This is not only my favorite Chinese restaurant, it's my favorite restaurant, PERIOD. We have never had a bad experience here and we've been going to Mandarin Gourmet regularly for years. At the top of my list of pluses: they fill your water glass as fast as you can empty it. The dining room is always buzzing but never overcrowded. Some of our favorites are Da Chain Chicken (for the spicy palate), the Green Beans, and my favorite, the Sweet and Sour Chicken. A friend of mine swears by the Honey Walnut Prawns. The only bad thing I can say is that we eat so much when we're there that we never have enough to take and enjoy at home!
(5)
Valerie L.
Mandarin Gourmet is like P.F. Chang's not as hip younger sister. The food is not bad, but not very authentic. We had a large party so we ordered one of the set meals which had many mainstays of your typical take-out menu: hot and sour soup, three small appetizers (spring roll, chicken in foil, and a fried cream cheese filled wonton), honey walnut prawns, kung pao chicken, general tso's chicken, tangerine beef, vegetarian chow mein, a mixed veggie dish, and fried rice. The upside of Mandarin Gourmet is that the meal was very affordable and the decor is very pleasant. Bonus points for paying homage to its former occupant by having a small Bob's Big Boy figure in the bar area.
(3)
Loren g.
BARF BARF BARF! My husbands family have been loyal customers here their whole lives. My husband is soo nostalgic for the generals chicken from when he was a kid, so we drove allllll the way over to have lunch here about a week ago. I ordered the honey walnut prawns/veggie lunch special. It looked like a combination of BOOGERS and SPIT were covering my whole plate. When I explained to the server why I didn't touch my food he looked down and said "ohh yea I see". Then the owner (I think) came over and said "whats your problem" I said it is slimy and taste very gross. He said "ohh yea I see too much corn surup" He offered to remake my meal togo but OBVIOUSLY I was so turned off and nauseous there was no way I wanted more of their food. He did not take the meal he acknowledged himself to be nasty off of the check. NEVER going back.
(1)
Eran B.
This place is great! The food is tasty and not as expensive as you think it would be. The service is quicker than many other places I've been to. It is definitely better than P. F. Chang's, and about the same price. Highly recommended!
(5)
Jacqueline S.
this resturaunt is for americans who like chinese american foods. We ordered a bowl of soup for 4 ppl. and the bowls were tiny and it cost almost 18 dollars. food was salty. we ordered a beef dish and the waitress told us it wasnt spicy. turned out to be spicy. pretty expensive.
(2)
Mayank R.
We went to Mandarin Gourmet after reading reviews on Yelp.. It seemed very nice when we entered the restaurant. We were greeted nicely and were told by three different people that it'll be just few minutes. The ambiance is great. I would give 4 stars just for that. The service was always with a smile, quick and courteous. Again 4 stars for that. We ordered hot and sour soup, and Da Chain Chicken. Unfortunately, the food wasn't at all we expected after the first impression. Hot and sour soup was too sour. Da Chain chicken, although tasty for too salty and the steamed rice was dry. I was thoroughly disappointed with food and would give only 2 stars. Hence an average of 3.. May be we have to go there again and try some other dishes. May be it was just an off day. Touche.
(3)
Annie C.
Yes, it is not chinese chinese food, but the only american chinese food place I will go to. Please do not be fool by PF Chiang! I realy hate that place, why do people like it so much? The food at Mandarin Gourmet is so much better and it is cooked by chinese people. Unlike PF Chiang! I don't know, I can't stand chinese food not cooked by chinese people. I can just tell.... Good ambiance, great food, good service. Our favorite: Walnut Shrimp and salt/pepper chicken
(4)
Colleen M.
Best Chicken Chow Mein. I love their Salt and Pepper Scallops and Prawns. I don't think I've ordered anything that I don't like.
(5)
Samee M.
We were recommended this place by a couple of friends who just moved here from Israel. I was a bit weary given their lack of knowledge of chinese food. But, we decided on a Sunday night to try this place. It was very very good. The chicken lettuce bowls are a good small plate. Their beef chow mein was just right. I didn't love their sweet and sour chicken, but that's hardly Chinese food if you ask me. The service was pretty good, we've been here a few times now and it's been a bit spotty at times. Some of the small plates are big so be careful if you don't like leftovers! Overall I like this place and will definitely return again. We even drove from Santa Clara, so that's pretty much a ringing endorsement.
(4)
Chan-Hua L.
Although this restaurant is mainly targeted toward Americans, the food is fresh and tastes very good. The restaurant is clean and the seating is comfortable. As a native Chinese, I actually like their food. True, the food is not very authentic, but I am OK with it. BTW, curry is not really Chinese food... One should go to an Indian restaurant for curry.
(4)
Laurin A.
By far my favorite place to get Chinese food. Maybe I don't know much about Chinese food, but whatever they serve it's always consistently damn good. The service is always fast and the hostess is always very polite. Some may say that this place is a little on the expensive side, but I find it to be very comparable. Some of my favorite entrees include the tangerine beef (OMG whatever sauce they use on this is to die for), honey walnut prawns, and the kung pao chicken. It's also very clean, including the restrooms ( a good way to tell if someone is "really" clean or not)
(5)
Kay H.
I've only been here a handful of times, and have enjoyed my experience here, especially on one particular night. That one particular night had nothing to do with the food, service or restaurant itself, but because of the amount of alcohol my friends and I had decided to consume on an empty stomach prior to eating here made this an especially enjoyable experience. Looking back, I kind of feel bad for those families with their young children who had to sit next to a large group of loud, obnoxious drunks. If this place was not managed by my bf's family friends, we probably would have gotten kicked out the moment we sat down. I agree with everyone that this place is Americanized for a chinese restaurant, but if you look at the crowd they are mostly caucasian. This place caters to those that appreciate good food AND good service. If you look around, you won't see those crude old men who pick their teeth in front of you and/or blow their nose on a napkin and later toss on the table, like you would in an authentic chinese restaurant. If you happen to go there on a night where I am not there being obnoxious with my friends, this can actually be a great place to eat with your family. I suggest ordering the lettuce wraps or walnut shrimp.
(4)
Elyse K.
I took my daughter to the Mandarin to celebrate a birthday. We decided on Peking Duck, salt and pepper shrimp and fried rice. We waited about 20 minutes and the waiter brought out a simple roast duck that they cut up and put the meat and slivers of onion into a pancake. The salt and pepper shrimp were breaded and fried and put on a bed of green chiles. The fried rice was decent enough. For the fake Peking Duck, shrimp and fried rice cost me $65. You can bet I will never return to this restaurant.
(1)
Amber L.
Let me start by saying that I dont really like Asian food at all, so when my hubby's best friend wanted to double date here on V-day this year I was not entirely happy, however at that point as long as they had wine and food I was up for it. First off it has a great atmosphere. Second of all, this person who does not like Asian food, now craves this food. I loved their salt n pepper prawns, honey prawns, mongonlian beef, broccoli beef, and best of all their crab and cheese wontons, ugh, I need some more of those!. Good size servings, great atmosphere, affordable, a great date place. I will be going back, I have 2 times since!
Fantastic American-Chinese food with real Chinese waiters! The service is a bit spotty, but the food is consistent. You can expect to wait if you don't get there early for lunch. I love that the lunch special comes with a tiny Chinese chicken salad and soup with your entree, and once in a blue moon they substitute eggrolls for the salad. My favorite order is the Peking beef, which comes in some sort of sauce that you just know is really bad for you, but tastes good.
(4)
Carlos R.
Service awful, food oily. Worst lamb I have ever eaten, chewy, rubbery.
(1)
Victoria Y.
It gets four stars for atmosphere. The food is tasty but a little pricy.
(4)
Michael L.
Clean, simple interior and is more fancy than other similar restaurants. My selection has been limited to what I know I like (beef), and I can't say that the food is terrible or out of this world. Clients seem to mostly be from local high tech businesses (Apple,etc) at lunch. Overall, nothing to rave about, but can't complain either. Service is ok and I haven't had a bad experience in my times going here.
(3)
Renee C.
Lunch great! I would go again. Sauces were much better than most. I can't wait to eat there for Dinner.
(4)
Sherri C.
Have tried the Cupertino location twice and found the food to be lacking in texture and flavor. The ambiance is nice, though. If you think I'm being too picky, try the Palo Alto location where I think the food is much better quality.
(3)
Stan J.
Went there last week again, after a long absence, just so that I refresh my memory why I stopped going. The soup and salad were fine, but the main dish was pretty sad. It's not that it was flat out bad, but it was definitely not something to write home about. At Hong Fu just across Stevens Creek, you'll get better food, more of it, and for less money.
(2)
Charlene T.
Good food, friendly service, never screw up. To top it all off, you can almost always get a table, even at 7 p.m. on a Saturday night. One of our favorite places.
(5)
Jessica F.
I love the Chinese food here! The honey walnut prawns are my favorite and a must. I also like the chow fun, pu pu platter and Mongolian beef. The service is good, you feel like you're at an expensive restaurant but for a good price. Takeout is quick too. I've never had to wait for a table.
(5)
Jennifer M.
This is a lunch time favorite of my aunties, so when she wanted to go to lunch and suggested Mandarin Gourmet I wasn't too surprised. We arrived a little bit ahead of the rest of our group, and though the restaurant was fairly crowded we were able to get a table as soon as we entered. Service seemed somewhat lax I had to ask several times for refills on my water, and it was over 15 minutes before a waiter appeared to take our order for appetizers. Given the prices and the semi-upscale vibe at this restaurant I expect service to be much more attentive. As for the food I wasn't very impressed with my "fresh catch" lunch special which came with Chinese chicken salad and a cup of hot and sour soup. The szechuan scallops were not tender and the sauce was not spicy at all, my honey walnut shrimp seemed overcooked and the sauce was off today. This is the first time I have ever had leftovers of honey walnut shrimp. My mom ordered the Mongolian beef, I took a taste and it was so tender and delicious. I seriously wanted to steal her lunch when she wasn't looking. I still like Mandarin Gourmet and will go here for the occasional lunch/dinner, but I don't think this restaurant is ever going to be one of my favorites.
(3)
O to the D to the I to the E l.
If you like americanized chinese food...this is the place to be. I love every dish they have to offer. I know I won't be disappointed. Two Thumbs and Two Toes up.....
(5)
ria p.
the best veggie chow mein in the area! the service is extremely fast and efficient and they are willing to make any dish just the way you like it it. try the sauteed string beans and the tropical prawns! they are not on the main menu but its delicious!
(5)
Markus R.
We used to love this place until my brother got really bad food poisoning there. Although the food is delicious, it is not worth the risk.
(2)
emilie k.
I love Mandarin Gourmet. It's close to work, so I go here for dinner often. George is the absolute best. He's remembered us since the first time we ever went to Mandarin Gourmet and is super attentive and friendly. The food, I'm not sure how to describe ethnic-wise, but whatever it is, I think it's delicious. The Pu-Pu Platter appetizer is good, and can usually substitute for a dish if you have 2 people. My favourite entrees are the Sesame Chicken and Hunan Lamb, and then after that, I like the Mandarin Beef, Beef and Scallops on Sizzling Plate, Mongolian Lamb, and Lamb with Green Onions. My not-favourites are the Lemon Chicken, which I thought was too sour, and the Crispy Scallops with Salt & Pepper, which I thought was way too salty. Overall, a really great place. I've been here countless times for dinner, as well as once with my large team from work. I usually have George, so I might be biased in saying service is fantastic, but the other waiters are usually also quite attentive. I definitely recommend for good food!
(4)
Jennifer G.
this is the favorite "chinese" restaurant with all the whiteys i work with. they love the lunch plate special that comes with soup, salad and fried rice (even if you order noodles! mongo carb lunch!) i mean SALAD...how much more can you americanize the chinese dining experience? ok, so we've established that they're not exactly authentic mandarin cuisine. but you have to hand it to these guys for knowing their audience. they do a mean lunch business...the place is usually packed, and i've seen people waiting around half an hour for a table. i mean c'mon people...there's a panda express just a few blocks down...no waiting and they've got the same general's chicken and fried rice combo - for $3 less!!! now, having said all that, this place is super quick, clean and well run. it's also right across the street from work and no one ever has an objection to eating here ('cept me...jeez, there's sooooo many other restaurants....) i'd love to tell you about all the different menu items, but all i've ever ordered here are the potstickers and the beef chow fun lunch (i'm pathetically predictable) it's dry-fried and tasty - but i'd prefer if there was a bit more gravy. the hot and sour soup they serve with everything always needs to be doctored with more hot and some soy to balance the sour. so, in a pinch it will do, but if you're craving real chinese food, you might want to think about heading out to cupertino village.
(3)
Kimberly L.
The food is good, but it is americanized Chinese food. It is a bit like P.F. Changs. I really don't like these high priced Chinese restaurants that serve mediocre Chinese food. I think I would like this place if they make it more of a FUSION type of Chinese Resturant than just making it Americanized Chinese Food. I guess, I am a bit critical of this place since I am Chinese and don't like to eat Chinese food that is so Americanized and Expensive. If I wanted Americanized Chinese food, I would rather go to Panda Express.
(3)
Travis J.
I agree with everyone that the food is a bit Americanized. I came here because San Jose magazine rated it best food and I wasn't disappointed. Excellent service, great environment, and the food was great! Will go to again. Will take friends there. I don't understand under rating because Chinese food tastes American. The food is good, that's all that matters. If you want authentic, go to China. Da Chain Chicken and Honey Walnut Prawns are awesome!
(5)
Andrea M.
Do you have kids? Do you even have kids about 2 years of age? Then this is the place you DO NOT want to go for lunch. My little one was hungry and we did not even get a menu w/o asking for it. The waiter seemed to be somewhere else but not committed to his job at all so we had to order more rice or some water at the 'front desk' Absolutely bad service!!!! Try Chef Chu in Los Altos instead. Great place, good food and always friendly and open for families no matter what age the kids are. They are not even bothered when my little one made a mess with the rice bowl. Enjoy!
(1)
Sarah P.
Very good chinese food. They have lunch specials that give you tons of food (2 main courses, salad, soup, fresh fruit, choice of rice and a cookie). Their prices are kinda expensive ($12.00 for a lunch special), but you get a lot of food for it.
(3)
Karen O.
Have never had a bad meal here..or bad experience. Service is always fast and efficient..food never disappoints me.. Ok, a little more expensive than most chinese restaurants but isn't good service and food worth it?
(5)
Ceana K.
Good "Chinese" Food. This is totally "Americanized" Chinese food - but it's pretty damn good. This place has a great ambience and the banquet menu is a pretty good - esp. if you have a large party. I've been her for my wedding dress rehearsal dinner as well as a friend's b-day dinner. I would have to say that my fav. dishes are the walnut prawns, the kung pao chicken, Mandarin Deluxe Pan Fried Noodles and their crisy eggplant USED to be good. But they put too much batter in it now. This is a great restaurant if you want to have a large group. You can have a great meal at a somewhat upscale place, without breaking the bank. Don't expect to come here and get authentic chinese food - if you're chinese, you're a minority in this restaurant. Come to the restaurant expecting good food - quality ingredients and good service.
(4)
Thao T.
I went here for my college graduation lunch and it was pretty good. We ordered several dishes and shared it via the lazy susan turntable thingie. We got fried rice, stirfry veggies, some crab soup, and my favorite walnut prawns. The food was really good bc I was extremely hungry and it seems pretty authentic so its a good choice if youre in the area and are craving chinese food. The service is ok but the food makes up for it
(3)
Anthony J.
Very solid, fast service and tasty Chinese food. Good spot for lunch. Always crowded (always a good sign right?). Parking can get tough.
(4)
Rose S.
Superb Chinese cuisine! My mother recommended this place and I didn't have high expectations, but that all changed at first bite. The meats were succulent and tender and the sauces weren't overly sweetened or terribly artificial tasting like usual. I highly suggest the Mandarin Beef and Sweet and Sour Shrimp. The Lemon Chicken was also very good. I had the plum wine, served chilled and sweet, which added a little something extra to my meal.
(5)
Dan S.
This is why I don't want to live work in the south bay. Overpriced, americanized, and generally uncomfortable. They should trade the wine list for a better chef and a large supply of Tsing-Tao.
(2)
yoogles e.
the food isn't spectacular or authentic, but that's not really what this review is about. i went here on two consecutive days. the first was for a business lunch with the rest of my office. since all of us are asian, the service was fairly attentive and friendly. i was impressed enough by the decor and service, anyway, to try it again again the next day with my boyfriend, who is white. then out came the claws. no refills. terrible food. a waiter that stood around and stared at us angrily. as far as i'm concerned, if you can't be consistently appreciative to your non-chinese clientele then you truly deserve the one star.
(1)
Toshinobu K.
I agree with many people before me who mentioned that the food is not Chinese food, but rather American Chinese food. What I don't agree is their rating of 3+ stars for this place? While the atmosphere is nice, food is decent, and their service great, this is not a place to find "gourmet" "Mandarin" food at all. The only thing Mandarin about this place is on the menu; you can find Chinese writings on it. I can't even comment on the gourmet part. An easy gauge for a Chinese restaurant is to see how many Chinese people are actually eating in it. For this place, I hardly ever spot Chinese people here except the wait staff. While my experiences are good here, I cannot justify anything higher than 2 stars.
(2)
Lauren W.
Good stuff, as long as you're looking for Americanized Chinese food. The honey walnut prawns are amazing... sooo rich. Good service, too.
(4)
Zack G.
Simple but classy atmosphere. Great service; food is served quickly and accurately, water always kept full, flexible with food changes/needs, clean. But the best part is the tasty food. Sesame chicken and honey walnut prawns are my favorite. I have never been disappointed with the food or the service and have always taken friends, family and clients there with confidence.
(5)
Miz C.
crispy fried eggplant in garlic sauce and pan fried noodles! im totally hooked and obsessed with the cravings to eat these things. great service, clean place, and not horribly expensive. good westernized-chinese is hard to come by!
(5)
Mindy T.
We haven't had a lot of Chinese since we moved to the Bay Area, but this is a close, walking-distance lunch spot, so we've been here several times. They have a great lunch deal, including hot and sour soup, salad with thin slices of chicken, and then your entree of choice. We like the moo shi (or shu) pork, with the pancakes. We've also tried several of the chicken dishes and crispy beef and have never been disappointed. I've left with leftovers a couple times, so I got to enjoy the meal again later. We've never had to wait for a table, never waited long for a server, and after you order, lunch is out very quickly!
(4)
Julia W.
Typical restaurant atmosphere, the food is darn good, especially the salt and pepper chicken. I'd eat there again ;)
(4)
Leslie K.
Great choice for American-style Chinese food in an upscale environment. The surroundings are clean and pleasant and there is a full bar in case you have to wait for a table (or wait for your to go order). The service is prompt and efficient. The prawns with honeyed walnuts are the best anywhere and all of the other dishes I've tried were good. What I like best about this place is 1) the food isn't at all greasy and 2) the sauces all taste different. Have you ever been to a Chinese restaurant where everything tastes the same? Not the case at Mandarin Gourmet. The only dish I would not recommend is the Chinese chicken salad...just so-so. For the best Chinese chicken salad, head over to Tao Tao in downtown Sunnyvale. All in all, my Mandarin Gourmet is my favorite Chinese food in the area.
(4)
Michael N.
Definitely agree with everyone else that says this place is for Americanized Chinese food. There was not an asian in sight when I went, until they seated us around the corner where there was one or two couples. The food was par, but not worth the price. Our waiter was a bit rude when we ordered because he couldn't understand our order, so minus one star for what would have been a two star rating.
(1)
Bakman B.
The service here has really gone downhill. They have one of those rude angry old Chinese servers and a hostess who doesn't either understand English or doesn't care about return customers. We had to go up to her three times just to even get her attention, and the waiter kept on trying to push their set menus which we weren't interested in. This place was pretty empty despite it being the weekend and Chinese New Year, and I'm wondering if it's because of their horrible attitude. The Mongolian beef tasted burnt, the spicy tofu was bland, and their crispy eggplant was not nearly as tasty as it used to be. The seabass was good but the portion was small. We came to celebrate a birthday and brought a small cake, and they snuck a $10 fee on the bill labelling it "cook to order." When we asked about it, they said it was a cake cutting fee, even though they had not told us about the charge until after the fact. Most places bring a small dessert for the birthdays, but this place had the gall to charge for bringing your own celebratory, cake even though they don't offer one on their menu. We will not be going back, and will be looking for a nicer, more enjoyable place to dine.
(1)
Raymond G.
i'll start with the fact that the food is great. whether or not it's americanized, i can probably agree to some extent. one thing about authentic chinese food is that they use EVERY part of the chicken, beef, etc. call me picky, but i prefer eating my chicken with all chewable meat. that's what you get at mandarin gourmet. they've taken out all the gristle, fat, and bones. the flavors are excellent in my opinion. my favorite is the sesame chicken and red cooked tofu. for veggies, the stif fried string bean is the best.
(4)
Aravind K.
The food is quite good and the atmosphere is very elegant and bit more upscale than your typical neighborhood chinese place. I've never had a bad experience, and the food has always been brought out quite quickly. If you go as a group, try the poo-poo platter. Their honeyed walnut prawns are also fantastic as is the three delicasies general style.
Really great Americanized Chinese food. Wonderful service. Cons: bad sweet and sour soup & no substantial non-alcoholic drink choices Would I recommend? Yes. Am I returning? Yes. And my husband wants to bring his mother here when she visits.
