Been here twice. This place is all show. Food is mediocre at best. Typical American Chinese food where you sit down and order one (1) entree. Same as the other places. I think it's frozen Chinese because the meats are cut the same with the other place. Service was nice though. Clean. It's just hype and show.
(3)
Candice W.
Had this for lunch today...the Mongolian beef and sesame chicken were pretty good. Soup was a little bland.... But the service was great...I just wish the servers wouldn't stand over you and watch you eat the whole time...kinda creepy
(3)
Christine O.
I don't know how authentic the food is (as far as being Chinese), but it's fantastic! I don't typically like Chinese food. The pot stickers and the egg flower soup - so good!! And the restaurant is super clean, has great service, & is well priced.
(5)
Blaze V.
This place is very nice and clean. The staff are very friendly. They made it seem like you were in China one you entered, with their beautiful asian decor. Their food is tasty also.
(5)
Tosh B.
It's not too bad... Would've went with the sushi across the street but it was closed. For 6.99 a person. They have a good selection and the Mongolian bar is part of the purchase as well. , I've ate here once before an it's not usually too busy to get in immediately. Grab a bite here if your on a schedule an don't want to spend much.
(3)
Jimmy G.
We have been a customer since 1988. Our favorite Chinese restaurant. We make the drive from Montgomery, AL at least once a month. The Mongolian beef is second to none. Highly recommend without reservation whatsoever.
(4)
Glen D.
From the outside this a tourist Chinese restaurant. The food is not very impressive. This is a very American style Chinese food, the dishes I had are not authentic. The first time I went there, we had the Mu Shu pork with 4 pancakes. This was not hot and it tasted terrible. There was no taste of the ginger, garlice, scallions or bamboo shoots. It is a big mess thrown together. You did see the eggs, pork and I think mushrooms but those are usually sliced thin. The greatest part was when we found a piece of either granite from a bowl or something else. It didn't belong there. Fast forward a couple of months and we ordered the Sesame Chicken. That tasted terrible, nothing Sesame about it. It was mushy, bland flavor and there was more breading than chicken. The best part was the fried rice that came with the Sesame Chicken. It had a nice surprise of a Cockroach. We called them to tell them about it and they responded with "You bring it back we give you a new one." This is not a good tasting Chinese restaurant.
(1)
Sean S.
Your basic Chinese buffet, wrapped in a colorful candy shell. During a recent lunch, a former North Korean Army officer who had escaped to become a waiter in Columbus, Ga., yelled at me and my co-workers for taking too long to order. The egg rolls come wrapped in an inpenetratable fried shell that will shatter enamel off your teeth.
(2)
Erin K.
The food at Chef Lee's isn't the best Chinese ever, but it's probably the best chinese in Columbus. I have been eating here since it opened, and my favorite dish is definately the shredded pork with garlic sause. They get extra points for the plexi glass floor that allows you to see the fish swimming around under you.
(4)
Hugh L.
Pretty good place for Chinese food. This place is run by Chinese-Koreans, so they do have some "off-menu" Korean food. Nevertheless, the Chinese fare here is also really good. The ambiance is definitely top-notch, and it was great to see other Chinese/Korean patrons here as well.
(4)
Mary F.
I honestly don't know why this place isn't rated higher. The service is fast and food just keeps coming out. Was visiting my brother at Fort Benning and we brought him here twice because my family loved it. Being from a predominantly Asian area in California, this place does great Chinese food.
(5)
F G.
Large menu is not always a good thing. Dishes are heavily sauced unless you ask them to prepare it "Dry" (they still add more sauce than I like but better, not so soupy). Very disappointed with the crispy duck- overly fried in heavy batter and served with cheap bottled plum sauce, yuk.. We also ordered a Korean noodle dish not on the menu which was pretty good, the other Chinese dishes ordered are not worth mentioning and unmemorable. However, beautiful decor and strong mixed drinks.
(3)
Sandra P. N.
I have tried food at dinner time but never ate at lunch time. Hostess is a bit rude when she welcomes customers. Seems like she has memorized the same phrase every time which make it sound like she does not want to be there..why should I? Lunch dishes come with a nasty egg drop...hot & sour also was not tasty at all. My vegetable pork was served in an ocean of dark sauce not that appealing to me. Overall, I think this place deserves two stars because they concentrate more in the volume of people coming in than the quality of food. This is not an authentic Chinese restaurant option in town, neither a first choice for people who enjoy the art of cooking!
(2)
Deanna M.
My husband, my mother in law and I went to Chef Lee's for mothers day. It was super busy we were told there was going to be about a 20 minute wait. We sat at the bar and or number was called within 10 minutes not bad. Once seated our server was prompt to come to the table and friendly. She took our order and we got our food within 15 minutes. Also not so bad being so busy on mothers day. Our food came out hot and just as we ordered. The food was awesome and it was a great visit. Worth going too.
(4)
Baxlee B.
We used to love eating at Chef Lee's, however, recently the service has not been great. The hostess and servers are rude and the quality of the food is not up to par. The shrimp used to be large, but not are tiny. Also, the fried rice is weak. 3 stars at BEST.
(2)
Davis M.
This is hands down the best Chinese restaurant with which I've had the pleasure of dining. The entrance corridor is elaborately designed and should appeal to all ages...for me to even notice a restaurant's decor is saying plenty (since giant HD TVs or a hot bartender is about all that I'll let distract me from good company and quality food). Regardless, you walk into the sound of rushing water - which cascades off one wall, and then you notice an aquarium serving as another wall - and just when you think the place has got spunk......you realize you're walking over the bottom of the same aquarium, and through the clear floor are a collection of koi to add even more color. The food was great, along with the service....and there's nothing like having Chef Lee, himself, walk out- introduce himself, and provide food suggestions, which...btw....he prepares himself!
(4)
Leslie S.
I visited this restaurant on July 5, 2014. The waitress was unfriendly and acted like she had a chip on her shoulder and hated her job. Everything I ordered here was very bad. The sauces on the food were truly awful. I ordered Sesame Shrimp and Cashew Chicken, and they were both TERRIBLE. The sauce on the Sesame Shrimp was WAY too sweet and disgusting. I ordered the barbeque pork ribs appetizer, and it was hard meat, over-cooked and very tough. The couldn't even get something simple like that right! I also ordered a Crab Wonton appetizer, and it tasted like fake, cheap crab meat. Also just terrible. I have been to MANY Chinese restaurants in my life, and this was by far the WORST Chinese food I have ever eaten. If I were the chef in this place, I would be truly embarrassed to serve this terrible food to an unsuspecting public.
(1)
Jessica S.
We were looking for a place similar to a Hunan Garden close to columbus that served sizzling rice soup & so we stopped in to try it out. The inside is beautiful & we were greeted promptly. We ordered the sizzling rice soup, pot stickers, garlic chicken & shredded pork in garlic sauce. The sizzling rice soup was delicious, tasted just like Hunan Gardens. The pot stickers are deep fried and I prefer mine boiled then browned so I was not a fan & their pot sticker sauce is pretty much just soy sauce. Now for the entrees..we both ate a handful of bites and that was about it. The garlic chicken was not very garlicky & very salty tasting and the shredded pork was very bland. Once we received our food we pretty much didn't see our waitress until we were done so ordering another drink was not happening. It's not a bad place, it's just a place not for my taste buds.
(2)
Stephen C.
I had general Tsu chicken. Not that tasty. The hostess and the server had the demeanor of a frozen spatula. The only good thing I have to say is that the place is beautiful. I felt like I was in china town. The food was not though.
(2)
David W.
First off, I'm Chinese. I grew up on Chinese food. I lived in NYC, ChongQing, Vancouver, and Hong Kong. This is not Chinese food. What it is is American food with Chinese decor. I was served with silverware and plates. I had to request for the chopsticks. The food is bearable and what you would expect from a take out. And I had better take-out "chinese" food. However, with a lack of choice in Columbus, I would rate this higher if I'm rating based only on what is available in the area. But, I don't live here so for the people visiting that are not a stranger to real Chinese food, you might want to try the Korean food options :).
(2)
Lauren K.
Best Chinese food and service! The restaurant is gorgeous!
(5)
John B.
This place is fantastic. It has spectacular curb-appeal, but isn't in a good location. It seems ultra-fancy, but the prices are actually lower than it seems they would be. Aside from that, it's a generic chinese-food place. Service is fast & friendly, food is not bad, but they really should consider cutting some trees for higher visibility.
(4)
Edward C.
The food is great. This restaurant has earned all the kudos it has recieved. The menu has all the standard "chinese" items on the menu but if you want to order real chinese food and it is either szechuan or hunan style they'll prepare it for you. I have eaten the best chinese food you'll find in Vancouver British Columbia. It is where the chinese chef's came when the communists took Hong Kong back. This restaurant rivals the best I have found there but you have to know what you want and how to order it. My favorite is "Ma Poo Tofu" give it a try. This restaurant knows how to make it.
(5)
Einsteins A.
I visited today eager to try the food again, I sampled things a few years ago and noticed their claim of being one of the best restaurants in the world. With BS button in hand I ordered the lunch special of garlic pork, my father had the shrimp in lobster sauce. All said the pork was excellent and extra spicy as requested the complementary hot and sour soup was typical but tepid. Our sever was a bit testy and rushed our Saturday lunch, then I read another reviewer comment about Mrs Lee and rushed service so I popped the question, are you Mrs Lee? Indeed she was and the pace slowed and will look forward to trying the egg plant. However I will never agree with the world's greatest claim but I'm sure Chef Lee would be successful in any city and clearly rules Columbus, Ga.
(4)
Kushondra S.
