China Palace

Call me old I don't care. But this is one of the high lights of my time in Durham as a student. We have since lived in NYC, LA, DC and have been to many excellent Chinese restaurants, but one that truly serves authentic comfort food that in a relaxed low key setting, it truly is second to none. Every time we come across Durham we try to make a stop for it (including 50% pct of time when it is not even operating hours😭). Its like homecoming each time. This time we came in on a snowy Friday night and NO one else is dining there. It is so nice and peaceful. People are missing out on this place. In a world full of buffet chains and seemingly standard take out Chinese, or fancy exotic new school of fusion Chinese, this one is a throw back and remains hidden gem, and feels being drown out. Still operated by the same family for nearly 30years, I am very worried it may just one day decide to hang all up, leaving only great memories behind. It would be a shame. P.s. we came back to it next afternoon on our trip back home trying to get another meal out of it before skipping town, and like so many times, it was closed😫😫😫. We will be back.

Very disappointing. Don't waste your money. This used to be a nice restaurant with traditional Chinese dishes that were flavorful and tasty. It had a rustic charm with mom and pop style restaurant atmosphere. Not any more. They reduced the dishes to a bare minimum quality. The dishes are bland with not even any salt in them. Very little meat in the dishes and is filled with shredded carrots and cabbage. Special fried rice is lumps of oily rice with just a few scattered chicken pieces and nothing else. Nothing special about it. Very bad food indeed. Also, became very pricey. Instead, they have gone all electronic and upmarket. This is the last time they get my business.