"1"^^ . "2"^^ . "2011-09-18T00:00:00"^^ . . "0"^^ . . "Far East Foods is one of those Calgary greasy spoons that has been around forever. Even if you've never eaten there and have only driven past its bound to have left an impression (how can you not remember the fat smiling green Buddha on their sign?). \n\nIts never been a regular stop on my dining routine but rather a place I'd stop into for a quick bite if I happened to be in the area. So over the past decade I've probably eaten there a half dozen times. Prior to the reno's (and I understand new owners) it would have charitably been called a dive. Stark white walls, flickering florescent lights, bustling kitchen that you could view from the order counter......the complete lack of charm is what gave this place character. Although it was a dive it did have two things going for it. It was clean and the food was great! As purely westernized Chinese as you can get with the food color enhanced sauces and I'm sure enough MSG in one meal to last a lifetime but thats why I loved it!\n\nWas in Forest Lawn yesterday and felt peckish so thought I'd stop in and check out the new digs. While there's no doubt its nicer looking I miss the old version. It now has that suburban insert generic ethnic food restaurant here feel to it. Staff were friendly and they seem to have kept the same combo for one menu had previously ordered from so I stuck to what I knew and liked. Egg roll to start, steamed rice, sweet & sour chicken balls and chicken gai ding. \n\nEhhh....wasn't impressed. The egg roll was mostly dough with very little stuffing. The chicken balls were mushy and quite large (the original owner prepared them much smaller and crispy) and the chicken gai ding had only one piece of (what I hope was) chicken. It was generic mall food court Chinese fare. \n\nSometimes change isn't a good thing."^^ . . "0"^^ .