The egg drop soup is absolutely amazing. When I go I order the same thing everytime, the mongolian chicken. Why mess with perfection? My husband on the other hand has tried the entire menu, and has raves reviews! The only reason I didn't give Chef Lees 5 stars, was because of the hostess. We are regulars and they are just not friendly at all. Also I always have to ask for a straw. That may seem small but it's important to me.
(4)
John J.
The food is outstanding but the gentleman who works at the front register was very rude. The waiting staff was inexperienced. Soon as i put in my appetizer order the waiter jetted off before i could finish. This place is lucky the food is good.
(1)
William P.
So, I was in Columbus on business a few days ago, As I was leaving downtown one afternoon, I see Chef Lee's big billboard which advertises it as "the best Chinese restaurant in America." I am intrigued by the audacity of the Chinaman. Actually claiming that one of the Best Chinese Restaurants in America is located in the suburbs of some one horse hick town where the average resident considers a "big weekend" as one where you ride over Auburn to tip some pigs. That leads me to ask the question, "Is there some other country called America? Or maybe a parallel American universe somewhere in which an American Chinese place in Columbus could possibly be the best Chinese food in that universe? Let's be honest. I was born...but not yesterday. The fact that I knew that the claim wasn't true didn't deter me from visiting the audacious den of liars one night for dinner. Once again, the marketing campaign worked on a big city sucker. Having eaten at some of the truly great Chinese places in the US such as Tong Kiang in San Francisco, Lao Sze Chuan in Chicago, and Joe's Shanghai in New York, I consider myself to have a fairly good knowledge of good Chinese food. When you drive up, Chef Lee's is impressive. It looks like some kind of Asian palace resplendently surrounded by little fish ponds that one must cross over to enter the restaurant. The food at Chef Lee's is standard southern American Chinese, mostly deep fried, sauced with colorfully sweet sauces, The eggrolls were pretty bland even when topped with the marischino cherry colored duck sauce and very potent Chinese mustard. The egg drop soup, while tasty, had this weird concentrated piss color to it. The menu features traditional Ameri-Chinese dishes like Wor Su Gai (deep fried chicken covered in brown sauce and topped with almonds)interspersed with a few seafood dishes that stretch a little closer to authentic. There were no soup dumplings or shark's fin soup on this menu. Honestly, the food was below average, even in comparison to other southern Ameri-Chinese places I grew up eating in. Management should get an award for having the most audacious marketing plan of any Chinese. But, not for their food. Caveat Emptor
(2)
Jim B.
Just finding an actual Chinese restaurant in Georgia where you don't judge it by the amount of electrical tape on the bench seats is incredible in itself. And to be able to have a Mai Tai or other actual alcoholic beverage is just a little slice of heaven. Some of my favorite things, hot & sour soup, shredded pork with garlic sauce and twice-cooked pork, were truly excellent. Others, like General Tso's Chicken and Kung Pao anything, were sub-par. And I don't know if this is a Southern thing but fried dumplings does not mean DEEP-FRIED, it means pan-fried. It's also odd that Chef Lee has decided that LO MEIN is actually CHOW MEIN. (My mother and a can of La Choy could clear this up for him.) And why on earth would i want a side order of rice with my (lo mein) noodles? Extra starch? But I quibble too much. Glad that Chef Lee is here to save me from the endless, tasteless Chinese buffets that are everywhere in Georgia.
(4)
Katie E.
Decent at best for columbus but NOT great Chinese food. And the guy at the front is rude. My kids like it and I will tolerate it for them but would never go there on my own. The building is kinda cool with the floor & the fish.
(2)
Al N.
I'll lead this off by saying I'm somewhat obsessed with Chinese food, both in terms of quality and authenticity. I've scoured the Chinatowns of NYC, San Francisco, Toronto, and Boston looking for true Chinese cuisine. My first meal at Chef Lee's was good; the standard general chicken, fried in batter. The service was excellent--friendly and fast. Two stars off, though, because not a thing on the menu is Chinese; it's all American-Chinese food. Granted, what I ate was a cut above your average place that serves shredded pork with garlic and General Gau/Tsu/Tswhatever's chicken (points for not giving in to the myth of the superiority of the chicken breast over the thigh); it's similar in concept to PF Chang's: better versions of the stuff you get at the takeout place, but like PF Chang's, it's about as Chinese as McDonald's. Chef Lee's food is also not as good as PFC's. Put some spicy salted pork chops, shrimp in shell, 8 delights, fish maw, duck web, pig's ears, or thousand year old eggs on the menu, and then let's talk about Chinese. I know I'm being a snob, but I really wish that Americans would be more open-minded and demand more from ethnic cuisine, and I wish that Chinese chefs would put at least a few authentic dishes on the menu to help open those American minds. EDIT: I went back and got the Princess Prawns, which was listed as deep-fried shrimp. What I got was shrimp in that thick, heavy, corndog-looking batter that I only find at hole-in-the-wall takeout places. And it was swimming in what looked and tasted like canned duck sauce. The egg rolls are also like what you'd find in a dive (or a Costco freezer). Not Chinese and not good. I'm not going back. The shrimp that the local buffets serve on Sunday is closer to what real Chinese (Szechuan) fried shrimp should be.
(2)
Jason M.
My wife loved her sweet & sour chicken and I agreed. My father-in-law loved his Kung Pao Chicken. I thought my beef & broccoli was okay. The sauce was a bit too bland for my taste. Great atmosphere & service though. I'll go back but order something different next time.
(4)
Steve M.
The exterior is flat out ridiculous. It is over the top. The interior decorations continue the same theme. However, the food is just OK. Not great, not wonderful, just OK and very greasy. Service was not very fast or attentive, and when another waitress was flagged down she was a bit rude. Go here for the "ambiance" of the ridiculous designs, not for an excellent culinary experience.
(2)
Anna W.
Twice cooked pork and Peking fried noodles. For all the praises I heard about this place, it really didn't match my expectations. It is amazing for the American taste buds. I'm comparing this to the Chinese restaurants in Los Angeles. The noodles were a bit too soupy. Decent. Three stars mainly for ambiance.
(3)
Peter G.
Updated!!! December 2014 Okay so I have always liked the food, and my previous rating is based upon the Atmosphere and I can't eat that. DO NOT EVER BRING a party here. The service is horrible. We had about 18 people this past Saturday and I got one glass and never a single refill or even asking about one. The worst part if you are with a reserved party you ARE FORCED to pay a tip even if the service is HORRIBLE. When I spoke to the register clerk he offered to get the manager, but I never saw him instead the head waitress brings the waitress up and points saying is this the one. I was like really!! I paid because a family member is good friends but seriously planned service should be a lot better especially if you are forcing people to pay a tip! I do not tip when I get bad service! Oh the bartender is AMAZING. Ask anything and he will Oblige. In fact I would go here just to sit at the bar if I could!
(1)
Lito Q.
a case of knowing what to order. there really aren't many great chinese restaurants in our area. or, if they exist i have yet to try them. chef lee's suffers from what most chinese establishments in america suffer from, their clientele. i don't think that most people in our awesome city know too much about authentic chinese. conversely, the owners/chefs probably think that we're only interested in ameri-chinese cooking. hence the bland egg rolls, piss-colored egg-drop soup and virtually blah food that William P. described. most experienced foodies will tell you that the best litmus test for chinese fare anywhere in the world is to start by ordering clear broth. the basis for almost all good chinese cooking, clear broth is essential in the millions of delicious chinese soups and dishes we all love. it also happens to be the main ingredient in wonton soup. chef lee's doesn't even have wonton soup. what does that tell you? essentially, the lunch special is the big draw. (also, the really inexpensive bar). but, if one knows what to order, it can actually be pretty good. for example, if you're in the mood for a big mess of fried, go for the special $15 egg roll. it's large, fun and great for sharing. the regular egg rolls aren't worth a lick. the hot and sour is the better of the soups. i would say that the shrimp fried rice is the best rice option and the black mushroom pork is a great standby and probably the reason i'll keep coming back. though loaded with cornstarch, the szechwan chicken is also pretty good. at the end of the day, the sad fact remains that columbus goes without excellent chinese every day. for now, anyway...
(2)
Jack B.
Same chicken for everything. Nothing new, just blah. They are stuck on their "Top 100" in 2004. 8 years later they are nothing. Need something new to keep me.
(2)
Chelsea P.
Love this place, it's magical with the see through glass floor in the front with all the dozens of koi fish swimming beneath you! I was scared to step across the floor at first, but I seen plenty of patrons with no weight conscience standing around so I decided, why not! the service was nice, the atmosphere is so thought provoking! I've ate there many times, and each experience was better than the last. It's a pricey place, but the food is delectable, if you want something exciting and want to step over to the adventurous side, go with the pineapple duck, the shrimp in lobster sauce, or you can do something familar, like the teriyaki chicken or sweet & sour chicken. The fried rice is always wonderful, never greasy! Fun, pleasant atmosphere, always crowded but never too busy for taste buds bursting with curiousity!
(5)
Joseph J.
Owner is very rude. Screwed up to go order and had to return. No apology. The guy at the cash register is just as rude. Makes feel like they are doing you s favor
(1)
T L.
Everyone in Columbus raves about Chef Lees. I am from San Francisco, grew up on Yuet Lee and Yank Sing (yelp them) and know my chinese food. Chef Lee's is better than the average Chinese restaurant, particularly, I imagine in the South. Which is not to slight the South, just to note there are few Asians in the Deep South. Mediocre and pricey, but great stereotypey fancy Chinese-restaurant atmosphere and great people watching. If I was a prom-bound Colmbus high student, I'd love Chef Lee's on prom night.
(2)
Tom M.
This is the top Chinese restaurant in Columbus GA. Koi fish pond in front, falling water inside with glass bridge over water. Staff is well dressed and service is usually very fast.
(5)
Josh P.
Fantastic restaurant that only has great food but also a well designed building that relaxes the customers.
