WE ARE IN LOVE we just moved down the road and this is the first place we stopped to grab some food. The flavors are incredible! Service was so awesome and welcoming. Shirley and Tim are so sweet! Best Chinese I've ever had, seriously you need to go try this place. Also everything is already made so it's a quick pick up, prices are great and it's darling and clean inside. We are already ready for another plate! read more

The food is flavorful and authentic. The service is warm. It is a small place. Mostly takeout. Hopefully they will grow!

Chinese fast food. I've been coming here for years. It's quick, tasty and cheap...and the owners are really sweet hard workers...oh, I always get the sesame balls filled with a sweet bean paste and they are delicious....so to all the bad reviewer's....I'll keep going back again and again......so there.... read more

See all

The food is always fresh. They have some of the best sweet and sour chicken I've tried . Their pork buns are too die for . The owners are friendly . Would highly recommend read more

Tim's Express - Mongolian beef, sesame chicken - Chinese Near Me - Scotts Valley, California

See all

Horrible service... when front women handled me the food, she tossed the food on the counter... also had a rude demeanor.. never coming to this place again. read more

Bland food and not worth the time and money. When they put soy sauce on cooked noodles without vegetables and call it Chow mein, how can you go back? I've got nothing good to say about the place so I'll stop writing. read more

bomb. the fried chicken pieces don't get covered in lemon or sweet and sour sauce until you order it. they're fresh and crispy. everything is good and it's super fast and the prices are good! :-) read more

Tim's Express - chicken, rice, and vegetables in a styrofoam container - Chinese Near Me - Scotts Valley, California

Stopped by for a quick lunch. Lady who helped us was very kind, I wish I had nice things to say about the food our chow mein was flavorless and had hardly any veggies, my broccoli beef was also flavorless & the broccoli was soggy. We will not return. read more

Although Yelp calls this Tim's Express, I believe the owners call it Tim's Chinese. This is a small family owned restaurant that serves food cafeteria style. For the 3-item special you can choose either chow mein or rice, and 2 entrees for a total of $8.50 (9.26 with tax). The prices have increased since the last time I was here a year ago by about $1. The special used to be $7.50. They also have special menu items on the smaller black board that are prepared when you order it. I particularly like the soups. This is a perfect place to grab a quick lunch to-go on your break. Some reviews call it the best Chinese food they've ever had, but I think that's a stretch. I'd call it standard Chinese food you can find anywhere there is a large Chinese population. Also the tables in front of the store are only for their customers, but I notice people from the other restaurants and shops casually sitting there and making a mess that they are responsible for cleaning. I overheard the owner casually mentioning it the other day, so please be more mindful and don't use the tables unless you are a customer and don't leave your trash for them to pick up. read more

Completely underrated and especially for steam.table. if.you want steam table Chinese it isn't going to get better. I came close to closing so I got a dish made to order and the meat and veggies we're perfect and the price was reasonable. read more

Worst Chinese food I have ever had. Big portions, but just terrible! Had to throw out. Don't recommend to anyone who wants better Chinese food. read more

I've been to Tim's once before, and driving through Scott's valley, I could not resist stopping in. It's been almost 2 years since my last experience and this one was just as amazing. Shirlee and Tim, have become like family in just 2 experiences. They made my day, by remembering me from my last visit. The food is absolutely incredible, the service is incredible. Make sure to check out this amazing family and establishment. The food they prepare, will not disappoint. The hot and sour soup is so good, but the sesame balls, are my absolute favorite. Thank you Tim and Shirlee. Can't wait to see you again! read more

The food is good and the owners are really nice people. I used to go there often as a kid, and I just started going again with my boyfriend & he really likes it. read more

Tim's Express - a buffet with a variety of food items - Chinese Near Me - Scotts Valley, California

