Shan Xi Magic Kitchen has been on my Yelp Want To Go list ever since my brother and SIL told me…read morethat they really enjoyed a Chinese restaurant in Las Vegas and were told that a similar restaurant existed in San Diego. After their experience in Vegas, they tried Shan Xi themselves and glowingly talked about the delish food there. Today, 3/4s of my fam ate here and we definitely concurred with my brother and SIL's favorable assessment. 4.5 stars because their grub was amazing, but it could be more customer friendly where one of the staff checks to see if we need help ordering instead of ordering from the QR code menu. Shan Xi Magic Kitchen is located in the ultra competitive Convoy Asian District specifically on Convoy Street within the Convoy Village shopping center. The restaurant is next to our fave Asian drink place called Yun Tea, it's next to Olleh KBBQ, next door to Szechuan Chef, and a short walk to BB.Q Chicken. This is a popular strip mall, so it could be challenging for you to find parking. Parking is free for 90 minutes, but you'll have to pay after that time ends. Shan Xi is nice inside with gray brick on their walls, decorative lighting surrounded by rattan, Chinese dolls on a shelf, Chinese inspired figurine art on another wall, and a beautiful curio/screen containing Chinese knick knacks. Seating consists of tables/chairs and a long leather bench. Our servers were friendly, but to me having to order from a QR code is impersonal. I'd rather talk to a person, so that I can ask what they recommend. Plus, if diners aren't familiar with this type of cuisine, I'm sure they would have a bunch of questions. From Shan Xi Magic Kitchen's website, "Bringing the bold flavors of Northwest China to San Diego, Shan'xi Magic Kitchen serves authentic regional specialties. Our restaurants specialize in hand-pulled noodles, savory bread-based dishes, and traditional Chinese comfort food prepared with time-honored techniques." After being told that Shan Xi was similar to their positive dining experience at a different Chinese restaurant in Vegas, my brother and SIL tried Shan Xi and they were impressed by what they ate here and told us that we needed to eat here ourselves. Since my wife and I were off midweek, we invited our son to join us for lunch. We ordered the following dishes and feel free to mimick what we ordered: spicy cumin lamb burger, hand pulled noodle with cumin beef, beef magic fried rice, dry fried green beans, and a side of white rice. My brother and SIL love the lamb burger as a appetizer and we really thought it was tasty too. If you're not a spicy fan, this might not be for you, but the lamb was tender. The pita bread needed to be softer. Their hand pulled noodle with cumin beef was stellar, chewy, and delectable. Loved their beef magic fried rice and it ate really well by itself. The fried green beans were addicting, garlicky, and just yummy. I'm a fan Shan Ci and can't wait to try their other entrees. My brother and SIL were spot on with their positive reviews about Shan Xi Magic Kitchen. It was a blessing to have a spontaneous meet up with 3/4s of my fam and grub on some memorable Chinese food.

Came around 7pm on weekday. There were about 5 groups ahead. Waited about 15 minutes. Food came out…read morequickly and service was great. 1. Liang pi cold noodle with sesame: good 2. Lamb pao mo: soup very good 3. Stir fried sliced lamb with scallion: too salty 4. Dry fried green beans: too salty 5. Ox throat skewer: ok 6. Lamb skewer: dry 7. Rinse tripe: ok 8. Hawvberry tea: tastes like berry punch Overall 3.5. Some of the dishes were too salty to dry.

Food is always fresh, delicious, comes out piping hot and fast!…read more There's a reason why this place gets so busy, the service is awesome, quick, friendly, and straight to the point. It's a small shop with about 10-12 tables, but very warm and cozy. They also do party platters. So in case you're in a pinch, they'll get your orders to you with a quickness!

