​A total hidden gem that feels like a time capsule in the best way possible. ​The Food: Amazing quality. Do yourself a favor and get the salt & pepper wings--highly recommend! ​The Service: Top-notch, friendly, and lightning-fast takeout. ​Gluten-Free Friendly: Super accommodating with allergies, just ask about their many GF options. ​It's the ultimate versatile spot. Perfect for a family dinner, a casual date night, or a solo comfort meal. 10/10! read more

Gluten-free heaven. Almost everything on the menu can be made gluten free, with the exception of the noodle dishes. We ordered takeout, and the person taking our order was incredibly accommodating and patient, walking us through all the gluten-free options. The vibe when you walk in is that classic, old-school Chinese food spot--which honestly adds to the charm. The place is clean, the food is delicious, and we'll definitely be back. If you have a gluten allergy, I highly recommend calling ahead--they're great about explaining everything and making sure you're taken care of. read more

We have been here a few time. Parking can be tough but we have always found a spot. They have a lot of menu items to choose from and we have never had anything didn't taste great. We came here once for take out and the staff said why not just eat in, so we did. The staff is helpful and we get our food quickly. We look forward to going. Reminder that they are not open on Monday so plan accordingly. read more

The service was excellent! The food was DELICIOUS!! The restaurant was very clean, nice and quiet. I loved their decorations and how nothing appeared dusty. My family and I will definitely return! read more

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I ordered takeout and arrived early to enjoy a Tsing Tao beer while I waited. Despite the 5-6 dishes I ordered the food was ready within 15 minutes! The owner whom I spoke with was very kind and helpful. I informed him that I recently moved to the area and was interested in their popular items to order next time. He was spot on that the honey walnut shrimp was great. He also recommended the Mongolian Beef, the Crispy Beef entree (forgot what it was called), and Kung Pao Chicken among others. American Chinese Food can vary between establishments so I typically order the core dishes. Their Kung Pao is prepared differently with the meat cooked in a red type sauce that mimics the red bbq pork. This was probably the one dish I was not much of a fan of, but only because I expected something different. It was prepared perfectly fine as a chicken entree dish. Their lo mein noodles are very tasty and soak up the sauce quite nicely. The Buddha's Feast is a nice savory vegetable dish on the side. I went before the dinner rush so the restaurant was empty but the ambiance looked clean and pleasant. Not a bad spot in Bay Park! read more

One of the best Chinese restaurants I've ever eaten at. I ordered the $20 dinner special, and it was an incredible value. It came with a cream cheese wonton, egg roll, breaded shrimp, egg drop soup, and orange chicken--and I ate everything. The orange chicken was perfectly cooked with a great balance of sweetness and flavor, and every item felt fresh and satisfying, not heavy or greasy. My friend ordered the broccoli beef dinner special, and it was just as impressive. The vegetables were fresh and perfectly cooked, still vibrant with a nice bite, and the beef was flavorful and tender. You can really tell they care about quality and consistency. The hot tea was comforting and fulfilling, especially alongside the meal. Parking was easy with plenty of spots in the lot, and while we were there, we noticed the restaurant constantly fulfilling phone orders, which clearly speaks to a loyal customer base and a spot locals truly rely on. Generous portions, excellent flavor, great value, and a well-run operation. This is the kind of place you come back to again and again. read more

Today is my birthday and it's also Lunar New Year so I wanted to celebrate at a Chinese restaurant. I'm from out of state and couldn't find a Chinese restaurant with gluten-free options that I liked, so I was disappointed until my husband found this place! They took excellent care of us as we celebrated and my whole meal was gluten free: egg drop soup, rice, egg roll, and sweet and sour chicken! I was so happy because I haven't had Chinese food since I went gluten-free 15 years ago for my health. This food was great and we were both happy with our meals! read more

Mandarin Wok Restaurant - Lunch special: gluten free sweet and sour chicken and gluten free Egg Rolls - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

This mom and pop shop serves up some super solid Chinese food! I got the Tung-An chicken which comes with a side of rice. The chicken was seasoned and comes with baby corn. It tastes great and the portion is massive so you'll have food to take home. The service was very quick and they were attentive when refilling water. The interior was decorated with care and added to the experience. read more

Mandarin Wok Restaurant - Tung-An Chicken - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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I ordered war won ton soup and lemon chicken lunch special to go. I brought the soup to a sick friend and had the lemon chicken for myself. My friend said the soup was delicious and helped her feel better. The lemon chicken was inedible. The chicken was sliced so thin and the breading was so thick that the chicken breast dried out to nothing. I threw it away. At least the soup was good. read more