See all

For the price you cannot find better Chinese to go in the Santa Cruz mountains. Some of their dishes can be a little hit or miss but for less than $7 you get two entree selections and chow mein or fried rice (or half-and-half!) Food: -Chow mein is always delicious and exactly what I want from my noodles -Their kung pow chicken is a little disappointing only because it has little to no heat -Sweet and sour pork is the best thing they have always has a nice crunch and the sauce is not too heavy like other places (cough Panda cough cough) -Beef and broccoli is loaded with huge pieces of meat -The tofu and eggplant is probably the second best option, the tofu is always cooked perfectly Atmosphere: It's a rather small place but a couple cozy tables if you want to eat it there, but for the price just grab a plate (or medium entree) and go home and enjoy Wait: You never have to wait for the to-go food, and I've never waited more than 5 minutes or so for a medium or large entree Overall: If you're looking for a reasonably priced delicious Chinese this is your place read more

Tim's Express - Chow mein, kung pow chicken, and sweet-sour pork ($6.75) - Chinese Near Me - Scotts Valley, California

Best FRESH wonton soup in town. also, look at the MENU, you don't have to order a premade meal. you can get lots of good things made fresh in front of you. we love the spicy eggplant, the green bean chicken, potstickers and THE SOUP. we have been coming for years and whenever anyone is sick at home we have wonton soup from tims. just like home. read more

Horrible food and horrible service! The gentleman working there, maybe the owner, has no clue about customer service! So rude! The meat tasted like alley cat and the veggies were mushy! Save yourself time and money and go somewhere else! read more

I give this place a 2 star because of there creativity. On the other hand the food is like eatin garbage from the trash. Chow mien tasted like cardboard and everything else was super soggy. :/ Oh well. Waste of $20 and i recommend that this food be fed to the cows or wild boar. :\ read more

Postive: Served up food quickly Ambiance was quiet and calm Owners remembered regulars names, orders and family matters Negitive: Food looked like it was sitting in trays all day Food was overall very dissatisfactory Chow Mein tasted like Dollar Tree PASTA with butter Fried Rice was dry/crunchy, with CANNED veggies, & no seasoning DIET COKE WAS 6 EXPIRED! Female owner would not refund my soda When asked for a full entree refund (only ate two bites of entree), Female Owner told me she COULD NOT do it and then cussed at me in her foreign language read more

i've been going to Tim's for years, my father brought my family and i a long time ago when i was younger and the owners knew him. anytime i want to have chinese food i always want to get TIms they make the best food here. i always get the sweet and sour pork with chow mein and rice i really recommend coming here and giving it a try. You will not regret it, the people working here are very nice and cool people. read more

I've been going to Tim's for some time now, I'd say at least 7 years at this point! I'm always greeted warmly by name and with a smile by Shirley. Overall: Cheap, fantastic food but only when it's fresh, fast service, lovely staff, very close parking, tables to eat there, frequent diner cards, custom meals, large portions, heavy and greasy food. Not I or anyone I know has *EVER* been sick from this place, and that means a lot in a cheap chinese restaurant! They also advertise "strictly NO MSG" here, and that's probably a large reason why people don't think some of the items are "flavorful". Because of that, I want to speak about the food's style and flavor, as you can see from the other reviews, the taste is not for everyone. I would argue that it's *not* simply low-quality or poorly-cooked, it's merely "American Chinese Food" style. More traditional Chinese food is better off gotten across the way at "Scotts Valley Chinese". What I mean by that, is that the meat food is heavy on sauces, grease, and the meat itself, and is cooked in a much heartier style than many chinese places. The Chow Mein is fried in an oil that gives it a different taste than most other places, and it tends to be lighter and more full of cabbage than your average place as well. The fried rice, I admit, isn't top notch after it's been sitting a bit, but when it's fresh its lovely. They don't oversaturate either of them in soy sauce like most places (which is why people might say they're "tasteless"), and let you do that yourself (which I appreciate, as I prefer to leave the soy sauce off), by either using the jars they have out on the tables, or the packets they give out with every meal. This trend continues through most of their foods, and honestly, I like it. It gives me the choice of flavor and I take advantage of it every time. I admit I am not very adventurous with the menu here, as I've found what I believe is my favorite meal and tend not to deviate much from that when I order (Which is a shame, because they advertise heavily around being able to make you almost anything you request). However, I find that the food is solidly decent all-around. Rarely, if Shirley's in a hurry, small things (such as potstickers, egg rolls, pork buns, etc.) can sometimes still be cold from the fridge they keep them in. If you tell her though, she always corrects the mistake, so don't be afraid to speak up! For my entire list of individual menu item reviews, go here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19icXqva-KxiqSk38j_6El0dgVv4SwIiRpH3BfE6niuI/edit?hl=en_US&authkey=CIe4-NwN My personal favorite order is the 3-Item combo off the buffet with: - Half/half Chow Mein and Rice (yes, you can do that!) - Sesame Chicken - Sweet and Sour Chicken. Always comes to $6.57, which really can't be beat for the amount you get in the container! All in all, definitely stop in if you like greasy, hearty american-style chinese food served with a smile and a "thank you!" quickly and for cheap! read more