(4)
MiMi G.
Oh i love the food here. It was well executed. Service was great. I love how they served the food and they had clean toilets. The service was fast but they are not careful in pouring water on your glass. Water splash and doesnt care. Well maybe the waiter has a pretty hard day. Haha The beat honey walnut prawn in town. Soups are very delicious. The lemon chicken are very yummy. Much to my delight.
(4)
Katia K.
He says that is his favorite Chinese restaurant in the Bay Area, so of course I had to try it with him. We came in at lunch and enjoyed the Honey Walnut prawns combo which was super good! I recommend picking their fried rice over steamed rice, as it is like none I've had before! We also tried the garlic sauce chicken and absolutely loved it. The portions were on the smaller size, but the food and service was great. Looking forward to visiting again!
(4)
Veronica C.
The service here is impeccable. Truthfully speaking, especially for a Chinese place, their service is second to none. Our waitress was exceedingly polite and our food came out fast. The interior decor felt quite upscale, e.g. horse figurines in various motions sat atop each separating wall between the tables. I don't know if I like that though, since I'm partial towards authentic hole-in-the-wall kind of places...hehe. Food-wise, they've got a wide range of Americanized Chinese food. I ordered their sesame chicken and it was quite tasty. Although their overly sweet, glazed fried chicken did remind me of a chicken dish I had at PF Chang's. Makes sense as how these two places have basically the same concept. Pricing was pretty steep too, given that the portions were on the small side. Not really a place a place that I would frequent.
(3)
Marc R.
Mandarin Gourmet is a very American-ized Chinese restaurant based in Cupertino. I went to Mandarin Gourmet with two of my coworkers yesterday for lunch. I wanted to see what their lunch specials were like, and to see if it was any good, given its close proximity to my office. We went in and were seated rather promptly. It took forever for the waiter to come by to take our order and to give us water. I had to flag him down to come over. Understandably, it was busy during lunch hour (I think we got there around noon-1230ish). I ordered the Tangerine Beef lunch special for $10.50. It came with an appetizer Chinese chicken salad, and hot and sour soup. The salad wasn't too bad, and neither was the soup. The main course (my tangerine beef) came out and it was served with a side cup of fried rice. The tangerine beef was tough to eat - the pieces were really large and chewy. The breading around the beef was a little soggy. As for the rice, the fried rice tasted a little stale, and it definitely wasn't fresh. I could tell that it was mass cooked and had just been sitting there for all of the lunch customers. My coworkers ordered the General Tsao chicken, which looked a little bit better than what I ordered, so I might try that next time. As for my dish, I wasn't impressed at all, and the service wasn't all that great. For a $13-$14 lunch, there are definitely some better options in Cupertino. I should have just stuck to one of my other favorites going down Stevens Creek towards Lawrence Expressway. There are better Chinese restaurants heading in that direction (Little Sheep, etc.). Anyway, will probably end up going to Mandarin Gourmet again with my coworkers for lunch in the future (or maybe during dinner to see if their entree options are better than the lunch specials), and I may update my review, but I will not be going by choice.
(2)
Umair K.
Patrons would be forgiven for mistaking this for a dessert shop. We Came here for lunch (so we thought) and it was worse than we had feared it would be. The lunch special came with appetizer, soup, and entree. The chicken salad appetizer was overflowing with cloyingly sweet dressing. The chicken had seen better days and was stale in looks and deed. The hot and sour soup was mediciney with a muddy-swamp appearance. The entrees were so doused with syrupy, viscous, sugary sauces that the sesame chicken and schezuan shrimps needed mild excavation to be dug out. Even then the syrup sauces clung to them like an overbearing mom refusing to let go of a teenage child. Alas, even the garlic eggplant was not spared this treatment and was quagmires in the same high fructose high corn syrup. We had come in at 1:45pm and it was made abundantly clear that we needed to clear out asap. All the sweetness of this restaurant is reserved for the syrups and none for the attendants smiles (there were none on offer). The cook missed out on one item: the boiled rice escaped unscathed from the kitchen- so we at least had one thing that was not swathed in recently imported generic sweet Chinese sauce The fortune cookie said I needed to get away for the weekend to clear my head. If it had added "and mouth", I couldn't have agreed more.
(2)
Amy W.
Service was good, but the food is just regular chinese food, nothing fantastic, nothing bad. I went for a family holiday meal, so we ordered lots of things, from what I can remember, chinese salad (too sweet), mu shu pork, mandarin beef, lemon chicken (sauce too gummy), walnut shrimp (everyone else loved this one, but I don't eat seafood), and chow main noodle of some kind. I live in SF right down the street from Eliza's so I am biased. This place is not a destination place for me, but I'll go along for another family meal. The fried dumplings at another table looks great, but alas we did not order them.
(3)
Stuart R.
Horrible apathetic rude service. Not so good ... Nothing gourmet here. Tried 5 dishes and not impressed. No dessert. No manager visit to our table even though he was there. Do not recommend. And especially not an important business client lunch like today. Horrible and deeply disappointing.
(1)
Evan J.
The worst service I've ever experienced. The waiter was cold, rude and rushed us. Very disappointed and will never return.
(1)
Mandi T.
Wonderful Chinese Restaurant with a lot of Silicon Valley history. Little pricey, but worth going to. Fantastic for groups and families.
(4)
Kavya T.
Awesome service, great decor and ambience, good for groups, and most importantly, good food! Honey walnut prawns! YUM! Also veggie fried rice, garlic fried eggplant, and Kung Pao Chicken!
(5)
S V.
I love the atmosphere and service here. And I like that they have a separate vegetarian menu. However their vegetable chow mein is NOT GOOD. It was very bland and tasted like it had been cooked with meat. I do not recommend it. Waste of 10$. I however do recommend their vegetable delight. It's healthy and tasteful. Giving this place 3 stars because the service is good but the food is okay.
(3)
T. C.
When I want something a little better than Panda Express lol go to this place.! The service is great, attentive staff. . the dishes are good too! Always plenty of seating and parking. It is pricier than Panda but i think its worth it Food + Service .. i would come back!
(4)
Robert C.
We ate at the Mandarin Gourmet Saturday evening, arriving at 630pm. The parking lot was half empty, probably because everyone was staying home, saving money to go out the next day, Father's day. The restaurant itself was half empty, and we were seated immediately in a prime location right next to the window, overlooking the 8 lane De Anza blvd in the heart of Silicon Valley. . Great ambiance with ivory looking Chinese horse sculptures, tables with white cloth napkins, silverware, tea cups and water glasses with sliced lemons. We ordered the $18 Phoenix seafood delight, the $15 sizzling three Kung Pao Delicacies , along with 2 servings of brown rice $3. We had ordered the Honey Walnut Prawns in the past, and wanted to try something new. Service was excellent, with the dishes arriving about 7 minutes after we ordered, and waiters hovering nearby for our every need. The Phoenix seafood delight is the Chinese bird nest dish, full of broccoli, snow peas, mini corn, with shrimp, lobster, and scallops. Great dish, although the lobster was a bit overcooked, and not at all firm, but mushy. I love the crunchy vegetables contrasting with the seafood. The sizzling 3 Kung Pao Delicacies was chunks of beef, with scallops and prawns in a sweet spicy sauce. It was flavorful, and the beef tender, but in too large segments, requiring me to cut the meat with a spoon into bite size quarters. There were about 7 large pieces of beef, 3 prawns and 2 scallops, a bit disproportional. The beef and sauce overwhelmed the taste of the seafood. The food tasted good, but the serving size was average, and the bowls of rice on the small size. Pricey for the portion size. Even with the $13 Entertainment book coupon, the 2 course meal cost $30 to get out the door, after tip and tax. We would not come here without the coupon, as there are less expensive places to eat, with larger portions, such as King Wah and Ginger Cafe much closer to where we live 3 miles up the road in Sunnyvale. With the food quality and the ambiance, this would be a first date restaurant. LOL it was a first date restaurant for me, with a lady other than my current second wife, some 11 years ago!
(4)
Mike R.
I've been eating here for many years well more than ten one of the best restaurants in town always an enjoyable experience.
(4)
bonnie m.
This is the place I use as a standard for all other Chinese food restaurants. I still have yet to find another restaurant even close to how good this place is. I moved to sacramento and crave this place. Anytime I come back to visit or drive through town, I have to stop by this restaurant. My favorite is general's chicken. I have yet to find another place remotely comparable to how good their general's chicken is. Also it's rare to find a place that doesn't batter it,l in bread. Mandarin Gourmet truly is gourmet!! I also love their beef with broccoli, cashew chicken, sizzling rice sou, hot and sour soup, prawns, egg rolls, and honey walnut prawns. Literally anything you order here will be a treat and you will wish you had five stomachs!! Thanks Mandarin for consistently being amazing. I have been coming to you since I was a child and I am now 30 years old. You have never let me down, and are my standard for great Chinese food!!
(5)
Miranda C.
The food and the service was great. Nice size portions and good for groups. I had the curry chicken and it was delicious, not over spiced. Lettuce bowls for appetizers were great. The egg drop soup was a bit salty for my taste though. Over all was great for a quick lunch.
(3)
Rohan S.
Food was good. The waiter told us never to come back and treated us pretty poorly after tipping him 2.00 on a 15.00 bill. Service sucks. Learn manners !
(1)
Ciao B.
We were hoping to eat here on Christmas day and called ahead of time to make reservations. The host told us that they don't take reservations, so we just showed up. When we arrive the host asks us "Do you have reservations?" How could we make reservations when we were told they don't take them? We say "no". He then proceeds to tell us that he doesn't have room for us and won't have any openings tonight. So we end up ordering takeout. While waiting for our food, just 5 minutes later, we see another couple come in saying they didn't make reservations and the host proceeds to seat them right away. Wtf?! I confront him and he just shakes his head and says "I couldn't have predicted that a table would open up". No apology, nothing. I'm still sitting here, H-ANGRY, waiting for my takeout...
(1)
Tal H.
I've been going here since I was a little kid, and it's still my favorite place to go. The sesame chicken is amazing, the fried eggplants are delicious and so are the green beans. The corn soup is also amazing. There are a lot of items on the menu, so some of them are probably misses. But a good portion are delicious. My only complaint are their plates. They've had the same plates since I was a little kid.
(5)
Arien F.
Last time I went here was 10 years ago, and I live within walking distance. Went this past weekend, and remembered why it's been 10 years - the service As for the food - very good, so long as you're careful in your seafood orders. Non-seafood, you can't really go wrong - quite tasty, in fact! Seafood wise, avoid the shrimp and scallops, as these taste as if they were frozen. From other reviews, it sounds like my experience here with rude service is an anomaly. Maybe I'm rude? Entirely possible. My service experience (we ordered their 'gourmet experience' consisting of two appetizers, two main courses); we sat in the center row of the main dining room, at one of the small rectangular tables: - we ordered appetizers, but minutes after these arrived, the main courses arrived as well. Not a big deal, but some time between the appetizers and main course is nice. Give us 15 minutes to enjoy and chat. But the real issue... - Waiter reached right in front of my face (I could smell BO) when placing every full dish and taking every empty one. No 'excuse me', no thought of going to the other side of the fairly small table...he walks right up next to me and it's an arm in the face, multiple times. - waiter constant hovering around the table.
This place has been a family favorite for 20 years. My wife's Argentine friends and relatives come and have to be coaxed into trying Chinese food (which is rare and unpopular in Buenos Aires). They have a meal they talk about for years after. Honey walnut chicken or prawns (if you like) is #1 awesome! Sesame chicken is great. Mooshu Vegetables with plum sauce (I call them Chinese tacos) absolutely great. And anything with the hot garlic sauce, broccoli, eggplant, whatever is fantastic. They accept the Entertainment discount book card for a free entre ( Entertainment.com )
(5)
Maneet G.
Mandarin Gourmet is a nice Chinese restaurant that has some great food. I've been here three times already and loved most of the dishes. The restaurant is pretty dead for some reason despite the great food. Maybe it's more lively in the evenings. Here's a quick summary of the dishes: *Pros 1) Salt and pepper shrimp- This has to be one of my favorite dishes. The shrimp are big and perfectly coated with a crispy batter. Amazing! 2) Crispy Tofu- Another one of my favorite dishes. The flavors are delicious and the tofu pieces are like little golden pillows of yum. 3) Shrimp in Lobster Sauce- This dish is great as well and packed with shrimp and peas. 4) Vegetable Delight- Great dish with a nice assortment of fresh vegetables. *Cons 1) Seamed Ginger Fish- I found the fish to be very fresh but lacking in flavor. The dish was a bit bland overall and had so much cilantro on top! 2) Lemon Chicken- I didn't like this dish at all. The chicken was way too sweet and just didn't taste right. Overall, I really enjoyed the food at Mandarin Gourmet. I would definitely come back for the salt and pepper shrimp and crispy tofu.
(4)
Alan H.
Everyone at my work (down the street) is completely obsessed with this place. We came here as a group and I was getting excited -- a good Chinese place in Cupertino I didn't know of? No... just no. This place serves heavily-Americanized Chinese food. And that's fine if that's what you're going for, but the Mongolian beef I ordered was overcooked and basically just tasted of salt. The onions on it were cooked to the point of having no flavor. My rice was dry. If I wanted Americanized-Chinese food, I would have gone to Panda Express, to be honest. If you're looking for authenticity, go down the street to Cupertino Village restaurants instead. Otherwise, I would avoid this place.
(1)
Brian B.
The food was pretty good at Mandarin Gourmet. We ordered a large number of items: Hot and Sour Soup (awesome) Crab friend somethings (didn't have any) Sesame Chicken (pretty good) Sizzling General Tsao Beef (awesome) Chicken and Shrimp Chow Mein (pretty good) Steamed Rice (Standard) Tea (Standard) The ambiance was nice and the restaurant was very upscale. The service was good, but abrupt.
(4)
GingerPye C.
We are here at noon on a Sat and the place was completely empty which was a warning bell. As suspected, the food is definitely not worth writing home about - everything was salty and doused in high fructose corn syrupy starchy sauce - yuck! I guess heavy sauces help hide the use of low grade meats and old veggies. For the pricing ($15 for pan fried noodles), you can find much better places to eat Chinese food in Cupertino. We were lured in cause I had a coupon for a free entree. Even though we had ordered $50 worth of dishes, I was told we hadn't ordered enough food to qualify for using the coupon (no language to this effect printed on the coupon btw). Not worth arguing so we just made a mental note to never come back here again. The service is good though - there were more workers than paying customers. I think this place is in business cause it's right next door to Apple; otherwise it probably would not have lasted.
(1)
Debbie B.
My review is based on a take-out order last night from the restaurant - I used to frequent the Mandarin Gourmet in Los Altos (now closed) and always loved their food. So I decided to give the Cupertino location a try for take-out. I'm afraid I was very disappointed - I ordered the Kung Pao 3 Delicacies( more like the 1.5 delicacies) - it was supposed to have beef, prawns, and scallops in it, but was mostly beef (which didn't seem to be of high quality) and peanuts - found 3 prawns and no detectable scallops. I would have taken it back, but Iive a few miles away. Don't think I'll be stopping by here again anytime soon....
(1)
Darrin K.
Like Taiwan Restaurant in Willow Glen, this is one of the better American-Chinese options in the South Bay. You're best served if you stick with staple American-Chinese dishes like Moo Shu Pork or Honey Walnut Prawns, which are mild but also rich in flavor. Those seeking more traditional spicy fare may be disappointed. Service is prompt and the restaurant is upscale and large enough for business/group lunches. You do pay a bit of a premium, but remember that this is Cupertino. Inflated real estate/rental prices beget equally high restaurant prices.
(3)
Samrudha P.
The food is great, but the service needs to be significantly improved. They still take and manage reservations and walk ins using paper so it is clearly unorganized and confusing to the staff. I had a reservation for 7:15pm and I came in at 7:10, I was told my table was ready and I would be taken back in 5 minutes. Then a group of 6 who came in after me was told 5 minutes. The host comes back to that group looks at the reservation sheet, says "7 people?" a member of that group responds "not 7, 6 people" and then the host proceeds to lead them back. Then we looked at the sheet of paper and they had crossed our name off, so essentially I had just watched my table be given away literally when I was standing there. The service woes did not end there. Finally once we were seated it took over 15 mins for anyone to come and ask for drink orders or even bring us water. Once the waiter did come, he was extremely brash and not very friendly, the order wasn't taken for another 10 mins. The food did come and it was good, but again we did have to tell other waiters and staff when we needed some sauce, extra napkins, etc because our waiter was no where to be seen. We had to sit around for about 25 minutes after we had all finished eating for the waiter to come and ask if we needed boxes. Just FYI the waiter did not even come by once after he set the food down to check if everything was good or not. When it came time for the check we had to go to the front and tell the host that we were done and that we needed boxes, the waiter was MIA for literally the whole time. The food makes it worth it, but seriously they need to improve the service and the general organization and flow of the restaurant.
(3)
Anita C.
Good Chinese food and willing to please. I placed a to go order and the man (I think he's the owner or definitely manager) was very helpful. He assisted me through the menu and helped me decide on an entree. The delicious: Hot & Sour Soup was killer. It actually has a good kick to it. If you need your sinuses cleared, have a bowl of this! The beef and broccoli was excellent. The sauce it's in is mouthwatering. Only thing some of the beef was a little bit chewy. The O.K.: The potsticker pork dumplings were way, wayyy, too breaded. The flavor of the pork was very good, although a bit too salty for my palate. The prawns with candied walnuts & cream sauce would have been much better without the thick, thick breading (once again). I would order from them again, absolutely, just modified a bit.
(4)
Scott F.
The tangerine beef is very good: yelp.com/biz_photos/mand… Probably not authentic, but good nonetheless. I don't recommend the Peking beef: yelp.com/biz_photos/mand… the sauce is a very sweet version of sweet and sour sauce. Stick to the tangerine beef instead.
(4)
Einar R.
This place is best "longer lunch" (i.e., wait-staff & appetizers) option for Apple employees within walking distance that I've been able to find. I very strongly recommend the "gourmet combination" lunch with honey walnut prawns and Mandarin beef. It's served with soup & salad to start, so it makes a great complete meal. If you're not up for beef, the honey walnut prawns n veggies combo is another humdinger - it's the honey walnut prawns that really makes this joint 4-star.
(4)
Marlyn A.
My original intentions for coming here was to hopefully run into Woz, but no such luck. The Restaurant: - White table cloths - Dimmed lighting - Excellent service The Food: - Imperial Soup: Minced Chicken & Lobster in a creamy broth with egg whites - Sizzling Beef & Scallops: Slices of beef, scallops and vegetables on a sizzling platter cooked in a soy glaze - Steamed Fish in Ginger: White Fish (Talapia or Sea Bass) with Ginger, Cilantro, and Scallions in a light Soy-based sauce - Brown Rice The Verdict: - Loved the Steamed Fish in Ginger! Comes in two sizes if you order the Tilapia or one size if you order the Sea Bass. Get the Sea Bass, perfect for a small group of 3. It was light and fresh. The Ginger was not over powering and the sauce was perfect. I drenched my fish in the sauce. It was so good, felt like a home cooked meal. - The Sizzling Beef & Scallops were OK. The Sea Bass was the show stopper. Don't waste your time on this dish. - The Imperial Soup was like an Egg Drop Soup with pieces of Chicken and Lobster. Was yummy. Not a necessary meal starter but tied well with the fish. Definitely a good comfort meal. Overall: I may not come here again, but it was a good dining experience. Would have loved to seen Woz! A solid 3.5, rounding up for excellent service. This is a great spot for people who only eat at restaurants with white table cloths and have little regard for prices on a menu. #397
(4)
Jesse S.
We've been here several times and always find the selection, freshness, and service to be excellent. The sauces are unique- our Lemon Chicken is fresh crispy chicken in a real lemon sauce, salt & pepper shrimp tastes distinctly of salt and pepper. Our favorite non-specialized Chinese restaurant in the area for sure!
(5)
Lyena S.
For years, this has been my favorite Chinese restaurant in the South Bay Area. The food is excellent and the service is always outstanding. The menu has a variety of dishes - beef, chicken, pork, fish, shrimp. There are a couple of dishes that I have never seen anywhere else. There are always specials. The reason I like all the food is that is it not soggy. The flavors come through and not one is overwhelming. Chow mein is my absolute favorite as well as General Tsao's chicken. I also order Mongolian Beef, Shrimp and Broccoli (comes in a skillet), and Tangerine Beef. Soups and spring rolls are outstanding as well. The restaurant has sufficient parking. The atmosphere is very casual. Love the decorations - they set the mood. There is also full bar if you like a drink with your dinner. I often order carryout. They are fast and never once messed up my order.
This place is neither great nor terrible. It's a little fancier than I expected, with white tablecloths and waiters in ties and vests, but prices aren't significantly different from other sit-down Chinese restaurants. The food is definitely Americanized, but not in the heavy, greasy way of a lot of places. The General Tso's chicken was not breaded and fried, but was good. Would eat there again, but won't go out of my way to do so.
(3)
Curt W.
This the one Chinese Restaurant that we go back to every few months to enjoy their Honey Walnut Shrimp and Mandarin Beef. We also get the full course dinner with it. To me, this is by far the best combination of flavors on earth and I'm not joking. We don't go that often because of the price of the full dinners but it's really not too bad at about $55 per couple. If you are looking for the best Chinese Food in the Bay Area, there is nobody that comes close. Enjoy!
