Solid authentic Chinese food and reasonable value. I liked the three-flavor sizzling rice soup, which had a healthy amount of diverse toppings (shrimp and snow peas were my fav). Every slurp/bite of soup was so tasty, though my one piece of feedback is I wish the rice was less mushy. The beef with assorted vegetables was also delicious and well-portioned. Very tender beef (though a bit too saucy for my liking), but it paired super well with some rice The menu was a bit overwhelming with the many options, but lots of other dishes (tangerine beef) seemed really interesting! Staff was super attentive and nice, and the overall restaurant felt clean and modern with intentionally-chosen decor read more

Mandarin Gourmet - 三鮮鍋巴湯 / Three Flavor Sizzling Rice Soup - Chinese Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

So in our area we have the tale, of the two Chinese restaurants with the name, "Mandarin". We tried Mandarin Gourmet first and the food was pretty good, but almost 18 bucks for a lunch special isn't it! I enjoyed the food, but not at $18.00 per person. Unfortunately I won't be dining here again, because it's too expensive for Chinese food. read more

See all

Came for chow fun. Ordered and waited around 20 minutes. Waiter comes back and says they sold out. Brotherrrr. We just order rice and general tso's and dipped. General Tso's was mid and not crispy. Very salty. Also there are no windows in this establishment. The lighting is a mix of both yellow and white and kinda makes this place seem suffocating. No fresh air at all. Smells like cigarettes too. Waiters ignored us when we asked for the check and we waited like 20 minutes after we finished eating and cleaned up the table. read more

Mandarin Gourmet - 左宗雞 / General Tso's Chicken - Chinese Near Me - San Jose, California

I've been coming to Mandarin Gourmet for years and love this restaurant! It is my go-to spot for slightly more Americanized Chinese food I feel that the quality and portion sizes have stayed consistent over time and am an especially large fan of their sizzling rice soups. Some of my other favs are the tangerine beef, deluxe pan fried noodles, string beans, and beef with mixed veggies. Every time I've been here I've been immediately greeted by the friendly staff at the front counter and seated almost immediately. Although the building exterior is a bit unassuming, the interior of the restaurant feels quite elegant and very clean. read more

Mandarin Gourmet - Three flavor sizzling rice soup - Chinese Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

Sad to see all the negative reviews! I used to come here all the time as a kid and I wanted to try it today. The lunch specials are where it's at. You get all the sides I posted in the pic, plus green tea, your entree and rice. All for $17. It's really a steal, especially in this age of fast food being cheaper. The food was really good and I definitely will be back. Also the service was great, friendly host and wait staff. Definitely will be back. read more

Mandarin Gourmet - Chicken with cashews - Chinese Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

We went here for a company lunch outing. We were directed to the reserved room. The room was very hot, and that's saying something when it's winter. Maybe they turned on the heat to keep us comfy but it was very hot. As for the decor, it's definitely of its time. A little dated but fine. We started off the meal with the Chinese chicken salad. The salad was romaine and some sort of sesame, soy sauce, and hot mustard dressing. Not bad and definitely wakes up the palate. 3/5 We were then given veggie eggrolls. They were massive and very crispy but the contents themselves was very seasoned cabbage. It was helped by the sweet and sour sauce but it shouldn't be that it needs the sauce to be good. 2/5 We also had wonton soup which I think was shrimp and pork. The soup itself was fine and had a good amount of flavor but the wontons were just unremarkable. 2/5 The chicken chow mein noodles were overdone but chicken and all the ingredients were flavorful. 3/5 The honey walnut prawns were the highlight of the meal. Extra jumbo shrimp like 10/lb type shrimp. They were very tender and the batter extra crispy. 5/5 would order this again. The steamed rice had separated grains but not like jasmine or anything nice like that. 2/5 Beijing beef was good in flavor and nicely velveted but some parts of the batter were undercooked and thus left a gummy texture in your mouth 3/5. Similarly the kung pao chicken was nicely velveted. No complaints. 4/5 The veggies were the standard with white gravy. Nothing remarkable. However, two coworkers commented that the baby corn tasted wrong. 3/5. Overall, I think this place serves a good function for family gatherings. The staff were friendly and the place has a nice history but don't come here looking for fantastic Chinese food. If you get anything, let it be the honey walnut shrimp. read more

