Thoroughly confused and hungry... that's what came to mind after reading the reviews of Richie Chan's then actually trying their food. Yes, Richie Chan's is a hole in the wall and yes, it's definitely cheap. My experience was awful leaving only my garbage can full. In hindsight, I would have gotten a better meal across the street at CVS chowing down on potato chips and slim jim's.
When I try a new chinese place I stick with the basics before venturing off into your more advanced fair. General Tso is about as basic as it gets. Similar to another reviewer, I found that the chicken was pre-cooked slices, breaded, deep fried and drown in sauce. You don't need to be an expert in cooking to realize that cooked chicken, cooked again in smaller pieces creates a dry, fibrous and tasteless experience. Combine that with the over-fried batter and it was like a rawhide treat for your dog.
The chicken wasn't the only overcooked disappointment for the afternoon. An order of crab rangoon was just as disappointing. Instead of crunchy but light wonton shell with a creamy filling, it too was overcooked rock hard and tasteless.
At some point this place may have been a great place to eat but they have now gone down the path of pre-prepared and overcooked food with loads of sauces to cover up the taste. Perhaps the "authentic" fare is better but when they're cutting corners and messing up on the basics, I'd rather try my luck elsewhere.