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    Mandarin Palace

    3.2 (320 reviews)
    ModerateChinese
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order Mandarin Palace Takeout or Delivery

    Mandarin Palace Photos

    MANDARIN PALACE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    The hidden dishes in the Chinese restaurant-to enioy the authentic Chinese flavor the waiter patiently recommended the dishes on the hidden menu. The taste was astonishing and really liked them.a spicy fish and a light vegetable.

    Ngovty L.

    I've been ordering my 3 delight fried rice or 3 delight fried chow mein for many many years as the portions are all very generous. The service is great and ambiance of the place are all very welcoming

    Patricia H.

    I normally order white meat when I order a chicken dish and this time I did not because it didn't give me an option on the Uber app / instacart app so I took a chance, and I just spit out a large piece of grizzle that was pretty gross! $43 for two entrées And I'm having to spit something out of my mouth! EDITED , Since I'm starting an overnight 12 hour shift in about seven minutes, I figured I'd try a little more of tue cashew chicken, I had to spit another piece out , grizzle with fat ! It's obviously they're just chopping up the dark meat and not being selective about what's being put in there. If you're determined to eat here, definitely pay extra for the breast meat because you don't know what you're gonna get if you order the standard cashew chicken with dark meat off of the regular menu Will not order here again

    Beef and Broccoli (Lunch Menu)
    Jeremiah A.

    Food was amazing, and the price was great--around $14 for a plate, drink, and soup. The service was excellent; the staff checked in on us throughout our visit and made sure we had everything we needed. Definitely recommend if you're looking for a restaurant that isn't too busy.

    Phattharaporn S.

    This looks like a fancy Chinese restaurant but the food was not as good as how the restaurant look. We had the lunch set which came with entree, rice and some sides. The entree was not was authentic and had some random flavors in it. The steamed rice was good but fried rice was a bit too oily. Portion was just right. Service was very friendly though.

    3. Mongolian Beef Lunch Special
    Israel G.

    Stopped here for a quick bite. Ordered the Lunch Special: Mongolian Beef Made to order. Nothing was too salty. Vegetable Egg Roll tasted good, with a hint of fresh ginger. The Mongolian Beef was tender, warm, flavorful, and delicious. Fried rice was not salty and didn't have any veggies. The service was friendly and responsive. No complaints here. Price was average. The place was half way filled with people for a late lunch. Looked and felt and smelled clean. I will definitely come back and try some other offerings.

    6. Shrimp Egg Foo Young Lunch Special
    Melissa L.

    Found a great classic Chinese restaurant today with a friend for lunch and even better as we stumbled upon it by accident. The exterior was welcoming with a clear sign and they had a large variety for their lunch menu specials so we decided to give them a try and we were happy we did. The interior was nicely decorated with traditional looking decor and vibes. They had plenty of booths and tables, our dining in experience was pleasant as the booths were large and they spaced everyone out pretty nicely that you could have a bit of privacy. We felt that the service was very good and everyone was super friendly. We were seated right away and they were quick to take our order when they saw we were ready. The food also came out quick but tasted fresh and hot. It's definitely a great spot to come for lunch as they get you in and out (but without feeling rushed). Also I loved the family/friend vibes the workers all seemed to have with one another. I say this because we noticed that the waiters and kitchen staff all sat at a table in the back and ate a meal together during a late lunch hour, when there was no dine in rush. I loved to see this! Gave very good vibes and they stayed on top of service, I just thought it was cool to see workers sharing a meal and enjoying the food just like we did as customers. I love supporting businesses that value their employees and you see everyone working together and getting along. The food was a solid 4 out of 5. Everything we ate was tasty and filling. We really liked their egg drop soup, while simple it was nice and hot, also a good sized portion! I ordered the shrimp egg foo young. The gravy wasn't as thick as I like it normally but it still had really good flavor. It kind of looked like a deconstructed foo young but none the less it was super tasty and the shrimp portions were really good for a lunch deal. My friend had the beef and broccoli and also commented that it was a really good dish. I'd definitely recommend coming here for the lunch specials. For $13 I don't know how you can beat getting soup, rice, an egg roll, a potsticker, and your entree for that cost. And again, super tasty and good portion. Their lunch specials are a great value and the lunch specials menu was super extensive! Many great options. Lastly, I appreciate that this deal is served until 4pm. I feel like that's pretty unheard of at most places as some places stop lunch by 2pm. My friend and I couldn't take lunch until around 3pm so it was pretty cool they honor the special menu for the majority of their day. If your in this side of town and craving Chinese food for a decent price while still getting good service, this spot is surely for you.

