A real hit or miss kind of place -- it really depends on what you order. I personally don't recommend the pork dishes here; the pork was too chewy and dry for my taste. On the other hand, their boneless duck is excellent, I always enjoy getting it when here. Keep in mind this place only accepts cash if you order here in person, but they do accept card if you order through their online ordering service. Service is nothing to be excited over. The staff get the job done but that's about it. Cleanliness could be better especially in the washrooms. Some of the dishes taste good overall, but I find a lot of their food to be pretty greasy. Not terrible by any means, but definitely inconsistent. Good for a quick, casual Chinese takeout option, but manage your expectations depending on what you order. read more

Dragon Express - Chinese Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Food is unbelievable and to hear it be less than 15 dollars just tops it off. Best CHINESE food in Bloomington read more

Dragon Express - Chinese Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

This was the worst food I have ever gotten ... all. Of it was entirely inedible. I had to throw every bit of it away. Chinese food is my absolute favorite and I've had it in a multitude of states and thousands of times over the years. I've never ever Moo shu chicken/pork that comes served in a "gravy" such as yours did and its taste was horrible and nothing like any Moo shu I've ever had. The fried rice I got was grayish brown in color as if it had been sautéed in some kind of gravy and was disgusting. The dumplings were undercooked . The crab Rangoon had only tiny shred of so called "crab" in it. What meat there was in the honey chicken was fatty and gristly and couldn't be chewed without causing heaving; the sauce had little taste of "honey" ... it was nothing like I've ever had before. The only edible bit of this $80 meal were the wrapped fortune cookies. Shame on these people for selling a hideoud, disgusting product ... I cany even dignify it by calling it food. read more

Indiana University Bloomington Solomon Keim Likely one of the best eating experiences you'll have. Cash only read more

I personally found this food super greasy. Co workers and I wound up here because the place we were hoping to eat at was being renovated. I got the shrimp chow mein, the shrimp was almost non existent, teeny tiny baby shrimp and they were super tough... the noodles were super greasy. My co worker got the fried dumplings, they were super brown on the bottom and they were under-stuffed.It was a little pricey for what we got and the quality wasn't that great. The cashier was super friendly. The restaurant itself was a little bit dirty and unkept. There was a mop and bucket in the dining room in the corner. The station that has all of the condiments was also somewhat dirty so I didn't use it. I'm not sure that this is somewhere that I would frequent again. The Chinese food in the mall is way better. read more

Best Chinese food in Bloomington by far!! I've tried a lot of Chinese food places in Bloomington that I wasn't super impressed with but Dragon Express ended my search for good Chinese food. Very authentic options (and Americanized options too), I tried the sweet and sour chicken & lo mein combo which was amazing. The location is great for students and visiting families because it's basically on campus. It is directly across from academic buildings and near the Forest residence hall. **Important note: they don't take card! I had to get cash from the ATM across the parking lot but it was worth it. I was a some cents short of my total and the cashier told me not to worry about it, very friendly staff! read more

Dragon Express - the front of the building - Chinese Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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Have ordered from Dragon for over 20 years. College/single life through parenthood. Nice staff and reliably good food keeps us coming back. Ordered carry out this time for dinner and served buffet style. Food was delicious and still hot. Eat in or carry out ~ cash only (or check) read more

Dragon Express - Kung Pao, Sweet and sour chicken, General chicken and crab rangoon (take out buffet) - Chinese Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Best Chinese restaurant I ever been to in the states. 纯种中国人认证 (Verified by pure Chinese) read more

Dragon Express - Chinese Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

Great flavors - fast service. Good parking for carry out. Everything I ordered was right and accounted for and that's super rare these days.

Wow- the human chicken combo with white rice and an egg roll was super tasty! I haven't been here in years. Very happy I tried it again. The human sauce is good, not too spicy. I like the veggies they used, good combination and cooked perfectly. read more

This was my go-to place for Chinese food when I lived here 25 years ago, and I'm not sure it's changed. But it's still pretty good! Especially satisfying fried dumplings, and I liked the cold sesame noodles too. I used to love the general's chicken, but it's now too sweet for me. But I assume that's my changing tastes rather than a changing recipe. Still no credit cards, even in this day and age. read more

Just great food, eat here every time I'm in town. Cash only, there's an atm in the lot.

