China Express

While some of you followers of mine may wonder, "How on earth can you give a national fast-food…read morechain restaurant five stars"?!, well, it is simple - I can't imagine a better execution of their business model! If you know, you know, as the kids say. And this location knows! The welcoming young lady was amazing (sorry I did not catch her name), and the order was quickly and accurately taken even with a lot of people coming through - precision and control, while being friendly and courteous, in a situation that would have sent me to another job! Well done. The location was also very clean, again considering the large number of patrons. We almost couldn't get a table inside, but we lucked out. And the food was indeed fast, and fresh. We ordered some unique hamburgers to adjust for individual tastes, such as no cheese on this, no onions on that, add a bun-free burger (whatever that means! ), a couple of cheeseburgers animal style, some regular fries and one animal fries, and a couple of double-doubles (if my memory still holds!). Oh yeah, and some fountain drinks. Overall, a delicious meal enjoyed by all - and no leftovers! And that requires 5-stars for this review!

Few fast-food chains inspire the devotion that In-N-Out does, so I approached the Double-Double…read moreAnimal Style with high expectations. Unfortunately, the experience fell well short of the legend. The burger arrived on a noticeably dry bun that lacked the soft, fresh character needed to support the sandwich. While the beef was cooked adequately, it was surprisingly bland, offering little of the savory depth or charred richness that makes a great burger memorable. Even the Animal Style treatment couldn't fully compensate for the lack of flavor at the core of the burger. The highlight of the meal was undoubtedly the Animal Style fries. The combination of melted cheese, caramelized onions, and signature sauce delivered a satisfying indulgence--at least while hot. Once they began to cool, the texture deteriorated rapidly, becoming heavy and far less appealing. In the end, I found myself wondering what all the fuss was about. While In-N-Out has clearly earned a loyal following, this visit For me, it was a one-time experience rather than the beginning of a craving.

09/08/2024: 4 Cheeseburgers -- in 4 different styles

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Super Duper Burgers

4.1(736 reviews)

3.2 mi

Best burgers in Novato! There was a respectful kid named David at the front who helped my kiddo's…read moreout with ordering, he was super helpful with returning our wrong order as well

Fast service and tasty burgers. My veggie burger was one of the better ones I've had. We sat…read moreoutside on the nicely shaded patio.

Yummy pickles.. Jar to go please..

Mini burger, no cheese

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Vanilla malted milkshake

World Famous Hotboys

4.4(117 reviews)

3.2 mi

Several years ago I tried the Hotboys location in Oakland and I gave them 3 stars because I felt…read morelike the wings were heavily battered. Today I was driving through Novato and craving spicy fried chicken. I see most people get the sando from here but I like to just stick to the chicken and not let the bread get in the way! Ordered 2 half chicken light only, which means the wing + breast and then another half chicken that includes the wing + breast + leg + thigh = so altogether, both orders $54.62 It seems expensive considering a whole raw chicken is about $5 but they do some voodoo magic to their fried chicken at Hotboys -- the seasoning is delicious, batter is crispy, and meat inside is still juicy -- the breast meat goes well dipped in their special sauce and they bagged plenty for me! Service was excellent -- very friendly and accommodating! The music is hyped up so it can be a little loud. Bathrooms were very clean. I thoroughly enjoyed digging into my half chicken with my hands. The wait is about 20 minutes but it's not a problem to wait for good chicken! It came out so hot that I was willing to burn my fingers a little LOL

Wow fantastic! I am glad I Google Search fast food places…read morebesides the same old chicken place I been to on Novato and I found this cute name place a decided to give this place a try and boy I a glad I did! It was a slight detour from where I was but it was work the drive here as I found Rustic Bakery right next door that my friend told me about the had good pastries. On their website, They use 100% halal chicken, peanut oil, wheat and soy products. I ordered the Chicken Sandwich Combo which is The World Famous Hot Fried Chicken Sandwich and your choice of side. This restaurant is located around the bay area like Oakland, Walnut Creek, Sacramento & Hayward or our locations in Carmel Indiana & Indianapolis. I love the hip looking decor. Something everyone can be surprised with and makes a great conversation starter like aliens and I used to have toy like that growing up. lol good meal combo I got with mild chicken sandwich with fries and a drink was very enjoyable and I would be more than happy to come back to World Famous Hotboys. I was impressed and it was yummy in my tummy.

