The food is always and consistently delicious! We've eaten here twice and will definitely be back! We live the fact they offer gluten free options. Everyone in the family can get a fantastic meal I should have taken pictures before we started eating read more

My wife and I needed a Chinese food fix so stopped in to what used to be our favorite restaurant, Leong's Asian Diner. This is the second time we've been there for lunch and left feeling that the taste was no longer special and price points no longer seem reasonable for lunch. We each ordered hot tea and lunch "specials" of cashew and sweet and sour chicken ($10.49 each.) Choice of egg roll or 2 crab Rangoon was an add on of $3.50 each and a bowl of hot and sour soup each was another $4+. The lunch with tip was $60 for the two of us. Oh, and my wife received egg drop soup instead of her hot and sour which was traded out when we mentioned it to our server. Speaking of the service, other than the mix up of soup, our server was very friendly as was the hostess. Sorry to say we'll be trying out other Chinese restaurants. Not a repeater for me now. read more

One of the best cashew chicken spots- original to Springfield (birthplace). My boyfriend and I got the David's Special (name after the founder) and I got mine with crab rangoon and egg drop soup. He got his with hot and sour soup & wontons. The server also asked us if we wanted white or brown chicken or mixed- we each went with white. All the food was fresh and authentic. She was nice and efficient. The decor was simple and they also have a drive through. It is a pretty filling dish for a good price - around $16 each and I even enjoyed the leftovers the next day. They have a good selection of wine, beer, sake, and other cocktails as well. I wish they were open later than 8:30 but will definitely come back! read more

Leong's Asian Diner - David's Special with Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc - Chinese Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

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Leong's is always delicious no matter what you get. The service is great, we are always seated quickly. They are obviously known for their cashew chicken, but this last time I went I switched it up and got Phad Thai and it was very good. They come in at a higher price point than other Chinese restaurants but they do have a more elevated feel. Definitely a good choice if you're going for a sit down meal! read more

Leong's Asian Diner - Phad Thai - Chinese Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

Best egg drop soup and cashew chicken!! Drove from Texas just to try it!! The fried rice is amazing too.

Leongs has been in Springfield for several decades and is considered the original Springfield Cashew Chicken restaurant. We have eaten here for years but had not been back in a decade since we no longer live there. The staff are always friendly and knowledgeable about their dishes. We all enjoy our dishes and will certainly be back next time we are in town. Unfortunately I forgot to take pictures because I was busy scarfing down the amazing cashew chicken that was in front of me. read more

This place was as I last remembered it a few years ago. Sadly, the creator of Springfield Cashew Chicken is no longer around The food was as good as I remembered, and my grandson enjoyed most of the flavors, through sad thrown off by a few oddities that he wasn't used to. The service is exemplary and adds to an amazing experience. The character of the restaurant is an entire ensemble that just works! read more

Me and my daughter wanted to dine where Springfield Cashew Chicken was invented. Confession session: Neither of us ordered Cashew Chicken. Leong's is a full service restaurant with a host stand upon entry and waiter service. We had the spring rolls appetizer. I had never had them before and expected a soft texture and was surprised that they were crunchy. And kind of tiny. They tasted fine but the cup of Thai chili sauce served with them was super flavorful and my favorite part. I ordered Sweet and sour chicken for my entree and the portion is plentiful and delicious. My daughter ordered fried rice and couldn't finish it all before getting full. She liked how plentiful the vegetables were in her dish. To note: on the menu the children's menu and the senior menu is the exact same on their menu but children get a small drink with theirs. Hopefully if you get the server we did he'll do a better job. He was kind of lame in that he did zero check backs after delivering the entrees. Next time I go I'll try the orange chicken I saw on the menu. read more

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Every Springfield guide raves about this place and truthfully, I thought it was just OK but the restaurant did have a charm about it. Springfield cashew chicken is just a brown gravy sauce which was bland to me, which reinforced my perception that Midwest people have no taste buds. I actually preferred their General chicken to it which had much more flavor. They used chicken breast for all of their chicken dishes; I think it would have been better with thigh meat. Service was friendly. While glad to have had the experience, I would not come back. read more

Leong's Asian Diner - Cashew chicken! - Chinese Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