Old greasy/soggy Chinese food from a buffet tray. Only good thing on the menu is the hot and sour soup and the crab puffs. Avoid this place -- you've been warned! I didn't listen to previous bad reviews... I should have! read more

The service here is great and the staff is incredibly friendly, but the food is bland. The chow mien is just noodles with a splash of soy sauce. Cheap, but tastes like it too. Unfortunately, I really wanted to like it, and the service really is good. read more

Whenever I'm heading to Santa Cruz (or that way), I have to stop by Tim's. The food is great, price is cheap, and owner---Shirley and Tim---are just the sweetest! Shirley is that kind of Chinese mother who would give you tons of food, watch you eat and constantly ask: "You want more? Do you have enough?" Honestly, there is mostly so-called America Chinese food here. But, very tasty! I love "Kung Pao Chicken", "Mongolian Beef", "Eggplants" (new dish), and "Walnut Prawns" are to die for!! Tim would cook something special all the time, it's definitely worthy to try. For those who are not happy with the food. Just tell them, and have them to make you the other one, fresh one. Or exchange different dish. They really care about the customers and the business. They did a serious renovation last year. The place looks updated and beautiful! Not only that, they got some new dishes. Shirley told me, they buy more expensive meat to improve the quality of the food as well. They are really trying! read more

Tim's Chinese. I didn't realize it was called Tim's EXPRESS until reading it here. But, it really is express... I have had many a lunch here. And you know what? I love it! OK so it's definitely not a dinner date type place, but when did they try to be that way? Most the food is already prepared, ready to be scooped onto a plate and served. That's how they roll at Tim's, speedy delivery. There are 2 tables, so hint hint - this is a lunch or to-go type place, duh. And when I'm looking for fast greasy Chinese food to cure my Monday hangover so I can get through work? Tim pulls through, pulls me through. Plus, the lady (Tims wife?) at the counter is the friendliest ever, and is extremely generous with the portions. I mean extremely. I could probably split my ONE meal into two, but I was raised with that whole "finish your plate" mentality (Italians....) so every last bit goes down the hatch. You know, that finish your plate mentality is stupid, I wish I didn't have that. But, that's for another website, or something. Anyhoo - you want fast, affordable, delicious chinese food - go to tims. You want gourmet chinese food to impress your date, go somewhere else. I love you Tim. read more

I've tried hot sour soup from Chef Liu, ABC Chinese, and Scott's Valley Chinese Cuisine and they all suck compared to Tim's. (Though you'd never guess based on the Yelp reviews.) If you like your hot sour soup with the perfect balance of vinegary sour and enough spicy to have to wipe your nose halfway through, then come straight here. Note: There's no meat in their soup and it's a bit on the sweeter side. read more

I remember coming here when Tim was behind Tim's Express. The kids from around the corner would come for their rice with sweet & sour sauce over rice. A small little place that made to go Chinese food. It has been a few years now. read more

