This place is located in the plaza so there is shared parking space with other business. This was my first time here so I'd give it a try! The place doesn't seem appealing but these places what makes me feel like home! My mandarin isn't great so it was a plus that the asian lady who helped me understood my English! There are so much options to choose! I see that there are more meat then veggie options. I ordered 2 items which came out to be 5.16 w/o tax. It is so worth it because it include a bowl of soup and a boba drink!!! Where can you find a place that offers a combo meal for 5$ and some change! The more items you choose the more expensive it will be, but up to 4 items is around 7$ which is not bad at all. The broccoli is amazing here, there is so much flavor and you can really taste the garlic which I love! I order the pork meatballs and it's not bad, I thought it was going to be salty but it wasn't! I would come back definitely and try other options. Overall this place is perfect for a simple and nostalgia childhood meal! read more

Oriental Express Cafe - Dec 2019 menu! - Chinese Near Me - San Gabriel, California

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The food here is good and cheap. 3 items + soup + boba for $6.50! You're never going to beat that deal anywhere. This place has a very good selection of about 15 items I think. I usually get the fried chicken, chicken curry, and one new item to try out. I took 1 star off because I wish they had better veggie items or at least some more meat items with veggies. They have bittermelon (by itself), some kind of green straw veggies, and mushroom chicken. Plus there's some kind of meatloaf with egg thing on the right that wasn't good at all. The fried chicken is terrific though, very crunchy. The boba here is just ok, but it's free and nowhere else gives you a free boba, so you can't complain about it. I'm a pretty big guy but the 3 item combo is enough for 2 meals for me. That's a big win. This place is a great one and Im going to come here more often. read more

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The food was excellent, and the whatever brown stuff my mom ordered she ate. We got one pack of white rice. We got a da bie cie lettuce and mapo tofu with meatballs the health score was fabulous. The food quality was great and amazing - should come back here next time. Very good restaurant indeed:) read more

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I've only ordered party trays and I have to say yesterday would be the last time. Yesterday I ordered a large tray of pork chops and the quality was less than acceptable. In fact we had most of the tray left because no one wanted to eat it or take any home. Usually this dish is deep fried and crispy. It appears as if it was oven baked which I assume is easier especially for a large order. The other dish I ordered is Kung pao chicken which was just ok. read more

Oriental Express Cafe - Pork chops - Chinese Near Me - San Gabriel, California

Price has gone up I think. Bought 2 4-item combo box and was $15. Comes with rice, soup and boba. Lots of meat choices but few vegetable dishes. Some dishes are pretty good. The boba milk tea is kinda water down. Boba quality is inconsistent. Sometimes chewy and sometimes hard. Huge portion. I come here when I don't have time or too hungry to cook. It's fast and easy. read more

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Long time deli in the San Gabriel area and good for a quick lunch or want to try variety. It is a hit and miss depend on what you ordered. Fried chickens were really good, pork livers were too dry and the tofu skin wraps were ok but lacks flavor. Their soup is tasty and the milk tea is good. Will try other dishes and update. read more

** Best Value Bento that tastes good too** Guess I have never reviewed this place since I started eating here before Yelp existed. It's a small place where you grab and go. You can eat at one of the tables if you want too. I usually go with the 3 item combo which comes with boba drink, soup, steamed white rice. It's difficult to choose just 2 items. This time I had the lion's head meatball, egg steamed meat, and the shredded tofu with spicy pepper and zha tsai (pickled mustard...here is Wiki for ya.. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zha_cai ). It's a 3 item combo that feeds 2 OR one HUNGRY person. Flavor of the dishes I have tried for many years is not overly salty/oily. The boba drink is okay. I did appreciate that there was lots of ice with very little boba. Why? Well, there are enough calories in the generous 3 item combo already. Don't need more!! Soup this time was an egg drop soup with seaweed and tofu. I'll be back. read more

Oriental Express Cafe - 3 item combo (close up) - Chinese Near Me - San Gabriel, California

