Ok so the Merrygoround thing doesnt make much sense to me but great chinese food, great service, positive vibe, and gluten free and vegan/vegetarian options in Lone Pine!! Was really a fun and yummy dinner. Was supposed to be family style but we ordered one item each and all 5 loved what they got! I had kung pao tofu and it was great. Orange peel tofu great too! Definitely a great option in Lone Pine. Some days have lunch buffet too. Place is tiny so wont do well with large groups above 6 or 7 tho i suspect. 5 worked great read more

Excellent food and service. Second time for my family. First time was a few years ago and we were so happy we planned our next trip to arrive in Lone Pine around dinner hours. We travel with our chocolate lab and they were so kind to us and our dog. They brought out a bowl of water and offered her teats. One of our servers actually thanked us for letting him pet and get some love from her. He add that is what he really needed. The food has never disappointed us. Fresh ingredients, great flavors, color and plentiful. Already looking forward to our next visit. read more

The staff was super friendly and the food was fresh, healthy and delicious. I will definitely be back!

This is my favorite place to have dinner. Like in the history of ever. Good service. Excellent food. Quirky ambience.

Honestly had never tasted such good Chinese food with a HOMEMADE TASTE. it's such a cute and small little restaurant, would make the perfect date night if you're into little warm restaurants. The won ton soup is their HOLY GRAIL. it makes you feel all warm and loved afterwards. And the fried rice is so delicious and has a buttery taste to it. I'm back in LA and I've been craving their won ton soup like crazy. Love the family chain service and the waiter is so polite ! read more

Awesome feed after a big day of climbing! They were able to easily accommodate gluten-free, too. Great service, fun building.

Didn't think we'd find a spot here, and it did not disappoint! Fast service and yummy dishes. They recommend reservations but luckily we got seated quickly. The ambiance was literally setting the tone for some really good food. We got orange chicken, broccoli beef, and almond shrimp. So good! read more

I must admit that my expectations were relatively low upon stepping into Merry Go Round with its strange mix of American and [Americanized] Chinese food. But both of our dishes, which we ordered from the Chinese menu, were quite good. The portions are large and there's a decent amount of vegetables in the mix along with the rice and protein. Will definitely stop back in when we're in the area. read more

My two kids and I were camping during Spring Break. I wanted our trip to be very low key, so I didn't plan on cooking dinner. When it got close to dinner time, I checked Yelp and saw Merry Go Round had really good reviews. We decided to head there. We were seated right away. The wait staff were great. They let us know that the portion sizes are really big, which helped me not order too much food. My son's favorite food is Orange Chicken and rice, so he ordered that. I wanted to try the Hot & Sour soup but was surprised a small bowl was over $11. But then I remembered that they said the portion sizes are big, so I decided to share the soup with the kids and then order one more entree: Cashew Chicken. The soup came out first. The bowl was HUGE! The soup was really good. We all enjoyed a couple of servings of it before the 2 entrees came out. I liked the Cashew Chicken, but my daughter did not. She's very picky though. She decided to share the Orange Chicken with her brother instead. My son said the Orange Chicken was the best he ever had, and that's saying A LOT. He's ordered that entree at many, many restaurants. And this one was THE BEST. read more

Excellent food, wonderful family atmosphere! The folks running this place are amazing and truly Carter to your every need. The waitress was super. Great recommendations also. The bus boy showed us some card tricks while we waited. Since staying in lone pine I've tried many if the local restaurants and this has got to be my favorite! If you like spicy food, they have some exotic peppers to spice up your life. Thank you for the wonderful experience Everytime so far. Highly recommended!! read more

