This place has excellent food! I been coming here at least once a month. For me this is the best taste in Asian foodie riverside.

I hosted dinner after my wedding at Monark Bistro, not only was the food delicious but the owner Karen and the staff was pleasant and professional. read more

I don't say this lightly: the food at Monark Asian Bistro is inedible. My girlfriend and I recently moved to the area and were excited to try some of the local restaurants. Monark was one of the first we tried... big mistake. The food was tasteless with a rubbery texture and the service was unprofessional. We ordered two entrees from the "Thai" menu: Pad Thai and Yellow Curry. While we were trying to order our food, our server, Danny, didn't look at us because he was busy swatting at flies in the air. This should have been the first red flag. The curry had no flavor or seasoning and appeared to have a film over the top of it as if it was sitting in a vat for a few hours. The Pad Thai used fettuccini-style noodles, very little sauce/seasoning, and the meat was chewy. Between the two of us, we've eaten at nearly 30 Thai restaurants in half a dozen states. Monark is BY FAR the worst. Keep in mind, we hadn't eaten all day (it was 4pm at this point) and we were starving. We took two bites of our food and sent back full plates. When our server asked if we wanted boxes we said, "No, thank you." He asked if everything was okay and we hesitated at first. Immediately, he responded, "It was horrible, wasn't it?" almost as if he'd heard it many times before. He explained that we still needed to pay for the meals that we didn't eat--totaling just over $40. He went on to say that if we call back after 6pm, the manager will be back and will refund the charge. Of course, I call back at 6:30 and speak with Karen, the manager. She explains, "It's in the computer" and there's nothing she can do about it. However, if we wanted to come back she would give us a "food credit" (read: more terrible food for free). I said we didn't want more food and just wanted a refund. She refused. I told her the food was terrible and she said it was because there was "not enough fish sauce in the Pad Thai" and the Yellow Curry "had too much coconut". I was very confused as to why she was telling me what was wrong with the food but wouldn't refund our money. If this happens to you, don't let them charge your card. They don't have to charge you for food you don't eat. If they do charge you, they CAN refund it... but they won't. read more

Food was beyond good, service was great . It's was clean and a very nice relaxed feeling. N the lilttle details they add to each dish was a nice surprise read more

We had a delicious lunch very well priced great food! Our server was excellent! Ordered the chicken with sautéed vegetables- delicious flavor! read more

Monark Asian Bistro - Chicken with sautéed vegetables, egg rolls, and stir fried rice. - Chinese Near Me - Riverside, California

I had a really nice time tonight at Monark bistro. Our waiter was friendly and attentive and the food was delicious. I ordered the dinner special with hot and sour soup and sweet and sour fried tofu as my entree. (Although the dinner special sheet says vegetarian meat costs $1.50 or whatever more, tofu is the same price as the regular meat choices. The charge is for imitation beef or chicken). The tofu was nicely cooked and it was delicious in the sweet and sour sauce. I will definitely be back to this restaurant soon! read more

Nestled in the Canyon Crest outdoor mall, it's in the back of a less frequented area, next to the Hallmark store. The inside itself is very beautiful with some great decor, though it was very quiet when we visited (nobody eating there during the afternoon apparently). Food was delicious, but nothing overly memorable or noteworthy. read more

We love ordering Chinese from here. Never eaten inside the restaurant, but we get take-out every few weeks from this place. Our favorites include the walnut shrimp, angel hair, and potstickers. One star down because it is a little pricey for Chinese take-out. But it's VERY yummy! read more

I really liked this place. I've been here twice and have had good experiences both times. The decor and presentation of this place is done really well. It just feels nice in there. I went with a big group of people this time so we all ordered something and kind of shared it. We had Tom Yum Soup which I LOVE (and I've actually been to Thailand). We also had Panang Curry, Jungle Curry, Mongolian Beef, Strawberry Chicken, Basil Eggplant, and Pineapple Fried Rice. Thai Curry is usually kind of sweet because they use coconut milk. I'm not the biggest fan of sweeter curry but it's quite good here. The Strawberry Chicken is interesting and worth trying. The Mongolian Beef and Basil Eggplant were both really yummy. The Pineapple Fried Rice wasn't bad but I don't like raisins and cashews in rice. The entrees are pretty big and they give you a small bowl of rice with it. In my opinion it didn't really match up. Maybe it's because I'm used to eating at Chinese restaurants, but with entrees their size I feel it's better to eat it family-style. It was also slightly expensive, but worth it. read more

My favorite Chinese in town. I love the orange chicken, strawberry chicken, crab rangoon, wonton soup, lo-mein... everything I've had is great! It may be a bit overpriced, but the portions are good and everything has been delicious. It used to be Little Emperor, but they remodeled and changed names. I believe it is still owned and run by the same people, though! Also great for take-out. read more

