House Of Chow

They have a large menu that has both American and traditional Chinese items. It was odd that one of the dishes did not come with any rice. This would not have been noticeable if the dish was not overly salty. The customer service was pretty much nonexistent for the entire meal. The staff was not rude, but they did not come off as friendly either.

House of Chow is the best Chinese place in Columbia. However, I'm leaving a 2-star review because of a poor experience. I frequently take friends there to show off how good it is. Recently, I was there with a group of six people. I was not told that I would be charged an 18% gratuity automatically. I'm sure it's buried on the menu somewhere, but I've been a patron at this restaurant for 20+ years. I don't look at the menu! To make matters worse, our server Esther was terrible! My drink was empty when she brought our food. I had to ask for another, which she never brought. I had to ask another server to collect my payment because Esther was MIA. When I was given the bill to pay, I overlooked the automatic gratuity and reluctantly added a $10 tip on a $110 bill to be nice - Esther certainly didn't deserve it. Ultimately, my visit cost me a $25 tip for a meal I consumed without a beverage. Again, I know I have some culpability here, but please tell people when you add an automatic gratuity. You can bet I would have held Esther more accountable if I knew about the charge.

I go to this location frequently, it’s been one of my favorite spots since I moved to Columbia. Esther my usual server always goes above and beyond! Sometimes she’s the only one serving a full restaurant & it amazes me watching them run around getting everyone serviced. I think as patrons we should appreciate a server when they’re capabilities are being stretched even if it means we aren’t getting their undivided attention! Esther knows how to control the chaos elegantly, juggling 25 things at once with grace! Esther is a perfect example of getting things done and will always make sure you’re taken care of!

This has become my go-to for when I want to sit down in a restaurant for Chinese food. They have a solid menu for both lunch and dinner. I was particular impressed with the large selection of teas, definitely something for everyone. There are a lot of options, so I don't yet have a favorite meal, but I do recommend the Five Spice Pork Wings (bone-in ribs) and the Sizzling Black Pepper Chicken. It isn't spicy, but it has a wo deful pepper flavor and the way they present it is a delight.