hong kong express

worst. service. ever. (and i mean ever).hongkong express - don't bother.

ethan and i decided to tryhongkong express after receiving a flier for the restaurant in our mailbox. there were no coupons, we ordered dinner online, at full-price for carryout. we showed up a couple minutes early, i sent ethan inside to pay, but the food wasn't quite ready. a good sign, i thought, "it'll be fresh!". after waiting several more minutes, i went back inside and said i was there to pickup our order. one of the two women at the counter said something about the fried dumplings not being ready. to which i replied, "i didn't order fried dumplings, i ordered steamed dumplings.". i figured wires got crossed along the way and that she'd just fix it and i'd be on my way. holy cats, was i wrong.

she insisted i had ordered fried and showed me the order slip. it said "fried dumplings". i stated that when i ordered online, i clicked the "steamed dumplings" option. she started to get angry and argued with me a bit. at this point, i was more confused at why she was getting so upset than anything else. i mean, what's the big deal? the order either came in wrong or printed wrong or i could have mistakenly clicked the "fried" option. i couldn't understand why they didn't just fix it. finally, she snapped at me that she'd get me steamed dumplings: then rolled her eyes and stomped away. at this point, even though i was a bit upset. i didn't raise my voice, (points for me - i'll admit, i tend to have a shortish fuse in these situations), instead i calmly said to her (and to the other woman at the counter) that it was not wise to roll one's eyes at and to argue with customers.

at this point, anyone who has any customer service skills at all would have apologized and let it go. she, however, chose to do the exact opposite. she stormed back over to the counter, shoved the ticket in my face and (in a raised voice) said i was accusing her of lying. right here, this is the point where made a very conscious decision to not raise my voice or stoop to her level. not once did i accuse her, or anyone of lying, nor did i accuse the restaurant of making a mistake. i simply figured there was a mistake made by someone along the way and that it'd get taken care of. i took a breath, calmly stated exactly that and hoped we could move forward. she again stomped off into the back of the restaurant, reappearing moments later with container of steamed dumplings. she brought them over to me, paraded them in front of my face, and said in a very snarky tone, "see! steamed!". to which i (again, calmly) replied, "thank you, i see that. that's great." i figured we were done, i could pay and we'd just move forward. had that happened, i would not have written negative reviews on google+, yelp and urbanspoon, but would've just moved along with my evening.

sadly, this is where everything goes really sideways. instead of letting it go, she stomped back over to the other woman and started speaking in her native tongue and gesturing in my direction. granted, this is the point where i should have let it go, but i couldn't. she was being mean, rude and disrespectful and as someone who has worked in a customer-facing role my entire career, i couldn't say nothing. i did, however, again speak to her in a normal speaking voice, saying that it was mean, rude and disrespectful to talk about someone right in front of them, even if (and maybe more so) you're speaking in another language. i also mentioned that given the way i was being treated that i would not come back to their establishment and would likely write a negative review about my experience. instead of making any attempt to pacify the situation, she chose to yell at me (literally yelling at the top of her voice). she yelled at me, screaming that "he" (the manager ? he appeared looked managerish) was agreeing with me that she was being mean. she continued to rant at me, so i decided i'd had enough. i told everyone (within normal speaking voice distance) that i'd had enough abuse and they could keep their food. i walked out the door and drove away.

never, ever in all my 46 years have i been treated with such disdain and disrespect by someone in a customer service role. she gave exactly zero f's about me, the customer. no one who worked at the restaurant seemed at all interested in neutralizing the situation, but rather let this woman rage at me - regardless of the fact that i was their customer. it was my first time - and clearly my last - visit to this establishment.

i was taught that the customer is always right - even if they're not. not athongkong express. don't waste your time or your money. they don't deserve your business and has lost mine.

awesome food. i first heard ofhongkong express through a professor of mine from taiwan. coming from a taiwanese family and from the west side of the mountains where good chinese food can be found without a problem, i was thoroughly surprised at the food athongkong express. it is the best chinese food in spokane that i've had since moving here 2 years ago.
i would definitely recommend anyone who goes here to order off the menu. of course, the cheap buffet prices are a real eye catcher, but the quality of the food from the menu is significantly better and worth the extra money (the dishes are not overpriced either). i would strongly suggest the house special fried rice, the spicy peppered shrimp, and the pork chow fun (t bad just not great).

we are currently in between homes. due to this we have been getting donations from family of food being delivered. our location is situated where not much will deliver but my mom found thathongkong express would. from the time she finalized the order until they were knocking on the door, seemed like it took about 10 to 15 minutes but i know it was not quite that fast. super speedy though! the delivery person was very friendly and knowledgeable.

we are picky about our chinese as my grandma raised us all on a place that she had gone to for over 40 years on a regular basis and we have not found one that compares. this was not quite that good but was not far off. we ordered two of the pick 2 dinner specials. everything was very delicious and there was so much that we will have a second meal for both of us.

this is definately our new go to place!!

a good lunch buffet. i have eaten there many times since it opened.
always we hit the buffet. and lunch is the favorite.
i have been there for dinner many times and it costs more for the crab and salmon and shrimp. shrimp are my favorite, but these are the same as i can get from the freezer section, so i like lunch best.
i hate salmon and crab [others like it] i grew up eating real salmon and crab and learned to not like either one [especially the frozen stuff served in the n.w.] yuck

thehongkong buffet is in my top 3 choices of chinese buffet.
i eat at 3 different buffet in the spokane area. this is number 1 in the valley.
[it is the only 1 i know of in the spokane valley]

is it clean? not really
does the place look good? not really - it looks like a made over crapplebees
the lunch buffet is pretty good and the peanut brittle is the very best we found on any buffet in spokane. the desserts are great too.

