Dazzlin' D, you forgot to mention all the great magazine they have over there (it is hard to get Chinese Magazine in Oregon). I too love the food in Spring Garden. Hope it is still as good as before. GO DUCKS!!
(4)
A R.
Yum!! This is our favorite spot for Asian cuisine. Very authentic, it's almost as good as my mother-in laws.
(5)
Cee D.
Ehhhhhhh. It'll do for the area, but as is often the case with ethnic food around these parts, you'll have to get past the fact that you're eating mediocre food at a price point above what it would cost for higher quality, tastier equivalents in any size-able coastal city. Maybe worth it if the craving hits hard? Probably not, though, if you travel often.
(3)
Tianyi S.
Spring Garden's dishes aren't appalling, but I'd rather do any of the following: 1.) Make food at home 2.) Get Sichuan food at Kung Fu Bistro, or 3.) Wait until I make a trip to the Bay Area, than spend $60 for flaccid-skinned, sauce-drowned roast duck, tough salt & pepper pork spare ribs, and a honey walnut shrimp that is inexplicably seasoned with lemon juice. :|
(2)
Ryan M.
ordered food to go cost was right at 10.00 thought that should buy a good lunch-wrong i got one small togo container hardly any meat mostly veggies cost was way to much for what you get i will not be back.
(1)
G T.
I knew the previous owner... she has since passed on. I thought I would give this place a try after it had changed management. Honestly, I don't believe anywhere in the Eugene/Springfield area serves this authentic Chinese food. This is NOT "Chinese American" food, even though you can find some of those on the menu. If you are able to read chinese, ask them for their chinese menu. This is as close to authentic chinese as you can get without having to go to Portland. Kudos to the owner who dares to serve the minority.
(5)
Erin K.
My mother and I were searching for a place to eat at 8:40PM on a Sunday night and saw that Spring Garden was still open (barely). They closed at 9PM so when we walked in and asked if it was too late, the hostess was hesitant. I had glanced at their menu in their window and saw they had our favorite - Wor Won Ton Soup. "What if we just got a large bowl of Wor Won Ton soup?" I implored. A gentleman nodded to her and said it was okay, and they seated us. The booth we sat at had been very well loved, with depressions in the seat where many many patrons had enjoyed food over the years. Two out of three of the other tables of guests were Asian and boisterously talking and finishing their dinners. My mother and I always like to see Chinese or Asian patrons in Chinese restaurants - it seems like a better sign than the whole place just being patronized by Caucasians. Anyway, we got our giant bowl of soup and the host left us to serve ourselves. I like this since my mother and I enjoy different parts of the soup and got to pick what we liked instead of the server trying to just dish things out evenly between us. Though the soup lacked much greenery and had few vegetables, the broth was fantastic and I really liked the won tons. Their dough wrapping was thin and cooked perfectly. The meat inside was flavorful and generous. The main difference between the Won Ton soup and what we got seemed to be the addition of chicken and pork. It was delicious and we both left very satisfied, but not overly stuffed or feeling like we had bricks in our stomachs like some, heavier entrees can do. I'd be happy to come visit this restaurant again. The food was good and the staff was very cool to us.
(4)
Richard M.
Back Again. Remember: order from the back of the menu; the other stuff is mediocre. They've re-upholstered their booths and they are much more comfortable. Wait staff has shifted, but they clearly prioritize people that are good and far above average for the Eugene/Springfield area. It's not a 5-star restaurant with the inconsistency from the front to the back of the menu, but the Eugene/Springfield area is so bleak I am forced to bump it up from a 4 because their good specialty dishes are of legend. Try the cold pig ears.
(5)
Richard K.
Lunch specials are excellent. We tried deep-fried prawns, beef chow mein, and chicken chow mein. Pork fried rice was also excellent.
(4)
George C.
These guys know what they are doing- "Americanized" corn-starched Chinese food done right at a reasonable price. My go-to quick fix a few blocks from my house. Staff is always courteous, respectful and friendly. Not going to culinarily blow your mind, but their food is a damn good value for the price up here in Oregon. If you live in Springfield and you aren't ordering your Chinese food from Spring Garden- you are missing out..
(4)
Catherine C.
