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    No 1 Chef

    3.7 (86 reviews)
    InexpensiveChinese, Sushi Bars, Soup
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order No 1 Chef Takeout or Delivery

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    NO 1 CHEF ATMOSPHERE

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

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    To go special combo pan-fried noodles and general tao's chicken. Yes, they have fortune cookies!
    Sakiko E.

    Decent fast food Chinese restaurant in an urban shopping area. Plenty of street parking but there are a bit scary people on the street and I might opt in for delivery of I order next time. They don't seem to take Amex but if you use UberEATS, they do in that sense. Food was prepared well for the pick-up order. Even if you ring the bell on the table, they see you and don't come up while taking and laughing as a family. Not a great customer service. Still blocked for indoor seating but it looked like a lot of people do the to-go orders anyways. The Cantonese pan-fried or crispy noodles were great. I am a big fan of the soft noodles only baked a bit crispy at the bottom but this was also great! The portion is generous but the prices are a bit high so it makes sense. Looks like the smaller portion is available as lunch specials. I am still in a search for the perfect pan-fried noodles but this place is a decent option!

    Lunch special 11-4 even on weekends! Less than $10+tax comes with soup, egg rolls, rice, and a dish. I got the scallops.
    Patricia K.

    Lunch special 11-4 even on weekends! Less than $10+tax comes with soup, egg rolls, rice, and a dish. I got the scallops. Not a whole lot of scallops but for that price I'm not surprised. The soup was hot and sour which I liked. Saw a friend there and he said he goes there all the time as it is good and affordable. I agree.

    Curry Samosa - only dish I would order again. I borrowed this pic from another reviewer.
    Angela H.

    We had the Curry Samosa appetizer, the Garlic Shrimp lunch special and the Buffalo Wings lunch special. The lunch specials came with soup and a veggie egg roll. The samosas were miniature but tasty with the hot mustard. The taste of curry was very mild so if you're looking for a good dose of the spice - order something else. The contents of the egg roll were mushy and nondescript. I couldn't tell what I was eating although the wrap was crispy. They remind me of egg rolls purchased from a grocery store. Overall edible but probably better if they were being made fresh onsite. The garlic shrimp was the only true disappointment. There were vegetables included that I've never seen in a garlic shrimp dish. And the garlic was so overwhelming it seemed out of place with the rest of the dish. I would never try this again. We haven't tried the buffalo wings yet but how bad could they be?

    Jennifer B.

    YELP 100 CHALLENGE 2017 - PART 3: 84/100 My first choice for cheap, hole-in-a-wall Chinese food was closed, so I ended up here. (I was in the mood. What can I say.) Found street parking across the street. Their window sign says they have parking available at the back available, though. (Good to know!) Hole in a wall: sorta...? (Leaning more toward a YES on that.) Cheap: not so much. After going through the menu, I decided on a half order of garlic shrimp to-go. A little under ten bucks. Not exactly (or even close to) a hole-in-a-wall bargain, but no biggie. "10 minutes." Made to order. I like that. Got home and sure enough, that order was hot, hot, HOT! Opened up the packaging and it looked like plenty of food. Lots of fresh vegetables. Seasoning was better than good. And the sauce was delicious with the rice. The only downside? Not a lotta shrimp. 6 or 7 small pieces, at most. Delicious, but I've definitely had better. 2.75 stars. But I'm curious enough to come back. Might try something off their lunch specials. Someday.

    I ordered the Chicken, Shrimp and Scallop soup...it was delicious!
    LaShonda N.

    I ordered the Chicken and Shrimp egg rolls which were fresh, hot and good. I also ordered the Chicken, Shrimp and Scallop soup it came with veggies, 1/2 of portion was more than enough. It was delicious

    Kung pao chicken
    Buala E.

    I ordered the Kung pao and the chicken chow mein. The chicken in both dishes tasted really bland and under cooked. The Kung pao chicken had a weird chemical taste.. The chicken chow mein would have been decent without the chicken. The delivery came really fast, and they have generous amounts of napkins, hot sauces, and fortune cookies :) I don't think I'll be ordering from them again though :(

    The peice of something that poked my husband

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    9 years ago

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    9 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Food was very reasonable priced but once they removed the half order made it too expensive for two seniors meals

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    8 years ago

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    11 years ago

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    11 years ago

    Terrible!!! Unless you are starving, you will not like this food. The texture on the chicken is really suspect.

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    14 years ago

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    11 years ago

    This has been our go-to "Chinese take-out" for over 5 years now. Consistently good food.

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    10 years ago

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    13 years ago

    Stopped by on my way home. A bit bare of a place but the food and service are great.

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    8 years ago

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    8 years ago

    this is what good service and food means. the best chinese food i have had in years. hope everyone gives it a try.

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    8 years ago

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    10 years ago

    The food was very good. We ordered the Mongolian Beef and Sweet and Sour Chicken with egg rolls.

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    8 years ago

    Love this place the food is not salty and oily.large portions great prices and large sections.