I rarely leave negative reviews, but our experience at Tasty Malatang Chinese Cuisine was…read moredisappointing because of the customer service. According to the restaurant's posted hours, they close at 10:00 PM. My family and I arrived around 9:15 PM, expecting that we still had enough time to order dinner. As soon as we walked in, the server immediately told us they were already closed. My mother politely pointed out that the posted closing time was 10:00 PM and simply asked if the kitchen happened to close earlier than the dining room. Instead of explaining the situation professionally, the server responded in a very rude tone: "Well, you guys can eat and order, but at 10:00 PM you need to be gone and out the door." Another employee then stepped in to back him up, making the interaction feel even more uncomfortable. I completely understand how the restaurant business works. I've been around the industry long enough to know that kitchens often stop taking orders before closing or that staff are trying to finish cleaning at the end of the night. If they had simply said, "We're sorry, but our kitchen is already closed," or even, "We can still serve you, but we're finishing up for the night," we would have completely understood. There was no reason to speak to us disrespectfully. What made this experience frustrating is that we never came in with an attitude or demanded special treatment. We were polite from the moment we walked through the door. We simply asked a reasonable question based on the restaurant's posted business hours, and instead of receiving a courteous explanation, we were met with unnecessary hostility. Customer service is just as important as the food. A welcoming attitude can make guests want to return, while a rude interaction can overshadow everything else. Unfortunately, this experience left such a negative impression that I won't be returning. I also would not feel comfortable bringing my family or recommending this restaurant to friends because everyone deserves to be treated with basic respect. I hope management takes this review as constructive feedback and reminds their staff that even when it's close to closing time, a little kindness and professionalism go a long way.

One of the best spots. I am a sucker for any consortium holdings place but this is one of my…read morefavorites. Have been here so many times...but you know the rules...one quick review: Food: amazing. So good and huge portions and not too pricy Ambiance: it's a consortium holdings spot...so this part is amazing...for sure Service: great and on point for orders, can take a bit of time if busy but good.

Fortunate son is like that date you have where you're very unsure after the first date but then…read morethey win you over Worth it for the honey walnut shrimp alone. My first experience here wasn't great a while back but since then I've had great food every time I've had it. They've definitely changed my mind. The fried rice. The rangoons. All dope. The people at the takeout window are super nice and the vibes seem rad but I've never eaten inside. Parking is rough and prices are pricey. Only reason for four stars instead of five.

As a big fan of Chinese food, I wasn't expecting too much from this restaurant, but I was…read morecompletely wrong... You can tell by the huge crowd outside that this was a good restaurant. Despite the crowd, the staff were absolutely amazing. They handled our order patiently and although there were so many people, it only took around 20 minutes for the dishes to arrive. It was very noisy in here, but that was my only complaint. House special chicken, duck, house special soy duck: (9/10) so gooooooood! The skin+meat were really good and it was so saucy and flavorful. Each meat had their own unique taste. Green beans: (11/10) absolute perfection. The green beans had the perfect crunch and were sautéed very well. PLEASE GET THIS!!!!!! House special beef: (10/10) This has got to be the best beef dish I've ever had. So tender and juicy. It's also very succulent and the sugar snap peas were a great addition! Almost melted in my mouth! Clam: (8/10) my mom's favorite dish there! Not too salty or pungent, savory, basily taste, light, and delicious! Fried tofu: (9/10) I really liked the tofu. The batter was really good and the sauce made the dish even better! Snow pea leaves sautéed in garlic: (10/10) VERY GOOD! Great vegetable choice! Fresh and saucy. Shrimp and scrambled eggs: (8/10) eggs were light and fluffy. I thought the shrimp was pretty decent but the eggs made it even better! Overall, I thought this Chinese restaurant stood out from the rest. It was a game changer and I will for sure be coming back whenever I'm in the area!

My only Asian restaurant hot take is that rice should be free with entrees. If rice does not come…read morewith entrees the restaurant is not for the people and unfortunately this restaurant charged for rice. (TT) However the roast duck was flavorful and juicy. We also ordered the walnut shrimp, nothing stand out but solid flavor and cook.