We had dinner at Spring Garden Chinese restaurant during our recent road trip into Oregon. It's a small family style restaurant and the first impression going in was that it was a bit cramped with lots of things on the walls and counters. They sell packaged foods such as crackers and the Asian jelly snacks. The second impression was the aroma of curry (I think). My daughter and husband also mentioned the strong smell. Other than being cramped the place looked clean. We used the bathroom and it was clean too. We ordered lemon chicken, teriyaki chicken, Mongolian beef and battered prawns with sweet and sour sauce. Here's our review of the food: Prawns: good- nothing too special about it. Teriyaki chicken: eh: it was the special for the evening. I was surprised to find that it was spicy! I've never had spicy teriyaki before and I would not recommend it. My husband like it though. Mongolian Beef: Just ok-not much to say except there was more bell peppers and celery than beef. Lemon Chicken: ver good- the sauce was delicious and the chicken was nice and crisp. For the price that we paid their servings were large and we left with three take out boxes. This is an average Chinese restaurant which is why I gave it 3 stars.
(3)
Nicole D.
This is an average chinese joint. The good dishes are really good, but there's definitely below average food too. Better consistency between the different dishes would be nice because sometimes I like to try new things. Unfortunately with this place I'm not really that comfortable with doing so any longer because of the discrepancy of the quality between their best and the not so good. Also, I'm unsure how their lo mein can be both greasy and dry at the same time, but somehow it is. Cheap, good for eating in and takeout, nice staff, average food.
(3)
Tami O.
Last nite we ate at spring garden the food was not up to par fhe the rice had a burnt taste and the shrimp was gummy we have eaten there many time and gotton take out did u change your cook .!!!
(2)
Allan S.
Hadn't eaten there since old lady had passed away. Order two no, #10 to go, Food was hot and lots to eat. Great job...Allan S .
(5)
Kelley H.
Went here with some co-workers for our lunch break and barely made it out in time to get back to work (work is a 5 min drive-lunch is an hour) overall nothing special about this place. I had the general tso chicken, which was ok. Nothing to write home about. I think I might give dinner a shot and see if it's any better.
(3)
John F.
I like that there cheap and tasty. Also there menu covers everything from noodles,rice,soups salad, and fresh seafood you can pick from a tank. Also they have all sorts of chinese goodies that are cheap at the regester to take home. I brought home a hole jar of chinese fruit gelatin cups...my kids loved um. Plus different styles of non frozen mochi balls...yum!
(4)
Eric H.
My wife and I were in Eugene this past weekend for the OSAA Cross Country Championships to cheer on our daughters. We decided to find some Chinese food and used Yelp to locate restaurants in our area with positive reviews. One that came up was the Spring Garden Seafood Restaurant so we decided to give it a try. Chinese is often hit or miss so we were hoping for the best. Was it the best...no but it was very good and I would go back again if I were in the area. Though I was hungry, my wife was not and did not want to have an entire dish to herself. We opted to split the Cashew Chicken and Beef Fried Rice. Before the food was served my wife had a cup of Egg Drop Soup and I had a cup of Sweet and Spicy Soup. Both were very good with crispy vegetables and flavorful broth. When the food was served I was pleased we had not each ordered a dish. Both the Cashew Chicken (ALL WHITE MEAT) and the Beef Fried Rice were delivered on large oval dishes that must have measured 14" long by 6" wide and they were mounded with food. The portions were generous, the flavor was great and these dishes were not overly saucy or heavy but filled with fresh vegetables that were crisp and tasty. We also received a large bowl with Sticky Rice to go with the Cashew Chicken. The ambiance is nothing to write home about but the food was great.
(4)
Elaine L.
Spring Garden has AUTHENTIC chinese food not Americanized version which I love. The decor is a little out there but who cares if the food is great. I knew this place was going to be good cause when I saw the many tables of Asians it was for sure a good sign. The portions were HUGE even for lunch. Why not 5 stars you ask...their Szechuan needs a little help and I love good spicy Szechuan food.
(4)
Emily S.
I had high hopes for Spring Garden, based on fellow Yelpers, but the meal couldn't have been more meh. Maybe we ordered the wrong things, but the beef and green onions were recommended by the server. The beef was just soft and mushy with no chew to it, and the sauce was just a flavorless mess of cornstarch goop. I always order a tofu and vegetable dish, and Spring Garden's had me wishing that I was at Ocean Sky. Yes, sad. That dish, which we requested be made spicy, had no flavor at all, not even of soy. The sweet and sour soup was pretty good, and our server was cheerful, even though he couldn't translate any of the Chinese specials for us.
(2)
Sophia K.