I recommend any of their lunch specials! They have a wide selection of generic Asian cuisines that will put your taste palate to the test! One bite and it'll have you questioning why you're here. I do admit the quality of the food is a step higher than most generic Asian cuisines but personally I think the price is a bit too high. I highly recommend this place is you're looking for Asian cuisines with a bit of class! read more

Their food is really here ,but the service is hard to understand and kinda rude . The bathroom it small but kinda odd n when i am in the bath room i was sweating i dont get y it was hot read more

Great service, food was great, a great little nook in Riverside! Price was affordable! ~50 with tip for appetizers and 2 main courses! Cons: portions!!! small, leaves me wanting to take it home! read more

I have been going to this bistro for a few years and always enjoyed my shrimp fried rice. Normally it's light and not greasy. Today the rice tasted half cooked- wasn't moist like it normally is. When I called, I was told I had to return the food before they could credit or comp future orders. Since I live 15 -20mins away - that wasn't going to happen. Disappointed in their response to unsatisfied repeat customer. They just lost me!! read more

Good food, good service. Much better than I would have expected, given the location (in a shopping center, between a grocery store and a pet boutique). I would go back there. read more

Monark Asian Bistro - Coconut Shrimp appetizer. More shrimp, less coconut, please. - Chinese Near Me - Riverside, California

Delicious with elegant decor. We went for lunch and the food was good. The 80s love ballads were a strange music choice, but no big deal. Made for a fun conversation topic. Menu has a decent selection and prices were fair. We would go back. read more

Monark is fantastic! The service is exceptional and the food is flavorful. They have something for everyone. Their orange chicken is fantastic, but my favorites include the miso salmon, crab ragoons, divine garlic pepper shrimp, and the pad thai! The wine selection and dessert make it our go-to spot! read more

Great food and ambiance! The menu is diverse with so many great options. The menu has gluten free/ vegan options with lunch time specials.

Decor/ambiance is beautiful,service was really good-however the food; not so much. 5 of us went to dinner and were starving. We ordered family style- potstickers,chicken pad thai, broccoli and beef, pork fried rice, sweet and sour chicken. Sadly, I could not find one that I liked, all were mediocre at best. The pad thai was way to sweet and the noodles were all stuck together. The potstickers were soggy and wet. The pork fried rice was bland , did not taste fried and had no pork in it. The broccoli and beef was 90% broccoli and the meat there was in it was weak. The sweet and sour chicken was overcooked ,super hard and had more green bellpepper and onion chunks than chicken. We really wanted to like this place, we live very close and were on the hunt for some good food. Paid 86.00 for pretty crummy food. 2 stars for service and environment. However,We will not being going back. Ever. read more

Service: Staff here seemed very attentive and concerned about the overall experience. The greeter/server I had was new, but meant well. He was very welcoming and courteous. Once he gets a bit more experience he'll do great. The staff catered to my odd requests emphatically (I was arranging a date and wanted food delivered at specific times). Atmosphere: This space is very comfortable and warm. Lots of rich and dark wood and reds. Sitting by the window my have passerby looking at you, but you can always drop the curtains to get a more private feel. When I came in, a group of elderly people were commenting on how private and comfortable the place felt. So at least it's not just me. Food: First and foremost: The server did not touch my water cup with the pitcher of water. This is a very important detail that most servers miss. If they touch my cup with the container, they're doing it with everyone else's, mixing germs all around. But that did not happen here. I ordered coconut shrimp to start. The coconut was nice and flakey and not oily. Very good balance there. I then ate the coconut chicken soup. The small mushrooms were a bit pungent, but the taste was far better than the smell. I mixed brown rice (which was perfectly cooked) into the soup and it was delicious. Last I had coconut ice cream. It was the kind that did not have pieces of coconut inside. It's pretty much impossible to mess this dessert up. Delicious as always. My evening was perfect. I will definitely eat here again. Recommended. read more

This is a very good restaurant. Over the years, it has become my family's go to restaurant. The food is great. They have good vegetarian options. The staff is courteous and nice. My only gripe about this place is that it has gotten too expensive, and I sometimes feel that the portions have gotten smaller. This still hasn't deterred us from going here. Its a good restaurant. read more

Disappointed. Though the interior and atmosphere are nice and everything, every single of their dish tastes the same. Salty and starchy. It was like mall Chinese food on bluffing fancy plates which will cost you double the price. Do not go there if you're looking for some authentic Chinese food. read more

