What has happened to my childhood favorite Chinese restaurant? Picked up combination egg foo young, chicken with vegetables and an order of eggrolls the other day and was first shocked at the cost of $60+ and secondly at how much the food has changed. Although the portions were good size my egg foo young lacked flavor. It actually had no flavor even with soy sauce and chili oil (which cost $.75). The chicken and vegetables were a bit better but the fried rice that came with it also didn't taste like anything. Lastly their egg rolls which I use to love and would drive from Richmond, TX just to get were still big but the filling was very salty this time. I'm not giving up on them but I really hope the food goes back to what I know it used to be. read more

I was craving Chinese food today, and this spot popped up as just a mile from my job with good reviews, so I decided to check it out. Lucky for me, they have their own parking lot, which already made everything super convenient. I walked in around 1:30 PM and was back out by 1:55 PM, so the service is definitely fast and friendly; perfect for a lunch break. The lunch menu has a huge variety of options, and every plate comes with fried rice and a pretty big egg roll. I honestly didn't know what to expect, but the quality of the food was fantastic. I can totally see how they've stayed open for 50+ years. I ordered the beef and broccoli... which honestly should be renamed to beef and vegetables, because it came with broccoli, carrots, and onions. Not complaining, though! The beef was tender and kind of reminded me of a beef fajita texture with how flakey and tender it was. The sauce was savory with garlic and soy sauce flavors and I really liked it. The veggies were cooked perfectly for my taste: still a little crunchy and not soggy. My only complaint was the onion. They were a bit too crunchy and raw, which made them super spicy and pungent, so I just moved them to the side. The egg roll was good, too! It tasted freshly made with cabbage that still had some crunch, which I love. Portion-wise, it was absolutely perfect. I finished everything except the onions and left feeling satisfied. Not heavy and not carrying leftovers, which I appreciate because some Chinese spots over serve. I paid about $20 including tip. Overall, I would 100% recommend this place and would definitely come back for lunch again. read more

China Garden - Beef and broccoli - Chinese Near Me - Houston, Texas

We came in for an early dinner. The restaurant was pretty quiet. There were only a couple of other tables when we arrived but it did start to fill up. Even with people coming in, it stayed fairly quiet. Our server was fantastic and helped us choose. We had sauté chicken livers for an appy and they were spicy and delicious. Hubby had a combination foo yung and I had shredded cabbage with pork. Both were extremely tasty and enough for leftovers. We are definitely coming back. read more

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There was a mix up in the order but it was handled with grace and understating. With that I want to give credit where it's due, mistakes happen but good food makes it so much better. The ABSOLUTE BEST Shrimp Fried Rice in Houston! Loaded with shrimp, beautiful color and incredible texture. I alway come here for Eggrolls but the fried rice is the best I have had! read more

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Very good only 4 stars because they seem to open and close when they want too don't stick with set days and times. But w FIFA coming I'm sure they will be open daily! read more

We love this family owned business. Mom & Pop passed away, but daughter Carol runs the place with her brothers. Try the daily lunch specials. They also have FREE parking, which is an anomaly for downtown locations. read more

Best Chinese food in town! I live out in Katy but anytime I am near downtown I have to stop by! Everything is homemade and fresh. It's like home cookin' for Chinese food. The egg foo young is my favorite. And of course you have to get the egg rolls with their homemade sweet and sour sauce. read more

This place is historic as it first opened its doors in 1969. So this place is about 56 years old this year. With downtown Houston is always evolving it is hard to tell how long this restaurant can service in the next few years. The lunch special is big portion and delicious, I tried the Roast Pork Egg Foo Yung, it was pretty good American Chinese food here. They do have a parking lot in the back and good amount of street parking. It is great lunch option of you work in the area. read more

They treated me like family. I literally walked in and told the staff I have 20-25 minutes before I work and they got me in and out for lunch. I've heard Houston has some of the best Asian food and this delivered. I had the lunch special the fire shrimp covered in brown sauce, house fried rice and an eggroll. This probably one of the best eggrolls i ever had. Perfect fried and not like other places where its over fried. The side sauces were a great complement. Highly recommend going for lunch. read more

