Amazing indeed lots to try. BUT the Golden spare ribs have stayed on my mind for weeks. Pot stickers were next level, then a little different take on the broccoli beef. Loved it all read more

See all

Today, my husband and I had a very unpleasant experience at J2C Restaurant. This was the first time since moving to the United States that I felt we were treated in a way that made us question whether racial bias was involved. On Sunday, July 5, we went to J2C for lunch. A male server seated us at a table that was quite dark and directly under a strong air conditioner. I politely asked if we could move to a table by the window. He said yes, but told us to wait while he cleaned the table. My husband and I waited patiently by the other table, looking through the menu. During that time, we saw the male server come out several times to serve other customers, but he never came back to us or acknowledged that we were still waiting. We didn't complain--we simply continued waiting. 15 minutes later, a female server noticed us waiting there and asked if we needed anything. I explained that our original table was too cold and asked whether we could move to the window table. She said yes, cleaned the table, and then waved for us to come over and sit down. At that point, everything seemed fine, and we were looking forward to ordering our lunch. However, shortly afterward, the male server walked directly over to us and began scolding us. He said, "You need to learn to be patient. I told you I would clean the table, and you shouldn't have moved without communicating with me." I calmly explained that the female staff server had cleaned the table and told us to sit there. I asked him, "What did we do wrong?" He replied, "Yes, everyone made a mistake. You just need to learn to be patient." I still don't understand what we did wrong. The female employee who told us to move to the window side table was also works for the restaurant, We simply followed her instructions. So why were we being blamed? From the moment we entered the restaurant until we left--nearly 20 minutes later--the male server never once came over to check on us or even offered us a glass of water. In the end, we decided not to eat there because we did not feel respected or welcomed. We will not be returning. This was an extremely disappointing experience and reflected very poor customer service and restaurant management. I sincerely hope the management will look into what happened and ensure that all customers are treated with courtesy, respect, and fairness. read more

Usually I start off talking about ambiance and service but my god the food here was EXCELLENT!! I personally had the Jalapeño Chicken and BBQ Pork Buns and both dishes were delightful. The chicken had just the right amount of spice where you noticed it but it didn't overpower the food. A co-worker had the Pad Thai and it looked delicious as well. There is an extensive menu and if I lived near there I'd be trying something different on a regular basis. As for the ambiance, it's a small little restaurant in a strip mall where you will overlook it if you don't know what you're looking for. Not much parking but it wasn't overly busy either. Nothing fancy here but it was clean and with how good the food is, it doesn't need to be fancy. The service was what you would expect. The waitress checked on us regularly and was friendly. read more

J2C Asian Bistro - 1 of the 4 BBQ Pork Buns (the other 3 were eaten quickly) - Szechuan Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

See all

Service was good, we came here for General Tso chicken because they made it differently in the past and it was the best in town...think they change it recently tho it hasn't been the same . read more

I ordered the Scallion and Garlic Chicken. This type of dish is one of my favorites, so I like to think of myself as something of an expert or at least semi-pro. All that to say this was one of the best dishes of chicken rice I've ever had. While I didn't realize that it's a portion for the table, I made every effort to eat it all and was left happily defeated. Now back in the hotel, I'm lying recumbent as I nurse a food baby and am grateful to have leftovers sitting in the fridge, for either a midnight snack or savory start to my Sunday. The food came out relatively quickly. The place was extremely clean and well-lit, and the young lady who took my order was extremely professional and cheerful. Overall, I would give this my strongest recommendation and will make a point to return even if doing so would require its own trip or a significant detour from another route. Great stuff!!! read more

Had an amazing time! The food was so good and arrived so quickly!! Our server Cristian was awesome!! read more

J2C Asian Bistro - Chicken with Broccoli pork garlic - Szechuan Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

J2C used to be one of the best places in Lexington, but since the change in ownership, it is mediocre, at best. My last order was sub par and missing items. They are priced higher than other places that have better food. Sadly, I won't be returning. read more

J2C Asian Bistro - Szechuan Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

See all

Best Chinese food in Lexington. The Mala HotPot with real Sichuan peppercorns hit me every time. The chicken dishes are all REAL chicken with minimal filler. Even good on DoorDash read more

This was an absolutely delicious lunch. I highly recommend the braised pork belly. Atmosphere is quiet and comfortable read more

J2C Asian Bistro - Raised pork belly - Szechuan Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Great restaurant hidden away in Lexington. Staff was friendly and nice and very courteous. The food was also very good. We got an assortment of things to try. read more

See all

So initially I thought this restaurant specialized in carry out only. I did get my to go in mins, but it's a sit down, kinda fancy restaurant to my surprise. I got the hot chicken with fried rice to go of course. Tax and tip was around $20 bucks. When I got my food outta the bag, I was disdisappointed in the portion size. Then I tried the food. The hot chicken isn't your avaverage hot. It's notches above what most Americans would consider hot. It was really nothing that I got excited about. This is authentic Chinese food mind you! The rice was somewhat bland. Overall, the quantity-quality was disappointing. This isn't a bang for your buck restaurant. I will not be back. read more