Let me start this by saying I'm Chinese and I grew up in a predominately Asian area in Southern California. Most Chinese food I run into anywhere outside of California sucks. After leaving the establishment, I always think, damn I might as well have spent my dough on orange chicken at Panda Express. So to the point: this is by far my favorite Chinese place in the area. Why? It taste good though I haven't tried ordering anything risky like seafood or duck (with the exception of the time I was craving shrimp). Anyway, I like it here and it's reasonably priced. The lunch specials are cheap, but the chef specials can get in the 13.75-19$ range. The food isn't salty and oily. The flavors just seem right. I find that a lot of Chinese food in Eugene is really salty or oily or just not good at all. The water tanks at the entrance of this place are really cheesy. The sea creatures look dead and not tasty at all. Anyway, I like this place. Too bad they don't have congee. Bummer. I asked if they did and the server suggested Maple Garden. That was pretty funny; I can make my own anyway. Oh yeah, 3 stars from me because dude, just because it's the best Chinese place in the area doesn't make it delicious.
(3)
Joey H.
Ordered Mar Far Chicken, General Tsao and crab puffs. Crab Puffs were ok, not very crispy on the outside, almost soft.. general tsao was I would say average. The big thing though, our Mar Far chicken had a ANT inside of it, it was cooked in, we saw a black dot and dug it out and turned out to be an ant. How does an ant get into the middle of your chicken? Had to drive all the way across town to return the food. Was dirty when we first walked in, should have known. Who knows what goes on in the back of the kitchen. I am sure it is much dirtier than the fish tank in the front where you can barely see what is on the other side of the glass. Owner clearly does not care about cleanliness, was going to report if they had not given our money back.
(1)
Robyn A.
Food was good. Waitress was a little curt and rude, but the food was delicious!
(3)
Plume Z.
Hot Pot is regular and pricy. The oder about eggplant is recommended.
(3)
Jack L.
I was just there two days ago and tried the beef noodle soup and the pork in garlic sauce. Let me just say that the food was not as authentic as it should be. The soup was good but the pork dish was too sweet versus spicy, which should be the right blend of spicy and sweet. The decor is typical Chinese but the service was pretty good. I probably would try another restaurant next time I'm in town.
(3)
DK Kai D.
The Cantonese food is perfect. I have to say the hongkong milk tea is so good!! the pepper salt fried shrimp is perfect~ :D However, a little disappointed on some Sichuan food..
(5)
George T.
Being Chinese, I am very picky about Chinese food. I know good Chinese food. I can't stand "American Chinese". These guys are one of the FEW Chinese restaurants I would frequent. This is the same quality food I would get in HK, San Fran Chinatown and Vancouver. The service is great. Highly recommended.
Finally decent Chinese food near Eugene! The hot and sour soup is the tip off, crunchy wood ear mushrooms and just the right balance of white pepper and vinegar. Our entrees were okay but we made the mistake of ordering off the regular menu - look for the traditional Chinese menu behind the counter (they will translate for you) and be prepared to ask for items you crave, they will accommodate. Parent's Note: High chairs available and a fun to watch fish tank off to the side but bring crayons or other distractions, if it's busy it may take a while to get your food.
(4)
Loren K.
We ordered Curry beef + extra spicy, Mar far chicken, Chicken Chow Mein,BBQ pork and soups for Sunday lunch. Great sticky white rice. The service was prompt and friendly; the environment is dated and a but dingy, but clean. They played a steady stream of 80s pop music in the background. They serve generous helpings. Tiffany commented that the Chow Mein was some of the best she has ever had. The fact that a number of Asian students ( likely from the university) came while we were eating is a good sign. Total meal with tip less than $30 and we ate plenty-family of 6 with 4 kids under 12 and came home with a serving of chow Mein for lunch tomorrow
(4)
Coolcyn O.
When you are in a city like Eugene and walk into a chinese restaurant where several tables are occupied by Asians then I figure the place has to be good. My family loved the food. We ordered the house fried rice and chow mein which were both delicious, their BBQ pork was very tender and juicy, the steamed shrimp was perfect. The only item we didn't like all too much was the beef ribs, I found it too salty.
(4)
Anderson K.
Just fantastic. Avoid the combos and order a variety of dishes from the specialties list and go family style. You won't be disappointed.
(4)
Lesley F.
Great meal. Wonderful service. I had the Kung Paola chicken. The sauce was just delicious and I loved the free tea.
(5)
Del S.