A year later, I try them again for take out. Attached photos are my bag of takeout when I got home after the 5 minute drive. Someone can't pack bags and put a ton of weight on top of the general chicken so the sauce leaked everywhere because it got crushed under 2 full containers of rice and a quart of Hunan chicken. I call back mostly let someone know that it was a packaging fail, and they try to take my order a second time. Once I was finally able to convince them that I already ordered, I tried to explain that the bag was a mess when I got home. That was met with absolute silence on the other end. I say HELLO to check if we're disconnected, and he hellos back. I asked if they care that I had a problem and I get silence again. So with the myriad of options available in town, this is the very last time I'll trade with them. The food is decent and the portions are huge for the price, but I can't deal with the poor service anymore. Two strikes you're out read more

Dragon Express - Greasy leak soaked bag - Chinese Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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I haven't been here in years, stopped on my way home to grab dinner, chicken with string beans. Very disappointed, more string beans then chicken and the string beans were old , dried out and hard. If I didn't live far out, I would return this meal. Beware of what you ordered, could be old veggies, and no chicken. I'll stick Golden china. Outstanding food!! read more

Cash only. Shrimp fried rice was purely rice. I basically paid $11 for rice. Nice hostess. No other sauce options. No spicy mayo or yum yum sauce. read more

This place has reasonably price food that are actually pretty decent. We like their house chow fun, pad thai, and lo mein. read more

Dragon Express - Pad Thai - Chinese Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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On the scale of Bloomington Chinese takeout places, Dragon Express ranks pretty well. Much better than Fortune Cookies and Peach Garden. One important note that we always forget when coming here: they don't take cards. Make sure to bring cash. The dish that makes this place stand apart in my opinion is their basil pork lo mein. This isn't your average lo mein, much tastier. The basil really adds something. Feels more authentic than an average noodle dish at a place like this. The fried dumplings are pretty good too. Everything else I've had here is just average, but with Chinese takeout places average is a-ok with me because a lot of them are just bad. The one thing here that's bad is the chicken fried rice...big no, don't order. read more

Dragon Express - Basil pork lo mein - Chinese Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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For such a tiny location, the food is excellent, the prices are reasonable and the service is quick and attentive. It is my go Bloomington location for Chinese cuisine! read more

As an alum, I still dream about this place. Best value, great location and the perfect east coast Chinese fiod. Glad to see the place still going strong. This place must have made tens of millions over the years. Try the house special egg Foo young. It's like a fried egg fritter with a brown gravy. Omg bomb. read more

Been here at least 20 times over the last 5 years. I would never give it a star for decor or atmosphere. For all of the people giving it one or two stars based on the decor...you are simply idiots. The place is a hole in the wall Chinese spot. It doesnt try to be a nice sit-down restaurant. If your looking for amazing table-side service and beautiful tables and chairs then you should never have walked into Dragon Express to start with. That being said, the food is delicious. Its not for the faint of heart. They serve up everything from orange chicken to fried chicken feet to whole steamed fish head and all. But its good. Definitely best Chinese in Btown. Also...its cheap...as hell. Its an all cash spot so leave your card at home, though they do take check and there's an ATM about 1 steps from the front door. But you can get a massive meal (way more than can be eaten in one sitting) for under $10. Today the girl behind the counter recommended curry beef ($5) and I also got a pint of egg drop wonton soup ($2). With tax it came to $7.89. The good is always good. My only complaint is that sometimes dishes taste a little top similar. But the menu is MASSIVE. And when I say massive I mean massive. It boasts over 200 items. Usually this would be way too many offerings for a restaurant to be able to cook up well but since many ingredients are similar between dishes they manage just fine. And thus I give them a break on the similar taste of many dishes. Its also quick. No order takes more than 10 minutes to arrive at the table or be ready for carryout. Overall, if you're looking for easy, cheap, good Chinese in Btown and aren't so worried about decor or amenities this place is a must. *Don't forget to ask for chili sauce with your order read more