The food was excellent. In particular the Monark Beef was unique. We had guests from Taiwan and they were pleased with the food which is special for an American chinese good restaurant. read more

Just okay... not bad. The flavor of the food is just average, not gross at all but just nothing to rave about. They easily made my dish gluten-free. However, the water had big gross grey dust particles floating around in it. I don't know if I'd necessarily go here again... if I did I only would because it is close to my house. I would never drive out of my way to go here. read more

This was my third very hesitant visit - and again, I left disappointed and sticker shock. I do not recommend this place, the service was (again) not great too. Go elsewhere!! read more

Seated quickly, order taken. No munchies, no tea. No checkback about food or water. Food small portion-$$. Music guitars C&W Elvis and Johnny Cash. Once is enough for us. Location in Canyon Crest by a grocery store-hard to find. read more

Four of us meet here for dinner about once every 8 weeks. We usually order the walnut shrimp, the thai curry chicken, and then two other dishes. The food is always excellent. The service is superb. They have Coors Light, hot tea, and a good selection of wines. What more can you ask for. Oh yes, and price, very reasonable for such good food. read more

Yummy food - The walnut shrimp is delicious as is the hot and sour soup and the orange chicken. ...but why are the people who work here always so unfriendly?? The people taking orders always seem completely inconvenienced to be helping their customers. I've ordered food here probably 7-8 times and it's always the same thing; unfriendly staff! They aren't overtly rude but they certainly aren't winning any awards for making their customers feel welcome. Again, the food is great but after being a return customer for awhile now, I don't think I can continue to give Monark any more money when I don't feel welcomed by their staff. read more

The atmosphere is really nice...pretty swanky... and I highly recommend the vegetarian orange chicken.

I tried the veggie orange chicken and it was really good. Very close to the quality of food that I used to get at veggie restaurants in the bay area. read more

The food was good, but for our party of six, they brought out everyone's dish at different times, so I was stuck there having to wait for everyone to get their food while mine got cold as mine was the first or second dish to get served. They may want to rethink how they get the food out. read more

I applaud this "enjoyable for "standout" Chinese food presented by a largely "top-notch" staff; while the new "improved" space has a more "modern" look, a few grumble that they're still "settling in" and "working out the kinks", and it's now a little more "expensive". read more

We are regulars at this restaurant and have been for years. Karen does an amazing job of preparing delicious meals that never disappoint. Our favorites change each season! The Walnut Shrimp is always wonderful and unique! We are currently hooked on Ginger Shrimp. It has a delightful flavor. Another favorite dish of ours is The Garlic Pepper Chicken. Along with great food comes the super service you will receive. You are in for a great night at this restaurant!! Enjoy! read more

Clean place great decor, good clam music, we can late to eat, food was good.. it is China and thai food I was informed.. can't complain it was fast, quite and pleasant ... I came at the right time ... read more

Great food! I know this restaurant was called something else a few years back and changed hands, but the type of food (Chinese, Japanese, & Thai, etc) still remains firm. Although the food was good, it's my experience that restaurants which focus on one particular ethnic type of food (ie. Chinese only, Thai only, etc) offers a better quality and a much broad array of offerings. I would go back, but I wouldn't say it's a "must try" place. Expect to pay around $11-12 per plate. One more note; I appreciated how they had booths on the perimeter of the restaurant, as it's not my preference to eat at tables w/ chairs in the center of the restaurant. While my group was leaving, I noticed they were pushing together several tables & chairs to accommodate a large party, so that might be good to know for birthday dinners, etc. read more

This place was just ok. Ordered 2 dishes listed as spicy and not only were neither one spicy, but one of them had some sort of sweet cherry sauce and cherries in it (spicy beef). They are also pretty pricey for the quality. Service was ok, not great. Probably won't be returning. Egg rolls were good read more

This is the best Chinese restaurant I have been to in Riverside. My family and I have not been disappointed in any of our dishes. We have been there twice and will continue to eat there whenever I can. read more

Decor is excellent! Went for weekday lunchtime. Place was dead! Two men working the front of house. One thing that irked me was my water needed to be refilled, but the two men stood at the host stand chatting. When the younger man finally realized we needed water refills, he took the glasses to the back and left us waterless. When eating spicy curry, full water glasses are a must. The food was quality and cooked well! : ) Really, the owners should know what the servers are up to, and consider that maybe they are overstaffed in the front. read more

Their food is always good. Flavors pop and portions are solid. A little on the pricey side when you're thinking takeout. However it's a go to in a pinch and I always end up satisfied. read more

Most of the bad reviews on here are mainly from asains, they know how the food should really taste and be cooked, asain food restaurants are known to have bad service I would not recommend this place read more