Crystal Island — Restaurant in Thornton

We were in the area and had a hankering for Chinese food. In our search, this restaurant had 4.5 stars, so why not? When we went inside, there was only 1 other person dining. My first thought was, "If people really like this place so much, why is no-one here?" When we sat down, the table was very sticky, to the point I didn't want to even touch the table! The bench seats are in bad shape, the carpet is very old, and the inside could just use some tlc. It took a while for someone to greet us after sitting down due to taking phone orders. So when she finally came by, she explained that most people just order for take-out or delivery. She also apologized for the sticky table and knows that has been a problem. At this point, not impressed. We had ordered our food and it didn't take a long time to be brought to us. The plates looked delicious. And they were delicious! The Hunan Combination was fantastic. Great sauce, expertly cooked. The orange chicken was superb. Perfectly crispy, the meat inside was super moist. Just absolutely mind blowing how great everything tasted. I joked with the owner when I was paying my bill, saying I had am 80% discount coupon. She told me sure, if you want to help do the dishes. She was a wonderful woman. Kind, funny and pleasant. I would easily come back here again. I recommend you try it too. You are missing out on the experience if all you do...

Okay, I have to write a review, which I don't do. Award for top craziest experience with restaurant food ever. I'll give credit where credit is due, everything was fine... except for the sesame chicken. I don't know what is wrong with someone who would serve this in the state that it was in. A good nine minutes into chewing the first piece, trying to separate it enough to swallow, I actually questioned whether it was not food, but some kind of crosshatched fiber object, and spit it out to check. That began an odyssey of sifting through the whole container sampling and test-chewing many pieces, which all had to be spit out. The meat was a composite of only the most inedible pieces of gristle and tendon that would be left over or scraped from the bone, then congealed together by some binder into chunks, then re-cooked for a very, very long time after that until it's the consistency of a shoe. I had to throw away the entire dish. This was the most extraordinary thing I've ever attempted to eat in my life. I've never sent anything back to a cook in my life, would never dream of complaining, grew up poor and will cut mold off bread and still eat it. But this was..... a truly incredible state of food for someone to have thought it could be served. I'm at a loss. My order was also SO expensive, Yak & Yeti prices, and I only justified it by planning for plenty of leftovers....

This place is gross all around. This decor and furniture are very old and ripped. wall paper is peeling. Stacks of dirty dishes sitting at the door to the kitchen. The staff is super rude and they are extremely slow. They have young kid family members sitting in the booths laying down. The carpet is dirty. There was literally no one in there but the stck of dirty dishes is stillsitting there. I can only imagine how the back where they prapre the food looks. The food is very mediocre. Update this place and change your attitudes. Then maybe more ppl will order here. Old Christmas decor falling off the wall when you enter the door. Just all around choice for Chinese food. Go elsewhere.

Update: 12/8/24 Looks like karma got this place. Treat your paying Customers and delivery partner drivers poorly then I guess you have this kind of...