Mandarin Wok Restaurant - Lemon chicken lunch - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Safe for gluten free folks! As someone with a gluten sensitivity, I at here safely and was reassured by the servers that they could cook my sesame chicken in a dedicated GF area and with corn meal instead of flour. The veggie spring rolls made with rice paper were gluten free and delicious. I haven't eaten gluten free Chinese food and felt this secure in the GF-ness of it all ever! I am in heaven :) read more

Mandarin Wok Restaurant - Gluten free sesame chicken, cooked in a dedicated GF area with a crispy corn meal coating. So fresh and crispy and yummy sweet sauce! - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

If you want no frills Americanize Chinese Food that's super tasty.. this is definitely the spot! Egg Foo Young was perfection. Egggy and tons of delicious bean sprouts. The fried rice was on point. Salt and Pepper Chicken Wings were coated and deep fried! Super crunchy and hot! Love the garlic pieces. Peking pork has a sweet and sour sauce that was delicious. Pan fried noodles had tons of meat and vegetables. The noodles were crunchy and I wasn't too fond of that but the sauce and meat were delicious. They even gave us some free white rice. Super nice of them. The inside is giving Chinatown realness! Artificial flowers in vases, lanterns, a young lady at the very front doing her home work. Chinese Lanterns! This is a place that is family owned and you can tell! They seem to have tons of take out but this place needs people inside. The vibes of this place is giving Shanghai vibes! Very 80's. Green carpets and booths! We will definitely be back. read more

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Wow...not many Chinese restaurants have single person specials for dinner, but they do for lunch. I went with the BBQ Pork and snow peas special. First, they bring soup along with some fried won ton skins which were like crackers for the soup. Then you get an appetizer dish with an egg roll, fried shrimp, and fried cream cheese won ton. Then the main dish was a full plate of the BBQ Pork and a large bowl of rice. It was a lot of food for only $20. The flavor of everything was pretty much similar to other places but having a dinner special puts them above most other ones. The waiter was very helpful. The decor was pretty much like most other places, booth seating with tables in the center of the room. read more

Kieu (pronounced "Q") was welcoming and friendly as we entered the restaurant, smiling pleasantly and motioning for us to sit down. The restaurant was empty as we walked in, approaching 4:00 pm. Kieu brought us menus and brought us our drinks shortly afterwards. We decided on the specials they had where you order a select entree and it comes with a soup, a few appetizers, white or fried rice and your entree for $20.50 a person. I ordered Buddha's Feast and hubs ordered the shrimp with lobster sauce. The egg drop soup was fresh and hot, delicious! The appetizers were served about 5 minutes after the soup and hubs enjoyed his portions. I opted to wait for my entree as the portions there are generous. My entree was very flavorful, all vegetables cooked so they were still crispy, very fresh, the brown sauce was perfect. Hubs finished all of his entree and said his was quite tasty as well. If you're looking for a good Chinese meal I highly encourage you to come try this place. It's a great family friendly place and service, food is great! Come see for yourself! Say hi to Kieu!! read more

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I was surprised to find that most of the menu items could be made gluten free. I had the sweet & sour chicken and orange chicken and they were delicious. As a celiac I didn't have any reaction to this restaurant. read more

I'm so happy they were able to survive COVID. Mandarin Wok was first introduced to me during that time by my roommate, and we enjoyed many takeout meals together. It took me a little while, but I finally had the chance to dine inside this cute restaurant and it was well worth the wait. We were seated right away, and the service was warm, inviting, and genuinely friendly. Best of all, the entrees were absolutely delicious. I'm grateful they're still here and thriving, and I'll definitely be back. read more

This place is still a great neighborhood gem. They have a deal for $20 where you get a soup, rice, multiple appetizers then pick your protein. We went with the orange chicken and the Mongolian beef. This was a bit of a surprise to me but the Mongolian beef was SOOOO GOOD! I definitely recommend Mandarin Wok for your Chinese food cravings. read more

The last time I dined here was five years ago, I have not missed much. Very little English is spoken. I inquired as to this dish and that dish, to describe it to me; totally went over their collective heads, incredible. Lunch special is $11.00 to $12.50. Soup, an Entree, and an egg roll. FAST SERVICE, FRIENDLY STAFF. Decent parking, very clean. I'll return in another five years, maybe. read more