Please note that I am writing my review for this place based on my experience years ago. I used to come to Spring Garden for Chinese food all the time back when I was still living in Oregon. There weren't that many good Chinese restaurants in the area and I was happy to find this place. They have pretty good traditional/real Chinese dishes such as BBQ duck noodle soup, Beef Stew over rice and Hai Nan Chicken Rice. I always crave for those special dishes they created themselves such as David Tofu, Special Chicken and Garlic Shrimp. I haven't been able to find those 3 dishes at any Chinese restaurant in California which is killing me. And to this date I still believe Spring Garden had the BEST spring rolls I've ever had. It's huge, it's crispy, it's eggy and hella tasty (take that King Eggroll!). This is also the only Chinese restaurant I've ever encountered that not only provides you free hot tea, but free iced tea too! I also miss the pork egg flower soup that comes with the meal. Man.. thinking of this place brings back lots of good memories from my college days. Yes, the place is old and not hip. Yes, the bathroom reminds you of a gas station restroom. Yes, I've heard people telling me that the place isn't as good as it used to be. But I will always make sure I stop by Spring Garden whenever I visit Oregon.
(4)
Lee W.
The other reviews posted here are a little dated. The restaurant is under new ownership as of April 2008. The owners used to own a dry cleaner in Eugene and came out of retirement to open this restaurant because they missed the customer interaction. Cheap lunch specials. $4.95 and you get mar far chicken, pork chow mein, fried rice, egg flour soup and tea. The fried rice is to die for. Literally, it tastes so much unlike fried rice, I may die. Avoid it if possible. I dunked the mar far in sweet and sour. It was delicious. I like the way they prepare it, not too much breading. The husband is very friendly and refilled my tea a couple times while I waited for my takeout. It was pretty quick, only taking 10 minutes to hand me my meal. Minus one star for the creepy Christian TedTalks video that was playing on the internet. I heard some born again talking about in vitro fertilization, which I have no interest in being subjected to while waiting for my food. According to my fortune: You have an ambitious nature and will make a name for yourself (neato).
(3)
Killer S.
I had high hopes for the new Spring Garden, which promised "Hong Kong Style Seafood." Now, I'm not Chinese but have spent some time in China and Hong Kong... generally eating everything in sight. The first thing as we walked in was the specials board which promoted a few Americanized dishes as well as a dim sum sampler platter and a poached rockfish. Promising. The menu was laid out in a similar fashion - Americanized up front and house/chef specialities in the back. We got the dim sum, a spicy seafood soup, and a salmon with garlic and broccoli. The dim sum buns ($9) were okay but were obviously just pulled out of the food-co box and steamed (still had brand label wrappers on them). Soup was pretty large but even with the spicy label it was quite bland. Cheap at $6, though. The salmon was the best out of the three, a large fillet covered in an ample layer of garlic butter (not for the faint of heart). Pretty tasty, but I suspect you could find the same in several other restaurants in town, and it wasn't cheap at $18. The service was pretty good; the only problem being that they were out of a couple of items we tried to order before going with the salmon. Decor was sort of what you'd expect from a Chinese place in Springfield. I really wanted to like Spring Garden but left feeling a little disappointed and it's unlikely that I'll be back soon. Guess I'll still have to go to Portland (or San Francisco, or Seattle, or Chicago) when I'm hankering for good Chinese.
(2)
ho h.
SPRING GARDEN - A BLAST AND SAVIOR FROM MY COLLEGE PAST! this unassuming restaurant on main street in springfield, oregon (the more working class neighboring sister sister to eugene) was the solace for many singaporean and asian students from the university of oregon. the owner was a rotund, plump and quick witted woman from hongkong (sammy - i think was her name) and it paid to be on her good side! i got my first taste of ma po tofu and instantly became addicted to their version and to this day, spring garden's version has become the standard that all other versions are compared to! it had the right balance and ratio of silken tofu to ground pork, and while spicy - it was aromatically so, relying on not just chilli sauce, but also on szechuan peppercorns and ground white pepper as well - giving the finished spiciness a wonderfully floral note! (DAMN i should be writing food reviews) i miss you spring gardens and sammy's very sharp and totally unapologetic tongue and tone!
(5)
Steve D.
As of May 2010, the Spring Garden (now known as the Spring Garden Seafood Restaurant) is open again. I got a couple of take-out items and they were not bad, certainly much better than the slop the old Spring Garden served. I ordered extra-spicy Kung Pao chicken--it had plenty of charred chilies, but it really wasn't spicy at all. Their chow mien was decent. One of these days I'll have to try some of their seafood.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
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.
Caley C.
Dazzlin' D, you forgot to mention all the great magazine they have over there (it is hard to get Chinese Magazine in Oregon). I too love the food in Spring Garden. Hope it is still as good as before. GO DUCKS!!
(4)A R.
Yum!! This is our favorite spot for Asian cuisine. Very authentic, it's almost as good as my mother-in laws.
(5)Cee D.
