Charles Plaza

Doesn't Recommend

smrjmf

Joined 4 years ago

Good food but unsanitary. I went to Charles Plaza based on the rave reviews on this site. The vegetable wonton soup and chicken with snowpeas were both delicious.

We requested white rice and the owner, Charles, brought us brown. When we corrected him he apologized and brought white. He asked if we still wanted the brown rice and we said "sure" figuring it would go to waste otherwise.

We learned this was not the case when the bill came. Charles charged us for brown and white rice. He said he would have brought the brown rice back to the kitchen and served it to someone else so he charged us for both.

Doesn't he know this is illegal? Between the conditions of the bathrooms and these practices with food, I will not return.

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termehmarie

Joined 4 years ago

AMAZIN STUFF. SSOOOOOO GOOD!!! the veggies are totally fresh, and the people working there are so kind - and once, when I was ordering soup for two, the owner overheard us talking about how we were sick. He offered to spice it up with some ginger for us which was AWESOME! i've heard that he makes a lot of the dishes himself and that he was some sort of nutritionist/healer in china (maybe not true...i'm just telling you what i heard) - and I believe it! i hope more people go to this place and make it a favorite because it sure is one of mine.

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devilmebettie

Joined 6 years ago

Wonderful choice in Chinatown.. This restaurant has great service, great menu selection, great food, great prices and a great location. If you are looking for a healthy alternative to regular chinese food but don't want to miss out on great taste, you must try this place. This was recommended by friends and I was blown away.

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strater

Joined 7 years ago

Good option for vegetarians and meat eaters alike. I went here with a few friends for dinner after seeing great reviews on citysearch - the food was overall good but nothing spectacular. I enjoy eating meat but also like to try vegetarian alternatives. I got the vegetarian general tso's chicken to compare it to other non meat versions I have had of this dish, it was definitely different. The seitan wasn't fried like I expected it. The dish was good - but not necessarily what you expect of general tso's chicken. Charles - the owner was very kind and helpful throughout the dining experience. I think that a vegetarian with limited choices can more appreciate what this restaurant has to offer. But overall I would say that they had great service and good food.

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elise626

Joined 6 years ago

great Chinese food at amazing prices. I'm very picky about my Chinese food (lived in China for a year and nothing quite measures up to that), but I must admit I was very pleasantly surprised by Charles Plaza. I'm not a vegetarian, but a few of my friends who were coming out with us last weekend are, so we deferred to their restaurant choice. I'm really glad we did because Charles Plaza came very close to the Chinese food I fell in love with in China.

The big difference between this and take-out is the freshness of the veggies. That attention to quality made a huge difference in the zucchini in black bean sauce (zucchini was cooked perfectly, still crisp) and the pan fried noodles with veggies. The sweet and sour walnut (imitating pork) was so good that I didn't even get seconds on it.

Charles, the namesake of the restaurant, took our order and was quite the host. Initially we found him to be standoffish---gave us a resigned look when we said we didn't have a reservation (and I don't think we needed one because we were seated right away 7pm on Saturday night, although it got busier as the night went on)-- but he definitely grew on us with his excellent recommendations and obvious pride for his restaurant. All in all, very highly recommended!!

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jh646

Joined 6 years ago

Wonderful food, great service. Charles is warm and welcoming. The veggie food is some of the best I've tasted and I've been a vegetarian for over twenty years. Worth the trip to the end of the street.

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

Chinatown favorite that specializes in vegetarian delights.. In Short
A spacious room that seems to stretch all the way to 9th Street, Charles Plaza still feels like home. Proprietor and namesake Charles Chen greets patrons warmly, and the homegrown feeling is evident in every detail, from the restaurant's low-lit dcor to the helpful service. Chinese specialties are prepared in full vegetarian style and the menu is stocked with both mock-meat and veggies-only dishes.

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lupin123

Joined 8 years ago

incrediable food, excellent service!!!!. I fell in love the moment i tasted their House Special wonton Soup. The steamed brown rice is outstanding, no added preservatives, not EVEN SALT! The list of entrees seemed to go on forever. There were so many things to choose from, all so enticing. The host greets and parts you with such graciousness and warmth; you can't help but to have to come back again and again. ~~

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lorifreeman25

Joined 10 years ago

Mmmm. Fake Sesame Chicken.. I never thought I'd write that in seriousness. But Charles Plaza has shown me the light--such wonderful veggie options that there's no need for meat. The General's "Chicken" is really excellent, too--great, crispy crust and incredible sauce. I will eat there as much as possible. I think I'll go today...

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zenorigin

Joined 9 years ago

For the best Chinese food in Chinatown... You MUST go to Charles Plaza. We were seated immediately by the owner himself! He was quite a delightful fellow! The service was quick and extremely friendly! We ordered Hot & Sour Soup (for 2 pp - $4.95). I tried hundreds of H&S Soups and Charles Plaza served the most DELICIOUS H&S ever in my life! Just the right consistency, spiciness and "meatiness". So perfect! We had Spicy Chicken Chow Fun & Bean Curd with Szechuan Sauce. There were amazingly delicious! I loved how they use organic vegetables and gave us slices of juicy oranges with the bill. Dinner w/o tip for two - $25. WHAT A STEAL! Lunch Specials are usually $5.95!