Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Oriental Express Cafe

    3.9 (137 reviews)
    InexpensiveChinese, Coffee & Tea
    Closed 10:00 am - 7:30 pm

    Oriental Express Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    ORIENTAL EXPRESS CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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

    You might also consider

    More like Oriental Express Cafe

    Recommended Reviews - Oriental Express Cafe

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    3 item combo (fried fish, stir fried cabbage, and tofu with pickled radish)
    Kristy H.

    I've been coming here since I was a kid, and the quality and quantity has always been consistent. For $11, you get 3 items heaped to the brim, rice, a soup, and a milk tea. These prices are pretty unheard of these days! If you want classic and good Chinese cooking, I'd definitely recommend trying here. Service goes quickly, but the workers can be a little rushed and blunt because they're trying to move the line along. Also, bring cash because it's cash only!

    Prepared food
    Jenn J.

    Authentic take-out prepared Chinese food. Giant servings. Efficient service. Free milk tea with each order. I stop by here whenever I am in the area.

    3 item combos
    Stephanie C.

    Epitome of quick economy dining. All food is precooked for selection to make 1,2,3 or 4 item combos. Meals come with rice, soup and a milk tea. The restaurant is no frills and seems to cater to regulars in the neighborhoods and subcontractors. Small parking lot out front and seating available for dining. Many meat entree options.

    An idea of hot food selection.
    Cindy S.

    My kid wanted Panda Express. I brought her here instead. :) Oriental Express serves up home style cooked food. Steamed table line-up choose your entrees and sides. Regional dishes from Shanghai and Taiwanese fare. Am no expert, but that was what was described to me by the sweet staff young lady. The food here is delicious and affordable. A combo plus hot soup and free milk tea was something like $11! Cheap eats!! A steal. Service is so friendly and welcoming. -CASH ONLY

    Brian C.

    If you're looking for a bang for your buck that is cheap and authentic this is the spot to go to. Food may not be the best quality but if you're in a hurry and also like selection, This spot is to go to. You cannot beat a drink, soup and combo plate for about 10 bucks. People here are very nice and helpful. There is not many people here since many people just bring it home but they have a ton of seats to sit at. I would recommend.

    3 item combo
    Siao Z.

    I ordered 3 item combo so rice comes separately. They also have soup and milk tea provided. The milk tea is not the best but when will I ever say no to free/included stuff? I would definitely not order the mapo tofu again, the sauce is not as expected and they used the firmer tofu rather than soft tofu. The chicken and bean sprout was good though! I want to try their fried pork chops and other dishes now! Can't wait to go back. It was cash only and it was $11 for my 3 item combo! Affordable pricing, big portion!

    Nicole G.

    Chinese item combo plates are my undisputed guilty pleasure. I've found a few favorites in various cities i've frequented, and after living in SGV my entire life, i've finally found my favorite close to home. I've had this place in my bookmarks since COVID but recently stumbled across it again when driving past it and my mom inquired about what type of restaurant it is. Being as my family loves deals, I excitedly told her about the insane value of their food and how homemade and fresh it looks. The very next day we ordered a few 4-item combo plates to share and try a multitude of their entrees. Each plate comes with rice (or noodles for an up charge), an iced milk tea, and a soup - this is an incredible steal for $12. Can confirm Asian-parent approved! The rice and noodles are both cooked well. But moving onto the entrees - flavor was there in all the dishes without being too much.. not too salty and not too greasy.. iykyk. There's a really comforting home cooked taste and feel to the dishes. We got the meatballs, steamed pork egg loaf, salt pepper fish fillets, pork chop, fried chicken, gizzard, and stir fried liver. While I genuinely liked all of them, the fried fish fillets/fried chicken/pork chop were my favorites of the day. My family will definitely be back :)

    Interior of the shop

    I've been coming here for years and their food is always delicious. The portions are generous and there is always leftovers for another meal. Its a nice little hidden shop to buy a lunch for here or to-go. The combos come with rice, a milk tea, and a soup. I highly recommend their curry chicken and seaweed, but everything they offer is just as good. A heads up, you pay in cash.

    2-entre combo meal. Soup + (watered down) milk tea included - TOTAL $8.50. So cheap.
    智林

    I don't know how this place keeps running. Very good food for HUGE portions at extremely cheap prices. Cheaper and way more authentic to Chinese home cooking than Panda Express. Reminds me of 大食堂-style public cafeterias that are common in Mainland China. 10/10 affordable and amazing.

    Micaela W.

