Guys... I traveled far for this spot. I have a lot to say too... First of all, I never found myself…read morein La Mesa until this place. As usual, i stumbled upon a Tiktok video of a young gentleman who got the crispy beef and salt & pepper shrimp! OMG... I just had to try the shrimp. They didn't have shells so I thought, perfect. Even better. I can pop them in my mouth easily lol. We arrived close to noon on a Saturday. Appeared busy with to go orders being prepped and customers eating but the workers were attentive any way with seating us. There is even outdoor seating, perfect if you want to bring your furbaby. We also were given a small bowl of wonton chips on the house to start. That was nice :) Service was definitely 5/5 for me. The young worker with the glasses was very nice and was quick with everything. I loved that she had the customer's best interest. Without her, we wouldn't have known that we can do the lunch special (I assumed because it was a Saturday, that we couldn't), or that an item not listed on the lunch special menu was included, or that we can sub an additional eggroll for the soup. As if her customer service wasn't already top tier, the girl is fluent in Spanish! We were shocked, but honestly, great to know for those who only speak Spanish, she's got you :) I also wanted to mention that there was somebody's kid hanging out but I thought it was the sweetest thing how he would grab candy from the front and gave them to customers when they were seated. The menu is big! Lots to choose from. We just ordered off their lunch special menu. I actually do not know the time frame for the lunch menu but we came on a Saturday. It was nice that they offered their lunch menu on the weekend. Currently, their lunch special is priced at $14.95. Comes with your choice of Egg Flower Soup or Hot & Sour Soup, Steamed rice or Fried Rice, and an egg roll. However, if you do not want soup, ask for an extra egg roll :) We tried both soups, both were good. Even topped off the soups with the wonton chips they give you. Anyways our order was: Orange Chicken, Salt and Pepper Shrimp, and Crispy Beef for the lunch special. Crispy Beef was NOT listed on the lunch special menu however, since I was just going to order an entree of it, the nice waitress asked if we would like it as a the lunch special. Yes, since you cannot beat the price for the amount of food you get. EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS! I will say, though the S&P shrimp is delicious, it leans more on the saltier side. But, your girl will order this over and over as long as I have a good amount of water. I love the flavor regardless, and it is crispy. The crispy beef was crispy and delicious too; great flavor on it. The orange chicken, was exactly how it should be. Order it if that is your go to Chinese food order. Eggrolls were just veggie rolls but honestly, not bad. Perfect veggie rolls actually. I would order these items again. Bottom line, this is now my favorite Chinese restaurant. Lunch Special is the way to go, amazing price. Amazing food. I will be back and I want to try more items off the menu!

Ordered orange chicken and salt&pepper shrimp. Both were delicious and I ate for 3 days off of the…read moreamount of food they put on your plate. I only wished they gave more rice on rhe plates and that they add some veggies in the fried rice. Excellent food!! Quick service!

The food is here is authentic it's amazing. Get the garlic chicken you'll fall in love, the entire…read morestaff is so kind and really is family owned. Shoutout to May! She always remembers me, this is real food, at genuinely amazing prices and the vibe is always really laid back.

The inconvenience of only taking cash. And the blandest Lo mein noodles I've had in quite a while.read more

I remember coming here once with my mom and wanted to come back now I finally can and it's as good…read moreas I remember service is SPECTACULAR Food is no short of heavenly it is so good the chicken lo mein is amazing The ambiance is amazing to

OMG so good! Best service & really diverse menu. Everything was cooked perfect and came in decent…read moretime. I love all of the collectibles and art pieces you see inside the restaurant.

I was absolutely stunned at how wonderful this restaurant was, considering that I barely noticed…read morethat it was there! There is very little signage and decore outside, so I wasn't sure they were open. The interior is elegant and spacious, and the wait staff is friendly and attentive without getting annoying. And the food! Oh my goodness, I haven't had such wonderful Chinese food in decades, and I've eaten my fair share. I will caution you, though - the portions are enormous! My husband and I were on date night alone, and each ordered our own entree...and the leftovers lasted us two more meals! It was really just an overall surprise, and we will be back several times, and we'll be bringing family and friends so that we can try many more entrees and share. I'm so excited to find this restaurant less than two miles from home.

It seems each time I go the food and service decline. I had the lunch special-cashew shrimp. The…read moreegg flower soup had no flavor and tasted like warm cornstarch and water. The cashew shrimp was mainly mushrooms, some celery and green peppers that were almost raw. There was shrimp but the large amount of mushrooms ruined the dish for me. I counted 4 small cashews. There were only 2 other diners so no excuse for the raw veggies.

