I've lived in California my whole life and have just discovered this restaurant last year for the first time. Since finding out about this spot and the restaurants history, it being family owned, the best service & friendly smiles & strangers i find dining in at this restaurant I always make the 40 min drive, coming from Long Beach. Not to mention the food tastes amazing with no MSG, but overall feels like a great meal among great people who are dining in as well. I live in NY now but every time i visit my family in CA, it is a must I dine in at this restaurant even if im here for a short amount of time.. i wish I found about this place sooner ! 10/10 all around read more

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We tried their lunch specials today and were very disappointed!! I had Fish & garlic and my husband had schezwan beef !! Both were extremely sweet with no flavor! We didn't like the taste of the food and the extra sweetness. The flavorless soup that came with the lunch specials was nothing to talk about! The fish & garlic didn't taste garlicky & the fish tasted funny. I can't even say it was a step above Panda Express!! Panda's food is more flavorful. Worst Chinese food I have had in a long time!! Having the cleaning supplies and a stack of paper plates and junk left on a table next to us didn't help at all! The place looks tired and not clean. We won't be back. read more

The food used to be better. We got food poisoning very shortly after eating and were sick with stomach pain for days. The orange peel beef wasn't crispy and the sweet and sour had zero flavor :( the cream cheese wontons were very good though. When ordering over the phone the lady actually sounded like she was sick- coughing and not hearing me well, so I should of just known better but I was hopeful :( read more

Mandarin King - Chinese Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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This restaurant has the best cream cheese Wontons you've ever eaten. You can't go wrong with Kung Poa chicken, spicy but not too hot-delicious. The hot & sour soup was very good. Priscilla is the owner and very friendly and served our dishes timely & hot. Highly recommend if you're looking for exceptional/authentic Chinese food!! read more

Great food and great service. Parking can be tricky but I've been lucky to get street parking when I've eaten there.

Their house chow mein & scallop with oyster sauce was yummy! Service was great. Nice & clean restaurant.

Was craving authentic Chinese food and this one came highly recommended. The owners are so happy and kind. The soup was so good and fresh. The photo of the Mongolian beef is steamy, it came out piping hot. I had some picky eaters with me and they also enjoyed the beef. Will be back! read more

Mandarin King - Mongolian Beef 蒙古牛 - Chinese Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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Just got off the plane, found this Chinese restaurant on the main road leading to our hotel. So hungry...forgot to take pics. Ordered Fish filet with vegetables, Mandarin beef and Honey walnut shrimps. Each entree comes with complimentary rice. Everything tasted good, typical American style as was stated on menu, we devoured it all. I expected smaller portions since prices are all under$20. Walnut shrimp is the best of the 3. Staff is friendly and efficient, comfortable seating, clean tables and floors. Will visit again. read more

Mandarin King - Chinese Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Mandarin King Chinese Food is for when you havr a craving Chinese food in Laguna Beach. Located on N Pacific Coast Hwy, I find the parking kind of hard. I guess I'm unimaginitive when it comes to chinese food. I just wanted some beef chow mein. A little greasy. I enjoyed the noodles. I greatly enjoy the small serving of rice they included. Atmosphere: 3 stars. Crowded. So is, in and out hamburger, most good places are. The ambiance is cozy and small. Service: 4 stars. They are busy and the wait is long. If you are looking for fast food it's not here. Recommend calling ahead if you want to save 20 or 30 minutes. Value: 5 stars. I paid $15 for the chow main. For the quality I felt I got my money's worth considering it is Laguna Beach. Quality: 3 Stars. I got my money's worth for the quality and quantity of food. The service was friendly, though it did take a little longer for the food to arrive during peak hours. This slight delay is the only one reason I'm not giving a full five stars. The other is the box leaked. Fortunately they put it in a bag. Overall, Mandarin King is the best value for local Chinese food. read more

