China Gate

The dim sum was par most of the time. There was validated parking about a block away. They had a valet driver next to the door. Good customer service. Used to be busy during lunch and dinner hours. Dinner service started lagging a couple years ago. Used to go here for lunch and dinner a few times each month. They had a full service bar and karaōke.

Very below average dim sum. I went here with my wife and mother in law just to try new places. I should have followed the cardinal rule with Chinese restaurants, if other places are full and you come across a place that is empty, there is a reason why!
We left most of the food we ordered, bland, luke warm, some of it didn’t taste good. I didn’t get sick but didn’t feel well the next day. Stay away.

I came here the very first and only time I’ve ever eaten dim sum, but I thought it was good. If you’re not used to dim sum, the ordering style is not what you’d expect– you sit at your table and instead of ordering off a menu all at once, servers come by and offer you dishes one at a time. Service was friendly and maybe even overly attentive. A lot of the shrimp dishes were great, as were some of the dumplings. I liked the pork bun but wasn’t a fan of the rest of the pork dishes. I don’t know how China Gate compares to the rest of the restaurants in International District, but we had a good experience there.

Decent Fried Rice & Nice Customer Service!
Well, i tried to be adventurous and try a different Chinese restaurant since they have a banner on there that states «New Owner» so i figure why not try it. I must say i regretted selling out my usual place.
The place sure could use some remodeling. It has old worn out furnitures that has seen better days & their bathroom… well, lets say I rather wait another hour to find another bathroom before i venture completely inside. The bar area has hip-​hop music blasting from its entrance. I’m not sure if they have karaōke or a dance floor, but its sure is loud. I’ll give them some points that their music is pretty up-​to-​date though.
The wall has pictures of when it first opened up & etc. I love looking at before & after pictures, its just too bad they haven’t maintain the décor of it from the original pictures, which i think was over 50yrs ago! Either way, i enjoyed starring at them and thinking how sad that the managment has allowed it to deteriorate and their business has obviously declined over the years.
To the food:
The host was really nice & he took my order quickly, but it took FOREVER to get my food. I notice that they were more concern about getting the food out for their customers that just sat down than to fill my order. The taste of the food was just ok. I thought their fried rice was a lot better than most places, but oily. Everything else was greasy/​oily, nothing exceptional done. However, their price is cheaper than some places and their menu selection is better than most.
I don’t think i’ll be going here again, unless i want to eat Hot Pot.

Absolutely not the best dim-​sum I’ve ever had, but it is not terrible either. Just acceptable, I guess.
Service here was friendly. Food was always warm and fresh, didn’t experience any cold dishes. I think with most dim sum places, you will find a specialty in each restaurant and here, I would say it is their fried taro (with pork and scallions inside). It is really good here and not too salty or gooey like other places. The hagow skin here is chewy and has a good consistency! I think you can find better shumai somewhere else though. The tripe here was also too chewy and tough for my liking, but the boy enjoyed it.
I didn’t like China Gate the first time I came here in the spring, but after my experience over the weekend, I wouldn’t hesitate to come back.

