Kenny and Johnny are great!!! Kenny made sure they wouldn't discontinue the pot stickers. I like the lunch specials better than the dinner. The price is getting a little high, but not bad for Moraga. As a Chinese guy, this is the only chinese food place I go to in the Lamorinda area. read more

This is some of the BEST Chinese cuisine I have ever had. The Spicy Basil Asparagus Prawns is amazing. Not only is the food delicious, but the texture, presentation, and service are for sure top shelf! read more

I really wanted to like this restaurant. It was the highest rated Chinese restaurant in Moraga. We have tried Asia Palace a few times and didn't have a great experience so we were looking for a new place to try. The food was ok. It satisfied my craving for Chinese food however I felt it was overly salty. Two hours later I could barely get my wedding ring off (and it is usually loose). I was surprised by this because no other reviewers had commented on the salt content. In fact other reviewers had commented that dishes were too sweet !?! Perhaps it is what I ordered (Kung Pao Prawns and Hot and Sour Soup). Both dishes contained prawns. Maybe they brine the prawns? We ordered take-out and the cashier was very friendly. The 10% discount for using a credit card was a nice surprise. Apparently the discount is 15% if you pay cash. The dining area also looked very nice and the place was packed. I will give Chef Chao another try and hope for the best. read more

Bland. Boring. Peas in EVERYTHING. It tasted like something out of a packet or prepared in a microwave. And the "dumplings" we ordered were crab won tons and they had...cheddar cheese instead of cream cheese in them. What?! Underwhelmed and disappointed. read more

I have been coming to this restaurant for close to 30 years they have evolved over the years from top notch gourmet Chinese food to being totally inconsistent I read the reviews and they seem to go from awful to great. All of them echo my experience; great one time and bad the next. I wonder if there is a chef that rotates through who's good and he alternates with a lousy one. Tonight's food was so bad it reminds me why I really just need to give up on the place. read more

Try the crispy duck. It's very good, and isn't easily found in most Chinese restaurants. Ambiance is great, as is the overall dining area. The food is reasonably priced, and there's a discount for getting your meal to-go. I would definitely come back. read more

Chef Chao is my favorite chinese food in Moraga. I love their sweet and sour pork! I order take-out all the time. They even accommodated my whole softball team of 23 people. read more

For 22 years our family has enjoyed the best Chinese food in the East Bay. The food is consistently delicious and the service, especially Johnny and Kenny, make the experience fantastic every time. Having gone to many Chinese restaurants around the country, and even more specifically in San Francisco, we constantly come back to Chef Chao in Moraga. They should be featured on Bay Area Check Please! They're so awesome! Give it a try, you'll love it! read more

Another great dining experience at Chef Chao recently! This time I tried the steamed sole filet with ginger per the owner's recommendation and it was delicious! The fried green beans with wasabi sauce and spring rolls were also amazing appetizers. Just writing this is making me hungry again. read more

I love Chef Chao! I've been going here since I was 4 years old. Authentic Chinese food and the waitresses are so nice!

This is the best Chinese food in Moraga and perhaps the entire Lamorinda area! I have only ordered take out, so I cannot comment on the service and atmosphere. But, they are attentive and quick in the take out/pick up genre. Also, important tip, bring cash because they offer a discount for all cash purchases. You will not be disappointed with the food at this outstanding restaurant. read more

Great service and great food, but gets busy for dinner so call ahead to make a reservation.

Awesome food and the staff treats me really well everytime I dine-in. I definitly recommend their lunch specials

Chef Chao has been a favorite with our family for years- The food is excellent and the friendly staff is always welcoming!

I've been going to Chef Chao for the past 15+ years and it's fantastic! Some of the best Chinese food I've had in the U.S. and China. The servers are always friendly and personable too. Highly recommend it. read more

Really love this place but last time I got the fried shrimp the batter they used was different which was very disappointing because those were my favorite. I also noticed this evening that the chicken in dish I ordered was not the same quality I've come to expect. It was slightly chewy and slimy, almost like the texture of a mushroom. This texture to the meat is something I find in many other Chinese restaurants I've gone to and the reason I never went back. I'm really hoping this was just a fluke not a permanent change in their meat. I literally couldn't eat it. read more

our favorite of all the Chinese restaurants in Moraga.....very consistent, very quick, and always good......