(5)
Greg C.
Let me start this review by saying the following- out of this world amazing! As someone who ate here for many years before moving out of the Bay Area, it's the restaurant I NEED to go to whenever I'm in the area. The atmosphere is excellent; it's dark, but welcome. The wait staff is great; occasionally short with you, but for the amount of times I've gone, it's easy to overlook. Not to mention service is FAST! You'll be blown away by the turn time when you place your order. And then there's the food! My favorite dish of all time is the General Tso's chicken. The taste and quality of the General Tso's is second to none. Warning- DO NOT eat the peppers that come with the dish. You'll feel it for hours afterwards. To those that want the best Chinese food in the Bay Area, this is the place to go. I can't recommend it highly enough.
(5)
Vivian Y.
Great place for Cantonese food and dim sum. Loved the chicken feet, fried noodle and other small dishes. Will be my go-to place if I crave for dim sum
(4)
Anna H.
A Chinese restaurant located within walking distances from my boyfriends house and I've never heard about it? Now why is that? Well, because this place isn't anything special. My boyfriends mom was craving Chinese food and she decided to order takeout for me to pick up. Fifteen minutes after the order was placed, we arrived and our order was ready to be picked up. We ordered broccoli beef, chow mein, kung pao chicken, fried rice and regular rice. The chow mein was pretty good but had sort of a bland flavor. The kung pao chicken was decent but they put quite a bit of sauce in it. The fried rice didn't have much of a flavor to it like the chow mein. The regular rice was just plain terrible. Never had such dry rice before -_- The food here was decent overall but I prefer driving a bit farther from home to Chef Chu's to get better tasting Chinese food. Now I can see why this place had no Asian people in the restaurant at all! :P
(3)
Rockey L.
Great service at this place. Staff is very respectful and polite. Ordered Beef Chow Fun and the Sesame Chicken. Both were very good and good sized portions. Very tasty but a bit more pricy than other Chinese restaurants in the area. Either way its worth it to eat here every now and then.
(4)
Terb S.
I cannot tell you that this Chinese food was good in any way. It's simple and as basic as it gets w/ a flavor profile that's incredibly bland - which is an understatement. I swear that Panda Express is closely comparable. I personally would avoid or order a small dish and try. We are still talking about it - not positively - hours after.
(1)
Mike S.
Going down hill ! Management needs to steep it up. It is Nice place inside. Service was good but waiter very Grumby Food use to be much better. Could not even eat all the the pot stickers way to doughy. Sorry not going back.
(1)
Patty L.
First Impression: Chinese restaurant trying to be French with cheap decor What was ordered: Pu-Pu Platter (Spring rolls, prawns, teriyaki beef, ribs, paper chicken, crab puffs): 3/5 - Ordered this appetizer because of its funny name. It was an appetizer mix. Some are alright, some are not so good. Three Flavored Chow Fun: 2/5 - It wasn't flavorful and overall unappealing in presentation. Afterthought: I have high expectation for Asian food, so I could have been too harsh.
(2)
Shannon N.
I love this place!! Service is so-so depending on who you get but the food is so good! The scallops are my favorite.
(4)
Jess G.
Best Chinese food in town. Amazing fried rice and honey walnut prawns! My family and I always have a great experience here.
(5)
J B.
Beware anyone who wants real Chinese food. This restaurant is for non-Chinese who love a bland dining experience on cloth tables with cloth napkins. I should have turned around and walked out when I did not see any Chinese seated and enjoying the place. The food has no taste. Lots of corn starch, though. My spicy dish rated only to the first 3 steps up to the top of the Empire State Building. Unlike real Chinese restaurants where each dish is delivered hot to your table as it is prepared, the food at Mandarin Gourmet is brought out together, all at once; so, the food is guaranteed tepid at best. The vegetables were cooked al dente---good; the chicken seemed fatty---bad. If the food were anything like the ambiance, I would rate this place 2 1/2 stars. Alas, though, it only rates 1.
(1)
Alice C.
This is a solid Chinese place that looks like a P.F.Chang's but is a bit more authentic. They have a lot of Chinese dishes that you would normally see in a menu for any Chinese places. The soups come in a bigger size than we thought -- a small would serve 2 to 4. The dishes are pretty safe for a group of people, and taste decent, a notch better than a lot of takeout places. They also have a lot of seafood dishes that is a bit tougher to find (steamed fish, anyone?) The wait service is not super fancy but definitely better than your usual Chinese restaurant. I'd recommend this place for when your in-laws visit or for a coworker's bday lunch.
(4)
Ozzy D.
The food was fantastic and the service couldn't be any better.I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who hasn't tried it.
(5)
Jessica P.
Some of the Chinese dishes are good and some not so it really depends on what you order. Basic Chinese food in a nice surrounding.
(3)
Alison A.
Great lunch specials, and fast service.
(3)
R P.
I visit this place maybe once a year for the last couple of years. Was there last Friday evening. I've remembered it being better - food wise in the past. Decor is nice, pleasant, service is always prompt & attentive. This time we tried the veggie spring roles, Sizzling Prawns & the Lemon chicken The spring roles where made with a light touch, not dripping in oil, good bite but just lacking in taste unfortunately. The sizzling prawns, the sauce was more like gravy, kind of heavy and not a lot of flavor. it didn't get finished. My usual go to dish - Lemon Chicken was just average. It was missing the magic that I remember from previous visits. Don't know what exactly, just lacking. The sauce was good, chicken looked good, prepped good. Again just lacking Probably will be a while, check the yelp reviews and see how things are doing.
(3)
Howell S.
Haven't been here for awhile but I loved their food, especially the seschuan prawns! All their food has been great when I've gone. :)
(4)
Kimmy G.
Came here for family dinner for the first time. I was pretty impressed with their food. The honey walnut prawns was definitely a hit (thanks yelpers). The Mandarin beef was really good, and everything else was definitely enjoyable. The service here was great. They were attentive and on top of everything. The inside is nice too. It's quiet and has a good amount of room. If you are looking for a place to go with a group this is a good option. They also have lunch and dinner specials for groups. I would definitely be up to going to this place again and trying some of their other dishes. Until next time Mandarin Gourmet.
(4)
Ling K.
Expensive Chinese American food!!!! I cringe every time my non Asian friend wants to meet up here. He raves how great this place it. The other reviewer was right... everything has a sweet taste to it. If I want awesome Chinese American food, eat at either Union Chinese or Ma's Kitchen. Plus it won't put a major dent in your wallet and you'll get tons of food to take home. 1 Star for service. Always very friendly. 1 Str for decor. Tastefully done.
(2)
Melissa S.
Best Chinese rest. Ive found. Everything is good. The waiter I had the last time I went though was extremely rude and unattentive.
(5)
Krusty C.
American-ized Chinese food. The ambiance is nice, the food is only okay. We got prompt service on a Friday night, but the selection was mostly a dumbed down menu of food that appeals to the American taste for salty and sweet. We had lamb with scallion which did not at all taste of lamb - more like pork. The garlic chicken was unnecessarily breaded and bathed in sweet garlic sauce. The best dish was the briased string beans, which were accented with onion. It was acceptable for this American, but a disappointment for my Chinese wife and mother in law.
(3)
Mama J M.
I love the food at mandarin gourmet but what the heck is up with the service. All the servers and bussers are men which I find very odd and all of them are incredibly rude. I came here for lunch with a friend and the waiter was of super rude. He was short, distant and unwilling to help me figure out what to order my kids. The worst part, is that the owner was just as bad. Lunch stops at 2:15 I believe and at 2:30 we were the only ones left in the restaurant. We'd paid and were just wrapping things up, when he came over and asked us to leave. Really?? They serve lunch until 2:15! What if we had arrived at 2:15? Would we have had to leave by 2:30? I found it in very poor taste to ask customers to leave. My family and I eat mandarin gourmet takeout every year on Christmas Eve and I think I'll just stick to that. Food is great but I wouldn't suggest eating in the restaurant unless you enjoy being treated poorly
(3)
Dorene S.
Coming here was a last minute decision (another place we went to was full) so I didn't have time to Yelp. If I did, I may have ordered the walnut shrimp as it's apparently a favorite. Unfortunately, what I ended up ordering (lunch menu - Tangerine beef for $9.50) was just mediocre. The steamed rice that it came with was hard and dry, and the beef was tough and not very tasty. For someone who likes Happy Panda, Panda Express or any one of the express Chinese American food, this place is probably a little better than those, but one should NEVER could come here looking for authentic Chinese food. The decor is nice though - and it's not at all busy during lunch time, so great for business meetings that requires more private conversations. The waitpeople are also somewhat friendly and courteous. KPI (Key Performance Indicators) ratings (1-5, 5 - best): Quality: 1 Delivery/Service: 3 Cost: 1
(1)
Alix K.
I just moved offices from San Francisco (surrounded by amazing Chinese food) and decided to try this place because it had good Yelp reviews - yipes! This is the first time that yelp has steered me wrong. Way wrong. We each got a lunch plate (soup, salad, dish, rice). Soup was fine/good. Salad was meh. Both of our dishes were VERY sweet and breaded/fried. I tried to get the healthiest thing on the menu and ended up feeling nasty (and I only had a couple pieces of mine and one of his). Yes, I know Chinese food is not generally healthy for you but wow - this was over the top disgusting.
(1)
K G.
The management and staff here need to read a good book on customer service. During our last two visits there, it was clear that they just want to get the most money out of customers in the shortest length of time while providing minimal service. We had just sat down to our table last night when the waiter rushed over and asked what drinks we would like to order. We hadn't even checked the wine list let alone gotten settled in. I asked for a glass of Kendall Jackson chardonnay, but was abruptly told that it is not offered by the glass. Instead, I was told to order the Testarossa chardonnay (at $11.50 a glass the most expensive choice) because it was "good". No other explanation. He was rushing me into making a choice on the spot. Not a nice way to begin a meal. I presented a coupon from the Entertainment Book that was good for one free dinner. Because there was a typo on the back of the coupon that listed another restaurant's address, the waiter rudely refused to accept it and argued with everything I said. He never once offered to ask the manager about the situation or be polite and gracious in any way. It was not my fault the wrong address was on the back of the coupon. The food was so-so. We had trouble distinguishing the meat in two of the dishes we ordered because the lamb and beef looked and tasted the same. The Honey Walnut Prawns were spongy and had a bizarre texture. We won't be going back. No restaurant that treats us this way deserves our business.
(1)
Kaye T.
This is actually one of my favorite Chinese restaurants around the area. Most of the people who come here are employees from the companies within the area. I know their chicken dishes are.really good. I believe they were Kung pao ad tsing tsao? Lol. I really don't remember. One dish I will always order here is definitely the Peking duck!!! It's one of the most expensive dishes on the menu, but it's completely worth it.
(4)
Philip L.
Awesome lunch special - had the Mongolian Beef. I didn't finish it, but I brought it home and it was still good the next day for a snack. It was also nice to have some fruit at the end -- not sure if that happens all the time, but nice when it does. Cold kiwi, lychee, and oranges -- delicious! One thing that confuses me is that people seem to complain about the service, but I've always experienced good service here. They're efficient and the food comes out at the right time.
(5)
Glenn O.
I've been to the Mandarin Gourmet near Oakridge Mall and I believe that this is the same owners as their style of cooking / taste is the same. Ended up here for lunch the other day. Had a lunch special dish with Hunan chicken and mixed veggies. They use a very sweet syrupy sauce for most of their dishes and there is a lot of it. I like sweet sauces, but there is a limit on how much is applied before it becomes overwhelming and this place gives an abundance of it with their meat dishes. The mixed veggies has a corn starch based sauce which has a slimy consistency. It also does not look very appealing. One person ordered a beef dish which she could not eat. Too much sauce and tough... The interior is nice and the service was pretty good. But I don't go to restaurants based on ambiance, I go for good food. There are a lot of other good Chinese places in this area...
(2)
Michael W.
PROS: + Solid chinese food CONS: - Kung Pao is a bit heavy on the water chestnuts Found out about this place from my Mom. She told me that it was a good Chinese restaurant with a twist. "Twist"? What twist? So we went to check it out. From the outside this place doesn't even look like a restaurant, look like a office of some sort. The sign is visible, in English, but does not have an accompanying Chinese name. When you get inside, it super clean and there is a fairly large wine selection on one of the walls. The walls are decorated elegantly. All the servers speak English and the menu is all in English too. The only Chinese character on the menu is the character for hot/spicy. The lack of Chinese writing in the menu would worry me, but don't be this place is legit. Here is what I have tried and my thoughts. Three Flavor Sizzling Rice Soup - Nice seafood chicken soup with sizzling rice. Good flavor and nice texture from the rice. Prawns & Honeyed Walnuts - Shrimp is fried perfectly and the walnuts are candied to perfection. GET THIS ONE! Sesame Chicken - Excellent, very lightly battered fried chicken tossed with a nice sweet glaze and topped with sesame seeds. GET THIS ONE! Fried Rice chicken - decent fried rice, nothing out of the ordinary. Three Flavored Chow Fun - Nice flavor and stir-fried properly. Steamed Fish in Ginger - Traditionally prepared good light fish dish. Sauteed Asparagus - well prepared asparagus, no tough parts. Imperial soup - Fantastic soup with chicken, lobster and egg drop. Great flavor. GET THIS ONE! I have been here many times and I bring all my relatives from out of town here. I am never disappointed. The chef here is very good and the food is prepared well. I have only come here during dinner, so I can't comment on the food during lunch time.
(4)
Doug R.
Peking beef, green beans, and scallops are very good. I've been here about 10 times and have always been happy with the food and the service.
(4)
Tin S.
Sorry guys. Not my taste. Many people like their taste of food and this does not deserve a 1 star. But WHY. Let me tell why. 1) My first question was. "I want a dish which does not have any sweet taste". They replied that every dish has some sweet sauce. They said they will have us made something spicy - The dishes that we were served were more sweet than sugar. DO THEY CALL THAT SPICY. 2) They were busy and not listen to anything that we say and were in a hurry to just take our order and not care for our requirements at all. GO TO HELL GUYS.
(1)
Fil L.
Excellent high end food! great ambience for a classier look and feel. friendly staff. jumbo sized shrimp w walnut. lettuce cups are also great.
(5)
Yelp R.
If the service is bad, it can not be compensated by food, in a restaurant. and food here was just about average. Service was bad. This old Chinese server named George came to out table, just had a bad attitude and unhappy guy. Didn't have any enthusiasm while taking order, didn't want to change greasy and gray plates (that were supposed to be white). 'Go front and talk to manager' is what he told us. Should have walked off, but our party was hungry. Never came to refill drinks, nothing. I might sound racist, but, the caucasian guy clearing up the table and plates had a nice demeanor and friendly.
(2)
Lauren S.
Exceptionally foul. I ate two bites of my Moo Goo Gai Pan and then threw it away. I don't know if the chicken was undercooked, rotten to begin with, or what. (It was pick up though so I'm not going to take the time to take it back - but seriously disgusting). Now I'm sitting here at my desk on the verge of an anxiety attack wondering if I'll start puking any time soon. I figured I'd eat the rice with a little soy sauce on it since I'm out of options for food now - two bites in and bit into something that was not food. Pulled a black hair from my mouth. I'm blonde. FuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuÂuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuÂuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuÂuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu this place. How can chinese places in Cupertino of all places be so bad!?!
(1)
James T.
So looked on yelp for "the best potstickers" because my wife and I felt like eating some good dumplings. Saw several reviews say they had the best potstickers. Well if this is someones opinion of the best, then they have different taste then I. These are far from the best I've had. I judge the first rime I go to a Chinese restaurant by a few things. 1) potstickers 2) sweet and sour pork and 3) the rice. Why these three dishes? Well in my opinion they are staples of the food, they are extremely easy to make and if you can't make the easy ones, how good will the rest of the food be? We started with potstickers. First off, in my opinion, when I cut into the crispy golden dumpling of goodness, the meat sound not be dark or red in color. Even if they are pork, don't get it and never will, so that's turn off number 1. The outside was crisp, loke it should be, but the inside had very little flavor and was almost to doughy. Second we ordered the poo poo platter. Good variety. It came with crab ragoons, foil chicken, bbq ribs, spring rolls and teriyaki beef skewers. Long story short ragoons were all cream cheese, rib and beef were tough chucken was good and I didn't try the spring roll. Lastly, pork fried rice and sweet and sour pork. Rice was average at best. Not bad, but nothing memorable. The sweet and sour pork (my daughter's favorite) was nothing but average. Fried crust wasn't that crisp and the pork was kinda tough. The sauce was strange. Not bad, but not the typical sweet and sour you would think. More like tomatoe beef sauce. Anyway, I was really hoping to find a new favorite spit for Chinese, but that didn't happen. The service on the other hand was excellent. Even the iwner came to our table and explained the menu. Didnt need the help, but it was nice to see someone go the extra mile.
(2)
Sandeep S.
This place has really really bad food. We ordered some take out - Lemon Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken, Veggie Delight - and the food was just horrible. Lemon chicken was just plain chicken with a jar of lemon sauce. Kung Pao chicken was not upto the mark either. Never again. Never.
(1)
Brett B.
Perfect place to go for a nice business lunch in Cupertino. The decor is of a very nice restaurant, however the prices aren't bad. If there is anything you must get, it is definitely the honey walnut prawns! They are so delicious!
(4)
Ly D.
Came here for dinner with a party of 8. I reserved a table so we were quickly seated. I did the ordering -- 2 orders of Paper Wrapped Chicken to start, Imperial soup for all, 2 orders of Combination Chow Mein, 2 orders of Sauteed String Beans, 1 order of Sesame Chicken, 1 order of Hot Braised Prawns, 1 order of Kung Pao Prawns, and white rice for all. I've always liked this location more than the one in San Jose. However, I noticed that it was taking awhile for our food to come out. We were served the soup first and then all of our other dishes trickled out right after. The soup was good, we liked it a lot. When the waiter asked if that was everything, I thought it was but then my mom noticed there was no Paper Wrapped Chicken! He said that I never ordered it but it was the first thing I said! "We'd like to start off with 2 orders of Paper Wrapped Chicken" -- everyone heard me say it .. I got annoyed that he kept telling me I didn't order it when I clearly did. Whatever. He brought it out about five minutes later. Back to the food. The Combination Chow Mein was really good, it didn't taste like it was drenched in oil like other places. I've always loved their Sauteed String Beans and they were consistent that night. My favorite dish had to be the Sesame Chicken! I was afraid it would be too sweet but it was done very nicely. The Hot Braised Prawns were also really good. The Kung Pao Prawns were just okay to me, I wouldn't order that again. It was packed with water chestnuts and not enough prawns. A big disappointment was the rice. How could you mess up rice? I don't know but it had a weird texture, definitely not how I eat my rice. The Paper Wrapped Chicken was VERY salty ): It's usually done so well but I guess it just depends on the night. The experience was nice and the food was good. I'm definitely coming back for more Combination Chow Mein, Sauteed String Beans & Sesame Chicken!
(4)
Adrianna C.
First off I'd like to start by saying that this was one of the worst experiences (in regards to customer service) my boyfriend and I have had at a restaurant. My boyfriend and I are San Jose locals and usually dine at the Mandarin Gourmet in south San Jose (which i would give them 5 stars for service and food), we happened to be in the Cupertino area over the weekend and thought we'd give this place a shot, especially since they had a similar menu to the other Mandarin Gourmet. The restaurant itself is pleasant, seemed to be very modern and clean. Our server walked up to the table with no greeting at all, except "do you know what you want?", we ordered, he brought out the food in a timely manner, but disappeared after that. He never came to check on us, see if we needed anything, etc. I would also like to point out the majority of patrons there that night were older middle aged people, who did appear to have money, with that being said my boyfriend and I noticed that he was noticeably more attentive to those guests and not to us. My boyfriend waved down another server to ask for the check and boxes, that server responded by saying "i have to get your waiter". Never happened!! So i flagged down the owner or manager and he immediately took our dishes, packed them up and brought out the check. The whole service experience was terrible. The food was nothing special, as a matter of fact it was very bland. We will not be dining here again. We will continue to take our business to the Mandarin Gourmet in South San Jose!
(1)
Vivian A.
Came here for a work sponsored lunch with colleagues. Glad I did because for the average price per dish (around $15), the portions were really small. We ordered family style dishes, so that we all can have a little taste of everything, but the 'family style' size was barely enough for one spoonful for 3 people (and considering we had a party of 15, those plates didn't go very far). We ordered: Prawns with Honey Walnut : Probably their best dish. We ordered two plates thinking that would be enough, but like I said, portions are small. I think only half the table got a shrimp each (The other half just yelled at those that did). We ended up ordering more to appease the other side - 4 plates total. Sea Bass with something: I wish I could tell you what it was with. We could make out that it was fish, so that's why we knew, and it was good. But again, heavily doused with thick sauce, which I think, ruined the delicate taste of the fish. It was moist and melt-in-your-mouth though, after you scrape off all that sauce..... Chinese Chicken Salad Sesame Chicken Mongolian Beef Beef with Broccoli Chicken with Cashews Kung Pao Chicken Tofu with Vegetables Lettuce Chicken Wraps I wish I could rate the other dishes but... we couldn't make out what dish was what: although tasty, the dishes were heavily fried and heavily doused with thick sauce. I was able to tell what we ordered 'cuz I was lucky enough to be sitting by the girl ordering for the group. What's worse, the flavors all started blending in together. We couldn't tell if it was a chicken plate.. or a beef plate. They go really heavy on the thick sauce and the sauces are all really sweet. So it helps to have extra rice on hand: 1) because the plate your ordered won't have enough food and 2) you'll need the rice to dilute the overly-sweet sauce. What's good is that they have an option for brown rice! Yaaay! The dishes are small but the ambiance is nice. The dishes are mainly deep fried, can't-tell-what-I'm-putting-in-my-mouth heavily doused overly sweet sauces but the two that were good (Seabass and Honey Walnut Shrimp) are spot on. Solid 3 stars.
