I was absolutely shocked by the portion sizes -- they were massive! I only managed to snap a picture of my pad Thai, but trust me, it was huge. Unlike most places that make the dish look like a lot by packing it on a small plate, this one had a massive plate and piled it high. Even the kid's meal was the size of an adult portion! My pad Thai was supposed to be a level 4 spice, but it wasn't spicy at all, and it was a bit on the sweeter side -- not overwhelming, but sweeter than I expected. I also tried the house special fried rice, which was gigantic but sadly lacked flavor. I really didn't enjoy it. The chicken tenders were crispy but a little dry. However, the flourless chocolate cake was amazing! I'd never had it before, but it was so rich and delicious. Highly recommend that dessert! I'm giving 4 stars mainly because of the huge portion sizes. The food overall would probably be closer to 3 stars for me, but the portions definitely stood out. As for the ambiance, it wasn't the prettiest place, definitely an old-school vibe, but it was huge and clean, so no complaints there. Service was just your standard, nothing extraordinary. read more

Marco Polo Global Restaurant - Pad Thai* - Italian Near Me - Salem, Oregon

A noticeable decline at Marco Polo Global Restaurant It is with genuine disappointment that I share how significantly Marco Polo Global Restaurant has changed--and not for the better. Having been a loyal patron for years, I was unaware that the restaurant had undergone an ownership change approximately one year ago. Unfortunately, the shift in management has been accompanied by a marked decline in both service and food quality. Service Concerns Table service fell well below expectations. Our server did not introduce herself, nor did she demonstrate any gestures of hospitality throughout the meal. Twice, plates were handed to us stacked, leaving the guests to distribute them ourselves--an approach inconsistent with professional table service. Water glasses were never refilled, and there was a general lack of attentiveness to our table. Menu Changes The menu has been reduced to a simple two‑sided laminated sheet, a stark departure from the former Marco Polo menu that once offered an impressive variety of thoughtfully curated dishes. Food Quality The food, regrettably, did not meet even basic standards: Singapore Noodles: The most disappointing dish of the evening. I shared my feedback with the server, who later reported that the cook had not seasoned it properly and offered to remake it. We declined. Salad Rolls: Flavorless, with a peanut sauce that was thin, cold, and lacking depth. Broccoli with Tofu: The broccoli was overcooked, wilted, and visually unappealing. The dish was marginal at best. Green Beans with Garlic: Cooked adequately, but lacking seasoning and overall flavor. Vegan Pot-stickers: The one bright spot--excellent texture, well‑prepared, and accompanied by a flavorful sauce. Overall Atmosphere The ambiance felt tired, and the restaurant appears to have lost the vitality and care that once made it a thriving local favorite. Based on our experience, it seems clear that both the kitchen and front‑of‑house staff would benefit from renewed training and leadership. Our server confirmed that the business changed hands about a year ago, and unfortunately, the decline is evident in nearly every aspect of the dining experience. We will not be returning, and it saddens me to say so--Marco Polo was once a beloved establishment in the community. read more

We had not been to this restaurant for quite awhile and were surprised by the laminated sheet we received for a menu. The service was slow, especially surprising since there were only two other couples! The food was mediocre at best, neither my wife nor I finished our meals. We used to love the Marco Polo for not only the wide variety of dishes, but the great quality as well. Sadly, we will not be returning. read more

Food is pretty bad. Rice is very weird. Alfredo is made with a fake margarine that's been in the fridge too long. Bad flavor. Huge disappointment. Won't be back. read more

Used to be my family's favorite... Ownership change happened, and now? Now it's awful. New owners don't care about quality. They don't care about presentation. They have modified recipes to make it cheaper for them (from the mouth of a head manager). I don't want to call it trash, but in comparison?... Total trash. Very disappointing. read more

We stopped in for early dinner today because we had a $100 gift card to use. We got seated quickly, took a while for the waiter to visit us. We ordered, he wrote it down. Dinner came, wrong meal for my wife. My pan seared halibut was not seared, more like broiled. Waiter never came back to ask us if we needed another drink or about the food. When the bill came we gave him the gift card. We were told it wasn't no longer valid because they're under new ownership. Not impressed with food or service and won't return or recommend. Carpet was dirty too! read more

Half the food was good, but the other half just lacked flavor and wasn't cooked properly. The wide noodles were so good! GF Kung pao chicken was super good! The yakisoba noodles were drenched in sauce and didn't taste right, little flavor other than just sauce overload. Also had a pasta dish with chicken that was overcooked and dry. So I'll probably go back for a couple things, but just a little disappointed in some of the food. read more

