China Moon Chinese Restaurant — Restaurant in Universal City

Judging by looks alone, China Moon appears to be the oldest of the Chinese population of Universal City, occupying a small Oriental-style building near Randolph, complete with Chinese characters on the sign along with broken English ("Chinese Food - Also To Go"). The interior is peppered with Asian decoration, along with a couple dozen tables and a length of counter near the kitchen to accommodate those who prefer it Also To Go.

The lunch hours offer specials, and it was from this menu I ordered the Garlic Chicken, lured in by the mark of a chili pepper indicating spiciness. I always like to opt for the spicy menu items because of my love for the heat along with the tales of unbridled spice with which Asian cooking are known to provide.

The lunch special is served with an order of soup (egg drop for me) and a limited selection of sides (eggroll). $5.50 is the price of admission, which is pretty good for a meal in general, and becomes an extremely good deal when I opened my takeout container and caught sight of the giant amount of food that was bestowed upon me. It was your standard tri-compartment Styrofoam container, with the big compartment filled to the top with the sauced meat-vegetable mixture, and a side container filled with more fried rice than should be eaten over the course of a day, let alone in a meal. Spoiler alert: I didn't even come close to finishing everything.

Unfortunately, the dish was much like many other Americanized Chinese selections: a small collection of select vegetables and meat drowned in a heavy sauce. While there was a heavy garlic smell to the dish it did not come through in the too-sweet sauce, and the oil was starting to separate from the emulsified concoction before I reached the halfway point, leaving a collection of oil in the bottom of the container. The vegetable offerings consisted of carrot, scallion, water chestnut, and onion and were combined with some Plane Jane chicken breast slices. Sadly, it was certainly not spicy enough to warrant that little chili pepper on the menu, either, leaving only a little hint of spice on the trailing edge of the palette. It was a serviceable dish, but not much otherwise.

The fried rice was displeasing, tasting oily and a bit dry at the same time, as if it was prepared in advanced for the lunch crowd. Featuring only a smidgen of egg, this rice was meant to be combined in the syrupy sauce. The egg drop soup was prepared a little too simply with nothing but broth and egg, but decent nonetheless. The eggroll, too, got the job done, and was fried admirably.

I'm looking for more in my Chinese food than a simple sauce and rice, though I realize that others may not be looking for similar things. China Moon offers plenty of quantity for the money, and you certainly can't take issue with their advertising: It's Chinese...

The food here is fair especially for the price unfortunately their service is horrific. They tend to have a hard time understanding you. Today by far was the worst experience I've had here. The owner herself took my to go order in person might I add (I usually call them in to avoid the service provide) much to my relief I didn't have to repeat myself 3x, this made me fell at ease and confident that my order would be processed correctly. Unfotuatley that was not the case, when I get home I see that I was shorted my side (sweet & sour pork) so I call and advise them of the error. She immediately states she provided me with what I ordered (here we go again with the repeating) I kindly advise her that the side was missing once again she then tells me that if I wanted that I had to tell her that at the time of my order (which I did just didn't repeat it). I let her know that I had made this request at the time of the order, finally she admits she mistakenly placed egg roll twice. No worries we all make mistakes, right. What really got me was that she then tells me to take in all my food that my daughter is eating because the order was for her so she can verify and then she'll give me my side dish! I immediately let her know my daughter was already eating the food therefore I would not take it in but would take her the egg roll if she liked, she said yes and hung up. I was going to place another order for myself but after this they can keep their sweet & sour pork along with all my future orders as I will never ever go there again. Fortunately for me Lee's Kitchen is right around my other corner and the same distance as China Moon and offers good customer service. I admit they are a bit pricier but their food just as good and are much more accommodating and customer...

Went to this Chinese restaurant 14 Dec 2023 @ opening 11:00 am. I’m not sure why they have such a high rating! But this is the second time I have came to this establishment. and the same lady, that a waitress that take your order has been very rude and short! I’ve notice her approach to Caucasians, And it’s totally different more polite and patient. It seems to me that she has this personality problem with Peoples of color! (Black) I walked in and had a seat and was waiting on my wife that was meeting me there for lunch! But before my wife could even get there, I got up and walk out! This is the first time I’ve ever had to do something like that! People’s if for any reason you feel like you aren’t getting the same service that’s others are receiving! Get up and leave, your money is worth more then spending it at a location don’t respect you or give you the same services.. I asked the waitress a questions about her menu after she brought it over with all kind of food stains on it! Then showed me the price for their fried rice for dinner and I’m here for lunch. I asked her is this your price for lunch also she says what do I mean? I said you have a menu that shows lunch and it shows dinner why would you show me the price For the one for dinner . Not to mention, this is my second time coming here. Establishment sure they have problems with peoples of color I mean black peoples I will spell it out I don’t care how do you cook food but if you have a nasty attitude and you treat me anything different than what I say you treat other peoples I would not eat at your establishment and I hope everybody read this understand where I’m coming from it’s not about the food it’s about the peoples serving you what a poor service. I got up...