Just went over to Chef Chao to have dinner--we chose the anniversary menu (30 years in Moraga!!!) and was usual, we were pleasantly surprised with delicate appetizers and a very tasty dish (Orange Prawns was our choice for the main course). If you want to have great chinese food give them a try--their anniversary menu won't be there forever (mid July, maybe?) and is an excellent option. read more

Great Chinese food from Americanized beef w broccoli to Chinese favorites. Servers are great also - very friendly in a genuine way...

They are great at accommodating for the gluten free customer. I love love love their food. Sooooooo good. The double mushroom beef is my new favorite. I have been a long time customer and they even greet me by name. Overall great food and great service! read more

Delicious and fresh dishes. Missing the 5th star due to Egg Foo Young that is ALL egg when I ordered once with shrimp; there were maybe 5 in 2 giant patties. Tried the combo as well, same problem. Also could work on the gentleman (owner) who has lost his smile. Rest of staff is great. read more

I had tried to get takeout at this restaurant awhile back and arrived at 8:45 PM, 15 minutes before closing. I thought, "that should be enough time." Nope. I got rebuffed in the lobby. "Sorry, it was slow so we closed early." Ka-pow! A sock to the jaw. I was not pleased. So when my friend invited me to have dinner there, I was interested to see if the food was as good as I had heard when I tried to get takeout. The food was good. It was a bit on the sweet side but overall, the flavors were strong but not overpowering. The Lemon Chicken was crispy but the sauce was more sweet than lemony. The Shrimp Fried Rice was good with just the right amount of saltiness and the Honey Walnut Prawns were very good, about as good as I have had elsewhere. Overall, 4 stars. It was good enough for a return visit. read more

Chef Chao is the BEST Chinese food in the universe. Anyone that doesn't think so, is crazy or has no taste buds. Favs: mu shu, wonton soup, potstickers....no matter what it is, it is always fresh and delicious. Kenny, Amy and Johnny are super personable, they are like family. It's a great place! read more

Chef Chao is by far the best Chinese restaurant in the Lamorinda area. My family orders take out from this restaurant all the time, and it never disappoints! The staff there is really nice, especially Mrs. Chao! read more

We enjoyed our first meal at Chef Chao this evening; we'll certainly go back for more.

I was invited by a friend. To my surprise, I loved it! The eggplant chicken & mango chicken was great! The food was served family style. The kids enjoyed it too. read more

Awesome chinese food. The manchurian beef is the best around and the service is quick. We have spent many meals here and they are always stellar. Can't wait to go back! read more

Chef Chao is a great place to eat. We had about 12 people in our group and they accommodated to us perfectly. Definitely order the hot and sour soup to start. There are some other great dishes but the ones i remember are the walnut prawns, chicken fried rice and this great tofu veggie dish with broccoli. Check them out when you get a chance! read more

Eaten there twice and ordered takeout twice. The food has always been top notch. Best in Moraga. It is the attitude of the staff the kills the experience. Except for the waiter the rest of the service staff are indifferent, almost to the point of being rude. When I order for takeout the phone conversation is less than appreciative. It is almost as if I am bothering them by calling to order their food. Going in to pick up the food is also a less than a friendly experience. "What's your name, here is your food, give me the money, now get out" seems to be the attitude. I also don't think I was given the 15% discount for paying cash. read more

Consistently great food and nice people. One of my favorites for healthy eating with wonderful taste is the chicken with assorted vegetables. read more

I've been a fan of Chef Chao for the last 15 years. It is wonderful food, a good location, a beautiful setting, very friendly staff, and reasonably priced. We've gone there for special occasions and never, ever been disappointed. read more

I've been coming here for years with my family. Consistently great food and service!

I have been going to Chef Chao since I was a Freshman at Saint Mary's - 20 years ago! The quality, ambience, and hospitality have remained at a very high level that entire time. The staff is terrific and kind and it is a place we still go for special occasions, even though we live an hour or so away now. read more

We were in the area on business yesterday and it's been along time since we had any Chinese food,so we decided to do a take out order. Based on all the very good yelps,and the highly recommended dishes we got hot/sour soup,orange chicken,bbq pork chow mien,bbq pork fried rice and Szechuan beef.it was amazing to us that all of these dishes except the hot/sour soup, were completely tasteless. Even at that,the soup was not great,just passable,so the two stars are for the soup. We have always loved Chinese food and have really never eeperienced such tasteless food before this time.all we can really say in its defense is that if you do eat it,you more than not will not get sick from eating it or have any health issues afterwards. Since our food was completely devoid of taste,we just threw our food except for the soup away and got takeout food from a different Chinese restaurant in our own neighborhood. read more