Sandwich

A couple video games near the entrance

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White hair on my fry

Chick-fil-A

3.1(366 reviews)

0.8 mi

Stop by chick-fil-a after a store trip. Did a mobile order, first time using the app. Pretty quick…read moreand easy. Got some chick-fil-a nuggets, gallon of lemonade, unsweetened tea, sweet tea, and their seasonal peach milkshake. They were nice from the person taking the order to the person handing you the order. The only thing I was disappointed by that don't mix the unsweetened tea and lemonade as a gallon at this location (I've seen the other location on the app does). I didn't ask, other then that still like their nuggets and the peach shake still amazing, will get it a couple of times in the summer. My new fave is getting the jugs of sweet tea and don't have to drive far to Raising Kanes to get it.

I haven't been to Chick-fil-A in a while. I was a little bit, surprised how small the chicken…read moreNuggets were. They were inky dinky. I don't know if it was only today or what the scoop is. They were good but way too small. As always, the employees were very nice and the establishment was clean

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Dave's Hot Chicken

4.0(124 reviews)

1.0 mi

Two thumbs up for "Dave's #2: 2 Sliders w/ Fries." I appreciate the customer selection of degrees…read moreof spiciness (hot) and that you allowed me to order the fries without salt. French fries and fried chicken are best eaten immediately and the clean tables (and restrooms) made dining pleasurable. Both French fries and chicken were cooked to perfection: exterior crunch, tender inside.

Food: 3/5 Service: 3/5…read moreAmbiance: 3/5 Portion to Price: 3/5 Overall: Can't say no to Fried chicken! The extended review... Food: Sliders with Fries - 3/5 - I got 2 sliders with fries. Taste was standard fare. Service: 3/5 - Standard service. Ambiance: 3/5 - Seating both inside and out. Portion to Price: 3/5 - Pricing is pretty standard fare.

2 sliders and fries to go

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Dave's Hot Chicken in Feb. 2025

Sabor De Mexico

4.4(66 reviews)

0.1 mi

Great lunch - super affordable and huge portions. Had a…read moresuper chicken quesadilla and a super carne asada quesadilla - both had sour cream and guacamole inside. Still have half of each leftover. Sat outside on the patio and it was a wonderful day out there. Ordering was quick and easy - and received our food very quickly. Great experience!

I'm disappointed with my experience at this restaurant. Unfortunately, several aspects of the meal…read moreand service fell far below my expectations. The server was rude throughout the experience, and at one point spilled juice on me. When I asked for plastic utensils because the utensils provided were dirty, I was met with an attitude rather than a simple, courteous response. The food was also disappointing. The tortilla was soggy rather than crispy, and the birria consommé did not taste authentic or flavorful. The shrimp I ordered with the El Diablo sauce was unexpectedly sweet, which was not what I expected from the dish. As someone who is 100% Mexican and grew up eating Mexican food regularly, I have a good understanding of the flavors and preparation I expect from Mexican cuisine. I'm always willing to give a restaurant a fair chance, but unfortunately, both the food and the service missed the mark during my visit. I hope the restaurant takes this feedback seriously and works on improving both the quality of the food and the way customers are treated.

Covered patio

Regular carne asada burrito

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Extra room

Teriyaki Madness

I was received a gift card to this wonderful restaurant and continue to keep going back. Always…read moreconsistent, with delicious fresh food every time. The quality never disappoints and each dish is prepared with care and packed with flavor - always perfectly balanced and the ingredients are top-notch. It is the kind of reliable, delicious experience that makes it an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a great meal. Kim TL

Food was really good for a first time and for those egg rolls. This place feels very homie and I am…read moredef coming back

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Habit Burger & Grill

3.5(190 reviews)

0.3 mi

I love this place! The food is delicious and service. Fast…read moreand friendly (Even the bathrooms are so clean)

Really disappointed in the changes they've made. Cobb salad didn't have either eggs or a choice of…read morefat free dressing. Salads are smaller. Pepperoncinis no longer available. Used to be my favorite QSR cobb salad. No more.

French Onion Burger.

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Strawberry Sundae - 2/5

Nick the Greek

4.3(274 reviews)

0.9 mi

Shared the chicken souvlaki with my partner. We had it over…read morerice, it came with pita bread, onions and tomato and a small Greek salad. It was excellent, not greasy and more than enough for the two of us. We will be back!