Minh ky is considered one of East san diego staple asian restaurant!!! Parking is horrible. They do…read morehave a back lot behind the building but its usually packed as well. Service is always super fast and friendly. Little whole in the wall and place is pretty small so might have to wait a little. Its feels very homey, like your walking it your mom house for dinner. I always get my usually wonton noodle soup dry with the soup on the side because I never finish and can bring home. You have to get the Chinese donut, fried pork fat, and pickled papaya!!! Lemonade is delicious, juat the right amount of sweet and sour. There shaken beef has good flavor but a bit on the sweet side for me. Their soy sauce fried chicken was flavorful, crispy, tender and juicy.

Just a no frills and solid chinese/viet fusion diner. I've heard great things but tbh when I went…read moreit was just okay. Nothing went wrong but I wouldn't go out of my way for it Chow fun: Maybe get? I love me a good chow fun and this dish satisfied my craving... but just barely. Wonton noodle soup: Getttt So comforting and yummy. The only downside is that the entire bowl only has 2 wontons so that was very disappointing especially if you share it family style Parking lot is small but it wasn't full when we went. And service was friendly but nothing fancy. Food: 7/10 Service: 6/10 Atmosphere: 6/10 Value: 6/10

Delivered and it was ok ordered from here for the first time following a foodie review on ig... I…read morewould probably give it another chance and dine in esp since grub hub charged more than the actual shop (as shown in pictures) wish I would've added spice but got it for the kiddos

TL;DR It's really good. Go here…read more -------------- I came here after a friend recommended it when I told them I was coming down to San Diego for a day trip during my spring break from school in Orange County. I was born and raised in LA, so I've had a lot of Chinese food growing up, and I wasn't expecting to be this surprised--but I really was. I ordered the black bean eggplant and the salt and pepper chicken wings. The wings are what they're known for, but I have to start with the eggplant because it completely caught me off guard. It wasn't mushy at all--crispy on the outside, perfectly cooked on the inside, and coated in sauce without losing its texture. Every bite had depth and balance, not just saltiness. I actually meant to start with the wings, but the eggplant was so good I ended up eating half of it before even getting to them. By that point I was already getting full, but I still made sure to finish the wings--and I'm honestly excited to take the rest of the eggplant home as leftovers. By the time I got to the wings, I understood why they're popular--crispy, flavorful, and super satisfying--but what stood out to me was how both dishes complemented each other. One rich and layered, the other crisp and bright. I never got tired of eating, which honestly says a lot. I even told the staff how much I enjoyed the food and they thought I was joking, but I meant every word in saying I thought it was comparable, if not better then the food I've had in Chinatown in LA. Really glad I came here and the next time I have a chance to come back down to SD I definitely will come back here and that's not negotiable for me

for only $19.99 AYCE, they have sooo many hong kong style dishes to choose from -- dim sum,…read morenoodles, roasted meats, seafood, desserts, and more everything came out hot, flavorful, and perfect for sharing with family & friends definitely one of the best budget eats in convoy if you're craving authentic cantonese comfort food!!

The $19.99 AYCE on social media is deceiving…read more I took my mom here so we could try this new AYCE option this place was offering based on social media influencers. It was empty coming in around 5:30pm on a Friday, but it soon filled to capacity in the next hour. So coming into it, we thought we would choose between Menu A and Menu B. Afterwards, we thought it was AYCE on the menu of your choice + the side buffet where there are limited selections of sides and refrigerated drinks. We ordered orange chicken, Chinese style fish and something else. Again, this was on the thought that we could order more than one item on our selected menu. So imagine our surprise when the bill was nearly $100 for two people? It was a misunderstanding. However, the initial staff gentlemen was completely rude about it and ignored us as we sought to understand. Finally, a second female server came and heard our concerns regarding the false advertisement and unclear messaging. She was able to provide us the price we thought this was for based on Menu selection. All in all - I don't recommend the AYCE option. I think it would be important to make a distinction that AYCE clearly on the menu and at the front - AYCE means each individual selects ONE entree (which is a one small portion) and the AYCE component of the deal is ONLY for the side buffet.