Everything was very tasty! We came in with a group of four on a Friday at 5, and were sat right away. I was a little disappointed that there were no beer/ wine options, but the food menu had plenty of options! The portions were a good size, though I do think prices were still a little high. We will definitely be visiting again! read more

J2C Asian Bistro - Shrimp with String Beans - Szechuan Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

The food was great and the service was really decent. I was a bit disappointed with the decor and ambiance but it's the food that matters and it's good. Easily located and ample parking. read more

We're longtime fans of J2C, but a pickup order this weekend left us bitter and disappointed. The general Tso's chicken here has been the best we've ever had - crunchy and moist chicken with an incredible sauce. Last night, our order may have been the worse we've had in Lexington. The recipe has changed and it was so bad. The fried rice also had a new recipe that was bland and greasy. Pad Thai was sticky, greasy, and again- just bad. Not sure if there is no management or maybe this was a fluke evening, but another trip like this one will result in us permanently leaving this place. The high prices here were always justified by fresh, Flavorful food that surpassed typical fast Chinese. Now it's overpriced and not much better than mall food court Chinese. Really hoping for a better experience the next time we feed our family on $60 of Chinese food. read more

The food was incredible!!!! Authentic Chinese with little "filler". I got ALL chicken in my dish ... veggies were an accent, s it should be read more

J2C Asian Bistro - General Tso's Chicken Kung Pao Shrimp - Szechuan Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

See all

We decided to order Chinese food for dinner. My friend told me that they aren't open for dining but you could order ahead . Which is what we did so I can't say what the inside looks like or comment on table service . However having said that when we arrived one of the employees was waiting at the door for us and was super friendly . We ordered beef lo-mein (no vegetables with the exception of mushrooms ) that wasn't for me but for one of my friends. We also got sweet and sour chicken . The food was piping hot even by the time we got it home . I have to say not only did the food look good (we all eat with our eyes first) but it was really good as well ! I'm born and raised in New York so I'm used to authentic Chinese food from Chinatown in the city. I have to say this was pretty close and I'd definitely recommend ordering from here . read more

Last night we actually ate in the resturant, have always got it to go Very clean inside and service was great. Everyone meal was really good,veg fried rice,orange chicken,pepper steak,egg rolls& pot stickers...I got the black pepper short ribs and ask for hot. They were hot and there were bones in every bite which I didn't enjoy so I won't order that again but love their food read more

First time visiting...will certainly not be the last. Amazing food, simply delicious. Interior was small but very clean and inviting. Service was very good. Super convenient location right off Broadway lots of parking or walking distance from Rupp. You will not be disappointed. Go give them some love. read more

See all

I have wanted to try this place for a while. I finally did. The food was amazing. I got the twice cooked pork, fried rice. My son got the golden ribs and fried rice. I also ordered the green beans as a side dish. We also had egg drop soup and dumpling soup. The food was fresh, delicious and plentiful. The 4 of us shared the different entrees. That was plenty for us and we had one small take home box left for someone's lunch. The service was great. The staff are very friendly and helpful. I really like that they have a special house menu. Prices are great. I will be going back next week. I am so glad I found this little gem in lexington. read more

Great service! Even better food. We enjoyed the orange chicken, Mongolian beef, low Mein, and hot and sour soup! read more

J2C Asian Bistro - Mongolian beef - Szechuan Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

See all

Good food, large servings, very good quality, and good prices. The atmosphere is actually very nice considering that it's in a strip mall, but the staff needs to match the ambiance. Our server wearing grey sweatpants and a hoodie made for a less than desirable experience. Salt and pepper on the tables would also be nice. read more

J2C Asian Bistro - Chicken with String Beans Pepper Steak with Onions Crab Rangoon Steamed Broccoli - Szechuan Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

For local Sichuan food it's pretty good for pick up or delivery(which adds quite the cost). I would recommend it as sufficient but nothing special. Did the trick for Chinese craving. read more

No kick at all. I went in and had the lunch special which consists of an appetizer and a main course. I had hot & sour soup which was pretty good and Mongolian beef which I asked for extra spicy. Bland, extra bland is what I got. Whoever wrote the review claiming this place had some zest got a different cook or owner! Food tasted okay, and price at $9.95 for the lunch special was nice, but bring your own hot sauce. read more

Nice place but don't order the beef soup, it was mostly bad cuts of beef. It's the part that you would trim away before cooking. read more

J2C Asian Bistro - Beef from the beef soup - Szechuan Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

Food is delicious and fresh. The owner is friendly and gave good suggestions. We did not wait long for our food because we came during off hours around 3pm. We tried pork skin, hot pot, fried rice and tofu. We like them. read more

Order take out and we was very happy with the experience. The food was all fresh and portion size was reasonable. Believe will be our go to spot for take out. read more