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My sisters and I ate here last night for lunar new year! I enjoyed the food so much! I knew the food would be good as soon as I walked in because it was like your old school Chinese restaurant feel in there super authentic. I personally don't really care for the super over top aesthetic Chinese restaurants because most times the food isn't good. They're too focused on how cute the restaurant is versus how good the food is. Thankfully that wasn't the case here! The food was delicious and the service was great, the guy who I assume is the owner, he felt like your Chinese uncle or something lol. They were super sweet in there, and the food were a nice large portions and they were fairly priced. Definitely will be back! read more

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Okay so hear me out. This review is not strictly based on the food. It is based on a lifetime of memories that this restaurant has given me and my family. I am 38 and I cannot remember a time in my life where this wasn't the chosen Chinese restaurant of my family. It is conveniently located in Clairemont. The restaurant is always clean. The food is what I measure all other family style American Chinese. The staff is always lovely. I now live in Florida and when I am in town, this is my go-to for American Chinese. Yes, I know it is not authentic Chinese. Yes, I am perfectly fine for that. If I want dim sum or soup dumplings I know where to go. But when I want a tasty egg roll, my favorite Kung Pao and egg flower soup, this is where I am going. I have searched far and wide for another Kung Pao like theirs and have never found it. I talked to an owner last time I was in and was actually given their secret ingredient since I told him I actually tried to replicate here in Florida. I promised to keep it a secret and I intend to honor that and die with that secret. I will always return here. I hope they never close (although everyone deserves to retire) I just selfishly don't want them to. I love that now we can bring my nephew and bring a fourth generation of our family here. I was so happy my nephew was actually wiling to try the Kung Pao last time and has been addicted to peanuts since. Thank you for my lifetime of memories!!! read more

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We were in town running a conference and went here for a staff dinner one night. It is nothing fancy, but the food is fantastic. The service was good and the prices were reasonable. Many of us got the dinner special and that is served with soup, a small appetizer plate, your choice of steamed or fried rice and entrée. Their hot mustard will open your sinuses. With the egg drop soup they serve the wonton crispies. If I lived in this area, I would be a regular. You can order any chicken dish as white meat only for a slight up charge. Enjoy! read more

Went in for lunch today, Saturday, against my better judgement because the place was close to home and I've been under the weather. At about 1:00 there was only one small group of 4 still dining. Ordered Sweet & Sour pork, one of my favorites. No exaggeration- it may have been the worst S&S of my lifetime. Nothing was good about my meal. At one time, I've heard that this was a pretty good spot. Not today. I believe it's family owned and everyone there is related. The interior is old and desperately needs refreshing. The location is excellent, as is the parking. Those are the only positives I can think of. The food is just bad across the board. Sorry, but there is no way I'll ever eat there again. read more

Had lunch today with a friend. The food is absolutely delicious. I had compound chicken, which is my absolute favorite. Service is outstanding and the decor is very relaxing. Our server was outstanding very courteous. Great customer service. read more

I got the dinner special from Mandarin Wok and it was a great deal! It was around $20 for a great amount of food. I got the Mongolian beef with hot and sour soup and fried rice. It also came with an egg roll (my favorite of the three), shrimp tempura, and a cream cheese won ton. The beef was super tender and had great flavor. The fried rice was pretty simple and didn't have much in it, but it was offered for no up charge which I appreciate. I will definitely be back! read more

Mandarin Wok Restaurant - Dinner Special with Mongolian Beef, Fried Rice, Hot and Sour Soup, Shrimp Tempura, Cream Cheese Won Ton, and Egg Roll - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

Tucked into a quiet corner of the neighborhood, Mandarin Wok Restaurant is the kind of mom-and-pop gem that reminds you why small, family-run restaurants still matter. I was genuinely impressed by how fast the service was, my order was ready almost instantly! It felt like we called ahead of time! It's rare to see such efficiency without compromising quality. Huge kudos to the team! Prices are fair, portions are generous, and everything feels deeply personal. It's not fancy, but it doesn't need to be. If you're looking for soul-warming Asian cuisine made with love, Mandarin Wok delivers every time. These dish everyone's had before, but here, it's better. The beef is tender, the broccoli perfectly crisp-tender, and the sauce hits that just-right spot between savory and slightly sweet. The warm cream cheese wonton, the shrimp is plump, juicy, and cooked just right--not rubbery or overdone, which is surprisingly hard to find these days. Crispy, salty, spicy, and totally addictive--these Salt and Pepper wings are a must. Skip them? Not a chance!! If you're in San Diego and craving honest, no-frills Asian comfort food, Mandarin Wok is the spot you didn't know you needed in your life. read more