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The originator of the Spfd Style Cashew Chicken - let's give them 5 stars! Sweet & Sour pork tonight, was really good. Sauce is a bit on the citrus zingy side - but it is good. Egg drop soup: About as good as it gets in taste. Asian ribs: These can get in the undercooked side at times - but they have a great flavor profile to them. Service here is always fast and efficient. Atmosphere is laid back and comfortable. And clean it always is too.... read more

Leong's Asian Diner - Sweet & Sour Pork - Chinese Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

This restaurant has been around Springfield a long time the cashew chicken was amazing. The portions were large and they even offer sauces in jars to take with you. The pictures of the history around the restaurant is worth taking in. If ever in Springfield, I recommend you give them a try. read more

Leong's Asian Diner - Chinese Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

Springfield Cashew Chicken, an Americanized Chinese dish inspired by the culinary innovation of Chef David Leong. Leong's is the only Chinese restaurant in Springfield MO that I have dined at, or ever will. My wife and I had meals at the original Leong's many years ago, at its old location. Then, my introduction to the famous Springfield Cashew Chicken. It Is still one of my favorite meals. I have found the dish on the menus of Chinese restaurants across Missouri and Oklahoma. Each restaurant has a little different spin on the meal, but none as good as the original. My wife and I had the delicious meal again on this visit, with the best loaded hot and sour soup I have ever had. The meal came with unusually delicious fried rice and a choice of soups and sides. In addition to the hot and sour soup, we both had the Crab Rangoon. A wonderful meal! Check the pictures. It is a big spacious restaurant, with colorful Chinese decorations. Several walls are covered with newspaper and magazine articles about the life of Mr. Leong, and recognition for the restaurant's food. Comfortable tables and booths. The restaurant can handle a crowd. The service is fast and efficient. If you have a few minutes, read about the life of this interesting Chinese American. You can find his life history summarized on the menu cover, but the better read is the newspaper articles posted near the entrance. The food is fabulous! read more

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If you are in Springfield, you are in Cashew chicken country. Do not confuse this with Chicken with cashew nuts, a Cantonese dish. You can get Cashew Chicken on almost any street corner but Leong's is the original. I can make a pretty good imitation at home, but it's not quite the same. We recently got a huge to go order. Picked up conveniently at the drive thru. Nicely packaged with the sauce on the side. You put it together at home. We fed 14 adults and 4kids for less than $150 with enough leftovers to last the week. Tastes like home read more

To add to my previous review, I was sick for three days after eating there. Something is really not right about the chicken. I knew it tasted off and the hot and sour, did taste sour. Was probably cooled while still hot. read more

I love the tomato beef and the egg rolls. Those have been my favorites for years and are always delicious. They taste just like the original Leong's. read more

Lots of places have their local food specialty. In Chicago, deep dish pizza. In New York, thin crust pizza. In Maryland, crab cakes. In Boston, lobstah rolls. In Charlotte, it's pulled pork. You get the idea? In Springfield, it's Cashew Chicken. Yes, it was made popular here in the 1960's by chef David Leong who was simply looking to make something from the local fried chicken. The place is super busy and yes, on a Saturday night there was a 45 minute wait. No seating at the bar, unfortunately. I put my name on the list and spent the time in the van. When I returned, there was a table for one right behind the hostess stand. My waitress took my order and dinner didn't take long. It's hard to go wrong with "David's Special" and I had it with the egg roll and wonton soup. All arrived at the same time. The chicken was very good, though it could have been crisper and hotter. Great flavor and the sauce was delicious. The egg roll was nice and hot. The rice was perfect texture. I can understand why people go so crazy for it. This was delicious. [Review 19765 overall - 242 in Missouri - 737 of 2023.] read more

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Well the food smelled a lil diffrent. My wife didnt eat all of hers. I guess she said flavor was off. And had an odd taste. I was hesitant to eat it based off smell. I ate my food but im not real picky. Otherwise the price from a week between visits really had me at a loss for words. Two meals first time 32 dollars. We got two meals a week later and it was 52 dollars this time. 9 dollars for two egg rolls. Tourist trap or way to high priced for quality.the service was so so. The mens bathroom stunk. Looked like toilets overflow every once in a while. Tile was gross mirror was gross. Trash can was gross. I hope clean up the place read more