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    Page 2 of 3

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    Sea Empress Seafood Restaurant

    Sea Empress Seafood Restaurant

    3.1
    (1.1k reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    This is one dimsum place my husband and I would always come back to. Food is cooked very well and…read morethe staff is nice and polite. We ordered the usual, sticky rice, hargow, bbq pork bun both steamed and bunned. Also, the seafood noodle is a favorite. That is ordered from the menu. Place is your typical chinese dimsun place. Nit much thought on the interior but does the job. Its clean and organized.

    We were here on a Sunday before Christmas. We learned that the one dim sum place on the Westside…read morewas closed so I pushed our desire to try Sea Empress to see if it's a good alternative if we don't want to drive out to Monterey Park. BF was parking while I got in first to get a table. Before I was able to sit down, I had 3 people surrounded me. Busser asked me if I want tea, and two cart ladies pushing dishes on me. The one with all the steam dishes was so pushy but she had the Hao Goa (Shrimp dumpling) and chicken feet which we usually get. Food was not piping hot to begin with. Wrapping for Shrimp dumpling was mushy and a bit on the thicker side. All the other dishes were not memorable and nothing to write home about. But overall just not up to PAR. We asked the pushy cart lady if she had beef tripe and she said they could put in an order to get it steamed. The tripe never came but it was on our bill. So be sure to check your bill.

    Photos
    Indoor dining.
    Indoor dining.
    Pan Fried Turnip Cake - so bad that we had to return it
    Pan Fried Turnip Cake - so bad that we had to return it
    Salted fish Chicken Fried Rice

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    Salted fish Chicken Fried Rice
    Northern Cafe

    Northern Cafe

    3.9
    (515 reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    I went back to Northern Cafe for the first time in quite a while and was pleasantly surprised --…read morehonestly made me wish I had been coming here more often. We ordered the xiao long bao, broccoli beef, beef rolls, and chicken chow mein. The xiao long bao was excellent with a good amount of soup in each dumpling, and the beef rolls were probably my favorite item, especially dipped in a mix of black vinegar and soy sauce. The broccoli beef had a nice flavor, though I wished it had a little more meat. The chicken chow mein was the weakest dish for me: the noodle texture was great, but the overall flavor didn't stand out as much as I expected. Ordering was easy and the menu was very approachable thanks to the pictures. The restaurant is on the smaller side, which actually made it easier to get a server's attention when needed. Food also came out pretty quickly. The ambiance is straightforward and comfortable -- nothing fancy, just a solid neighborhood restaurant. Because it's small, you may have to wait if it gets busy, but tables seemed to turn over quickly thanks to the fast service. One practical tip: the portion sizes are bigger than they look. We had a table for two and ended up with dishes crowding the table pretty quickly. Overall, I enjoyed the meal and will definitely be back.

    Service was slow initially to get seated. There were several empty tables but we waited for a few…read moreminutes before they were able to seat us. They're typically very busy when we go on a weekday night. But once we got seated, service was fine. I usually get the pork wontons with chili oil. It's flavorful and it's actually not really spicy. We got the braised Xinjiang Market Chicken with sliced noodle. Very big portion. It had potatoes and bell peppers too. Noodles itself was good texture, but the overall dish lacked some flavor. I ended up dipping my noodles in the chili oil sauce from the wontons just to get more flavor in it. Good place to come for simple dishes. Overall pricing is reasonable as well.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Beef roll
    Beef roll
    Beef roll

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    Beef roll
    Tasty Spot Cafe

    Tasty Spot Cafe

    4.0
    (603 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    Tasty Kitchen in Gardena absolutely delivered an incredible dining experience for our group!…read more We came in with about 10 people, and they handled our large party seamlessly. The family-style setup was perfect--being able to share dishes made the whole meal feel communal, fun, and super satisfying. Every dish that came out was packed with flavor, and there were so many great options that everyone at the table found something they loved. Service was efficient and attentive, especially considering the size of our group, and the food came out at a great pace so we could enjoy everything together. If you're dining with a group and want a place with delicious food, generous portions, and a welcoming atmosphere, Tasty Kitchen is definitely the move. Already looking forward to coming back and trying even more dishes!

    Solid 4 star spot…read more They gave us complimentary soup and a jello dessert. I do think their prices are a bit higher than but they give giant portions. Items ordered: -Beef chow fun: Meat was good and the noodles weren't super greasy but it lacked salt. A little more soy sauce or seasoning would be better -Salt and pepper pork chops: Very good. Crispy. -black bean fish fillet: good. Solid dish - green beans: solid. Good seasoning. Green beans crispy I think their lunch special is a better deal. It's not 626 quality food but I think it's acceptable for Cantonese food in this area.