(3)
Neil V.
Simply amazing food and fantastic service. The wait staff is always on top of everything. We have been coming to Mandarin Gourmet for years and the food and service only gets better.
(5)
Tamiko B.
Good Chinese, it is what I'd call above the average Americanized fare in quality. My friend and I were really treated well and welcomed warmly on a recent evening. Now I almost DON'T want to go back because if I get bad service the next time I visit...the reviews of bad service kind of scare me into going again!!! A really good reason that we were treated well might be because Steve Wozniak was there with a dinner companion, sitting right next to us. LOL We had the Pu-Pu Platter, General Tso's beef, vegetable fried rice and string beans...while the food and the restaurant are beautiful, very appetizing to the eye and the palate, the prices are more than I'd usually pay. My husband had some of the fare (leftovers) and said that it wasn't any better or any worse than the cheaper places that we've eaten. On a humorous note, it was Cinco De Mayo and they made MARGARITAS for us with salt!!! Straight ones that were soooooo good. Will go for special occasions; I love Chinese food but will stick to the lower-cost places that I love so much. Although the prices were higher, there was enough food left over for 2 more meals!!!
(4)
Kriti R.
God knows why this place doesn't get better ratings... The food is great! Especially for Indians and Vegetarians. My dad and grandparents are vegan so this is one of the few non-Indian restaurants we can take them out to where they have plenty of options. Caught Steve Wozniak eating here too - gets the Apple stamp of approval! Gotta love Cupertino... Vegan: -They make the hot & sour soup vegan! Make sure you tell them no egg, meat, or seafood specifically though. It's still pretty good. -Sauteed String Beans - 3 stars. Nothing too special about this, but they try to make it flavorful. -Eggplant in Hot Garlic Sauce - BOMB.COM!! Love this dish. -Crispy Garlic Egglant - my vegan side of the fam's absolute fav -Vegetable Delight - I think they put crack in their sauces cuz they make the veggies taste so bomb. And they include a TON! They aren't stingy on the portions :) -Tofu with vegetables - I'd give this 3 stars. I'm not a huge fan of their tofu dishes, but my family still loves it so maybe I'm just weird. -Vegetable Pan Fried Noodles - THIS IS MY FAVORITE! If you've ever tried Chop Suey from India, this totally reminds me of that. Crispy noodles with sizzling sauce and plentiful veggies... what's not to like? Non-Veg: -Hot & Sour Soup - 5 stars! I love it here. They make it just the right amount of spicy :) -Wor Won Ton Soup - 3 stars. Kind of bland for me, couldn't finish it. -Chang Sha Chicken in Paper - 5 stars!! Chicken with hot garlic sauce is never something you want to miss out on. I LOVE water chestnuts and they include little pieces of it, which I like. -Chicken with Cashews - 5 stars! Their sauces for the poultry dishes are phenomenal! It really appeals to my Indian tastebuds at least :) -Kung Pao Chicken - 4 stars, good but not great. Go for the dishes with the garlic sauces! -Sweet & Sour Chicken - 2 stars. I might be a bad judge for this dish because I don't like sweet chicken, so feel free to try your luck. -Fried Rice - Tastes SOOOO good with the entrees. Definitely order this over the white rice. -Mandarin Pan Fried Noodles - same rating as the veggie version! Any of the pan-fried noodle dishes are a must order at this place :) If you're vegan or vegetarian, don't miss out on this place! They have a fantastic selection of food and it's all packed with flavor. It definitely appeals to the Indian taste buds since I see at least one Indian family there during every visit! Service has always been 5 stars and I've been coming here for 6 years now.
(5)
Kristin K.
I love their lunch takeout. Its super fast and they always do a good job packaging your food. For example, I order the fried tofu, and they poke holes in the lid so that the steam doesnt make your tofu soggy. Its great! They also have honey walnut chicken which I cant find anywhere else! My fiance loves honey walnut prawns but I dont eat prawns so its the best of both worlds for us. I have never actually eaten at the restaurant, so I cant say anything about their service or how things taste there, but for takeout I would highly recommend. Portion sizes are huge, food is packaged up really well, and it is ready in like 10 mins (thats less time than it takes me to hang up the phone, get in my car and drive there!). Prices are pretty good too, so we can order a few dishes and split them and not feel like we spent a ton of money for lunch.
(4)
Allen S.
First, I liked that the service was prompt and visited a lot to fill up the water. The food came quickly. I had the combination lunch - - - Mandarin beef and prawns with honeyed walnuts, side of fried rice and a side salad) and everything was tasty. The honeyed walnut prawns were sweet and the walnuts were great (not bitter). The mandarin beef was also sweet, and it was kind of like the Chinese version of chicken fried steak but instead of gravy, it was covered in a sweet golden/red glaze. I liked the food. It was not too expensive for "gourmet". I am the "fried rice police" and I rate their fried rice at a 3 out of 10. It should have been so easy for a Chinese restaurant. If their fried rice was of better quality (softer, fresher, and hotter), I would have increased my overall Yelp star rating.
(3)
Chers S.
I work fairly close to this establishment and one of my coworkers wanted to have our holiday luncheon at Mandarin Gourmet. The service is a bit off... our server seated us right away but he was pretty rude/demanding when taking our order. The soup and salad came out really fast but I'm sure that's all pre-prepared in the back. The regular lunch entrees are a decent size for around $10-12. Order the lunch combination if you prefer some veggies with your meal otherwise it will be rice + meat. I ordered the Tangerine Beef - white version of chinese food- which was surprisingly fried and tasty. It was so difficult to get a take out box. I asked multiple servers and it took 4 attempts before I was finally given a box. I almost gave up.
(3)
Will S.
Went there after the wwdc 2013 keynote. Lunch special. Good soup and entree with sweet brown sauces. Was better than I remembered. Saw Woz as we were leaving. +1 star for celebrity sighting.
(4)
Janine K.
I've been eating here since I can remember and it's pretty good. The restaurant itself is really nice and exceptionally clean. Tables are nicely spread out so you don't feel cramped in like animals. The waiters are very attentive, lots of water refills (something I always look our for!). I would definitely recommend this place for any kind of dinner, whether it be a dinner for two, a family dinner or a business function. Around lunchtime, you'll find it to be pretty crowded, mostly with the business crowd from the neighboring business. Parking can be pretty bad here since the lot is petite, but there is street parking pretty close. The food at Mandarin Gourmet is hit or miss. Some things are really good and some are just whatever. Some of the beef dishes can be pretty tough and sometimes over cooked, so order with caution! Overall the food here is pretty good, but pretty standard. You're not going to find anything interesting here, just your usual Chinese dishes.
(3)
Chris A.
Looking for a new Chinese Restaurant after a disappointing experience with our local. Unfortunately Mandarin Gourmet is not going to become our new favorite. The food was bland at best and tasted like ketchup was a main ingredient on a couple of dishes. I guess we need to keep looking...
The food here is very good, with high quality ingredients especially the egg roll, golden battered prawn, tangerine beef, and prawns with cashews. Prices are a bit higher than most other quality Chinese restaurants but the ambiance is upscale. There are several major negatives: 1. The lemon chicken was tasteless with very little sauce. All 5 of us did not like it. 2. The waiter was not very friendly or helpful. 3. Upon leaving the restaurant around 8:30pm, no one thanked us for coming or even said goodnight. There was a man at the cash register at the front desk who was counting the money and could not be bothered to look up. 4. The walkway along DeAnza in front of the restaurant and around the right side to the parking lot is very dark. How about some small lights put in the grass? My motherinlaw who uses a walker was afraid as she could hardly see. 5. The sign in front of the restaurant is very difficult to see and read at night-even though we have been here several times before, we passed the restaurant by. This used to be our second favorite restaurant in the south bay, but we will probably try others rather than come back if these items aren't corrected.......
(3)
Alisha Y.
It has been years since I have had dinner here with the family. We ordered the Kung Pao Chicken, Mongolian Beef, and Broccoli with Hot Garlic Sauce. I love garlic so I had some great hopes for the broccoli with garlic sauce. It was okay, not too great. The Kung Pao Chicken tasted on point. It tastes how Kung Pao should taste! All the flavors are there. I didn't care much for the beef since I am not a beef eater. I would come here again but not anytime soon. Great ambiance though!
(3)
Sheeva G.
I've been coming here for years and I really enjoy this place. I wouldnt necessarily say it's the best chinese food out there, but if you're craving it, you won't be disappointed. I've been to the SJ location with the bf also, but I have to like the one closer to my house for obvious reasons :). I have had multiple things on the menu, but my favorites are the kung pao chicken and the mongolian beef. It's my local go-to chinese place for sure.
(4)
Jessica C.
I come here for their awesome service and large portions, but mostly for the: honey walnut prawns. honey walnut prawns. honey walnut prawns. honey walnut prawns. honey walnut prawns.
(5)
Tony R.
The average 3.5 stars rating that Mandarin Gourmet currently has is about right on the money. I have been to this location and the San Jose location, this one is my favorite of those two, never been to the Palo Alto location however. Like most other restaurants, this place has its high points and its low points. To start off with the good, most of the dishes here are above par, the basics like the fried rice, beef and broccoli, chicken or beef chow mein are delicious. But believe me when I say that the honey walnut prawns are a must have, I could probably eat a whole order of them to myself, and I'm not lying. The prawns don't really have a "fishy" taste to them like some that can really overpower or kill the taste, and the sauce that accompanies the prawns is not too sweet, has a good balance, and compliments the prawns very well. Now with the good, comes the bad, or the "just whatevers". The waiters rarely come to your table to check on you, and they don't ever refill your drinks. Most of the dishes here are served as family dishes, so large portions, the prices range from about $12-$18 per dish on average. Unfortunately you're not gonna love everything on the menu, I've had lemon chicken before, but the lemon chicken from Mandarin Gourmet is not one of their best dishes, the smell reminds me of Pine Sol. I also do not recommend the crab cheese puffs, the taste was too fishy and killed the puffs. The food here is pretty decent, but I wish it wasn't as expensive, or you didn't have to buy their dishes in such large portions. FYI, I docked a star because of the price.
(3)
Sagar A.
I visited this place today for dinner as its was one of my friend's birthday. I was expecting (5 star) a lot better than what I have experienced. But food was good, would recommend anyone up for a nice chinese place for hang out. For appetizers we ordered crab cheese puff & golden battered prawns, which were right on, too good. Then it was sweet & sour soup, which was little burned on the pan I suppose as we can taste it.. Main entrees were good all of them (Mangolian Lamb, Changsha Chicken Wrapped in Paper (5/5), Prawns with Lobster Sauce), look at the pics I uploaded. Surely one of good chinese place around. They also have a full bar & a great wide choice of wines :)
(4)
Shana W.
A Chinese girl from San Francisco with A LOT of diverse culture type of foods, sorry Mandarin Gourmet, you deserve 2 stars. Mandarin Gourmet totally reminds me of an upscale of Panda Express. Sorry! But why lie right? Prices here are EXTREMELY over priced for the type of food that you are ordering. To top it off, the food here is super loaded with sauces....NO BUENO :-( They give you small portions for the prices that you pay for. I was totally disappointed that I tried to use my Chinese skills with one of the Chinese workers and he totally didn't understand me. What a shame! The only reason why I am giving Mandarin Gourmet 2 stars is because they were clean and in a nice area of Cupertino. Don't think I'll be back.
(2)
Marissa F.
This restaurant has gotta be one the nicest Chinese restaurants in the bay. It's squeaky clean, the decor is simple yet classy, and the servers are attentive and well-dressed. I also appreciated the lemon slice in my water (love that!) and the fact that they have a full bar. For those things, I'll award this place 3 stars. Minus 2 stars because I wasn't a fan of the food. It's Americanized Chinese food, definitely not authentic Chinese fare. None of the seven dishes we ordered were very flavorful and were just average at best. We had a decent amount of food leftover and nobody jumped at the opportunity to take the stuff home. That sooooo would not be the story if we had been at East Lake, New East Lake, or Ocean Palace. I did enjoy my fortune cookie though....maybe because it was made elsewhere. P.S. If you're looking to dine at a Chinese restaurant where the only Asian people are the employees, then you gotta hit up this spot!
(3)
Al C.
Much better Chinese food than any other place I've been to in Silicon Valley...and borderline ok to take the kiddies. Full bar which is a big plus especially on a Friday night. The service is well-above average and the food is also a strong point. Not a super crowded or noisy/fast environment you'd expect at a typical Chinese restaurant...a good place to slowly enjoy your food.
(4)
Mike D.
We have been going here for years.... The food is wonderful, the wait staff very friendly and the atmosphere very enjoyable. In fact, it is a special place where we have celebrated many family events such as Daughters engagement, birthdays, girls off to college, etc. As for the food, everything is great, but my favorites are Pupu Platter appetizers Honey Walnut Prawns Tangerine Beef Special Chowmein Lemmon Chicken Twice cooked Pork ....... I should stop here, as I found myself going thru ALL my favorites. Hope you enjoy this place as much as our family does..
(5)
Chesley H.
This is by far the best Chinese restaurant in the Bay Area. Plus, it's the classiest looking Chinese restaurant around. White table cloths, nice statues, nice painting on walls. My favorite dishes are: Prawns with honey walnuts, Sesame chicken, Tangerine beef, Chang Sha chicken. Everyone I bring here loves the food. The service is great and they have the best busboys (for lack of a better term) in town. They fill up your water glass faster than you get anywhere and are always attentive.
(5)
Chris J.
Fantastic Chinese, and solid service. Went with a fairly large group and did family-style dining, and virtually every single dish was fabulous. I'd go back--if I were to be in Cupertino for dinner again.
(4)
Archie R.
Food: Vegetarian chow -mein. Amazing . Will keep me coming here. I love the ambiance of this place. The service is good and attentive. A nice dining experience .
(3)
Stephanie A.
This is one of my favorite lunch spots in the area: clean restaurant, decent lunch special, good service, tasty food. You can say their food is not authentic, that it is "Chinese like", that the "Chinese" is only in the food's name, that it is an Americanise food, you can say all that, but for me it works great. Their food is a combination of Chinese ingredients and western cooking. The restaurant made an adaptation to the taste of a non-Chinese people like me who want to have "Chinese" in their food's name but won't be able to handle it if we get the real deal. People like me, who can not handle the authentic food but want to say "Chinese" when they speak about their lunch, we come to Mandarin Gourmet. I am proud to be an "American Chinese" eater, I like it :-) Only minus - It can get crowded at lunch.
(4)
David S.
I like this restaurant. My favorite dish is the prawns with walnuts. Very tasty. This place is kinda fancy, not your typical Chinese restaurant, so make sure to dress up a bit. It's also great for large groups. I once celebrated an event with family here, they gave us our own section and good service. Overall, great Chnese restaurant.
(5)
Mark B.
My favorite Cupertino Chinese food, some dishes a bit sweeter than other restaurants, which I like. Upscale.
(5)
Frank L.
PROS: Food is good, we specially like "Mu Shu Pork" and "Kung Pao Chicken". Environment is great. It is not like most of Chinese restaurants with people talking loudly and kids running around. CONS: Wish they can tune the lights brighter. Wish they could remove dishes after the customers left or do it slowly without generating lots of noise.
(4)
Oscar K.
I have to admit I've only eaten inside once or twice so I can't comment on the service and atmosphere and whatnot. My family has been getting take out here for over a decade. I highly recommend the sesame chicken. It's sort of like orange chicken, but it's got a nice kick to it and the orange isn't overpowering like some places. It's my favorite dish. I also like salt and pepper shrimp and the mandarin beef.
(4)
Kaveh H.
Plain and simple, this place serves Americanized Chinese food. If you don't mind that and enjoy saucy, tasty food, then Mandarin Gourmet is the perfect place for you. Pros: -Lunch specials - you get a dish, chinese chicken salad (with the best dressing ever), and hot and sour soup for ~9 dollars -Good service - whenever your water seems to be a little low, it's filled before you know it; servers are friendly; food comes out at a good rate Cons: -portions are little small for the price (this is only applicable to dinner) -saucy and fried foods (this is a pro if you like that stuff) Dishes I like: Tangerine beef, eggplant in hot garlic sauce, peking beef, house chicken salad
(4)
S S.
My family and I have come here for years and the service has always been great. The staff even recognize us! As far as the food, yes, it is "Americanized" Chinese food. I have brought Chinese friends here and they didn't really like it. (I've noticed that the majority of people in there are often not Asian). I have had almost all the vegetarian options and there really isn't much variety, at least not the same kind you would see in other Chinese restaurants in the Bay Area. The veggie spring rolls are great; we usually get veggie chow mein or vegetable delight. The location is good and there is ample parking. The decor/atmosphere are very elegant.
(4)
Maria V.
Love it! My favorite is def the chicken salad and the crab wontons. However, I can not forget the rice which is to die for though not healthy, but when eating Chinese food... who cares. Enjoy everyone! The service is fab too!!!
(4)
Vinny M.
Um not a fan of this place. As many have already stated, this is more of an "Americanized Chinese food." While I don't usually mind if the food is "Americanized," this place I did not enjoy AT ALL. I guess I should have known since there was not one other Asian person in the room besides me and the waiters, speaking of which, were a bit rude and never to be seen. On to the food.. We ordered for appetizer: Fried Prawns and Cream Cheese Crab Wontons. The Fried prawns were kind of gross, they were covered in panko breading and it seemed like the actual prawn was tiny compared to how much breading surrounded it. I found myself cutting off the excess breading and picking out the prawn. The Cream Cheese Crab wontons were OK, but i've had better elsewhere. They seemed more "fishy" than "crabby" (if that makes any sense). Both the wontons and prawns came with a sweet and sour sauce and hot mustard. Both of which were good and the only saving grace for these appetizers. For Entree we had: Chicken fried rice, Mongolian Beef and Sesame Chicken. The rice was OK but the chicken in it was also breaded which made it a little weird. I'm used to just plain chicken in my fried rice not breaded chicken. Sesame Chicken was just YUCK. I notice some people on here enjoyed it but ours was just gross. It was breaded and topped with some sweet and sour red sauce that just tasted nasty. It was like candy sweet with a hint of burned taste to it. I don't usually mind sweetened sauces on my meats (Honey Walnut Prawns or Chicken Terriyaki are ok) but if the sweetened sauce tastes TOOO sweet then it might as well be a dessert right? Well that's how this chicken tasted like. After a few bites I decided not to continue eating it. The Mongolian beef was OK but this time it was TOOO salty. The meat itself was also kind of gamey. Made me second guess if it was actually beef that I was eating. (I'm sure it was beef, but possibly the way it was cooked made me think it was something else). Lastly when the bill came they gave us two fortune cookies, both of which looked dark brown as if they were over cooked. They also tasted bland...(maybe since I already ate the extra sweet Sesame chicken, my palate was already off.) When the bill came we ended up spending WAAY too much for what we actually got. And thinking back, the prices of each dish were quite high. Also for the price, I expect the waiter to at least be there. He seemed like he'd disappear in the back and only came to deliver the food, never to be seen again. Oh and I found it quite annoying that at a Chinese Restaurant, there was no soy sauce on the table already. And even when the food was served, the soy sauce was not delievered. We had to flag our waiter down after he already left just to get soy sauce. I would say I DEFINITELY am not coming back here. There are a lot of other hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurants that are MUCH better and that are MUCh cheaper!
(1)
Sarah S.
I've passed by this place many times over the years and never felt a desire to try it. It seems to be fairly common knowledge that the place isn't super authentic and is on the pricier side. However my friend read good reviews about the service on yelp and suggested we try it out. We came for a late lunch, and the lunch specials are a good deal! You get a salad, entree and fortune cookie for around $10 I believe. And the place was spacious and quiet. It seemed like most of the people dining were business men or small groups. Would definitely come back for the lunch special if I want Chinese, but would probably go somewhere else for dinner.
(4)
Betty C.
Went today for a coworkers lunch. Decor: nice and clean, lots of business lunch type of people, cloth napkins (always a nice touch) Had the lunch banquet menu: sweet and sour soup - really sour and not my fav chicken salad and eggroll - the chicken was dry breast, sliced so that it looked like almonds, the dressing was too sweet and not sesame, the eggroll was okay the other courses were unimaginative - fried dry string beans obviously had msg on them (string beans don't taste that good) and the shrimp and green beans was okay, not very saucy but tasted very good, healthy even. the mongolian beef looked scary, and we couldn't tell what it was when it came. the rest of the food was okay. i agree w/ the other reviews that if you're looking for authentic, this is not it. but it's still a step above say Yan- Can or Pand Express.
(3)
Albert W.
Honey walnut prawns - 1 star (This is the worst I have ever had) General Tso's beef - 2 stars Hunan lamb - 1.5 stars .. Does Hunan lamb even have sauce? Definitely not authentic Chinese food. All dishes had abundant sauces. Prawns are overly breaded and extremely small about 51/60 count type. We had leftover and wanted to pack it. The main server gave us a dirty look but the assistant server took the plates and packed it right of way. One extra star for the fast water refiling by the assistant server.