We are just here to have Chinese dinner, my husband told me there is a good Chinese restaurant here, so we cannot miss this one. When we walked in, there were all white customers and white waiters, no Chinese menu and Chinese waitresses at this restaurant at all. We ordered mamo doufu and green onion chicken, they came in with really surprising style dish, of course they are not real Chinese food that we were expecting at all. Surprisingly they have a lot of customers in this restaurant, maybe because it's not easy to find a real Chinese restaurant at this small town. Oh, by the way, the waitress was rude, she was very tough white girl, not nicely asking us if we want some deserts, instead she was strongly questioning us if we want some deserts. What a disappointment visit to this restaurant! read more

I didn't get the name until right now, months after experiencing this hidden treasurer. A legend climber who studied every spot in the Eastern Sierra's told me to go to Merry Go Round right before be died. He said, "It's a sexy joint. Get some tea and desert." So I did. It's a circular dimension that takes you to a fairytale Chinese restaurant. It's a must stop, even if just for tea and some sweets. read more

Good vibe, family restaurant, quiet, good food in great quantity, not too expensive regarding the quality. Nice red seating and decoration. I recommend! read more

Food is so good. So much flavor in all of it. I love the jalepino shrimp and the tofu curry. The orange peal chicken is very good as well, just the right amount of spice. This is definitely an eating experience that you take your time at and share everything family style. Definitely one of the better restaurants in town. read more

A must visit spot if you're hiking Whitney or honestly just looking for a good meal. Extremely unique setting and small. Some of the best Chinese food in the country too. *Large portions* so be careful ordering on an empty stomach! My wife and I literally talk about this place months before coming back to Lone Pine! Cheers! read more

The owner and his wife run this place and he is just a hoot! He's a big train fan (ask him about it) and takes orders, brings out food, whatever it takes to make folks happy. His wife is the cook and wow ....does a great job. The family dinner special was about $18 and included several dishes. Service was quick and friendly. They did special portions for the kids. Be aware it's small and maybe seats about 25 and it's really a circular dining room with windows facing the street. The staff who helped up turned out to be his son and also did very well. Mongolian beef was awesome and the Orange Chicken great. His wife came out in person before we left to ask personally if we loved her cooking... Enjoy your meal and the atmosphere that comes with it! read more

I have come here quite a few times and have enjoyed it. I was a bit unhappy also because they totally changed their chili sauce. Their lo mein also seemed different. It was odd. Unfortunately, the last time I was here (this past weekend), I got bad tummy trouble. However, this may have been a random thing for just me because my husband was just fine. read more

Looks suss from the outside but this place is tasty! We only came here after reading the reviews, and it was worth it! Orange chicken was best I ever had, and we got a dish with green beans that was also yummy. I'd stop here again on our way to Mammy! read more

We were surprised to find such a good Chinese restaurant in such a small town. When we say "good", we know what we are talking about because we are living in the San Gabriel Valley where there are countless number of good restaurants. read more

We love this place ! Atmosphere is homey and fun. Casual and love Dan and his awesome personality. We had beef with broccoli , orange chicken, teriyaki bowl and special chicken salad. All great ! All that food, plus 2 servings of mint chocolate chip ice cream for about $75 - we loved it - casual, fun place - we will be back ! read more

What a find! We eat Whole Food Plant Based and the Merry Go Round was recommended. We were surprised to find it's a Chinese Restaurant! The owner is from China, trained in Taiwan, and came to the US 45 years ago. She even makes her own flavored soy sauce, it's awesome! We had the best Hot and Sour Soup we've ever had. This place is a gem! read more

This place is just terrific. You will not be disappointed - guaranteed. Owners are top shelf. When driving from Lake Tahoe to California desert we stay in Lone Pine just to go to this place. Wish we could go more often than the few times a year. read more

I was a little uncertain about Chinese food way out in Lone Pine, but WOW am I glad I trusted the other reviewers! This place may have been one of my favorite dining experiences! The food is generally American Chinese Food but they offer some amazing soups. All of it is a great deal!! And the chef is Taiwanese!! We had Orange Peel Chix, Jalepeno Shrimp, and Hot and Sour Soup - all delicious!! Best to call first to make sure they have space - it is a pretty intimate setting inside with a few tables in the middle for larger parties and 5 or six little booths lining the walls (the decor is also fun as it is a round building). They have a patio as well for when the weather is warmer. read more

