I've been a loyal customer of Leeann Chin for about a decade now and I will eat at the St Louis Park location about six times a month and an additional 2 to 4 visits at Ridgedale and Chanhassen. As for the closest location St Louis Park, ever since the manager (older Asian Male) transferred to go to Ridgedale, SLP has went downhill. During the past year, they had nonstop issues with fruit flies, an outdated dining room, dirty restaurant, no upkeep in cleaning tables and chairs in the dining room, dirty stainless steel serving pans stacked up behind the serving line, customers complaining about hair in the food, customers getting sick after eating at this location, lower food quality with some food items simply dying in the serving line, poor service, and smaller quantities.
The most recent issue I have is that I really don't want to drink their fountain soda's as they rarely clean the nozzles and diffusers in the mixing cones. It's disgusting. Besides, I have switched to water and after a long day, I used to enjoy going to Leann Chin but the cups they offer are small and I don't feel like getting up 3 or 4 times to fill up the cup. So I ask for a large soda cup for water and within the last few months, it becomes an issue.
The most recent issue was yesterday where I politely asked for a cup for water and then was told that my dinner was almost $20. I then asked her how and found out I was being charged for water. The entire visit was frustrating as now when you order fried rice ($1 upcharge) I watched the guy portion it in two scoops where it fills the middle of the bowl and they leave space for the two entrees (Chin Dynasty) and honestly those portions are getting smaller as well. Moreover, the staff are a bunch of kids that have zero customer service skills whatsoever. So with the exception of Ridgedale, if I decide to go back to Leeann Chin and get charged for water, I'll gladly pay it as I am going to dump at least 20 cups of soda down the drain.
Besides, if Leeann Chin wants to cut costs, when a customer orders a meal, why don't they ask if they are eating in the dining area as they can save money by not misusing the lids.
Sadly, Leeann Chin has "Jumped the Shark" and I'll start going to local Chinese Restaurants and keeping the money in the Twin Cities instead of it going to some Corporate Financier who lives in California.