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First time here and loved it. The place was super old fashion and clean. Small restaurant but didn't mind it, I like intimate settings like this. The staff was super nice and hospitable. The food was fresh and quick. I really enjoyed myself here, I would definitely come back and try something different on the menu. read more

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I loved the food! Lo mein was hella good and the lemon pepper chicken was exactly what we wanted after a long thrifting session. The ice water hit! The steamed dumplings!!!! Plus the staff was so kind. Last but not least the vibes inside were immaculate. Calm and quiet and very nicely decorated. read more

Was recommended to me. I'm not sure why. It wasn't that great of a spot which sucks because the people there was very sweet. The food didn't smack at all and I was super excited for this type of cuisine. It's in a small plaza with 4-5 other businesses next to it. And they all share a parking lot. It's on the corner of an intersection. You walk in and it seems as if the place hasn't been updated in about 20 years. Which isn't a problem. It has a charm to it. There's two bathrooms in the back down a hallway that's for all genders. When we came here on a Saturday night at 8pm it was dead. We were the only ones there. Service was prompt and hospitable. The menu is a good size and there was a lot of options to choose from. Some things were foreign to us so we asked the wait staff to explain it to us and they were super nice about it. But like I said earlier, the food just wasn't that memorable. We had the dinner special which is a rice (white or brown), a main course (several to choose from including perking chicken, beef and broccoli, tofu, beef and what I went with which was the imperial chicken) and then a hot soup (hour and sour or egg drop soup). That was pretty filling and a nice price point of 23 dollars. We also went with a house pan fried noodles dish. It's hard to put my finger on what was wrong with it but it was a bit soggy, and lacked serious flavor. I added spicy to it afterwards and still came out disappointed. I took it home with me and I ate it two days later, and I will admit that after marinating in the juice a little bit, it tasted a lot better but I shouldn't have to take my food home and wait for it in order for it to taste good. I think it might be okay to come here for lunch as they have some solid lunch specials but we weren't happy with this place as a date night option. As we were leaving, someone homeless came in. He came in and mentioned he only had a few dollars and would love something to eat if possible despite not having enough. They gave him a menu and told him to order a meal. I thought that was very sweet and nice of them. I went up and paid for his meal without him knowing regardless because I know how tough it is to work in the restaurant industry and they were super kind to him. So shoutout to the staff for their humanity. read more

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Okay yes, super dated restaurant BUT the food was very, very good. I don't know if I'd eat in again but I'll definitely call for take out- which seems to be the more popular option. Carpets were really old & green, decor was dated and it just felt a little dirty. Not saying it was, but maybe it's time for an upgrade? Anyway, the food was really good and felt like it was very authentic. Prices are reasonable for the portions you receive. Shared the Mandarin Fried Rice [$12] which came w/all the fixings, Vegetable Lo Mein [$12] was super tasty & an order or the Crispy Duck (1/2) [$20] which was *chef's kiss* Also ordered the Seasame Tofu [$14] and we were so pleasantly surprised by how good the sauce was! That was my personal favorite, but you can't go wrong with anything on their menu. Really great choices. Service was okay. They did apologize for the wait since the kitchen was backed up with to-go orders. They were all nice and attentive so I will be back but just for pick up. read more

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We ordered food to be delivered. I am taking this restaurant off my list. We ordered steamed dumplings. It came with a very spicy sauce. What happened to the wonderful sauce that always comes with dumplings. On top of that, the dumplings were very bland, no flavor. The bbq pork had more flavor, but was dry and didn't have enough sauce. I remember when the pork came with nothing in the container but pork. The cabbage in the container didn't add anything to the dish. The Mongolian beef had lots of sauce, but not enough flavor. The chicken with cashews, had a strange red sauce. The cashews were not crisp at all. Lastly was the fried rice with shrimp. There were very few shrimp and the rice had no flavor. This used to be a great restaurant, but no longer. To top it off, it is extremely expensive. Not an option for me again. read more

Returned to this Clairemont spot after an 8 year absence, and they've still got it! The only nostalgic 90s, East Coast style (yes, there are sweet n sour + Chinese mustard containers on every table) Chinese restaurant that I've encountered in SD. The ceilings still have cheerful red lanterns, and we were initially the only diners for Sunday dinner. Service was brisk and kind. Some older single guys came in later, and one was very pleased with the off menu sizzling rice soup that he ordered. The actual menu is extensive, which is always a good thing to this here. picky eater : ) We selected the cream cheese wontons as an appetizer, and they arrived perfectly crisp and savory without any unwantedkrab/crab. My sesame tofu was light and featured a generous portion of vegetables. The sauce could have packed more flavor but overall a good version of this classic. My companion enjoyed his beef fried rice but said that the wings were undercooked. Prices were reasonable--flavors at 3 stars but unique (for SD) ambiance, lovely service and menu variety bump this place back up to 4 stars read more

Food was not good. Lemon chicken dry and hard. Beef dinner was very chewy and tough. Decorations were pretty. Beer was not cold.