We've been going to Marco Polo for decades and tonight was the first time I've been disappointed with my food. Every dish on our table was lackluster compared to the consistent excellency that has been our experience there. We inquired about the change in the food and were told that their head cook has changed employment. The service was great, but I really hope that the kitchen team can rise to meet the previous delicious quality of cooking. It feels like the end of an era. read more

The service was good, but the food barely mediocre. Gen Tsao chicken was overcooked fried chicken with a thick orange glop poured over. My partners' rice salad was large, but completely bland. They are trying too hard; the menu is 3x too vast. Pick what you do well and pare down your offerings read more

This is probably my favorite restaurant in Salem, Oregon. I have been here at least 3 or 4 times. They have a variety of choices including a special gluten free menu and vegetarian menu. My favorite YouTuber - Justinscarred (Justin Willits - Randomland) also loves this restaurant too whenever he comes up to Salem (from California) he makes sure to stop too. (He also has lots of dietary concerns that limit his visits to restaurants, but this place works for him). The restaurant definitely sets the bar with good food and great variety. I'm hoping that someday my favorite YouTuber will have a meetup party / meet n greet here. The menu is extensive with lots of options including Asian, Italian, and American entree choices. I love the variety , but it sometimes makes it difficult to choose. The portions are substantial and we walked away with a big box of leftovers. They also offer a small menu for senior citizens that is discounted. The Asian dishes come with a brown rice option and they are so tasty and the rice blends so well with it. The food is healthy and each entree has lots of great veggies. The atmosphere is beautiful and the views are over-looking a Salem water garden park. I only have 4 stars instead of 5 for a couple of reasons. One reason is the restaurant is not the easiest to get to. My elderly father felt like it was a bit challenging to walk from the back parking lot around the restaurant and up the ramp. There was no elevator found and the walk was a bit long and a tad difficult for him. If you cut through the parking lot to the plaza you encounter the stairwell up to the restaurant, but that's a bit challenging for some older people and people with disabilities too. I thought this place had an elevator, but we certainly didn't find one. During my recent visit last week I encountered a piece of metal almost like wire in my my dish. That was a bit alarming and the waitress knew it was the exact metal from the bristle brushes that clean their woks. She knew it was accidentally placed in my food. Our waitress spoke to her manager about it, and they did decide to provide me with a complimentary meal due to this mistake. Despite this alarming mistake, I would definitely come back. The food is really good and healthy. My favorite restaurant in Salem, Oregon used to be Kwan's, but after Kwan's closed - this has been the best alternative over the past 6 years (2019-2025). Definitely try it. read more

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Interesting concept to offer different types of cuisine in one restaurant. Not sure if this would fly in California with each nationality of cuisine having ample representation. They did a pretty good job with the appetizers: crab Rangoon, samosas, and potstickers. We tried the fish and chips, curry chicken, and kung pao chicken. The kung pao chicken was okay, but not quite what we are used to in SoCal. While edible it was not authentic. The server was attentive. read more

Marco Polo has been a beloved restaurant in my family for over a decade. We spent many special occasions here and always loved the food and service! While visiting my parents over the holidays we decided to treat ourselves to dinner here, but found it under new ownership. It was unwelcoming and unprofessional from the moment we stepped in. They refused to honor a gift certificate that was purchased within several months from that date (which is not legal under Oregon law), but we decided to stay anyway and give it a try. Our server was unkind and had no understanding of the vegetarian menu. We didn't get the correct dishes and when we politely asked for the dishes we ordered, the server wasn't apologetic or helpful. The dishes we did receive were pathetic versions of our old favorites. I have been a server at times in my life and am very forgiving, but I couldn't believe how many things went wrong and how those mistakes were handled. The prices were also higher and the ambiance has taken a turn for the worse. My parents are the sweetest, but they felt so unwelcome and said they'll never go back again after that experience. It saddens me to know that one of our favorite restaurants has lost its heart. I hope the staff works on being kind. The new owners should not be able to keep the old reviews if they can't maintain the same standard of service. read more

Marco Polo Global Restaurant - Entrance - Italian Near Me - Salem, Oregon

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This place rocks! The food is great and so is the staff. I really like the old style ambiance and a beautiful view. read more

Such a gem that we had forgotten about. I had the raspberry chicken with Pistachios and my friend ordered the chicken parm and it was the best I've ever had! The Pad Thai was excellent as well as the halibut! Our server was excellent checking back with us several times. Go check these guys out! read more

