China Pan

I found hair in food twice. Whenever I order take out, they get the order wrong. It really is a shame, at first, Ioved it there. This was my favorite chinese. Oh well! more

okay well i feel like a complete loser for doing a review, but i had to. i was so excited to try a new sushi joint, and i was so disappointed. the service wasn't great, i asked if they had spicy tuna crunch roll, and he said yes, he showed me and it was 13 dollars, which is usually priced around 5 - 7. so i just asked for plain spicy tuna. the chef was nice enough to just add tempura flakes anyway, but when the server dropped our food off, he mumbled something to me and i couldn't understand.. and then he got a little frustrated, when i only asked ""what?"" ONCE. he practically yelled, and said CRUNCH ON INSIDE. Usually sushi restaurants have good service, and i would say this because i am a server at a sushi restaurant myself. this sushi was not at its freshest, they were very cheap with the spicy mayo. it was rolled good, and the size was good, but the tempura flake wasn't even crunchy. and i also have to add that the decor SUCKED. pink tablecloths. i am never going there again. i'm sticking to my favorite sushi restaurant, susu asian biistro in plainville. i still tipped because it was nice that he added tempura flakes. its ..the thought that counts? Pros: large menu, good variety, good portion sizing Cons: awful sushi, not so great service more

If you are in the Hartford area, you must go here. It's a nice, sit-down, Chinese restaurant. Not just one of those tiny take-out places. A large portion of their menu is dedicated to vegetarian & vegan items. I was able to sample several items off this menu & was impressed with everything I had. And yes, they serve crazy cocktails in cool glasses. Certainly one of the best vegetarian places to visit in Connecticut. Pros: Great food, vegetarian/vegan menu Cons: it's in a strip mall more

Instead of China pan, it should be called China Pantastic!! more

China Pan is the best chinese food I've ever had. I have a friend who is vegan, and it's great to have a place we can go together and both of us get delicious food. I wish I could rate it higher than 5. more

This is the place we go when (1) we want good chinese, (2) we have a large crowd (10-15) and (3) need to feed our vegan kids! It does all three things well. I have never written a restaurant review before, and don't expect to again, but the last comment was unnecessary and off-base. Sure, it's in a strip mall-- welcome to America. But there are two bookstores in walking distance. Waiters were mean? You mean those workers who get paid LESS than minimum wage by law and have to deal with snotty customers all day? I see. Try this restaurant, folks! more

Sorry a rude and condescending wait staff can undo almost anything. Lousy service, ask a question and the waiter becomes insulted. The food was ""okay"" not bad, but I've had better even in CT. Some of the veggies weren't that fresh; please the ""baby corn"" out of the can is so 70's gross...\r \r China Pan is located in a strip mall next to the West Farms Mall. The menu is very extensive; but the Dim Sum (which was what brought us there to try), was not impressive. Unfortunately as of Aug 2008 to get good Dim Sum you still have to leave CT and take the trip to China Town. Sad but it's true.\r \r Overall I can't really say its worth the drive, the rude service is just nonsense. more

This is my favorite restaurant & unique:\r -Some of the ingredients are so fresh that the best way to top this experience would be if they grew the vegetables themselves in a greenhouse on the roof (see below for the story of my special order).\r -Throw away what you knew about Chinese food, as most restaurants only serve an American adaptation.\r -Throw away what you knew of traditional Chinese food, unless it was prepared from scratch (see soup story) by a masterful cook.\r -For meat lovers, you can enjoy all sorts of things from traditional meats like beef, pork, shrimp, or flounder, to unusual meats like ox tripe, anchovies (not the salty canned stuff you may be used to, which is like comparing canned clam vs. fresh), & eel (some of these may no longer be on the menu).\r -The China Town I went to in San Francisco had some good food, but as for what is traditional, even in China Town much of what's there isn't traditional, & particularly not as balanced in flavor or as fresh (with *certain* ingredients).\r -Expansive Dim Sum & Shanghainese menu available upon request.\r -They have delicious sauteed foods and fantastic non-greasy foods (e.g., that soup described below, vegetarian steamed buns, little juicy steamed buns, etc):\r \r I requested a special order, since it is no longer viable to be on the menu, West Lake Minced Beef Soup. It was better than ever, as it was made so freshly and from scratch (including fresh cilantro & mushrooms, optional Chinese vinegar to be mixed in to taste (add for a flavor burst, or omit if you like a mild taste), egg white drops, beef, & a balanced array of spices). The closest I ever had to this soup was in Boston area at a place called Zoey's, which was good, but definately not in this realm. This specially made version was quite a treat, the likes of which I haven't experienced in any soup since visiting a world-renowned Vietnamese restaurant in San Francisco that does a different soup, but one with the from-scratch fresh herb(s). Pros: Fresh, made from scratch foods, largest menu of all restaurants I've seen, ever. Cons: Menu is shrinking & restaurant open too many hours. more