There are NO options for Vegans in or near Death Valley that I know of. I came to visit a friend and she said she never eats out because there are no options. I am glad we stumbled upon this restaurant. It looks like it used to be a super cool diner in the late 60's. I would love to know the history. As we walked by I overheard the server taking an order for a tofu dish, yes when I hear "tofu" in the middle of nowhere my heart skips a beat. We went to look at the menu and they have a vegetarian section! Basic Chinese comfort food, which is just what I wanted. Service and price were spot on. An oasis in the dessert for sure! Go check them out!!! read more

This small town, humble eatery/restaurant is a pleasant find. The food is good, flavorful & the family operated koint has the best services anyone would expect. Highly recommend. read more

Delicious does not begin to cover it, tender noodles. Perfectly cooked vegetables and tender flavorful meats in every dish. Absolutely the best hot and sour soup ever!! Never passing by Merry Go, without stopping in for a bite read more

Merry Go Round - Pan noodles with beef, chicken and shrimp. I'm sure there is a sweet Chinese lady in the kitchen and I just want to kiss her. - New American Near Me - Lone Pine, California

I had heard good things about this restaurant and my coworkers decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, the service was so bad (even though they were empty, except for 1 diner) we didn't get to eat and went elsewhere. Tip: If you don't like your job or tourists, don't take it out on customers, I'm just trying to spend some money. read more

Surprisingly good chinese food. Don't order the mexican food. Repeat, do not order from the mexican menu. Got it? Okay. I got the orange tofu and it was fried nice and crispy without being very oily. It had a good spice to it and the orange sauce was very nice. The portions were large and would be good to split or take for lunch the next day. Cool for vegetarians. read more

A small restaurant, very nice owners. I had Shrimp in Garlic Sauce. My husband had another dish which I don't remember the name but it was very good. Both dishes seemed similar but large amounts and tasty. We also had egg rolls which were nice and hot and delicious. read more

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The salted ribs!! and the hot and spicy shrimp are a go!! I think i would say that the 5th star is well deserved because I came here with low expectations and they took every opportunity to prove me wrong and they did. I also enjoyed the waitstaff. They are young but know the menu, so if you're not sure, just ask them to make a few suggestions. That's how I did it, andt hey surpassed expectations. They were also really patient with our table so i appreciate their good attitudes and forgiving sense of humors. (we were a little undecided for a while -- again i told you i was weary, not having read the reviews ahead of time!) Thanks Merry Go Round, see you next time Mammoth calls! read more

I've heard this was the best place in Lone Pine. Maybe it is because I've dined nowhere else in Lone Pine but this was not the gem others claimed. Our waitress arrived after we did saying she didn't know she was working tonight then startled us by loudly asking if we wanted an appetizer by way of introduction. We ordered Chinese and when the noodle dish was tossed onto the sizzling platter, nary a shrimp survived the journey. They all rested, sadly on the cork serving tray. I politely, sadly, said- oh there go the shrimp- but Jerry took no note. I opted not to pursue the matter for fear she'd pick the offending crustaceans up with her fingers and toss them on our platter. The ambience was further enhanced by the droning of the small flock of flies playing hide-n-seek in our entree's. The curry chicken was decent but the noodles lacked flavor. Its a cute old building, pretty well kept, but our experience does not entice me to go back. read more

What an awesome surprise! Overnighting in Lone Pine and needed some yummy food so we walked to Merry Go Round. Super happy we did. What a fun quirky environment - love it. Food was excellent and plentiful. All the staff were incredibly friendly. AND we got to chat with owner Dan and hear some engaging stories. Will be back when we're traveling through here again! read more

