Chin’s Red Crab

We tend to get take out more often, than eat in, here. But, even that is getting to be less often after several disappointments. Love the cream cheese wontons, but why package them in styrofoam? Not very earth-​friendly there, so it’s the most disappointing thing when getting takeout. Have seldom been disappointed in the food, but what is up with putting everything in a bed of shredded cabbage? It’s not necessary under fried appetizers because it just wilts and sticks to everything and I feel compelled to pick it off.
Also be wary of language barriers. Even though I have worked in a Chinese restaurant and know what chow mein is, we got into a disagreement with our server over what noodles should be used (I’m familiar with the round crispy ones-​as is Google images-​and I was told different Chinese restaurants have different recipes when I received flat noodles that were a completely different texture) and needed a different meal. She was then noticeably cold and offended but I found it odd that I had to show her on my phone what was considered chow mein noodles and she continued to tell me it was not.
I think I will be visiting other Chin’s when possible, because this one is not one I enjoy getting food from.

We went to this place yesterday to try… it was dark inside so we decided to open the window blinds… guess what we found… it was a dirty place… Utensils are not
Clean…glasses still has lipstick marks… filthy…so we left. Not a
Good place to
Eat!

We decided to stop in there after seeing the sign for $ 6.95 lunch special while visiting Performance Bike next door. Well, the $ 6.95 lunch special is limited to 3 items: sweet and sour fish, chicken a la Mandarin, and fried rice. We tried all 3. They also have a dinner special menu for $ 8.95, and you can order from that menu during lunch. The lunch and dinner specials at these prices are on one page given separately from the main menu.
The soup that comes with lunch was tasty (today’s soup was chicken noodle). Lunch also came with an egg roll (on the same plate as the entrée) and fruit (same plate as entrée).
A pleasant dining experience overall, and I liked that the food wasn’t greasy. It’s not authentic by any means, but I wasn’t really expecting Chin’s to be very authentic…
Also, an $ 8.95 lunch special menu is available on their main menu.
Kind of confusing overall, but at least the food was good. We did leave feeling like we got duped by the loss-​leader advertising, but it’s all good.

still a big, big fan of the CHIN’s success formula — sticky, sweet and lots of meat. first visit to the new PLAZA DRIVE location but was warmly greeted by a truly lovely lady from the old (now closed) CARLSBAD restaurant.
picked up a phone-​in order to go for the kid’s lunch which was ready, as promised, when we arrived. they both got their usuals — WYATT the SPICY HONEY CHICKEN and JULIANA the HOT BURNED PORK. that bought us twenty minutes of blissful silence on the drive to BIG BEAR before they chimed in with the are-​we-​there-​yet chorus.
CHIN’s is CHINESE-​ish AMERICAN food done right.

Call me a crab lover, but if you have crab in the name like Boiling, Kicking, Hut or even just Red I kind of expect crab. This is a Chin’s. That is all. I’m told they are bringing in an updated menu, but wouldn’t reveal if it’s to be an anticipated Cajun Boil style or just this «high end» which they failed to reveal.
Fooled, fooled, fooled. For months i watched this place go from possible Karaōke, to Red Crab to Chin’s/ Red Crab.
Don’t get me wrong. I like Chin’s, don’t love, just like. It’s a San Diego icon. Something like 14 locations and been around since as long as I can rememeber. I actually have a chin’s card dating back to the mid 90’s. I couldn’t tell you what location is newest becuase the one’s i know of have never changed. Oceanside blvd, D Carlsbad, Encinitas Blvd. Same décor, same menu, same quality. Actually thought this décor was even darker, more dim.
Realizing it’s not what i thought or expected, i was going to get Hunan Beef which is usually boring and highly caloric black bean pasted beef, but decided to try something I’ve never had. Going along with my re-​education of Chinese food I went with Crispy Curry Beef Dumplings which was excellent, a bit over fried, but the sauce was dense and complex, but not overly salty. Szechwan cold noodles was fresh, but to me plain compared to the more Japanese style cold noodle salads.
Treasures of the sea has it all, shrimp, krab, scallops and what i was looking for was Abalone. The can be tough, expensive shellfish. I saw 1 piece that although good, didn’t warrant the additional price. I’ve always had issue with their «low carb» option where they replace rice with steamed veggies for «$ 4.50» in addition. That’s a teriyaki chicken bowl anywhere else.
Cons:Just Chin’s even if only for now. Low Carb additional fee. No Crab or Karaōke. No full bar.
Pro’s: Great service. A decent collections of wine’s. A staple for San Diego, specifically North County. The quality of each dish is consistent. Really like thier hot tea.
I will come back in a few months when they have Crab or heck even this supposed «high end» upgrade, until then thir are closer «Chin’s» to me.

Saw this new place thought it was new however its the same establishment as before but it offers seafood and cajun style entrees.