Super reasonably priced and super delicious/authentic, Dragon Express has quickly become my go to Chinese takeout restaurant. The only thing that gives me hesitation to rate Dragon Express 5 stars is that they do not take credit, only cash or check. read more

This place always has good food and excellent service. They only take cash however and I was a dollar short on my last order. They said it was fine and they didn't need me to cancel anything on my order. I was very surprised by this band tried to tell them it's ok but they insisted. Very professional business. read more

Been here a few times now. Selection is amazing, portion sizes are huge, staff is friendly enough, the restaurant is kept clean and well-stocked. It's a pretty basic, well-kept Chinese to-go spot. My only complaints are that they tend to be a little slow; the food is surprisingly greasy, even for Chinese; and the last time we went there, an ear-blowing alarm kept going off and no one seemed to care. Overall, it's not the best, but it's not bad. read more

I wonder if this review, along with the other one-stars, will be relegated to the filter. The only reason this place survives, so far as I can tell, is its location, which at 3rd and Jordan, is in the middle of the IU campus. It has a huge selection; that selection is the gamut of American Chinese cuisine that you've seen in countless faceless restaurants across the land. This one has the added deficits of an interior designed from a prison cafeteria or an abandoned church basement, no credit cards, and while the counter person is somewhat helpful, one gets the feeling that the rest of management cares not one whit about *you*. So, the prices are high, no CC, holding cell interior, what's left? Oh, the food. Passable in two samples, but barely. Quite high temperature and fresh. Decidedly greasy, as other reviews have mentioned. It was delivered quickly for take-out. Having been at Chinese restaurants across the planet, including many in China, Singapore, HK, KL, and even Paris, I can tell you that it deserves one star. Not zero, and not two. It survives on its location, not its charm, cuisine, service, decor, or pricing. You won't die. You will wish you were elsewhere. read more

great prices and delicious food, i love their wonton soup. they only take cash or check though.

I order mongolian beef to-go, and they put my food in the paper bag upside down. The sauce came out from the container and soaked the bag. The paper bag was torn when I lifted it, and the food came out and spilled on the backseat of my car. If you are going to get a takeout food from this place, make sure they put everything in the right order. read more

Dragon Express - a person holding a bag of food - Chinese Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

I've been going to Dragon Express for as long as they have been open, and to Dragon (on the west side of Bloomington) for about 25 years. The latter had been recommended to me as "no atmosphere but reliably good food." Absolutely true. I now go to Dragon Express as it's closer to me with the same menu. My favorite thing about them is that they use fresh vegetables all the time, and lots of them. Also, after 25 years I can say the food is very reliable. Occasionally someone else is cooking and tastes might vary slightly, but it's still always good. While it's true that they don't take credit cards, this helps keep the prices among the lowest in town for similar food. I have no problem with paying case. Also, during this year with the pandemic, I've tried to play my part by making them my "go to" restaurant if I want outside food. They were closed only a brief time early on. They have a bustling take-out business and they always have, I find this especially reassuring during the pandemic to have comfort food like this. Also, if I go out, I go here. Too many other restaurants and business have closed and I would hate to see them struggle or close. This is a family restaurant and they treat customers very well! The thing I like least is that there is very little variety in the sauces and seasonings, and it's generally tuned to the American expectations. While it makes sense to please the American tastes, less sweet and more varied flavors would be a welcome addition. But I love them none the less -- you just have to realize what you're getting... invariably fresh and hot food that tastes good. Another rater mentioned that their to-go packaging sometimes leaks horribly. This is true. I try to check the bag before I leave. I also ask for a plastic bag so that if anything leaks on the way home, it's caught. The soups are unimpressive but the wontons themselves are good in the wonton soup. However, they are the perfect thing in winter or if you have a cold. If you order a steamed fish in brown sauce or fried whole fish, it will take a little longer for your order, but I don't think you'll mind once you taste it! These are a little more expensive but still worth it. They are also very wiling to modify a recipe for dietary issues, or to make you anything else you want, assuming they have the ingredients from their regular menu. These are very nice, accommodating people who serve reliable good, "home cooked" food. Thank you! read more