(5)
Lito Q.
a case of knowing what to order. there really aren't many great chinese restaurants in our area. or, if they exist i have yet to try them. chef lee's suffers from what most chinese establishments in america suffer from, their clientele. i don't think that most people in our awesome city know too much about authentic chinese. conversely, the owners/chefs probably think that we're only interested in ameri-chinese cooking. hence the bland egg rolls, piss-colored egg-drop soup and virtually blah food that William P. described. most experienced foodies will tell you that the best litmus test for chinese fare anywhere in the world is to start by ordering clear broth. the basis for almost all good chinese cooking, clear broth is essential in the millions of delicious chinese soups and dishes we all love. it also happens to be the main ingredient in wonton soup. chef lee's doesn't even have wonton soup. what does that tell you? essentially, the lunch special is the big draw. (also, the really inexpensive bar). but, if one knows what to order, it can actually be pretty good. for example, if you're in the mood for a big mess of fried, go for the special $15 egg roll. it's large, fun and great for sharing. the regular egg rolls aren't worth a lick. the hot and sour is the better of the soups. i would say that the shrimp fried rice is the best rice option and the black mushroom pork is a great standby and probably the reason i'll keep coming back. though loaded with cornstarch, the szechwan chicken is also pretty good. at the end of the day, the sad fact remains that columbus goes without excellent chinese every day. for now, anyway...
(2)
Jack B.
Same chicken for everything. Nothing new, just blah. They are stuck on their "Top 100" in 2004. 8 years later they are nothing. Need something new to keep me.
(2)
Chelsea P.
Love this place, it's magical with the see through glass floor in the front with all the dozens of koi fish swimming beneath you! I was scared to step across the floor at first, but I seen plenty of patrons with no weight conscience standing around so I decided, why not! the service was nice, the atmosphere is so thought provoking! I've ate there many times, and each experience was better than the last. It's a pricey place, but the food is delectable, if you want something exciting and want to step over to the adventurous side, go with the pineapple duck, the shrimp in lobster sauce, or you can do something familar, like the teriyaki chicken or sweet & sour chicken. The fried rice is always wonderful, never greasy! Fun, pleasant atmosphere, always crowded but never too busy for taste buds bursting with curiousity!
(5)
Joseph J.
Owner is very rude. Screwed up to go order and had to return. No apology. The guy at the cash register is just as rude. Makes feel like they are doing you s favor
(1)
Josh P.
Fantastic restaurant that only has great food but also a well designed building that relaxes the customers.
(5)
Hugh L.
Pretty good place for Chinese food. This place is run by Chinese-Koreans, so they do have some "off-menu" Korean food. Nevertheless, the Chinese fare here is also really good. The ambiance is definitely top-notch, and it was great to see other Chinese/Korean patrons here as well.
(4)
Mary F.
I honestly don't know why this place isn't rated higher. The service is fast and food just keeps coming out. Was visiting my brother at Fort Benning and we brought him here twice because my family loved it. Being from a predominantly Asian area in California, this place does great Chinese food.
(5)
Blaze V.
This place is very nice and clean. The staff are very friendly. They made it seem like you were in China one you entered, with their beautiful asian decor. Their food is tasty also.
(5)
Tosh B.
It's not too bad... Would've went with the sushi across the street but it was closed. For 6.99 a person. They have a good selection and the Mongolian bar is part of the purchase as well. , I've ate here once before an it's not usually too busy to get in immediately. Grab a bite here if your on a schedule an don't want to spend much.
(3)
Jimmy G.
We have been a customer since 1988. Our favorite Chinese restaurant. We make the drive from Montgomery, AL at least once a month. The Mongolian beef is second to none. Highly recommend without reservation whatsoever.
(4)
Glen D.
From the outside this a tourist Chinese restaurant. The food is not very impressive. This is a very American style Chinese food, the dishes I had are not authentic. The first time I went there, we had the Mu Shu pork with 4 pancakes. This was not hot and it tasted terrible. There was no taste of the ginger, garlice, scallions or bamboo shoots. It is a big mess thrown together. You did see the eggs, pork and I think mushrooms but those are usually sliced thin. The greatest part was when we found a piece of either granite from a bowl or something else. It didn't belong there. Fast forward a couple of months and we ordered the Sesame Chicken. That tasted terrible, nothing Sesame about it. It was mushy, bland flavor and there was more breading than chicken. The best part was the fried rice that came with the Sesame Chicken. It had a nice surprise of a Cockroach. We called them to tell them about it and they responded with "You bring it back we give you a new one." This is not a good tasting Chinese restaurant.
(1)
F G.
Large menu is not always a good thing. Dishes are heavily sauced unless you ask them to prepare it "Dry" (they still add more sauce than I like but better, not so soupy). Very disappointed with the crispy duck- overly fried in heavy batter and served with cheap bottled plum sauce, yuk.. We also ordered a Korean noodle dish not on the menu which was pretty good, the other Chinese dishes ordered are not worth mentioning and unmemorable. However, beautiful decor and strong mixed drinks.
(3)
Sandra P. N.
I have tried food at dinner time but never ate at lunch time. Hostess is a bit rude when she welcomes customers. Seems like she has memorized the same phrase every time which make it sound like she does not want to be there..why should I? Lunch dishes come with a nasty egg drop...hot & sour also was not tasty at all. My vegetable pork was served in an ocean of dark sauce not that appealing to me. Overall, I think this place deserves two stars because they concentrate more in the volume of people coming in than the quality of food. This is not an authentic Chinese restaurant option in town, neither a first choice for people who enjoy the art of cooking!
(2)
Deanna M.
My husband, my mother in law and I went to Chef Lee's for mothers day. It was super busy we were told there was going to be about a 20 minute wait. We sat at the bar and or number was called within 10 minutes not bad. Once seated our server was prompt to come to the table and friendly. She took our order and we got our food within 15 minutes. Also not so bad being so busy on mothers day. Our food came out hot and just as we ordered. The food was awesome and it was a great visit. Worth going too.
(4)
Baxlee B.
We used to love eating at Chef Lee's, however, recently the service has not been great. The hostess and servers are rude and the quality of the food is not up to par. The shrimp used to be large, but not are tiny. Also, the fried rice is weak. 3 stars at BEST.
(2)
Davis M.
This is hands down the best Chinese restaurant with which I've had the pleasure of dining. The entrance corridor is elaborately designed and should appeal to all ages...for me to even notice a restaurant's decor is saying plenty (since giant HD TVs or a hot bartender is about all that I'll let distract me from good company and quality food). Regardless, you walk into the sound of rushing water - which cascades off one wall, and then you notice an aquarium serving as another wall - and just when you think the place has got spunk......you realize you're walking over the bottom of the same aquarium, and through the clear floor are a collection of koi to add even more color. The food was great, along with the service....and there's nothing like having Chef Lee, himself, walk out- introduce himself, and provide food suggestions, which...btw....he prepares himself!
(4)
Leslie S.
I visited this restaurant on July 5, 2014. The waitress was unfriendly and acted like she had a chip on her shoulder and hated her job. Everything I ordered here was very bad. The sauces on the food were truly awful. I ordered Sesame Shrimp and Cashew Chicken, and they were both TERRIBLE. The sauce on the Sesame Shrimp was WAY too sweet and disgusting. I ordered the barbeque pork ribs appetizer, and it was hard meat, over-cooked and very tough. The couldn't even get something simple like that right! I also ordered a Crab Wonton appetizer, and it tasted like fake, cheap crab meat. Also just terrible. I have been to MANY Chinese restaurants in my life, and this was by far the WORST Chinese food I have ever eaten. If I were the chef in this place, I would be truly embarrassed to serve this terrible food to an unsuspecting public.
(1)
Jason M.
My wife loved her sweet & sour chicken and I agreed. My father-in-law loved his Kung Pao Chicken. I thought my beef & broccoli was okay. The sauce was a bit too bland for my taste. Great atmosphere & service though. I'll go back but order something different next time.
(4)
Jessica S.
We were looking for a place similar to a Hunan Garden close to columbus that served sizzling rice soup & so we stopped in to try it out. The inside is beautiful & we were greeted promptly. We ordered the sizzling rice soup, pot stickers, garlic chicken & shredded pork in garlic sauce. The sizzling rice soup was delicious, tasted just like Hunan Gardens. The pot stickers are deep fried and I prefer mine boiled then browned so I was not a fan & their pot sticker sauce is pretty much just soy sauce. Now for the entrees..we both ate a handful of bites and that was about it. The garlic chicken was not very garlicky & very salty tasting and the shredded pork was very bland. Once we received our food we pretty much didn't see our waitress until we were done so ordering another drink was not happening. It's not a bad place, it's just a place not for my taste buds.
(2)
Stephen C.
I had general Tsu chicken. Not that tasty. The hostess and the server had the demeanor of a frozen spatula. The only good thing I have to say is that the place is beautiful. I felt like I was in china town. The food was not though.
(2)
David W.
First off, I'm Chinese. I grew up on Chinese food. I lived in NYC, ChongQing, Vancouver, and Hong Kong. This is not Chinese food. What it is is American food with Chinese decor. I was served with silverware and plates. I had to request for the chopsticks. The food is bearable and what you would expect from a take out. And I had better take-out "chinese" food. However, with a lack of choice in Columbus, I would rate this higher if I'm rating based only on what is available in the area. But, I don't live here so for the people visiting that are not a stranger to real Chinese food, you might want to try the Korean food options :).
(2)
Lauren K.
Best Chinese food and service! The restaurant is gorgeous!
(5)
John B.
This place is fantastic. It has spectacular curb-appeal, but isn't in a good location. It seems ultra-fancy, but the prices are actually lower than it seems they would be. Aside from that, it's a generic chinese-food place. Service is fast & friendly, food is not bad, but they really should consider cutting some trees for higher visibility.