Leong's Asian Diner - Here's the receipts! - Chinese Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

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I'm not sure why I've never tried this place before?! Met my girlfriends here for our monthly night out and was beyond impressed. Service was impeccable! Everything we ordered from drinks to our main courses were excellent. read more

Leong's Asian Diner - Beef asparagus - Chinese Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

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Stopped by for some Springfield style cashew chicken. This place was incredible. My wife ordered cashew chicken with fried rice and Crab Rangoon. I ordered General Taos chicken, both were incredible. We travel through here often and will be back. read more

The food is delicious and consistent! They even sell the sauce for cashew chicken! Feel like I am sitting in their restaurant. The staff are great! read more

AVOID! AVOID! What a waste of time and money! The food is bad, and the prices are high. A late lunch of fried dumplings, fried rice, and S&S pork, 1 drink = $66!! Never again. The pork was so tough it couldn't be cut with a knife. It was inedible. Not to mention, the place is dirty. The reputation is long dead and gone. read more

Nice staff. Clean restaurant. We had crab rangoons and each of us had the Cashew Chicken which David Leong created and is now known as the Springfield Cashew Chicken. read more

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First time having their wonton soup and it was amazing! Definitely feels like it took effort to make it not just some broth with crunchy strips in it read more

Still our favorite Chinese food anywhere. Service was friendly and quick. Dining area has table seating and a small bar area. They were very busy tonight. Food was spectacular. Love the General Chicken! Can't wait to return. read more

Leong's Asian Diner - General Chicken - Chinese Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

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Every time I go and eat here the food is excellent always the same great service and they honor veterans with a discount keep up the great service and you will continue with success read more

This restaurant is the closest we have found to the kind of Chinese food we like. My favorite is the General Chicken. We are from New York by way of Denver and it's been a challenge to adjust our taste buds for Missouri food. It's a nice sit-down restaurant. Our experience with them has always been good. read more

BEST CHINESE restaurant around. Super crab rangoon & best cashew chicken!! Egg rolls and tasty and love the fried rice!!

Soggy chicken served with a tasteless brown chicken sauce with just chicken stock flavor and salt. The fried rice no flavor "Americanized" with vegetables and over cooked mushy rice. Such a disappointing dish. I have had better cashew chicken at other restaurants. This is definitely the bottom of the list for cashew chicken. Sad, Leong's is supposed to be the original and the best. Definitely missing the mark. I guess you could come for the nostalgia of it and say you tried it. read more

Leong's Asian Diner - Cashew chicken w/ fried rice - Chinese Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

We ordered general chicken. The waitress asked "white meat?" We said yes. She asked "steamed rice?" I said "can we get fried rice?" The food was fine, but those two things added $7 to our bill. If there is an extra charge for something, PLEASE inform the customer as they are ordering so that they can decide if they want it. read more

Leong's Springfield Style Cashew Chicken...the food of the gods! David Leong created this version of the Chinese takeout staple in 1963...not long before I was born. I always felt like this dish was made for me. Leong's original Restaurant and Tea House, which opened in 1963, was located on Sunshine street and was a place we went to for special occasions like birthdays and graduations. Knowing it was my favorite place to go, my Dad would take me if we were out and about running errands. Lots of memories were made there. Then...they closed in 1997 after David Leong's wife passed away. At about that time, I moved away from Springfield. When I was home, I'd have cashew chicken from many of the imitators out there. The dish has become a staple of every local (and not so local) Chinese takeout, but none are as good as the OG. In 2010 the restaurant re-emerged on Republic Road. While it's a much smaller place than the original building, the food has not changed at all. David and his sons Wing Yee and Wing Ling have kept the original recipe and their famous Cantonese dishes alive for close to 60 years. My go-to order is the "David's Special" that includes soup (I get wonton), an appetizer (I get their eggroll which is a specialty here, made with peanut butter...yes...try it...), cashew chicken, and rice (I pay extra for the fried rice). Of course, I have to have hot tea along with this meal. It's filling and wonderful. Don't miss out on the spareribs...it was always an extra treat to get these too. Everything I've ever had at Leong's has been wonderful. Until his death at age 99 in 2020, David Leong would show up at the restaurant and often sit in a booth in the dining area. He was an icon and he has left quite a legacy. He made sure the restaurant ran well and that customers were pleased. I have never had a bad experience at Leong's. The staff is always personable and attentive. The restaurant is clean and there continues to be a steady stream of customers. I have since moved away from Springfield, but Leong's is often the first place I visit after getting into town and I usually visit a couple of times during my stay there. I try to make the dish myself but it is never the same. If the cashew chicken isn't your thing, try any of the other dishes there. You won't be disappointed. read more

