the food was so so so so good! everything came out fast and the lady who was helping us was very patient and attentive. :) it was a big group of us and we're only visiting. i really wish we weren't so we could come back here all the time. 10/10 everything we ordered was bangin. also took a picture for us and was quick to buss our table. would drive the 4 hours just to eat here again read more

China Garden - Orange Chicken Chow Mein Sweet & Sour Pork Fried Rice Pot Stickers beef Broccoli Beef Shrimp With Honey Walnuts - Chinese Near Me - Monterey, California

Great food and thanks for the refills! They even let me fill my water for my pet outside.

Apparently, the policy at China Garden is simple: be white or receive no service. White customers were greeted, given menus, and served normally. We, Chinese tourists, apparently purchased the special invisible customer package. We asked for a menu and received no response. We tried to order additional dishes and were ignored again. It was impressive how quickly the owner could notice white customers while suddenly losing both hearing and eyesight whenever Chinese customers spoke. When we continued asking for basic service, the owner became aggressive and threatened in Chinese to slap a Chinese customer in the face. Then, in a remarkable display of hospitality, the owner blamed and accused the customer. Apparently, asking for a menu and trying to spend more money at the restaurant are now serious acts of misconduct. This was not merely slow or careless service. The owner treated Chinese customers differently, deliberately ignored us, bullied us, and then used a threat of physical violence to intimidate us. The owner seemed comfortable targeting Chinese tourists, perhaps assuming that visitors would remain silent because they were unfamiliar with the area. Calling this restaurant "China Garden" is the best joke of the entire experience. Chinese food, Chinese name, and open hostility toward Chinese customers. Perhaps "White Customers Garden" or "No Service for Chinese Tourists" would be a more honest name. Congratulations to the owner for creating a dining experience where discrimination and threats arrive faster than the food. If you are white, you may receive normal service. If you are Chinese, based on our experience, expect to be ignored, bullied, blamed, and threatened for having the audacity to ask for a menu. read more

Great food. Quick service. Take out was easy. Found via reviews and it held up. Would recommend

Portion on the smaller side for $17 and then they'll charge you extra for a small bowl (scoop) of rice. Never been to a Chinese restaurant that charges for rice. Caught off by $2 for rice. Overall taste is about a 6/10 Basically zero service, but I wasn't really expecting any either. Would prefer to go to Lee's in Marina, well worth the drive. read more

Staff was kind and helped us serve the items we ordered, they also helped us box it up to go. The food was prepared quickly but perfectly cooked still. A bit cluttered inside, but still clean. Convenient parking also available on the side of the building. It's sometimes hard to find good Chinese food in monterey. Only other note is that the wonton soup could have had more veggies. Overall would definitely return :) read more

China Garden - Mapo Tofu, one order but they brought up two types, very grateful for them. One dry style, one was vegetarian and more saucy. - Chinese Near Me - Monterey, California

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I wanted to try a new place for lunch and I am very sorry that I did. The food is horrible. My husband and I couldn't even finish our lunch. And there was only one other person in there yet the server never came to check on us. And the server and cook seemed to be arguing. read more

We used to come here when I was a kid, back in the day. I think it's a different owner now- We had MuShu Vegetable and Shrimp with Garlic. Both good! Came with a small side of rice, we also had hot tea. Food came super fast! Lady owner was really nice. The atmosphere is clean and comfortable. I liked the booths along the windows. A group from DLI came in and were practicing their Chinese language skills with the owner, super sweet. We will definitely be back! read more

amazing staff and service. The woman working there treated our baby so kindly and made us feel so welcome. the food was really good too. we will def be back :) read more

Was supposed to eat somewhere else but when we passed by this restaurant and saw that there's a big parking area nearby, we decided to try this place instead and we did not regret it. The lady owner was very hands on, accommodating and efficient. The service was excellent. We specifically liked the chow mien, general chicken and mixed veggies with shrimp; it was very flavorful. For dessert, we had the sesame balls and there's complimentary fortune cookies. We enjoyed our dinner that evening. read more