Ehhhhhhh. It'll do for the area, but as is often the case with ethnic food around these parts, you'll have to get past the fact that you're eating mediocre food at a price point above what it would cost for higher quality, tastier equivalents in any size-able coastal city. Maybe worth it if the craving hits hard? Probably not, though, if you travel often.
(3)Tianyi S.
Spring Garden's dishes aren't appalling, but I'd rather do any of the following: 1.) Make food at home 2.) Get Sichuan food at Kung Fu Bistro, or 3.) Wait until I make a trip to the Bay Area, than spend $60 for flaccid-skinned, sauce-drowned roast duck, tough salt & pepper pork spare ribs, and a honey walnut shrimp that is inexplicably seasoned with lemon juice. :|
(2)Ryan M.
ordered food to go cost was right at 10.00 thought that should buy a good lunch-wrong i got one small togo container hardly any meat mostly veggies cost was way to much for what you get i will not be back.
(1)G T.
I knew the previous owner... she has since passed on. I thought I would give this place a try after it had changed management. Honestly, I don't believe anywhere in the Eugene/Springfield area serves this authentic Chinese food. This is NOT "Chinese American" food, even though you can find some of those on the menu. If you are able to read chinese, ask them for their chinese menu. This is as close to authentic chinese as you can get without having to go to Portland. Kudos to the owner who dares to serve the minority.
(5)Erin K.
My mother and I were searching for a place to eat at 8:40PM on a Sunday night and saw that Spring Garden was still open (barely). They closed at 9PM so when we walked in and asked if it was too late, the hostess was hesitant. I had glanced at their menu in their window and saw they had our favorite - Wor Won Ton Soup. "What if we just got a large bowl of Wor Won Ton soup?" I implored. A gentleman nodded to her and said it was okay, and they seated us. The booth we sat at had been very well loved, with depressions in the seat where many many patrons had enjoyed food over the years. Two out of three of the other tables of guests were Asian and boisterously talking and finishing their dinners. My mother and I always like to see Chinese or Asian patrons in Chinese restaurants - it seems like a better sign than the whole place just being patronized by Caucasians. Anyway, we got our giant bowl of soup and the host left us to serve ourselves. I like this since my mother and I enjoy different parts of the soup and got to pick what we liked instead of the server trying to just dish things out evenly between us. Though the soup lacked much greenery and had few vegetables, the broth was fantastic and I really liked the won tons. Their dough wrapping was thin and cooked perfectly. The meat inside was flavorful and generous. The main difference between the Won Ton soup and what we got seemed to be the addition of chicken and pork. It was delicious and we both left very satisfied, but not overly stuffed or feeling like we had bricks in our stomachs like some, heavier entrees can do. I'd be happy to come visit this restaurant again. The food was good and the staff was very cool to us.
(4)Richard M.
Back Again. Remember: order from the back of the menu; the other stuff is mediocre. They've re-upholstered their booths and they are much more comfortable. Wait staff has shifted, but they clearly prioritize people that are good and far above average for the Eugene/Springfield area. It's not a 5-star restaurant with the inconsistency from the front to the back of the menu, but the Eugene/Springfield area is so bleak I am forced to bump it up from a 4 because their good specialty dishes are of legend. Try the cold pig ears.
(5)Richard K.
Lunch specials are excellent. We tried deep-fried prawns, beef chow mein, and chicken chow mein. Pork fried rice was also excellent.
(4)George C.
These guys know what they are doing- "Americanized" corn-starched Chinese food done right at a reasonable price. My go-to quick fix a few blocks from my house. Staff is always courteous, respectful and friendly. Not going to culinarily blow your mind, but their food is a damn good value for the price up here in Oregon. If you live in Springfield and you aren't ordering your Chinese food from Spring Garden- you are missing out..
(4)Catherine C.
We had dinner at Spring Garden Chinese restaurant during our recent road trip into Oregon. It's a small family style restaurant and the first impression going in was that it was a bit cramped with lots of things on the walls and counters. They sell packaged foods such as crackers and the Asian jelly snacks. The second impression was the aroma of curry (I think). My daughter and husband also mentioned the strong smell. Other than being cramped the place looked clean. We used the bathroom and it was clean too. We ordered lemon chicken, teriyaki chicken, Mongolian beef and battered prawns with sweet and sour sauce. Here's our review of the food: Prawns: good- nothing too special about it. Teriyaki chicken: eh: it was the special for the evening. I was surprised to find that it was spicy! I've never had spicy teriyaki before and I would not recommend it. My husband like it though. Mongolian Beef: Just ok-not much to say except there was more bell peppers and celery than beef. Lemon Chicken: ver good- the sauce was delicious and the chicken was nice and crisp. For the price that we paid their servings were large and we left with three take out boxes. This is an average Chinese restaurant which is why I gave it 3 stars.