(4)
Edward C.
The food is great. This restaurant has earned all the kudos it has recieved. The menu has all the standard "chinese" items on the menu but if you want to order real chinese food and it is either szechuan or hunan style they'll prepare it for you. I have eaten the best chinese food you'll find in Vancouver British Columbia. It is where the chinese chef's came when the communists took Hong Kong back. This restaurant rivals the best I have found there but you have to know what you want and how to order it. My favorite is "Ma Poo Tofu" give it a try. This restaurant knows how to make it.
(5)
Einsteins A.
I visited today eager to try the food again, I sampled things a few years ago and noticed their claim of being one of the best restaurants in the world. With BS button in hand I ordered the lunch special of garlic pork, my father had the shrimp in lobster sauce. All said the pork was excellent and extra spicy as requested the complementary hot and sour soup was typical but tepid. Our sever was a bit testy and rushed our Saturday lunch, then I read another reviewer comment about Mrs Lee and rushed service so I popped the question, are you Mrs Lee? Indeed she was and the pace slowed and will look forward to trying the egg plant. However I will never agree with the world's greatest claim but I'm sure Chef Lee would be successful in any city and clearly rules Columbus, Ga.
(4)
Kushondra S.
The egg drop soup is absolutely amazing. When I go I order the same thing everytime, the mongolian chicken. Why mess with perfection? My husband on the other hand has tried the entire menu, and has raves reviews! The only reason I didn't give Chef Lees 5 stars, was because of the hostess. We are regulars and they are just not friendly at all. Also I always have to ask for a straw. That may seem small but it's important to me.
(4)
William P.
So, I was in Columbus on business a few days ago, As I was leaving downtown one afternoon, I see Chef Lee's big billboard which advertises it as "the best Chinese restaurant in America." I am intrigued by the audacity of the Chinaman. Actually claiming that one of the Best Chinese Restaurants in America is located in the suburbs of some one horse hick town where the average resident considers a "big weekend" as one where you ride over Auburn to tip some pigs. That leads me to ask the question, "Is there some other country called America? Or maybe a parallel American universe somewhere in which an American Chinese place in Columbus could possibly be the best Chinese food in that universe? Let's be honest. I was born...but not yesterday. The fact that I knew that the claim wasn't true didn't deter me from visiting the audacious den of liars one night for dinner. Once again, the marketing campaign worked on a big city sucker. Having eaten at some of the truly great Chinese places in the US such as Tong Kiang in San Francisco, Lao Sze Chuan in Chicago, and Joe's Shanghai in New York, I consider myself to have a fairly good knowledge of good Chinese food. When you drive up, Chef Lee's is impressive. It looks like some kind of Asian palace resplendently surrounded by little fish ponds that one must cross over to enter the restaurant. The food at Chef Lee's is standard southern American Chinese, mostly deep fried, sauced with colorfully sweet sauces, The eggrolls were pretty bland even when topped with the marischino cherry colored duck sauce and very potent Chinese mustard. The egg drop soup, while tasty, had this weird concentrated piss color to it. The menu features traditional Ameri-Chinese dishes like Wor Su Gai (deep fried chicken covered in brown sauce and topped with almonds)interspersed with a few seafood dishes that stretch a little closer to authentic. There were no soup dumplings or shark's fin soup on this menu. Honestly, the food was below average, even in comparison to other southern Ameri-Chinese places I grew up eating in. Management should get an award for having the most audacious marketing plan of any Chinese. But, not for their food. Caveat Emptor
(2)
Jim B.
Just finding an actual Chinese restaurant in Georgia where you don't judge it by the amount of electrical tape on the bench seats is incredible in itself. And to be able to have a Mai Tai or other actual alcoholic beverage is just a little slice of heaven. Some of my favorite things, hot & sour soup, shredded pork with garlic sauce and twice-cooked pork, were truly excellent. Others, like General Tso's Chicken and Kung Pao anything, were sub-par. And I don't know if this is a Southern thing but fried dumplings does not mean DEEP-FRIED, it means pan-fried. It's also odd that Chef Lee has decided that LO MEIN is actually CHOW MEIN. (My mother and a can of La Choy could clear this up for him.) And why on earth would i want a side order of rice with my (lo mein) noodles? Extra starch? But I quibble too much. Glad that Chef Lee is here to save me from the endless, tasteless Chinese buffets that are everywhere in Georgia.
(4)
Katie E.
Decent at best for columbus but NOT great Chinese food. And the guy at the front is rude. My kids like it and I will tolerate it for them but would never go there on my own. The building is kinda cool with the floor & the fish.
(2)
John J.
The food is outstanding but the gentleman who works at the front register was very rude. The waiting staff was inexperienced. Soon as i put in my appetizer order the waiter jetted off before i could finish. This place is lucky the food is good.
(1)
Al N.
I'll lead this off by saying I'm somewhat obsessed with Chinese food, both in terms of quality and authenticity. I've scoured the Chinatowns of NYC, San Francisco, Toronto, and Boston looking for true Chinese cuisine. My first meal at Chef Lee's was good; the standard general chicken, fried in batter. The service was excellent--friendly and fast. Two stars off, though, because not a thing on the menu is Chinese; it's all American-Chinese food. Granted, what I ate was a cut above your average place that serves shredded pork with garlic and General Gau/Tsu/Tswhatever's chicken (points for not giving in to the myth of the superiority of the chicken breast over the thigh); it's similar in concept to PF Chang's: better versions of the stuff you get at the takeout place, but like PF Chang's, it's about as Chinese as McDonald's. Chef Lee's food is also not as good as PFC's. Put some spicy salted pork chops, shrimp in shell, 8 delights, fish maw, duck web, pig's ears, or thousand year old eggs on the menu, and then let's talk about Chinese. I know I'm being a snob, but I really wish that Americans would be more open-minded and demand more from ethnic cuisine, and I wish that Chinese chefs would put at least a few authentic dishes on the menu to help open those American minds. EDIT: I went back and got the Princess Prawns, which was listed as deep-fried shrimp. What I got was shrimp in that thick, heavy, corndog-looking batter that I only find at hole-in-the-wall takeout places. And it was swimming in what looked and tasted like canned duck sauce. The egg rolls are also like what you'd find in a dive (or a Costco freezer). Not Chinese and not good. I'm not going back. The shrimp that the local buffets serve on Sunday is closer to what real Chinese (Szechuan) fried shrimp should be.
(2)
Steve M.
The exterior is flat out ridiculous. It is over the top. The interior decorations continue the same theme. However, the food is just OK. Not great, not wonderful, just OK and very greasy. Service was not very fast or attentive, and when another waitress was flagged down she was a bit rude. Go here for the "ambiance" of the ridiculous designs, not for an excellent culinary experience.
(2)
Anna W.
Twice cooked pork and Peking fried noodles. For all the praises I heard about this place, it really didn't match my expectations. It is amazing for the American taste buds. I'm comparing this to the Chinese restaurants in Los Angeles. The noodles were a bit too soupy. Decent. Three stars mainly for ambiance.
(3)
Peter G.
Updated!!! December 2014 Okay so I have always liked the food, and my previous rating is based upon the Atmosphere and I can't eat that. DO NOT EVER BRING a party here. The service is horrible. We had about 18 people this past Saturday and I got one glass and never a single refill or even asking about one. The worst part if you are with a reserved party you ARE FORCED to pay a tip even if the service is HORRIBLE. When I spoke to the register clerk he offered to get the manager, but I never saw him instead the head waitress brings the waitress up and points saying is this the one. I was like really!! I paid because a family member is good friends but seriously planned service should be a lot better especially if you are forcing people to pay a tip! I do not tip when I get bad service! Oh the bartender is AMAZING. Ask anything and he will Oblige. In fact I would go here just to sit at the bar if I could!
(1)
T L.
Everyone in Columbus raves about Chef Lees. I am from San Francisco, grew up on Yuet Lee and Yank Sing (yelp them) and know my chinese food. Chef Lee's is better than the average Chinese restaurant, particularly, I imagine in the South. Which is not to slight the South, just to note there are few Asians in the Deep South. Mediocre and pricey, but great stereotypey fancy Chinese-restaurant atmosphere and great people watching. If I was a prom-bound Colmbus high student, I'd love Chef Lee's on prom night.
(2)
Sean S.
Your basic Chinese buffet, wrapped in a colorful candy shell. During a recent lunch, a former North Korean Army officer who had escaped to become a waiter in Columbus, Ga., yelled at me and my co-workers for taking too long to order. The egg rolls come wrapped in an inpenetratable fried shell that will shatter enamel off your teeth.
(2)
Tom M.
This is the top Chinese restaurant in Columbus GA. Koi fish pond in front, falling water inside with glass bridge over water. Staff is well dressed and service is usually very fast.
(5)
Rebel S.
Been here twice. This place is all show. Food is mediocre at best. Typical American Chinese food where you sit down and order one (1) entree. Same as the other places. I think it's frozen Chinese because the meats are cut the same with the other place. Service was nice though. Clean. It's just hype and show.
(3)
Candice W.
Had this for lunch today...the Mongolian beef and sesame chicken were pretty good. Soup was a little bland.... But the service was great...I just wish the servers wouldn't stand over you and watch you eat the whole time...kinda creepy
(3)
Christine O.
I don't know how authentic the food is (as far as being Chinese), but it's fantastic! I don't typically like Chinese food. The pot stickers and the egg flower soup - so good!! And the restaurant is super clean, has great service, & is well priced.
(5)
Erin K.
The food at Chef Lee's isn't the best Chinese ever, but it's probably the best chinese in Columbus. I have been eating here since it opened, and my favorite dish is definately the shredded pork with garlic sause. They get extra points for the plexi glass floor that allows you to see the fish swimming around under you.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
Rebel S.