The service is frequently complained about, but you can't blame the servers for being disgruntled when they have to deal with a bunch of snotty and inconsiderate punk rock kids all day long, every day. What really matters is the food. The vegan menu is huge and has any standard dish (plus a few less standard) with vegan beef or chicken, and even includes entrees with vegan duck, goose, shrimp, and lobster. The tofu dishes are a little cheaper but exceptionally good. The availability of brown rice is a bonus. Vegetarian menu aside, I think the majority of people who eat at China Pan actually go for the regular Asian food. While I'm a vegetarian and haven't tried any of that stuff, quite a few people have told me that their meat dishes are way better than average. Good times. Pros: food which isnt available elsewhere, open late every day, relatively affordable Cons: vegan food is a little pricey, the waiters are tired of punk rock kids more

I've lived in connecticut for 22 years and just discovered this place. I can't attest for their meat dishes because I am vegetarian. But there menu is 14 pages long with 2 pages of dimsum and 4 pages vegetarian/vegan and the rest is meat. The presentation was nice the ambience is pleasant. The food was not greasy and very tasty. My husband doesn't usually like chinese food or tofu and he really liked china pan. They have vegan lobster, pork chops, boneless bbq ribs. Basically any meat dish you could think of and they have a vegan version of it. I had there vegan chicken with basil. YUM YUM Pros: vegan friendly more

i DREAM about crispy bean curd. i live about 1300 miles away now, but it's a PRIORITY for me to visit ""the pan"" every time i'm back home. the staff is alwasy nice to us. the clientele is diverse... from families to the groups of hardcore kids. the vegan/vegetarian menu grew from a handful of dishes to having it's own menu! not only is China Pan full of great memories for me, but my belly is starting to drool just typing all of this. hey China Pan... SEE YOU IN MAY! Pros: everything Cons: there are no cons. more

I don't know what the other reviewers were thinking. Maybe there was a backdoor to a better restaurant with non-greasy flavorful food because what I got at China Pan would not be fit for my dog to eat. My appetizer was supergreasy and left an aftertaste in my mouth that I'm still trying to get rid of while my entree was smothered in the infamous Chinese ""brown sauce"" that made it both look and taste completely inedible. \r \r Not recommended except a as a dare!!!! Cons: Bad food, bad service, overpriced more

Having made four trips to China and Hong Kong and having eaten in Chinese restaurants all over the US and Canada, China Pan ranks as one of he best and good value too. There is an authentic meal menu which you should ask for instead of te regular one. Vegans and vegetarians will love hte food. The owner is very vegan knowledgeable and understanding. My vegan friends tell me it isTHE MOST outstanding vegan menu for Chinese food they have ever seen. Parking is free and plentiful. CDlose to major highways and large mall. Pros: authentic menu. more

If you want real Chinese food, this is your place. Tucked away in a strip mall next to the Westfarms mall along with Border's, it is a favorite of people who have moved beyond the lepidoptera. If you have a curiosity for an authentic experience, try asking for the ""Chinese menu."" I suggest asking the waiters for a recommendation. Although they may seem like all business, they are very good at interacting with customers and offering helpful suggestions. If you like calamari, try the crispy clamari. The hot pepper sauce and the plump yet crispy fried calamari are delicious. My personal favorite is the shredded pork with soy beans. The soy beans (aka edamame) are fresh and goes perfectly well with the shredded pork. The clay p0t soup is delicious as well. If you are in the mood for something new in noodle section, try the thick noodles (ask for the mochi-like noodles). It's like lo mein but even more satisfying. I've tried the cashew nut chicken, and they are very good too. The crispy whole fried fish was wonderful with a luau pig-like presentation. You may want to have a big group when you order a plate of the fish. Lobster sauce here is fresh and is the real thing. This is a fabulous find. Pros: quality of food Cons: not everybody gets the Chinese menu more

This is the absolute BEST place for chinese food. The vegetarian menu actually makes me want to be a vegetarian. I can't decide which one I love better, the selection of vegetarian dishes, or the authentic Shanghai cuisine (aka. REAL chinese food). sooo good. more