By the look of this place from the outside, it's not easy to figure out what kind of food they serve, but it got me curious. They have two menus. An American menu and a Chinese menu. I went with the exotic because I was curious when I walked in, but when I looked over the menu, it got my attention. I went for the hot and spicy [they're marked with an asterisk on the menu]. My order of Jalapeño shrimp appeared fresh from the kitchen in just minutes. Clean bathroom, quick service, good food, reasonable portions, friendly staff, good experience. read more

Very accommodating! We came with our little dog to sit on the patio and the owner came out and said" That looks like a therapy dog if you would like to eat inside". How kind ! We decided to sit outside and he found us a shady cooler place and brought our dachshund cool ice water. Plus, the lunch buffet was quick and delicious. Eat here! Thanks for your kindness read more

Food was ok BUT, called in our order at 5:30, was told 20-25 minutes. Got there in 25 and finally walked out at 6:20 with the food and no apology. Vegetarian fried rice was not good nor was the chicken Lo main. Pepper chicken and Kung pao chicken were good. None of it made the wait and lack of concern palatable. How does food for four take 50 minutes? "It will be a few minutes " as a greeting should be replaced with " you have time for a nap." read more

This strange little restaurant lured us in with its intriguing and somewhat creepy carousel theme and strange offerings of both Chinese and American food. We ordered off of the Chinese menu and were pleasantly surprised. The food was good, albeit pricey....but you are in the middle of nowhere. read more

Merry Go Round - New American Near Me - Lone Pine, California

Food was great! Customer service was fantastic as well. We walked in 15min before close for lunch buffet and they were nice enough to make us a fresh batch of 2 of their dishes when they totally didn't have to. I highly recommend! read more

Thank you, Yelpers, for helping me find this great place! It can be tough to find good places to eat vegan food in sparsely populated areas. The restaurant itself is pretty small and the dining room is shaped like a merry go round -- hence the name -- with booths around the edges and tables in the middle. There's outdoor dining, too. The staff was wonderful -- very helpful and friendly, and the chef (who may be the owner) even came out and talked to us briefly. My husband had the salmon special from the American menu. It had a delicious garlic and ginger butter sauce and came with rice and vegetables. I had curry tofu which came with unusually good, soft rice. The dish had lots of veggies, including baby corn, water chestnuts, peas, and carrots. From what I could tell, the veggies seemed fresh. My meal was large enough that I had leftovers. We'd definitely come back if we pass through the area again. read more

Okay, color me surprised. Really decent Chinese food at this tiny, quirky little restaurant in Lone Pine. I admit, my expectations were pretty low when the older white guy seated us and the sniffling (cold? allergies?) skinny white kid took our orders, but when the food came out (2 noodle dishes), it was hot, well-prepared, generously portioned, and properly seasoned. I'd requested that the cook "un-Americanize" my dish (i.e. hold the sugar and don't oil/sauce it up so much). I don't know if she got the memo, but my noodles with tofu and vegetables in garlic sauce were really good. My companion's dish of noodles in a brown sauce with mixed meat (chicken, beef, shrimp) was nicely done as well. Light touch on the sauce--nice. When this place fills up & there's one server handling all the tables, service might not be quick or attentive. You'll have to ask for things (water, check, etc.) and be patient waiting for them. Small price to pay, though, for good food at decent prices. read more

OMG! Our go to every chance we get. We live about 40 min north but come here when we camp in the Lone Pine area and occasionally even make the drive just to satisfy the craving. The food is excellent, fresh, hot and quick. They are always busy and for good reason. I have had Chinese food all over and aside from China Town in San Fran, this is my favorite! It is weird to have such amazing Chinese food in a little town like Lone Pine but it's true! Do yourself a favor. Grab some take out from Merry Go Roynd and then drive up to the Alabama Hills and watch the sunset over Mt. Whitney while you enjoy your amazing dinner on your tailgate on the hood of your car or whatever you have.. you're welcome read more