Been here twice. This place is all show. Food is mediocre at best. Typical American Chinese food where you sit down and order one (1) entree. Same as the other places. I think it's frozen Chinese because the meats are cut the same with the other place. Service was nice though. Clean. It's just hype and show.
(3)Candice W.
Had this for lunch today...the Mongolian beef and sesame chicken were pretty good. Soup was a little bland.... But the service was great...I just wish the servers wouldn't stand over you and watch you eat the whole time...kinda creepy
(3)Christine O.
I don't know how authentic the food is (as far as being Chinese), but it's fantastic! I don't typically like Chinese food. The pot stickers and the egg flower soup - so good!! And the restaurant is super clean, has great service, & is well priced.
(5)Blaze V.
This place is very nice and clean. The staff are very friendly. They made it seem like you were in China one you entered, with their beautiful asian decor. Their food is tasty also.
(5)Tosh B.
It's not too bad... Would've went with the sushi across the street but it was closed. For 6.99 a person. They have a good selection and the Mongolian bar is part of the purchase as well. , I've ate here once before an it's not usually too busy to get in immediately. Grab a bite here if your on a schedule an don't want to spend much.
(3)Jimmy G.
We have been a customer since 1988. Our favorite Chinese restaurant. We make the drive from Montgomery, AL at least once a month. The Mongolian beef is second to none. Highly recommend without reservation whatsoever.
(4)Glen D.
From the outside this a tourist Chinese restaurant. The food is not very impressive. This is a very American style Chinese food, the dishes I had are not authentic. The first time I went there, we had the Mu Shu pork with 4 pancakes. This was not hot and it tasted terrible. There was no taste of the ginger, garlice, scallions or bamboo shoots. It is a big mess thrown together. You did see the eggs, pork and I think mushrooms but those are usually sliced thin. The greatest part was when we found a piece of either granite from a bowl or something else. It didn't belong there. Fast forward a couple of months and we ordered the Sesame Chicken. That tasted terrible, nothing Sesame about it. It was mushy, bland flavor and there was more breading than chicken. The best part was the fried rice that came with the Sesame Chicken. It had a nice surprise of a Cockroach. We called them to tell them about it and they responded with "You bring it back we give you a new one." This is not a good tasting Chinese restaurant.
(1)Sean S.
Your basic Chinese buffet, wrapped in a colorful candy shell. During a recent lunch, a former North Korean Army officer who had escaped to become a waiter in Columbus, Ga., yelled at me and my co-workers for taking too long to order. The egg rolls come wrapped in an inpenetratable fried shell that will shatter enamel off your teeth.
(2)Erin K.
The food at Chef Lee's isn't the best Chinese ever, but it's probably the best chinese in Columbus. I have been eating here since it opened, and my favorite dish is definately the shredded pork with garlic sause. They get extra points for the plexi glass floor that allows you to see the fish swimming around under you.
(4)Hugh L.
Pretty good place for Chinese food. This place is run by Chinese-Koreans, so they do have some "off-menu" Korean food. Nevertheless, the Chinese fare here is also really good. The ambiance is definitely top-notch, and it was great to see other Chinese/Korean patrons here as well.
(4)Mary F.
I honestly don't know why this place isn't rated higher. The service is fast and food just keeps coming out. Was visiting my brother at Fort Benning and we brought him here twice because my family loved it. Being from a predominantly Asian area in California, this place does great Chinese food.
(5)F G.
Large menu is not always a good thing. Dishes are heavily sauced unless you ask them to prepare it "Dry" (they still add more sauce than I like but better, not so soupy). Very disappointed with the crispy duck- overly fried in heavy batter and served with cheap bottled plum sauce, yuk.. We also ordered a Korean noodle dish not on the menu which was pretty good, the other Chinese dishes ordered are not worth mentioning and unmemorable. However, beautiful decor and strong mixed drinks.
(3)Sandra P. N.
I have tried food at dinner time but never ate at lunch time. Hostess is a bit rude when she welcomes customers. Seems like she has memorized the same phrase every time which make it sound like she does not want to be there..why should I? Lunch dishes come with a nasty egg drop...hot & sour also was not tasty at all. My vegetable pork was served in an ocean of dark sauce not that appealing to me. Overall, I think this place deserves two stars because they concentrate more in the volume of people coming in than the quality of food. This is not an authentic Chinese restaurant option in town, neither a first choice for people who enjoy the art of cooking!
(2)Deanna M.
My husband, my mother in law and I went to Chef Lee's for mothers day. It was super busy we were told there was going to be about a 20 minute wait. We sat at the bar and or number was called within 10 minutes not bad. Once seated our server was prompt to come to the table and friendly. She took our order and we got our food within 15 minutes. Also not so bad being so busy on mothers day. Our food came out hot and just as we ordered. The food was awesome and it was a great visit. Worth going too.
(4)Baxlee B.
We used to love eating at Chef Lee's, however, recently the service has not been great. The hostess and servers are rude and the quality of the food is not up to par. The shrimp used to be large, but not are tiny. Also, the fried rice is weak. 3 stars at BEST.
(2)Davis M.
This is hands down the best Chinese restaurant with which I've had the pleasure of dining. The entrance corridor is elaborately designed and should appeal to all ages...for me to even notice a restaurant's decor is saying plenty (since giant HD TVs or a hot bartender is about all that I'll let distract me from good company and quality food). Regardless, you walk into the sound of rushing water - which cascades off one wall, and then you notice an aquarium serving as another wall - and just when you think the place has got spunk......you realize you're walking over the bottom of the same aquarium, and through the clear floor are a collection of koi to add even more color. The food was great, along with the service....and there's nothing like having Chef Lee, himself, walk out- introduce himself, and provide food suggestions, which...btw....he prepares himself!
(4)Leslie S.
I visited this restaurant on July 5, 2014. The waitress was unfriendly and acted like she had a chip on her shoulder and hated her job. Everything I ordered here was very bad. The sauces on the food were truly awful. I ordered Sesame Shrimp and Cashew Chicken, and they were both TERRIBLE. The sauce on the Sesame Shrimp was WAY too sweet and disgusting. I ordered the barbeque pork ribs appetizer, and it was hard meat, over-cooked and very tough. The couldn't even get something simple like that right! I also ordered a Crab Wonton appetizer, and it tasted like fake, cheap crab meat. Also just terrible. I have been to MANY Chinese restaurants in my life, and this was by far the WORST Chinese food I have ever eaten. If I were the chef in this place, I would be truly embarrassed to serve this terrible food to an unsuspecting public.
(1)Jessica S.
We were looking for a place similar to a Hunan Garden close to columbus that served sizzling rice soup & so we stopped in to try it out. The inside is beautiful & we were greeted promptly. We ordered the sizzling rice soup, pot stickers, garlic chicken & shredded pork in garlic sauce. The sizzling rice soup was delicious, tasted just like Hunan Gardens. The pot stickers are deep fried and I prefer mine boiled then browned so I was not a fan & their pot sticker sauce is pretty much just soy sauce. Now for the entrees..we both ate a handful of bites and that was about it. The garlic chicken was not very garlicky & very salty tasting and the shredded pork was very bland. Once we received our food we pretty much didn't see our waitress until we were done so ordering another drink was not happening. It's not a bad place, it's just a place not for my taste buds.
(2)Stephen C.
I had general Tsu chicken. Not that tasty. The hostess and the server had the demeanor of a frozen spatula. The only good thing I have to say is that the place is beautiful. I felt like I was in china town. The food was not though.
(2)David W.
First off, I'm Chinese. I grew up on Chinese food. I lived in NYC, ChongQing, Vancouver, and Hong Kong. This is not Chinese food. What it is is American food with Chinese decor. I was served with silverware and plates. I had to request for the chopsticks. The food is bearable and what you would expect from a take out. And I had better take-out "chinese" food. However, with a lack of choice in Columbus, I would rate this higher if I'm rating based only on what is available in the area. But, I don't live here so for the people visiting that are not a stranger to real Chinese food, you might want to try the Korean food options :).
(2)Lauren K.
Best Chinese food and service! The restaurant is gorgeous!
(5)John B.
This place is fantastic. It has spectacular curb-appeal, but isn't in a good location. It seems ultra-fancy, but the prices are actually lower than it seems they would be. Aside from that, it's a generic chinese-food place. Service is fast & friendly, food is not bad, but they really should consider cutting some trees for higher visibility.
(4)Edward C.
The food is great. This restaurant has earned all the kudos it has recieved. The menu has all the standard "chinese" items on the menu but if you want to order real chinese food and it is either szechuan or hunan style they'll prepare it for you. I have eaten the best chinese food you'll find in Vancouver British Columbia. It is where the chinese chef's came when the communists took Hong Kong back. This restaurant rivals the best I have found there but you have to know what you want and how to order it. My favorite is "Ma Poo Tofu" give it a try. This restaurant knows how to make it.
(5)Einsteins A.
I visited today eager to try the food again, I sampled things a few years ago and noticed their claim of being one of the best restaurants in the world. With BS button in hand I ordered the lunch special of garlic pork, my father had the shrimp in lobster sauce. All said the pork was excellent and extra spicy as requested the complementary hot and sour soup was typical but tepid. Our sever was a bit testy and rushed our Saturday lunch, then I read another reviewer comment about Mrs Lee and rushed service so I popped the question, are you Mrs Lee? Indeed she was and the pace slowed and will look forward to trying the egg plant. However I will never agree with the world's greatest claim but I'm sure Chef Lee would be successful in any city and clearly rules Columbus, Ga.
(4)Kushondra S.
