Shangrila
Chinese · 2727 Goliad Rd, San Antonio, Texas 78223
★★★★½ 1 review(210) 337-7168
Menu Items
Reviews
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Chicken Is Getting Closer To What It Used To Be.
After a hiatus of several years, I decided to revisit Shangrila, a restaurant that underwent ownership changes in the past. Memories of subpar orders from 3-4 years ago lingered, but I remained hopeful as I ordered my former favorite, the General Chicken Entree, which had once been a culinary delight before the transition.
Opting for the same dish that had initially won my favor, I placed an online order and promptly arrived to pick it up. To my surprise, the dining area was walled off with a "No Dine-In" sign, a new aspect I hadn't encountered before. I swiftly collected my order, and with anticipation, headed home.
Opening the box revealed a promising sight—the chicken seemed to have returned to its original quality, complete with steamed broccoli, reminiscent of the plate I fondly remembered from years ago. A previous experience during the Covid shutdowns had left me disheartened with what seemed like cut-up chicken nuggets in sauce, but this time, the chicken appeared to be of a much higher quality, with a golden brown batter , and the sauce bore the semblance of the original thick concoction with crushed garlic and green onions.
However, the optimism waned as I opened the box of fried rice. Its dark brownish color, absence of visible vegetables, and scarce bits of egg didn't bode well. My fears were confirmed when I tasted it—nearly flavorless, resembling white rice fried in soy sauce, lacking the vibrant flavor profile I had hoped for.
Turning my attention to the General Chicken, this was a mixed results. The semi-crispy batter and flavorful sauce were reminiscent of the original, though a slightly thinner sauce with a tad less flavor. The batter on the chicken was thin, I remember it was slightly thicker before, and made for a better texture.
I was relieved this was at least not a total disappointment. The general chicken was decent, the sauce was very close to what originally caled one of my favorites, but rice leaving much room for improvement.
Overall, I would consider ordering this item again, but would probably request a container of sauce on the side. The entrée is a lot of chicken, enough to feed at least 2 people, and for the price is a pretty good deal.
— Paul