This place is running takeout only, and their website notes that as of this writing there are no plans to reopen for in-person dining. As a takeout place, they offer a suitably generous lunch special which includes a good sized takeout container plus a spring roll (or alternative). They have a small veggie selection and only one of those makes it into the lunch specials, which I tried. The garlic sauce tofu was a bit sweet for my taste, even with the "extra spicy" box checked. I also would have chosen some different vegetables given the choice. The spring roll was mostly cabbage and black pepper; the fiber is always welcome. It was fine, but not as good as I might have hoped. There are one or two dinner options I thought worth trying, but I'd like them more if they expanded their menu. read more

J2C Asian Bistro - Deep Fried Tofu with Garlic Sauce Lunch Combination - Szechuan Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

See all

I am not very impressed with this Chinese place. I got take out and when I got home, my pad thai had very, very LITTLE chicken and the noodles had almost no sauce. I got something else, but it was so unremarkable that I forgot what I got...: Won't be going g back!!! read more

We were NOT impressed by J2C. We were served bland food that tasted like it had been microwaved and not made fresh. I had the spicy eggplant and beef and it had cold spots and very hot spots. It had zero spice. No heat, no garlic, no flavor at all. My husband's dish was also bland and boring. The server did not check on us one time after taking our order and there were no other diners in there. We even had to walk up to the counter to wait and pay since apparently she was in the back microwaving to go orders or something. I believe she was the only person working. A $59 lunch disappointment. Should have gone to Panda Cuisine or Wind instead. I was excited about this place, too! read more

Stopped by Lexington for a day and needed to grab some dinner in the area. My hotel was central to a bunch of restaurants.... mostly fast food joints. I headed to Yelp and filtered places that had 4 stars or greater. It took me to J2C. J2C had 4.5 stars so I had to try it. As I arrive, the dining area was of contemporary decor and a nice open seating environment. On a Wednesday evening, there were ample customers dining. I took a look at the menu and it was your typical Chinese menu. I typically order General Tso's chicken at most Chinese restaurants I dine at so this wasn't going to be an exception. I also ordered an egg roll as an appetizer. The food came out in respectable time. I bit into my food and I have to say that this was the most delicious take on Chinese food. The chicken had a fine crisp to it prior to getting to the moist center of the white meat. The flavors just oozed taste and I was hooked. I give reviews not only on the food and the restaurant ambiance but also on the dining experience. The service really matters and what put this place at 5 stars was that the service here was top notch. They stopped by to check on me and how my food was but not in a pushy way. read more

J2C Asian Bistro - Egg roll and jasmine tea - Szechuan Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

See all

Fried rice was inedible and so was their pepper steak. Steak pieces had no flavor. Tasted like cardboard. I hate when my money is wasted on bad food. read more

It is a decent Asian place to have food. I went here with my Chinese co-worker as he suggested that this is one of the very few good Asian place in town. I got the Kung Pao chicken (Lunch special - around $8) which was good. It wasn't anything extra-ordinary but it did its job. The lunch special came with complementary pork/veggie rolls or soup. I got the pork roll and it was pretty huge and satisfactory. The lunch special also came with fried or regular rice. My friend suggested that this place is known for its Hong Kong cuisine and they have a special section in the menu for it. Planning on trying the HK cuisine next time. read more

J2C Asian Bistro - Szechuan Near Me - Lexington, Kentucky

See all

Returned after a long time since we're not in this area often. Things have changed some it seems. My wife and I started with egg rolls. They were small and overcooked to a dark brown and a little too crunchy. Taste was OK, but my wife commented that we've had better at Chinese buffets. We shared a Hot & Sour soup, which was tasty but so spicy that we could not enjoy it. We each sipped it 2-3 times and left 95% of it. Shame. Then we ordered the General Tso's and the Orange Chicken, both with fried rice. Both were tasty, but also tasted so similar that there was not much noticeable difference. One of them was very light on sauce, so it seemed like just a plate of chicken nuggets. The fried rice fooled me it was so white and not seemingly fried, but taste was OK. The service was great. We left satisfied but a little disappointed that it did not measure up to our original visit. read more

Authentic schezuan Food with really great service. We had spicy mixed vegetables and Mao pao tofu. Loved it

Closed! Except for curbside only. From out of town and drove 30 minutes to find that out. How about updating you website?

I came in late but the service was good. Most importantly, the food was great. One of the best Cantonese dishes I ever had in US including China towns in big cities. Very good dining experience read more

We went there last night. Food were excellent. Everything we had were very flavorful, some dishes can be on the spicy side, so if you're not into spicy dishes, let them know and ask for recommendations. The seafood Tofu pot was our favorite. Our waiter were very patient and knowledgeable. We will be back! read more

See all

Great food! They used to own Chengs and I've been looking for their delicious food for years. Glad to have found them.

Well, they have reopened, pity really. They used to be exceptional, but now they are terrible. Salt & Pepper ribs were oily, and the fried rice was bland. If you are thinking of going, just don't. Try Chengs instead. read more

I ordered chicken lo mein and it was dry compared to other lo mein I've had so just not my favorite. I have also tried their sesame chicken which was pretty good and would get It again. read more