If I could give this place negative stars to further dissuade you from going here, I would. I went here with my girlfriend, her brother, sister and brother-​in-​law for some good olé’ karaōke on a Friday night after a delicious dinner (somewhere else). We bypassed the restaurant, so I can’t speak to the food, and headed straight back to the dingy lounge off to the side of the restaurant. «Perfect!» we thought (whoops, were we wrong with that sentiment!)
Walking into the bar, there was only one other table of people which seemed slightly bleak for a Friday, but we were looking forward to no lines on the karaōke and a couple of drinks.
I have been here before for karaōke and had a reasonably good time, but I ordered a Makers on the rocks and am pretty dang sure that isn’t what I received. That being said, we had ordered a round and had sung a couple of songs when a random guy came up to bus our table and ask if we needed anything else. I ordered a shot of Jack and a Bud Light and as he walked away I wondered, «wait one sec… I don’t think he works here. Hmm.» Being the cautious individual that I am, I watched him walk up to the bar just to ensure nothing else went into our drinks and instead saw him sharing a hearty laugh with the female bartender. «What the???» I thought.
He came back to our table with the drinks, charged me ten bucks, took my twenty and then came back with two fives. Now, as a bartender I know that any bartender worth their salt will break down a bill to singles to ensure a tip as that is what we truly are working for, certainly not the hourly wage. This struck me as weird, as did the fact I paid ten bucks for a shot of Jack and a Bud Light in a dive like this place.
I walked back up to the bar and ordered another identical round, getting weird looks from both the random guy at the bar who just took our order and the female bartender. She again charged me ten bucks and gave me two fives back on my twenty, one of which I had her then break down so I could tip her (out of principle, I suppose.) Things really didn’t feel right, but I felt like I had jumped the gun and didn’t get a good read on what the actual price of my drinks would have been.
My GF’s brother asked me what was wrong and I filled him in. He then went up to the bar and asked in an offhand fashion what the price of a shot of Jack was, «Five dollars,» the bartender told him, and the beer was «three dollars.» He then came back and told me the prices and I realized that the bartender and her buddy were trying to rip me off, in fact they obviously found it very funny to do so.
Long story short, I went up to the bar and called the bartender out, asking the prices for the respective drinks I had ordered. She ended up getting shifty and telling me three different prices in the range of a couple of minutes (math clearly not being her strong suit). I then demanded, not even all my money back, just the difference in price that she had charged me, which she quickly returned. My GF’s brother and brother-​in-​law got their respective tabs, to which she had added drinks we didn’t even order. We asked to speak to a manager. At this point the female bartender got mad and kept telling us to, «just go!» I should also mention that in our ‘discussion’ over the prices she got angry at me and when I asked what the prices were she told me, «Depends on who you are!» Several times, each with more heat and anger. Depends on who I am, huh. Great way to run your business, with a total lack of honesty. More like a great way to lose what looked like much needed clientele.
Someone who wasn’t even the manager came out to talk to us, I think that he was just a server in the restaurant. He said that it was the bartenders «first day» (what a great first day, ripping people off… «First day,» what a crock). The bartender came out and looked very uncomfortable, as she should after just trying to rip us off and getting called out for doing so. We ended up getting the money for the added drinks (I’m hitting myself that I didn’t demand all my money back, but whatever) at which point the non-​manager asked us if we needed anything else. «I think that she owes us an apology,» my GF’s brother said, pointing at the bartender.
«F*ck you,» she said. «You just need to leave.»
Wow.
So, sure, go to the China Gate if you want terrible service from people who don’t even work there and if you want to experience criminal activity from a bartender who is, quite possibly, the worst bartender I have ever seen. Oh, and throw in some verbal abuse for good measure when you demand honest business. I’m not even sure that the Jack Daniels was actually Jack.
This place is a total joke and I would love it if nobody ever graced this disgusting (on many levels) shit-​hole with their presence ever again. They aren’t even smart enough to run a criminal business properly.
Unbelievable.

Is this place directly related to Jade Garden? I can’t believe this is the second place I’ve been this week that serves Hom Bow with COLD filling!
I also found it odd that the server kept recommending the Hom Bow with the thick sweet crust on top, when I kept requesting specifically, the Cha Siu Bow (Baked sweet BBQ Pork Bun). Oddly, she had both on the cart…
…fine, give me the one that looks like a sugar cookie on top of a baked bun. Oh wow, cold on the inside… great… and waaaay too sweet. I should’ve held my ground with the normal Cha Siu Bow.
I also ordered the sticky rice, which was fine — wrapped in Lotus leaf with ground beef.
On the PLUS side, it was cheap eats.

Three stars… as a backhanded compliment…
My Illinois in-​laws were in for a visit (neither super-​hip with chopsticks) and we landed here after our first-​choice destination was way-​crowded. It was cold and rainy and we were happy to be inside. We waited 10 minutes (Sunday, noon-​ish) and amused ourselves with the Rube Goldberg-​esque gumball machine tucked away near the restrooms.
My in-​laws had never heard of dim sum. They loved the concept regardless of however uncomfortable they were with the mysterious goodies we kept saying «yes, please.» too.
The food was decent. The atmosphere was pleasant. The prices were totally reasonable. If this place were not surrounded by ten other good places and ten other outstanding places in Chinatown, it might get a better review on it’s own merits. Competition here is stiff.
Similarly, 8 out of 10 Seattle pizza joints would get less than 3-​Stars if they happened to be located in Chicago… or even New York.
China gate is ok. Dim Sum is comfort food; it should be simple and make you happy. Think Mac&Cheese… Sloppy Joe… how fancy and uppity should that be?
That said… it was a «gateway» for my in-​laws further forays into bigger and better Asian cuisine throughout the following week. By the end, my father-​in-​law was a chopstick-​warrior.