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Staff was so very friendly,we were quickly seated. Place was very cute and decorated in the classic authentic Asian theme. The food was very delicious and serving amounts were more than enough for several servings. Prices were reasonably for the kind of food for the area comparison. We will be back for more items we wanted to try in the future. read more

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Food was absolutely amazing! Every dish we had was full of flavor and cooked very well. The service was also quick and very friendly we even got to learn some Chinese while being there! read more

China Garden - House Special Chow Mein, egg fried rice, Chicken With Garlic Sauce Lunch Special, Szechuan Beef - Chinese Near Me - Monterey, California

This is actually the most disgusting vile Chinese food I have ever tasted in my life. The food was actually tasteless, aside from the salt and pepper short ribs which had so much salt. It's completely inedible and there's literally just no flavor. I paid $117 for this and got the rice, chow fun, beef and green beans, short pepper ribs and pot stickers. My boyfriend asked for extra sweet and sour and she asked what we needed it for which was weird and was making remarks about how we didn't get an appetizer(I mean we did but what a weird thing to say) and on top of it we've been calling for 30 min to get a new order or our money back and it's like the line is off so we can't reach anyone! We are out of town and this just ruined my night. What a bummer. read more

China Garden - Just for refrence how many times I called, and no answer. This was not including my boyfriend's phone or the hotel phone. - Chinese Near Me - Monterey, California

General Chicken, House Chow Mein, ...Mongolian beef? So absolutely yummy. I saw a nasty review about "service." Ummm. I have never received "good service" in a four star Chinese restaurant. Mama ain't got time for that. Order your food and go. read more

China Garden - General Chicken, House Chow Mein, ... Mongolian beef? - Chinese Near Me - Monterey, California

Amazing food & amazing service!!! We went on May 31, 2025 for my birthday. We saw the reviews and we are so glad we went. The owner and the servers were the nicest people ever! We appreciate your amazing customer service and the food is amazing!! This will be our new go to spot! Everything was also very clean, calm and relaxing! We ordered the egg rolls, wonton soup, sweet and sour pork, shrimp chow main, beef fried rice, orange chicken, and the honey walnut shrimp. We cannot wait to go back! read more

I ordered the hot and sour soup, moo shu pork, and pork fried rice. All three dishes were excellent. We've always had a good experience there. Never eaten in, always do takeout, but the place is nicely decorated and quite inviting. I will come back to this place. read more

Fresh, fresh vegetables! What a charming restaurant. And, Omg the food came super fast and the dishes were all tasty. We ordered 4 dishes and they each were mouthwatering. I will come back for Chinese next time I am in Monterey! read more

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The service is fast. The prices are reasonable. The food is just ok at best. If you need to eat on a budget, this place is ok. read more

Recently went here for dinner and I've driven by this place all my life and never been! We started with the salt and pepper calamari which was fried to perfection and had great flavor topped with fried onions which was even better. We got the vegetables and shrimp nothing out of the ordinary but shrimp are big and tender and juicy. Lots of veggies. Also got the Mongolian chicken which was flavorful and looks very spicy but wasn't at all. The chow mein was decent but needed more flavor. I would go back! read more

The food was very flavorful and the people very nice. Definitely a must try when in town! The food came out quick and was very flavorful! read more

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I came here to meet a group of ladies on a rainy Sunday evening. We were seated upstairs, which made for a more intimate and private setting. The interior was very cute with a nice Christmas tree still up. There was a pretty plant with poinsettia displayed on the table, which had a tablecloth with fruit all over it. First, we were served soup, where small crispy noodles were poured all over it. In the soup, there was shrimp, chicken, and celery. I really enjoyed the tastiness of the crunchy ingredient. The shrimp, chicken, and veggies were fresh and tasty. Then there was a plate of white, green and yellow dumplings with pork inside. The filling was satisfyingly juicy and quite flavorful. The skin was also just the right consistency. We also had House Special Chow Mein, which came with chicken, shrimp, beef, onion, and an assortment of other vegetables. The noodles were cooked perfectly and all the meat was delicious! Green beans with onion were pretty good. It was well seasoned and full of flavor. There was a pork dish that was cooked with celery and an abundance of red peppers and other spices. This was mouthwatering and surprisingly not as spicy as it looked. Spicy fish was decent - tender and succulent, and if it wasn't scooped with the sauce, it actually wasn't that spicy. The crispy shrimp with roasted walnuts were a bit of a disappointment. The shrimp was juicy and crispy, with a yummy mayonnaise-based sauce, however, there was very little of it overall and only a few walnuts. Service was attentive and friendly. I would most likely not return because I have such high standards when it comes to Chinese food and this place did not really impress me. read more

