishes? Or maybe it's something more mysterious, like an unknown "creation" that I would rather not confront.

In a nutshell ... my dining experience really missed the mark. It’s frustrating when a place with high expectations doesn’t live up to the hype. Whether it’s the food quality, service, or ambiance, sometimes the reality , or my experience, just doesn’t match the reviews.

In my case I will not be returning to...