The egg drop soup is absolutely amazing. When I go I order the same thing everytime, the mongolian chicken. Why mess with perfection? My husband on the other hand has tried the entire menu, and has raves reviews! The only reason I didn't give Chef Lees 5 stars, was because of the hostess. We are regulars and they are just not friendly at all. Also I always have to ask for a straw. That may seem small but it's important to me.
(4)John J.
The food is outstanding but the gentleman who works at the front register was very rude. The waiting staff was inexperienced. Soon as i put in my appetizer order the waiter jetted off before i could finish. This place is lucky the food is good.
(1)William P.
So, I was in Columbus on business a few days ago, As I was leaving downtown one afternoon, I see Chef Lee's big billboard which advertises it as "the best Chinese restaurant in America." I am intrigued by the audacity of the Chinaman. Actually claiming that one of the Best Chinese Restaurants in America is located in the suburbs of some one horse hick town where the average resident considers a "big weekend" as one where you ride over Auburn to tip some pigs. That leads me to ask the question, "Is there some other country called America? Or maybe a parallel American universe somewhere in which an American Chinese place in Columbus could possibly be the best Chinese food in that universe? Let's be honest. I was born...but not yesterday. The fact that I knew that the claim wasn't true didn't deter me from visiting the audacious den of liars one night for dinner. Once again, the marketing campaign worked on a big city sucker. Having eaten at some of the truly great Chinese places in the US such as Tong Kiang in San Francisco, Lao Sze Chuan in Chicago, and Joe's Shanghai in New York, I consider myself to have a fairly good knowledge of good Chinese food. When you drive up, Chef Lee's is impressive. It looks like some kind of Asian palace resplendently surrounded by little fish ponds that one must cross over to enter the restaurant. The food at Chef Lee's is standard southern American Chinese, mostly deep fried, sauced with colorfully sweet sauces, The eggrolls were pretty bland even when topped with the marischino cherry colored duck sauce and very potent Chinese mustard. The egg drop soup, while tasty, had this weird concentrated piss color to it. The menu features traditional Ameri-Chinese dishes like Wor Su Gai (deep fried chicken covered in brown sauce and topped with almonds)interspersed with a few seafood dishes that stretch a little closer to authentic. There were no soup dumplings or shark's fin soup on this menu. Honestly, the food was below average, even in comparison to other southern Ameri-Chinese places I grew up eating in. Management should get an award for having the most audacious marketing plan of any Chinese. But, not for their food. Caveat Emptor
(2)Jim B.
Just finding an actual Chinese restaurant in Georgia where you don't judge it by the amount of electrical tape on the bench seats is incredible in itself. And to be able to have a Mai Tai or other actual alcoholic beverage is just a little slice of heaven. Some of my favorite things, hot & sour soup, shredded pork with garlic sauce and twice-cooked pork, were truly excellent. Others, like General Tso's Chicken and Kung Pao anything, were sub-par. And I don't know if this is a Southern thing but fried dumplings does not mean DEEP-FRIED, it means pan-fried. It's also odd that Chef Lee has decided that LO MEIN is actually CHOW MEIN. (My mother and a can of La Choy could clear this up for him.) And why on earth would i want a side order of rice with my (lo mein) noodles? Extra starch? But I quibble too much. Glad that Chef Lee is here to save me from the endless, tasteless Chinese buffets that are everywhere in Georgia.
(4)Katie E.
Decent at best for columbus but NOT great Chinese food. And the guy at the front is rude. My kids like it and I will tolerate it for them but would never go there on my own. The building is kinda cool with the floor & the fish.
(2)Al N.
I'll lead this off by saying I'm somewhat obsessed with Chinese food, both in terms of quality and authenticity. I've scoured the Chinatowns of NYC, San Francisco, Toronto, and Boston looking for true Chinese cuisine. My first meal at Chef Lee's was good; the standard general chicken, fried in batter. The service was excellent--friendly and fast. Two stars off, though, because not a thing on the menu is Chinese; it's all American-Chinese food. Granted, what I ate was a cut above your average place that serves shredded pork with garlic and General Gau/Tsu/Tswhatever's chicken (points for not giving in to the myth of the superiority of the chicken breast over the thigh); it's similar in concept to PF Chang's: better versions of the stuff you get at the takeout place, but like PF Chang's, it's about as Chinese as McDonald's. Chef Lee's food is also not as good as PFC's. Put some spicy salted pork chops, shrimp in shell, 8 delights, fish maw, duck web, pig's ears, or thousand year old eggs on the menu, and then let's talk about Chinese. I know I'm being a snob, but I really wish that Americans would be more open-minded and demand more from ethnic cuisine, and I wish that Chinese chefs would put at least a few authentic dishes on the menu to help open those American minds. EDIT: I went back and got the Princess Prawns, which was listed as deep-fried shrimp. What I got was shrimp in that thick, heavy, corndog-looking batter that I only find at hole-in-the-wall takeout places. And it was swimming in what looked and tasted like canned duck sauce. The egg rolls are also like what you'd find in a dive (or a Costco freezer). Not Chinese and not good. I'm not going back. The shrimp that the local buffets serve on Sunday is closer to what real Chinese (Szechuan) fried shrimp should be.
(2)Jason M.
My wife loved her sweet & sour chicken and I agreed. My father-in-law loved his Kung Pao Chicken. I thought my beef & broccoli was okay. The sauce was a bit too bland for my taste. Great atmosphere & service though. I'll go back but order something different next time.
(4)Steve M.
The exterior is flat out ridiculous. It is over the top. The interior decorations continue the same theme. However, the food is just OK. Not great, not wonderful, just OK and very greasy. Service was not very fast or attentive, and when another waitress was flagged down she was a bit rude. Go here for the "ambiance" of the ridiculous designs, not for an excellent culinary experience.
(2)Anna W.
Twice cooked pork and Peking fried noodles. For all the praises I heard about this place, it really didn't match my expectations. It is amazing for the American taste buds. I'm comparing this to the Chinese restaurants in Los Angeles. The noodles were a bit too soupy. Decent. Three stars mainly for ambiance.
(3)Peter G.
Updated!!! December 2014 Okay so I have always liked the food, and my previous rating is based upon the Atmosphere and I can't eat that. DO NOT EVER BRING a party here. The service is horrible. We had about 18 people this past Saturday and I got one glass and never a single refill or even asking about one. The worst part if you are with a reserved party you ARE FORCED to pay a tip even if the service is HORRIBLE. When I spoke to the register clerk he offered to get the manager, but I never saw him instead the head waitress brings the waitress up and points saying is this the one. I was like really!! I paid because a family member is good friends but seriously planned service should be a lot better especially if you are forcing people to pay a tip! I do not tip when I get bad service! Oh the bartender is AMAZING. Ask anything and he will Oblige. In fact I would go here just to sit at the bar if I could!
(1)Lito Q.
a case of knowing what to order. there really aren't many great chinese restaurants in our area. or, if they exist i have yet to try them. chef lee's suffers from what most chinese establishments in america suffer from, their clientele. i don't think that most people in our awesome city know too much about authentic chinese. conversely, the owners/chefs probably think that we're only interested in ameri-chinese cooking. hence the bland egg rolls, piss-colored egg-drop soup and virtually blah food that William P. described. most experienced foodies will tell you that the best litmus test for chinese fare anywhere in the world is to start by ordering clear broth. the basis for almost all good chinese cooking, clear broth is essential in the millions of delicious chinese soups and dishes we all love. it also happens to be the main ingredient in wonton soup. chef lee's doesn't even have wonton soup. what does that tell you? essentially, the lunch special is the big draw. (also, the really inexpensive bar). but, if one knows what to order, it can actually be pretty good. for example, if you're in the mood for a big mess of fried, go for the special $15 egg roll. it's large, fun and great for sharing. the regular egg rolls aren't worth a lick. the hot and sour is the better of the soups. i would say that the shrimp fried rice is the best rice option and the black mushroom pork is a great standby and probably the reason i'll keep coming back. though loaded with cornstarch, the szechwan chicken is also pretty good. at the end of the day, the sad fact remains that columbus goes without excellent chinese every day. for now, anyway...
(2)Jack B.
Same chicken for everything. Nothing new, just blah. They are stuck on their "Top 100" in 2004. 8 years later they are nothing. Need something new to keep me.
(2)Chelsea P.
Love this place, it's magical with the see through glass floor in the front with all the dozens of koi fish swimming beneath you! I was scared to step across the floor at first, but I seen plenty of patrons with no weight conscience standing around so I decided, why not! the service was nice, the atmosphere is so thought provoking! I've ate there many times, and each experience was better than the last. It's a pricey place, but the food is delectable, if you want something exciting and want to step over to the adventurous side, go with the pineapple duck, the shrimp in lobster sauce, or you can do something familar, like the teriyaki chicken or sweet & sour chicken. The fried rice is always wonderful, never greasy! Fun, pleasant atmosphere, always crowded but never too busy for taste buds bursting with curiousity!
(5)Joseph J.
Owner is very rude. Screwed up to go order and had to return. No apology. The guy at the cash register is just as rude. Makes feel like they are doing you s favor
(1)T L.
Everyone in Columbus raves about Chef Lees. I am from San Francisco, grew up on Yuet Lee and Yank Sing (yelp them) and know my chinese food. Chef Lee's is better than the average Chinese restaurant, particularly, I imagine in the South. Which is not to slight the South, just to note there are few Asians in the Deep South. Mediocre and pricey, but great stereotypey fancy Chinese-restaurant atmosphere and great people watching. If I was a prom-bound Colmbus high student, I'd love Chef Lee's on prom night.
(2)Tom M.
This is the top Chinese restaurant in Columbus GA. Koi fish pond in front, falling water inside with glass bridge over water. Staff is well dressed and service is usually very fast.
(5)Josh P.
Fantastic restaurant that only has great food but also a well designed building that relaxes the customers.