China Garden - Eggroll is amazing! - Chinese Near Me - Houston, Texas

Talk about nostalgic! Stepping into this restaurant is like being transported into the past. China Garden is one of Houston's oldest Chinese restaurants and has been around for over 50 years. The old yellow building with the green tile roof and their big red name on the side of the restaurant has been on that same corner in downtown for most of those years. I remember when I first started driving, my friends and I ventured into downtown and decided to eat at one of the only Chinese restaurants we knew. This was over 20 years ago, and the place still looks the same inside and out. Since then, the Asian food scene has blown up in Houston and China Garden for me was forgotten until recently when I saw them featured on Eat Like a Local. Recently, I was going to attend a Rockets game and we wanted to grab a bite beforehand. This was my chance to reconnect with an old favorite. We were seated right away in their smaller dining area by the bar. Soon after, people flooded in, all wearing Rockets gear. This is a pregame spot, and I love to see it. My dining companion was fangirling when the owner Carol came and talked to us and took pictures with us. The staff also come around with a professional camera and take pics and print them out, frame it and offer it as a purchase for a keepsake. Kinda random and quirky, but fun, nonetheless. Customer service was awesome. The staff was mostly older, and you can tell they have been around for a while. It looked as if there was a lot of regulars coming in because there were lots of hugging and handshakes going on between the staff and dining patrons. On to the food. What this place isn't lacking is options. You have plenty of those here. They have a lunch menu that has some of their best sellers at a very reasonable price. Their dinner menu has about 5 pages of all kinds of different dishes. Just like their lunch menu, they also have a dinner menu section that comes with fried rice and an eggroll with bigger portions and of course a little more expensive. They also have a la cart options. There's something for everyone. We decided to get some of the foods we saw on the show which were some of their heavy hitters. We ordered the fried chicken wings to start. These were so delicious. They were smaller in size but packed so much flavor. It had this nice, crisp exterior that was seasoned to perfection. It did not even need any sauce. For our entrees, we went their dinner plate option so we could get an eggroll and rice with It. Their eggrolls are one of the things they are known for. They are huge and filled with a delicious filling of perfectly cooked cabbage. It is served with house made sweet and sour and hot mustard. My first bite I went with the hot mustard and let me tell you, that stuff is potent. It was like taking a big bite of wasabi. My head had feelings it's never had before. After that initial burn, the flavor hits and it was pleasing. Just be warned, a little goes a long way. The eggroll was so good, we had ordered more. For my entrée, I went with the Spicy Chicken. It is their take on General Tso chicken with a kick. It was good, but next time I will venture into something a little more unique. I also had bites of their popular Lemon Chicken dish. This was like an Italian chicken piccata but with a little Asian twist. It was different but very tasty. Overall, this was most definitely a blast from the past and a great meal. It has been put back in my game day rotation. I will be back. read more

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Excellent food. Waitstaff was friendly and courteous. Nice and quiet dining experience. Highly recommend this place. read more

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Where to begin... I've been going to China Garden for over fifty years! My parents started taking my brother's and I as small children. Now, we take our families. That initself should tell you everything! The service you receive is always spot on. Warm and friendly. They know almost all their regular customers by name, and if they don't know your name when you first arrive, they will by the time you leave!! You'll always see the restaurant full of families celebrating a special occasion. It's just that kind of place! Carol, Richard, Debbie and Mindy are THE BEST! I'll forever miss seeing Mary Ann's beautiful sweet face. Always a smile, a shoulder rub or hug. Food is ALWAYS fresh and delicious!! The BEST egg rolls are at China Garden!!! The fried wonton are just yummy and you can't eat just one. The warm sweet sauce takes them to another level! The Pork Chow Mein is my ultimate favorite!! The Fried Hot Shrimp is also a favorite. There has never been anything that I've tried that I didn't just love. Oh, the hushpuppies are delicious!! I just love everything! Don't let a few negative reviews make you believe this place isn't THE BEST...because it is!! You won't be disappointed. read more