(2)
R D.
Good Food...Great Ambience...Excellent Management...and very friendly staff. Love their Velvet Corn Soup...Mostly we pick food to go...but we have eaten a few times there during lunch and dinner... They have extensive lunch combos. Fills you up very well. Only issue is their red sauce items are very sweet...everything in brown and black bean sauce is awesome. Definitely give a thumbs up.
(4)
Mimi Z.
Again, i have to update and say the quality of food is still amazing here. Although it is true you can get cheaper chinese food, this place is so yummy! The service is great and everyone is super professional and clean. The decor is beautiful, the place is very clean and respectable. You dont have that feeling of "i wonder if my food is clean" that you sometimes get at other chinese places. Also, i feel like the dishes arent filled with sodium or MSG, i never get left with a heavy gross feeling that i get with most chinese places. I mean, i'm chinese and i almost NEVER eat out at chinese places b/c i cant stand the way it makes me feel. I usually choose lighter options. I'm also vegetarian so I cant really speak much about the meats here, but my friends still swear by the basil chicken, walnut prawns, duck and beef dishes. so i went here 2 nights ago and i discovered a new favorite dish, ask for the asparagus! it was lightly sauteed with a brown garlicy sauce, so good! i could have eaten it all by myself! the string beans, fried tofu, "ma-po-tofu" are also very good. everything tastes so fresh! give it a try, its worth paying a few extra dollars for the nice atmosphere! note how i kept saying CLEAN, everything is so clean!
(5)
Eric L.
Great food, great service. Normally don't eat eggplant, but one of their eggplant dishes is pretty good.
(5)
D E.
Mandarin Gourmet is like a fancier Panda Express without all the douchery of a PF Changs. This is by no means authentic Chinese food, but it's not bad for what it is. You also can't really beat the lunch specials. Most of them are under $10 and include soup, salad, a bowl of rice, and an entree. Service is nice, but a bit slow, and it gets crowded at lunch, since Apple is right across the street.
(3)
Nancy C.
I took some clients to dinner here, the restaurant has a decent vegetarian menu. The food was really outstanding. We had the crispy garlic eggplant and the green beans sauteed in spicy garlic sauce (ok, I like garlic!), both dishes were perfectly cooked and spiced. We also had hot and sour soup (perfect!), brown rice, and sauteed spinach (not crazy about that particular dish, no texture). The waiter had an attitude, annoying enough to make me want to give the restaurant a 3-star rating, but the quality of the meal was top-notch.
(4)
Michael M.
Excellent place for a business lunch in Cupertino. Attentive staff and tasty food. Quiet enough for two to talk, and several times I've been there with groups of 10 or more. Mandarin Gourmet handled things well.
(4)
Kent D.
The food is not very good. We shared 6 or 7 dishes at lunch and almost every single one was either bland or overly sweetened. The prices are decent and the service is good, but I'd rather go to Hong Fu which is just across Steven's Creek from Mandarin Gourmet. If you want authentic, spicy Chinese food, avoid this place. If you want americanized food with loads of sugary sauce, this is your place.
(2)
Skm S.
Good food Parking on side great setting and decor
(4)
Steve H.
Best Chinese food in Cupertino. I've never had a bad meal here. They have a Chinese Chicken Salad for lunch that's really tasty.
(4)
Mike C.
This is a great place for lunch in Cupertino. I have been coming here for years. The staff is very friendly and professional. The luncheon specials are all very good and certainly very filling. I would recommend a visit to Mandarin Gourmet in Cupertino for a business lunch without hesitation.
(4)
Hari D.
Oh, we were here today for lunch, pretty good experience. Great food and service, very hard to find that combination. We got kung pao scallops, honey walnut shrimps and garlic eggplant; everything with brown rice, pretty good preparation. Waiters were waiting on us all the time, good experience. Keep it up and we will be back for sure.
(5)
Sabrina S.
Very fancy and takes itself a bit too seriously for me--overly formal. Still, the food is good, and the service efficient. Just be prepared to pay for it.
(3)
Jenn S.
Yes, the crispy tofu was tasty, the sesame chicken was the best I've ever had, and shrimp walnut was delectable. Somehow, though, 2/3rd of the way through dinner, I got a yucky feeling. It may have been the service and it may have been that we all ordered rich, deep fried dishes. And it may have just been diminishing returns. Ultimately, though, it was the realization that a mile or two away from us (over the freeway and through the crowded Ranch 99 parking lot to Cupertino Village we could have gone) was a plethora of choice Chinese food at half the $$. AND, there was only one dessert option.
(3)
Brett B.
Crispy fried eggplant in garlic sauce... that's all you need to know
(4)
Chris S.
Place is fantastic. I've not had a dish I didn't love here. One of my favorite dishes is still the Sesame Chicken. Great soup... great atmosphere for dressy folk or casual... You won't be disappointed. Not the friendliest staff, but they are usually on top of things. They're all business. That's fine with me though.
(5)
batvanio i.
This is one of the worst Chinese restaurants. And I have to say, this is the very first place where I ordered food and then dumped all of it in the trash. I mean, I have seen bad food, but this was simply inedible. And it was not cheep too.. The chow mein was bland and tasteless, the eggplants were drowned in sugary sirup, the soup was watery and bland too, mongolian beef was ultra-salty. Pretty much everything was abysmal. Do not go there!
(1)
K E.
My family went here last night for my mom's birthday. It was an excellent meal. The service was very professional, but not really "friendly," food was served in a timely manner, and everything tasted great. What we ordered: Mongolian Lamb - Great flavors but the sauce overpowered the meat a bit. Basil Chicken - A really really nice dish; the basil gave an excellent flavor that made this the favorite of the night. Beef Chow Fun - Pretty average. Nothing special. Sauteed Eggplant - I can't really judge this one as I'm not a fan of eggplant...but my mom loved it. Won Ton Soup - The broth was really delicious; it was mild and light. The won tons were excellent and there were chunks of chicken and pork in the soup that added that extra burst of flavor. The downside...the soup, which served four, cost $15. This was way too much, in my opinion! Overall, this is a great place to get a truly wonderful meal but it is also "gourmet" in a negative way. In other words, the portions aren't as big as the prices.
(4)
Tom L.
Not much to say here, they probably don't deserve more than 3 stars because the service and food here have really gone down hill over the years....I've been frequenting this place for at least 10 years+. Either my standards have gone up or their food and service quality have gone down - probably both. But there you have it. If you're looking for good Chinese places, you can skip this one. There are better places in Mountain View.
(3)
Leann H.
Ok, passed by this restaurant many, many times and finally decided to eat there. Service was nice. We were seated quickly and our waiter was very attentive....mostly because there were more waiters in the restaurant then there were customers. Personally, it makes me a little uncomfortable when 3 waiters stand 10 feet away from you and just watch you while you eat and wait for you to finish, but that's just me...I'm not really sure why there were so many employees. The food was alright. Not great, but not bad. After we arrived, we received our entrees in less than 5 minutes, which I found a bit suspicious. I had deep-fried scallops which were good, but a little on the greasy side. My boyfriend had a beef dish and the beef was fatty. The steamed rice was also undercooked, which I have to say, is a deal breaker for me. Like I said, the food wasn't bad, but not nearly good enough to pay $15.95 for....if my meal was from a Chinese takeout place and had cost $6.95, I would have been satisfied, but I won't be going back to this restaurant.
(3)
Jamie S.
Love this place! I have been coming here for years! Food is yummy and service is great! Maybe not the most traditional but still very delicious!
(4)
livelife k.
We're a fan of this place. We always order chicken chowmein noodles with General Tsao's chicken and Sesame chicken. Can't go wrong!
(4)
Moe R.
As others have said, this is Americanized Chinese food (but I don't think that's a bad thing, unless you happen to be looking for something traditional.) Nice place, a bit pricier than most but it has cloth napkins and attentive service, making it suitable for a business lunch (more so than most Chinese restaurants). Food was quite good. We had the Moo Shu pork which was very tasty and prepared by the waiter, rather than being delivered to the table as components, as most places do. I like the pancakes thinner than they use here but that's a minor quibble. The shrimp with honeyed walnuts (I may not have the name right) were very well prepared. Walnuts were crispy and cooked to be dark and toasty, the shrimp was fried with a light tempura-style batter. It was dressed just right with a lightly sweet sauce. If you're looking for "Chinese Chinese" food, you may be disappointed but if you want a more elegant setting and good, though not authentic, food prepared well, I think you will be happy here.
(4)
May B.
Ordered the honey walnut prawns, eggplant in garlic sauce, sweet and sour pork, veggie noodles and food was ok. However the service made it an unpleasant to dine there.
(3)
Yi Z.
Wow, this place was like P.F. Chang's before P.F. Chang's was even invented. It's definitely targeted toward non-Asian people. Yes, the lettuce cups taste good. No, I will never go back. Why should anyone settle for a place like Mandarin Gourmet when there are literally hundreds of good Chinese restaurants within a five mile radius?
(2)
cherrychip b.
Mandarin Gourmet is definitely my husband's favorite Chinese restaurant. It's clean, classy, and the food is always good, not to mention great services for a Chinese restaurant. I agree that it's slightly Americanized (I'm Chinese), but it's good food. What to get? 1) Definitely the Pu Pu platter - great value for the price!! * BTW, the egg rolls are homemade at the restaurant. It's tasty and not oily at all. The teriyaki beef is also absolutely delicious. 2) The Seafood Blossom Soup is lovely on a cold day or for dinner anytime. 3) I LOVE the Mandarin Beef. It's the bomb. Woot! 4) If you're feeling healthy, get the Steamed Fish with Ginger (comes on a sizzling plate), and the White Wine Spinach (slurps!) 5) If you like eggplant, Mandarin Gourmet does a very interesting take on it. Quite yummy! Unfortunately, this place does not make good noodles or fried rice. But, that's ok because the other stuff makes up for it!
(4)
Yi G.
Agree someone's review said that this is a american Chinese food restaurant, a panda express with tables. The environment is good and the price is unexpectedness. But the cooking style and flavor is not really Chinese.
(3)
Jim C.
Overpriced Americanized Chinese restaurant that seems surprisingly popular with the local Apple and Cupertino crowd. Weekday lunch time is usually crowded and I can't believe I had to wait 20 min for a table here once. Most lunch specials are in the $8-12 range and you get soup and rice with your main entree. This is pricey compared to the numerous other Chinese places where you can get a good lunch special for $6-8. The kung pao chicken I had was edible but I wouldn't order it again. Chinese chicken salad is pretty tasty and you get a large lunch entree portion but there's nothing authentic about this dish except for the "Chinese" in its name. Bottom line: Okay Americanized Chinese restaurant with pleasant setting for a business lunch. Come before the lunch rush to ensure a table. For non-authentic tasty Chinese at similar inflated prices, I much prefer PF Changs.
(3)
Dave K.
I can't believe I haven't yelped this place yet. I work kitty corner from this place and have probably been here a good 20 times. It is definitely not an authentic Chinese restaurant. Hong Fu across the street is more authentic. But this is definitely better than PF Changs, both in taste and cost. I still is a tad pricey, but overall not too bad. They do the honey walnut prawns well here and general tso's chicken is chicken strips coated with sauce, not the typical battered and fried and coated that I'm used to. The food always seems a bit dry here, but people love it. As a tip, without a reservation, definitely come before 12:10pm. It gets completely packed by 12:20pm. It often feels like they're trying to rush you out during crowded lunch hours and I think it shows in the quality of their food. Decent as always but nothing special.
(3)
Jon I.
A long time favorite. Silicon Valley's real china town has lots of options. But Mandarine Gourmet has consistently delivered top quality food in an elegant atmosphere for over a decade. Honey walnut prawns are the best I've ever had. Hot and sour soup is top notch. In fact, I've eaten almost everything on the menu and you really can't go wrong.
(4)
Irene L.
I had the garlic eggplant and it was ok. The prices are average. The decor and service were mediocre. I didn't find this restaurant all that amazing, but would come back.
(3)
Jan B.
Food was OK, nothing special. Sweet and sour chicken listed pineapple, didn't see one chunk, but copious amounts of onion. Ordered an iced tea - was instant tea. Yuck. Are you kidding me? The restaurant is posh looking with a wine list and white tableclothes and they can't be bothered to brew tea? how hard is it? And isn't tea a supposedly Asian speciality?
(2)
Eladio S.
I like the food at Mandarin Gourmet. I've been here on several occasions with my family and we've always enjoyed the food. I actually brought my Aunt from Texas here one time and she was raving about it. I don't think they have too many Chinese restaurants in Austin... If you want authentic Chinese cuisine, then don't go here. This is definitely your "Americanized" Chinese fare. However, they do a good job with it. The dishes are tasty and not overly greasy. The presentation is nice as is the ambiance of the venue. I'd go back when i'm craving this type of food. Definitely better than going to Mr. Chau's or Panda Express....
(3)
monica s.
I love this place! The food and service was great. Sure it probably is Americanized Chinese food, but I really enjoyed everything about this restaurant. Good food, clean restaurant and great service. What more could you want?! Definitely a completely different experience from Hong Fu down the street!
(5)
Matt S.
The sesame chicken is great (good flavor and minimal spice) and the honey walnut prawns are amazing! Nice atmosphere, friendly staff, and reasonable prices. Great value!
(5)
Helen W.
We used to eat here frequently and found the food fresh and well prepared. Last two times over the last year have been a disappointment, especially today's take out meal. The chicken with peas and broccoli was absolutely tasteless-no seasoning at all in the watery sauce. Asparagus was woody and equally tasteless. Not sure they should even be serving asparagus since its not in season. And they forgot the rice. When I called to tell the manager about my disappointment with the dinner he didn't offer any apologies or encouragement to give them another chance.
(1)
Lalu B.
Sometimes you want a fancy Chinese place but for the money this place is really a poor value. All the dishes should taste spectacular, as if you were attending a Chinese wedding banquet, but the food does not live up to the impeccable decor. Too bad. I remember this place being much much better ten-twelve years ago.
(3)
Eve K.
3.5 stars. My choice for a Chinese lunch around Cupertino is Potsticker King, but when co-workers want to just walk across the street, we wind up here. Cost to worth it ratio: 2.5 stars Highlights: - Lots of lunch special options: a whole page worth and you get soup and salad. Portions enough that you can share - Combo options: I opted for the kung pao scallops and walnut prawns. I like variety. Scallops were great and sauce was classic kung paoy. Prawns were fine, but had a bit more breading than I was used to. - Chicken with cashews: probably my favorite dish that we ordered. Tender chicken, good brown sauce, cashews still pretty crunchy and not soggy. - Nice ambiance: not your normal Chinese hole in the wall type (not that there's anything wrong with that). Also fancier place settings, presentation, etc. - One of the better Americanized versions of Chinese: your place for kung pao, mu shu, sweet and sour, etc. I still like Americanized Chinese, I just consider this a different category and type of food than what you would get at an authentic Chinese banquet meal. Kinda like Baja Fresh vs your authentic taco truck per se. Lowlights (my flip side to highlights): - Another shrimp dish: was too saucy and sticky in an orange sauce. Sorry can't remember the name of it. - General chicken: not deep fried but small strips. Tasted ok, but just not expected. - Soup: hot and sour a bit too tangy for me - Can be bit more expensive than other similar places A fine lunch experience getting out to a sit down meal, so I'm sure I'll be back.
(3)
Jeanette P.
Went beck last night to Mandarin Gourmet, with two good and one bad experience under the wings. The atmosphere is 5 star, though it can be a little noisy, when it gets crowded. The service is usually nice, last night was great. We got there just before 6 pm. and it was not busy. We were greeted and seated, and both our waiter and the person refilling water, were very smily, personally and friendly. They accommodated changes to our menu, we ordered the Deluxe Gourmet for two. The Hot and Sour soup was good, yet to our taste not the "Original". The battered shrimp and meat skewer appetizer was delicious, both tender and moist. The Chicken salad was good, though they had thinly sliced chicken instead of chunks of meat... Just a little different, seemed more like lunchmeat. We got fried rice, very tasty, but a bit on the oily side, when you combine it with the main dishes ( we ordered a side order of regular rice due to this). Mongolian Beef, very, very moist and tender, nice portion, less oil would have made it absolutely perfect. Walnut shrimp exceptional, and a nice big portion. My husband loves salt, I don't, and even he said it was a bit salty overall. With moderation of oil and salt.... This would make a perfect dinner. I would give this 3 1/2 star, with improvement of holding back on oil and salt 4 stars. Still looking for that Fung Lum experience, for those of you that had the pleasure of going there; you know what I mean....
(4)
Morning B.
I'm not a huge fan of Chinese Food to begin with and this place certainly did not change my attitude. Food wasn't anything to rave about nor was the customer service. Portions were pretty generous though...but since the food was so lousy it doesn't really matter. Don't waste your calories here!
(2)
Raquel R.
The good: Sweet and sour pork The bad: prices are steep The ugly: soda glasses are so small, and they do not refill them- ever. I like this place. They are attentive to a point and the food is good. Everything seems really clean and nice. I'm big on cleanliness. But I don't understand some of the things they do here- like for instance one time I went here with my boyfriend and this place was dead, super dead, but they seat us in the way way back. That is okay but then they get this huge party about 10 minutes after we are seated. This huge party sat right next to us. This huge party that the restaurant knew was coming but still decided to seat us right in there personal space. I didn't get it. I think it was our like 4 year anniversary and we just wanted a little quiet low key place. To look back now it's a little humorous but at the time I was over it. Needless to say we didn't go back for about 7 months. Better seating this time but still no soda refills. One thing though is that the oolong tea that they bring to your table upon request is freakin amazing. Love that stuff. beef chow mein is good (beef is so good) sweet and sour pork is fabulous. spring rolls are tasty. rice is cooked perfectly. Beware: the beef skewer appetizer thing, it sucks.
(3)
patrick f.
I just ate here today with my family for lunch and based on my visit, it was just ok. I mostly judge this on the food, because that's why we went here, to eat. As soon as we walked in, I noticed the decor and the crowd. It was a pretty nice place, and I noticed that the crowd was composed of mostly non-Asians. In general, just based on the crowd I wasn't so sure how good the food would be, because I assume that if the food is really good, I would be seeing more Chinese people here. So anyways, we order the lunch special. Salad was pretty good, hot & sour soup tasted MSG like.. the rest of the food was okay but didn't take me over the top. Service was quick however, but seating a bit tight as I was getting bumped by some of the waiters. For good and authentic Chinese food, I still prefer East Lake, New East Lake, Ocean Delight, and Ocean palace. They're still number 1 in my book.
(3)
Alex F.
Best Chinese food in the bay area. Honey walnut prawns are phenomenal, service is exceptional without being pretentious, the people are friendly and the food is insanely great.
(5)
Christina P.
It's official, I have finally found the best Chinese food in the South Bay!!! Ever since I moved back up here from San Diego, the only good Chinese food I've had has been a half hour away-- and I honestly can't be driving 1 hour round trip to get some chow. I have been searching for longer than I'd like to admit, and the Mandarin Gourmet takes the cake! They have two kinds of eggplant dishes and the sauteed eggplant was by far my favorite. We also had a chow mein dish, and a chicken dish similar (if not) to General Tso's Chicken -- all of which were VERY good, not greasy, and there were no "mystery" chunks, either! They did a great wrap job to make sure nothing spilled in the car, and were really nice on the phone, as well as when we came in to pick up our order! Can't wait to go back!
(5)
Kevin S.
I honestly thought this was going to be good. I am, after all, a big fan of Eliza's on Potrero Hill, and many reviewers proclaim that place as a temple of Chinese Food for White People. And so they similarly tout Mandarin Gourmet down here in Apple-onia. Pulling up and seeing a fairly nice building filled with a crowd heavily tilted toward the moneyed and Caucasian, I thought to myself, "Surely these people are enjoying food similar to the quality, freshness, and flavorfulness of Eliza's." Uh....no. Look, it's a nice room, but I honestly think that is the only thing recommending it to my fellow whiteys, because it couldn't be the food, the service, or the prices. Maybe life down here in the Cup' is so desultory that diners can be lulled to an insensate state by schmancy surroundings and high prices. "Hey, look what we're paying, that must have been good!" I imagine they cry when the bill arrives. No, I don't think that was good. Only one thing we tried here was relatively decent, and that was beef fried rice. Everything else suffered from very bad preparation. And the service was anything but personable. We started with pot stickers and what is usually called crab rangoon elsewhere. The former were saddled with thick, unappetizing doughy skins, which pretty much ruins the experience of eating what can be my absolute favorite Chinese appetizer. We ate them but I was longing for Eliza's thin, perfectly cooked version the entire time. The crab wontons were even worse. Tough fried wonton dough--I suspect they were frozen--surrounded a cream cheese mixture that needed more green onion and much less slightly stinky crab. I like crab in my crab rangoons but the crab needs to be sweet and fresh. There was a distinct puff of off-putting smell when you bit into these. Ick. IQ ordered a dish that purported to be crispy fried eggplant, and I ordered the aforementioned beef fried rice. IQ's dish was a total bummer. He loves eggplant and the crispy eggplant description caught his eye. What arrived even looked promising if a little surprising. Huge crocquette looking golden balls of batter. Oh, perhaps a succulent, light, airy, nearly tempura-like coating on the eggplant? Aromatic, seasoned eggplant cooked to a carmelized, creamy state of bliss? Nope. Dense eggplant bombs with a doughy flavorless nimbus surrounding an unevenly cooked planetoid of slightly bitter eggplant. IQ had the good sense to ask for the garlic sauce on the side, thinking it would be slathered on thickly based on other dishes sailing by our table, so he was able to control the pungent sauce but no amount of outside flavor could rescue these disappointing, overpriced disasters on a plate. My beef fried rice was the only winner of the evening, with tender if slightly oversized slices of flavorful beef in a savory seasoned and well appointed fried rice mixture of peas, carrots, onion, and rice. But let's face it, if you screw up beef fried rice, what can you cook? The version here should be an also ran at the prices Mandarin Gourmet serves. In my review of PF Chang's in Palo Alto, I note the feng hsui aptness with which the large horse sculpture there turns its rear to the restaurant's diners. Here at Mandarin Gourmet, six lovely and slightly smaller steeds face the diners. They should really think that through. This place is far overpriced, far too stuffy, and far from a good place to look for tasty Chinese food, even if you do have white taste buds like me.