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This is probably the best Taiwanese takeout joint within a 5 mile radius (basically all of the 626). These folks are really generous. It's like as if they want to get rid of as much of their food as possible. I usually get 3 items, which comes standard with soup, rice, and milk tea. The standard items are all interchangeable. I always swap out the milk tea for another serving of soup. If I want to go low carb, I also swap out the rice for a THIRD serving of soup! My favorite items are the fried tofu with stewed boiled egg, the curry chicken, and meatball(s). read more

SCORE. 2 item combo + rice + soup + boba milk tea = $5.65 (after taxes) I went with the mapo tofu and chicken potato, my heart and stomach were really happy. Good quick oriental food for the soul. The little side of soup really hit the spot and it was a clean clear broth. I really like the boba milk tea because it's not too milky and it taste like tea, and the boba was good too. Theres so many items to choose from for such a good price. The workers are really kind and patient. +parking lot +dine in/take out read more

HIDDEN GEM ALERT!! So let me get this straight, you only need to spend 6 dollars and you can have 4 combos, rice, soup, AND boba and it can feed two people? SIGN ME UP. Yes, that is basically the best deal you can get in SGV. The best part is that the food is pretty good!!! You have a lot of choices to choose from. I counted over 36 choices of food to choose from, lots of veggies and meat! The portion size of each are very big so at least 2 people can eat and be full! I think I would bring my own rice next time, if I want some more! What a deal! I'll be back!!! read more

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Small mom and pop box lunch type of place where you pick and choose a few side items to go with your entree. Very much like a Panda Express except way better! If you buy 3 boxes of food, they'll allow you to get a whole box of the same dish instead so it's like you get 3 large dishes which comes out roughly to about $21. It also comes with a boba and a small soup. What I absolutely love and not many other places have is their Hong Shao Kao Fu: Braised wheat gluten with wood ear. It is absolutely delicious!!! Every time I go to LA I have to pop in to see if they have this dish. But since it's a popular one they don't always have it so definitely call ahead. Mmmmmmmm. Can't wait to go up to LA again :) read more

Ive grown up in Arcadia my while life, and I was looking for a cheap/ healthy spot to eat while on break. This place looked good according to yelp so I drove here. THIS PLACE IS A HIDDEN GEM! Omg so yummy, healthy, and CHEAPPPP. Lets start with the price $5.16 for a 2 item combo... comes with a small soup and a medium milk tea with boba drink. The drink was sweet and the boba was nice and perfectly chewy and fresh, the soup (came on Friday it was seaweed with tofu ) was fresh and fragrant. The FOOD again im gonna use the word fresh lol! I ordered the green bean with fermented tofu, and mapo tofu. It was excellent, everything was savory, nice seasonings, and so inexpensive for the quality. I will be returning here with friends and family! ** I didn't order these things but the fried meats looks delicious as well** *Did I mention there is a Pokémon Go gym here too?* read more

Oriental Express Cafe - Chinese Near Me - San Gabriel, California

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10+ years ago, there was a period of time my parents took me here almost everyday. Why? It was the best bang-for-your-buck Chinese fast food in that area. Now I've come back here again after one long decade, and you still can't beat their price. Not only that, I believe they opened up another store in Rowland Height (http://www.yelp.com/biz/eastern-express-cafe-rowland-heights). I had 2 dishes + rice + free boba milk tea + a cup of soup - all for about $4.2. You can go to Panda Express, get something similar without boba milk tea, and it will cost about $7+. Not only that, there were about 30 different dishes to choose from. If you order combo: Adding additional 50 cents - exchange white rice for chow mien. Adding additional $1 - exchange white rice for noodle in chicken soup. Living on a tight budget? If you can handle average tasting food and not-so-elegant dining environment, then definitely give this place a try. read more

Oriental Express Cafe - Front entrance - Chinese Near Me - San Gabriel, California