(5)Lito Q.
a case of knowing what to order. there really aren't many great chinese restaurants in our area. or, if they exist i have yet to try them. chef lee's suffers from what most chinese establishments in america suffer from, their clientele. i don't think that most people in our awesome city know too much about authentic chinese. conversely, the owners/chefs probably think that we're only interested in ameri-chinese cooking. hence the bland egg rolls, piss-colored egg-drop soup and virtually blah food that William P. described. most experienced foodies will tell you that the best litmus test for chinese fare anywhere in the world is to start by ordering clear broth. the basis for almost all good chinese cooking, clear broth is essential in the millions of delicious chinese soups and dishes we all love. it also happens to be the main ingredient in wonton soup. chef lee's doesn't even have wonton soup. what does that tell you? essentially, the lunch special is the big draw. (also, the really inexpensive bar). but, if one knows what to order, it can actually be pretty good. for example, if you're in the mood for a big mess of fried, go for the special $15 egg roll. it's large, fun and great for sharing. the regular egg rolls aren't worth a lick. the hot and sour is the better of the soups. i would say that the shrimp fried rice is the best rice option and the black mushroom pork is a great standby and probably the reason i'll keep coming back. though loaded with cornstarch, the szechwan chicken is also pretty good. at the end of the day, the sad fact remains that columbus goes without excellent chinese every day. for now, anyway...
(2)Jack B.
Same chicken for everything. Nothing new, just blah. They are stuck on their "Top 100" in 2004. 8 years later they are nothing. Need something new to keep me.
(2)Chelsea P.
Love this place, it's magical with the see through glass floor in the front with all the dozens of koi fish swimming beneath you! I was scared to step across the floor at first, but I seen plenty of patrons with no weight conscience standing around so I decided, why not! the service was nice, the atmosphere is so thought provoking! I've ate there many times, and each experience was better than the last. It's a pricey place, but the food is delectable, if you want something exciting and want to step over to the adventurous side, go with the pineapple duck, the shrimp in lobster sauce, or you can do something familar, like the teriyaki chicken or sweet & sour chicken. The fried rice is always wonderful, never greasy! Fun, pleasant atmosphere, always crowded but never too busy for taste buds bursting with curiousity!
(5)Joseph J.
Owner is very rude. Screwed up to go order and had to return. No apology. The guy at the cash register is just as rude. Makes feel like they are doing you s favor
(1)Josh P.
Fantastic restaurant that only has great food but also a well designed building that relaxes the customers.
(5)Hugh L.
Pretty good place for Chinese food. This place is run by Chinese-Koreans, so they do have some "off-menu" Korean food. Nevertheless, the Chinese fare here is also really good. The ambiance is definitely top-notch, and it was great to see other Chinese/Korean patrons here as well.
(4)Mary F.
I honestly don't know why this place isn't rated higher. The service is fast and food just keeps coming out. Was visiting my brother at Fort Benning and we brought him here twice because my family loved it. Being from a predominantly Asian area in California, this place does great Chinese food.
(5)Blaze V.
This place is very nice and clean. The staff are very friendly. They made it seem like you were in China one you entered, with their beautiful asian decor. Their food is tasty also.
(5)Tosh B.
It's not too bad... Would've went with the sushi across the street but it was closed. For 6.99 a person. They have a good selection and the Mongolian bar is part of the purchase as well. , I've ate here once before an it's not usually too busy to get in immediately. Grab a bite here if your on a schedule an don't want to spend much.
(3)Jimmy G.
We have been a customer since 1988. Our favorite Chinese restaurant. We make the drive from Montgomery, AL at least once a month. The Mongolian beef is second to none. Highly recommend without reservation whatsoever.
(4)Glen D.
From the outside this a tourist Chinese restaurant. The food is not very impressive. This is a very American style Chinese food, the dishes I had are not authentic. The first time I went there, we had the Mu Shu pork with 4 pancakes. This was not hot and it tasted terrible. There was no taste of the ginger, garlice, scallions or bamboo shoots. It is a big mess thrown together. You did see the eggs, pork and I think mushrooms but those are usually sliced thin. The greatest part was when we found a piece of either granite from a bowl or something else. It didn't belong there. Fast forward a couple of months and we ordered the Sesame Chicken. That tasted terrible, nothing Sesame about it. It was mushy, bland flavor and there was more breading than chicken. The best part was the fried rice that came with the Sesame Chicken. It had a nice surprise of a Cockroach. We called them to tell them about it and they responded with "You bring it back we give you a new one." This is not a good tasting Chinese restaurant.
(1)F G.
Large menu is not always a good thing. Dishes are heavily sauced unless you ask them to prepare it "Dry" (they still add more sauce than I like but better, not so soupy). Very disappointed with the crispy duck- overly fried in heavy batter and served with cheap bottled plum sauce, yuk.. We also ordered a Korean noodle dish not on the menu which was pretty good, the other Chinese dishes ordered are not worth mentioning and unmemorable. However, beautiful decor and strong mixed drinks.
(3)Sandra P. N.
I have tried food at dinner time but never ate at lunch time. Hostess is a bit rude when she welcomes customers. Seems like she has memorized the same phrase every time which make it sound like she does not want to be there..why should I? Lunch dishes come with a nasty egg drop...hot & sour also was not tasty at all. My vegetable pork was served in an ocean of dark sauce not that appealing to me. Overall, I think this place deserves two stars because they concentrate more in the volume of people coming in than the quality of food. This is not an authentic Chinese restaurant option in town, neither a first choice for people who enjoy the art of cooking!
(2)Deanna M.
My husband, my mother in law and I went to Chef Lee's for mothers day. It was super busy we were told there was going to be about a 20 minute wait. We sat at the bar and or number was called within 10 minutes not bad. Once seated our server was prompt to come to the table and friendly. She took our order and we got our food within 15 minutes. Also not so bad being so busy on mothers day. Our food came out hot and just as we ordered. The food was awesome and it was a great visit. Worth going too.
(4)Baxlee B.
We used to love eating at Chef Lee's, however, recently the service has not been great. The hostess and servers are rude and the quality of the food is not up to par. The shrimp used to be large, but not are tiny. Also, the fried rice is weak. 3 stars at BEST.
(2)Davis M.
This is hands down the best Chinese restaurant with which I've had the pleasure of dining. The entrance corridor is elaborately designed and should appeal to all ages...for me to even notice a restaurant's decor is saying plenty (since giant HD TVs or a hot bartender is about all that I'll let distract me from good company and quality food). Regardless, you walk into the sound of rushing water - which cascades off one wall, and then you notice an aquarium serving as another wall - and just when you think the place has got spunk......you realize you're walking over the bottom of the same aquarium, and through the clear floor are a collection of koi to add even more color. The food was great, along with the service....and there's nothing like having Chef Lee, himself, walk out- introduce himself, and provide food suggestions, which...btw....he prepares himself!
(4)Leslie S.
I visited this restaurant on July 5, 2014. The waitress was unfriendly and acted like she had a chip on her shoulder and hated her job. Everything I ordered here was very bad. The sauces on the food were truly awful. I ordered Sesame Shrimp and Cashew Chicken, and they were both TERRIBLE. The sauce on the Sesame Shrimp was WAY too sweet and disgusting. I ordered the barbeque pork ribs appetizer, and it was hard meat, over-cooked and very tough. The couldn't even get something simple like that right! I also ordered a Crab Wonton appetizer, and it tasted like fake, cheap crab meat. Also just terrible. I have been to MANY Chinese restaurants in my life, and this was by far the WORST Chinese food I have ever eaten. If I were the chef in this place, I would be truly embarrassed to serve this terrible food to an unsuspecting public.
(1)Jason M.
My wife loved her sweet & sour chicken and I agreed. My father-in-law loved his Kung Pao Chicken. I thought my beef & broccoli was okay. The sauce was a bit too bland for my taste. Great atmosphere & service though. I'll go back but order something different next time.
(4)Jessica S.
We were looking for a place similar to a Hunan Garden close to columbus that served sizzling rice soup & so we stopped in to try it out. The inside is beautiful & we were greeted promptly. We ordered the sizzling rice soup, pot stickers, garlic chicken & shredded pork in garlic sauce. The sizzling rice soup was delicious, tasted just like Hunan Gardens. The pot stickers are deep fried and I prefer mine boiled then browned so I was not a fan & their pot sticker sauce is pretty much just soy sauce. Now for the entrees..we both ate a handful of bites and that was about it. The garlic chicken was not very garlicky & very salty tasting and the shredded pork was very bland. Once we received our food we pretty much didn't see our waitress until we were done so ordering another drink was not happening. It's not a bad place, it's just a place not for my taste buds.
(2)Stephen C.
I had general Tsu chicken. Not that tasty. The hostess and the server had the demeanor of a frozen spatula. The only good thing I have to say is that the place is beautiful. I felt like I was in china town. The food was not though.
(2)David W.
First off, I'm Chinese. I grew up on Chinese food. I lived in NYC, ChongQing, Vancouver, and Hong Kong. This is not Chinese food. What it is is American food with Chinese decor. I was served with silverware and plates. I had to request for the chopsticks. The food is bearable and what you would expect from a take out. And I had better take-out "chinese" food. However, with a lack of choice in Columbus, I would rate this higher if I'm rating based only on what is available in the area. But, I don't live here so for the people visiting that are not a stranger to real Chinese food, you might want to try the Korean food options :).
(2)Lauren K.
Best Chinese food and service! The restaurant is gorgeous!
(5)John B.
This place is fantastic. It has spectacular curb-appeal, but isn't in a good location. It seems ultra-fancy, but the prices are actually lower than it seems they would be. Aside from that, it's a generic chinese-food place. Service is fast & friendly, food is not bad, but they really should consider cutting some trees for higher visibility.