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I got everything people recommend here. Lemon chicken, egg roll, and wonton soup. The cornbread and egg roll are good. My lemon chicken was fine, it was warm while it is only 5 mins back to the hotel. The wonton soup broth is good , the wonton itself is fine, there was only 2 pieces. Total is around $24 for all the food I got. Owners seem nice and know a lot of regulate customers. Nothing fancy, just a casual Chinese (Americanized) restaurant in downtown Houston. read more

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China Garden is hands-down one of the best restaurants in Houston--and it's all thanks to the incredible people who run it. Carol, the owner, is truly one of the most genuine and welcoming restaurant owners I've ever met. She treats every guest like family, and it shows in every detail of the experience. The food is phenomenal every single time. Some of our go-to favorites are the egg rolls (absolute must-have), the House Special Fried Rice, and the Lemon Chicken. Richard and Cameron do an amazing job in the kitchen--everything is always fresh, perfectly cooked, and packed with flavor. If you're heading to an event at the Toyota Center, China Garden should be your automatic first stop. The convenience is unbeatable, and the atmosphere is always warm and inviting. And whatever you do, don't leave without trying one of Momma's famous Mai Tais. Trust me--they're the perfect finishing touch to an already unforgettable meal. China Garden is a true Houston gem. Highly, highly recommend! read more

I arrive for lunch to try for the first time to see if the reviews matched its top rating. Service was good at the beginning and I got a kick out of the loud voices in the back and the crashing dishes--I thought I was in a movie. They gave me fried hush puppies that were sweet and delicious like donuts--which turned out to be the best part of the meal. Unfortunately, the expensive Mongolian Beef lunch was not very good. Fatty meat that I quit eating after a while. The rice and egg roll were fine, but the beef was a huge disappointment. I really was looking forward to eating here after all these years. Bottom line, too expensive and not good for what I ordered. read more

China Garden - Mongolian beef lunch plate with hush puppies - Chinese Near Me - Houston, Texas

Stayed at a nearby hotel for a conference and decided to drop in here for dinner take-out. Looks like a local favorite and the staff was warm and welcoming. I looked over the menu and ordered the Hunan beef. While waiting for my order noticed a few customers coming it for parking and it looks like their parking is doing brisk business when there is an event happening in downtown. Witnessed warm interactions between staff and local regulars which reminded me of my favorite local Chinese restaurant that has since shuttered. Got my to-go order and everything looked and smelled great. Arrived back to the hotel room to chow down. This is good ol' American-Chinese food. Comfort food, and it hit the spot. The Hunan beef was fried and coated with sauce, the plate came with fried rice and an egg roll. It wasn't as spicy as I was anticipating but the flavor was good. I'll stop back by if I'm ever in town again at that same hotel. read more

China Garden - Hunan Beef - Chinese Near Me - Houston, Texas

Read the yelp reviews and wanted to check this place out. I decided to visit one night please note if there is an event occurring at the arena parking can get a little crazy. They use the lot for arena parking. I did let them know. I was going inside to dine which I was and I ordered the lemon chicken. I was underwhelmed. The bartender was decent. Drink was OK. I'm not sure if I would go back. read more

China Garden - Lemon Chicken - Chinese Near Me - Houston, Texas

The place needs to be updated. The food was average. But they make up for it with awesome service.

Classic American Chinese Food. We have been going to China Garden for decades. The eggrolls and spicy mustard are the best in town! Love their Lemon Chicken and Silver Noodles with fresh veggies. read more

My family and I dine here about once a month. The food here is yummy. We typically get a couple of egg rolls (they are HUGE), some combination fried rice and chicken... The servers here are kind and inviting. HOWEVER the owner Carol lacks the professionalism and good quality customer service. Yes I said it. Each and every time we dine here, she will NEVER check in on us. She will go to all the tables near and around us, and point blank skip us. She definitely sets the tone of not being welcomed. read more

The food is good but ridiculously over priced. This plate was $21 and it looks like a lunch sized portions. read more