TL;DR It's really good. Go here…read more -------------- I came here after a friend recommended it when I told them I was coming down to San Diego for a day trip during my spring break from school in Orange County. I was born and raised in LA, so I've had a lot of Chinese food growing up, and I wasn't expecting to be this surprised--but I really was. I ordered the black bean eggplant and the salt and pepper chicken wings. The wings are what they're known for, but I have to start with the eggplant because it completely caught me off guard. It wasn't mushy at all--crispy on the outside, perfectly cooked on the inside, and coated in sauce without losing its texture. Every bite had depth and balance, not just saltiness. I actually meant to start with the wings, but the eggplant was so good I ended up eating half of it before even getting to them. By that point I was already getting full, but I still made sure to finish the wings--and I'm honestly excited to take the rest of the eggplant home as leftovers. By the time I got to the wings, I understood why they're popular--crispy, flavorful, and super satisfying--but what stood out to me was how both dishes complemented each other. One rich and layered, the other crisp and bright. I never got tired of eating, which honestly says a lot. I even told the staff how much I enjoyed the food and they thought I was joking, but I meant every word in saying I thought it was comparable, if not better then the food I've had in Chinatown in LA. Really glad I came here and the next time I have a chance to come back down to SD I definitely will come back here and that's not negotiable for me

We found them on IG and thought this place looked decent. Service was friendly and kind. I ordered:…read moreHoney garlic pork, honey walnut shrimp, orange chicken, salt & pepper chicken, cream cheese wontons with their side fried rice. Cream cheese wontons were good you put everything else was just okay. Maybe I'll try it again one day. But it's not on my to-do list.

Called in my order and the wait time wasn't long at all. Service was nice, quick, and friendly -…read morejust make sure you ask for a fork when you pick up! There's no indoor seating, but the spot is handicap accessible and easy to find. The parking structure is a good size, so you won't have to worry about finding a spot. Perfect for takeout. I ordered the salt and pepper wings, and these wings were fire! Super crispy with the right amount of garlic and onion - they nailed it. Definitely going back for those and highly recommend if you're a wing lover. The white rice was just okay for me - I wish it had been a little fresher and fluffier, more like the classic steamed rice I was expecting. Adding some soy sauce and chili oil helped a bit though! But honestly, the wings made up for it. Also, cash only, so be prepared before you go! I did spot a flyer showing they take Venmo too, but I didn't ask - good to know! The prices are good, and it helps that they keep everything affordable. Overall, Chef China is a solid hidden gem for quick Chinese takeout - fast service, crispy wings, and good flavors that hit the spot. Can't wait to try the rest of their menu next time!

I love the chicken wings and the egg rolls we use the remaining rice with the garlic from the wing…read moreand mix it together soooo good

I rarely leave negative reviews, but our experience at Tasty Malatang Chinese Cuisine was…read moredisappointing because of the customer service. According to the restaurant's posted hours, they close at 10:00 PM. My family and I arrived around 9:15 PM, expecting that we still had enough time to order dinner. As soon as we walked in, the server immediately told us they were already closed. My mother politely pointed out that the posted closing time was 10:00 PM and simply asked if the kitchen happened to close earlier than the dining room. Instead of explaining the situation professionally, the server responded in a very rude tone: "Well, you guys can eat and order, but at 10:00 PM you need to be gone and out the door." Another employee then stepped in to back him up, making the interaction feel even more uncomfortable. I completely understand how the restaurant business works. I've been around the industry long enough to know that kitchens often stop taking orders before closing or that staff are trying to finish cleaning at the end of the night. If they had simply said, "We're sorry, but our kitchen is already closed," or even, "We can still serve you, but we're finishing up for the night," we would have completely understood. There was no reason to speak to us disrespectfully. What made this experience frustrating is that we never came in with an attitude or demanded special treatment. We were polite from the moment we walked through the door. We simply asked a reasonable question based on the restaurant's posted business hours, and instead of receiving a courteous explanation, we were met with unnecessary hostility. Customer service is just as important as the food. A welcoming attitude can make guests want to return, while a rude interaction can overshadow everything else. Unfortunately, this experience left such a negative impression that I won't be returning. I also would not feel comfortable bringing my family or recommending this restaurant to friends because everyone deserves to be treated with basic respect. I hope management takes this review as constructive feedback and reminds their staff that even when it's close to closing time, a little kindness and professionalism go a long way.