    My favorite no frills Chinese take out -- and the first meal I get when I go home! This place is so nostalgic and the food hasn't changed at all. An amazing variety and for pretty affordable prices. Love the seaweed salad, tofu skin meatballs, bamboo shoots and salted cabbage

    Milk tea, soup (w/seaweed and egg), rice, 3-item: egg+minced meat, braised pork, pickled seaweed ($9.50)
    Kimberly P.

    :: Food :: I ordered the 3-item combo that comes with rice, soup, and a milk tea ($9.50) and everything was just okay. I found them via Thrillist in one of their YouTube videos. Food was decent, but I did not really like the drink, it was super diluted and kind of bland. :: Service :: The customer service was okay as well. :: Parking :: There's only a row of 7-8 parking in front of the store and there's street parking on the side. :: Tip :: Be prepared to pay with cash.

    Tofu, eggplant, and chicken  3 dish combo ($7.95)  Comes with milk tea, rice, and soup
    Katy Z.

    I was craving some traditional Chinese food that was quick and had many choices. My coworker actually told me about this place because he grow up in San Gabriel and said that it's the best bang for your buck. I decided to give it a try and when I went on Yelp, I was surprised that there weren't many reviews and the most recent one was 4 months to 1 year ago. Considering all this, I wonder if anything changed from what he had experience to what is is now. I came by for lunch on Monday and saw 4 people eating inside and there was two customers in front of me. As I was ordering two more customers arrived behind me so I guess you can say this place is pretty known. I did notice most customers were construction workers of some sort so it must attract workers who are nearby. I ordered the 3 item box rice. I got the eggplant, tofu and chicken. It came with a separate box of white rice, a small soup, and a milk tea. All this was $7.95 (FYI cash only). The eggplant, tofu, and chicken all had a similar taste to it, a little spicy but not exactly the spice you may be expecting. I think their secret to keeping prices low and having a variety of dishes is that the base sauce is probably the same in many dishes. The soup had zero flavor, it was like water and had nothing in it. But I can't really complain because it was free. The milk tea was average. No boba in it. The only sad part was that the workers didn't really know English and spoke in mandarin. Plus, the food that was presented didn't have any labels as to what they were. I asked if a specific item was pork and the worker just looked at me and tried to explain in mandarin but I didn't understand. If you have any allergies I would probably suggest you don't try this place unless you speak mandarin or else it would be very difficult for you to figure out what is what. Overall, I enjoyed my dishes especially since I miss my family's traditional home cooked meals. However, don't expect this place to be like Panda Express though with the western orange chicken and whatnot. I can't say it was the best food I've ever had, but it was descent for the price and taste and I'd probably stop by again.

    Looks good! But doesn't taste as good as it looks.
    Rita C H.

    The food was okay and the free milk tea that comes with it was eh so I dumped it - I had to go to Bon Appetea after to get me a boba milk tea. No pun intended but not my cup of tea.

    Really Delicious Chinese Foods!!

    See all

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    15 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Chang O.
    39
    194
    222

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alan L.
    8
    110
    197

    11 years ago

    $5 for 3 item combo with boba. Similar taste to hsin hsin shaomei What's not to like?

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Bobby H.
    523
    250
    115

    13 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Good tasting food, lots of it. Great price. Combos come with rice and milk tea. Can't beat it. 4th star is mainly for the awesome value.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Al W.
    61
    7
    0

    11 years ago

    Best value you'll ever find. 5 bucks for a ton of food.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    Page 4 of 4

    Oriental Express Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Oriental Express Cafe

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Chinese 243,065 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Newport Seafood Restaurant

    Newport Seafood Restaurant

    4.1
    (3.7k reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    Definitely a spot you come to on special occasions as it is pricey. We came with a reservation for…read more9 people, and they had everything ready for us when we arrived. We ended up getting a set for $168 this time, which came with 6 dishes. It's also $35 per lb for lobster, and I asked for the smallest one. Apparently, the smallest one was 4.8 lbs, which was another $168, so I'm not sure if they upsold me. Anyways, the food was fantastic and everyone enjoyed it. This is what I thought about the food we got. House Seafood Soup - Simple and clean soup. Good portion, and it was soothing to eat. Lots of squid. (4/5) Clams with Spicy Sauce - Large clams with tons of meat, and the sauce was fire. Always a good choice. (5/5) Crab with Salt & Pepper - Loved the seasoning, and the flavors were solid. (4.5/5) Thai Style Beef Stew - First time trying this, and it was good. A bit different, but the meat chunks were tasty and the overall flavors were good. (4/5) Sautéed Pea Sprouts - Nicely done vegetable dish. It's simple but refreshing with good flavors. (4/5) Fried Whole Fish - This dish was gone so fast because it was delicious. Nicely fried and not overly seasoned. (5/5) Signature Lobster - I feel like you have to get this here since it's their specialty. It's pricey, but in my opinion, it's the best and freshest lobster in town. Tons of green onions, seasoned well, fresh meat, and lots of lobster roe. (5/5) Service was good, and they didn't automatically add a mandatory tip for a large party. The total came out to around $364, which is pricey, but the food was phenomenal. Parking - Valet only, but they have street parking in front. I parked on the street since there were plenty of spots on a Wednesday, but I assume it gets busy on weekends.