(2)
Darin M.
The management people here seemed nice enough and the wait staff was quick if not a bit curt or terse. The moment I sat down, a waiter was in my face asking me if I knew what I wanted and this was my first time visiting this restaurant and I didn't know what types of specials they might have. I knew that I wanted to try a curry dish as this is generally a good test of a Chinese place so I ordered the Chicken Curry and the waiter said it was good and obliged me recommendation. I also asked for a hot and sour soup when I saw the waiter again. When the soup came, they also brought out a salad with little slivers of chicken on the plate. The salad was your usual, run-of-the-mill iceberg lettuce salad and the dressing was not particularly special in any way. The chicken slivers were just weird so I avoided them as much as possible. The Hot and Sour soup was mostly sour to the point that it made me wince a few times trying to gulp it down. This was not a good indication that things were going to get any better. When the Curry Chicken came, it was fairly typical looking but lacked that certain something that a good chef can bring to a curry dish. The sauce was okay but not great. The worst part about the Curry Chicken dish was, there was a gritty bit of something in my first bite and lots of gristle in the chicken. The gristle issue is prevalent at restaurants that don't take the time to carefully remove bad pieces of chicken prior to the food going out to the customer. I notice this happens more often in restaurants that just don't have anything special to offer and that's the way I feel about Mandarin Gourmet. The food was just okay. Nothing to write home about, so to speak. I'm not sure if it was my fault for ordering Chicken Curry at a Mandarin place as I'm not particularly well versed in regional Chinese cuisine specialities but there were enough other things wrong with the taste and over all quality of the food here that I would not give this restaurant a second chance.
(1)
Jenny H.
The best Chinese food in town in my opinion. I sometimes get their takeout. It is expensive but delicious. I often go there for lunch due to better weekday lunch specials. The tangerine beef is delightful. The portions are generous as well. The service is good. Usually the men waiters are not friendly but speedy. Last Friday a woman was working the front and seated me and took my order. She was so warm and friendly and made me feel important. I love this place!
(4)
Ron B.
This place has been around forever. I remember going here as a kid.... The food is good and the atmosphere is nice. It's one of the fancier Chinese restaurants in the area, but not crazy fancy. One of the last times I went, though, I suspect they used MSG even though I specifically verified that there is none of this stuff in their food. I had a reaction to the food, that is generally associated with MSG... but overall, a great place for a nice dinner, and especially for special occasions with many attendees - they can sit you in a nice area and attend to a large group pretty well.
(4)
Jessica C.
If you want classic americanized Chinese food like everyone said, go here. It's uber expensive and small portioned for the price. But the thing is it's good. Comparable to any other Chinese place, just double the price. But you do pay for the nice atmosphere and not necessarily having to clean your own chopsticks before eating.
(3)
Stacey C.
You know how sometimes you have inexplicable cravings for a certain food out of the blue, and you simply MUST HAVE IT RIGHT AWAY!? That pretty much only happens to me with the food at Mandarin Gourmet. They have locations in Palo Alto, San Jose, and Cupertino - but I've found that the Cupertino location is the most consistent and produces the best food. I have been getting the same dishes for years and years, so much so that I need no menu - General Tso's Chicken, Tangerine Beef, Honey Walnut Prawns (a MUST HAVE) - oh, and you should start with the potstickers, they're amazing and made in-house. They also have an amazing lunch special that is a great deal - make sure to check with the location you plan on visiting before showing up for this, though - all the locations have different days/times for their lunch specials. You get a cup of Hot & Sour Soup, fried wontons, Chinese chicken salad, (on occasion, egg rolls), a main course and rice (fried or steamed) for about $13 with tip! Bring a friend and you can share main courses too! Every person that I introduce to this restaurant becomes addicted. It's that damn good. Service is fast, although not particularly friendly - but I came for the chow, not to make new buddies, so I don't really care. If you're looking for amazing Chinese food, and don't mind paying a little extra at dinnertime (they're a tad expensive), you have to try this place.
(5)
Denise L.
Food is great! We always make it a point to order at least the sizzling soup, honey walnut prawns (sometimes 2 orders), and mongolian beef. This is not your typical Chinese restaurant!
(4)
Shanna K.
The food is good, if a little pricey. I really like the Imperial Soup (minced chicken, perfectly cooked lobster, and egg white in a perfectly cooked broth).. needs a bit of salt but it's so light and good. The pot stickers and chow mein are too oily for me, the lemon chicken very salty. (Not a dish I usually order but I've tasted it.) They are famous for their chicken salad. Elegant atmosphere. Clean. Friendly staff. Nice bar, plus some decent wine like Testarossa. One can certainly do worse.
(3)
Judy G.
Mandarin has the best Chinese food we have had anywhere. Our whole family loves it! The service is great and so is the food.
(5)
SJGal L.
Worst Chinese food ever! I have had a lot of good Chinese food as my ex in-laws are Chinese and we have eaten at many very good Chinese places in the Bay area. This is not one of them. We went with a large group from work. It has been years since I have been at a table and treated so rudely by a waiter. He literally barked, and never came back once the food was served. We were in awe of the sheer craziness of it all...."is this for real?" For most people the food was fair to poor. Most people didn't touch their soup of the day once they took a scoop, complaints of too salty, abounded. The staff didn't offer hot tea, soya or hot sauce, were irritated when more rice or refills on the tiny ice filled glasses of soda/ice tea were asked for and on and on. The group thought was "never again" and had the gratuity not been included we wouldn't have tipped a penny. Really awful all the way around....SKIP IT!
(1)
Erica S.
I went here for lunch a few times with coworkers. For $8-9 lunch menus, it's a pretty good deal. Each lunch item comes with chicken salad, hot and sour soup, and white or fried rice. We always share our entrees with people so we can try a little bit of everything. I would say it's a more Americanized Chinese restaurant, but the service is pretty good. Clean restaurant. Parking can be hard to find during busy lunch hours.
(3)
Cheryl P.
I was craving some sizzling rice soup so bff suggested dining here. Spacious and clean. A little empty - was strange having a line of bored waiters watching you eat. :P Sizzling rice soup was yummy, but not the best I've had - sizzle pop sizzzzle Lazy man's chicken lettuce cup - A little on the salty side but I'd come back for more b/c the waiter actually puts the mix into each cup individually on separate plates for you! Now if I can just get him to hand feed it to me .... Mandarin beef - tangy, a little spicy and crunchy Vegetable medley - aka Buddha's feast. Baby corn tasted a little funky. Dish lacked in flavor & freshness. Coming back in the future for the lettuce cups and to give the honey glazed prawns a try.
(3)
Uyen D.
Solid American Chinese food. The decor is clean and makes you feel like you're in a really great nice restaurant. The staff is Chinese and friendly, no one rushes you to order and provide good feedback. Fast to top off your water.
(3)
Heather P.
If my husband is in charge of the dinner plans, Mandarin Gourmet is always his first suggestion! He has been coming here since he moved to the bay area 10+ years ago and when we met 6 years ago he quickly made me a believer. This is some good Chinese food that will be at your table in record time. His favorite - hands down its the General Tso's chicken and the hot and sour soup. My favorite - definitely the hibachi prawns with lots of great veggies on the side. The lemon chicken is a close second, as it has a perfectly light luscious lemon sauce. We are repeat customers and are never disappointed by the service, ambiance or quality of food!
(4)
N C.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in the world. The one exception might be this crazy authentic hot-pot Chinese restaurant out in Flushing, Queens NY that my roommate took me to once. But you can't really eat there unless you're up for an hour-and-a-half subway ride and know how to speak Chinese at least semi-fluently. My family has been coming to this restaurant for like 15 years and the wild thing is we always request the same waiter now (George!) and he hasn't aged a bit over the years. I don't know how that's possible, but perhaps working at such a delicious restaurant is the elixir of life. Or maybe he's just got good genes. At this point, it's somewhat hard to figure out whether people coming for the first time would have the same experience, since George always knows what we want to order and he brings us a complimentary fruit platter at the end of the meal and then we tip him like 40%. Pretty much how it goes. Anyway, here's what we always order and it's always excellent: -Hot Tea -Mai-Tai's (usually pretty nicely spiked) -Sauteed String Beans -Crispy Eggplant in Hot Garlic Sauce (this dish is pretty much what got me to like eggplant after growing up hating it) -Ma Po Tofu OR Red-cooked tofu -Chow Mein, although I like the sizzling noodle dish that is kind of crispy and cooks when they sautee it at your table -I also occasionally get paper-wrapped chicken or salt n pepper chicken or lemon chicken or general tso's chicken. Try and get George to be your waiter if possible. And tip him nicely -- he's got grandkids now (though you'd never guess it from looking at him). Enjoy!
(5)
Angie M.
Husband and I have been regular patrons of Mandarin for at least 8 years. The food is great, service is good, and there is a good wine selection as well. We usually order the Peking Chicken and Chicken Chow Mein and that gets us plenty of food. Their pot stickers are also very yummy; I can really taste the ginger and garlic in them. The wine is decently priced and matches the food well, we usually order the Simi Sauvignon Blanc ($23/bottle). Many people have said it's Americanized Chinese, well, what's wrong with that?!? If nothing else it's a smart business move for them. There are TONS of Chinese restaurants in the area that probably serve more "authentic" cuisine..... why compete?!?
(5)
Joanna L.
Mandarin Gourmet is great, I love the food and I have never been disappointed with anything I have ordered. I do agree that it is "Americanized" Chinese but I happen to like that. The staff is very accommodating for just a family dinner, take-out or an office lunch. The service is always very attentive and polite and the prices are very affordable. I would recommend Mandarin Gourmet to anyone looking for a non-traditional Chinese restaurant.
(5)
Lisa C.
The food here is good - we generally order some combination of these dishes: mongolian beef or chicken, honey walnut prawns (they also make a version with chicken), sesame chicken, chang-sha chicken, crab cheese puffs, salt and pepper prawns. The size of the entrees is decent. As other reviewers commented, the food is more suited to an "Americanized" palate, but sometimes, that just hits the spot. I certainly don't mind! They are generally crowded in the evenings - we get take out so that's one way to avoid the wait.
With Nishanth C. back in action from New York (only temporarily), Lexi T. and I met him here for dinner last week. Call us Valley morons, but the signage on this place wasn't glaringly obvious enough for us, so we ended up driving up and down De Anza for ten minutes before stumbling upon Nish's car at a red light and following him into the parking lot. Trust me, this becomes useful information in a moment. So we go ahead and order all his favorites (sauteed string beans were fab), and truth to whatever deity you worship, the food arrived in a shorter amount of time than Lexi and I spent accidentally cruising De Anza. And you know what? It was good. As we were scraping our plates clean, Nish mused "You know, I'm so proud you're my friends right now," which made me feel quite lovely as I'd been getting flack for not finishing my burrito at Taqueria La Cumbre the week before (Nish kindly finished that 2:00 AM job for me), but mostly because I too know the feeling of getting verklempt watching your friends/family/complete strangers enjoy your favorite food just as much as you do. Sentimentality aside, the decor is quite nice inside and I admittedly felt a bit out of place in my Valley-Internet-Company uniform of jeans and nice t-shirt. It also caters to a bit older clientele, so our raucous reliving of highlights from our drunken escapades probably wasn't interpreted as angel's song by the families and couples around us.
(4)
Piya K.
The food is ok. Yes,Americanized Chinese, if you want to call it so. But they do it nicely. What I did not like, was the service. We went for dinner on a Saturday night at around 9:00pm. They asked us to order quickly as their kitchen closes by 9:30 pm, which was also fine with us. The food came in quickly as well. But then we had one of the waiter standing on our head, waiting for us to finish quickly. They also started cleaning up the floors etc while we were eating. It was as if they could not wait to close the place. The cheque came in almost along with the dinner. Needless to say, we did not enjoy the dinner any bit. Not because the food wasn't good, but because of the poor hospitality of the place. I will not go back because I can find the same kind of food with a better service else where.
(2)
Mary H.
Great for the Americanized standards, tasty eggplant dishes. The decor is much nicer than their San Jose sibling restaurant. Pricey. *Horrible* service. Hadn't been in a few years, so I tried it again after mediocre service before. This time, I was greeted with Insincere and borderline hostile waiters/host/bar/cashier. They made an obvious error when taking a phone order, then were hostile and rude despite my efforts at diplomacy. I won't be going back for another few years, it seems.
(2)
Audrey H.
The food is vile. We had lunch there today. The free "chicken salad" appetizer had strips of stale chicken. The hot and sour soup tasted like ash. my tofu dish was awash in gooey soy souce and the testure of the tofu can only be described as mummified. It's been repeating on me for the past 5 hours. Oh, and did I mention it gave me the shits? that's right. I thought tofu would be safe! If you have no taste buds and an iron gut, by all means, visit this place. Otherwise, run.
(1)
Tisha Dee H.
The absolute best Chinese food around. But let me also say that I don't even like Chinese food. Somehow I discovered this place about 13 years ago and have been enjoying it ever since. No one else compares to quality and selection! My personal fav is the honey walnut shrimp!!!
(5)
Robert J.
I enjoy the Mandarin Gourmet. So does my family. But, we're not exactly sure why. Maybe it's the subdued soft lighting, the clean tablecloths, an the tasteful Ming feeling ornament and statuary. Or, maybe it's just the friendly wait staff. And the place is quiet. And...we never have had to wait. We almost never see Chinese people dining there, and wonder why. While the menu is not extensive as the big Chinese banquet eateries around the Peninsula, the selection is ample. There are always specials, too. Wine list is minimal. The food? Well...it's OK. Be careful, a lot of "brown sauces" which duplicate easily across the categories. The portions are not large, but the presentation is pleasing. Service is swift and friendly. Price are about +$2 over your neighborhood strip mall Chinese. We like it, and keep going back. It's kinda like our "default" Chinese.
(4)
Michael P.
Have been a number of times. Very good service, very good food!! If you are thinking Chinese Food.... Try Mandarin Gourmet!
(4)
Eugene F.
Normally, I would shun going to a place like this, but have been invited out several times to eat here for both work and regular dinners. Food is so so, and is really geared toward the American palate (read: Chinese food for the white man) so, if you're looking for something super authentico, go further down the street to Ranch 99. Prices are also kinda high for what they are offering, as well. Clientele is predominantly white and more likely than not the Saratoga/Los Gatos crowd seeking some adventure outside of their town limits. Environment is DARK. I guess that they're trying to mask the food or something. Now, I know I'm being a stickler here, but I don't like the steamed rice there. It's a long-grain rice, but it tastes like cardboard to me. I prefer Calrose or Jasmine rice with my Chinese food ... they just serve not-so-good rice.
(2)
Mara T.
Not my favorite place for lunch, but sometimes I gotta go with the flow so I find myself here at MG for lunch with coworkers. I'm also not a huge chinese food fan overall, so I typically only go to one or two fave places where I know I love certain dishes, but at MG you can definitely find something to eat which your belly will like, so it's a worthwhile trip overall. They have a small lunch menu that is something like $8 or $9 with soup and rice, or you can order off the bigger menu if the lunch one is not tickling your taste buds. The food is okay, but nothing special. There are some things here that are much better elsewhere, like their honey walnut prawns. I love the ones at Tao Tao but at MG they are sloopy goopy covered in white cream sauce, not appealing visually OR from a taste perspective. I am also not a huge 'sauce' gal for Chinese and I tend to think that MG oversauces much of their stuff. Service is pretty quick, they almost always have seating available, and you gotta give MG props for being around the BayArea for so long as I went there years and years ago before I even had fully-developed taste buds to know what I was enjoying (or not). Decent place for lunch and/or dinner if you are craving Chinese in the Cupertino area. Would give 3.5 stars, but alas not an option so 3 it is.
(3)
A.v. N.
No, it's not "authentic" Chinese food like you'll find in China, for all you nit-picky Chinese food purists out there. But if you're not one of these people, and you just want a nice place to dine to enjoy a good-tasting quality meal, then you'll enjoy Mandarin Gourmet. The mushu pork is money in the bank. Definitely chew slowly and savor it. The chow mein is not so greasy like you'll often find at other Chinese places, and the walnut prawns are awesome (kinda hard to mess that up). Services was friendly and setting was nice. Decent place to take a date. Just make sure she's not a nit-picky Chinese food purist :)
(4)
Delia C.
I personally love this place, my family has gone there for at least 6 years. I think that the food has gone a bit down hill but other wise it is okay. I don't recommend the fried rise though, tasted like grease and vegetables. and try not to come to often as it is very expensive.
(4)
Kristen C.
My favorite Chinese restaurant--yummy! Not inexpensive, but great food, very clean (even white tablecloths), pleasant atmosphere, and friendly service. Three-Flavor Sizzling Rice Soup (shrimp, scallops, and even litle chunks of lobster, plus lots of good veggies) Crispy Prawns with Salt and Pepper (note: you can ask for them without the breading, which when they have smaller prawns in stock can overwhelm the prawns) Tangerine Beef (sweet and spicy) Eggplant in Hot Garlic Sauce Mandarin Deluxe Pan-Fried Noodles Changsha Chicken Wrapped in Paper (my mother's favorite--it's actually foil, not parchment, but the flavors meld nicely) I've also frequented the Palo Alto location, which has a slightly more formal feel to it--the only downside there is that they stopped using lobster chunks in the Three-Flavor Sizzling Rice Soup and replace them with white fish--it's still good, but not as stellar as the old version (which is still the version in Cupertino).
(5)
Karen V.
My family has been coming here for years, and we live in the Almaden Valley, so it's not exactly a short ride. Their food, service, decor, and ambiance are all outstanding. We're particularly in love with their corn soup and their Sesame Chicken. Nothing else south of San Francisco beats this for Chinese food in the Bay Area.
(5)
Nirmal S.
Average Americanized Chinese food.
(4)
Lisa L.
What Mandarin Gourmet on Blossom Hill lacks, this Mandarin delivers. It has outstanding food, a relaxing and pretty atmosphere, attentive servers and great variety. This food is the best quality chinese food I have had. My fav dishes are Mandarin Deluxe pan fried noodles (incredibly good!), tangerine beef, general tso's chicken and my latest try, the spicy green beans.
(5)
Maggie E.
Food is tasty, comes out hot and service is top notch. With a lot of competition in Cupertino, Mandarin Gourmet holds there own. Fried rice, honey walnut prawns and General Tso's sizzling beef are fantastic. Dining and bathrooms are clean and well kept. Staff is freindly and always anticipating your need for water, more food or the check. I love this place.
(5)
Adam W.
I've been a huge fan of Mandarin Gourmet for 15+ years. It's only a little more expensive than a typical neighborhood Chinise restaurant, but it is far, far superior. The dining room is elegant but welcoming and the food is the best around. No giant fiberglass horses, and the food speaks for itself. Some of the dishes are Americanized as most chinese food is, but it's much more tastefully thought out than most. As I understand it, they have a "secret menu" like a lot of Chinese restaurants do, perhaps for the actual Chinese customers. I actually suspect that they make some dishes differently (sweeter) for white people... especially the vegetables. The pot stickers are the best I've ever had. Big and doughy and have a wonderful savory and ginger accented flavor. It seems that my favorite entree, the Chicken Supreme, is off the regular menu but now on the secret menu (which I haven't actually laid eyes on) and they still make it for me. Ask for it... it's the best. Has anyone ever seen a cooler soy sauce pourer? I have to ask where I can get one.
(5)
Maryanne R.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in the area. It's a great choice for dining with a big group - we've done many MNO's (mom's night out) here and always had very good food and good service and the price is reasonable too. We ususally go over to Park Place in the Cypress hotel across the street for dessert after our dinner here. We ordered takeout from here last night for my birthday and it was good, but not hot enough. Leftovers today were not great. Their food is definitely best consumed on location.
(4)
Jenny C.
If you want authentic, run the other way. How do I know it's not authentic? 1) The hostess is really friendly and thanked me BY NAME! 2) They serve brown rice - which is a plus for me but when have you ever been to an authentic Chinese restaurant with brown rice? 3) One of their servers is hispanic That said, this place still has yummy food and not too expensive. Basically, if you want to eat Chinese food in an American restaurant, this is your place.
(3)
Keven W.
Definitely was not "authentic" Chinese food. For some reason my sister got conned into eating this sh*t by her friends instead of going to Curry House. But anyways the food was terrible and pretty gross. I took one bite and went to the bathroom puked that sh*t out. I am not a picky eater, but I have to say this was the worst yet.
