YC
Yolanda Childs
5 days ago
⭐️ 1 Star — Very Disappointing Experience
I have eaten at this restaurant several times, which is why what happened this time was extremely disappointing and concerning.
Last night around 11 PM, I ordered two rice bowls—one for myself and one for my mother. Because it was late, I chose to remain in my car for safety reasons. While I was waiting, an employee brought a bag to my car and handed it to me without saying anything. I opened the bag because I was looking for the food I had ordered, and I looked at and touched the food in both containers trying to figure out what it was and whether my order was underneath it.
I then moved my car, and the same employee came back with my actual order. I explained that I had already opened and touched the food in the other containers. He told me he had mistakenly taken my food to the wrong car because the vehicle looked similar to mine.
What really bothered me was that I watched him take the food I had already opened and touched and give it to another customer. That was extremely concerning to me from a food-safety and sanitation standpoint. Once food has been handed to the wrong customer and that customer has opened and touched it, I do not believe it should simply be given to someone else.
Then there was the food itself. The rice bowls were burnt and scorched. The onions and other ingredients were badly burnt, and the taste was affected by it. I had not expected perfection, but this was not food I felt comfortable eating.
I called and spoke with Alex and explained everything that happened, including the issue with the food being burnt and the employee giving the other customer’s food to me and then giving that same food to the other customer after I had touched it. Alex told me that situation should not have happened and asked me to come back and speak with him. Because it was so late when everything happened, I told him I could not return that night. He told me it was okay to come back the following day and that he would take care of it.
I returned the next day expecting to resolve the situation respectfully. I explained what happened and was eventually told that the owner was remaking my food. I declined because, after the experience I had already had, I did not want another order.
I asked for a refund.
The owner came out and told me that the food was not burnt. I told him he was welcome to taste the second order that I had not eaten from because it was also scorched. He then told me that next time I should tell them to cook the food “soft.” I explained that I did not want the food again.
What happened next was the part that really disappointed me. The owner became very rude and told me that he did not like what I had done, that I should have brought the food back the same night, and that next time I would not receive a refund. I tried to explain that I had already spoken with Alex and that Alex told me it was okay to return the following day. While I was speaking, the owner raised his hand as if to tell me to stop talking, went to the register, gave me my cash refund, and said, “Have a nice day, ma’am.”
I was not looking for an argument. I simply wanted the issue addressed appropriately.
For me, this was about more than a bad meal. The food-handling situation was extremely concerning, the food was burnt, and the way I was treated when I returned was disrespectful.
I have supported this local business several times in the past, but after this experience, I will not be returning.
Everyone can make their own decision about where they eat, but I personally would encourage people to pay attention to how their food is handled and how concerns are addressed.
Eat where you feel comfortable and safe.