Zao Asian Cafe — Restaurant in Salt Lake City

I try to avoid leaving negative reviews as I've worked in the service industry long enough to know that shi* happens. But I also don't know that I've ever received worse service than I did tonight. I entered the Sugar House location at 8:20 PM, well before closing. There were two customers ahead of me who weren't helped until several minutes after I entered. Once they were served and it was my turn I ordered two bowls, one with noodles and one with rice They stated they were out of noodles so I would need to wait. Totally understandable. Once the noodles were done they asked if I wanted chicken or beef. I asked if they had the chicken meatballs. She sighed in clear disgust and said it'd be a wait. I told her regular chicken was fine. For bowl number two without asking what I wanted she dumped in beef. I don't eat red meat, so I kindly requested chicken. She said "we're out". She then added a small scoop of corn then sealed up the bowl. No broccoli, none of the extras. There were 6 employees that I could see, and the door clearly stated the location closed at 9. There were also several people in line behind me. I just don't understand why I was being treated like such an inconvenience for ordering regular food well before the posted closing time. I love Zao, but this location has never been strong in customer service. It's once thing to have sub-par customer service but with rising costs of food I would really like to have received what I paid for, or at the very least been treated like a human being. I don't plan to return to...

So I am not usually one to leave reviews. However, I feel that I needed to for this. I have ordered from zao in the past with good experiences (the Sandy location) but never from the SLC location. I ordered off of door dash because I was working, which already charges double as it is. They took over 45 minutes extra which by that time I was ready to leave work. When I got the meal, it was cold.. the noodles were soggy, and it tasted… rotten? I’ve never had that taste from them before. Plus the dasher didn’t understand me when I asked what was taking so long but that’s a different story. I threw it out. And trust me when I say, I’m not a picky...

I went here for the first time late yesterday because Zupas next door had a line practically out the door. But they were empty and had no line (there’s your sign). I ordered a chicken bowl 🍲. My first impression was how ridiculous that I paid 10 bucks for a bowl of rice and 5 cubes of chicken and 6 veggie pieces. I was left hungry and with a bowl of rice, thank heavens (read on).

I felt sick after eating last night and this morning I woke up with food poisoning. I wish I could at least say it was worth it but the food was not very good.

2 stars for the curry, which I assume is why anyone would actually return here. But I...