Zom Hee Chinese Restaurant — Restaurant in Seminole

I’ve heard nothing but positive buzz about Zom Hee Chinese Restaurant from locals across Pinellas County, and after finally dining there, I can say it mostly lived up to the hype. It’s clear this place has been around a long time for a reason. While not everything was perfect, there were several standout moments that made the visit worthwhile.

Let’s start with the highlights: The Crab Rangoons were easily one of the best parts of the meal. Perfectly fried to a golden crisp and filled with a flavorful, creamy center—savory with just the right touch of sweetness. These didn’t have the overly sweet, almost dessert-like filling that some places serve. They struck a perfect balance and were gone from our plate quickly.

The Egg Roll was also solid. It wasn’t greasy or soggy and actually had a nicely seasoned filling that held together well. Some restaurants just stuff their egg rolls with bland cabbage mush, but this one had texture, flavor, and crunch. While it may not be the single best egg roll I’ve had in the area, it’s definitely in the upper tier.

The Sesame Chicken was a pleasant surprise. Many places overdo it with sugar or leave the chicken swimming in syrupy sauce, but Zom Hee got it right. The chicken was crispy without being dry, and the sauce was sweet but not cloying, with a subtle hint of tang. Every bite had a satisfying texture and flavor. It’s one of those dishes that makes you pause mid-meal and say, “Okay, they know what they’re doing.”

Now, the low point: Surprisingly, the Fried Rice was the only real miss of the night—and it wasn’t a small one. Given how good everything else was, I was honestly shocked by how dry, bland, and almost stale the rice tasted. It had a strange texture, like it had been pre-cooked far too early or reheated one too many times. There was little flavor and almost no moisture, which made it feel like an afterthought rather than a core component of the meal. It was disappointing enough that I stopped eating it entirely after a few bites. That said, the fried rice was the only item that really let us down.

Service and atmosphere: The staff at Zom Hee deserves a shout-out. Our server was genuinely warm, attentive, and knowledgeable, offering thoughtful suggestions without being pushy. You can tell the team here cares about creating a welcoming experience. The restaurant itself has a classic, old-school charm—the kind of place you know has been a reliable neighborhood favorite for decades. It’s cozy and unpretentious in the best way.

Final thoughts: Zom Hee isn’t trying to reinvent Chinese-American cuisine—it’s doing the classics well, with care and consistency. And while the fried rice issue was a head-scratcher, the overall meal was flavorful and satisfying. I’ll definitely be returning, and next time, I’ll just swap out the rice for lo mein or extra vegetables.

If you're in the area and craving familiar Chinese comfort food, this is a spot worth visiting—especially for the crab rangoons and...

Just a suggestion to redo your takeout menu to fully describe each item, I was trying to order a bunch of appetizers and 3 entree w a fried rice. Ended up with what looked like 5 meals and no appetizers or duck sauce just 5 packages of noodles and two orders of fried wonton which is the same thing only larger no meat inside and I ended up with no duck sauce just 10 packs of soy sauce. Definitely ruined my night when I looked in the boxes searching for beef terricki appetizer chicken fingers and crab ragoons and found endless meats soaked in sauces with two containers of white rice . The portions of the stuff I did end up getting when I opened the square containers were small of the chicken chow main and beef lomein.. I was very disappointed as I don't go out but maybe once a month to pick up food since I'm the chef for four people I never get treated to a cooked meal so yes very disappointed that my order was not what I was trying to buy .. and 120.00 plus a 20.00 tip 140.00 is outrageous for 2 drinks 3 appetizers and 4 quarts of food. To receive NO appetizers no duck sauce and 2 big containers in a square Styrofoam with food I did not recognize nor order. Had to put everything back in the big heavy box and wait to be refunded for 16 minutes while my elderly dad waited outside in the heat and people laughed at me that were being seated. So I was their entertainment for 10 minutes.. I will never go out to eat on a weekend again or get take out on a Friday or Saturday evening AGAIN! My night was ruined . Between getting ready for dinner driving to the place, took forever to get my takeout order drove home opened everything kept looking for my appetizers put it back in the box drove back to the place had to wait another 20 minutes to get my money back drove home ... I spent from 5 pm to 8:30 pm without dinner and just pure aggravation.. not one bit enjoyable. Your servers need to repeat back what your ordering but then again that's what I get for ordering my takeout at the bar, it...

An Absolute Gem! A Delicious Step Back in Time!

Zom Hee is a treasure. From the moment you walk in, you're transported back to the classic American Chinese restaurants of the 80s, and I mean that in the best way possible. This family-owned establishment, running since 1985, nails the nostalgic atmosphere with its velvet oriental wallpaper, glowing Chinese lanterns, and spot-on decor. It’s the perfect setting for a nice, sit-down meal.

The experience starts immediately with a level of hospitality I rarely see anymore. As soon as we sat down, our kind and patient server brought us complimentary hot oolong tea, crispy fried noodles, and delicious marinated cucumbers to enjoy while we looked over the menu. It was such a thoughtful and appreciated touch.

The menu is huge, and the helpful pictures make you want to order one of everything! Our party of four was a bit overwhelmed, so we opted for the "Family for 3" meal (Combo 3A), and it was a fantastic choice. We got to pick our own soups (the wonton and egg drop were both phenomenal), and it came with three massive, crispy egg rolls.

The main courses—Beef Subgum, Woo Shu Chicken, and Sweet and Sour Pork—arrived on raised, silver platters, which just added to the wonderful nostalgic feeling. I immediately thought, "My parents would absolutely love this place." Every single dish was exquisite. You could tell the ingredients were fresh, the flavors were authentic, and nothing was remotely greasy. It was more than enough food for the four of us, and we took home leftovers for two more meals!

Every staff member we interacted with was so pleasant, thanking us repeatedly on our way out. If you're looking for incredible, authentic Chinese food with top-notch service in an atmosphere full of character and charm, Zom Hee is the place. We will be back again and again. I cannot...