Ordered thru DoorDash for the first time with no big expectations. We were looking for good…read moreassassin chicken and looking at reviews on Yelp had seen this may be a good option. The food arrived super hot and fresh. The flavor on the chicken was just right. I was pleasantly surprised at the shrimp fried rice flavor. Sometimes the flavor can come across bars, however this rice had the perfect fried taste as well as shrimp flavor. I do wish there were more shrimp and rice. The price of the food was fair given the size of the containers. Would definitely give this place a shot and would love to try in person

I came in person recently with 9 friends. They were able to accommodate us even though we were just…read morewalking in. The woman was super friendly even though it was a little chaotic. At first, she said the order only could be done on 1 bill. And then later she compromised with 2 bills, 5 people per table. That was nice of her! I just had 2 coffees before entering so I decided to skip ordering Thai tea. But they had a large drink menu, of fruit teas and more. My friend had the lychee tea which was very large and looked super refreshing! They also came by often to top off our waters which was nice. To eat, I ordered the $16.99~, Cashew Chicken Stir Fry with White Rice. It came with onion, green onion, carrots, zucchini, bell pepper, and cashews. The carrots were beautifully cut, but a little too crunchy for me to properly enjoy in the stir fry. Everything else was delicious! I think this could definitely be shared between 2-3 people. It was a lot for me, even after a large hike. The sauce was flavorful and not overly salty. I didn't ask for any spice level, but I think I'd choose mild or medium next time. My friends ordered-- - $12.99, Dirty Fried Chicken: This had a blitz coating of lime, mint, and spices. And it was decorated with thinly sliced green onions with a side of sweet chili sauce. The chicken was hot and plump, not dry, and very much mouthwatering! Would recommend. - $14.99, Thai Grilled Chicken Salad: Grilled Chicken Breast on a bed of mixed green salad, carrots, and cucumbers with peanut dressing. It reminded me a little of chicken satay~ it smelled and looked incredible. I think I might order it next time, when I want something light and fulfilling after a hike. - $11.99, Cream Cheese Avocado Wontons (6PC): These came out piping hot and when you took a bite they were oozing. It was very creamy and when you dip into the plum sauce it's a delectable bite. A nice appetizer to share with the table. - $16.99-$19.99 (depends on what protein you get), Pad Thai: This proportion was manageable for one person. The restaurant used thin rice noodles, but it didn't clump excessively compared to other restaurants. The prices are what you'd typically see at a Pan-Asian restaurant, a few dollars more than what you'd want to spend. But these kinds of restaurants, in my opinion, are for enjoying with others. So, if you're sharing food and all that-- the price is worth it (esp with the quantity that is given). Next time, I would probably order one of their noodle dishes rather than rice. Oodles by the Noodbar has such a large and diverse menu so I would highly recommend coming in to try them out.

I was pretty disappointed. The guy at the counter when I picked up my order was a Rude guy, he def…read moreneeds to work on at-least pretending that he wants to be there, like common! Also, tried the chicken spicy dumplings, they were tough, not that flavorful either. I won't be recommending this place. They are also pricey $25 for 4/5 mini dumplings and spring rolls. Spring rolls were decent but because of all the other stuff I'm giving them a two star. Do better Oodles.

Yesterday, after a 3-hour hike, we were starving--me, my wife, my kid, and a few friends, all on…read morethe hunt for a solid lunch spot. One of my friends suggested La China on Fletcher Pkwy, and it ended up being exactly what we needed. We ordered a little bit of everything--General Tso's chicken, pork fried rice, spring rolls, Kung Pao chicken, sweet & sour pork, just to name a few--and every dish delivered. Crispy, tender, juicy... straight comfort food that hits after a long hike. This place isn't new, and it's definitely not fancy--but that's part of the charm. Don't come here for the looks; come for the food. Spots like this usually have the best flavors, and this one proves it. Shoutout to Joyce, our waitress--super helpful, friendly, and always attentive. She kept everything flowing smoothly for our group. We left full, happy, and already talking about coming back. No time for pictures--the hunger was real.

Soft noodle and egg foo young were AMAZING. we ordered for takeout and 3 dishes were ready in 10…read moreminutes.

Yum Yum!!! Finally tried this spot and it didn't disappoint…read more 2 item combo for under $15. Fresh and tasty. Super friendly staff. Will definitely be back.

Worst Chinese to go restaurant in SD. Everything was dirty…read more! Smelled like pine soap. Bleach. Should have walked out. Got the 3 items comb $20 no drinks. No soup While waiting saw the kitchen guy pick up cooked food on the floor while some raw meat leaking juices on to it. Food poisoning waiting to happen. I paid. Have one piece teriyaki chicken. Rest went to trash.. never again !!