Despite my best efforts, I continually find myself here. My older relatives love it, but this has got to be the worst restaurant in Salem. I've been many, many times, unfortunately. The Asian dishes are covered in about a cup or sickly sweet sauce. The European dishes are cheap or just bad cuts of meat not cooked properly (usually way over done, dried out, and hard.) The desserts are blah and not worth it. At a relatives birthday party, I had a potsticker. I almost threw up when I bit into it - it smelled exactly like cat food. I spit out my bite in my napkin and looked inside - clearly this is canned chicken. How disgusting. I have never, ever been served canned chicken at a restaurant, let alone one charging $20 for 93¢ worth of pasta. That is some hutzpah. There were also tired and broken tortilla chips that clearly came from Costco and what seemed like Trader Joe's artichoke dip. Nothing was fresh or made in house. The syrup they dumped all over my kids' $20 orange chicken seemed like the ones they sell at the grocery store. I will only come here again if forced by my elders or severe dietary restrictions dictate it. I wound up ordering fettuccini - the most boring, bland thing on the menu because I was afraid I'd get very ill eating meat prepared here. The sauce was literally like Ragu or something gross from the 70's out of a can. The breadstick was 100% frozen and microwaved. The overall vibe was school cafeteria. The restaurant was very dingy and dirty; the carpeted stairs were absolutely filthy. It's very tired inside. At one point a glass baby bottle got knocked over and cracked, spilling milk everywhere. The waitstaff was in the middle of serving dishes and just kept serving. No one helped us with the glass or milk. We wound up using every (nonabsorbent, linen) napkins we could to sort of move it around. I went looking for a broom or something to sweep up the glass with (they just left it on the floor under a toddlers feet) and that was eye opening - the back of the house looked like the "before" of an episode of Hell's Kitchen - FILTHY. Eat here at your own risk of food poisoning. If you want Italian food, walk 50 feet away and go to Gamberetti's. They make the pasta fresh in house, and all their sauces, too. And they have a killer bar. read more

Marco Polo Global Restaurant - Potsticker made with canned chicken that smelled like cat food - Italian Near Me - Salem, Oregon

Great taste ,Great menu selection, vegitarian, vegan, gluten free. Friendly service. Amazing view of the park. read more

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Loved the cashew chicken lunch. The view of the water feature was nice. The waitress was friendly and took our orders and brought our food very quickly. Great place for a quiet lunch. read more

This is the ONLY Chinese restaurant in the Salem Keizer area that is worth a dam. It's the only Chineserestaurantthat you don'tfeellikeshit after eating! Food is fresh! read more

Granted it was New Years Eve when we had dinner. Called if we needed Reservations. Person on the line needed some sort of exhilaration. We think she was stoned. Ate in main dining room. Bartender was just that Plus our waiter. Busy pouring drinks for whole restaurant, so Service was not the greatest. Was Not the Greatest night . Googled who owns Restaurant and found out that the original owners had sold restaurant a few years ago. Tip to new owner, be more involved with your Restaurant and bring back the Quality of food we're use too. Will we go Back?????? read more

Both of our meals were terrible. The salmon was not fresh and the rib eye steak was very thin, chewy, fatty, and lots of gristle. The service was good, food was not. read more

This place was just okay! I ordered the vegan raspberry chicken dish and it was flavorful and different. I wouldn't order it again though. I like that they tried include a unique option for vegans too! They definitely tried but it just wasn't there for me. It's missing something but I can't really put my finger on it. Also the appetizer was too greasy, my stomach felt funny after eating it. read more

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I brought my mother-in-law here for dinner and boy. Was it delicious. We got some pork fried rice and orange chicken. It was quite tasty. Will definitely be back. read more

Disappointing in the appetizer. Pot sticker's needed to be cooked longer. Meat inside was not cooked all the way. The chicken and seafood dish was good but nothing spectacular for the price your paying. They did make sure to seat everyone near the wind I was for the view which was a nice touch. Service was a little slow considering there were only 5 tables being served and two servers. I most likely won't be back. read more

My wife's work place had a business meeting and yours truly tagged along. Wife said this place was really good;I was excited to try it. First and foremost, the wait staff and the servers had excellent customer service and came around right when it was needed,and always with smiles on. I had the Fish and Chips and I'm glad I went with it,it was amazing. My wife had the curry and she loved it. I loved the atmosphere of the place,lots to look at around the restaurant. I'll definitely be going back. read more

Marco Polo Global Restaurant - The front of the menu. - Italian Near Me - Salem, Oregon