    Moo Shu Vegetables. IG: @amei.eats
    Alex M.

    I ordered takeout from Mandarin Palace a while back and was rather underwhelmed. The Moo Shu Vegetables had a nice mixture of filling, but the pancake felt inauthentic and ruined the flavor of the entire dish; it also did not come with enough hoisin to drive the flavor. I also ordered the Pan Fried Dinner Combo, which contained an appetizer combo that ranged from flavorful to uneatably chewy. The noodle itself was good and had lots of content. The soup was very traditional which was fine. Finally, the fried rice didn't look appealing, but tasted okay.

    That classic fortune cookie
    Vanessa R.

    Really enjoyed my evening here for Christmas Eve. One of the best things about China pavilion is their commitment to keeping the quality of their good and prices consistent over the last five years. Ambiance is sort of a big reason I chose this place over others in the area. You are in a strip mall hut walk in and feel transported with that family Chinese restaurant decor, like your retired rich Asian grandmas house. My date I loved the option for "prefixe" meal at only about $20 with wonton soup, a plate of fried appetizers and a main with rice. It was a great way to try a few different options without overpaying for extra food. One critique is that front of house service was hasty and sometimes lacking. The phone is ringing off the hook for take-out and takes priority over walk in staff. I still conclude with a five star rating due to the fact that I didn't go in the service- I went in for that traditional "American Chinese Style" food down home and good prices and that's what I got. Not anything interesting on the wine list but $15 for corkage!

    A feast for two! 9. Pot Steamed Dumplings, 12. Fried Rice, 16. Chicken Egg Foo Young, & 2. Sweet and Sour Chicken

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    Business owner information

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    Mandarin P.

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    No no no!!! My spring rolls were cold and the sweet and sour pork was watery ewww. Never again! They even rush everything!!! Jeeezzzz!!!

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    3 years ago

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    6 months ago

    The wait was 0 the food came right away. The service was a little rushed but very attentive. The food was delicious.

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    8 months ago

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    11 months ago

    Best hot and sour soup I have ever had ! And lunch special is the best way to try all their dishes!

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    5 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Great Food! Nice atmosphere. Helpful staff. Good Variety of food Choices. Good Value.

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    2 years ago

    Great service. Delicious food. Good price point for the area. The place is clean and has a fun chalet/Chinese vibe. What's not to love?

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    Shang Hai - Soup

    Shang Hai

    4.5(308 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    I came here last minute since madam Lu is gone. I loved their crispy fried rice soup. So when I…read moreentered "crispy fried rice soup" in yelp I saw this place Ambiance is casual and the staff is very hospitable and not intimidating- I read what that "elite" reviewer wrote- she may have a case of long haul COVID where her sense of taste is a bit off. Complaining about details of sour? Girl that's just tongue being superior to your smell response lol I ordered a similar plate of the trinity meat dish and I loved it. MSG has been debunked for years now, read more girl so o don't have to read you here on yelp lol this is a persons business, mincing words like the way they did was very irresponsible as a community member Anyways I loved this place. - I ordered the same meat dish in their lunch kung poa special I paid 11.95 I think pre tax? With a meal I wiped clean lol I mean hello "the zucchini was sour" "the shrimp was ugh" that's a lot of audacity - sounds like she is on another planet- I did not notice anything like she described - I tend to eat my plate mixing the items for the story of food to collide. Sounds like she was taste testing each individual piece- lol girl that's a personal thing abiut yiur personality - regular people like me eat our food passionately hungry lol Everything was delicious- comforting and the spice content perfect. I'm going back again and bringing my family The soda comes in a can and glass with ice- just how I like it

