Cha Cha Tea Spot — Restaurant in San Diego

Today was the last time I came here. I've been a customer of this restaurant for over 5 years. They messed up my orders from time to time, but they always fixed their mistake and made it right.

Today, the usual auntie wasn't there and a younger guy took my order. The receipt said Andrew Liao. I mentioned salt and pepper chicken wings twice and asked that they not put the pepper flakes on the chicken wings. I paid for my order and went grocery shopping at 99 Ranch.

When I came to get my order, I noticed that he had charged me for salt and pepper squid. I mentioned this to him and he said that it was too late to fix it since it was already in the fryer. He supposedly asked someone in the back if I could get a refund, but "there was nothing they could do." Well, that's sad since this was supposed to be my son's dinner and he wasn't going to eat squid.

He asked me if I still wanted it (in the bag). Yes, if I'm not getting a refund or my correct order, I'm going to take it home. Why would he even ask that? No, just throw it away. What's $19 for the wrong order?

It's one thing if I changed my mind, but he took the order wrong and knew it, too. I used to check the boxes before leaving because they got my order wrong half the time. I guess I should have checked to see if they placed the order correctly. I even gave them a $5 tip. I should stop tipping before getting my food. Another lesson learned.

If you're still going to go there despite all the other bad reviews... check that they get your order right before and after you pay. As for me, this was my last time there. The only reason we went there was for my Mapo Tofu. I can get that elsewhere.

P.S. The salt and pepper squid is not worth $19. The portion was small and it was mostly batter. It also had pepper flakes all over it when I asked them not to do that. The chow fun was also dry...

It's edible if you don't care about the lack of flavor. ...for everything ordered. Not classic Chinese food. Real Chinese food is Hong Kong style. This isn't it.

Wonton Noodle Soup: Noodles were hard and there was not enough broth. Too much random vegetable filler with the broth.

Kung Pao Chicken: Flavorless. How? I don't know.

Shrimp Har Gao: Flavorless. I usually eat this dim sum item with my dog and she won't touch this. She's a walking garbage disposal. ...to what she's allowed to eat.

Lotus Sticky Rice: There was flavor here. Just not the correct flavor and too much of it. I think someone got very heavy handed with adding 5 Spice to it. That's all I tasted. Individual ingredients had no flavor. How does this not have flavor?

Scallion Pancake: Again no flavor and the taste and texture...was similar to cardboard and construction paper.

Again, how does Chinese food not have flavor? How can someone not make Chinese food correctly? Not the worst Chinese restaurant (this title belongs to Hong Kong Restaurant in San Diego). The food is edible, just not...

(2021: Ordered via doordash, ate at home.) This restaurant has AMAZING food. Their xiao long bao? Amazing. Their BBQ Pork puns? Amazing. Their honey chicken and their sweet n sour chicken? Perfection. Their young chow fried rice? Good stuff. Honestly, I'd reccomend just about any of their food. I was very impressed :) I'm likely to purchase from them again someday. (And as I write this, I'm enjoying one of their BBQ pork buns :) ) So all in all, I 10/10 reccomend. (Edit 2023. Picked up food, ate at home.): MY FAVORITE RESTATAUNT. I'll be ordering this every single time it's my birthday. Seriously, beautiful food. I LOVE the Shanghai rice cakes, the beef chow fun, the shrimp har gow– it's ALL AMAZING! AWESOME!!!!! PLEASE GET THIS FOOD ITS PERFECT YOU...