China Garden - Green Pepper Steak - Chinese Near Me - Houston, Texas

Wow! I am ashamed to admit this was my very first visit to China Garden. Unbelievable eggrolls. I had no idea THIS is what an eggrolls should taste like. The crunch, the freshness of the cabbage and onion. I am absolutely ruined for life. We have to make sure that Carole, Mindy and team will be protected at all costs. The Sizzling Rice Soup is an amazing offering that is rich, flavorful and rewarding as a meal in itself. I was almost disappointed more food was coming to the table because I wanted to have it all! The Lemon Chicken is absolutely fantastic. Elevated, delicate, super flavors built in from the pan sear and the sauce. Exceptional! Dumplings are a work of art and pleasing in every way. You cannot eat anything bad here. Put a smile on, meet the servers and Carole and have a pleasant time. Please stop whatever you are doing and set time on your schedule to go visit China Garden ASAP. read more

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We were very excited to hear about this place. The reviews did not disappoint. It's not a fancy place but it has been there for many many years. You could tell they had a lot of regulars and everyone was very welcoming. We had some complimentary hush puppies brought to our table. We ordered a couple of appetisers to share for our group. We had pork dumplings and cheese puffs. Pork dumplings were excellent. The puffs had a little to much wonton wrapper and not enough filling for our taste. Dinner was great all around: Lemon Chicken - Sweet & Sour Chicken- Chicken & Vegetables- Beef & Broccoli- General T Chicken Egg rolls were a hit with this group of ours. We could see why they have been in business this many years. read more

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We went before event at Toyota Center. Had heard about their egg rolls and lemon chicken. The egg rolls were greasy and tasted like they were fried in old oil. The lemon chicken was quite thick, too much corn starch. Also had wonton soup. The wontons were good but the soup tasted like it was canned soup. We were hoping for better, but were disappointed read more

These reviews are overhyping this place big time. The food is pretty good but not thee best. Especially with these prices...$20 for a plate. Not to mention there is a "food tax" plus charge for refills. The price is not worth it. read more

Solid as always. Server was curt and short of humor. Egg rolls are still ok but The Ambassador Chinese on Richmond with the large Shrimp Egg Rolls is the new crowned King for me. Place decor has not changed in decades which is fine. read more

The service was good, and the food was great. It lived up to all the hype. This place is legit. It's got that classic Chinese feel. read more

Always the best Chinese food in Houston. Delicious crispy egg rolls, excellent Won Ton soup, dumplings are delicious, Triple Delight has light fried batter on their shrimp, scallops and chicken blanketed with a light garlicky sauce, excellent fried rice and their silver noodles combination. Highly recommend this gem. friendly staff. read more

I'm still on the hunt for the best Curry Chicken inside the Loop, one that rivals Wong's in League City, so after seeing the great reviews at China Garden, I decided to give it a go. This place looks as though it has not been updated since the oil crisis of the 80' and I could not quite place my finger on what the decor was trying to be. That aside, we were seated immediately and there were quite a few people there because the Rockets were playing that night so everyone was eating before the game. We started with the egg rolls and the cheese puffs. The egg roll was super yum and full of goodness. The cheese puffs were good but I found the wonton wrappers were way too large for the typical serving of cheese. That aside, they did taste good! For my entree, as I noted above, I ordered the Curry Chicken. While it was good, it just wasn't on point with what I am use to. Nonetheless, I would eat there again if I had to. Husband ordered the Moo Goo Gai Pan and he said it was just ok. The sauce was too brown (normally it's white). We had the misfortune that our waiter did not give us any fortune cookies, yet other servers gave them to their tables. I guess no biggie, those cookies generally taste like cardboard anyway. LOL. read more

China Garden - Egg rolls and cheese puffs - Chinese Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I've never heard of this place but a co-worker suggested coming here because he said the food was good and it was close to the Toyota Center since we were in the area. It was a Rocket's game night and we came together to enjoy some food before the game. I ordered stir fried beef with snow pea leaves and it came with white rice. I didn't take the rice but the food was fairly good! Service was average, they didn't come by to refill our waters as frequently which left my glass and another co-worker's glass of water empty half way through the meal until we were almost done and then we got our waters refilled as the server picked up my co-workers finished plate. My other co-worker (there were 3 of them) ordered a lemon chicken which I got to try and it was delicious! I would probably order that next time I come! Good service, good space, but not meant for groups larger than 6. The space is quite cramped, at least the side of the room I was seated on but good enough for tables of 4-5 people. Pricing is pretty average and food quality is good so I'd say it's a good "bang-for-your-buck" option specially if you want something quick just before the game! They also allow you to park in their lot for the game, just have to pay a fee otherwise your car will get towed. read more