This is not a review on China Gate’s food… There was only one table with about 6 people who looked like they worked there eating last friday night… This STELLAR review is about China Gate’s KARAOKE!!! I’ve been looking for a place that my wife can come sing her chinese songs and I can drink myself into a stuper… China Gate provides both at a reasonable price. The bar staff seemed friendly enough and the drinks were always being checked on. I wouldn’t recommend getting there before 10pm as we were the only people in the bar for at least 45 minutes… Still it was a blast and I’ll be back…
As for the food, I’ll stick with my other spots judging by the other reviews…

New is not better! Yea, they have new owners, and they do have a grand opening 10% off your bill, but I was very disappointed in the food. It is so bland! What did you do with the flavor? The old owners cooked the best Kung Pau Chicken. We would stop here to eat when we were taking our kids back to the dorm at the UW, and they would want to get an extra order of Kung Pau to take with them. Today, my daughter would not even take the leftovers with her. Now, what college kid would pass over left-​over Chinese? Need I say more?
The service was always iffy here, but it has gotten much worse. Don’t try to order a cocktail. I ordered a scotch on the rocks, and first received a glass of beige liquid — I’m guessing it was scotch and water, no ice. I sent it back without tasting it and got on the second try a glass of scotch neat, with a lime garnish. Now I have ordered scotch in many restaurants and bars, but this was a first — a lime with my scotch. Oh, but it gets better. My wife ordered a Chardonnay, and got a glass of Cabernet. Pretty much the same thing, don’t you think?
Bottom line, we will not return. Time for us to find a new favorite restaurant in the international district.

Instead of getting dim sum at Honey Court, my family changed their minds at the last minute to try this place. Perhaps we should have gone to Honey Court.
The last time I came here was when I was little, maybe when the place was actually better at that time. First thing I noticed when I walked through the doors was that the whole place looked a little old and dingy, and there wasn’t that many people. I was already starting to get a bad feeling about this place. The food was mediocre, average at best. Some of the dishes came out cold, and my dad even complained about that and inquired about the manager of the restaurant. They didn’t even have taro dumplings (my favorite dish), and they said that they don’t make it if the taro isn’t fresh enough. Seriously?
The service was decent enough, but the food just doesn’t taste good here. I doubt we’ll be coming back.

Maybe driving over to the International District during the opening ceremony for the Beijing Olympics was our first mistake. Our second mistake was choosing China Gate. When you open the door to a restaurant and every employee runs up to you gushing with excitement, it is probably best to turn and run. Before we even made it to our putrid blue booth, my boyfriend had made a new female friend who spied him from the adjacent bar. She came a little too close for my comfort to offering him the time of his life for our dinner money. Thankfully, he’s a loyal lad. Oh I wish we would have responded to our gut instincts. Then I would not be sitting on my couch writing this horrid review as my stomach churns from the thought of the rubbery beef and bird, slimy canned mushrooms, greasy eggrolls, and diced pork fat. The sound of running toilet water as the background noise now seems so appropriate.
The only saving graces? The warm blossomy jasmine tea juxtiposed with my ice cold tsingtao, the neon green chopsticks, and the gracious and unwavering smile of our waiter. Maybe he knew the joke was on us.

Are you kidding China Gate? Gate to what? Good Chinese food? Good dim sum? Good Service? I think not. Whatever the gate leads to, shut it, lock it up, and throw away the key. Out of my 8 years of living in Washington, this was the WORST place I’ve eaten. No exaggeration, no dramatics… just the honest truth.
The service was lacking, but the food was worse. Everything we ordered was saturated in grease. The egg rolls were mush inside, hot grease soaked mush. The Hong Kong Won tons, also soaked in heavy cooking oil, with nothing to offer in flavor or quality. The main coarse of Almond Fried Chicken was disgusting, but what made it worse was throughout the dish I found strips of plastic wrapper mixed in with the chicken and sauce. Once, maybe an accident… but several times throughout the plate? What’s you’re malfunction?
This place is an overall disappointment. Anyone who is considering to pay China Gate a visit, do yourself a favor and pass… pass, pass, pass.
–1 Star, 2 Thumbs down, a whole bunch of :(

This is the restaurant that takes the runoff patrons from the places in the I.D. with actually good dim sum. The one star is for the turnip cake.
It was.
a little more out of the way
our arrival around 1:30 on a Sunday had no wait
it smelled a bit like an old people’s home
it was dirty (we got a fun seat directly facing the tea station)
the selection was uneven.
By uneven, I mean when we first arrived we got a few rounds of the same 3 carts, and later once we were full, newer ones came around. The pot stickers and steamed pork buns were overly greasy, and the other food was passable. The turnip cakes were very good, in fact they were our best choice, but sadly the other dishes weren’t putting much of a fight on. The service was okay, although the cart ladies were somewhat curt. We got out of there as soon as possible, and plan on never going back again.
p. s. $ 21 for two people is a bit expensive for dim sum in the international district. Also, they offer 24-​hour 7-​day a week dim sum.