    Cozy old school interior with friendly staff…read more I ordered the Triple Delight lunch special. The serving size was generous. Very Americanized food with heavy use of MSG. Beef was unfortunately inedible, shrimp was average and chicken was okay but tasted like warmed up chicken so not the best. Veggies were okay though the zucchini tasted a bit sour. Rice side was okay and egg roll was okay. Fried wonton was tasty. Soup was okay. Overall, I have had much better quality lunch specials at Chinese restaurants. Food was a bit below average in taste and quality. The lunch special price was cheaper than average for California. There were Chinese customers dining and I noticed they were not getting the lunch special. I was only given the lunch special menu so I guess they assume that if you are not Chinese you are going to order the lunch special?

    Photos
    Shang Hai
    Shang Hai - 02. Chinese Style Spicy Chicken 13. Saute Green Beans

    02. Chinese Style Spicy Chicken 13. Saute Green Beans

    Shang Hai - Pork Bao

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    Pork Bao

    Meet Up Chinese Cuisine - Veggie fried rice, Broccoli Beef, Zesty Orange Chicken, Chicken Chow Mien, Sauteed Green Beans(Pork), egg Vegetarian Spring Rolls

    Meet Up Chinese Cuisine

    4.2(339 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Wow...I came back here again, and my waiter John mentioned that they will soon be adding Dim Sum to…read moretheir menu in May. Lo and behold, he brought to our table a complimentary sample of these delicious morsels. The lunch special again was plentiful and I truly appreciate the value here and the kind service. Thank you!