(3)Nicole D.
This is an average chinese joint. The good dishes are really good, but there's definitely below average food too. Better consistency between the different dishes would be nice because sometimes I like to try new things. Unfortunately with this place I'm not really that comfortable with doing so any longer because of the discrepancy of the quality between their best and the not so good. Also, I'm unsure how their lo mein can be both greasy and dry at the same time, but somehow it is. Cheap, good for eating in and takeout, nice staff, average food.
(3)Tami O.
Last nite we ate at spring garden the food was not up to par fhe the rice had a burnt taste and the shrimp was gummy we have eaten there many time and gotton take out did u change your cook .!!!
(2)Allan S.
Hadn't eaten there since old lady had passed away. Order two no, #10 to go, Food was hot and lots to eat. Great job...Allan S .
(5)Kelley H.
Went here with some co-workers for our lunch break and barely made it out in time to get back to work (work is a 5 min drive-lunch is an hour) overall nothing special about this place. I had the general tso chicken, which was ok. Nothing to write home about. I think I might give dinner a shot and see if it's any better.
(3)John F.
I like that there cheap and tasty. Also there menu covers everything from noodles,rice,soups salad, and fresh seafood you can pick from a tank. Also they have all sorts of chinese goodies that are cheap at the regester to take home. I brought home a hole jar of chinese fruit gelatin cups...my kids loved um. Plus different styles of non frozen mochi balls...yum!
(4)Eric H.
My wife and I were in Eugene this past weekend for the OSAA Cross Country Championships to cheer on our daughters. We decided to find some Chinese food and used Yelp to locate restaurants in our area with positive reviews. One that came up was the Spring Garden Seafood Restaurant so we decided to give it a try. Chinese is often hit or miss so we were hoping for the best. Was it the best...no but it was very good and I would go back again if I were in the area. Though I was hungry, my wife was not and did not want to have an entire dish to herself. We opted to split the Cashew Chicken and Beef Fried Rice. Before the food was served my wife had a cup of Egg Drop Soup and I had a cup of Sweet and Spicy Soup. Both were very good with crispy vegetables and flavorful broth. When the food was served I was pleased we had not each ordered a dish. Both the Cashew Chicken (ALL WHITE MEAT) and the Beef Fried Rice were delivered on large oval dishes that must have measured 14" long by 6" wide and they were mounded with food. The portions were generous, the flavor was great and these dishes were not overly saucy or heavy but filled with fresh vegetables that were crisp and tasty. We also received a large bowl with Sticky Rice to go with the Cashew Chicken. The ambiance is nothing to write home about but the food was great.
(4)Elaine L.
Spring Garden has AUTHENTIC chinese food not Americanized version which I love. The decor is a little out there but who cares if the food is great. I knew this place was going to be good cause when I saw the many tables of Asians it was for sure a good sign. The portions were HUGE even for lunch. Why not 5 stars you ask...their Szechuan needs a little help and I love good spicy Szechuan food.
(4)Emily S.
I had high hopes for Spring Garden, based on fellow Yelpers, but the meal couldn't have been more meh. Maybe we ordered the wrong things, but the beef and green onions were recommended by the server. The beef was just soft and mushy with no chew to it, and the sauce was just a flavorless mess of cornstarch goop. I always order a tofu and vegetable dish, and Spring Garden's had me wishing that I was at Ocean Sky. Yes, sad. That dish, which we requested be made spicy, had no flavor at all, not even of soy. The sweet and sour soup was pretty good, and our server was cheerful, even though he couldn't translate any of the Chinese specials for us.
(2)Sophia K.
Let me start this by saying I'm Chinese and I grew up in a predominately Asian area in Southern California. Most Chinese food I run into anywhere outside of California sucks. After leaving the establishment, I always think, damn I might as well have spent my dough on orange chicken at Panda Express. So to the point: this is by far my favorite Chinese place in the area. Why? It taste good though I haven't tried ordering anything risky like seafood or duck (with the exception of the time I was craving shrimp). Anyway, I like it here and it's reasonably priced. The lunch specials are cheap, but the chef specials can get in the 13.75-19$ range. The food isn't salty and oily. The flavors just seem right. I find that a lot of Chinese food in Eugene is really salty or oily or just not good at all. The water tanks at the entrance of this place are really cheesy. The sea creatures look dead and not tasty at all. Anyway, I like this place. Too bad they don't have congee. Bummer. I asked if they did and the server suggested Maple Garden. That was pretty funny; I can make my own anyway. Oh yeah, 3 stars from me because dude, just because it's the best Chinese place in the area doesn't make it delicious.