I love the food from Nick the Greek! But this review is specifically for Dubai chocolate frozen…read moreyogurt! I felt they have improved their shell chocolate since last time I tried. It tasted semi dark chocolate (not too sweet) and the pistachio topping is the best part! They even put some of this deliciousness at the bottom. I have had it 3 days in a row since I first tried it. I hope it stays on the menu permanently!!

Inside

Mediterranean steak bowl!

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Chicken Gyros

Trailhead

Noticed the great smell of coffee when we stopped by on our way to Point Reyes and made mental note…read moreto try it out on our way back home in a couple of days. We stopped in this morning on our return trip and my husband and I were not disappointed! He ordered the turkey egg Mcmuffin with a cup of dark roast coffee while I had the croissant ham and egg and a cup of mocha. All were well-made and tasty! We later returned for chocolate shakes as it was warming up. Great friendly and courteous service. The next time we're in the area, we'll be sure to drop in again.

Very nice service and outside patio to enjoy. But the as…read moreadvertised crossaint breakfast sandwich for $12 was disappointing. Instead of actual slices of bacon there were only a few tiny microwaved pieces of bacon bits sprinkled on the fluffy scrambled eggs and cheddar bits. I think for that price point a few trips of bacon would greatly enhance this breakfast sandwich experiences. Caio for now

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13 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Cameron L.

9 years ago

Thank you, China Express for a great feast! We had several dishes, from our familiar favorite beef chow fun to a new sweet and sour dish -- prawns. All were really good, but after reading in reviews how good your egg foo young was, we gave your combination egg foo young a try. Not at all like any I've had before. Others serve it with a gravy, and it can range from filled with bean sprouts and rather watery and bland to OK stuff. But you make the "gravy" a soup filled with meat and veggies. And the egg omelet itself is plain but really well done and crispy, sort of, on the outside. Put that on your bowl and ladle on the liquid? Really, really tasty. So now there are three Chinese soups I love, wor won ton, hot and sour, and China Express egg foo young. I'll be ordering this again and again. Happy Holidays, thanks to you! read more

Tom S.

14 years ago

Grabbed a quick bite after work on my way home. Like the calorie counters next to the items on the board. Food was ok too. I'm a sucker for a little hole in the wall chinese place though. The Panda quick service, cafeteria style dining, and above average prices won't get me there regularly. I'll pay the same or less at one of the other sit down spots that dot the map. Unless of course I'm in a rush and I guess we are all in a rush these days. read more

Anissa A.

14 years ago

My family and I go here a lot. Good chinese food, good price. Great customer service. My 7 year old loves this place and says, "Can we get Chinese food where my friend works". He thinks the young guy that works there is SOOO cool and considers him a close friend! Give it a try if you want yummy cheap take out! read more

Josh B.

7 years ago

Ive been coming here for a long time. They are fast and friendly. The food is not too expensive and it's delicious chinese food. I would recommend this for people on the go as well. The center has alot of parking too. Good place. The place is kind of small but you can eat outside as well which is nice. read more

Capt J.

12 years ago

Outstanding! Great food, great service, AND they deliver! More of a take out than a sit down place, the menu is varied and the ingredients are fresh, the food is tasty and not over cooked. Family run, Martin, the son, is very friendly and helpful. Try them if you haven't, Capt. Jack recommends it! read more

Frank R.

14 years ago

I get food delivered to my house from china express like almost every week. The delivery is fast and doesnt charge extra. The people who work here are very down to earth. (most chinese restaurants i go to seem to be very stingy) The food is good, service is great. read more

Bess B.

15 years ago

This is one of my favorite places for authentic Chinese food. It's not to expensive, everything is fresh and service I can appreciate. The place isn't too loud and there's convenient parking. read more

mark j.

15 years ago

was not the worst chinese i've ever had, but unlike some reviews this was not hte worst place possible. the orange chicken seemed deep fried and that's why i'm leaving the review i'm leaving. read more

Amber J.

13 years ago

The girls and I at work order take out from here for our lunches all the time. They are great! Food taste good they always get our orders right. That is important to me. Thanks everyone. read more

Ismael D.

13 years ago

Food is great, Customer service is over the top. One of my families favorite go to spots. You need to give it a try if you haven't done so already. read more

Raj P.

17 years ago

A friend turned me on to this place. It was priced fair and the food was good. Service was fine. Not bad...

Linda A.

14 years ago

My son and I love this place and Martin....great food and service.

Eddy R.

7 years ago

A little cigarette smoke never hurt anyone, right?!

China Express - chinese - Updated September 2026

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