Tasty China is dead to me
June 6th, 2008 by Andisheh Nouraee in RestaurantsOn Monday, my FutureWife™ and I ordered takeout from Tasty China for us to take to a friend’s house for his birthday.
Our intention was to order six appetizers and entrées, mixing food we already knew we liked with recommended items we had not yet tried.
Of the six items we attempted to order, however, we only received four. Two of the items were overruled.
We asked for sesame scallion bread, but were refused. Preparing sesame scallion bread, we were told, is a “pain in the butt.” I’m sure it is a pain in the butt, but I thought that’s why restaurants charged money for food. Oh well.
In its place, we were ordered to order Dan Dan noodles, which we like, but had eaten during our previous two visits.
The other item we were refused was Sichuan beef
“I’d like Sichuan beef.”
“Chinese or American [style]“
“Chinese, please.”
“No, you don’t want that.”
In its place, we were permitted to order shredded pork with bamboo shoots and green beans. Both delicious, but that’s beside the point.
Every time I’ve gone to or ordered from Tasty China, I get attitude when I attempt to order things they worry I might not like. It was amusing at first, but after my recent four-out-of-six phone-order experience, I give up. Tasty China is dead to me.
Dinho in Chamblee has better dumplings, better fish soup and a better attitude.
They also seem to have a much better grasp of the “order food-prepare food-exchange money” restaurant paradigm.
June 6th, 2008 at 11:52 am
I have had the same experiences lately. The woman that runs that place is like Chinese Food Nazi. She yells at you when you want to order appetizers before ordering entrees. She pushes things on you that you dont like half the time (mostly American stuff). She is absolutely awful if you ask her for a recommendation- seriously, don’t do this. You need to really have a jonesing for some specific dishes, otherwise, it can be a somewhat aggravating experience.
June 6th, 2008 at 12:24 pm
This whole Tasty China obsession is so bizarre to me. That place is by my house and I’ve been twice, which was enough for me. Both times the food was cold and gross. And the restaurant just looks NASTY inside. The lady wasn’t unkind but she sure wasn’t hospitable. Regardless, I’ve never understood the attraction.
June 6th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
Not everything I’ve had there blew my mind, but I’ve never had bad food.
Even my carry out the other night, which was packaged more than an hour before it was eaten, was delicious.
June 6th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Frank Ma/Dinho is dead as well… there’s Chef Liu but it’s average at best now.
No more hot and numbing beef rolls for you!
June 6th, 2008 at 6:35 pm
I don’t know how I got on her good side, but I did, and my experiences are nothing like described. If she tells me not to get something I listen. Usually it isn’t because it is too tough to make.
I only take her suggestions and never get steered to American style stuff…
June 6th, 2008 at 11:54 pm
I with you.. I refuse to pay people who refuse to give me what I want…
I honestly think there are people who are masochists for food. Cliff probably knows some fancy psychological term for the condition.
June 9th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
I’ve found my way to her good side and she’s awesome to me. Maybe it’s ’cause I’m Asian, but I don’t think that’s it. I think it’s because I’ve dragged so many people here, she recognizes I’m a golden goose.
Oh yeah, I also show up on occassion with a Vietnamese friend and she seems to like that as well.
Thing I’ve also noticed is that she’s really bad at hiding how she’s feeling on a particular day. If she’s in a good mood, she’s great. Bad mood? Even to her preferred customers, she’ll be kind of cold (but not rude.)
June 10th, 2008 at 7:52 pm
Be gone!
Not again… It couldn’t have been 6 months since you last complained about Phoung roughing you up. My only regret is that I wasn’t there to see it in person so Phoung and I could have a laugh! As I read this, I picture a kid throwing a tantrum and can clearly hear your whiny voice, “I’m going to Dinnnnho! Thaaaat will show her!”
Stop crying Angela, it’s freakin’ carry out! You’re so soft it’s hard to believe you leave your home for fear of getting your feelings hurt. Growing up, did you play in one of those cricket leagues where they didn’t keep score so “everyone’s a winner”? If she is too tough on you and hurts your feelings, or you don’t like the service, STFU and go already!
She’s been nothing but wonderful to me, even the time I took a first date there and she made the food so spicy that my nose bled. She kept running from the kitchen with tea and water yelling, “Fire Patrol!”. When I went back a week later she greeted me with, “You’re back! I thought I had poisoned you!” I eat there about once a week, and haven’t looked at the menu in over a year. The sooner you realize that you don’t know what you want the easier things will be.
June 10th, 2008 at 8:57 pm
Who’s Angela?
Andy, have you been dressing in weird Iranian drag again? I know you’re jealous of my alias and all…
June 11th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
I don’t need to change my name when go out in drag. My name is bi.
Check out Google’s second-most popular person named Andisheh:
http://www.payvand.com/news/06/oct/1028.html
June 11th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Andisheh looks better than her when he is in drag.
July 5th, 2008 at 9:44 am
… phuong, why do you say Dinho is dead? Last time I went there, it was great!
July 6th, 2008 at 7:28 pm
Hey Baron,
When was the last time you went? Frank Ma is no longer at Dinho, and I believe the chef left as well.