    This is a good place if you want lobster plate! Their lobster plate comes with garlic noodles which…read moreis so tasty! I was actually not expecting it to be good but hey I was wrong! Other than lobster plate we ordered their walnut shrimp and salt and pepper pork. Everything is delicious. Service is fast too which makes dining easier.

    Photos
    Newport Seafood Restaurant
    Newport special crab on egg noodles
    Newport special crab on egg noodles
    House Newport Special Lobster

    See all

    House Newport Special Lobster
    Good Alley

    Good Alley

    4.5
    (677 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    I wasn't expecting a single beef rib to be this impressive. The first thing that caught my…read moreattention was the size. It looked like something straight out of a food show. Thankfully, the taste lived up to the appearance. The meat was incredibly tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. It came right off the bone without falling apart completely, which gave it a really satisfying texture. What I liked most was that the beef itself was the star of the dish. It had a rich, smoky flavor and didn't rely on heavy seasoning or sauce to stand out. The lime wedges on the side were a surprisingly good addition and helped balance the richness of the meat. This was one of those dishes that made everyone at the table stop talking for a moment and just enjoy the food. Definitely the most memorable thing I ordered at Good Alley, and I would come back just for this beef rib.

    Good Alley was recommended by a foodie friend who never failed. This place is better than Din Tai…read moreFung in my opinion because the portions are much larger and the beef is more tender. I came here twice. The first time I never stepped inside because the line was just insane. This place can be packed due to its small size and the parking is not easy. It is located inside a very popular plaza with many other popular Chinese establishments. The second time I came is around 11AM on a weekday so I didn't have to wait. The menu here are all digital so you order by clicking screens. All the food items have pictures so you'll know exactly what you'll get. They also have a very good Boba menu too and their Boba are actually very very good. The staffs are very nice and helpful. They are not like the usual traditional Chinese restaurant that doesn't have customer service. You'll be treated well here. The food came out pretty quickly and they are amazing. You can tell they spend a lot of time cooking the beef because it was very tender. The beef is most likely slow cooked for a long time, then slice to prepare for the dishes. The beef in the flaky beef wrap was very generous. It felt like a huge burrito without other fillings. The Braised Noodle Soup has huge chunks of yummy beef in it. The soup is very flavorful and thick. I will try the clear broth version next time. I like drinking the broth but the dark broth is just too much flavor for me to consume. The restaurant is very clean and well decorated. If you are looking for a dumpling place, give this place a try, you won't regret it. The price is not cheap but I feel like it matches the quality that you'll receive. Just try to come on a weekday or off hour so you can avoid the long line.

    Photos
    Even the kitchen has art-deco flavor
    Even the kitchen has art-deco flavor
    Jiaozi  vinegar
    Jiaozi vinegar
    Fried noodle with pork

    See all

    Fried noodle with pork
    Ji Rong Peking Duck

    Ji Rong Peking Duck

    4.2
    (2.2k reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    Ji Rong's Peking duck is the best! We specifically wanted to come here because we heard how…read moredelicious the duck was. Indeed it was! The skin was very crispy and the meat so tender and juicy. Wrapping it up in the Chinese tortilla, while adding the cucumbers and hoisin sauce, bomb in your mouth! The noodles, braised tofu, mayonnaise shrimp, and the veggies were good, but the star is the duck. Make sure to order the duck ahead to ensure they'll have it ready for you when you arrive. If you've tried Peking duck at other locations and liked it, come here and try it for yourself. You will not be disappointed. Best duck I've ever had.

