Open on Christmas! Yum. Grateful since the wait was long at the cafe today. Thankful and full tummy! Merry Christmas.

I usually prefer this to others but my order this time was disappointing to say the least. Fried rice was very greasy, chicken on stick black on outside tasted like jerky it was so tough. Beef and broccoli beef was gummy and grisly. Asked for mushrooms got 3 and was charged $2 extra. The egg rolls weren't cooked thorough. Just awful! I love Chinese food and this is usually my go to but not anymore. Very disappointed!!! read more

Excellent food. Very clean restaurant. One of the best Chinese restaurants in the Springfield area. Fast service. Recommend highly. read more

I order from them very recently. My chicken sticks was burned. The shrimp fried rice was so dry. Customer service was okay. Based on my food experience I will not order again. read more

Some days foid is better than others. Last few times it was just ok, it very hot and customer service was short and not friendly. If fact the cashier was boarder line rude. read more

They have really good honey chicken and lo mein. I honestly think it's the best honey chicken in town. They are pretty good about following allergy requests too. We have never had issues with them messing up the orders and such. read more

Delicious Chinese food! This has been my family's go-to takeout place for years. The sweet and sour chicken, general tso's chicken, and orange beef are some of our favorites. The fried rice and lo mein make great sides, as well. read more

Today I ordered sweet and sour pork, when I got home the pork was dry and the battery was burned.

My favorite for Chinese food. Egg rolls are great. My personal favorite is sesame chicken.

Good food, good prices, good value, but not gourmet. Excellent place when feeling too lazy too cook.

The food is the best. I have my whole family from different towns turned on to this place. The family is always friendly. I definitely recommend. The other Chinese restaurant in this town made me sick the 1st time I tried it. read more

Very good food . Love the orange chicken and the crab Rangoon. Chatham has a great Chinese restaurant

They need to call their restaurant CHINA CRAP because of the DISGUSTING, GROSS, and VILE FOOD they serve to all of Chatham. You have to be DRUNK OUT OF YOUR MIND in order to consume this RANCID SH*T and think it was edible. I purchased a combo plate, ate two bites, and threw it in the TRASH where it belonged. The egg roll was soggy, the fried rice was dry and flavorless, the General Tso's Chicken was NOT fresh whatsoever, it was TOUGH and CHEWY absolutely UNPLALATABLE. Don't waste your money at CHINA CRAP. I will never come back. read more

My rice had a bug in it!! Very nasty food!! Will never eat here again and definitely would not recommend!!! Plus the service was horrible!!

Our favorite lunch buffet in the area. The food is more flavorful than elsewhere. And more sautéed options to balance deep fried favorites. Smaller trays mean the buffet frequently gets replenished with freshly cooked food. A couple years ago, the previous owners left after their son went to college. A younger, sweet family took on the restaurant to continue serving us regulars and restart the cycle of American opportunity. read more

My husband and I just moved to Springfield from California and the one thing we miss the most is the FOOD. Last night we ordered take-out from China River for the first time. I liked that their combination platters come with pork fried rice and 2 egg rolls. I had the broccoli beef and he had the sweet & sour chicken. The total came out to $16. When we arrived home we braced ourselves for the worst.... but we were pleasantly surprised! After a few bites my husband said, "Well, at least we can get good Chinese food now." I had a piece of his sweet and sour chicken and it was so light and crispy. I hate to say it but it was actually better than the S&S at our favorite place in CA. Portions were huge! We both have enough leftover for lunch today. We're fans! read more

I write this review with a heavy heart, really, as I have supported this restaurant for more than 25 years. The restaurant traded hands recently, and I wondered if I could expect the same high quality food. In fact, though, because the previous owner seemed to be very tired of running the business, the quality of food had fallen off even before the sale of the business to a new owner. On my first visit to the restaurant under new ownership, I headed immediately for the best hot and sour soup in the Central Illinois area. When I got it, I was sorely disappointed with the quality. Apparently the previous owner did not share her recipe for hot and sour soup. I mentioned it to the new owner and said that it might affect my choice to return. However, I said, the quality of the food had actually improved quite a bit, and the choices were more diverse, which was good. On trips two, three and four, I found the new food and fare to be very good, even suggesting to friends that they go there. They went out of their way to change the hot and sour soup, and although it is not yet to where it was previously, it is quite good. Then today, for our fifth visit since new ownership. Food was too cool to really be enjoyed. Both my wife and I felt that the heat table was being kept at too low a temp and that all the foods were much too cool. We also noted that there appeared to be left-overs in the selection, and that was not so inviting. The soup that I once used to love has become closer to stew than soup, and it is now sub-standard again. Interestingly, the issues we have with this restaurant have to do with management, not the quality of the food. When the heat table is too cool, that is a management problem. When there are obvious left-overs on the menu, that is a management problem. So, in the end this new restaurant is not suffering from poor food but rather poor management of good food. Change now, folks, or you will lose my patronage. read more

Best Chinese food in the world. I can't believe their all you can eat buffet only costs $6.60 per person. I don't usually write reviews but this place is awesome! read more

I just moved back to the states from Germany, and this is the first restaurant I decided to try, and Im so glad I did. The food was amazing! The customer service was awesome, they are very friendly. I got a lot of food for a great price. This is my new go-to for Chinese food. Absolutely loved it! read more