(1)
Sujeet B.
The location's great, the parking lot is always accomodating, and their specials are certainly worth the attempt, if you're the cautious-yet-curious type. But I'd take two stars off for their service. Its not bad, just rushed. They're always in a hurry, and neither exactly friendly nor helpful when it comes to helping new customers with selections. That being said, Mandarin Gourmet is certainly worth the trip. I'd recommend a look at their specials before browsing the menu. We made some good selections off the specials' list recently, and I'd recommend the Basil Chicken in a hearbeat. The food's great, not greasy, and certainly not the kind that feels, er, "artificially enriched", for lack of a better term. A solid three stars out of five. The Cupertino place and the San Jose place are quite different by way of layout; in case you're equidistant from the two. The Cupertino one has an interesting exterior, while the San Jose one has a nice little "tucked away" feel with a roomy interior. Oh, and another reason they didn't make the five stars - they, or at least the people running the San Jose place; are quite 'strict' about the time. We went in once around the late eight o'clock hour of the evening, and it almost felt like our server was punctuating every sentence he spoke with "the kitchen closes at nine", or perhaps half past nine. After a couple of iterations, it was quite annoying. Oh, well...the things one does for good Chinese food.
(3)
Paul M.
Service was excellent and so was the food. In Cupertino many of the chinese restaurants cater more to Chinese people but I didn't feel that way here.
(4)
Lisa S.
Good, healthy and fresh food. It tastes great. Service is good. Really easy to get a table. Very good soup.
(4)
Michele S.
Everything I have had has been yummy. Love the tangerine beef and chicken. Have only ordered take out - but inside is nice.
(4)
Denis S.
This place has some of my favorite Chinese food, in a nice atmosphere, but for very reasonable prices. Anything with the garlic sauce is delicious, but my favorite has to be the crispy eggplant in hot garlic sauce. Also, their Moo Shi is always good. My friends and I have a tradition around coming for the last 6 years. Lets hope we can keep it going!
(5)
Brian H.
Mandarin Gourmet? More like, "Man, dare I? No way!" Never mind. Overall: 2.75/5 Very nice setting and decent food but I will not return because I felt unwanted and it is simply too expensive for the food. It would be good if you're on a semi-serious date or a nice family gathering. At least you will get a window seat because there were enough tables by the windows to fit all the patrons there to pad the impression of popularity. But who will even look? This restaurant is like the gorilla walking across the ball-tossing game--no one ever suspected this place to be there. The sign is quite faded, and this is the first time my girlfriend and I have even heard of this place after living around there for over 15 years. Decor: 1 Very clean and pleasing setting with decorations and classical music of the romantic period softly playing in the background. Large room with many white and empty tables. The few people eating there were quiet in general, hopefully not out of fear. Window seats are nice for lighting. Food: 0.5 x 2 Food tasted average. It was hard to eat slabs of meat when they wouldn't give us cutting utensils, though. Price: 0.5 $12-13 for dishes you'd find anywhere. There was a charge for a tiny bowl of rice that didn't come with my Mandarin Beef or whatever I got. The ball of rice was about the size of a baseball. However, I went in with a buy-1-get-1 coupon from Lockerz, so I feel I got the rightful price on the main dishes. Service: 0.25 Quiet, curt servers. Didn't give me a knife to cut my slabs of meat. The woman at the front was nice, though. And one of the servers asked me if I wanted rice with my dish. Perhaps you will get better treatment if you don't bring a coupon.
(2)
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Address :10145 N De Anza Blvd
Cupertino, CA, 95014
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
Kerstin W.
This is not only my favorite Chinese restaurant, it's my favorite restaurant, PERIOD. We have never had a bad experience here and we've been going to Mandarin Gourmet regularly for years. At the top of my list of pluses: they fill your water glass as fast as you can empty it. The dining room is always buzzing but never overcrowded. Some of our favorites are Da Chain Chicken (for the spicy palate), the Green Beans, and my favorite, the Sweet and Sour Chicken. A friend of mine swears by the Honey Walnut Prawns. The only bad thing I can say is that we eat so much when we're there that we never have enough to take and enjoy at home!
(5)Valerie L.
Mandarin Gourmet is like P.F. Chang's not as hip younger sister. The food is not bad, but not very authentic. We had a large party so we ordered one of the set meals which had many mainstays of your typical take-out menu: hot and sour soup, three small appetizers (spring roll, chicken in foil, and a fried cream cheese filled wonton), honey walnut prawns, kung pao chicken, general tso's chicken, tangerine beef, vegetarian chow mein, a mixed veggie dish, and fried rice. The upside of Mandarin Gourmet is that the meal was very affordable and the decor is very pleasant. Bonus points for paying homage to its former occupant by having a small Bob's Big Boy figure in the bar area.
(3)Loren g.
BARF BARF BARF! My husbands family have been loyal customers here their whole lives. My husband is soo nostalgic for the generals chicken from when he was a kid, so we drove allllll the way over to have lunch here about a week ago. I ordered the honey walnut prawns/veggie lunch special. It looked like a combination of BOOGERS and SPIT were covering my whole plate. When I explained to the server why I didn't touch my food he looked down and said "ohh yea I see". Then the owner (I think) came over and said "whats your problem" I said it is slimy and taste very gross. He said "ohh yea I see too much corn surup" He offered to remake my meal togo but OBVIOUSLY I was so turned off and nauseous there was no way I wanted more of their food. He did not take the meal he acknowledged himself to be nasty off of the check. NEVER going back.
(1)Eran B.
This place is great! The food is tasty and not as expensive as you think it would be. The service is quicker than many other places I've been to. It is definitely better than P. F. Chang's, and about the same price. Highly recommended!
(5)Jacqueline S.
this resturaunt is for americans who like chinese american foods. We ordered a bowl of soup for 4 ppl. and the bowls were tiny and it cost almost 18 dollars. food was salty. we ordered a beef dish and the waitress told us it wasnt spicy. turned out to be spicy. pretty expensive.
(2)Mayank R.
We went to Mandarin Gourmet after reading reviews on Yelp.. It seemed very nice when we entered the restaurant. We were greeted nicely and were told by three different people that it'll be just few minutes. The ambiance is great. I would give 4 stars just for that. The service was always with a smile, quick and courteous. Again 4 stars for that. We ordered hot and sour soup, and Da Chain Chicken. Unfortunately, the food wasn't at all we expected after the first impression. Hot and sour soup was too sour. Da Chain chicken, although tasty for too salty and the steamed rice was dry. I was thoroughly disappointed with food and would give only 2 stars. Hence an average of 3.. May be we have to go there again and try some other dishes. May be it was just an off day. Touche.
(3)Annie C.
Yes, it is not chinese chinese food, but the only american chinese food place I will go to. Please do not be fool by PF Chiang! I realy hate that place, why do people like it so much? The food at Mandarin Gourmet is so much better and it is cooked by chinese people. Unlike PF Chiang! I don't know, I can't stand chinese food not cooked by chinese people. I can just tell.... Good ambiance, great food, good service. Our favorite: Walnut Shrimp and salt/pepper chicken
(4)Colleen M.
Best Chicken Chow Mein. I love their Salt and Pepper Scallops and Prawns. I don't think I've ordered anything that I don't like.
(5)Samee M.
We were recommended this place by a couple of friends who just moved here from Israel. I was a bit weary given their lack of knowledge of chinese food. But, we decided on a Sunday night to try this place. It was very very good. The chicken lettuce bowls are a good small plate. Their beef chow mein was just right. I didn't love their sweet and sour chicken, but that's hardly Chinese food if you ask me. The service was pretty good, we've been here a few times now and it's been a bit spotty at times. Some of the small plates are big so be careful if you don't like leftovers! Overall I like this place and will definitely return again. We even drove from Santa Clara, so that's pretty much a ringing endorsement.
(4)Chan-Hua L.
Although this restaurant is mainly targeted toward Americans, the food is fresh and tastes very good. The restaurant is clean and the seating is comfortable. As a native Chinese, I actually like their food. True, the food is not very authentic, but I am OK with it. BTW, curry is not really Chinese food... One should go to an Indian restaurant for curry.
(4)Laurin A.
By far my favorite place to get Chinese food. Maybe I don't know much about Chinese food, but whatever they serve it's always consistently damn good. The service is always fast and the hostess is always very polite. Some may say that this place is a little on the expensive side, but I find it to be very comparable. Some of my favorite entrees include the tangerine beef (OMG whatever sauce they use on this is to die for), honey walnut prawns, and the kung pao chicken. It's also very clean, including the restrooms ( a good way to tell if someone is "really" clean or not)
(5)Kay H.
I've only been here a handful of times, and have enjoyed my experience here, especially on one particular night. That one particular night had nothing to do with the food, service or restaurant itself, but because of the amount of alcohol my friends and I had decided to consume on an empty stomach prior to eating here made this an especially enjoyable experience. Looking back, I kind of feel bad for those families with their young children who had to sit next to a large group of loud, obnoxious drunks. If this place was not managed by my bf's family friends, we probably would have gotten kicked out the moment we sat down. I agree with everyone that this place is Americanized for a chinese restaurant, but if you look at the crowd they are mostly caucasian. This place caters to those that appreciate good food AND good service. If you look around, you won't see those crude old men who pick their teeth in front of you and/or blow their nose on a napkin and later toss on the table, like you would in an authentic chinese restaurant. If you happen to go there on a night where I am not there being obnoxious with my friends, this can actually be a great place to eat with your family. I suggest ordering the lettuce wraps or walnut shrimp.
(4)Elyse K.
I took my daughter to the Mandarin to celebrate a birthday. We decided on Peking Duck, salt and pepper shrimp and fried rice. We waited about 20 minutes and the waiter brought out a simple roast duck that they cut up and put the meat and slivers of onion into a pancake. The salt and pepper shrimp were breaded and fried and put on a bed of green chiles. The fried rice was decent enough. For the fake Peking Duck, shrimp and fried rice cost me $65. You can bet I will never return to this restaurant.
(1)Amber L.
Let me start by saying that I dont really like Asian food at all, so when my hubby's best friend wanted to double date here on V-day this year I was not entirely happy, however at that point as long as they had wine and food I was up for it. First off it has a great atmosphere. Second of all, this person who does not like Asian food, now craves this food. I loved their salt n pepper prawns, honey prawns, mongonlian beef, broccoli beef, and best of all their crab and cheese wontons, ugh, I need some more of those!. Good size servings, great atmosphere, affordable, a great date place. I will be going back, I have 2 times since!
(4)Amy R.
The food was oily and overly coated with sauce. I couldn't believe that the sautéed asparagus actually had some sort of goofy cornstarch sauce on it! Many of the reviews complain that the food is "Americanized". I could have handled that. But the food was just bad. And the service was terrible too. The waiter seemed annoyed to do anything for us. The plate he gave me was dirty and he actually took it and put it right back in front of me. I don't understand how this place could have gotten so many good reviews. I wish that I could have given lower rating - zero stars would be appropriate.
(1)Tracie L.
Fantastic American-Chinese food with real Chinese waiters! The service is a bit spotty, but the food is consistent. You can expect to wait if you don't get there early for lunch. I love that the lunch special comes with a tiny Chinese chicken salad and soup with your entree, and once in a blue moon they substitute eggrolls for the salad. My favorite order is the Peking beef, which comes in some sort of sauce that you just know is really bad for you, but tastes good.
(4)Carlos R.
Service awful, food oily. Worst lamb I have ever eaten, chewy, rubbery.
(1)Victoria Y.
It gets four stars for atmosphere. The food is tasty but a little pricy.
(4)Michael L.
Clean, simple interior and is more fancy than other similar restaurants. My selection has been limited to what I know I like (beef), and I can't say that the food is terrible or out of this world. Clients seem to mostly be from local high tech businesses (Apple,etc) at lunch. Overall, nothing to rave about, but can't complain either. Service is ok and I haven't had a bad experience in my times going here.
(3)Renee C.
Lunch great! I would go again. Sauces were much better than most. I can't wait to eat there for Dinner.
(4)Sherri C.
Have tried the Cupertino location twice and found the food to be lacking in texture and flavor. The ambiance is nice, though. If you think I'm being too picky, try the Palo Alto location where I think the food is much better quality.
(3)Stan J.
Went there last week again, after a long absence, just so that I refresh my memory why I stopped going. The soup and salad were fine, but the main dish was pretty sad. It's not that it was flat out bad, but it was definitely not something to write home about. At Hong Fu just across Stevens Creek, you'll get better food, more of it, and for less money.
(2)Charlene T.
Good food, friendly service, never screw up. To top it all off, you can almost always get a table, even at 7 p.m. on a Saturday night. One of our favorite places.
(5)Jessica F.
I love the Chinese food here! The honey walnut prawns are my favorite and a must. I also like the chow fun, pu pu platter and Mongolian beef. The service is good, you feel like you're at an expensive restaurant but for a good price. Takeout is quick too. I've never had to wait for a table.
(5)Jennifer M.
This is a lunch time favorite of my aunties, so when she wanted to go to lunch and suggested Mandarin Gourmet I wasn't too surprised. We arrived a little bit ahead of the rest of our group, and though the restaurant was fairly crowded we were able to get a table as soon as we entered. Service seemed somewhat lax I had to ask several times for refills on my water, and it was over 15 minutes before a waiter appeared to take our order for appetizers. Given the prices and the semi-upscale vibe at this restaurant I expect service to be much more attentive. As for the food I wasn't very impressed with my "fresh catch" lunch special which came with Chinese chicken salad and a cup of hot and sour soup. The szechuan scallops were not tender and the sauce was not spicy at all, my honey walnut shrimp seemed overcooked and the sauce was off today. This is the first time I have ever had leftovers of honey walnut shrimp. My mom ordered the Mongolian beef, I took a taste and it was so tender and delicious. I seriously wanted to steal her lunch when she wasn't looking. I still like Mandarin Gourmet and will go here for the occasional lunch/dinner, but I don't think this restaurant is ever going to be one of my favorites.
(3)O to the D to the I to the E l.
If you like americanized chinese food...this is the place to be. I love every dish they have to offer. I know I won't be disappointed. Two Thumbs and Two Toes up.....
(5)ria p.
the best veggie chow mein in the area! the service is extremely fast and efficient and they are willing to make any dish just the way you like it it. try the sauteed string beans and the tropical prawns! they are not on the main menu but its delicious!
(5)Markus R.
We used to love this place until my brother got really bad food poisoning there. Although the food is delicious, it is not worth the risk.
(2)emilie k.
I love Mandarin Gourmet. It's close to work, so I go here for dinner often. George is the absolute best. He's remembered us since the first time we ever went to Mandarin Gourmet and is super attentive and friendly. The food, I'm not sure how to describe ethnic-wise, but whatever it is, I think it's delicious. The Pu-Pu Platter appetizer is good, and can usually substitute for a dish if you have 2 people. My favourite entrees are the Sesame Chicken and Hunan Lamb, and then after that, I like the Mandarin Beef, Beef and Scallops on Sizzling Plate, Mongolian Lamb, and Lamb with Green Onions. My not-favourites are the Lemon Chicken, which I thought was too sour, and the Crispy Scallops with Salt & Pepper, which I thought was way too salty. Overall, a really great place. I've been here countless times for dinner, as well as once with my large team from work. I usually have George, so I might be biased in saying service is fantastic, but the other waiters are usually also quite attentive. I definitely recommend for good food!
(4)Jennifer G.
this is the favorite "chinese" restaurant with all the whiteys i work with. they love the lunch plate special that comes with soup, salad and fried rice (even if you order noodles! mongo carb lunch!) i mean SALAD...how much more can you americanize the chinese dining experience? ok, so we've established that they're not exactly authentic mandarin cuisine. but you have to hand it to these guys for knowing their audience. they do a mean lunch business...the place is usually packed, and i've seen people waiting around half an hour for a table. i mean c'mon people...there's a panda express just a few blocks down...no waiting and they've got the same general's chicken and fried rice combo - for $3 less!!! now, having said all that, this place is super quick, clean and well run. it's also right across the street from work and no one ever has an objection to eating here ('cept me...jeez, there's sooooo many other restaurants....) i'd love to tell you about all the different menu items, but all i've ever ordered here are the potstickers and the beef chow fun lunch (i'm pathetically predictable) it's dry-fried and tasty - but i'd prefer if there was a bit more gravy. the hot and sour soup they serve with everything always needs to be doctored with more hot and some soy to balance the sour. so, in a pinch it will do, but if you're craving real chinese food, you might want to think about heading out to cupertino village.
(3)Kimberly L.
The food is good, but it is americanized Chinese food. It is a bit like P.F. Changs. I really don't like these high priced Chinese restaurants that serve mediocre Chinese food. I think I would like this place if they make it more of a FUSION type of Chinese Resturant than just making it Americanized Chinese Food. I guess, I am a bit critical of this place since I am Chinese and don't like to eat Chinese food that is so Americanized and Expensive. If I wanted Americanized Chinese food, I would rather go to Panda Express.
(3)Travis J.
I agree with everyone that the food is a bit Americanized. I came here because San Jose magazine rated it best food and I wasn't disappointed. Excellent service, great environment, and the food was great! Will go to again. Will take friends there. I don't understand under rating because Chinese food tastes American. The food is good, that's all that matters. If you want authentic, go to China. Da Chain Chicken and Honey Walnut Prawns are awesome!
(5)Andrea M.
Do you have kids? Do you even have kids about 2 years of age? Then this is the place you DO NOT want to go for lunch. My little one was hungry and we did not even get a menu w/o asking for it. The waiter seemed to be somewhere else but not committed to his job at all so we had to order more rice or some water at the 'front desk' Absolutely bad service!!!! Try Chef Chu in Los Altos instead. Great place, good food and always friendly and open for families no matter what age the kids are. They are not even bothered when my little one made a mess with the rice bowl. Enjoy!
(1)Sarah P.
Very good chinese food. They have lunch specials that give you tons of food (2 main courses, salad, soup, fresh fruit, choice of rice and a cookie). Their prices are kinda expensive ($12.00 for a lunch special), but you get a lot of food for it.
(3)Karen O.
Have never had a bad meal here..or bad experience. Service is always fast and efficient..food never disappoints me.. Ok, a little more expensive than most chinese restaurants but isn't good service and food worth it?
(5)Ceana K.
Good "Chinese" Food. This is totally "Americanized" Chinese food - but it's pretty damn good. This place has a great ambience and the banquet menu is a pretty good - esp. if you have a large party. I've been her for my wedding dress rehearsal dinner as well as a friend's b-day dinner. I would have to say that my fav. dishes are the walnut prawns, the kung pao chicken, Mandarin Deluxe Pan Fried Noodles and their crisy eggplant USED to be good. But they put too much batter in it now. This is a great restaurant if you want to have a large group. You can have a great meal at a somewhat upscale place, without breaking the bank. Don't expect to come here and get authentic chinese food - if you're chinese, you're a minority in this restaurant. Come to the restaurant expecting good food - quality ingredients and good service.
(4)Thao T.
I went here for my college graduation lunch and it was pretty good. We ordered several dishes and shared it via the lazy susan turntable thingie. We got fried rice, stirfry veggies, some crab soup, and my favorite walnut prawns. The food was really good bc I was extremely hungry and it seems pretty authentic so its a good choice if youre in the area and are craving chinese food. The service is ok but the food makes up for it
(3)Anthony J.
Very solid, fast service and tasty Chinese food. Good spot for lunch. Always crowded (always a good sign right?). Parking can get tough.
(4)Rose S.
Superb Chinese cuisine! My mother recommended this place and I didn't have high expectations, but that all changed at first bite. The meats were succulent and tender and the sauces weren't overly sweetened or terribly artificial tasting like usual. I highly suggest the Mandarin Beef and Sweet and Sour Shrimp. The Lemon Chicken was also very good. I had the plum wine, served chilled and sweet, which added a little something extra to my meal.
(5)Dan S.
This is why I don't want to live work in the south bay. Overpriced, americanized, and generally uncomfortable. They should trade the wine list for a better chef and a large supply of Tsing-Tao.
(2)yoogles e.
the food isn't spectacular or authentic, but that's not really what this review is about. i went here on two consecutive days. the first was for a business lunch with the rest of my office. since all of us are asian, the service was fairly attentive and friendly. i was impressed enough by the decor and service, anyway, to try it again again the next day with my boyfriend, who is white. then out came the claws. no refills. terrible food. a waiter that stood around and stared at us angrily. as far as i'm concerned, if you can't be consistently appreciative to your non-chinese clientele then you truly deserve the one star.
(1)Toshinobu K.
I agree with many people before me who mentioned that the food is not Chinese food, but rather American Chinese food. What I don't agree is their rating of 3+ stars for this place? While the atmosphere is nice, food is decent, and their service great, this is not a place to find "gourmet" "Mandarin" food at all. The only thing Mandarin about this place is on the menu; you can find Chinese writings on it. I can't even comment on the gourmet part. An easy gauge for a Chinese restaurant is to see how many Chinese people are actually eating in it. For this place, I hardly ever spot Chinese people here except the wait staff. While my experiences are good here, I cannot justify anything higher than 2 stars.
(2)Lauren W.
Good stuff, as long as you're looking for Americanized Chinese food. The honey walnut prawns are amazing... sooo rich. Good service, too.
(4)Zack G.