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I was in town House Sitting last week and was fortunate enough to be staying relatively close to Mandarin King. I'm up in Seattle, Washington currently and haven't been able to find a decent (let alone good) Chinese restaurant in what seems like years. They all taste like they get the food frozen from the same supplier. What an incredible joy it was to order takeout from Mandarin King. First, the take out comes in the classic little white cardboard Chinese containers that you know and love (seriously, I hate the plastic trays with see-through tops that so many are using these days) and the food was so freaking good! The pork fried rice brought back happy memories from childhood- so much so that I called my father while enjoying dinner just to gloat. He loves Chinese food too, and we often bemoan the lack of good restaurants in my area. The Mongolian Beef was flavorful and the little white crispy noodles they put on top soaked up some of the sauce and were delicious. The pork wontons were awesome and the fried pot stickers were perfect. This joint certainly feels family owned and the staff were very friendly. I went back a second time before my House Sitting week was up- on my 2nd visit the restaurant was pretty busy so I guess the locals know its the place to go for good Chinese food. I know I'll be back when I'm in town. read more

Been coming here for 20+years. Easily the best Chinese food in the area. Super friendly service. Absolutely worth it. Glen is the man. Recommend the house special chicken or the hot and sour soup on a chilly day. read more

the complete lunch came w entree of choice, egg rice, a crispy appetizer and another appetizer (2). it's a good size for one person and makes for an easy lunch! read more

Mandarin King - complete lunch w mongolian beef - Chinese Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

First of all, this place has amazing service. Everyone working appears to be genuinely friendly and welcoming, with lots of check ins on our party of 6. The venue is relatively small so the ambiance is very cozy but with a standard diner/casual atmosphere. The food was really not what I was expecting for Chinese, but it does fit with the American Chinese label. It is taste-wise only minimally spiced, seemed to have the same base sauce for everything, with slight doctoring. For example same base sauce but with a little black bean paste. There were sprouts in almost everything, including mu shu, which I had never had like that before. In fact, someone asked what mu shu is and the lady responded with Chinese burrito. The sauce was just ever so slightly sweet, so over the course of the meal my blood glucose rose substantially. Overall, the food was better than Panda Express, but really very similar. I think the fact that water was served, alongside a fork to eat with, and no chopsticks in sight with hit tea being a $1 per person option describes the place perfectly. If you are used to high end Chinese of any type, such as Sichuan, Hunan, Canton, Fuquian, etc, then you will be disappointed. For the American palate I can assume folks love this, but if you are craving authentic Chinese, this will be a complete let down. I am giving it 3 stars only due to the service quality. The chow mein was really a let down in taste and quality. I had hoped for something special and will continue looking. I would definitely take my squimish American friends here, so I may be back. I do like authentic Chinese, though. Of all types. Chinese spicy meat skewers, bbq, with offal, for example. Lastly, the place was ok clean. The bathrooms were high-touch, but not super dirty. read more

This is a favorite local spot--we've been coming here for over 13 years and the food is as good as when we first tried it. It's a lovely family owned restaurant that's been in Laguna Beach forever and so many of us have raised our children on their fried rice and egg drop soup :) Every dish is amazing and the service is top notch whether you are a regular or just visiting. Comfortable seating and a great homey vibe. The lunch specials are fantastic and portions are huge. Win-win overall A+++++++ read more

Wow. Exceptional Chinese food. Crispy wontons are 10/10. Great prices. Cute and cozy interior. It's a great spot to bring your kids or whole family, and not really worry about them being loud. Everyone is friendly. Including the staff. read more

