China Chef Restaurant in Surbiton, Long Ditton

Reviews

1. C D ★☆☆☆☆

   Utter disgrace of a place. After being a regular customer of the China Chef in Long Ditton for 20 years, this Saturday night was our last! Completely ruined a Saturday night with our daughter who was home from university for one night, ordered our delivery at 6:20pm and had to go out ourselves to collect the refund and find another Chinese to order from! Sat down to eat at almost 10pm!!! Our daughter had already fallen asleep when we got back with the food so she went to sleep with no dinner. Thanks china chef… We ordered online for delivery as we do on average of about 3 times per month from them, and it said 60 mins until the food should arrive. After 1 hour and a half had passed I decided to call them to see what’s happened. They were picking up the phone, not speaking at all and leaving it on the side ignoring. The line was totally clear. I called a further 12 times to get through and see how long the meal would take, and the same thing happened. On the last attempt I actually heard a customer come in complaining saying he had waited 2 hour for his food and been stuck on the phone line for 20 minutes being ignored too. I actually recorded that, and have attached it to this review as proof of what this place is like. Once I heard that I headed down there to ask for a refund so we could go elsewhere, as we had been waiting almost 2 hours by this point. I went in to ask for a refund which took about another while, the woman there was extremely rude and when I asked her why she was answering the phone and not even speaking just leaving it on the side she said “well what do you want me to do, I need to make sure the orders are going out”. No sorry, no apology, no offer of anything. Just attitude as if I owe her a living. If they would have answered the phone and explained they were running behind, we would have been fine to wait. Instead of picking up and putting the phone asid, is incredibly immature and disrespectful to paying customers. they have been late on a few occasions recently since the new take over of the take away, it’s not the first time. Why not close online orders for a short while until sorting out current orders? Why not just answer the phone and simply apologize or let customers know the order can’t be completed so they don’t waste more time waiting for no reason!? The audacity of this place is beyond me, to not even offer a solution just totally ignore customers and then speak to them rudely with attitude. I’ve attached a few recent orders as proof we are regular, Incase of excuse replies, given the attitude of the woman behind the counter. In addition to the late order and disgusting customer service today, we have also had a number of orders with one small missing item like a curry sauce or can of drink, the food taste his gone down hill recently as well and the price of delivery gone up in fact it used to be free. The new management take over is a disaster. I was told by some of the other customers in the take away at the time when asking for my refund, that they had a similar issue and only came here due to it being the only one around the local area. I believe they treat customers so poorly since there is a lack of Chinese takeaways close by. Once we got our refund we went to a lovely take away on Berrylands Road which for the same meal exactly was £10 cheaper, bigger portions and had welcoming and efficient staff. Will be using that as our regular from now on even though it’s a little bit out of the way for us. Saying that, I’d sooner not have a Chinese takeaway again in my life, than give another penny to this money grabbing RUDE family at China Chef Long Ditton.

   almost 9 months ago
2. Evie Groves ★☆☆☆☆

   We’ve used china chef on and off when we could afford a treat for over 10 years. This weekend had confirmed we will never go back. Really disappointing. When I ordered said would be 45-1 hour. I called after 1 hour. Hadn’t been made yet. Asked for a discount. She said prawn crackers. I said you get them anyway. She said 10% off. Called again after 1 hour 40. Still hadn’t been cooked. She said if it wasn’t there in 10 minutes we could have a refund. We just wanted the food. Children waiting. It’s now nearly 8pm. We called at 6.15. It eventually turned up but they forgot the 10%. Polite driver wouldn’t leave. My husband had to call them and haggle so he could eat his food. Food was cold by this point and full of onions. No flavour. Really gone down hill. Will never use again. Avoid if you can and use somewhere else.

   almost 10 months ago
3. Jim Alexander ★☆☆☆☆

   We have used this place for years. We phoned yesterday and were told it could be up to an hour for delivery, It ended up taking two hours. False promises were made when we phoned to chase it up and very little offer of anything to put the problem right. When the food finally did turn up It wasn’t great. I understand things are hard out there and businesses are struggling but this was a rare treat for us and was a real disappointment on every level. I am afraid to say we will be moving our allegiance to another local Chinese Take away From now on.

   almost 10 months ago

1. Martin Booth ★★★★★

   Delicious food! Nice to order from a China that doesn't use the same old wholesale cheap food. Some of the items, like the grilled dumplings had a unique taste and texture. And crispy beef that's actually crispy! We will be ordering again without doubt.

   almost 11 months ago
2. Roger Dodger ★☆☆☆☆

   Hair in the food, went straight in the bin. My wife called to complain, they were gonna send someone round to check the bin. Then offered a refund of 1 dish. Will never use them again.

   almost 4 years ago
3. JJ ★★★★★

   Fantastic service and food!! Delivery is always quick and never ever has been disappointed! Tonight, we were introduced to a new dish, “squid on skewers” with a sweet chilli dip and it was superb! This place definitely knows how to impress their customers!

   almost 5 years ago

1. I K ★☆☆☆☆

   they do not take card payments less than £10 even though I eat there regularly- there is no ATM nearby and they know that very well. Not setting foot there again. Rather poor investment decision on their part-lose hundreds of pounds by losing a customer because you can't deal with 10p bank charge for a card payment.

   almost 5 years ago
2. Helen Nessbert ★★★★★

   Lovely food (the grilled dumplings are to die for!). Delivered so quickly. Have tried a number of Chinese takeaways in the area, and always go back to China Chef, as they are so good.

   almost 5 years ago
3. Shimroy Jackson ★☆☆☆☆

   Worst I have ever tasted! The chicken was red inside, the rice was boiled rice dry and unseason, 1st time eating, as was staying at a nearby hotel had to dump the food in the bin.

   more 7 years ago

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