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I had no idea what I chose due to my lack of speaking Chinese, but the food is amazing! I tried the seaweed noodles, the fried (I think sardine) fishes (the one more on the middle left side), and the noodles. Good flavor all around! read more

Very reasonable pricing. 3 item combo comes out to $6.20 ish comes with white rice and soup. One of the best value in this area. read more

Oriental Express Cafe - 3 item combo, comes with white rice and seaweed/egg soup. They threw in a free boba milk tea. - Chinese Near Me - San Gabriel, California

Got a one item bowl. It was filled with mostly rice at 90% and my entree was only at a quarter inch level. Green beans with chicken stir fry was mixed with older order of this entree that's been sitting out for awhile. There was discoloration. Canned color green beans and fresher cooked green beans. Tried this place once and that's enough. read more

I called them today and they said they are open until 8:30. And they are open tomorrow. I showed up and they closed at 2:30 and closed tomorrow. I love this place but I drove 2 hours to see them lie about opening times. Very. Very. Very disappointing. Their open sign is up too. read more

Oriental Express Cafe - Chinese Near Me - San Gabriel, California

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My brother, his girlfriend, and me woke up and we're craving some Chinese takeout and read the positive reviews on here and decided to give it a try. The quality & quantity to price ratio is outstanding. The meat was a little bit salty to our taste and some of the chicken was a bit dry but is expected because this isn't a fancy dine-in Chinese seafood restaurant. Their boba is actually pretty good. Comparable to the $2 Lollicup boba college kids always sell on campus. Definitely will be coming back in the future! read more

Oriental Express Cafe - Chinese Near Me - San Gabriel, California

BEST DEAL IN TOWN!!! I sometimes drive here all the way from Sherman Oaks b/c the food is SO GOOD and SO AFFORDABLE! More authentic Taiwanese fare vs. those Panda Express copycats (so NO chow mein or fried rice here.) You get three items, a separate box of rice, soup AND a boba milk tea for like $6 and change --cash only. My faves are the soy sauce pork ribs, the curry chicken & potato and the meatballs ("lion's head?") Lately, I've also added a fourth item: "Mah Yee Sawng Shoo" is the phonetic Chinese name. It translates to something like "ants crawling on grass or tree?" because it looks like that... Super finely ground pork tossed with the thin rice noodles ("fung shi") and a soy sauce based sauce. SO GOOD!!! Mostly Chinese customers. I'm an "ABC" but I like my more authentic Chinese food! read more

Oriental Express Cafe - BEST DEAL IN TOWN!!! Real Chinese/Taiwanese pick your combo (3 items, white rice, cup of soup, and a boba milk tea for $6 +change.) - Chinese Near Me - San Gabriel, California

This place is very authentic if you're looking for cheap and good tasting Chinese takeout. FOOD: The food is always made fresh and in bunches. There is so much variety to choose from and you will never leave feeling unsatisfied. The food is my opinion top quality and very flavorful. They have all types of Chinese food like Chinese Fried Chicken, Chinese Meatball, Chinese Curry, and various other items. They give you your items in one plate, rice in a separate plate which = BIGGER PORTIONS. Price: This place is always a STEAL. I wish all places had these prices. For a 3 item with rice, soup (not great), and boba, you will be paying around 6-7 dollars. For the portions of food they give you and the taste of the food, you won't find better prices anywhere else. ENVIRONEMNT: This is a place for quick takeout. The food is great tasting but I do not recommend this place for a date or friendly gathering. This is definitely the go to place for fast and tasty Chinese takeout. I LOVE THIS PLACE. YOU WON'T FIND OTHER PLACES LIKE THIS. TRY THIS PLACE RIGHT NOW. TRUST ME, YOU WON'T REGRET IT. read more

Excellent value; 3-item combo that comes with rice, soup, and drink costs less than $10. I usually eat vegetarian for health reasons, so I stick to the tofu and vegetable items, all of which are excellent and served in large portions. Staff here speaks limited English but it's never been an issue, just point at what you want. I believe it's cash only. Has definitely become one of my go-to spots! read more

i just want give zero star the food looks good taste bad cheap chinese greasy food would not recommend the boss of this fast food jenny is old bit** hope this cheap place close read more