This is my favorite restaurant in all of Springfield/Chatham and it is a must stop if you come to to Illinois at all. That have the best boyson chicken I have ever had and I've been to China. EXCELLENT. When you go ask for Logan Eaton and you'll get excellent service. read more

I have been coming to this restaurant for years. Maybe since they opened. Tonight I ordered around 7:30pm. I purchased a lrg pork fried rice pork egg roll, and crab Rangoon. It seems anything pork is oversalted. The fried rice is beyond just bad. It's iinedible. I will be throwing it out. The eggrolls are a bit salty but can be eaten. Looking at the color of the rangoon I can say they may need to change out their oil. The rangoon istill tastes good. But it's the HEAVY OIL taste. I won't stop eating here. But will not order pork?! I have also bought two other entrees but will do those another night. read more

The food quality has really gone downhill since the new owners took over. Everything has a cloying sweet flavor, but is otherwise bland and mushy. The main reason for this review, however, is something that happened today while I was eating the lunch buffet. I was sitting near the buffet, with a view of the counter. As usual, there was a child, presumably related to the owner, sitting at the table nearest the counter. The child was taking orders and running credit cards for customers. While I was eating, I witnessed this child cough without covering her mouth, and pick her nose. When she finished picking her nose, she wiped the results of her explorations on the front of the counter. Then, without washing her hands, she assisted the next customers that came in. I did not want to make a scene in the restaurant at the time, so I called after I got home. I requested to speak to an adult and reported to them what I saw, but I feel there may have been a language barrier and the message did not get across. read more

I absolutely love this place!!!!! One of my favorite Chinese places growing up. A great place for amazing takeout. The beef chow mein is to die for!!! read more

Not the worst food I've had, but far far from the best. Shorted me an order of egg rolls which was basically the only edible part of my order. The General Tso's was overcooked. It was like the turkey dinner scene out of Christmas Vacation. Literally. The chicken was tougher than beef jerky. Only at half the order before tossing it. Would have given it to the neighbor's dog, but I'd like to stay on good terms with him because he's a good boy! read more

I was worried when I moved here I wouldn't be able to find good pork egg foo young. Boy was I wrong it was the best. My boyfriend got the pork with mushrooms he was not disappointed with it! Just really good food. My new favorite place can't wait to try more dishes. read more

This place is awesome!!! come here every week Very affordable prices Buffet is great only wish they had it all day long read more

Little family run restaurant/take out place. Busy on weekends, usually 30 to 45 minute wait for take out. Food is consistent, fresh and good. We get the same stuff a lot. The dinner platters come with eggrolls and are enough for two meals! read more

Horrible food and the restaurant is filthy. They were completely dead we ordered $60 worth of food and they got our order wrong we had to drive back to get the correct items and everything was absolutely terrible in taste and quality. read more

The food is good as long as you can catch them when they are open. They seem to be closed random days. Call before going. Very frustrating.

Ordered sweet/sour chicken take out. Sub-par for Chinese food. It was just breaded chicken chunks and plain white unflavored rice. No vegetables. Sweet and sour chicken isn't without onions, green peppers, and carrots. It shouldn't be just plain white boiled rice and chicken nuggets. Sauce was on the side and tasted OK. Glad we didn't eat inside. It looks pretty grunge. I can only assume this place passes the health dept inspections. Doesn't look they could have passed tonight. Really poor for Chinese food. Go elsewhere if you really have to have Chinese food. We'll never go back. read more

Very good food, prepared fresh (takes awhile) and fair prices. Large portions. Located in a nondescript strip mall, the interior is dimly lit and doesn't present a lot of ambiance - which may explain the takeout trend they cater to. But it is clean and you can see into the kitchen so you'll have no concerns. It is very consistent so while you may not find it "the best you've ever had" it will never disappoint either. read more

Food constantly good. Fried wonton are usually dried out. Best dish is gen tso beef and Mae fun. Order person on phone us usually owners son with an attitude. read more

I have been going to China River for 20 years and then about a year ago it changed owners . I have always liked it before but hadn`t been there since new owners took over . I have read some bad reviews about it since and so I tried it 3 times in the last month and all I can say is, it`s the best Chinese food in the Spfld area..... I always order the General Tso`s and the pork fried rice..... It is delicious !!!! My wife orders the Honey chicken and fried rice....and it`s great too....The portions are large, and by large I mean I can eat it for several nights... The crab Rangoon are the best I have ever had ....The service is good and friendly and the prices are very reasonable.... If you live in Spfld, it`s worth the 10 minute drive to Chatham....enjoy..... also I live in Spfld IL ....not California read more

Cheapest and best tasting Chinese food in Chatham. Buffet is under 7$ with a drink included. They also offer 5$ lunch specials in their menu. This is definitely a place I could eat at all the time. read more

My boyfriend and I love Chinese food. Last night we got take out from China River and it was absolutely delicious! The fried rice had great flavor and taste. I had sesame chicken and he had the general tso's and both of us liked our dishes. Definitely recommend! read more

This is the best lunch buffet in the area. Go early. Some of the usual Chinese food but several dishes made from scratch that are awesome. Mom and pop type place that is worth going to. Wonderful people run this restaurant who are members of the community. read more