i have seen the menu and read the reviews and might be tempted to order off the menu, but i look around and see those orders going by on their way out.
i choose to stick with the buffet.
on the days the buffet looked poor?
we drove to one of the better buffet that are higher up on the list.

the inner voice calls "go north" and be filled. :)

one of the best chinese places in spokane.. i'll tell you how to eat at this place correctly. do not get the buffet unless you're expecting buffet quality food. do not eat in house unless you're expecting a no frills experience. do not order something to-go or delivery if it's featured on the buffet, it will most likely come directly off the buffet. i have never eaten in the restaurant, only to-go and delivery, and have had the best food every time. my favorite thing is singapore mai fun, they give you a ton of it and there's 5 different kinds of meat in there. they do not skimp on the meat! it's literally one of the best dishes i've ever had and no where else in town comes close. other things i've had are mongolian beef and sesame beef(via my other half), and not only are the meats and sauces great, they come with super fresh veggies that have that light crunch when they shree perfectly steamed. the prices are great for the amount of quality food you receive. high five,hongkong express!

quite good actually!. on 8/20/2012 my wife and i were feeling like having some chinese food and also feeling adventurous so we tried a new place - new to us that is - calledhongkong express.

on first look it is an average looking building and the inside decor is a bit dated. we did not mind as we have eaten in places where the building and decor were excellent while the food would be horrid and we have found other places where the building/decor is just so-so to poor while the food was superb. looks do not indicate quality of a product.

the folks who work here are friendly in my opinion, but that will always depend upon the individual and what your expectations are when you walk in the door. yoko the main person at the front is very efficient and is really great with the children that came in while we were there. she seems really at ease with them and takes time to interact with them in a natural and unforced manner. as a parent of two boys, one a 8 y/o & one a 4&1/2 y/o, this easy going treatment of children is so important when going out to eat.

the food we ordered which was not the buffet, was well made and seemed to be very, very fresh and was in both of our opinions delicious.

1) i ordered the two-item dinner special with szechuan chicken and ma po tofu (with steamed rice & egg roll) which both were very good tasting. the ma po tofu was not, however, made with the szechuan peppercorn (which if you have had the numbing/tingly/spicy flavor/effect before you would understand) which was a small letdown, but it still tasted great to me.

2) my wife kathi ordered the mongolian beef & the moo goo gai pan (with steamed rice & egg roll), she said both were excellent tasting but the mongolian beef, was just a bit spicier than she preferred, but that it still tasted good, she would just remember to ask them to tone down the spiciness next time. :-)

the place is definitely worth the time and money spent to try it out. i am going to have to try them again as they deliver also, which is great!! if not that then i'll have to come in for the dim sum though as i have never had this before and want to try it.

mama huhu. translation: so-so.

the positive: when my brother and i visitedhongkong express for dim sum, we were pleased. it tasted almost exactly like we remembered from our childhood in taiwan. the steamed sesame bun, red bean bun, and jiaozi were good. the pork shu mai were a bit overly greasy, but that was forgivable. the waitresses seemed to get a kick out of two caucasian males speaking mandarin to order our food.

the negative: the second time i visited, it was for the buffet. this failed to impress. most entrees were bland and forgettable, somewhere around the quality one would expect from a panda express or noodle express. not bad per se, but it did not live up to what i expected from a small, independent restaurant.

my advice - absolutely go for the dim sum. pass on the buffet.

good value, standard chinese fare. i went tohongkong express with my family (including three young boys) as a capstone for my 8yo son's homeschool study of china. he was thrilled.

i liked the low prices for the buffet, but found the food itself pretty standard. not great, not terrible. pretty much the expected dishes. decent food, acceptable service, great prices.

really gone down hill. i'm sorry to say thathongkong express has really gone down hill. it used to be excellent food at cheap prices. now it's mediocre food at moderate prices. i understand that food costs are going up everywhere. however, as plate prices go up; quality should at least stay the same.

i really hate to give this place a "don't like". however, i have to be honest to the communities of urbanspoon and tripadvisor to which i contribute.

prior review:

i lovehongkong express! it is the best chinese food i have eaten in spokane. i have lived in spokane for 16 years. on the whole, i've been very underwhelmed with the chinese food in this area. i'm a transplant from an area with a large chinese population.hongkong express is authentic. some reviewers seem like they don't understand the chinese sense of humor. the ladies in the dining like to tease the clients. but they give excellent service and really do want to please. a friend from san francisco dined athongkong express. while she stated that it isn't the best dim sum she has ever eaten; she found it "quite good" and she'd gladly eat athongkong express in the future. that's a true compliment!

great experience!. i went tohongkong express with a friend fromhongkong, we are both in an intercultural studies class at the falls and we went there as a class assignment. i am american so i can see how people might mistake the sercvice as bad...but it really is just a cultural difference, americans need to stop being so ignorant twords other cultures! the service may be a little different but it is great food, probably the closest thing to authentic in spokane! our server even gave us some free ice cream! you gotta give respect to get it people!

great buffet and specials.hongkong express -- staff of yoko, vicky, michael and tommy - all are great. tommy and michael are awesome in the kitchen and make the best chinese food. whether off the buffet or the menu -- the guys do a fantastic job! yoko and vicky are great at keeping the customers happy and keeping up when there are a lot of customers. you really have got to try this place!!! they have a sheet to sign up for emailed specials - lets see if they send out coupons.