I went here for the first time last weekend and I can see why this is a San Diego favorite. I wanted to go to a Chinese restaurant that tasted similar to the places I used to eat at as a kid in the 90s. This place hits the spot. They have a dinner special where you get SO much food: a soup, 3 fried apps, and an entree served with rice. All for about $20, which is a steal considering how expensive going out is these days. We came here for lunch but we were able to order the dinner special! I got their Tsou's Chicken (not to be mistaken with General Tso's) and my husband got their sweet and sour pork. We enjoyed our meals and we had plenty left over for our actual dinner. Service was great and really my only complaint is that it's in a very crowded and small shopping center. Otherwise, I think it's a great place to go if you want some simple Chinese food. I'd gladly come again! read more

Awesome food! I have celiac and never get sick!! They can make almost anything GF! Always really grateful for places that take the extra care with allergies. Will absolutely come back. read more

I just called to order takeout and was told on the phone that it would be 30 minutes. I drove 25 minutes and got there and was then told it would be another hour. When I questioned this, the woman at the front counter didn't seem to care that I was given a completely inaccurate time. I would never have ordered and driven for 25 minutes if I thought that the turnaround time was gonna be an hour and a half. I've been to this restaurant before and they have delicious food, but this service was completely unacceptable. read more

The Mandarin Wok is a great restaurant with a cozy environment unlike the cafeteria style ones popping up. Their food is very good. Their staff are so kind and offer great service. They have been very kind to my disabled son who eats there. read more

Mandarin Wok Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Opted for the dinner special...plenty of food, plenty of options, just average. Great service! read more

Mandarin Wok Restaurant - Dinner special - Chinese Near Me - San Diego, California

I wanted to try a Chinese restaurant that was not on Convoy St. Someplace that had easy parking. Mandarin Wok fit the bill, and was recommended by an American friend. I'm Chinese American, my parents came to the US from China, so I've been eating Chinese food all my life. The first thing I noticed when we walked in was that there were no Asian people dining. That was a yellow flag for me. The menu was not extensive like in authentic Chinese restaurants, but it did have dishes like mu shu pork/chicken served with Chinese pancakes, (not tortillas). We ordered the mu shu chicken and vegetable lo mein with BBQ pork added, and the spicy beef sze-chuan. The mu shu chicken was bland, but you put hoisin sauce on the pancake, add the chicken with beansprouts and veggies, and roll it up like a burrito. It's normally eaten with your hands, but the pancake immediately fell apart when I picked it up and I had sauce all over my hands. I liked the flavor of the hoisin sauce and the crunchy bean sprouts, but I wouldn't order it again. I ordered the lo mein because I wanted to try the homemade noodles. They were too doughy for my taste. The BBQ pork in the dish was very old and tasted like leftover pork. It was so bad that I spit it out! I told the server and she suggested that they replace it so they made the dish again with chicken. It was just ok, not much flavor, just doughy noodles. The server told us that the sze-chuan beef would bee too spicy for me if I don't like hot,spicy food, but my husband likes hot and wanted to try it. It wasn't hot at all and I had no problen eating it. The chicken and beef had "velveted" and had a strange texture, soft, but didn't really taste like meat. My American friends would probably like this restaurant, but if you want real Chinese food, go somewhere else. I would never go back. read more

This is a great place to eat! The food is extremely fresh, tasty and reasonably priced. I have eaten in the restaurant and taken out food. I always get Tsao's chicken. There are specialty veggies in this dish - snow peas and baby corn. The restaurant is tucked away in a strip mall at Balboa and Clairemont. Highly recommend this place for your next Chinese food fix! read more

Ordered take out. Orange chicken and Crispy Beef. They were ok. Ordered a PuPu platter (for 2). Description said "egg rolls, spring rolls, ". We got one total of each. read more

Excellent service and the food was delicious. I'll order again. They seemed to be popular on the takeout side of things. The restaurant was quiet and had a good vibe. read more