    My husband and I visited this hidden treasure while out riding our motos last evening around 8:00…read morepm. We had noticed the restaurant a few times before, after stopping for gasoline at the corner station directly across from Meet Up Chinese Cuisine. We had intended to stop by long ago. No more waiting. Last night, we made it happen. Ample parking is on site, and another perk in a city with a shortage of this feature. They also maintain later operating hours than most SB restaurants, another HUGE plus in a city which seemingly shutters before sundown. The restaurant interior is bright, airy fresh, clean and inviting. The two large robotic table attendants wore white attire with cheerful red aprons. They exude a special kind of whimsy and add another level of delight rarely experienced in dining. These capable assistants greet you at the front desk, and proved a novel and intriguing welcome (especially in today's landscape of our ever-increasing AI functionality). The adorable stuffed pandas are a great addition as well. The vividly colorful and impactful tile tapestry behind the entrance doors is a spectacular selfie spot and work of art. It sets the tone for "Meet Up Chinese Cuisine" ~ and is telltale of the effort and authenticity invested in everything they do. There is a live stage off the central dining room - where band equipment quietly awaits to spring to life and provide additional enjoyment to an already beautiful dining and seating arrangement. We were greeted by a kind and polite woman who was working at a nearby table as we entered. She promptly and warmly greeted us, and patiently assisted us in placing our order. This included an item not located on the menu, which my husband loosely described. (THANK YOU!). We were invited to wait comfortably in the dining room while the order was prepared. The scents emanating from the nearby kitchen were heavenly, and so enticingly to our already eager appetites! We placed an order which included three mains and a large soup. It was prepared accordingly to order, and in due time. Bagged and carefully carried to our table, where two young male attendants used the receipt to double-check the contents and asked if we needed any condiments or items. Exceptionally attentive and aware team in this eatery. We were truly excited to get it home and dig-in. Before I describe the dishes, I cannot PRAISE this next feature enough. I've never seen it before, and it is a game changer for take-out (especially saucy dishes and soups)! Once home we carefully unbagged the items...anticipating some leaks and spillage (as we transported it in the cargo attachment on the back of a Motorcycle! Not a DROP!! I carefully removed the plastic lid from the Pork (soft noodle) lo mein with vegetables. Over the TOP of this container, and UNDER the plastic sealing top lid -- we found "SARAN WRAP" which cleverly sealed itself utilizing the heat reaction caused by the HOT food (hence the term: shrink wrap). I was stunned, in a giddy excited manner! I carefully and easily removed the Saran Wrap to a beautiful burst of FRAGRANT steam and delectable noodles with an abundance of meat and FLAVOR! Every bite was flavor-packed and the meat was "melt in your mouth" tender. The temperature was MOST notable. It was as HOT as if the dish had just finished cooking in the kitchen. Splendid! Each subsequent dish (ie: moo goo gai pan, spicy beef with select peppers and veg, hot and sour soup, and the BEST steamed rice) were literally some of the most authentic, flavorful, and delicious Chinese fare we have ever enjoyed. In the top "5" for sure. "CRAZY - GOOD." The kind which lingers pleasantly on your palate and maintains a solid place in your memory vault! For a little tucked away haven, "Meet Up" surprised us in the BEST of WAYS, and now we have a solid genuine gem to enjoy whenever the urge for the ULTIMATE CHINESE FARE hits. Pricing is affordable, with generous portions for the prices paid. Even the steamed RICE is complimentary and provided WITH the dishes (where most in our city seem to charge as ala carte nowadays). There is no skimping here on the rice either (or any dish), and the fresh, tasty, superior locally sourced ingredients shine through in every single bite. Thank you to all who helped us last evening. You represent the very BEST in restaurant hospitality and food service. Santa Barbara is blessed to have you amongst our ever-changing restaurant culture. We became loyal patrons the moment you extended such grace, kindness, and professionalism as we held the menu and discussed options and selections at the register. We are grateful, and appreciate you and your five-star staff, food, and memorable restaurant. Beyond exemplary all the way around. Bravissimo!

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    Meet Up Chinese Cuisine - Band area

    Band area

    Meet Up Chinese Cuisine - Kung pao shrimp

    Kung pao shrimp

    Meet Up Chinese Cuisine - Meet Up at dusk

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    Meet Up at dusk

    China Pavilion - dumplings in hot chili oil

    China Pavilion

    3.4(461 reviews)
    2.9 mi
    $$

    I find the ambience and food at China Pavilion to be great. And they have a bar as well…read more The service is very professional. I'd recommend it if you are craving Chinese food and in the Santa Barbara area.

    Hands down the BEST Chinese food in Santa Barbara. There is no comparison!…read more If you're looking for incredible Chinese food, this is the place. My husband and I come here all the time, and every single visit is outstanding. We have our absolute favorites: the chicken fried rice, spicy pea pods with oyster sauce, and the sizzling rice chicken soup, which is a must. When we bring our son, he always orders duck, and this restaurant truly shines in how many amazing ways they prepare it. He loves every version. When we have friends or family visiting, we explore even more of the menu, including Szechuan dishes, noodle plates, and so much more. Everything is consistently delicious. But it's not just the food. The people who work here are fantastic. They are warm, welcoming, attentive, and genuinely happy to have you there. They make you feel like a regular even on your first visit, which is rare and so appreciated. We've tried the Montecito location, and while it was fine, it simply does not compare to the Santa Barbara restaurant. This spot is something special. If you haven't been yet, do yourself a favor and go. You won't regret it, and you will definitely be back.

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    China Pavilion
    China Pavilion - Har gow.

    Har gow.

    China Pavilion - Sweet and sour tofu.

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    Sweet and sour tofu.

    Mandarin Palace - chinese - Updated May 2026

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