This place is not what it once was. As a former resident of the city, it had always been americanized chinese fare, same as what the majority of chinese spots in indiana, a dime a dozen. Went back a few days ago as I saw a large number of diners through the window of asian decent, and with as much authentic Chinese food Bloomington has, I figured that there must be a special menu. This turned out to be correct as they have an entire special authentic menu. I ordered two dishes, spicy sliced pork with dry bean curd and hot and sour cabbage. Portions are great for price. The cabbage was phenomenal, great flavor and texture. The pork dish was also flavored quite well. The main complaint that I have with this restaurant was relatively minor, which is that the authentic menu is somewhat small compared to other restaurants. If they were to incorporate full on authentic menu like lucky express (similar counter service concept) watch out, definitely could be 5 stars! Bloomington has 14 authentic chinese restaurants as of this post and this measured up well to all read more

In past I would order House Special Lo Mein or Seafood Lo Mein, both I've enjoyed. Between those two, I prefer Seafood Lo Mein. I would rate 5 stars. Today I ordered Happy Family due to lobster on the menu, but I was unhappy with Happy Family. I do not recommend Happy Family from House Specialities portion. I only saw 2 bits of lobster and the sauce was way too salty. read more

Looks like any Chinese restaurant set up for great carry out. Good portions and prices were good.

Met a friend here for an impromptu lunch a couple of days ago for the first time since college years back and had an amazing low key lunch experience! She frequents this place often and knew exactly what she wanted to order with some preferential modifications and the gentleman behind the counter smiled and said "so, your usual?" which I found cute and endearing. I got the general tso lunch special with an egg roll and it was primo cheap Chinese! Large portion for lunch and very flavorful. The literal only draw backs are the small parking lot and planning for their cash/check only payment options. read more

Dragon Express - Chinese Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

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They have many options and the price is very reasonable! When I'm alone and have no idea what to eat, I'll go to dragon express to order a to-go, and never disappointed. read more

A Chinese Restaurant Proves its Ability to Serve At 3rd Street and S Jordan, cars are zooming through lights, hooking turns and darting in and out of parking-lots. Dragon Express lies in the middle of this pedestrian chaos. But once comfortably inside, the customer will interact with a confident staff and efficient service. Disposable menus are legible on a bulletin board and available to take home. Hard surfaces are predominantly clean, and the kitchen is uniquely visible. Most importantly, the cashier and chef are ready to take your order. It appears that Dragon Express predominantly relies on carry-out. Although the chefs will hand-deliver meals to dine-in customers, who wants their meal spoiled by filthy table-tops? Customers, who are majority college students, will not have time to contemplate the too-many items listed on the menu. My advice is to enter Dragon Express with a pre-determined idea of your favorite Chinese meal. Service, timeliness, and cleanliness are primary concerns rather than the taste and presentation of this ordinary Chinese food. I ordered a quart of sweet and sour chicken. Given the sound-muffling masks combined with Covid-19 plexiglass, the attentive cashier still understood my words and promptly signaled to the chefs. To further test their competence as listeners, I requested to change my order from a pint of sweet and sour to a quart of orange chicken. While this is not a drastic change, I knew the cooking staff would have to promptly modify some ingredients and load the fryer with more chicken. This last-minute shake-up was handled with ease. The cashier nodded his head and once again signaled to the kitchen. Orange chicken is complemented with a quart of rice and a tub of sauce. Yes, an entire tub of sauce which is absolutely unnecessary. While the sauce is thick and pumped with flavor, it is relentlessly messy. In conclusion, the food is somewhat mediocre, but Dragon Express is certainly better than anything cooked home. Not to mention, the prices are fair, and the service is exceptional. Once you get tough all the traffic mayhem at 3rd and Jordan, Dragon Express will execute a quick, easy and tasty order. read more