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Free parking is a huge plus! They are fast. Ordered beef chow fun and crab and cheese puffs. Chow fun average with a few slices of carrots and 3 pieces of beef. Crab and cheese puffs were good but no fake crab was seen or tasted. I asked for dinner to go. Asked for soy sauce. Got back and no utensils and no soy sauce. Chow fun needed soy sauce desperately. If you are selling cheese puffs just label them that way. read more

China Garden - Beef chow fu and cheese puffs - Chinese Near Me - Monterey, California

Save your money. Don't go Overall expense prices for small portions and below average cooking. Not impressed but I also love my Chinese food from SF. Much more authentic read more

It was great food and good portions! Worth the money & the service was excellent. They brought out the food quickly as well. I will be coming back again. :) read more

China Garden - Chow Mein , Sweet And Sour Shrimp Lunch Special - Chinese Near Me - Monterey, California

Mediocre "Chinese " food. Definitely Americanized. Okay, if that's your style. A telltale sign about the authenticity of the food is when there are forks on the table instead of chopsticks. Service was mediocre as well. We were not asked if we wanted anything to drink as was not even offered water. I had to flag someone down to get water and we didn't even have my cup refilled when empty. Needless to say, I will not be coming back. You're better off going to Panda Express.. At least you won't feel ripped off. read more

I enjoyed my Mongolian beef. The green onions had a nice crunch and the flavor was good. The servers were friendly, and the restaurant had Chinese music playing. read more

China Garden - Mongolian Beef - Chinese Near Me - Monterey, California

Great Food, awesome people and nice restaurant! The spicy fish is my favorite and kung pao chicken is good too

I think the dishes here along with their service compared to other Chinese restaurants in Monterey are relatively better in quality. My class often orders food from China Garden and it's always good. In my experience, the staff is usually very friendly and helpful and will even help you practice speaking Chinese. Although their mapo tofu is somewhat different from what I'm used to, I really enjoy it. I also discovered that I enjoy the seasoning of their vegetable chow mein. I felt like Anton Ego from the movie Ratatouille when he took a bite of the ratatouille. read more

China Garden - Ma Po Tofu - Chinese Near Me - Monterey, California

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0.5 stars extra for the amazing service and the wonderful servers! We came here around 6:30 pm on a Sat evening. Pretty empty so got seated immediately. The server had several recommendations when we asked and we ended up going with some of her favorites. We got the kung Pao shrimp, the twice baked pork, chicken chow mein and the crab meat and cheese puffs. Food was served very quickly, and was pipping hot! The puffs were very good, I love mine with the schezwan sauce but also liked to have them with the duck sauce they provided. We asked for the shrimp to be made extra spicy. I loved the extra spicy but it did overpower the other flavors in the dish. Should've stuck to regular spice. The pork was very good, and I are quite a bit of it. I was really full by the time I got to the chow mein so I only had a taste and it was good too!! We couldn't finish so we've boxed it up and plan to eat it on our journey back home. The tea was excellent and very soothing. This was a good meal but the highlight was the friendly staffers and their quick service. Impressed!! read more

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This is the best Chinese food in the Monterey Bay Area! China Garden has a wide variety of flavorful dishes, and if you know what you're doing you can order authentic Chinese dishes as well (as well as the more standard Americanized fare). My favorite part of going there is to visit with the Chinese lady who runs the place, Katy. She's always willing to help me practice my Chinese and is always very generous with me. If you're craving Chinese cuisine I don't think you will be disappointed! read more

