Eastern Lights Hot Pot & Grill

The owner is almost always there to greet us, remembers us, and contributes well to the community as well as our palates! We have worked in the area for 5-7 years, and always choose Eastern Lights for one of our weekly dining experiences. Their service is superb, friendly, efficient, and memorable in the best way possible. I love most of their lunch specials (all for approx $5-6!!), as well as some of their seafood and beef entrees at supper. Their hot and sour soup has large quantities of scallions, mushrooms, and tofu, the mongolian beef is always moist, all the ""light fried"" chicken lunch meals are delicious, and their fried rice is the best I've had, up and down the east coast, Triangle, let alone in Durham. The single time I was let down in 5 years, realizing they don't devein their shrimp at the last moment, the owner replaced my meal immediately with my choice, at no charge. We are always pleased and happy to be there, and they are always eager to please and serve! Pros: SERVICE, hot n sour soup, mongolian beef, ALL Food Cons: only once, and minor: veined shrimp (gritty to eat) more

Went to eat on lunch break with friends. I ordered sweet and sour chicken, chicken was overcooked. Didn't complain and ate what I could because didn't have time to return and wait for more to be cooked. Explained chicken was overcooked to the server and cashier when I went to check out and I still ended up paying for the total price. I was only able to eat half of it due to the hardness of the chicken. I would have been willing to pay for half, my drink and egg roll. I will never go eat here again. Cons: Chicken overcooked more

They have a large menu with all of your Americanized favorites. Most of them are prepared on par with the area's good mainstream Chinese restaurants (eg Neo-China, PF Chang's) if not better. They also have a lunch menu with a few of these basic dishes that's an amazing deal: entree, choice of rice, soup, AND eggroll for $4.35-$5.50. Pros: food, service, price, variety Cons: ambience is merely so-so, if you care more

Their hot sour soup is the best in triangle. Everyone on the Chef's specialty menu is good. Their Chowma mien (hot red seafood soup noodle) is also the best in this area. We go there almost every weekend. Their duck and vegitable dishes are good too. excellent price. Pros: Relaxed. Most people are not aware of them. more

This place was very good. Excellant friendly service. The food was very good. Very clean restaurant. more

I had heard good things about the restaurant, but was disappointed with every dish. Potstickers were uncooked, meat was still pink on the inside and the fried rice tasted like paper. It seemed as if they froze their rice and used old oil to heat it back up. My boyfriend and I got the worst heartburn ever! we could taste the oil for days after. EAT SOMEWHERE ELSE! Pros: drink refills Cons: food nasty, dirty atmosphere, slow service more

People who know tell me this is the real deal. For me, the veggies are fresh, the staff friendly and attentive, the take out or eat in is great! Best Chinese in Durham Pros: fresh, friendly Cons: busy weekends more

As a native chinese food eater, the fried rice is the best in this area. The grains of rice are complete and shining in the plate with the genuine smell of Chinese food. To my surprise, you can even get the fried rice included in the lunch special; it is the best value I got in Triangle area! Pros: Clean plates, genuine taste more

I have eaten here twice and have tasted 4 different things on the menu and can say that I have been disappointed both times. The worst idea was to order the shrimp... one key to life: never order shrimp from a Chinese place unless you whole hearted trust it. They were fishy, not deveined and basically not good. Chow mein and lo mein noodles both over cooked and overall flavor very simple. In short, the food is simply not that good, I moved here form the west coast where Asian population is much higher so I know my standards are high. Low standards need only apply at Eastern Lights. Cons: Chinese for dummies more