I ordered take-out on a Sunday night and was very impressed with Uncle Yu's speed and efficiency. Despite their busy schedule, they still had my order ready precisely within their 15 minute timeframe. They also took the time to be friendly and pleasant. I haven't explored the menu too much, but their egg rolls are great. I was a bit disappointed with the fried rice and crispy chicken (the dishes could use more of a kick for my taste). With that said, I did like the food enough to want to go back and branch out in the future. read more

American Chinese food at it's best. I just had the lunch special. Mongolian beef with rice in the side. Soup and steamed vegetables. It was perfect. A good brown sauce and served with a smile. I asked and my waitress was Ping. She worked hard to make this a very pleasant experience. A reasonable lunch at $14.00 plus tip included tea and a fortune cookie. I will be back soon! read more

Ordered carry out today and food was very bland and no flavor. Pot stickers were a little undercooked. Mu shu was tasteless. Even fried rice boring. They appear to use nice fresh ingredients, but very bland. Disappointing. Won't be going back. read more

My coworker RAVES about this place. I finally decided to go with her, as she's been asking us to go for a week or so. When I walked in, I was impressed with the restaurant decor. However, the smell wasn't too appetizing. It smelled like an Asian supermarket. You know, that fishy smell? I grew up on that smell, as I'm Filipino, however I didn't expect it from this restaurant. When I sat down, I noticed the special. It was roughy. That was the source of the smell. I knew for sure that I wasn't ordering it! I have to say, the crabmeat puffs are quite tasty. However, there was hardly any crab meat. All I mostly tasted was cheese. It was good, but I expected more crab, less cheese. They weren't too oily and were very crunchy. By the way, they are wontons... if you look for wontons on the appetizer menu you won't find them... they're disguised as crabmeat puffs. I ordered the prawns with assorted vegetables. I was pleased at the presentation. However, the rice - the rice was D R Y! I ordered steamed rice... they could have added a bit more water to the rice while cooking. Can I get some moisture with my rice please? It was gross so I didn't even touch it. I felt like I was eating over priced Panda Express or Pick Up Stix. Another gripe I have is that the busboys moved dishes off our table too quick, and I constantly had busboy arms in my face while I was eating. My coworkers eat faster than I do, and as soon as they pushed their plate forward as in "I'm done," the busboys came running and grabbed the plates around me... while I'm still eating. I was also trying to have a convo with my coworker infront of me, and I was very annoyed because I had to keep talking around busboy arms. The service was okay. I can't complain. However, with the mixture of the smell, the terrible steamed rice, and busboy arms, I don't see myself going back. I don't know see what is so great about this place, and I won't be highly recommending it to anyone. read more

Went for dinner with a group of friends. We shared potstickers as an appetizer and wonton soup, all tasty. I ordered prawn fried rice. Points deducted as they were unable to honor my request to have my fried rice made with brown rice and egg whites. I would have paid more for the special order. The group seemed to enjoy the food. Overall ok chinese cuisine. Still nothing to write home about. read more

Great food, decor is a little dull but the food and service is top notch

While the menu is pretty basic, the food is very good. Fresh, high quality ingredients, well prepared. About as good as you get for Chinese on the east side of the Caldecott. read more

After more than 25 years of going to Uncle Yu's I have probably had my last meal there. I did not write anything from our last 3 trips to our favorite Chinese, but as they have been getting progressively worse, tonight was it and prompted this review. The hot and sour soup lacked the vinegar or the peppers to make it either hot or sour. Dirty dishwater rather than our favorite soup. It was lacking the mushrooms and tofu that have been a staple of the soup oh these many years, The Crispy Chicken nuggets lacked flavor and the water chestnuts were thrown on top like an afterthought. The Beef Chow Fun was as good as usual but the Peking Spareribs were lacking sauce and seemed overly fried. The past 2 other visits (both at lunch) were poor service, mediocre food and the take out lunch wasn't worth eating. I don't know if they have changed owners or have a new kitchen staff that have not been trained properly, but this is not the Uncle Yu's we have loved for so many years. None of the staff tonight looked familiar either. It was a good run, but time to find somewhere new to go. read more

