Hong Kong Inn Restaurant

I live in St Louis but went to school in Springfield.  When I come back, I have to get Cashew Chicken, and Hong Kong Inn is my favorite place.  Everyone has his own favorite.  I think the food here is very good, and the restaurant is very clean and convenient.

For a long time, this has been one of my favorite restaurants in Springfield. I like their cashew chicken. The atmosphere is pleasant. So is the staff, and certainly didn't deserve the bird I flipped them as I stalked across the parking lot tonight. I hope they didn't see, but I expect they did, and, folks, I'm sorry. BUT I came prepared to sit and eat my cashew chicken and crab rangoon, and when I came in at 8:35 you told me that there was take-out service only because you closed at 9. Say what? The only place on the web where I could find your hours had told me that you're open until 9:30 on Sundays. I suspect the staff just decided that they wanted to go home and there weren't many people (except those who were standing there yakking with the help) so they'd just close early. Even if you changed your hours, you shouldn't stop serving customers in the dining room unless you do the some of the following: turn off the sky-sign, turn off the big neon "OPEN" sign, put a sign up that says "Drive-Thru Service Only" and turn it on at whatever time the dining room closes, and lock the door...instead of drawing people in off of the road, drawing them in from the parking lot, and then telling them they can't eat!  Another thing: if your hours are posted anyplace around your entrance, they must be posted verrry discreetly, because I always have to ask, when I go in after a certain hour, "Are you getting ready to close?" I have never been rebuffed until tonight. Unfortunately, tonight I was really hungry and really tired; I'm moving, my house is a mess, and I wanted a pleasant little break. I ended up going to the Hong Kong Inn, even though I don't like their food as well, because they are open until 10 (11 on weeknights) and allowed me to come in and eat. Folks, this is not a rant. I have always liked you and want to give you your due, and want to give you some feedback that will help your business in the long run.  That's why the long review. You're worth it! Sadly, having disgraced myself as a result of your playing fast and loose with the schedule, I will be too ashamed to visit you again. That's why the two stars. I'm so sorry--but I'm just one customer. Think things through from the customers' point of view and maybe you won't lose any more.

Was one of the few Chinese restaurants recommended to us in the Springfield area, but honestly feel like we made the wrong choice by even trying this one first. Definitely don't go here if you are expecting to get authentic tasting Chinese food, its more of an American spin off at best. Fried rice is just ok. I had the general tsos, though the chicken itself was good, the sauce was horrible. Gf had the chicken lo mein and said it was just ok, but we both agreed the crab was bland and unsatisfying. So basically if you're ok with an American knockoff give it a try if you feel the need, but if you want real Chinese food, look elsewhere.