New China — Restaurant in Schuylkill Haven

Very quick service (done in 15 minutes), staff was friendly, prices very reasonable and big portions. Gave 3 stars because the food just isn’t that great. I don’t understand the reviews saying it’s the best they’ve ever had lol maybe the best in the area. The reviews were what made me come and try this place so I figured I’d leave one with my opinion. I didn’t wind up eating half the food. Felt nauseous after finishing what I did eat.

I bought the sweet and sour shrimp, sechuan bean curd (tofu), veggie lo mein and some egg rolls. The shrimp was very fishy smelling even from inside the closed bag, which means it wasn’t fresh at all. Also when I bit into it, it was an odd texture and not deveined. Didn’t finish it cause I was worried I’d get sick. Sweet and sour sauce was also pretty bland for a sweet and sour sauce.

The lo mein wasn’t horrible. Still kinda flavorless but not as bad as the other stuff.

The tofu dish was honestly probably the worst tofu I’ve had from a Chinese restaurant. It was bland, tasted old and nothing was done to improve the texture. Tasted like they just chopped it up and threw it in the sauce straight out of the container. The sauce itself was super bland too, just really didn’t have any flavor. The vegetables included I’m pretty sure was just from those frozen carrots and peas bags, which is fine, but it’s an odd combo for the tofu. Usually tofu dishes come with broccoli and mushroom at least. I’ve noticed good Chinese restaurants ALWAYS know how to make good tofu dishes.

Wound up throwing it in a saucepan myself to spice it up and make it taste better.

The egg rolls were actually good. They DO make their egg rolls with meat in them, which wasn’t something I knew. I’m pescatarian but I wasn’t gonna throw up my arms over a couple bits of ham. Some places use meat, some don’t.

I moved up this way recently and have lived in big metropolitan areas like Indianapolis and the Lehigh Valley. I’ve had some really incredible american Chinese food down at Easton Asian Bistro and some insanely good thai food at Kow Thai in Allentown for around the same prices.

Maybe I’m biased because I’ve lived in the city and had closer access to really good food majority of my life.

The food isn’t really anything special and I probably won’t be going back. Staff is really nice and service is quick. It’s a shame the food wasn’t good. Imo the cooks should experiment with more seasoning and don’t expect salt to carry all the work of the seasoning. Also brighten things up with rice vinegar :) might benefit from reading through The...

Stingy! When we come in they have lunch special right. Okay we get two of them pay lunch special price. We asked "Does it come with soda?" He said "Yes". Ok, cool. As I am grabbing the sodas a lady comes up to me and It's hard to underatand her but she is telling me that I can NOT take the soda and that lunch special is over. They have a clock on the wall that the time is wrong! It is ahead a few minutes! I looked at my phone and it is 3 o'clock on the DOT!! I showed them the ACCURATE time on my phone and he said "Well we are going off the time on THAT clock" (The clock on the wall). Mind you she purchased it before it was 3 o'clock on the dot! I called my boyfriend over to tell him what is going on. He HUMBLY paid for the sodas! Stingy. I didn't even curse or anything. All I did was put my foot down. I bet they probably spit in the food or something (I don't know but the way most of them were looking at me they probably did). I would've asked for my money back and left but I bet they were going to be too stingy to do...

Update: I just wanted to also mention that this place appears to be redoing the outside of the restaurant and it is looking really good. Also, they are in the process of reopening the dining area! I'm very excited for this and for them. Please continue to read my original review below:

This has the best General Tso's chicken in the county. Growing up in NJ I ate a lot of good Chinese food. But now, after living in Schuylkill county, PA for 14 years I have been continually disappointed with underwhelming Chinese food. That is, until I ate at this place. It's really pretty great and more like what I was used to in NJ.

The location itself is very worn and weathered but do not let that turn you off. It is worth trying! The people that work there...