Rainbow Garden — Restaurant in Virginia Beach

I've seen reviews that were not positive about this place and I'm not sure what happened with that because everything we've ever ordered for the last 6 years has been perfect.

I don't think they've ever messed up an order once. Not even a little.

Maybe the disappointed people in the reviews are ordering things that they make in large amounts for a lunch rush? Unclear.

I can say what I have done, because I learned this trick with fast food restaurants back in the '90s, as I worked in one through much of the '80s.

I never order food strictly off menu and try to avoid peak hours, because during rushes most places tend to make commonly preferred things ahead of time and leave them under heat lights. (Ever gotten warm fries that are limp and rubbery? They were made 10+ minutes before you arrived and have been sitting under a heat lamp!) It doesn't cost a company much and it's very time efficient to get people in and out so they don't complain about the time it took to get their meal.

To avoid that, I will customize what I want by taking what is normally available and then telling them to hold something because they can't just scrape or pick it out of the food, so they have to make it fresh.

I always end up paying a little bit more for whatever I order because it's a specialty order but that whole extra dollar or ten means that my food is amazing every time. Sit down places I tip 20% or more/take out 10% or more to show my appreciation because I know a rush has been thrown off by MY request of a special order.

If you've ever had problems ordering here (or anywhere during a breakfast / lunch / dinner rush) I highly recommend ordering what you want and tell them to leave out a specific item-and yes, you likely won't get the lower price of a lunch order that was made in bulk for efficiency, but you will get a perfectly made fresh meal. There's usually a reason that places with daily lunch specials are cheaper. They make it in bulk and keep it warm to get people in and out quickly!

As to whether or not Rainbow Garden actually makes things in advance like fast food places during peak hours, I am not sure. But I do know EVERYTHING they've made for us for 6 years now has always been perfectly made and...

This place has become horrible over the years. It use to be my favorite Chinese spot and I would travel over 40 minutes to eat here and bring friends from out of town here to share this great cuisine. I noticed about a year ago when I came it wasn’t as good but still better than most. Today I was in the area and decided to get sesame chicken and sweet and sour chicken for my father that was visiting. The sesame was so chewy I was embarrassed I had given it to my dad and the sweet and sour was tasteless along with the chicken fried rice not even the duck sauce and soy (which I normally don’t use especially soy) couldn’t bring it around. $30 wasted I hope one day they can revamp the place I...

Everyone who likes Chinese food needs a go-to Chinese takeout restaurant. I like good Chinese food & my wife would live off of it if she could. Before we moved a few years back our go-to used to be China Sun on Seaboard. They were awesome! We've tried numerous restaurants over the last few years & we've yet to find one that even comes close. Rainbow Garden is right around the corner from us and they are pretty good, though inconsistent. Still looking for that Chinese restaurant that blows us away on a...