I've been eating at Uncle Yu's for 15 years and have never been disappointed. We usually get take out, which is fantastic, but eating in is even better. The Flaming appetizer platter is SO good (even though its more like a meal than an appetizer!). I LOVE the homestyle bean curds. Egg fu yung is amazing as well. And the atmosphere is always classy and super friendly. Best Chinese in Lafayette for sure! read more

clean and relatively friendly. food was edible but about all I could say about it. staff is a little overly attentive, felt a little stifling. read more

It's really not all that...certainly not worthy of five stars. Having said that, we just had take out tonight as a change from the Christmas food. We like the fried rice and the chow mein. Kung Po chicken is also pretty good. Pluses are: the restaurant is close to our house, the food is clean, fresh and not greasy. Negatives: It's more expensive than other places, not crazy about the eggs rolls or mu shu pork. I've had better elsewhere. The menu is not great across the board. People complain about the parking but we've never had a problem picking up food. If it's that much of a problem, there's plenty of street parking and adjacent lots. If you choose to dine in downtown Lafayette, that's the way it is. I say 3 stars, not five because I've had a lot of Chinese food across the country as well as in Europe. Uncle Yu's is really not that great in comparison. Maybe it's the best that people have experienced locally, so that means five stars? For me, it's just not the best Chinese food I've ever had and I'd certainly never consider it a last meal. A cut above Lily's across the street. However, Lily's soups are better. Five star Chinese food at Heathrow (London) Hilton at airport. Super Peking duck. read more

Great service, good prices, fresh vegetables... we just love it . Favorite dish: Duck This is what you would call Chinese Food read more

So good! just had the eggplant for lunch. The steamed veggies are not soaking in oil and the brown rice option is fantastic. I feel like i had a gourmet meal that was super healthy. Good service too. read more

In my opinion, Uncle Yu's was once one of the best Chinese Food restaurants in the Walnut Creek - Lamorinda area. It's been two or three years since I've been there, but oh my goodness.....the food quality has put them near the bottom of the area's quality, with prices still at a premium. After decorating the Christmas tree, decided to treat the family with some "upscale" and reasonably "authentic" chinese food; Take-out for four with five dishes (4 from their "specialties") was $101 and change! Was looking forward to some of the historically great food......OMG! : - ( Personal ratings on 1 to 5 stars Sizzling Rice soup - 2 - Bland and Rice was not properly prepared. Hong Kong Noodles, crispy - 2 - However, still kind of bland. Mongolian Lamb - 1 - I LOVE lamb...this was tough and was under seasoned! Orange Chicken - 1minus - you've got to be kidding me; long human hair found in the food, overcooked to the point of dryness and toughness, never mind the lack of flavor. Even Panda Express would have been a better bet! Honey Walnut Prawns - 1 - No Flavor, lacking sauce, prawn texture was awful, and walnuts were barely sweetened. Peking Duck - 3 - Tough dish for takeout, but for the price, not up to standard. Duck a bit under crispy; would have preferred buns to pancakes. If these folks don't get their quality control act together soon, I expect even the least particular diners are going to abandon ship. As for me, I'm heading where the Asian's go! read more

Very good service, prompt, courteous, perfunctory. Excellent food. I am from out of town and wish I had been a little better dressed. Vegetarians...the crispy tofu is excellent. Best to eat it hot though. The green beans are also excellent. The eggrolls were super fresh, best I have ever had in a restaurant. read more

Our family loves Uncle Yu's -- from the dumplings to the sweet walnut prawns all the way to the full bar and tea smoked duck. We have been taking our kids to Uncle Yu's since they were four years old, and there are plenty of options for young and old alike. Our most recent discovery is the green beans, which we all had to agree are just exceptionally good (not mushy, crisp and flavorful). The service is outstanding, there is parking on the street (across the street as well as their own lot) read more

I absolutely LOVE this place! Best chinese food ever and i've never been disappointed! The food is amazing, environment clean, and the waiters very attentive! You're getting the fine dining experience for a very fair price. I always look forward to eating here! Btw, their honey walnut prawns, spring rolls, crabmeat puffs, and sweet and sour chicken are to die for! Thank you Uncle Yu read more

Very tasty food, but rude management. We spent over $1000 and were treated very poorly. Will not return!!!

