China Pearl - Raleigh

AVOID THIS PLACE!! I’ve never written a review for a restaurant before, but I feel compelled to share my experience. The ribs are a complete disappointment! They serve you just bones slathered in sauce. The lo mein is either undercooked or overcooked, lacking any real flavor, and they hardly include any meat. If you're looking for a genuinely good Asian restaurant, I highly recommend Noodle Boulevard on Walnut St.

1. I had trouble understanding the man at the front desk. 2. I ordered spring rolls and only received one shrimp roll—thankfully, I don’t have food allergies. 3. The wonton soup was extremely salty, and the wontons looked off and doughy. 4. The beef and broccoli was greasy, and the beef was tough and discolored. Honestly, everything seemed like it had come straight out of a freezer and was just reheated. This was the worst $20 I've ever spent, and I definitely do not recommend ordering from here. I ended up tossing it all in the trash.

Imagine the worst dining experience you can think of. This restaurant takes that concept to a whole new level. Let’s break it down from the start. The dining area was dirty and uncomfortable—check. Staff members completely ignored us—check. We were given a wait time, only to sit for an extra 15 minutes—check. The food was inedible—raw, overcooked, excessively greasy, and nothing like what was promised—check, check, check, check. When I called to request a partial refund, I was hung up on three times—check. I went to the restaurant only to be ignored again, then confronted and intimidated by the manager for half an hour, who insisted I go through the website for a refund—definitely check. Ultimately, I contacted the ordering company directly, managed to secure a refund, and escaped the hostile environment, but then found my refund reduced to just $5 by the very person who had advised me to use that platform—check. I feel like I must be missing something, because this place encompasses every aspect of a terrible dining experience. I genuinely believe this business should be shut down, and legal action should be pursued. I’m sharing this so you, dear reader, know to steer clear. This place is simply not worth it—you will regret ordering food here. P.S. The Chinese donuts are nothing but Pillsbury Grands Flaky Layers Biscuits coated in granulated sugar—completely raw. Delicious, right?

For a budget-friendly Chinese restaurant, this place exceeded my expectations. The soup was a bit salty, but still quite flavorful, and they generously filled it with wontons. The General Tso's chicken was crispy and delicious, with just the right amount of spice as we requested. The lo mein was tasty and loaded with vegetables, and I must say, the spring roll was possibly the best I've ever had at a place like this. I was impressed by the portion sizes, which offered great value for the price—I’m stuffed and still have leftovers to take home. Additionally, the guy at the register was really friendly; my first card didn’t work, but he was very understanding and welcomed me as soon as I walked in. Overall, it was a lovely experience.

The restaurant was dirty and the service was terrible. The staff wasn't friendly at all. While the prices were reasonable, the food left much to be desired. The eggroll was greasy and unpleasant, and although the spicy beef was decent, the rest of the dish was underwhelming. They really need to start by cleaning up the place. This will be my first and last visit!