(3)Joey H.
Ordered Mar Far Chicken, General Tsao and crab puffs. Crab Puffs were ok, not very crispy on the outside, almost soft.. general tsao was I would say average. The big thing though, our Mar Far chicken had a ANT inside of it, it was cooked in, we saw a black dot and dug it out and turned out to be an ant. How does an ant get into the middle of your chicken? Had to drive all the way across town to return the food. Was dirty when we first walked in, should have known. Who knows what goes on in the back of the kitchen. I am sure it is much dirtier than the fish tank in the front where you can barely see what is on the other side of the glass. Owner clearly does not care about cleanliness, was going to report if they had not given our money back.
(1)Robyn A.
Food was good. Waitress was a little curt and rude, but the food was delicious!
(3)Plume Z.
Hot Pot is regular and pricy. The oder about eggplant is recommended.
(3)Jack L.
I was just there two days ago and tried the beef noodle soup and the pork in garlic sauce. Let me just say that the food was not as authentic as it should be. The soup was good but the pork dish was too sweet versus spicy, which should be the right blend of spicy and sweet. The decor is typical Chinese but the service was pretty good. I probably would try another restaurant next time I'm in town.
(3)DK Kai D.
The Cantonese food is perfect. I have to say the hongkong milk tea is so good!! the pepper salt fried shrimp is perfect~ :D However, a little disappointed on some Sichuan food..
(5)George T.
Being Chinese, I am very picky about Chinese food. I know good Chinese food. I can't stand "American Chinese". These guys are one of the FEW Chinese restaurants I would frequent. This is the same quality food I would get in HK, San Fran Chinatown and Vancouver. The service is great. Highly recommended.
(5)Ari D.
I got more than I could eat at lunch for six bucks, including the best egg drop soup (THICK) I have ever had. I gladly adopted the leftovers of my buddy's giant portion of delicious Mu Shu Pork (with sufficient pancakes!). The waitress was friendly & knowledgeable. The highlight: entrée with pepper icon on menu was actually spicy, with small pieces of hot pepper in. Wanted to keep eating it forever, but, alas, stomach space not infinite. When I expressed my delight to the waitress, I learned that the chef is very amenable to "burn me" challenges, a tidbit I filed away for the next visit. I love and hate it when I go to a restaurant for the first time and order what is probably going to be my favorite thing that I can't stop ordering every time: Sliced BBQ Duck with Pickled Cabbage Noodles. Okay, I love it.
(5)Heather S.
Finally decent Chinese food near Eugene! The hot and sour soup is the tip off, crunchy wood ear mushrooms and just the right balance of white pepper and vinegar. Our entrees were okay but we made the mistake of ordering off the regular menu - look for the traditional Chinese menu behind the counter (they will translate for you) and be prepared to ask for items you crave, they will accommodate. Parent's Note: High chairs available and a fun to watch fish tank off to the side but bring crayons or other distractions, if it's busy it may take a while to get your food.
(4)Loren K.
We ordered Curry beef + extra spicy, Mar far chicken, Chicken Chow Mein,BBQ pork and soups for Sunday lunch. Great sticky white rice. The service was prompt and friendly; the environment is dated and a but dingy, but clean. They played a steady stream of 80s pop music in the background. They serve generous helpings. Tiffany commented that the Chow Mein was some of the best she has ever had. The fact that a number of Asian students ( likely from the university) came while we were eating is a good sign. Total meal with tip less than $30 and we ate plenty-family of 6 with 4 kids under 12 and came home with a serving of chow Mein for lunch tomorrow
(4)Coolcyn O.
When you are in a city like Eugene and walk into a chinese restaurant where several tables are occupied by Asians then I figure the place has to be good. My family loved the food. We ordered the house fried rice and chow mein which were both delicious, their BBQ pork was very tender and juicy, the steamed shrimp was perfect. The only item we didn't like all too much was the beef ribs, I found it too salty.
(4)Anderson K.
Just fantastic. Avoid the combos and order a variety of dishes from the specialties list and go family style. You won't be disappointed.
(4)Lesley F.
Great meal. Wonderful service. I had the Kung Paola chicken. The sauce was just delicious and I loved the free tea.
(5)Del S.
