Chef Chan’s the Original — Restaurant in The Woodlands

I had the pleasure of dining at Chef Chan’s this Christmas, and I’m truly grateful they chose to remain open through the holidays. Usually, I go for the classic General Tso’s Chicken, which hits every time, but this year I decided to step outside my usual order and try something new. After some recommendations from the friendly staff, I opted for the Sha Cha Beef and the Combination Fried Rice, along with a few appetizers and I’m so glad I did. Every dish was bursting with flavor, and it was definitely worth every cent. The restaurant had been renovated since the last I visited, and I think it looks amazing. The owners definitely care for the interior design and is very much cleanly.

That said, the management on this particular day seemed a bit more hectic than usual. I could tell the staff were putting every inch of effort in, especially given how busy they were as the only restaurant open within a 5-10 mile radius. I can empathize how overwhelming it can be with an onslaught of nonstop orders, especially being short-staffed, and how flustered they must have felt. They’re human too. Yes, the wait time was longer than expected, but I’ve definitely experienced worse. What stood out to me was how the staff handled it to their best ability, even under pressure.

I had a thoughtful conversation with one of the employees after receiving my meal, and it helped put things into perspective. From the outside, it might seem frustrating, long waits, delays, and chaos, but it’s easy to forget how hard they were working behind the scenes. Upon seeing this, people can easily opt to leave and try to find another restaurant to eat elsewhere. Or, better yet, stay home. If the workers had known what they were walking into that day, they could have easily closed up and taken the day off. Instead, they chose to stay open, giving people like me the chance to enjoy a meal during a busy holiday season. How can people be so heartless at a time like this? Don’t assume you know everything because chances are you don’t.

No one should have to work on Christmas, and no one should be subjected or suffer to that kind of stress. But the team at Chef Chan’s took it all in stride, providing a sense of warmth and joy despite the challenges. I really admire their dedication and appreciate everything they did to make the experience as good as it was. It’s not just about the food, it’s about the heart and...

It is with the heaviest heart I write this review. I have been eating at Chef Chan’s for over 25 years. I celebrated every childhood birthday there, made every first date call and reserve a table, and used to go in on my lunch break whenever I worked nearby. I have moved away from The Woodlands but still come home to take care of my dad. Going to Chef Chan’s was one of the few nostalgic joys I have left during this dark time in my life. Joshua and everyone else working there has always taken such love and care in their food and service. That is all gone. The last time I went it was unrecognizable. Service was curt, short, and devoid of personality. The sesame chicken, which I have raved about and literally traveled the world looking for something comparable, is unrecognizable. Other dishes that used to have so much flavor and brought my dad I immense joy are now no better than mall Chinese food (which has its place, but not here). From what I can tell, a new owner who thinks he’s smarter than a decades old business with loyal customers came in and threw recipes he pulled off the internet into an already perfected product. Chef Chan’s did not need to change! I am all for making improvements where necessary to ensure a profitable business, but none of the changes I’ve seen or tasted line up to saving money on a bottom line. It’s just lazy, and an insult to what this business built on the loyalty of customers like myself. Maybe I’m a little salty, but I have had zero issues eating there until this new management came into the mix. Unfortunately, this will be my last time eating here. I’d rather fondly remember my meals from yesteryears than try and choke down what they’re trying to pass off as Chinese food today.

A piece of advice: If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!

Sincerely, An incredibly sad and now...

I'll preface this by saying I am very picky when it comes to Chinese food, sonce I lived in Asia for several years (Japan and South Korea). I stopped in on a whim around 2pm for a late lunch. I was pleased to see their lunch special hours stopped at 2:30pm, which worked well for me. I ordered the orange chicken with fried rice, egg drop soup, and a pork egg roll with water to drink. The egg drop soup was simple but had a great flavor to it. No veggies in it... just the egg and "soup", but really good. The pork egg roll was pretty good, but not amazing. I really liked the orange chicken. The typical Americanized version usually involves some heavy, sticky red or orange sauce that looks like it would glow in the dark. Not here. The sauce was cooked into the chicken, and there was a bit extra on the plate. The way it tasted, you really didn't need to "dunk" the chicken. They were good the way they were. There were also bits of real orange slices that were cooked in, as well as a pepper for a little bit of flair. The chicken itself was good quality (see pic) and done right. Not dry or overcooked. The rice was good, but again, not over the top. The staff was very prompt and courteous, and I felt like everything was done thoughtfully and quickly. I definitely want to come back at the beginning of their lunch special time to see if it's even better than today. I'm also coming back to try other things on the menu. I can't vouch for their whole.menu, but give them a shot if you are looking for...