Leong's Asian Diner - Cashew Chicken, fried rice, and an eggroll. - Chinese Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

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Did my research on Springfield Cashew chicken and found Leong's who is the original creator. The hostess told us a bit about his story which was very interesting. Our waitress was exceptionally helpful. Based on what I ordered she recommended the special which saved me money and gave us more food. The cashew chicken was excellent. I didn't put any additional sauces on it to.preserve the original flavor. The hot and sour soup wasn't as spicy as some I've had but it had great flavor and was full of ingredients. The crab ragoons are some of the best I've ever had. They actually had lots of crab and cream cheese inside... not just a speck like most places. The eggroll had a peanut sauce inside which I knew going in. It was definitely different, like it had a little peanut butter inside. The General chicken had a sweet barbecue flavor versus being really spicy. Good flavor as well. If I lived in the area I would be hard pressed to go anywhere else for Chinese. It would be my go to. read more

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Ate here over the weekend and got food poisoning. Although, it does look nice inside, and the service was good.

Have visited Leong's many times since moving to southwest Missouri! It is by far my favorite Asian restaurant to dine in! I've always had great service, great food and very reasonable prices! It is worthy of my 5 star review! read more

Overall rating 2 stars, ordered through the drive thru.... Ordered General TSO Chicken spice level 4, Hot and Sour Soup. Two stars for the General TSO Chicken.... TSO chicken shouldn't have carrots, onions, red bell peppers and pea pods in the recipe. Watch the documentary! BTW Leong's was in the documentary so they should have a clue as to what TSO Chicken is. The flavor was good, and the spice level was excellent; the only fault was adding unnecessary vegetables. Hot and Sour Soup was 2 stars.,.. it was good, but I've had better. The price of the meal was a bit high, but you're paying a premium for the name, Leong. You have to go at least once to say you went, but there are better Chinese Restaurants in Springfield. read more

Very disappointed in the cashew chicken. Chicken was breaded chicken nuggets rather than fried chicken-type pieces I've had at other restaurants. Sauce was rather bland and not flavorful. read more

Leong's Asian Diner - Cashew chicken - Chinese Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

Delicious food here! My mother is from Southern China and I grew up eating authentic Cantonese food in Hawaii. Lots of Chinese immigrants settled in Hawaii, if anyone is wondering. The won ton soup is on point. It's rich and flavorful. The vegetables are cooked just right, too. Not overcooked nor undercooked. The service was excellent, too. She was very efficient and knowledgeable about the menu. We will be back soon! read more

Leong's Asian Diner - Won Ton Soup. Vegetables cooked to perfection. Broth is rich and flavorful. - Chinese Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

If you ever in a rush and wanted food to come out right away, you must come here. When I ordered the food, everything was out within 5-10 mins. It was the fastest service I ever had at any restaurant. Of course, I had to try the original cashew chicken at Leong. I thought it would taste like orange chicken, but surprisingly the sauce was more of a ginger flavor. The food wasn't anything spectacular but it was good to try . read more

Leong's Asian Diner - Crab Rangoon and hot n sour soup in the back - Chinese Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

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My favorite Cashew Chicken Place. When I come into town I always stop in with a guest. I even have the sauce mailed for holidays. There are plenty of cashew chickenplaces as there are convience stores. But this is the best place. read more

Best Springfield Cashew Chicken around. The "Original " Cashew chicken I might add Fast service with friendly wait staff.

I am reviewing the lettuce wraps which were not good. I have had lettuce wraps other places and they are always served with iceberg lettuce..these were not. Also the sauce was too thin to put on these lettuce leaves which was not for lettuce wraps. Just not something to order. The cashew chicken is what they are known for but don't order the lettuce c wraps. read more