I have been taking a staycation in Laguna Beach twice a year for many years, and invariably my first meal here after my drive down is at Mandarin King. I usually do take-out, hence no photos, but the restaurant has been around for over 30 years and is family run and owned. I usually see the same staff there every visit: a man who usually handles the bills and take-out orders, plus 2-3 women who are servers and much more, and a non-Asian man who is a backwaiter. The staff converse in Mandarin with each other, and write down your order in Chinese characters. All are very friendly, due in no small part to the clientele being +99% non-Asian. A special shout out to Priscilla, who always remembers me each visit and stops to chat. Should you choose to dine here, the place is medium-sized with 2 dining rooms. One mostly has booths, the other all tables. It's been awhile since I've had lunch here, but their complete lunches are a good value; they come with an entrée, soup, rice(fried or steamed), a chicken wingette, fried wonton and a small salad. For dinner, I usually order the Family Dinner, which is priced per person (for 2 or more) and includes an entrée, sizzling rice soup, egg roll, fried wonton, pot sticker and paper-wrapped chicken. There are suggested dishes, but you can change them and the cost is adjusted. One can also order a Complete Dinner, which costs less than the Family Dinner because it offers a simpler soup and less appetizers in addition to the entree. I always always order the Chef's Special Chicken Salad, because I absolutely love their dressing, which looks and pours just like light corn syrup, but is sweet and tangy. I've asked many times what's in it, and they've given me a few hints, but I've yet to replicate it. It's the dressing that's also on the lunch salad. Worth a stop for pretty authentic Chinese in Laguna Beach. read more

Lack of flavor and texture. Rice tasted old. Ordered Door Dash. Maybe something was lost in the delivery? TASTE. Unsatisfying.

Move-in day, North Laguna, 1985. New in town, famished, tired and no knowledge of any restaurants in Laguna. Started south on PCH, looking for a place to eat. Saw Mandarin King, stopped and went in. They were fairly new in town too, only open about a year but felt like they had been there for decades. Now, it has been decades and it's still our #1 place to go for delicious Mandarin and Szechwan dishes. My favorite is House Special Chow Mein and nothing beats a large bowl of their wonderful, Wonton Soup on a chilly night. Friendly, family-operated and owned since day-one, MK is a gem, not to be missed! read more

Loved the fast, fresh eats and friendly service!! A little hidden gem in Laguna Beach! Will definitely be back for more. read more

Yummy food, nice host! to go order and ready quick! Recommend! :) Thanks would go back

Found this little gem and they did not disappoint! We ordered wonton & hot & sour soup, chicken lettuce cups, black bean chicken, & chicken chow mein. Food was fresh and piping hot. Everything was delicious. The chicken was tender and all dishes were flavorful. Service was outstanding. The staff were so friendly and attentive. The restaurant was clean and cozy. We will definitely be back! read more

A traditional Americanized Chinese restaurant located in Laguna Beach, established in 1984, it has been a local favorite for years. The lunch menu is affordable around $15 per dish which includes fried rice, fried wonton, and fried chicken wing as sides. I ordered the house special beef and it was tender, sweet and tangy. The service was pretty good. We came with a big group of ~15 people on Saturday and they sat us down in the side room so we can have our own space. read more

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Mandarin King is such a gem. Love that they don't use MSG and their recipes are all on point. Kung pao chicken is my go to. Crunchy egg rolls with a soft inside. Great service and a team that genuinely cares about its customers. They remember be years later and it's nice to still know these kind of spots exist. 11/10 read more

First time trying this place and there is not a bad thing to say! The food was so good and definitely hit the spot for the Chinese food craving I was having! The service was 6 stars! I have never had such great service anywhere! And the ambiance felt so quaint and homey! read more

A very well over due review ... The most incredible Chinese food I've ever had and I've been eating it since I was 5 years old. Moved to other states ate at every Chinese restaurant possible and no other restaurant compares. The taste of mandarin kings Chinese food makes you feel good after. Like you had a well made home cooked meal! Thank you for sharing your recipe with Laguna beach. This is my favorite restaurant in the world. 10/10 stars. Fresh, Tasty, & Healthy read more

Excellent food, service and ambiance. I'd highly recommend trying mandarin king if you want quality Chinese food in a cute roadside restaurant. Service was top notch. read more

Love this place- the food is so good and is hot and plentiful. This is a my go to place for Chinese food. Try the wonton soup- so delicious! read more