I always order take-out, but the Sweet and Sour Pork, Broccoli Beef, Walnut Prawns, and Combo Fried Rice are to die for. The potstickers and chicken chow mien are also delicious. I highly recommend for Chinese food - makes great leftovers, too! read more

First off, this place should not be cross-listed with dim-sum. The menu has a few nods in this direction but not enough to mention. I am one of those former Tin's Tea House devotees, adrift in wake of their closure and casting about for an alternative. This isn't it. Do I really have to go to Oakland or further to get good old dim sum offered up in carts? Having gone to Uncle Yu's I can offer a few comments. We arrived at 11:10 on a Sunday, having read the Yelp summary advertising an 11 AM Sunday opening time. We were informed that they open at 11:30, but they graciously let us hang in the bar until 11:20, when they seated us. Very kind. While waiting to order, and for a good 15 minutes after ordering, we were treated to a spectacularly expressive argument originating in the kitchen. OMG, I wish I knew Mandarin or Cantonese or whatever it was. Now and then the yelling was punctuated by thuds and crashing sounds, and we envisioned bodies flying. It was really entertaining though in all honesty a bit scary. Scenes from Bruce Lee movies flashed before me. After this bit of theater the food seemed secondary. The crabmeat puffs were innovative and good snacking but lacked evidence of crab meat per se. Steamed dumplings came with a nice sauce but tasted a bit "off". Honey walnut prawns, cliched though they may be, are a staple with us because our 5-year old daughter loves the walnuts- these (the prawns) were excellent. Very fresh prawns, and crispy. Mu-shu pork was fine, although the waiter prepared them from start to finish and I hate that. I can roll up the fixings myself, thank you very much. We also had a vegetable platter with bok-choy, baby corns, mushrooms and asparagus that was great. The food was good overall, innovative but didn't rock our world. Total for the above was $58 pre-tax/tip, which seemed steep. Service was perfunctory and a trifle slow although our early arrival and the kitchen rumble make it hard to generalize. Bottom line, we might go back sometime but our quest for a replacement for Tin's Tea House continues. read more

This place is a little nicer than Great Wall down the street. I've had some really good meals here. I don't care for their eggrolls - they have too much cabbage or something. I'd probably take someone here for a business lunch. read more

i just like it here. the service rocks, the ambiance is nice, the food is solid. the delivery is fast and delicious. i love the beef chow fun, mixed vegetables, tea-smoked duck... the orange chicken is growing on me too. less fatty and fried than you'd normally get. by no means the best chinese food i've had, but it's unlikely you'll leave unhappy (though once i was flummoxed by a completely frozen desert. i almost sent my spoon flying across the restaurant.). the best time: spent a super laid-back new year's eve here for their special (non-traditional) pri-fixe menu. the food was really tasty and the setting was cozy and intimate. read more

A Lafayette staple. My family has been coming here forever and we are and always will be loyal customers. Although a lot has changed over the years, the food remains at the heart of it all. Would recommend to anyone in the area. read more

I came here for lunch today and I ordered Mongolian Chicken and veggie chow mien with won ton soup. Excellent service, great quality and delicious food. read more

I gave Uncle Yu's 5 stars because I have not had any chinese food even close to this good in the bay area. I have been dining here for over 20 years and have to say they are pretty consistent. The crab puffs are to die for and the mu shu is phenominal. read more

Great food (this is not your typical Chinese restaurant food), excellent wine list and nice environment. I'm torn between the Lafayette and San Ramon locations...each has it's own personality and depends upon what I am looking for in my dining experience. read more

I like this place for lunch. The food is fresh and good. There is a good selection of individual lunch "plates". No MSG. The atmosphere is pleasant, the service good, and there is actually a parking lot. It is not loud, even when crowded, so it's possible to have a pleasant conversation over your meal. Prices are reasonable, too. It's a winner. read more

Absolutely one of the better Chinese restaurants around!!! Food was done to perfection and quite tasty. Service was friendly and quick.