(4)Edward C.
The food is great. This restaurant has earned all the kudos it has recieved. The menu has all the standard "chinese" items on the menu but if you want to order real chinese food and it is either szechuan or hunan style they'll prepare it for you. I have eaten the best chinese food you'll find in Vancouver British Columbia. It is where the chinese chef's came when the communists took Hong Kong back. This restaurant rivals the best I have found there but you have to know what you want and how to order it. My favorite is "Ma Poo Tofu" give it a try. This restaurant knows how to make it.
(5)Einsteins A.
I visited today eager to try the food again, I sampled things a few years ago and noticed their claim of being one of the best restaurants in the world. With BS button in hand I ordered the lunch special of garlic pork, my father had the shrimp in lobster sauce. All said the pork was excellent and extra spicy as requested the complementary hot and sour soup was typical but tepid. Our sever was a bit testy and rushed our Saturday lunch, then I read another reviewer comment about Mrs Lee and rushed service so I popped the question, are you Mrs Lee? Indeed she was and the pace slowed and will look forward to trying the egg plant. However I will never agree with the world's greatest claim but I'm sure Chef Lee would be successful in any city and clearly rules Columbus, Ga.
(4)Kushondra S.
The egg drop soup is absolutely amazing. When I go I order the same thing everytime, the mongolian chicken. Why mess with perfection? My husband on the other hand has tried the entire menu, and has raves reviews! The only reason I didn't give Chef Lees 5 stars, was because of the hostess. We are regulars and they are just not friendly at all. Also I always have to ask for a straw. That may seem small but it's important to me.
(4)William P.
So, I was in Columbus on business a few days ago, As I was leaving downtown one afternoon, I see Chef Lee's big billboard which advertises it as "the best Chinese restaurant in America." I am intrigued by the audacity of the Chinaman. Actually claiming that one of the Best Chinese Restaurants in America is located in the suburbs of some one horse hick town where the average resident considers a "big weekend" as one where you ride over Auburn to tip some pigs. That leads me to ask the question, "Is there some other country called America? Or maybe a parallel American universe somewhere in which an American Chinese place in Columbus could possibly be the best Chinese food in that universe? Let's be honest. I was born...but not yesterday. The fact that I knew that the claim wasn't true didn't deter me from visiting the audacious den of liars one night for dinner. Once again, the marketing campaign worked on a big city sucker. Having eaten at some of the truly great Chinese places in the US such as Tong Kiang in San Francisco, Lao Sze Chuan in Chicago, and Joe's Shanghai in New York, I consider myself to have a fairly good knowledge of good Chinese food. When you drive up, Chef Lee's is impressive. It looks like some kind of Asian palace resplendently surrounded by little fish ponds that one must cross over to enter the restaurant. The food at Chef Lee's is standard southern American Chinese, mostly deep fried, sauced with colorfully sweet sauces, The eggrolls were pretty bland even when topped with the marischino cherry colored duck sauce and very potent Chinese mustard. The egg drop soup, while tasty, had this weird concentrated piss color to it. The menu features traditional Ameri-Chinese dishes like Wor Su Gai (deep fried chicken covered in brown sauce and topped with almonds)interspersed with a few seafood dishes that stretch a little closer to authentic. There were no soup dumplings or shark's fin soup on this menu. Honestly, the food was below average, even in comparison to other southern Ameri-Chinese places I grew up eating in. Management should get an award for having the most audacious marketing plan of any Chinese. But, not for their food. Caveat Emptor
(2)Jim B.
Just finding an actual Chinese restaurant in Georgia where you don't judge it by the amount of electrical tape on the bench seats is incredible in itself. And to be able to have a Mai Tai or other actual alcoholic beverage is just a little slice of heaven. Some of my favorite things, hot & sour soup, shredded pork with garlic sauce and twice-cooked pork, were truly excellent. Others, like General Tso's Chicken and Kung Pao anything, were sub-par. And I don't know if this is a Southern thing but fried dumplings does not mean DEEP-FRIED, it means pan-fried. It's also odd that Chef Lee has decided that LO MEIN is actually CHOW MEIN. (My mother and a can of La Choy could clear this up for him.) And why on earth would i want a side order of rice with my (lo mein) noodles? Extra starch? But I quibble too much. Glad that Chef Lee is here to save me from the endless, tasteless Chinese buffets that are everywhere in Georgia.
(4)Katie E.
Decent at best for columbus but NOT great Chinese food. And the guy at the front is rude. My kids like it and I will tolerate it for them but would never go there on my own. The building is kinda cool with the floor & the fish.
(2)John J.
The food is outstanding but the gentleman who works at the front register was very rude. The waiting staff was inexperienced. Soon as i put in my appetizer order the waiter jetted off before i could finish. This place is lucky the food is good.
(1)Al N.
I'll lead this off by saying I'm somewhat obsessed with Chinese food, both in terms of quality and authenticity. I've scoured the Chinatowns of NYC, San Francisco, Toronto, and Boston looking for true Chinese cuisine. My first meal at Chef Lee's was good; the standard general chicken, fried in batter. The service was excellent--friendly and fast. Two stars off, though, because not a thing on the menu is Chinese; it's all American-Chinese food. Granted, what I ate was a cut above your average place that serves shredded pork with garlic and General Gau/Tsu/Tswhatever's chicken (points for not giving in to the myth of the superiority of the chicken breast over the thigh); it's similar in concept to PF Chang's: better versions of the stuff you get at the takeout place, but like PF Chang's, it's about as Chinese as McDonald's. Chef Lee's food is also not as good as PFC's. Put some spicy salted pork chops, shrimp in shell, 8 delights, fish maw, duck web, pig's ears, or thousand year old eggs on the menu, and then let's talk about Chinese. I know I'm being a snob, but I really wish that Americans would be more open-minded and demand more from ethnic cuisine, and I wish that Chinese chefs would put at least a few authentic dishes on the menu to help open those American minds. EDIT: I went back and got the Princess Prawns, which was listed as deep-fried shrimp. What I got was shrimp in that thick, heavy, corndog-looking batter that I only find at hole-in-the-wall takeout places. And it was swimming in what looked and tasted like canned duck sauce. The egg rolls are also like what you'd find in a dive (or a Costco freezer). Not Chinese and not good. I'm not going back. The shrimp that the local buffets serve on Sunday is closer to what real Chinese (Szechuan) fried shrimp should be.
(2)Steve M.
The exterior is flat out ridiculous. It is over the top. The interior decorations continue the same theme. However, the food is just OK. Not great, not wonderful, just OK and very greasy. Service was not very fast or attentive, and when another waitress was flagged down she was a bit rude. Go here for the "ambiance" of the ridiculous designs, not for an excellent culinary experience.
(2)Anna W.
Twice cooked pork and Peking fried noodles. For all the praises I heard about this place, it really didn't match my expectations. It is amazing for the American taste buds. I'm comparing this to the Chinese restaurants in Los Angeles. The noodles were a bit too soupy. Decent. Three stars mainly for ambiance.
(3)Peter G.
Updated!!! December 2014 Okay so I have always liked the food, and my previous rating is based upon the Atmosphere and I can't eat that. DO NOT EVER BRING a party here. The service is horrible. We had about 18 people this past Saturday and I got one glass and never a single refill or even asking about one. The worst part if you are with a reserved party you ARE FORCED to pay a tip even if the service is HORRIBLE. When I spoke to the register clerk he offered to get the manager, but I never saw him instead the head waitress brings the waitress up and points saying is this the one. I was like really!! I paid because a family member is good friends but seriously planned service should be a lot better especially if you are forcing people to pay a tip! I do not tip when I get bad service! Oh the bartender is AMAZING. Ask anything and he will Oblige. In fact I would go here just to sit at the bar if I could!
(1)T L.
Everyone in Columbus raves about Chef Lees. I am from San Francisco, grew up on Yuet Lee and Yank Sing (yelp them) and know my chinese food. Chef Lee's is better than the average Chinese restaurant, particularly, I imagine in the South. Which is not to slight the South, just to note there are few Asians in the Deep South. Mediocre and pricey, but great stereotypey fancy Chinese-restaurant atmosphere and great people watching. If I was a prom-bound Colmbus high student, I'd love Chef Lee's on prom night.
(2)Sean S.
Your basic Chinese buffet, wrapped in a colorful candy shell. During a recent lunch, a former North Korean Army officer who had escaped to become a waiter in Columbus, Ga., yelled at me and my co-workers for taking too long to order. The egg rolls come wrapped in an inpenetratable fried shell that will shatter enamel off your teeth.
(2)Tom M.
This is the top Chinese restaurant in Columbus GA. Koi fish pond in front, falling water inside with glass bridge over water. Staff is well dressed and service is usually very fast.
(5)Rebel S.
Been here twice. This place is all show. Food is mediocre at best. Typical American Chinese food where you sit down and order one (1) entree. Same as the other places. I think it's frozen Chinese because the meats are cut the same with the other place. Service was nice though. Clean. It's just hype and show.
(3)Candice W.
Had this for lunch today...the Mongolian beef and sesame chicken were pretty good. Soup was a little bland.... But the service was great...I just wish the servers wouldn't stand over you and watch you eat the whole time...kinda creepy
(3)Christine O.
I don't know how authentic the food is (as far as being Chinese), but it's fantastic! I don't typically like Chinese food. The pot stickers and the egg flower soup - so good!! And the restaurant is super clean, has great service, & is well priced.
(5)Erin K.
The food at Chef Lee's isn't the best Chinese ever, but it's probably the best chinese in Columbus. I have been eating here since it opened, and my favorite dish is definately the shredded pork with garlic sause. They get extra points for the plexi glass floor that allows you to see the fish swimming around under you.
(4)