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We were meeting a couple in Salem, and since we were planning to visit here, next time we visit Salem, so here we are, in the middle of a pandemic. We ate our food outside on 2 picnic tables. It was cold outside, but with Covid 19, there was no other option. The food we ordered was ready when they said it would be. It was well packaged. They all tasted good. We ordered: the Appetizer Sampler, Chinese pork, Egg drop soup, Happy Family Meal which came with rice, Sweet Potato Cake, it came for 4 Fortune Cookies. It also came with dipping sauce and plastic utensils. It was a typical Chinese Food Restaurant and the food was very good. I could have ordered the Fettucine or Spinach Ravioli, but didn't. Next time? We have plenty leftover for dinner! Saving the cake for lunch Monday. My friends, I asked for their reviews, since it is their first time to go too: "I thought the food was wonderful. Nice large portions, too. I didn't go in, so I cannot comment on the atmosphere inside. They seemed to have a nice steady stream of customers while we were there. Did they have a bathroom open for visitors, especially visitors who come from out of town?" I thought this was a good question, luckily, none of us have to go! read more

Marco Polo Global Restaurant - Happy Family, Egg drop soup (from lunch) for dinner, too! - Italian Near Me - Salem, Oregon

When: Sun April 17th. 12:30 pm First time dining at Marco Polo's, for my wife and I...Service was very attentive and helpful from the hostess to the busser and our server... Menu is predominantly Chinese dishes, but there is enough variety on the European side of the menu that would make any finicky eater satisfied. My wife ordered the Cashew Chicken dish and ordered the Sweet & Sour Chicken dish.I also ordered a cup of Egg Flower Soup and the Deep Fried Mushrooms as appetizers. All dishes came out super quick...they were very tasty to our liking and we had very little left to take home...Because of its convenient location and attentive service, we will be back soon. read more

Have heard great things about this place so decided to give it a try. We were not disappointed and loved everything about our experience. My husband is a general tsao " snob" so it has to be exceptional for him to like it and want to return. It was!! I had the orange chicken and loved it! And the addition of peaches was a nice touch. Brown rice was actually brown rice and not colored white rice. We were seated at a window booth overlooking a nice park. Nice to see they use tablecloths and cloth napkins. Also, great to see them offering local wines. Our server, Savanna, was awesome! She happily accommodated all our requests and actually engaged in friendly conversation. It was a very pleasant change to the "cloned" servers we see most other places that overuse the words " perfect " and " of course" and don't really look you in the eyes. We will return not only because the food was great but Savanna as well!! Thank you Savanna!! read more

Marco Polo Global Restaurant - Orange chicken - Italian Near Me - Salem, Oregon

I'll drive 1 hour away 2 to 4 times a year to go to my favorite Asian restaurant in Salem, OR. I have come here for my birthday too! I am gluten free, they have a gluten free menu that includes items in every category dish, including appetizers & dessert. On their menu, you will find Asian, European, Vegetarian and gluten-free categories. They also serve wine and hard liquor. The ambience is wonderful. You can pick either window bench seats, or one of the several large tables or sit in a darkened room or sit along the bar. The restaurant is situated along Pringle Park, which has a water way through, you can take a delightful walk or sit on a bench. Or just enjoy the view from the restaurant My usual is the Kung Pao with brown rice and shrimp. As you can see in the picture it comes with lots of vegetables, just as I enjoy! My husband's favorite is the fried rice and he doubles the meat portions. I also usually get a pot of jasmine tea that is about 2 1/2 cups. The food is delectable! Oh! Gluten-free food is served on round plates, whereas gluten food is served on square plates * love this ! Best gluten allergy care I've ever been served!! at the end of your meal when they hand you your bill and you get a fortune cookie and if you're gluten-free, you get a cookie too! I have been served well by every waitress/waiter we have had. And the price is right as well. What is there not to love? ~ bon appétit read more

Marco Polo Global Restaurant - Kung Pao with shrimp and brown rice. The smaller picture is fried rice, with every kind of meat doubled in portion. - Italian Near Me - Salem, Oregon

such a good gluten free find! so many gluten-free options and even to-go portions are good. service was fairly quick and the staff was very friendly. GF salmon fried rice was amazing and my cousin got the spinach ravioli and said it was also delicious! will definitely come back when passing through Salem :) read more

Wonderful dining experience. We came in at their last seating at 8:00 PM after trying a couple other spots all closing 8:00 PM on a Monday. The staff was welcoming and did not hurry us at all. We sat in the upstairs bar with a nice view of the downtown lights. I had the Pepper Steak with a cream sauce I couldn't get enough of. My beau had the Fettuccini pesto which he loved. Lovely evening thanks to this great restaurant. read more

Not only do I Love this place, my daughter says she found her new favorite restaurant. This restaurant has great gluten free options and the good taste amazing. Our waiter was awesome read more

Marco Polo Global Restaurant - a plate of food - Italian Near Me - Salem, Oregon

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They have an amazing assortment of food types and plate options. I usually go the Asian route which all plates have been great. The European and American plates are very good as well. The quality of ingredients is very high and the staff have always been very friendly. read more

Awesome haircuts with a really friendly team! The take the time to give you the best cut possible. They NEVER rush.