See all

I met up with some HS friends at Mandarin Gourmet. This is the first time dining here for me and they have been around since 1990!!! MG's Americanized Chinese-style cuisine, has been serving the community for over three decades! Congratulations. The interior was simply decorated. The tables had table cloths and a combination of booth seating and chairs. Prawns with honey walnuts (4/5) - Lightly crispy battered prawns in a sweetened mayo sauce with lettuce and candied walnuts. Tasty dish! Hunan Steak (4/5) - mildly spicy served with broccoli and carrots. This was pretty good, maybe the beef needed a bit more tenderizing but it was "steak" so you want that beefy texture. Lemon Chicken (3.5/5) - battered chicken breast with a sweetened lemon sauce. This dish was delicious except it was hard to cut the chicken into smaller pieces even with the fork. Otherwise, it was an exact copy of how my dad's recipe was, which I loved. The service was very hospitable, welcoming, patient, and attentive. Support your local business. It was great seeing my friends. Thanks MP for dinner. read more

See all

What even is this building? An old doctors office? But it smells like an old casino!! Plus zero windows. Total nightmare, I ordered what i thought would be crispy chicken, it was soggy salty chicken bits with one or two pieces of real chicken in there. I came for the chow fun but was told 10 minutes after ordering it there wasn't anymore. Could've led with that. Don't waste your time and go to panda express. Plus the waiter was rude, cherry on top. read more

Mandarin Gourmet - 左宗雞 / General Tso's Chicken - Chinese Near Me - San Jose, California

Have been eating at Mandarin Gourmet since the first day they opened. Never had a bad meal yet!! I love the Salt & pepper prawns the best. Chinese chicken salad excellent. Thank you for all the good meals. read more

The food was expensive and horrible. No taste, and very dry. Not a place I would ever return to or recommend. read more

The area is a little sketchy. There were some homeless looking men sitting on the curb in the parking lot. There was even signs in the bathroom to make sure you take care of your belongings, even in broad daylight. Service was exceptional. The food was subpar. Kind of your typical Chinese food with lots of sauce and the eggrolls were so deep fried that oil was spilling from the Wrapping. I did like the Chinese chicken salad, although it was fairly drenched in dressing. The wonton soup was light and refreshing, and was probably the most healthiest thing that we were served. read more

This use to be one of the higher end Chinese Restauran. We went there for dinner last night and left really disapppunted. First off, the service was great. But the food was either too salty or just bland. How can you mess up Chicken Chow mein. Chicken lettuce cups were overcooked and dried. Very disappointing. read more

I've been coming here for years now, but unfortunately the prices are way too expensive. $141 for 3 people. The prices are driving us away because they aren't reasonable. The quality of the food has been the same to me, so I'm not too sure why other reviews said it's changed. Portions are still generous and more than enough! The ambiance is nothing special and the bathrooms need a lot of work. Behind the toilets were gross and the faucets are extremely outdated. read more

See all

I grew up eating American Chinese food, and I love it. Mandarin Gourmet has been around for so many years, if I'm not mistaken, maybe since the '80s. It was considered a pretty fancy Chinese restaurant back then, and honestly, I still enjoy eating there. Most of their dishes are really tasty. I especially like their lunch special the chicken salad and hot & sour soup that come with it are great. The service can be hit or miss depending on who's serving you, but personally, I don't expect excellent service from Asian restaurants. As long as the food is good and the place is clean, I'm happy. Maybe my expectations are low, but it helps me not get emotional over something as simple as food. But, I do get upset when a server is really rude, like throwing the menu on the table. In that case, I think it's fair to speak with the manager/owner. Their interior could use an update, though it still gives me '80s vibes. Nothing wrong with it, just saying.....it might be time for a refresh! read more

I've been coming here with my family for over 25 years and whenever I'm back in town I love to make a stop at Mandarin Gourmet. The food is amazing. I think they put magic in their chicken salad. I'm a huge fan of their sesame beef and their pu pu platter! This time around we ordered food to go and it was just as delicious. Eating in is also an excellent option. The restaurant is large and there is plenty of seating. Whether you are calling in to place an order or physically at the restaurant the staff here seems to be super helpful! read more

Mandarin Gourmet - See - Chinese Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

