China Palace Restaurant

08/14/2008 Posted by ikeikedaman

As a Japanese, I have so low expectation in Chinese food in the US. Although, I have eaten pretty good chinese food in SF and NY. They were still OK compare to the ones in ASIA. NC is so terrible about authentic asian food. There are mainly OK aisan fusion restaurants. I just tried China Palace first time today, and the entry I order (Szechuan egg plant) was excellent. Absolutely the best one I have ever tried in NC. I can not compare restaurant as a whole to any other restaurant without eating other menu, but I can already recomend you for the egg plant. Weitless was very friendly too. I will go back and update this review for other menu. Some of the reviews complain about egg roll and hot and sour soup. If you like these menu, do not go to authentic or traditional chinese place. Go to fusion place. These menus are basically americanized menus.

07/03/2008 Posted by DanWoo

I have eaten Chinese all the way from Beijing and Hong Kong to Chinatowns far and wide in the U.S. and Canada. Let's just say I love Chinese food. Since my family discovered China Palace, we go at least every 2-3 weeks. I love the special Chinese menu, while my wife swears by the sesame chicken. I have rarely if ever been disappointed by anything I have had there. The service is usually fast and attentive. There are a few decent chain type places in this area, but what was missing for me until I found China Palace was that good old, authentic, kind of like being in China experience, which you can get in places like New York. I highly recommend it!!! There is nowhere better around here for Chinese food.

Pros: Great food, authentic, usually good service

Cons: Parking good but trafficky area, not a lot of seating but almost never wait

05/11/2008 Posted by mickeybaumer

After the reviews we were shocked. The best thing was the fortune cookie. Ordered three entrees, one was so bad (tasted like it had Comet in it) we sent it back. Hot & sour soup tasted tinny. Egg rolls mushy inside and overcooked. Insult to injury was the bizarre behavior after we sent back the sizzle-platter chef's special steak ... first the waitress came back and told us the oil was checked and it was 'OK'. Eventually she came back and said they had decided to not charge us for the entree we didn't eat! (We hadn't ordered a replacement... appetite was gone.) As we paid for the meal the (we think) owner told us the chef checked it out and the beef fat was not spoiled! "Sorry you no like it." She then explained that they were not going to charge us for it repeatedly until we thanked her for not charging for inedible food. Entrees we ate we average at best. WILL NOT RETURN... BAD FOOD... UNGRACIOUS SERVICE... TOO MANY GOOD PLACES... DON'T BOTHER!

Pros: None

Cons: Food, service and ambiance.

05/08/2008 Posted by poopaskoopa

The first dish I tried was some wide rice noodle soup. It was ok. But we came back and tried some other things. Some tofu dish and shredded pork and tofu dish. This place rocks. I sat there and gave my dish thumbs up. It probably looked weird to see some dude giving thumbs up to a dish, but it was that good.

Pros: Price. Taste. Variety.

Cons: Not open til lunch.

04/19/2008 Posted by ezer

We checked it out after a glowing review in the N & O. I was a bit disappointed after they set the bar so high. The entrees were good but stay away from the hot and sour soup and egg rolls. The egg rolls were over fried with mushy cabbage inside. The soup really was not good. The price is reasonable but again, it was just average.

Pros: Good Entrees

Cons: Bad Appetizers and Ambience

03/21/2007 Posted by jwelsh563

I am orginally from New York but relocated to the Triangle area a few years ago. It was hard to find a Chinese place that suited my taste buds because I have been spoiled by NYC's Chinatown. With my field of work I frequently travel to cities across the country. When I arrived in the area, I was on a search for a good Chinese restaurant. China Palace was recommended to me by my colleagues, after being disappointed by other Chinese restaurants in the area I decided to check China Palace out. Since my first visit, I dine there at least once a week. Their meals are tasty and service is always excellent. They have a traditional menu that is to die for. I have tried almost every dish on their traditional menu and have yet to be disappointed. Their regular menu also offers a variety of great tasting dishes. If you are looking for a great place to dine or take out China Palace is the place to go! Try their seasonal lamb stew and fresh fish! These dishes are simply amazing!

Pros: Food and Service

Cons: Parking Lot Entrance

03/09/2007 Posted by hungrygerman

The location of this restaurant definitely makes you hesitate to try it, but because the parking lot is always packed at dinner time, we tried it, and we will definitely come back: it is the best chinese food I found in Durham so far, everything really tastes "home made". Interestingly enough, I now found many people who are fond of this place as well, one evening, I actually met two of my colleagues there who frequently go there for dinner as well.

Pros: food

Cons: ambience

01/19/2007 Posted by trianglefoodlover

The Triangle doesn't offer much for authentic Chinese restaurants but China Palace is my favorite in Durham. I go here about once a week for carry-out or late night dinner. It has a small but authentic "Chinese menu" you can order from. Most of the dishes on the special Chinese menu are tasty but the selection is limited. When trying to order in Cantonese, they told me that they don't make some dishes I can find in other restaurants in larger cities. The weekend lunch menu is also very authentic and affordable. This is a great place to try some traditional Taiwanese-style Chinese food. I would say to average dish is 11 dollars.

Pros: Good location and prices

Cons: Small dining area. Older design.

01/24/2003 Posted by hpakharvey

We've been going to this restaurant since it opened - we've known the proprietor, Alice, for many years, when she had her restaurant at the Woodcroft Shopping Center. The food is fresh, delicious and the service, wonderful. The place is small and ambience is not fancy but when we go there, we feel at home. The Sunday Chinese lunch menu is excellent also. Recommend it highly!!

Pros: great food, great service

Cons: seating area small