China House

This overview of China House, a Chinese restaurant located at 495 Gateway Ave in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, is based on recent customer reviews and aims to provide local users with an objective understanding of the potential dining experience. It is important to note that the feedback highlighted in these reviews raises significant concerns regarding food safety, particularly concerning allergies, as well as issues related to food quality and service.

One detailed review recounts a deeply troubling experience involving severe food allergies. The customer, whose wife has a seafood allergy, ordered sweet and sour chicken with plain fried rice, explicitly informing an older gentleman waiter about the allergy multiple times. The customer also has an onion allergy and, recalling a previous incident of cross-contamination, repeatedly informed the same waiter to ensure no onions were included in their shrimp fried rice. The waiter reportedly confirmed and assured that these allergies would be clearly communicated to the cook.

However, upon receiving their orders, the wife discovered three small pieces of chopped shrimp in her plain fried rice after taking just one spoonful. Simultaneously, the customer found onions in their shrimp fried rice, which they noticed immediately. Upon informing the waiter, the plate was taken to the kitchen but returned within an alarmingly short time – less than 60 seconds – with a supposedly new serving of shrimp fried rice. When the customer expressed disbelief at the speed and a lack of trust in the new dish, the waiter allegedly explained that the kitchen always prepares extra food, which was how the wife's plain fried rice was contaminated with shrimp. He then purportedly admitted to simply removing the shrimp from the original, onion-contaminated fried rice and placing it in already cooked fried rice to create the "new" order. This account strongly suggests a severe lack of understanding or disregard for food allergies and a dangerous practice of attempting to rectify incorrect orders by potentially cross-contaminating food, rather than preparing fresh, safe dishes.

The reviewer explicitly warns potential customers to be extremely careful if they choose to dine at China House, especially if they have any food allergies. They advise that if an order is made incorrectly, it should be sent back and not trusted to be remade with fresh, uncontaminated ingredients. This deeply concerning review led the customer to vow never to return to China House, emphasizing the potential risks to individuals with allergies.

Another customer who stopped at China House for lunch with their wife also reported a highly negative experience, albeit focusing on different aspects of the meal. This reviewer commented on the unusually small size of the shrimp served. Furthermore, they found the food to be excessively salty. Drawing on their extensive experience of having dined at hundreds of Chinese restaurants over the past 50 years, this customer unequivocally ranked China House as the worst they had ever encountered. This stark assessment further underscores significant issues with the food quality at this establishment.

The combined feedback from these two reviews paints a concerning picture of China House. The first review raises serious red flags regarding the restaurant's handling of food allergies and potential for cross-contamination, which could have severe health consequences for affected individuals. The second review highlights significant problems with the basic quality of the food, specifically mentioning undersized shrimp and excessive saltiness, leading to a very negative overall impression.

Given these critical reviews, local users should be aware of the potential risks associated with dining at China House. The apparent lack of proper allergy handling protocols and the reported poor food quality are significant factors to consider when choosing a Chinese restaurant in Chambersburg. While these reviews represent individual experiences, the severity of the issues raised, particularly concerning food allergies, warrants serious caution.

China House is located at 495 Gateway Ave, Chambersburg, PA 17201, and can be contacted by phone at (717) 251-3316 or +1 717-251-3316 for inquiries. However, based on the strongly negative feedback regarding food safety and quality, potential customers may want to exercise extreme caution or consider alternative dining options in the area. The provided information does not include any positive feedback or details about the restaurant's environment, services beyond order taking and delivery of food, features, or any promotional information. The absence of positive reviews in this context further emphasizes the need for caution.

In conclusion, the recent customer reviews for China House in Chambersburg, PA, present significant concerns, particularly regarding the handling of food allergies and the quality of the food. The reported incidents of potential cross-contamination and the description of the food as overly salty with undersized shrimp should give potential local users pause. Individuals with food allergies are strongly advised to exercise extreme caution. Based on the available information, it is difficult to recommend China House without reservation.