***CLOSED FOR SUMMER***…read more Normally though, I LOVE this restaurant! The dumplings are amazing, and so is everything else I've tasted. Check it out when they open back up.

Handsdown the BEST dumpling house in Southern California (LA OC SD). Everything is homemade,…read moreeverything made fresh daily, no frozen stuff, family run business, friendly and efficient. Many people bought it to go as the restaurant is on the smaller side but it is best to eat in person and fast. I love their chive & shrimp dumplings as well as their pork & cabbage dumplings. Their onion cakes is also a signature item. Come early or line can be long.

So good! It's fast,…read morethe portions are large and the food is incredibly tasty! Get the beef chow fun. Nice sauce and noodles are chewy. Get the vegetarian fried rice. Nice use of mushrooms in this and the rice is nicely cooked. Get the sweet and sour fish fillet. Big portions and the fish is breaded but flakes nicely when you eat it. Get the salt and pepper chicken wings. FIRE. My cousin has a disability and I just want to thank the staff here for being so kind, patient and understanding to us as we had our meal. If I could give a hundred stars, I would. This place is a must go to for great Chinese food in San Diego.

We came here with a huge party (11 people, 3 of which were adults) and opted to get one of their…read morefamily meals with a few extra dishes to supplement things. The menu said the family meals were meant for parties of 8, but let me tell you. We ate until we were hurting and there was still a ton of leftovers. Those meals can easily serve a dozen people in my opinion which makes them even more of a great deal. If you've got a large party, this is a fantastic option to make sure everyone eats their fill. With that said, all the food was delicious. Hot and fresh from the kitchen, each dish with its own unique flavor and textures. We ran the gamut of flavors over our meal and it's hard to really point to one singular dish that was my favorite. After having almost 10 different dishes, I can confidently say that they will have something you will really enjoy. The restaurant itself is a bit no frills. But that's fine. They're putting their time in to food, not ambiance and I am totally down with that. Service is great. We were in a back corner, but we never felt ignored nor overly watched over. We were able to sit down and enjoy our meal at our own speed. My only 'gripe' with the restaurant is that the restroom is actually outside and shared with the other businesses in the complex. And that bathroom isn't the best maintained. I'm assuming that's up to the property management and not the restaurant (or other businesses) so I'm not dinging my review, but just keep that in mind. Might be best to try & hold it if you can. Ultimately, Golden Chopsticks really knocked it out of the park and caught me so off guard. I am so glad we came here on a bit of a whim. It was fantastic and I can't wait to go back.

The food here is worth parking lot nightmare, you'll probably have to park nearby and walk, which…read moreisn't so bad because the waddle back will help with the fullness! The menu is so long it's almost overwhelming in the best way. The Walnut Honey Shrimp was addictive and my favorite dish! The shrimp was huge, fried perfectly, and the sauce was sweet. The beef rib noodle soup had a broth that tasted like it could heal your soul. The orange chicken was the perfect sweet and spicy protein! The house seafood chow mien was not good because the basil was overpowering and the noodles needed more sauce. They were too chewy and bland. The soup dumplings were the second best thing we ordered and they were a close second. The dumpling filling was literally bursting with flavor and made me forget everything wrong with my life. The pan fried bao buns had too much sesame for my taste personally, so I wasn't a fan. I'm letting all the bad stuff slide because of how delicious the honey walnut shrimp was 5/5 fasho

Noodles were amazing... we got two different types of noodles. I forgot their names…read more One was a noodle with like a Shanghai style. The other noodle was black pepper. The noodles literally taste homemade. Their service was great at the beginning, but then the lady at the counter yell yelled at me for some reason... the vibe was really chilling there