Hop Sings - Pacheco Take Out

Please heed my warning, STAY AWAY

This is by far the worst chinese food i've ever eaten. I decided to try this place out because i thought it would be cheaper, Its not. Its just as expensive as any other place i've been to, without being at all appetizing. To put it simply, Greasy as sin and tasteless. Stay away at all costs. This is a resturant that gave up years ago and is just getting worse and worse. Stay away at all costs.

I never write reviews unless something is absolutely amazing, or disgusting.

I wouldn't feed this to my dog.

Oh Hop Sing, I had such high hopes for the food.  I REALLY wanted to like it.  I believe in the little guy.  I love to support lost causes (being a life-long Raiders fan has prepared me for such quixotic endeavors.)  It is a cute little place hidden away in Pacheco which is itself hidden away and not often worth finding.  I saw it while passing through and thought "what the heck" I could eat here or at the taqueria next door which seems pretty busy.  I really should  have walked to the left and had a taco.

The Good: The person behind the counter was very nice and helpful.  The theme is kind of cute in a "wow this was probably nice looking when it opened a year or ten ago" kind of way.

The bad:  The "old chinese recipe" fried chicken was something I was really looking forward to trying.  When I was a kid we used to go to the Willow Tree in Dublin some Sundays for their brunch and they had these magically delicious garlic fried chicken wings that were delicate and juicy - almost tempura but not quite.  When I saw this on the menu I thought Nirvana had finally found me - no not the dirty plaid shirt rockers.  Hop Sing's version was not overly oily once again, but the coating was so dry and occasionally so hard that I checked my teeth in the mirror afterwards for chipped teeth. Alas not much garlic flavor either.  Maybe it was my fault for trying to conjure up a childhood memory.  Maybe no place can ever match that.  The sweet and sour pork part of the combo would make for it, right?  It looked pretty good.  Not the electric red color we usually see.  Maybe there is hope since it is obviously a homemade sauce?  Eh, no.  Stringier than usual meat and a thin sauce that was barely sweet or sour and whose highlight was the pineapple bits that were in it.  Strike two.

The mediocre:  The chow mein was not overly oily like many places I have tried.  Unfortunately it wasn't overly flavorful either.

Overall:  Either keep driving or veer left while walking to Hop Sing's in the hopes of accidentally entering the taqueria next door.  I'm sorry Mr. Nice Counter Guy.  The food left me wishing I had not eaten at all.

5 stars for the meal I just ate.  I asked for a vegetable chow mien, without Bok Choy. The man who took my order asked why no bok choy.  I told him that I've never liked it for it's too soggy and limp.  He asked if he could make it special for me so that it's not limp and inedible. a few minutes later he came out with the best bok choy I've ever eaten. infact all the vegetables were crisp yet tender while the garlicky noodles were chewy and seasoned well. Thanks for taking your time to make sure I enjoyed my meal.