I’ve eaten here maybe about 5 – 6 times. The Dim Sum is not that good, but on the plus side… you can order it even at night. So If you’re craving shumai or hagao at 9 pm, this may be your only bet, and it’s good enough considering it’s not brunch time. I’ve also had their main dishes and seafood, and to tell you the truth nothing really stood out as good or bad. The prices are fair… but to be honest… I think Sea Garden right across the street for main dishes and seafood is like 5x better for the same price, and Jade Garden for Dim Sum has much better food quality and is much cheaper. The only real plus about China Gate is the service is really friendly (especially for a Chinese restaurant), and there is free parking… their lot is around the corner.
~G

I was little, and eating here with my grandpa, i loved it.
Okay, so what happened?
Where’d all the good food go?
Where are all the people that use to go here?
My brother likes it, but i’d have to say no, because once they gave us a really cold room.
No one came, the bar lady was a bitch. The bathrooms were dirty.
Maybe, I’ll come back when this place gets better

Weds night 11pm.
As soon as I walked in, the place reminded of the restaurant in the Bruce Lee movie, «Way of the Dragon». (Now before I offend anyone, the place does have display case of Bruce Lee photos and autographed stuff by the door)
Went straight to the lounge to meet some friends. They had some serious hip-​hop blasting from a Karaōke type machine. It was like night and day going from the restaurant to the lounge.
They only had cheap vodka so I stuck to Coke for the night (although they did have Johnny Walkers Red and Black label). Our server was pretty nice. The women who runs the bar was a cold Bitch… literally! She just stood by a heat lamp the whole night and she had a «too good to talk to you» attitude. I did not get a welcome feeling at all. In fact I felt like their only concern was getting my money and nothing else.
I didn’t eat anything, however the food my friends had did not look very good.
FYI, outside the restaurant, it was crack heads and homeless folks… maybe its better during the day.
I don’t go too many Chinese restaurants, but I know a grimy restaurant when I see one.

I liken China Gate to the dim sum version of Cheers… but, they don’t know my name, rather, they call me «brother.» This recognition impresses all my CG-​virgin friends cause they will inevitably comment on how everyone greets/​acknowledges us — guess that could make me seem either really cool or like a big fat dim sum eating loser.
My fave time to go to the CG is weekend brunch — better selection and faster service. Second favorite time is lunch time during the work week! The staff is a mixed bag — some are smiley, some are pouty, some seem mean, but this all contributes to the allure for me. My most memorable visit was after a surprise party for my beau. We both woke up drunk the next morning and while we was a’painin, the food did us good!
On my MUST ORDER list: big portion of soy sauce chow mein, fried shrimp balls (sounds dirtier than they taste), the lobster won ton and they’ve got this new sticky short rib dish with honey and (I think) soy. I don’t find the food oily or bland as I’ve compared China Gate’s offering to other ID dim sum neighbors (Jade Garden + House of Hong) and CG is superior. Honestly, I’m always bewildered to see lines waiting out front of Jade Garden on the weekends.
China Gate rocks my world.

My friends and I strolled in here at about 9 pm for a sort of late night dim sum and that may have been a mistake. As a few of the dishes were rather rubbery and felt like they had been made a few hours ago and then just re-​heated. And while I think the stuff probably would have tasted better a few hours ago I was less than impressed.
In any case, I might be willing to revisit this place during more normal dining hours, but at present I have to say that I was less than impressed with the late dinner experience.

Hey everybody, Dim Sum all day long! Okay well not all day long, via rolling cart, but heck it’s served 7 days a week! At night you have to order off a menu.
Having said that, let’s review Chinese Dim Sum. «Sum» or refer to «Summation» is the addition of a set of numbers; the result is their sum. (Wikipedia).
1)Delicate Chinese dumplings and pastries. 2) Served 7 days a week 3) This adds up to a summation that this is not going to be the most consistent experience in the world, M-​F… Saturday and Sunday are a different thing…
Weekends add up to: more variety, more carts/​faster service, busy place/​a bit of a wait to sit, fresher/​hotter food/​more flavorful, and well a better experience for the Dim Sum veteran and newbie alike.
I can’t really speak to their after Dim Sum menu, I haven’t eaten there late-​night since they remodeled away from the dark dim red lantern lighting, red and gold wall paper, and unctuousness dungeon-​like booths that use to ring the outer edge of the interior, for a hint of what they use to look like, check out the bar…
So… to sum it all up… pardon the bad pun… for a weekend Dim Sum fix, it’s worth a try, just do not look for the newer Hong Kong style of innovative Dim Sum. For the standards and a few «not half bad» new-​ish items, it’s all good.
I think they still offer Valet parking at night, but don’t quote me on that…