My daughter's friend was celebrating her birthday, and her mother invited us to join them for dinner. It was such a nice gesture, and her way of welcoming us to Salem. I'd looked at the menu in advance, and was somewhat confused by their variety. Not only were there asian features, but there were also Indian and Italian dishes. Whatever the reasoning, it works. We started with Samosas, an Indian appetizer of potatoes, onions and corn in a mild curry sauce wrapped in a wheat flour pastry and then deep fried. They looked delicious, but were only three to a serving, so I passed. Our orders arrived very quickly and consisted of Riced Cauliflower, Fettuccini Alfredo, Chicken Yaki Udon and Sweet & Sour Chicken. The Yaki Udon noodles were absolutely wonderful, the best I've ever had! This is definitely an occasion spot. While enjoying our meals, the table behind us sang 'Happy Birthday' to someone, then a larger party was seated next to us with gifts, and we heard a group further away sing in celebration before we departed. On our way out, I struck up a conversation with a local who said Marco Polo was the only place her grandmother could eat due to her colitis. Their gluten free options certainly add to their appeal for those with allergies or sensitivities, further adding to their inclusivity. It should be noted that for anyone unfamiliar with the area may find their parking limited or confusing, but the free parking garage across the street was convenient for us. I look forward to returning and bringing my family! read more

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WOW I am so impressed with this place. The inside is actually really large and has windows all along the walls. It was really cool. They have all sorts of gluten free and vegan options. Including cake!! But what impressed me was my order of Curry Fried Riced Cauliflower with Salmon. It was so yummy I almost thought I was eating rice and served on a bed of cabbage. The salmon was very moist and perfectly cooked and the portion was about 6.5 oz cooked. They are very accomodating here and can special order any item. Example, I didn't want carrots or onions in mine. Which means that they make the food fresh to order and not huge batches in the back. That's a plus in my book. I can't wait to go back. It's probably good that they aren't that close to me as I don't live in Salem because I would be eating there every week. My photo was what was left after I finished my meal because I forgot to take a photo before. It was a good amount of food. Service was quick and they were very friendly. They even chased me down outside to give me my phone I had left behind! read more

Marco Polo Global Restaurant - Curry Cauliflower rice and Salmon - Italian Near Me - Salem, Oregon

My partner is Celiac and highly allergic to gluten, so Marco Polo is a great restaurant for her. They ask upon entry if you need a gluten free menu and seem to take great pains to ensure it's safe. My partner eats here all the time, but this was my first experience. My review is colored by her high opinion and my somewhat more mediocre first experience. We came here for lunch and were seated right away. It's a huge eating space. My partner ordered a Chinese chicken dish and I ordered a cheeseburger. I don't eat off her plate because of the danger of contamination, but she always enjoys her food here. My cheeseburger and fries were exactly what I'd expect of it, although the burger was woefully under seasoned. Our waitress was amazing, back to check on us often and was great about refilling my drink. My partner's food was safe and we both left satisfied. I think the next time I'm here to eat, I'll to with one of their asian dishes instead, as I feel that's probably more of their strong point, but I certainly will be coming back again. read more

This places food is great. We started with the wrap with peanut sauce!! Don't miss this wonderful piece of deliciousness! Had the house special noodles and I would eat it again and will on my next trip. read more

Food and Service was great Excellent selection of food for All to Enjoy. Can't Wait for next time.

Great service, great atmosphere, good appetizers especially the salad wraps and samosas however the curry wasn't very flavorful just kinda meh. read more

Not sure I understand how this restaurant is still serving food in Salem. My first and only experience with the restaurant began late last week. First, I have to say that the waitress and supporting staff were very friendly. I wanted to play it safe for my first outing so I chose a traditional Chinese course. From my humble perspective it was way off the mark and being a fairly good cook myself it seemed like the food was pre-made and thrown together as quickly as possible. Tasteless and thick paste covered the white rubbery chicken. The rice was good however but it was the only thing that I could eat. My partner had a chicken patty with some pasta and also complained that it was tasteless and had that pre-made vibe. Long story short. I know how tough it is to run a restaurant but quality and refinement in preparation always wins the day. My advice would be to evaluate your offering and stop serving up this fast food to the same old crowd, if there is ever a crowd and take a step back and develop a following based on good food. If your paying the rent, then you must have friends who don't know good food. This is not meant to be a critical review but maybe at least an eye opener. read more