    The Peking duck was excellent. The skin was thin and crispy, the meat was juicy, and I loved that…read morethey deboned the duck. The pancakes were thin and perfectly chewy. The sweet and sour pork was unfortunately a disaster. The pork was sliced paper-thin--so thin that it felt like I was mostly eating batter with barely any meat. I was also disappointed they took the sweet and sour fish off the menu because that dish was amazing a few months ago. The five-color noodles were light, clean, and refreshing. The pork elbow was delicious with a fun, tender texture. The fish maw soup was very good and comforting, though it could have used a little more seasoning. Other than that, it was delicious. The steamed sea bass with soy sauce was incredibly soft and fragrant--a definite must-order. The scallops with vermicelli noodles were another hit: fresh, clean flavors and perfectly cooked scallops. My only suggestion would be to cut the noodles, as they came in one big clump and were difficult to serve. We ordered the beef fried rice but were given lamb instead. It was a bit gamier than expected, but still tasty. The black fungus with tofu was also excellent--well seasoned and full of flavor. Overall, there were a few misses, but the Peking duck, sea bass, scallops, pork elbow, and black fungus with tofu made the meal worth coming back for.

    Photos
    Indoor seating
    Indoor seating
    香薰肘花 Sliced Pig Elbow with Garlic Sauce
    香薰肘花 Sliced Pig Elbow with Garlic Sauce
    Jung Dong Meat Pie

    See all

    Jung Dong Meat Pie
    Boston Lobster

    Boston Lobster

    4.3
    (1.9k reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Came with family for father's day meal after I tried it with coworkers and enjoyed it. We came…read morearound 6:30pm on a weekday for dinner and they were pretty busy and parking lot was quite full, but luckily we didn't have to wait for a table and still found parking. They have a lot of tables inside so it is great for small and large groups. The waiters were also fast even though they were busy. We ordered their Kung Pao Chicken, Fried Tofu, Beef Noodle, Shrimp w Walnut, and Vegetable w Garlic. We decided not to get lobster since it was pricey. They took our order pretty fast and gave tea to drink. The pot of white rice is extra $1 if you order though. And their menu book doesn't have prices for some reason. Only the to-go menu has prices. Food was served in a decent amount of time, around 15 minutes. And all dishes arrived close together so we didn't have to wait long. The kung pao chicken is so good! Not spicy at all and very nice and crispy with good seasoning. It tasted delicious with some rice. The beef noodles were also delicious! It had good wok taste and was very flavorful. The tofu and shrimp were also good. None of the dishes were too salty and all were seasoned well and in pretty big portions, though I don't remember the exact price since they took the receipt away when we paid. But the meal was very worth and we had leftovers for lunch the next day. Such a yummy meal! I really enjoyed it! I am definitely coming back again!

    Boston Lobster is officially my go-to location for any|all Asian lobster cravings!! Newport…read morewho?????!!! My family and I used to religiously eat lobster noodles whenever we made a trip down to SoCal. The pick of the bunch was 100% Newport Seafood- no negotiations, no contemplations. Unfortunately, the last handful of times have left me extremely disappointed and heavily annoyed. The cost and wait times do not reflect what is actually being provided and most of our food ends up being left behind because it simply isn't worth the calories. In all honestly, I've grown a phobia w/ that specific restaurant at this point because of the countless letdowns. My initial taste of Boston Lobster was about 3 years ago and I had the most enjoyable meal. Due to our LA trip coming to an end, my BD thought we should do it big with some lobster noodles- for good old time's sake. I absolutely refused to go anywhere unless we would be giving Boston Lobster a visit! Sure enough, they did not disappoint! Dinner for 3 adults and 1 toddler consisted of: *Boston House Special Lobster [no spice] + Garlic Noodles for an additional fee. Medium Size 5-6lbs minimally. *French Style Beef Cube *Sauteed Snow Pea Leaves We ate like mf'n KINGS!! Each and every dish was spectacular- even the greens! While we should have gone with the small sized lobster, I'm proud to say we went down with an honorable fight. Lmao!! The lobster was cooked to perfection- meat was sweet, succulent, and so darn tender. The garlic noodles soaked up all of the delicious lobster flavors and were not overcooked and mush. The bo luc lac was flavorful, juicy, and complimented the bed of lettuce, onions, & tomatoes so well. The snow pea leaves weren't tough and old- this truly was a simply yet magical dish. Service was on point and the staff continually came by to swap out our plates full of lobster shells. Above all, there was no wait with our initial arrival. Parking is easy given the fact that BL has a pretty big parking lot specifically for them. 5/5 stars!! We dropped over 3 bills here and it didn't even hurt. Lmao- this place is that damn good! Don't sleep on this joint, y'all. Boston Lobster is the real deal when it comes to authentic Chinese/Vietnamese cuisine. This spot should be so much more hyped than it actually is!

    Photos
    Dining area with pretty cherry blossoms  tree painted on wall...
    Dining area with pretty cherry blossoms tree painted on wall...
    Clam with basil
    Clam with basil
    Stir-fried Clam with Thai basil

    See all

    Stir-fried Clam with Thai basil

    Oriental Express Cafe - chinese - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...