    Photos
    Inside clean
    Inside clean
    154. Pan Fried Noodle with Shrimp Dinner
    154. Pan Fried Noodle with Shrimp Dinner
    Storefront

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    Storefront
    Top BBQ & Noodle

    Top BBQ & Noodle

    3.9
    (276 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    We haven't had roast duck for a while, so we decided to stop by Top BBQ because they serve some of…read morethe best roast duck and pork in the South Bay. Located on the border of Torrance and Gardena, the restaurant, with its casual décor, is large enough for 60 guests when 2 large round party tables are included. The always-friendly staff brought the menu and water right away. For this visit, we ordered the following dishes (which started arriving within 10 minutes): Roast Duck: As expected, the duck skin was crispy, and the meat was plump, tender and nicely seasoned. Beef Chow Fun: The seasoning was super flavorful, and the glossy, but non-greasy sautéed thick rice noodles had a perfect texture. The beef pieces were tender, and the portion of bean sprouts was just right without overcrowding the dish. Wonton Soup Noodle: The thin noodles were perfectly al dente. The broth was light but flavorful. The wontons had nice thin wraps, and the fillings were well seasoned and with pleasantly firm consistence. We left the restaurant feeling 110% full and satisfied. Highly recommended.

    Craving roast duck, ordered a half order - smaller portions than prices connote…read more Kung pao chicken was saltier than I'd like. protein to other ingredients on the plate is not a good value. Service was reasonably quick. Tables were clean, plenty of booth seating. They have 1-2 round family-style tables for large parties.

    Photos
    01-22-2023
    01-22-2023
    D1. PHO-DINO BONE BEEF
    D1. PHO-DINO BONE BEEF
    Beef & Scrambled Egg over White Rice

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    Beef & Scrambled Egg over White Rice
    Chinese Kitchen

    Chinese Kitchen

    4.4
    (188 reviews)
    4.7 mi
    $$

    I feel like they might just be generally this generous with their servings, but we did also drop in…read more40 to 50- minutes before they were closing so that might've played a roll in how much they served us. Regardless, we definitely will be coming back. The service was friendly. The interior looked clean. Prices are fantastic! Purchased 2 combo B meals and an egg roll and it came out to just under $26.

    I was in the mood for cheap Chinese no-nonsense food. I have a go-to for this (a few blocks from…read morehere, matter of fact) but I felt like trying a new place. Yelp had this place on its list of recos, but there was something about this place that drew me in... ... and it turns out, I have actually been here before. But it has been about 30+yrs since, waaaaayyy before my Yelp years! (SIDE STORY: My GodMom and grandparents used to live a couple of blocks away from here and we often ordered food here back in the day.) They are incredibly popular. All their tables were occupied (granted, there were only three or four) but patrons coming through were non-stop. Staff were efficient as well because given the line (there were three people ahead of me) they got us outta there pretty quickly. I went for half white rice, half noods, black pepper chicken and fried chicken/wings. (NOTE: they packaged the wings separately so it doesn't get soggy from the black pepper sauce - love this!) They were good at providing disposable utensils as well as sauce packets. It didn't take long before I was on my way back to work. Noods had nice flavorful chew. Rice was fluffy. Fried chicken/wings was crispy and savory with a slight hint of sweet. But the black pepper chicken was AM.A.ZING!!! There was so much flavor packed in every bite and couldn't get enough of it! There wasn't a lot of fillers either, so that's a plus. Highly recommending this! FOOD: 5. SERVICE: 4. VALUE: 5. They give you enough for a second meal. PARKING: Lots of space shared with others. Not an issue. OVERALL: 4.5. I couldn't stop thinking about the black pepper chicken that I just had to come back the next day to have it again. Paired it with orange chicken on that second run. Not as great, but it is one of their more popular items. (Most people ahead of me ordered it and the pan got refilled during both visits.) So it was a delight coming through here again as it brought back tons of memories. I even remember making many stops at the laundromat next door. Also drove by my auntie's old house. Ahhhh, good times! I shall return! If only for the delicious black pepper chicken!

    Photos
    Chinese Kitchen
    Chinese Kitchen
    Chinese kitchen

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    Chinese kitchen
    Ladybug Café

    Ladybug Café

    4.4
    (509 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    First time visiting here! Staffs were very nice and food…read morewas great. Chicken katsu was great, but ahi poke was bit salty for me.

    Ladybug Cafe is a Hawaiian-style restaurant that has a nostalgic feel, like my grandparents' home…read more Some of their popular dishes include chicken katsu, fried chicken, butterfish, beef stew, and mac salad. They also offer burgers, sandwiches, and poke bowls as well as breakfast dishes. I finally came here for lunch and it wasn't too busy on a Wednesday. Hubby got the Ahi Tuna Poke Salad and it was a generous portion! The ingredients were fresh and the ginger miso dressing was delicious. I got the Chicken Katsu and Fried Chicken Combo, which came with salad, rice and mac salad. The Fried Chicken was seasoned and fried to perfection! So juicy too. The chicken katsu was a bit disappointing though. The chicken was pounded paper thin and the panko crust, although it was crispy and not too oily, separated from the chicken. The sides were pretty average. I heard they also have live music on the weekends and evenings, which is great in their spacious dining area. Love the cute drawings and messages from locals and the collection of ladybugs and lucky cats. I would come back since I work close by. I would definitely get the fried chicken again and try other dishes on their extensive menu. Friendly and efficient service. Free parking lot in the back.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
    Beef stew
    Beef stew
    Entrance

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    Entrance

    No 1 Chef - chinese - Updated July 2026

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