Amazing deal, 3 item combo + rice + soup + drink for only 9.50$ can't beat the price on that in any fast food establishment. The only complaint i have is the food, it's subpar at best, not very appetizing read more

So cheap! the "boba milk tea" is pre-poured into styrofoam cups so the boba is kind of dissolving but what do you expect for the price. I usually get the smoked chicken or curry chicken and their meat is super rough, the bones are all in there and stuff and for this reason, some people don't enjoy this place. But they pack your box full of the entrees you pick and its a good amount of food! so I don't think i'm missing out on volume of food due to the bones. I'm not a huge fan of the fried items except the entire fried fish. That is soo good but it counts as 2 entrees. The other friend things seem to have too much breading or oil or idk, they clearly aren't using the highest quality of ingredients in these dishes and when they fry it it just makes me wonder more LOL. Big fan of the price and the volume of food and there are dishes I really like here so I just keep getting the same entrees. read more

I really dont know how it can be such a great deal, 3 items, rice, soup AND boba for 5 something?! I like how the items aren't Americanized chinese food. you wont find any kung pao or orange anything here! They have items you'd actually find in a chinese home!!!!! Great selection of items at least 15? Not only is it cheap and high quality but they give very generous portions. Excuse my language but they will fill that shit up!!!!!!!!!!!!! I watched the lady pile a big scoop into the styrofoam box then another then another. Yay! You know its good cause you see old asians in here, who usually dont eat fast food. Their spicy chicken dish was really good, quality of chicken was great, super soft and moist not rubbery and good flavor. TIP: if you want noodles then that counts an item and you still get the free rice. CASH ONLY. read more

From the location, you can't really tell it's a Taiwanese fast food joint unless you were specifically looking for this place. Located in the corner of a small strip mall next to the old roller rink. There is basically no parking, so park on the street. Super cheap Taiwanese combos that comes with soup and boba. What a deal! and I don't even drink the soup or boba. $4.80 for the 3 item combo and they have like 20 items to choose from. Cold Chicken, stir fried chicken, eggplant, squid, egg and tomato, bitter melon, etc. The ladies are super nice and the portions are generous. Do not compare this place to Panda Express, this place serves legit Taiwanese food. read more

Legit hole-in-the-wall Taiwanese takeout spot. My mom is from Taiwan and my family and I have been coming here for years. I grew up in San Gabriel and currently live in West LA and pick up a bento box to go almost everytime I'm in the neighborhood, even if I had just eaten (like I did yesterday)! For $5 you get 3 dish choices, a box of rice, soup, and a milk tea. I, for the most part, DESPISE TOFU, but I almost always get their Mabo tofu. The flavor and spices used are delicious. I've tried it at other places and this is the only spot where I'll voluntarily order tofu. Some other faves are their pork ribs, some pickled veggies, and this one dish I don't know the name of that includes soybeans/edamame. Their boba milk tea is not overly sweetened like most other places and I've always experienced good customer service here. One of my fave eateries in SGV and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for some good Taiwanese food, especially if you're on a budget! read more

Oriental Express Cafe - Mabo tofu, pork ribs, pickled veggies - Chinese Near Me - San Gabriel, California

I've been coming here for close to two decades now, and their flavors have been fairly consistent all these years. I always get their curry chicken and napa salad (涼拌大白菜), which was gone for the longest time, so I was very happy to see that back, but they don't have it every time I go. I typically stick to these two items and this bean curd skin rolled ground meat. My recent favorites are their potato stir fry with ground meat and this stringed bamboo dish. I finally tried their tomato scrambled eggs today, and I personally would prefer it to be sweeter. Their fried items can be a hit or miss; just avoid if they look dry to you. I love how the portion is always very generous. The only downside is, the free soup and boba are bland, but they are free, so I don't really weigh much on these and just ask for no boba. This place is in San Gabriel, an area where you go for authentic Chinese food, not an area to look for Americanized Chinese food. You go to Panda for that. Cash only. read more

