imperial garden, best ever chinese. tucked away in the moderate size city of san marcos is the best overall chinese restaurant i've eaten at anywhere.
everywhere i try chinese food, i mentally compare it to imperial garden: (1) imperial garden sets the standard with regard to quality chinese food (2) you can get anything on the menu and it has you thinking "this is the best (sweet/sour pork, beef n broccoli, etc) i've ever had".
i have been eating at imperial garden for 19 yrs. lived in san marcos in early 90's and went back recently and it is still the best anywhere. the same kind oriental gentleman/cook has passed duties to an understudy, but is still there at the restaurant overseeing that the food is done the imperial garden way.
staple meal for me at imperial garden is egg drop soup, sweet n sour pork w/ fried rice, egg roll and vegetables (white onion, carrots, green bell peppers).
the sweet and sour sauce at imperial garden is hands down the best sweet n sour sauce ever tasted anywhere, bar none. i always ask the waiter to bring me a full bottle of it, as i put extra on the pork and fried rice.
after a wonderfully satisfying meal, save a little bit of room for the coconut milk drink for dessert. it's a blend of coconut, milk and ice which is sweetly divine.
i have taken many many friends to imperial garden through the years. every one of them to a person said the meal was outstanding and it met the raving expectations i told them beforehand and am expressing here.
if you ever find yourself within an hour of san marcos, do yourself a favor and go to imperial garden. you will be more than delighted that you did.