I have done take out twice now. We fell in love with garlic eggplant. They use the long Asian eggplants which come out firm not mushy. The flavor is also superior to the common eggplant you find in conventional supermarkets. I find the eggplant-y flavor too intense but these come out much milder. You have to go to an ethnic market for these. I know how to make these at home but it's a huge hassle. You pan or deep fry them first then sauté/stir fry. We also loved the lemon chicken which was seared/fried and you pour lemon sauce on top. Normally I expect the sauce already added to the fried chicken but they probably put the sauce on the side so the chicken survived takeout. The Mongolian beef tasted great but we felt it was under spiced. We did find some of the whole red chilies but even our Americanized tastebuds could have taken more. The white rice was nicely done. We were hoping for brown rice but they stuck with the classic. There was plenty of it and we were glad we only got one order for the two of us. The ubiquitous packets of soy sauce not in any way memorable. The yellow mustard was quite strong in the way horse radish is strong. Really cleaned the sinuses. All I can say about the fortune cookie is they don't live up to my childhood memories. Even the quality of the fortunes has deteriorated. We just skipped those. You do get a lot of food. The two of us split an entree and a veggie . We had to save some room for the eggrolls. Mom's eggrolls would blow these out of the water. They should be ashamed. A quality fry doesn't save an eggroll stuffed with cheap supermarket veg. Mom's eggroll recipe; For the stuffing Dried shiitake mushrooms rehydrated and sliced Mung bean sprouts , roots and head plucked Long stripes of pork sliced thin then stirfried and seasoned with soy sauce and Shiaoshing wine. Bamboo shoots sliced thin and long Eggrolls were invented to use up leftovers so you can add bit of what you like. But if you decide to stuff it with guacamole or pizza toppings... Don't call it an eggroll Don't tell me about it. And if you do tell me please strew some pillows strategically because I don't want a concussion when I faint. Used a beaten egg on the wrapper to hold the eggroll together. Pan fry in a wok. The oil level should slightly over 1/2 the eggroll. Fry to a light tan if you plan to reheat and fry again. Fry to a nice deep golden brown to serve immediately. Mom always used the thick eggroll wrappers because she over stuffed her eggroll. This gets you a rural eggroll.But you can use the thin ones so fashionable and citified. The order arrived very quickly courtesy of Uber Eats. They have a tight window between the order and delivery. Be prepared to receive it quickly. read more

Have lived in the area for years and never have tried this place. I have heard good and bad things about Mandarin Gourmet. I know why now. Just got take out and right away you can see why people would say the food is over priced, it is. The menu is just for the masses and does not have a variety of things to order. Ordering was easy and the people seem friendly. The restaurant was not busy on a Wednesday night and looked like they have plenty of seating for large groups. We had chow fun, which was in a small to go box, we got the honey Walnut prawns, that were overcooked and had egg shells on the outside and what always happens with ordering wonton soup, two wonton in the container! Don't know why that always happens when getting soup to go. Maybe we did not get a good experience here with a to go order. But we would no recommend this place and prob will not try it again. read more

See all

This place used to be awesome. Always a LITTLE over priced, but seemingly worth it. But that is absolutely not the case anymore. Two main items, a beef dish and a chicken dish, no sides. $50. Would be worth it if it was better quality, but the reality is that I order from there as a convenience, not because it's the best. (Also- Noting also that this place charges significantly more than Chef Chu's in Los Altos) Called to place the order for take out and decided this was totally ridiculous and called back to cancel and was pretty much hung up on. So rude. The front desk staff is horrendous. Zero customer service skills. Also, the restaurant itself is a complete dump. Charging what they do, they could probably afford to do a facelift on the place, but nope. Driving to Chef Chu's now. Worth the drive for quality and always awesome pricing. read more

I think it's some of the best Chinese (mandarin) food that we have anywhere in the Bay Area/sometimes the waiters can seem a little bit surly, but I guess they've been there so long you just gotta take it with a grain of salt LOL. So go out and have a beautiful dinner with waiters that look like they're wearing bowtie uniforms and the little napkin over their arm & I guarantee you you will have a lovely experience/ So go . And enjoy Cherie read more

Another solid Chinese food spot that hits the mark every time. The service here is fast and friendly, which makes the whole experience even better. The chow mein and fried rice are both fantastic, full of flavor and never greasy. I also really enjoy the tangerine beef and sweet and sour pork. The portions are generous, and the dishes are consistently well prepared. We like to rotate different entrees when we come, but one thing we always have to order is the honey walnut shrimp. It's crispy, creamy, and just slightly sweet, definitely a standout. read more

Mandarin Gourmet is a little on the pricey side but, for what you get, it's worth it. First time I ever had to say that there's too much beef in my beef and broccoli. The best quality beef that is very tender. The Peking spare ribs (real Spareribs) are amazing and should be ordered at every visit! The Honey Walnut Pawns, egg rolls, pot stickers, and Chinese Chicken Salad. Very authentic. Enjoy! read more

This used to be one of the BEST Chinese restaurants in the South Bay. Lately as their business has slowed (closed on Tuesdays) and their prices have increased ($50 for 2 take out dishes) the food has suffered. Last week the Almond Chicken was off-tasting and last night the Sweet and Sour Pork (one of our favorites) was rubbery tasting and lacked any flavor except for the sauce So sad to see one our go-to places fall so badly. Save your money - sorry I do not have any alternative to rate. read more

Way overpriced for what you get. Sure it's a nice sit-down place. For me, food slimmy. Nahhh.. I'm good. You'll leave with a big bill and still hungry. read more

Very good for everything food, service, and interior. Go there regularly. Recommended!