Used to go here all the time as a kid, went back to try it again and was disappointed. Servers weren't very friendly and the food wasn't anything special. Go across the street to Amarin Thai or down a block to Swad if you want a really good meal. read more

My boyfriend's parents brought us here for dinner when we were in town for Thanksgiving, saying it was super fresh, non-greasy Chinese food. We got crab wontons and fried pork dumplings to start. I didn't try the wontons but the dumplings were ok. We ordered orange chicken (which I skipped but others liked) and gluten free prawns with mixed vegetables which I really liked - very light but full of flavor & the prawns were cooked just right. I would definitely return. read more

They have the best Sea Bass of anywhere. It's truly a treat. Also ordered their honey walnut prawns salad which was the best I've ever had. It's definitely upscale and worth every penny. read more

Unfortunately, Uncle Yu's seems to be subscribing to a low brow version of Panda Express. Save your $$ and head over to Panda Express around the corner, you'll have a far better experience. read more

A friend enthusiastically recommend this place for lunch. I looked forward to a new (for me) Chinese restaurant since good ones are hard to find in CoCo County. My enthusiasm was quickly suffocated when I saw the menu as well as the luncheon "Specials". I've seen the same menu at many, many restaurants and there was little to say for it in terms of remarkability. At least my disappointment was not disappointed when they brought my lunch: an artificially thickened, bland soup and a tepid "spicy" lamb dish. Uncle Yu's does promise one thing: predictability but at lease my quest continues. read more

This restaurant has an approachable menu that has hints of both traditional Chinese cooking and a refreshing modern fusion style. Americanized, but still very pleasing. I would take my friends with more western tastes here very confidently, without feeling like I have to sacrifice my own personal preference for more authentic food. and for anyone who thinks that pine nuts are not part of Chinese cooking, but cashews are: too much time at Panda Express. This is not a take-out joint. Expect, quality Chinese-American fusion cuisine and nothing less. read more

Just a good solid Chinese restaurant with fresh ingredients. Price pretty well for lunch and alot of flavor. I have always enjoyed their Chicken Lettuce cups, mongolian Beef and their Chinese Chicken Salad. Service is standard but food is definitely above average. read more

My family and I have been eating at Uncle Yu's for 20 years and we have never had a bad meal. Some of these Yelp reviewers clearly belong in that South Park episode. I always bring out of town guests to Uncle yu's and they never stop talking about how it changed their perception of Chinese food forever! If you want the same old greasy American Chinese food, go elsewhere. If you want an inventive gourmet dining experience with amazing wine and service, go to uncle yu's! The appetizers are the best part, and the honey walnut prawns are a close second. Everywhere else I've tried them it's like not even the same dish.... Greasy etc. Uncle yu's has it down. read more

Granted I came here right before closing.... Servers were rude- rushed me out. Chicken corn soup was extremely bland lacked flavor. I ordered the honey walnut prawn salad which actually was really good and slightly healthy. Next time I'm craving the salad I will come back but for nothing else. read more

Went here for lunch. Lunch specials cost $12 each, which i thought was expensive. Food was well below average, the vegetables served were not fresh and the meat was tasting like pieces of cardboard fried in oil. Not coming back. read more

Matthew was our waiter and he's awesome...friendly, great sense of humor and very professional. Really enjoyed the Mango Moose; light, tasty and not too sweet so I felt no guilt after eating what I call a "healthy dessert! " read more

The service is a little lax for the price but they do have a reasonable lunch menu. Good for large groups because they have a nice back room where its a little more relaxed. The food is mediocre for the price. read more