Poor quality food... Made me sick. Meat are like plastic. Veggies have no taste, the sauce is gross... Service is really average. Not recommended. Better to spend a bit more for better quality. read more

The people who work here are very friendly and service was great. However, the food is not. I wish I could say that it was delicious but it just isn't. The chow mein was bland and so was the kung pao chicken. I was disappointed since I had been craving chinese food for such a long time and since it's nearby I thought I would try it. I think I will stick with Panda Express. read more

My favorite quick Chinese food in SV. The owners are ALWAYS happy to see their customers. They give tons of food for the cost and will make dishes fresh to order even though there is the same dish in the hot pans. I don't find their food to be greasy. The meat is tender and the veggies are perfectly cooked, with a little crunch. And they don't use MSG to season their dishes. If you talk to them, you'll find out that these family owners live in SF and drive here every day to make a living. read more

Met a friend for a quick lunch. I chose the eggplant/tofu and the chicken green bean w/black bean sauce, along with the chow mein. Sat outside and grabbed the chili oil. The food was very good and tasty. My friend loves the sesame balls and ordered a few orders...they looked fresh and good. Recommend going to Tim's if you want a quick lunch! read more

Before I harsh on Tim's food, I want to point out how fast and friendly the service is. Prices are also comparatively low. That said, the food here is a cut or two below that of a competing chain's (Mr. Chau's Chinese Fast Food). The chow mein noodles are tasteless and the other selections not much better. This may not be the worst Chinese food I've ever had, but it's close. So I'd recommend Tim's if you're both a) extremely broke and b) very hungry. Otherwise, it's a no-go. read more

We went here for dinner once. My boyfriend describes that day as "a sad day". It may be cheap and seem like a good value, but it's just bad. read more

Owners are great, super friendly and the food is excellent for the price! We love the walnut prawns and sesame chicken. We are regular customers and would recommend. read more

Love the salt and pepper shrimp. The service and food are always good. We eat here every few weeks.

absolutely delicious! the green beans in the beef were so fresh! in fact, all the veggies were fresh! the orange chicken was tender and yummy, and the noodles were perfectly, lightly seasoned. I thought I didn't like Chinese food; we only ended up there because they were open on New Year's Day when everything else was shut. So glad I discovered them! read more

Of the Chinese restaurants in Scott's Valley this is the one I frequent the most. Tim and Shirley, are just beyond nice. Even if I'm not stopping by for lunch or dinner I will give them a quick wave while walking by. For those that may be familiar with the comparison I'm about to draw, this could closely be described as "a two-person small business version of Panda Express or Mr. Chaus". If you like that style of Chinese fast food, I think you will absolutely find something to like. You will probably also find that something to crave now and then. There is a slightly coconut flavor that comes through on their fried chicken. Love it. read more

Tried this place last week and was nervous considering the previous reviews. Thing is the food was not slimy at all... When I came inside I asked if I could try a sample of the meat and was given a fair sized sample. Just by the taste I could confirm a lack in 'traditional chinese' seasoning but also could taste it was warm, juicy and prepared acceptably. I ordered fried rice with chicken an some egg rolls... Mixing the chicken and rice created the right amount of seasoning I desired and overall I would give the two items a solid B+. This is mainly due to the lack of seasoning. The egg rolls I was not impressed with though. While the texture was agreeable the contents inside felt - lacking not only in seasoning but flavor too... a D+ in my book. In the end... I would go back and armed with my first experience... just skip the egg rolls.... maybe it was a bad batch? read more

I always get the wonton soup - definitely my favorite in the area! Large portions for a great price. Always tasty and quick!

Great food! My friends and I go there often and all of us love it!!! They have orange chicken which isn't on the menu and is SSSOOOO GOOD!!! The service is great and the people are super nice!! A little hint.. if you drop your coin change into the tip jar in front of the woman they will HOOK YOU UP!! read more

My new favorite is the sesame chicken with the chow mein. A perfect yin and yang of flavor. Throw a little eggplant on it too and it's heaven. read more