Can't believe I'm from South Bay and never knew about this place! My grandma took me here for lunch and food was amazing! I'm an avid lover of hot and sour soup and I wish I got a larger bowl because it was delicious! The honey walnut prawns were the crispiest I've ever had! Will definitely be coming back. Service was on top of it, we got seated right away and food came out quick! They also offer lunch portions which is super nice! Both me and my grandma get full pretty easily so it was convenient to have smaller portions. read more

See all

All Food in menus had lost its original taste. We were disappointed for parties of 5 And also service was not as great as before read more

I am a food snob. I admit my shortcomings. I came here because a friend invited me here. I had a good time eating my meal with great company. My friend is elderly and he's been coming here for years. I am pretty sure this restaurant had its hey day. It is a classic solid Chinese restaurant in old America. In new America, this is average and I can tell you why. There is nothing wrong with average as I have a different perspective when it comes to really good Chinese food. My friend insisted that we order the top premium family meal. However, a couple dishes that we liked were on the regular family meal. I am not sure if the waiter would've let us mix/match from the 2 family options. He seemed overwhelmed and he particularly didn't like to be called a different name. My friend kept calling him George even though his name is Frank. I'm sure that didn't help our cause. I forgive my elderly friend, but I hope Frank does too. No, I'm not going to get too much into the food on this review. Why is that? You can order teriyaki at a Chinese place. Enough said. Yes, the teriyaki skewers are tasty and the hot burner is a cute gimmick. I've never seen that before and it throws off my perspective. If you are here, get the following: * Dry string beans is very flavorful * Fried rice is surprisingly better tasting than it looks * Fiery beef (I think that's what it's called) has a nice sweet flavor and not spicy as they make it sound On the super bright side, the restaurant decor is very opulent 90s. There are comfortable booths and tables. Service staff seems like 1-2 servers for the entire restaurant. Poor Frank. I don't know if my elderly friend will like authentic Chinese food. Maybe I'll take him to Panda Express for a more takeout version of this meal. read more

See all

Mandarin Gourmet used to be our favorite chinese restaurant for many years but the ownership changed, the prices went up and the food was not what it used to be. We have switched to Mandarin House on Blossom Hill. Great food, large portions and fair prices. read more

I've been eating here for 15 years and it's hard to admit that the food is just not what it used to be! It's also extremely pricey. The only good thing was the beef, it was cooked to perfection. The food was insipid, between the chow fun and the various dishes ordered it tasted bland and the sauces/ spices were similar . I would NOT recommend spending the egregious prices they charge for such mediocre food. read more

We had to wait a bit as there wasn't anyone at the desk to greet and seat us. Once we sat down the waitress was prompt. We quickly ordered. Unfortunately, the dishes ordered weren't what we expected. We doubled checked to make sure our request was heard, which it was, yet it didn't seem to get to the chef. The noodles seemed over cooked which was a disappointment. We didn't get the feel that our business was valued or wanted. It was a sad day for sure. Unfortunately, I can't say that I would recommend this place for Chinese Food. read more

One of the best Chinese restaurants in the South Bay! Our kids can't get enough of the delicious Mandarin chow mein noodles, and the Gourmet salad is a must-try--loaded with thinly sliced teriyaki beef and tossed in a refreshing soy dressing that has a kick, likely from a hint of hot mustard. This spot is always buzzing with people picking up their takeout orders, but don't worry--there's plenty of parking outside. If you prefer dining in, the interior is spacious with lots of seating options, perfect for kids, large groups, or a quick meal. Our family loves coming here for delicious, Gourmet Chinese food! read more

Use to go here all the time till we moved out of the area. Went there the other day on our way home from the airport. Brought back great memories. We started with hot and sour soup. It was tasty and hardy. We had the Mongolian beef, Moo Goo Guy Pan and their combination chow mein. All was excellent. I usually get their tangerine beef, but leftover it doesn't reheat well. The service was great. read more