I agree with another person that the great reviews of this restaurant are a little generous. We had never eaten here before (just visiting Houston) but it sounded, from reviews, like it'd be an amazing meal. It was just ok. I wouldn't call our meal fresh & delicious. Service was very good & everyone was friendly & welcoming. read more

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China Garden is a family-owned Houston institution. Their staff will treat you as an old friend. The food is spot on. The noodles are addicting. The portions are healthy. And the vibe of the whole restaurant is classic and comfortable. They deserve to be made a city landmark. read more

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Food was garbage. I don't know what they used for the pork fried rice, but it did not smell right it did not taste good. It was very very ugly. I think it was right. read more

This place was ok it a restaurant that's been around since 69' and the for the most part was sub-par at best for what I paid for could have went to Timmy chan's or even Kim Son and gotten a better portion of food. If this is what 50 years looks like being open then I don't see them being open 50 more and that's just my opinion, so if your looking for some place to get your money's worth this is not the place I was not impressed won't be back read more

China Garden - Mongolian Beef w/ fried rice - Chinese Near Me - Houston, Texas

Our favorite restaurant in town!!!! Have been coming since 1977!!! Fabulous Chinese Food. Wonderful service and staff. Carol the owner is a dear person! Come see them!!! read more

Nestled in a cozy corner, China Garden has been a second home to me for 17 years, and for good reason--this place has, without a doubt, the BEST egg rolls in the world!!!! Seriously, nothing else comes close. Carol, the sweetest owner you'll ever meet, makes each visit feel special, as if she's welcoming family. The egg rolls are pure perfection--crispy, golden shells encasing a savory filling that's incredibly satisfying and always fresh. They're a must with every meal; no visit here would be complete without them. And while the egg rolls are an absolute standout, Some of my favorites are the Mongolian beef, tender and flavorful with just the right amount of spice, and the lemon chicken, bursting with citrusy goodness. The seafood lomein is a fantastic choice for shrimp lovers, loaded with fresh ingredients that make each bite indulgent. And, of course, the cheese puffs are a delight--light, airy, and impossible to eat just one. We always order takeout here and China Garden never disappoints! read more

This place is very old and pure hype. Plenty of other good restaurants nearby that are clean. This place is filthy ! They have paint peeling off the walls. It's so dirty and dingy on the inside. The owners need to invest some profits in cleaning this dump up. When you walk in it looks like they haven't cleaned or freshened up with paint since the 70s lol. Food: the wood was okay. Not great. Not bad. Just okay. The general tsos chicken was different. Not good at all. Now their eggrolls are great! Those are top notch. Maybe I'll go back and try something else. But so many other cleaner better places that I would pick before this place. Customer service was great I found a hair in my general tsos chicken and they made it right but that was equally disgusting. I would give 1 star review but the manager and owners are very nice people. They really need to invest some profits asap into cleaning this place up. Looks terrible. read more

I'm 68 years old and have been enjoying CHINA GARDEN since my early teen years when my "Aunt Dimples" would take me there for lunch. Consistently fantastic food - (my favorites are the LEMON CHICKEN and the HUNAN BEEF), friendly and efficient service, and owners who CARE ABOUT THEIR CUSTOMERS! read more

Traditional American Chinese Takeout. Great customer service. Old building. Egg Rolls read more

China Garden - Egg Roll (2) Shrimp fried rice Kung Pao Chicken Pork Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Houston, Texas

Small, family restaurant with very delicious, flavorful food!! Many food choices with lunch and dinner specials. The service was quick, and friendly. read more

China Garden - Dinner special with Mongolian Beef. Came with rice, egg roll. - Chinese Near Me - Houston, Texas