If you want Chinese food fast, cheap and good taste! Look no further. For $7, you get 3 scoops of different dishes, a cup of boba milk tea, soup and rice. Whenever I don't feel like cooking, this is my go to place for a meal. read more

unblieveable review！！！ Super disgusting taste！ The fat pork meat make me vomit. Why people give hign rating for this terrible restaurant？ read more

tip: if eating in dining area, just leave the containers on the table because they don't have a trash can in the dining area. Lots of items to choose from, 2 item combo with boba milk tea and soup and rice for less than 4 bucks which is unbeatable. most dishes look very appetizing and not oily at all. Taste is okay to good but value is most definitely there. read more

For $4.85 (cash only), You get 3 items of your choices, and there are a lot of choices, rice (separate package), soup, and a boba! In all fairness, the soup is watery and the boba is not the quality to write home about, but overall a great deal! Its parking lot is rather small so you may have to park in the alley. Yes, I will come again to try other dishes. read more

I needed food and I needed it quick and cheap. Got a 2 item meal with FREE soup and FREE boba milk tea for under $5. Really can't beat that deal. read more

I love this spot! Servers are Very generous with the food and friendly, on top of that, you get a free Boba tea and a soup of the day! So yummy!!! The food is fresh and they are constantly bringing more food. It does get busy around dinner time, but most come and take it to go! I love the fresh vegetables, curry chicken and the fried chicken, they have some tasty wings as well as yummy meatballs, bean sprouts and steamed chicken amongst other things like pork chops! This is a must when in the SGV!!!! read more

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This place is heaven for people like who's been deprived of cheap Chinese food during my college years! You can get a full on meal (maybe two if you're a light eater) for $4.60!! Can we say "WOW"? Variety is wide but they appear to serve the same stuff everyday. Your meal comes with soup and a boba drink. Another restaurant down the street opened just to compete with them with little success. Definitely a place I come back to time and time again but not a place where I would bring a date or anything like that. Parking is tough during lunch hours. Food: 3 Service: 2 Environment: 1 Price: 5 read more

This place is right next to MTG Deals and reminds me of a panda express that is actually run by chinese people. For less than $5 you can get a packed 2 item combo with soup and drink. For $6.50, you can get 3 item combo. The food is tasty, the place has a bunch of people at all different times of the day and it's well lit. All in all, if you're hungry and don't want to spend a lot, come here! If you want more upscale but less food, I'd go to Nha Trang across the street. read more

The best place for takeout bentos in SG valley. The owner is super friendly and generous. We have been frequent here for more than 10 years.

Price is good & portions are very generous! This is straight up one of my favorite food places in the area.

Its ok. I mainly get the chicken curry or sweet sour pork (not the typical fried sweet sour pork. More like stew). I ask for only gravy on both dishes as I find the chicken and meat too tough and dry. The boba tea is always watered down. read more

3.5? I'll be nice.... I've actually had Oriental Express Cafe many times before, but never knew it because my dad had always picked it up. Now I know because I went here yesterday to pick some up for me and my dad. Typical small Chinese cafe with ready-made food perfect for takeout. 3 item combos are $4.60. I believe at Sam Woo Express 3 items are a little cheaper? I don't remember. I've had a mix of things, but my favorites are the deep fried tofu triangles, the chicken wings, the tea smoked duck, the bean curd stir-fry, the meat balls, and one or 2 other things. But unlike Sam Woo, they don't have pork chop with spicy salt. That thing is like crack to me!! Maybe because of the spicy salt, but still. Combos come with a side of rice, soup, and a medium tapioca milk tea, which is so watered down but hey, it's technically free and it doesn't taste like ass, so who am I to complain. And just like pretty much any Chinese food, it's greasy as hell. Cash only. read more