It's been awhile since I ordered takeout from Dragon Express. The new blue awnings had me concerned that there would be changes in store, but it was Dragon Express as I knew and loved it. I ordered the General Tso's chicken meal and they were kind enough to substitute white rice for the usual pork fried rice. The egg rolls aren't quite what they used to be. They're a bit smaller now without that delectably crispy and greasy shell. Still good though. The General Tso's was even better than I remember it. None of the slightly tough or gristly like before and the sauce was spot on. Prices have gone up but eating here is still one cheap date. If you want fast, reasonably-priced, Chinese-American takeout, Dragon Express has you covered. read more

Dragon Express - Chinese Near Me - Bloomington, Indiana

In the mood for some cheap Chinese food? Dragon Express will provide. If you eat in, prepare to be unamazed by their card tables and cafeteria chairs paired with their uncoordinated wall hangings. The inside of this place needs some TLC. But, the food is warm, tasty enough, and there are a million different options to choose from. The staff were accommodating to my request to change an order, and if you dine in, they give you tea for free. Overall, if you're looking for some quick and inexpensive take-out, this could be your place! read more

Dragon Express is my life's guilty pleasure. For those of you who love fine dining and being waited on, this is probably not your type of restaurant. For those of you love informal meals and would rather be left alone while eating, you may like Dragon Express. The atmosphere is more like that of a canteen than a restaurant, there is no hokey erhu music to accompany your lunch/dinner, and the staff is very good. I have never had any problems with my food. I've noticed that people tend to either love or hate Dragon. To me, Dragon is a lot like comfort food -- it's very rich, very filling, and you quickly go into a food coma afterwards. That's part of the Dragon experience. Usually I can't stop shoveling all the awesomeness down my throat, only to feel a bit of remorse afterwards when it hits me like a brick. I am sure every Dragon connoisseur knows what that feels like. And like a masochist, I keep coming back for more. (But seriously, the home style bean curd is one of the best things in this world). Some Yelpers have complained that the Chinese food in Dragon is not authentic and therefore not delicious. However, my Malaysian friend from Australia absolutely loved Dragon. She said that Australian Chinese restaurants are all solely authentic Chinese restaurants, and that they do not taste anywhere as good as Dragon. Both of us prefer Dragon over Lucky Express and Chow Bar. Take from that what you will. Dragon Express accepts only cash or check, so your trip might need some preparation if you only have a debit or credit card. Also, you might not want to eat there if you have an important presentation, audition, or performance a couple hours later -- the food coma can get pretty intense. Lastly, if you have trouble keeping warm in the winter, definitely check Dragon out. read more

This is what I'd like to call "good but bad" Chinese food. It's good because it is recognizable/familiar, but bad because it's so damn greasy. The General's Chicken is over breaded, the lo mein is swimming in grease, the kung pao sauce comes from a can... but the good news is they use fresh vegetables (you can see them de-threading the snow peas). They take cash and local check only (over orders $10). They also have lunch specials (before 4pm) and dinner specials. read more

This is one of my favorite Chinese restaurants near campus. I can't speak to the authenticity, but it tastes good and you get good quality for the price. I love the fried dumplings! They make everything quickly, which is convenient! They've also always been very friendly. read more

This is a B-town staple. If you lived on campus and haven't tried this place you are kidding yourself. Yes - it looks shady Yes - the owner's a little creapy Yes - they only take cash But there lunch and dinner specials are a college students dream. Just go and look at the menu!! They also have some of the best fried rice I have ever had, they put cut up pieces of roasted ribs in there and its to die for. If you are in town for an extended period drop by here for lunch one day, its awesome! read more

Best thing about this place is the location, right by campus. The food... heh. Same greazy American style as everywhere else in town. Oh but cash only. Singapore noodles is usually one of my faves, this place has it, but it tastes a bit off. read more