Hangzhou East Station: "Jianbing Shijia" – Don't Get Zapped!

[Dr. Wade Boyer]

Wow, my recent trip to Hangzhou was mostly enjoyable, but this little incident really put a dent in my experience!

Here’s what happened:

• I ordered a “grilled vegetable pancake” at one restaurant – you know, that Chinese-style crepe or street thin pancake made with fresh vegetables?
• I saw a vendor making pancakes and assumed he was preparing mine, so I told him I wanted medium spiciness.
• Then another, very rude employee yelled at me, saying, “Do you see properly! He is making the ones with sausage and eggs! It has nothing to do with yours!”
• His attitude was particularly unfriendly, and there was also some sarcastically indirect insults.
• Unable to tolerate this, I complained directly to the boss of the store!

Travel Tips and Avoiding Hazards (especially for foreign friends!):

• Order Confirmation:
  • When ordering at snack stalls, especially those that appear very busy, it is best to point out what you want or confirm again with the vendor making your food. During busy times, they might confuse orders.
  • How to do it: Point to the pictures or samples on the menu and say “I want this”, or when the vendor starts preparing your food, confirm again “It’s vegetable, medium spiciness, right?”
• Faced with Unfriendly Staff:
  • If you feel that you have been unfairly treated or the staff attitude is bad, you can consider following my example and complaining to the store manager.
  • Tip: If there is a language barrier, it can be troublesome. You may have prepared a translation of your words in advance, or ask a Chinese-speaking friend for help.
• What is a 'pancake'?
  • A ‘pancake’ is a popular street snack in China, which is usually a thin pancake made from batter, typically containing eggs, vegetables, crackers ("guozi" or "thin crouton"), various sauces and more. You can choose your own flavors; sweet, soy sauce, or spicy, etc. “时蔬” just refers to seasonal fresh vegetables.

Happy travels in Hangzhou! Hope you can avoid such mood-altering incidents! #HangzhouTravel #RantExperience #TravelTips

[Anita Wiza]

Honestly, this place leaves me speechless every time I pass by. I've even found a hair in my food there before.

[Justin Zieme]

Oh, I've got one better: I actually found a snail in my food there.

[Leland Erdman]

You should come try our savory vegetable pancakes sometime!