Chinese food is one of the most loved takeout choices out there, with bold flavors, savory sauces, and something for everyone.
But let’s be honest—some dishes don’t always live up to the hype. Whether they turn soggy, lack real flavor, or just feel like filler, a few menu staples often leave folks disappointed.
This list helps you spot the letdowns before they land on your plate.
1. Orange Chicken
It looks golden and glossy, but one bite and it’s often more sugar than spice. The thick, syrupy sauce can overpower the meat, and the breading tends to get soggy fast.
Unless you’re craving dessert disguised as dinner, it’s not the most balanced pick. Try something with a fresher sauce and crispier texture.
2. Chop Suey
Chop suey feels like a catch-all: watery sauce, limp veggies, and protein that blends into the background. It’s not a traditional Chinese dish—it’s more of an American-style stir-fry gone dull.
It’s fine if you want something plain, but it rarely brings much flavor or excitement to the table. Better stir-fries await.
3. Sweet And Sour Pork
This one can go wrong fast—dry pork chunks drowning in a candy-colored sauce. The batter often gets gummy, and the dish leans too hard on sweet without enough tang.
It might look fun, but the flavor is usually one-note. If you want depth, you’ll want something less sticky and more savory.
4. Crab Rangoon
Cream cheese in a crispy shell sounds good in theory, but the filling often tastes more like sugar than seafood. The “crab” is usually imitation and barely there.
You’re mostly paying for fried dough and a weirdly sweet middle. Not terrible, just not satisfying if you’re hoping for actual crab flavor.
5. Egg Rolls (Buffet Style)
These tend to sit under heat lamps until they turn into grease logs with chewy wrappers. The filling can be bland, mushy, or mysteriously meaty.
Fresh egg rolls can be great, but buffet versions are a gamble. If you want crispy, hot, and tasty, look for made-to-order instead.
6. Moo Goo Gai Pan
This chicken-and-mushroom dish sounds delicate, but it often comes across as bland and watery. The sauce is thin, and the vegetables don’t bring much flavor on their own.
It’s light, yes—but a little too light. You might end up adding soy sauce just to wake it up.
7. Fried Wontons
Crunchy on the outside, hollow on the inside—unless you count the tiniest dab of filling. They can feel like a waste of fried potential.
Some spots make them right, but many don’t. If you’re looking for something filling or flavorful, dumplings are a safer bet.
8. Beef And Broccoli
The beef is often chewy, and the broccoli can be overcooked and mushy. The brown sauce usually tastes the same no matter where you get it—salty, thick, and too familiar.
It’s a classic combo, but that doesn’t mean it’s always good. Go for dishes with bolder spice or fresher veggies.
9. Lemon Chicken
Bright yellow and drenched in glossy glaze, this one looks better than it tastes. It’s usually a deep-fried cutlet soaked in lemon syrup that’s more sugar than citrus.
It can come out cloying and heavy. Not the refreshing dish you might expect from the name.
10. Hot And Sour Soup (If It’s From A Buffet)
Left too long in the warming tray, this soup turns gelatinous and muddy. The sharp vinegar tang fades, and the tofu and mushrooms lose their texture.
Made fresh, it’s a favorite. But from a buffet tray, it’s more goop than comfort.
11. Kung Pao Chicken (Mild Versions)
This dish should be spicy, nutty, and bold—but the mild versions often miss the point. Without heat, it turns into a stir-fry with peanuts and not much else.
It’s a shadow of its spicy, Sichuan-inspired self. If you order it, ask for the real heat.
12. Lo Mein (That Tastes Like Soy Sauce Noodles)
Lo mein can be amazing when the noodles are bouncy and coated in rich sauce. But too often, it’s just overcooked noodles in salty soy liquid with barely any vegetables or meat.
It’s filling, sure—but rarely memorable. A well-made chow fun or hand-pulled noodle dish offers more flavor and texture.
13. Fortune Cookies
Let’s be honest: they’re more tradition than treat. Dry, sweet-but-not-sweet, and with fortunes that rarely make sense, they’re often the last thing touched on the table.
Fun for a laugh, not much else. If you’re craving dessert, grab sesame balls or almond cookies instead.
14. General Tso’s Chicken (When It’s All Batter)
This can be amazing—but when the chicken is more breading than meat, it’s a letdown. The sauce might be spicy-sweet, but if you’re just chewing fried crust, it gets old fast.
When it’s right, it’s crispy and balanced. When it’s wrong, it’s just fried sugar.
15. Shrimp Fried Rice (With Tiny Shrimp And Little Flavor)
Looks promising, but often tastes flat. You get a few rubbery shrimp and a mountain of rice that tastes like it skipped the seasoning.
It’s not always bad, just rarely great. For a better rice dish, go for something like Yangzhou fried rice or house special.