Lucky China

This used to be my ‘go-​to’ Chinese restaurant when I still lived in SoCo. The food, from what I remember used to be terrific. I ate here so often they knew my order by just the sound of my voice when I would call in. The reason I am only giving 3 stars is because this past Sunday I was visiting my mother who still lives in SoCo and I had the biggest hankering for my old favorite Chinese food. Hours on Unilocal and everywhere else they were listed stated they were open on Sunday’s. I called at 11:30, 12 and 12:30. The phone just kept on ringing. It would have been fine if it had been stated that they are Closed on Sunday’s, but I kept calling in hopes that maybe they opened late that day or someone was just unable to answer the phone. Very disappointed.

Use to be my favorite Chinese, but something happened maybe new owner. There is way to much MSG being used for one. Chicken noodle soup is still good. Will only go back for that.

Used to be my favorite place until it got a new owner. Pretty low quality since then. Bring back Frank!

Unbelievably RUDE staff! I asked my 13 year old son to run into this restaurant with my 2 year old because he had to go potty (we are potty training) so that I could park the car and join them inside. The man at the register (a big, slovenly, unkempt and unclean white man) refused to let my sons use the bathroom stating that he couldn’t use it until he bought something first. The thing is I would have gladly bought something once I got inside there was no need to be so inconsiderate about it. Needless to say he didn’t let my son use the bathroom and then he continued to be rude while I bought a bottle of water (whole going as slowly as possible with a smirk on his face) and he threw my receipt in the trash instead of giving it to me and yelled thank you for your business while laughing as my son was standing there cross legged trying not to continue wetting his pants. Karma is a bia, don’t patronize a place that is so disrespectful to their customers– they don’t deserve your business!!!

Updating my previous review of Lucky China.
Until yesterday, I hadn’t visited Lucky China in the past 12 months or so, and much to my surprise, my return visit wasn’t a good one. I can’t say the food was terrible, but it wasn’t as good as it once was, and it is definitely made from new recipes, or ordered from an outside source at this point, where it used to be made in house, or something along those lines. All I know is I placed a takeout order for the same three items I’ve always ordered from Lucky China in the past (sweet and sour chicken, plain fried rice, and crab Rangoon), and they all tasted like they were nothing like the versions of those dishes I’d experienced there before. They were more like something one would find from the generic chain Chinese restaurants like Panda Express and the like.
Where to start?
First — the sweet and sour chicken was much more heavily coated with thick batter … think corn dog batter thick (not a good thing) than in it was in days past. It seemed like it was more batter than chicken.
Second — the fried rice was much plainer than the rice Lucky China used to serve. Granted, I like, and even prefer plain fried rice versus any other kind, but this was not just plain fried rice, it was p l a i n all around. It was simply rice, soy sauce, a bit of seasoning. That’s it. It lacked the bits of egg it once had, as well as the tiny pieces of green onion, and the diced carrot. It consisted literally, solely of rice. I can’t say it tasted bad, but it definitely wasn’t their previous delicious, flavorful fried rice.
Third — the crab Rangoon was crispy, which was a plus, but it was folded into a bowl type shape rather than being folded into triangles as it once was (my first heads up that something was off), and the cream cheese filling inside of each was on the dry side, totally void of crab of any variety, real or imitation (it used to have something resembling crab inside, even if just slight pieces here and there), and it was slightly sweet, where it was once savory, super creamy, super smooth, and super yummy. Bummer, bummer, bummer. There was a day when I was proud to refer to Lucky China’s crab Rangoon as my favorite crab Rangoon from any Chinese restaurant, ever. However, that was a year ago, and this is now, and that’s no longer the case. Disappointment. Crab Rangoon is not supposed to be sweet.
I have to wonder if perhaps the restaurant was sold and is now under new ownership with the name «Lucky China» still in use for the sake of keeping the restaurant’s brand and customer base. It’s quite possible, because I did notice all new staff working both the front counter and kitchen areas. I can’t say for certainty this has happened, but if I had to bet, I’d say it has.
The only thing I know for sure is, it’s not the same … not in the least, and that’s a sad thing. For the past 15 years, Lucky China was my go to place for Chinese food in South County, but after my experience last night, those days are gone, and the hunt for a new favorite Chinese restaurant has officially begun.

Just not good compared to other places around. I personally like the sweeter «pinched» crab Rangoon, not the folded ones like they have. I also like big egg rolls not the small bready ones.

I really hate to give them just two stars since everyone there was super nice but the food was so flavorless and bland I felt like going back and asking them if they ran out of salt.
The food was very inexpensive, I ordered Kung Pao Chicken which came with an egg roll and fried rice and a hot & sour soup. I only paid $ 7.50 for the entire meal.
As always I started my meal with the soup which I felt was watered down or something. There was hardly any flavor in it, just some egg whites and pieces of pork.
After moving on to the chicken I gave up and went to sleep on an empty stomach, it wasn’t worth touching. (In a way they did me a favor, I hear it’s not really healthy going to bed full)

Every once in awhile I have a craving for this place. It’s an okay place. I like the sesame chicken and their egg rolls are great, definitely different than any other Chinese place in St. Louis.

It’s ok. I ordered a «Happy Sautéed Family» ($ 8.75 including tax), one of the specialty of the house. The dish was good but nothing special. Maybe next time, I’ll order something different

Nothing like having other Chinese food to put things in perspective.
I had sweet and sour chicken at another place and it was so fried and not loosely breaded like it was here, that made me appreciate Lucky’s Sweet and Sour chicken much more. The chicken is in real chunks rather then tortured pieces.
The Sweet and Sour chicken doesn’t have that crazy red sauce that all the other places have. it is an orange sauce that is very good.

We tried several items on the menu and found three things that are very good: Egg Foo Yung, Chicken with Chinese Vegetables and Crab Rangoon. We don’t like their fried rice, Hot and Sour soup or Kung Pao Chicken, which is pretty disappointing for a place like this.