Please note that I am writing my review for this place based on my experience years ago. I used to come to Spring Garden for Chinese food all the time back when I was still living in Oregon. There weren't that many good Chinese restaurants in the area and I was happy to find this place. They have pretty good traditional/real Chinese dishes such as BBQ duck noodle soup, Beef Stew over rice and Hai Nan Chicken Rice. I always crave for those special dishes they created themselves such as David Tofu, Special Chicken and Garlic Shrimp. I haven't been able to find those 3 dishes at any Chinese restaurant in California which is killing me. And to this date I still believe Spring Garden had the BEST spring rolls I've ever had. It's huge, it's crispy, it's eggy and hella tasty (take that King Eggroll!). This is also the only Chinese restaurant I've ever encountered that not only provides you free hot tea, but free iced tea too! I also miss the pork egg flower soup that comes with the meal. Man.. thinking of this place brings back lots of good memories from my college days. Yes, the place is old and not hip. Yes, the bathroom reminds you of a gas station restroom. Yes, I've heard people telling me that the place isn't as good as it used to be. But I will always make sure I stop by Spring Garden whenever I visit Oregon.
(4)Lee W.
The other reviews posted here are a little dated. The restaurant is under new ownership as of April 2008. The owners used to own a dry cleaner in Eugene and came out of retirement to open this restaurant because they missed the customer interaction. Cheap lunch specials. $4.95 and you get mar far chicken, pork chow mein, fried rice, egg flour soup and tea. The fried rice is to die for. Literally, it tastes so much unlike fried rice, I may die. Avoid it if possible. I dunked the mar far in sweet and sour. It was delicious. I like the way they prepare it, not too much breading. The husband is very friendly and refilled my tea a couple times while I waited for my takeout. It was pretty quick, only taking 10 minutes to hand me my meal. Minus one star for the creepy Christian TedTalks video that was playing on the internet. I heard some born again talking about in vitro fertilization, which I have no interest in being subjected to while waiting for my food. According to my fortune: You have an ambitious nature and will make a name for yourself (neato).
(3)Killer S.
I had high hopes for the new Spring Garden, which promised "Hong Kong Style Seafood." Now, I'm not Chinese but have spent some time in China and Hong Kong... generally eating everything in sight. The first thing as we walked in was the specials board which promoted a few Americanized dishes as well as a dim sum sampler platter and a poached rockfish. Promising. The menu was laid out in a similar fashion - Americanized up front and house/chef specialities in the back. We got the dim sum, a spicy seafood soup, and a salmon with garlic and broccoli. The dim sum buns ($9) were okay but were obviously just pulled out of the food-co box and steamed (still had brand label wrappers on them). Soup was pretty large but even with the spicy label it was quite bland. Cheap at $6, though. The salmon was the best out of the three, a large fillet covered in an ample layer of garlic butter (not for the faint of heart). Pretty tasty, but I suspect you could find the same in several other restaurants in town, and it wasn't cheap at $18. The service was pretty good; the only problem being that they were out of a couple of items we tried to order before going with the salmon. Decor was sort of what you'd expect from a Chinese place in Springfield. I really wanted to like Spring Garden but left feeling a little disappointed and it's unlikely that I'll be back soon. Guess I'll still have to go to Portland (or San Francisco, or Seattle, or Chicago) when I'm hankering for good Chinese.
(2)ho h.
SPRING GARDEN - A BLAST AND SAVIOR FROM MY COLLEGE PAST! this unassuming restaurant on main street in springfield, oregon (the more working class neighboring sister sister to eugene) was the solace for many singaporean and asian students from the university of oregon. the owner was a rotund, plump and quick witted woman from hongkong (sammy - i think was her name) and it paid to be on her good side! i got my first taste of ma po tofu and instantly became addicted to their version and to this day, spring garden's version has become the standard that all other versions are compared to! it had the right balance and ratio of silken tofu to ground pork, and while spicy - it was aromatically so, relying on not just chilli sauce, but also on szechuan peppercorns and ground white pepper as well - giving the finished spiciness a wonderfully floral note! (DAMN i should be writing food reviews) i miss you spring gardens and sammy's very sharp and totally unapologetic tongue and tone!
(5)Steve D.
As of May 2010, the Spring Garden (now known as the Spring Garden Seafood Restaurant) is open again. I got a couple of take-out items and they were not bad, certainly much better than the slop the old Spring Garden served. I ordered extra-spicy Kung Pao chicken--it had plenty of charred chilies, but it really wasn't spicy at all. Their chow mien was decent. One of these days I'll have to try some of their seafood.
(3)