China Garden - Lucky Buddha Beer - Chinese Near Me - Monterey, California

When I'm craving Chinese food, I drive from Watsonville to this place! I discovered this place when I was doing my internship and I really enjoyed the food! The lady is really nice and the food is done in a timely manner. If you enjoy good Chinese food, I'd definitely recommend this place! read more

China Garden - Chicken chow mein, Orange Chicken, Egg Rolls (4 pc), Sweet and Sour Chicken, Fried Rice - Chinese Near Me - Monterey, California

This place is awesome for take-out. Very quick walk-up orders and food is some of the best Chinese I've had. Worth the small trek off the main Monterey strip, you won't be disappointed! read more

China Garden - Wall - Chinese Near Me - Monterey, California

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When we first moved to Monterey we made a point of going around and visiting nearly every Chinese restaurant in the area. This one is the best of them all-- which is attested to by the fact that we've observed Chinese and Chinese American customers frequenting the place. It is fun to listen to them engage with the owner as she is a lively and bright lady. The food is remarkably delicious and our order always comes very quickly. She makes a point of greeting everyone either in English or Chinese depending upon their language and she keeps the place spotless. This is an older Monterey building and if walls could talk I would love to know what other restaurants have been here over the decades. The space is charming and roomy and you never feel hurried or crowded when you come in here to dine. We have tried nearly every item on the menu and all of it is delicious. One added plus is that there's a roomy parking lot alongside the building, a bonus in this bustling town. read more

The worst experience I have seen. The lady was very impatient when wait us. She charged 2 for 2 cup of water without advanced notice. Okay, that's fine for me. The bill was 31.57 after tax. Then she swiped my credit card for 34.57. I thought the tips was included so I walked away without further tips.The lady yelled at me. We had argument. She cursed us with unacceptable words. I never seen such terrible behavior in my life. Stay away! read more

China Garden - Chinese Near Me - Monterey, California

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We stopped at this restaurant as we got into Monterey and oh my goodness we were greeted right away by the sweet lady not sure if she was the owner or not but she was the sweetest. We came in with our 6 month old and she interacted with him and he loved her! Onto the food. The food was very tasty! Very authentic! Very fresh! We ordered and within a few minutes out order was out. It was so so delicious, the portions were a good size for sharing. I highly recommend this Chinese restaurant! read more

I have been craving Chinese food for several days. I was in Monterey and passed by China Garden. I flipped a U-turn, and decided to give it a try. Wanting something spicy, I went for the Szechuan beef, and an order of rice. Although I was not in the kitchen, I could picture the cook reaching into the freezer and grabbing a handful of frozen battered 'beef'. After throwing it in the deep fryer, I imagine he poured on some 'Uncle Chen's Special Szechuan Sauce'... Then he grab a few pieces of broccoli, a few slices of carrots, some onion, and called it done. If this was a $2.99 special at the fair, that would be one thing... But it was $17.07... plus tip. It was crunchy and vinegary but I had hoped for tasty! The waiter was friendly... I WONT be back! read more

China Garden - " Szechuan Beef" - Chinese Near Me - Monterey, California

I first walked in to China Garden 40 years ago. My girlfriend and I loved it! The service is quick and friendly, and the food was delicious and priced fairly. We would always order the Happy Family. I took a lot of friends there. Well, eventually I married my girlfriend and moved to Sacramento. We visited Pacific Grove occasionally and were disappointed to find China gardens closed and the building converted to a tourist information center. Then, jJust last week, we found them at their "new" location in Monterey! They still offer the Happy Family and the food and service is just as good as ever! And I found the ambience of the new place even nicer! read more

When you get different kinds of chicken and they come out exactly the same and you realize on the first bite that all of the chicken was precooked and has since spoiled, it's really hard to be happy. This place is an insult not only to Chinese food, but to food and all inklings of caloric happiness. read more

Food is so bad I cannot finish a few mouthfuls. Menu was misleading and the lady boss said this is American taste, excuse for her horrible food quality read more

China Garden is an authentic Chinese restaurant that makes you feel at home because you are so well taken care of with fantastic service and large portions. We had the Bbq Pork Egg Foo Yong, house special fried rice, crab & cheese puffs, & wonton noodle soup, which was served so hot and fresh. We loved it all! read more