Our favorite chinese hands down we always drive from San Clemente to get this food. The staff ALWAYS thank us for coming which shows just how customer-centric they are with everyone. If i ask for less sauce they always do it. Trust me i've asked at many chinese restaurants that never seem to accomplish this tiny task. I order veggie everything with bean curd and the veg is never drown out by the sauce. My husband gets the house beef and its his favorite. I started coming here when I lived in Laguna beach years ago. The restaurant is nicely kept traditional and always immaculate. read more

Found this place from other Yelpers in the area. The staff was very welcoming for our party of eight. Service was excellent and the food was very delicious. I got the lunch combo which came with soup, chicken wing, and a crab Rangoon. The moo shoo pork came already wrapped and there were two of them. They were filled with lots of pork and veggies! Very pleasant experience at this restaurant! read more

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I have been coming here for over 15 years with my family, and the food is always DELICIOUS! The noodles are fresh and flavorful, my favorite. Definitely the best Chinese food in OC. Oh, and the service is impeccable. read more

Mandarin King - Best Chinese Food in OC! - Chinese Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Love, love, love this place. A gem of Laguna, and my new go to eatery. The people are kind as can be and the food was DELICIOUS!

I love this place so, so much. Anytime I want Chinese food, it is always my top choice!! Very much worth the drive. The takeout is great but if you want to eat there too it's very relaxed and cozy. Everyone there is so sweet and they do an amazing job. My favorite is the black mushrooms and bean curd :) read more

Very warm and inviting. makes you feel very comfortable. The owners work as hosts and servers. they have been running the restaurant for years and have perfected being skilled and gracious. They make you feel welcome like you've been invited into a very gentle home. Food is very good and with wonderful flavors and generous portions. Pricing is very reasonable. Try it if you already haven't- you'll be glad you did Richard. Laguna local read more

One of my favorite places to get Chinese takeout. I usually get it doordashed or uber eats so I can only talk about their delivery. The packaging is really good and I bet if I had the food there it would've been better, but I love the food here. My favorite is the honey walnut shrimp! read more

UNBELIEVABLE how delicious this food was! I was heading down PCH and had a craving for Chinese food. My friend Bill always eats at Mandarin King and raves about the food. I just happened to be close and ordered won ton soup and the lunch special house beef. I was amazed at the amount of food AND the quality. I was full, but couldn't stop eating. I WILL be going back.... many times. read more

Get anything house special or walnut shrimp. Everything is delicious and is even better when you wrap it up in a warm flour tortilla (the day after of course). read more

We stopped in here after leaving the beach and sooo glad we did. They have some amazing Chinese food and everything tasted so fresh, not super oily and heavy. The workers were SO nice and it felt cozy inside. I would 100% come back here!! read more

Mandarin King - Honey Walnut Chicken - Chinese Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

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AMAZING!! I was craving Chinese food and put highest rated near me on Yelp and found this spot and omg am I glad I came! Food was unreal and customer service was beyond friendly and welcoming honestly one of the most amazing experiences from start to end that I have had at a restaurant! I definitely recommend this spot! Parking is pretty easy a lot of street parking! read more

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10/10, great portions, so bomb. Great and friendly service, this is our new favorite spot. read more

Mandarin King - Honey Walnut Shrimp & Kung Pao Chicken - Chinese Near Me - Laguna Beach, California

Delivery during Covid19 of comfort food that fits the spot! Flavorful, not greasy, fresh and delicious. I remembered trying them in person back when I was pregnant and loving the food. So flash forward to the current pandemic and my excitement when I realized they were open for delivery. Food arrived hot and well packaged. Mongolian beef was delicious and just the right amount of sauce. Beef strips were well done and not chewy. Chicken with snow peas was delightful with a crunch to the veggies and the sauce was yummy. Next time we will try the potstickers and a shrimp dish. Will be ordering from again very soon! read more

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