We used to frequent this restaurant until we were made aware of the Santa Clara County Health Inspection report wherein Mandarin Gourmet was listed as having food contaminated with vermin and closed down as a result. They have since re-opened, but there's no way I would take my family there again- too many other restaurants that regularly pass the SCC Health Inspection. read more

Can a restaurant be so good but the service makes you not want to go back, Yes! My first clue should have been the long line of take out I noticed while I was walking in to the entrance. Our waiter (an Asian male with a bad comb over) had a very hurry up and buy attitude. When I asked about ordering a appetizer called the Pu Pu platter, which contained many different items, including fried shrimp, I requested that the seafood be placed on a separate plate due to my wife's allergies. He said No, it all comes on one plate! I said no problem, their $30 loss. I thought that this might be an issue of me being a person of color but I noticed that he was the same with everyone that was in the restaurant. Would I go back? Maybe but just for take out. read more

We were in the area visiting family and ended up having dinner at Mandarin Gourmet because my SIL couldn't stop raving about their food. We were greeted and seated upon our arrival. The restaurant is quite spacious. You can definitely tell it's been around for a long time. We ordered: - Hot & Sour Soup - Honey Walnut Prawn - Mongolian Beef - Crispy Chicken in Hot Garlic Sauce We were not impressed by the hot & sour soup. It would've tasted better if we had some white pepper and garlic chili sauce. We liked the honey walnut prawns. It was perfectly cooked and the sauce was light. The prawns were HUGE. The mongolian beef was tasty. Crispy chicken in hot garlic sauce was a little on the salty side. Overall our experience was good. Our server was fast, friendly and sweet. The bill came out to $100 for 4 dishes. Not bad at all. Definitely, got the vibe of a family owned restaurant. Would I be back? Definitely, if I was in the area and craving Chinese food. read more

Food is good, portions look smaller then before. Covid-19 really hurt this business. They don't serve tea, unless you ask for it. There only 2 sometimes 3 servers. I guess they let go some servers. They are the same servers. Prices have gone up a bit also. read more

Decent Chinese food. People seem to love it for their lunch specials. One thing forsure is they serve you a lot of food! I notice they have a lot of Hong Kong style options. Portion sizes are huge! read more

Came on a Monday for dinner as a party of 5 and this place was relatively busy, but I was the only Asian in the restaurant besides the workers and that's how you know the meal will be mediocre. This place is obviously catered towards the white palate as that is their primary clientle. This place is pricey for the quality and quantity of food that you get. Why was everything salty af?!?! We went with the family dinner A ($29.95/person) and it came with 1 bowl of hot and sour soup, 1 egg roll, and 1 fried shrimp per person. We were each allowed to order and share 1 entree per person family style. We ordered the following: - Moo Shi Pork (2/5); I think they meant Moo Shu; pancakes were extra; this was very messy to eat and we only got 1 moo shu pancake per person - Cashew Nut Chicken (2/5) too saucy - Mandarin Chow Mein (1/5); wtf was this?! noodles were mush and it was salty af - Sweet and Sour Pork (1/5); too much breading and the pork was dry af - Prawns with Snow Peas and Broccoli (4/5) this was the least salty dish, but the shrimp was a bit sus Service is non-existent and our server was in a "no bs" kinda mood. My bf tried flagging down our waiter for some soy sauce for half the meal and I ended up needing to flag him down. Place is clean. There is plenty of parking in front of the restaurant and overflow parking is available via the adjacent retail plaza. Will not return as I'm still chugging water 2 hours post meal. Gratuity is also automatically added on parties 5+. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I can make this better at home (mother would be proud). read more

See all

Very expensive but the taste and quality of the food hasn't changed in the roughly 30 years I've been coming here. Pot stickers are excellent as is the lamb with green onion and the fried chicken breast with hot garlic sauce. Hot and sour soup is something that I am happy with when I'm in a soup mood. read more

Craving for some authentic Chinese cuisine? Look no further than Mandarin Gourmet! This family owned and operated restaurant in San Jose is a true gem, serving up mouth-watering Mandarin and Szechuan dishes.Their secret? Only the freshest ingredients are used, with daily deliveries of seafood, meat, and veggies. Enjoy a true feast with their family style servings, perfect for trying a variety of dishes.But don't miss out on their must-order items, like the irresistible honey walnut prawns, extra garlicky string beans, sizzling General Tso's beef, and my personal favorite, shrimp in lettuce cups.So why wait? Make Mandarin Gourmet your next dining destination and experience the flavors of China in every bite. read more

See all