Simple but classy atmosphere. Great service; food is served quickly and accurately, water always kept full, flexible with food changes/needs, clean. But the best part is the tasty food. Sesame chicken and honey walnut prawns are my favorite. I have never been disappointed with the food or the service and have always taken friends, family and clients there with confidence.
(5)Miz C.
crispy fried eggplant in garlic sauce and pan fried noodles! im totally hooked and obsessed with the cravings to eat these things. great service, clean place, and not horribly expensive. good westernized-chinese is hard to come by!
(5)Mindy T.
We haven't had a lot of Chinese since we moved to the Bay Area, but this is a close, walking-distance lunch spot, so we've been here several times. They have a great lunch deal, including hot and sour soup, salad with thin slices of chicken, and then your entree of choice. We like the moo shi (or shu) pork, with the pancakes. We've also tried several of the chicken dishes and crispy beef and have never been disappointed. I've left with leftovers a couple times, so I got to enjoy the meal again later. We've never had to wait for a table, never waited long for a server, and after you order, lunch is out very quickly!
(4)Julia W.
Typical restaurant atmosphere, the food is darn good, especially the salt and pepper chicken. I'd eat there again ;)
(4)Leslie K.
Great choice for American-style Chinese food in an upscale environment. The surroundings are clean and pleasant and there is a full bar in case you have to wait for a table (or wait for your to go order). The service is prompt and efficient. The prawns with honeyed walnuts are the best anywhere and all of the other dishes I've tried were good. What I like best about this place is 1) the food isn't at all greasy and 2) the sauces all taste different. Have you ever been to a Chinese restaurant where everything tastes the same? Not the case at Mandarin Gourmet. The only dish I would not recommend is the Chinese chicken salad...just so-so. For the best Chinese chicken salad, head over to Tao Tao in downtown Sunnyvale. All in all, my Mandarin Gourmet is my favorite Chinese food in the area.
(4)Michael N.
Definitely agree with everyone else that says this place is for Americanized Chinese food. There was not an asian in sight when I went, until they seated us around the corner where there was one or two couples. The food was par, but not worth the price. Our waiter was a bit rude when we ordered because he couldn't understand our order, so minus one star for what would have been a two star rating.
(1)Bakman B.
The service here has really gone downhill. They have one of those rude angry old Chinese servers and a hostess who doesn't either understand English or doesn't care about return customers. We had to go up to her three times just to even get her attention, and the waiter kept on trying to push their set menus which we weren't interested in. This place was pretty empty despite it being the weekend and Chinese New Year, and I'm wondering if it's because of their horrible attitude. The Mongolian beef tasted burnt, the spicy tofu was bland, and their crispy eggplant was not nearly as tasty as it used to be. The seabass was good but the portion was small. We came to celebrate a birthday and brought a small cake, and they snuck a $10 fee on the bill labelling it "cook to order." When we asked about it, they said it was a cake cutting fee, even though they had not told us about the charge until after the fact. Most places bring a small dessert for the birthdays, but this place had the gall to charge for bringing your own celebratory, cake even though they don't offer one on their menu. We will not be going back, and will be looking for a nicer, more enjoyable place to dine.
(1)Raymond G.
i'll start with the fact that the food is great. whether or not it's americanized, i can probably agree to some extent. one thing about authentic chinese food is that they use EVERY part of the chicken, beef, etc. call me picky, but i prefer eating my chicken with all chewable meat. that's what you get at mandarin gourmet. they've taken out all the gristle, fat, and bones. the flavors are excellent in my opinion. my favorite is the sesame chicken and red cooked tofu. for veggies, the stif fried string bean is the best.
(4)Aravind K.
The food is quite good and the atmosphere is very elegant and bit more upscale than your typical neighborhood chinese place. I've never had a bad experience, and the food has always been brought out quite quickly. If you go as a group, try the poo-poo platter. Their honeyed walnut prawns are also fantastic as is the three delicasies general style.
(4)Sara S.
The pot stickers were good, and the cream cheese wontons were ok. However, I ordered the General Tso's chicken, and I'm not very happy with it. It wasn't REAL General Tso's Chicken. It's not the really good battered, deep fried, artery clogging, Americanized goodness I was expecting. It was like a almost healthy looking stir fried reasonable kind of dish. It wasn't fried at all. It tasted ok. It would have been good if that's what I was expecting, but it wasn't. It's New Year's Eve. I plan to start buckling down tomorrow and eating healthy and this was gonna be my last really good awful for you meal until then. I wanted greasy fattiness! That's what one expects when one orders General Tso's, right? Now, admittedly I looked back at their menu online after I got home, and it said, "General Tso's Chicken. Sautéed chicken with chili pods and red bell pepper in a hot and spicy sauce. 11.95" Well, I just saw "General Tso's Chicken" and didn't feel the need to read any further because I figured it would be the same kind of General Tso's I've gotten at a million other places, and not something that is obviously NOT General Tso's Chicken.. What the crap? How does an Americanized Chinese food joint screw up something as basic as that? Sigh....
(2)Soojung O.
Really great Americanized Chinese food. Wonderful service. Cons: bad sweet and sour soup & no substantial non-alcoholic drink choices Would I recommend? Yes. Am I returning? Yes. And my husband wants to bring his mother here when she visits.
(4)MiMi G.
Oh i love the food here. It was well executed. Service was great. I love how they served the food and they had clean toilets. The service was fast but they are not careful in pouring water on your glass. Water splash and doesnt care. Well maybe the waiter has a pretty hard day. Haha The beat honey walnut prawn in town. Soups are very delicious. The lemon chicken are very yummy. Much to my delight.
(4)Katia K.
He says that is his favorite Chinese restaurant in the Bay Area, so of course I had to try it with him. We came in at lunch and enjoyed the Honey Walnut prawns combo which was super good! I recommend picking their fried rice over steamed rice, as it is like none I've had before! We also tried the garlic sauce chicken and absolutely loved it. The portions were on the smaller size, but the food and service was great. Looking forward to visiting again!
(4)Veronica C.
The service here is impeccable. Truthfully speaking, especially for a Chinese place, their service is second to none. Our waitress was exceedingly polite and our food came out fast. The interior decor felt quite upscale, e.g. horse figurines in various motions sat atop each separating wall between the tables. I don't know if I like that though, since I'm partial towards authentic hole-in-the-wall kind of places...hehe. Food-wise, they've got a wide range of Americanized Chinese food. I ordered their sesame chicken and it was quite tasty. Although their overly sweet, glazed fried chicken did remind me of a chicken dish I had at PF Chang's. Makes sense as how these two places have basically the same concept. Pricing was pretty steep too, given that the portions were on the small side. Not really a place a place that I would frequent.
(3)Marc R.
Mandarin Gourmet is a very American-ized Chinese restaurant based in Cupertino. I went to Mandarin Gourmet with two of my coworkers yesterday for lunch. I wanted to see what their lunch specials were like, and to see if it was any good, given its close proximity to my office. We went in and were seated rather promptly. It took forever for the waiter to come by to take our order and to give us water. I had to flag him down to come over. Understandably, it was busy during lunch hour (I think we got there around noon-1230ish). I ordered the Tangerine Beef lunch special for $10.50. It came with an appetizer Chinese chicken salad, and hot and sour soup. The salad wasn't too bad, and neither was the soup. The main course (my tangerine beef) came out and it was served with a side cup of fried rice. The tangerine beef was tough to eat - the pieces were really large and chewy. The breading around the beef was a little soggy. As for the rice, the fried rice tasted a little stale, and it definitely wasn't fresh. I could tell that it was mass cooked and had just been sitting there for all of the lunch customers. My coworkers ordered the General Tsao chicken, which looked a little bit better than what I ordered, so I might try that next time. As for my dish, I wasn't impressed at all, and the service wasn't all that great. For a $13-$14 lunch, there are definitely some better options in Cupertino. I should have just stuck to one of my other favorites going down Stevens Creek towards Lawrence Expressway. There are better Chinese restaurants heading in that direction (Little Sheep, etc.). Anyway, will probably end up going to Mandarin Gourmet again with my coworkers for lunch in the future (or maybe during dinner to see if their entree options are better than the lunch specials), and I may update my review, but I will not be going by choice.
(2)Umair K.
Patrons would be forgiven for mistaking this for a dessert shop. We Came here for lunch (so we thought) and it was worse than we had feared it would be. The lunch special came with appetizer, soup, and entree. The chicken salad appetizer was overflowing with cloyingly sweet dressing. The chicken had seen better days and was stale in looks and deed. The hot and sour soup was mediciney with a muddy-swamp appearance. The entrees were so doused with syrupy, viscous, sugary sauces that the sesame chicken and schezuan shrimps needed mild excavation to be dug out. Even then the syrup sauces clung to them like an overbearing mom refusing to let go of a teenage child. Alas, even the garlic eggplant was not spared this treatment and was quagmires in the same high fructose high corn syrup. We had come in at 1:45pm and it was made abundantly clear that we needed to clear out asap. All the sweetness of this restaurant is reserved for the syrups and none for the attendants smiles (there were none on offer). The cook missed out on one item: the boiled rice escaped unscathed from the kitchen- so we at least had one thing that was not swathed in recently imported generic sweet Chinese sauce The fortune cookie said I needed to get away for the weekend to clear my head. If it had added "and mouth", I couldn't have agreed more.
(2)Amy W.
Service was good, but the food is just regular chinese food, nothing fantastic, nothing bad. I went for a family holiday meal, so we ordered lots of things, from what I can remember, chinese salad (too sweet), mu shu pork, mandarin beef, lemon chicken (sauce too gummy), walnut shrimp (everyone else loved this one, but I don't eat seafood), and chow main noodle of some kind. I live in SF right down the street from Eliza's so I am biased. This place is not a destination place for me, but I'll go along for another family meal. The fried dumplings at another table looks great, but alas we did not order them.
(3)Stuart R.
Horrible apathetic rude service. Not so good ... Nothing gourmet here. Tried 5 dishes and not impressed. No dessert. No manager visit to our table even though he was there. Do not recommend. And especially not an important business client lunch like today. Horrible and deeply disappointing.
(1)Evan J.
The worst service I've ever experienced. The waiter was cold, rude and rushed us. Very disappointed and will never return.
(1)Mandi T.
Wonderful Chinese Restaurant with a lot of Silicon Valley history. Little pricey, but worth going to. Fantastic for groups and families.
(4)Kavya T.
Awesome service, great decor and ambience, good for groups, and most importantly, good food! Honey walnut prawns! YUM! Also veggie fried rice, garlic fried eggplant, and Kung Pao Chicken!
(5)S V.
I love the atmosphere and service here. And I like that they have a separate vegetarian menu. However their vegetable chow mein is NOT GOOD. It was very bland and tasted like it had been cooked with meat. I do not recommend it. Waste of 10$. I however do recommend their vegetable delight. It's healthy and tasteful. Giving this place 3 stars because the service is good but the food is okay.
(3)T. C.
When I want something a little better than Panda Express lol go to this place.! The service is great, attentive staff. . the dishes are good too! Always plenty of seating and parking. It is pricier than Panda but i think its worth it Food + Service .. i would come back!
(4)Robert C.
We ate at the Mandarin Gourmet Saturday evening, arriving at 630pm. The parking lot was half empty, probably because everyone was staying home, saving money to go out the next day, Father's day. The restaurant itself was half empty, and we were seated immediately in a prime location right next to the window, overlooking the 8 lane De Anza blvd in the heart of Silicon Valley. . Great ambiance with ivory looking Chinese horse sculptures, tables with white cloth napkins, silverware, tea cups and water glasses with sliced lemons. We ordered the $18 Phoenix seafood delight, the $15 sizzling three Kung Pao Delicacies , along with 2 servings of brown rice $3. We had ordered the Honey Walnut Prawns in the past, and wanted to try something new. Service was excellent, with the dishes arriving about 7 minutes after we ordered, and waiters hovering nearby for our every need. The Phoenix seafood delight is the Chinese bird nest dish, full of broccoli, snow peas, mini corn, with shrimp, lobster, and scallops. Great dish, although the lobster was a bit overcooked, and not at all firm, but mushy. I love the crunchy vegetables contrasting with the seafood. The sizzling 3 Kung Pao Delicacies was chunks of beef, with scallops and prawns in a sweet spicy sauce. It was flavorful, and the beef tender, but in too large segments, requiring me to cut the meat with a spoon into bite size quarters. There were about 7 large pieces of beef, 3 prawns and 2 scallops, a bit disproportional. The beef and sauce overwhelmed the taste of the seafood. The food tasted good, but the serving size was average, and the bowls of rice on the small size. Pricey for the portion size. Even with the $13 Entertainment book coupon, the 2 course meal cost $30 to get out the door, after tip and tax. We would not come here without the coupon, as there are less expensive places to eat, with larger portions, such as King Wah and Ginger Cafe much closer to where we live 3 miles up the road in Sunnyvale. With the food quality and the ambiance, this would be a first date restaurant. LOL it was a first date restaurant for me, with a lady other than my current second wife, some 11 years ago!
(4)Mike R.
I've been eating here for many years well more than ten one of the best restaurants in town always an enjoyable experience.
(4)bonnie m.
This is the place I use as a standard for all other Chinese food restaurants. I still have yet to find another restaurant even close to how good this place is. I moved to sacramento and crave this place. Anytime I come back to visit or drive through town, I have to stop by this restaurant. My favorite is general's chicken. I have yet to find another place remotely comparable to how good their general's chicken is. Also it's rare to find a place that doesn't batter it,l in bread. Mandarin Gourmet truly is gourmet!! I also love their beef with broccoli, cashew chicken, sizzling rice sou, hot and sour soup, prawns, egg rolls, and honey walnut prawns. Literally anything you order here will be a treat and you will wish you had five stomachs!! Thanks Mandarin for consistently being amazing. I have been coming to you since I was a child and I am now 30 years old. You have never let me down, and are my standard for great Chinese food!!
(5)Miranda C.
The food and the service was great. Nice size portions and good for groups. I had the curry chicken and it was delicious, not over spiced. Lettuce bowls for appetizers were great. The egg drop soup was a bit salty for my taste though. Over all was great for a quick lunch.
(3)Rohan S.
Food was good. The waiter told us never to come back and treated us pretty poorly after tipping him 2.00 on a 15.00 bill. Service sucks. Learn manners !
(1)Ciao B.
We were hoping to eat here on Christmas day and called ahead of time to make reservations. The host told us that they don't take reservations, so we just showed up. When we arrive the host asks us "Do you have reservations?" How could we make reservations when we were told they don't take them? We say "no". He then proceeds to tell us that he doesn't have room for us and won't have any openings tonight. So we end up ordering takeout. While waiting for our food, just 5 minutes later, we see another couple come in saying they didn't make reservations and the host proceeds to seat them right away. Wtf?! I confront him and he just shakes his head and says "I couldn't have predicted that a table would open up". No apology, nothing. I'm still sitting here, H-ANGRY, waiting for my takeout...
(1)Tal H.
I've been going here since I was a little kid, and it's still my favorite place to go. The sesame chicken is amazing, the fried eggplants are delicious and so are the green beans. The corn soup is also amazing. There are a lot of items on the menu, so some of them are probably misses. But a good portion are delicious. My only complaint are their plates. They've had the same plates since I was a little kid.
(5)Arien F.
Last time I went here was 10 years ago, and I live within walking distance. Went this past weekend, and remembered why it's been 10 years - the service As for the food - very good, so long as you're careful in your seafood orders. Non-seafood, you can't really go wrong - quite tasty, in fact! Seafood wise, avoid the shrimp and scallops, as these taste as if they were frozen. From other reviews, it sounds like my experience here with rude service is an anomaly. Maybe I'm rude? Entirely possible. My service experience (we ordered their 'gourmet experience' consisting of two appetizers, two main courses); we sat in the center row of the main dining room, at one of the small rectangular tables: - we ordered appetizers, but minutes after these arrived, the main courses arrived as well. Not a big deal, but some time between the appetizers and main course is nice. Give us 15 minutes to enjoy and chat. But the real issue... - Waiter reached right in front of my face (I could smell BO) when placing every full dish and taking every empty one. No 'excuse me', no thought of going to the other side of the fairly small table...he walks right up next to me and it's an arm in the face, multiple times. - waiter constant hovering around the table.
(2)Jen K.
Came here and ordered vegetarian fried rice, sautéed string beans, and their sesame chicken. The fried rice tasted like nothing, the string beans were okay, and the sesame chicken tasted like it was soaked in chlorine...overall: Meh.
(2)Gabriel A.
This place has been a family favorite for 20 years. My wife's Argentine friends and relatives come and have to be coaxed into trying Chinese food (which is rare and unpopular in Buenos Aires). They have a meal they talk about for years after. Honey walnut chicken or prawns (if you like) is #1 awesome! Sesame chicken is great. Mooshu Vegetables with plum sauce (I call them Chinese tacos) absolutely great. And anything with the hot garlic sauce, broccoli, eggplant, whatever is fantastic. They accept the Entertainment discount book card for a free entre ( Entertainment.com )
(5)Maneet G.
Mandarin Gourmet is a nice Chinese restaurant that has some great food. I've been here three times already and loved most of the dishes. The restaurant is pretty dead for some reason despite the great food. Maybe it's more lively in the evenings. Here's a quick summary of the dishes: *Pros 1) Salt and pepper shrimp- This has to be one of my favorite dishes. The shrimp are big and perfectly coated with a crispy batter. Amazing! 2) Crispy Tofu- Another one of my favorite dishes. The flavors are delicious and the tofu pieces are like little golden pillows of yum. 3) Shrimp in Lobster Sauce- This dish is great as well and packed with shrimp and peas. 4) Vegetable Delight- Great dish with a nice assortment of fresh vegetables. *Cons 1) Seamed Ginger Fish- I found the fish to be very fresh but lacking in flavor. The dish was a bit bland overall and had so much cilantro on top! 2) Lemon Chicken- I didn't like this dish at all. The chicken was way too sweet and just didn't taste right. Overall, I really enjoyed the food at Mandarin Gourmet. I would definitely come back for the salt and pepper shrimp and crispy tofu.
(4)Alan H.
Everyone at my work (down the street) is completely obsessed with this place. We came here as a group and I was getting excited -- a good Chinese place in Cupertino I didn't know of? No... just no. This place serves heavily-Americanized Chinese food. And that's fine if that's what you're going for, but the Mongolian beef I ordered was overcooked and basically just tasted of salt. The onions on it were cooked to the point of having no flavor. My rice was dry. If I wanted Americanized-Chinese food, I would have gone to Panda Express, to be honest. If you're looking for authenticity, go down the street to Cupertino Village restaurants instead. Otherwise, I would avoid this place.
(1)Brian B.
The food was pretty good at Mandarin Gourmet. We ordered a large number of items: Hot and Sour Soup (awesome) Crab friend somethings (didn't have any) Sesame Chicken (pretty good) Sizzling General Tsao Beef (awesome) Chicken and Shrimp Chow Mein (pretty good) Steamed Rice (Standard) Tea (Standard) The ambiance was nice and the restaurant was very upscale. The service was good, but abrupt.
(4)GingerPye C.
We are here at noon on a Sat and the place was completely empty which was a warning bell. As suspected, the food is definitely not worth writing home about - everything was salty and doused in high fructose corn syrupy starchy sauce - yuck! I guess heavy sauces help hide the use of low grade meats and old veggies. For the pricing ($15 for pan fried noodles), you can find much better places to eat Chinese food in Cupertino. We were lured in cause I had a coupon for a free entree. Even though we had ordered $50 worth of dishes, I was told we hadn't ordered enough food to qualify for using the coupon (no language to this effect printed on the coupon btw). Not worth arguing so we just made a mental note to never come back here again. The service is good though - there were more workers than paying customers. I think this place is in business cause it's right next door to Apple; otherwise it probably would not have lasted.
(1)Debbie B.
My review is based on a take-out order last night from the restaurant - I used to frequent the Mandarin Gourmet in Los Altos (now closed) and always loved their food. So I decided to give the Cupertino location a try for take-out. I'm afraid I was very disappointed - I ordered the Kung Pao 3 Delicacies( more like the 1.5 delicacies) - it was supposed to have beef, prawns, and scallops in it, but was mostly beef (which didn't seem to be of high quality) and peanuts - found 3 prawns and no detectable scallops. I would have taken it back, but Iive a few miles away. Don't think I'll be stopping by here again anytime soon....
(1)Darrin K.
Like Taiwan Restaurant in Willow Glen, this is one of the better American-Chinese options in the South Bay. You're best served if you stick with staple American-Chinese dishes like Moo Shu Pork or Honey Walnut Prawns, which are mild but also rich in flavor. Those seeking more traditional spicy fare may be disappointed. Service is prompt and the restaurant is upscale and large enough for business/group lunches. You do pay a bit of a premium, but remember that this is Cupertino. Inflated real estate/rental prices beget equally high restaurant prices.
(3)Samrudha P.
The food is great, but the service needs to be significantly improved. They still take and manage reservations and walk ins using paper so it is clearly unorganized and confusing to the staff. I had a reservation for 7:15pm and I came in at 7:10, I was told my table was ready and I would be taken back in 5 minutes. Then a group of 6 who came in after me was told 5 minutes. The host comes back to that group looks at the reservation sheet, says "7 people?" a member of that group responds "not 7, 6 people" and then the host proceeds to lead them back. Then we looked at the sheet of paper and they had crossed our name off, so essentially I had just watched my table be given away literally when I was standing there. The service woes did not end there. Finally once we were seated it took over 15 mins for anyone to come and ask for drink orders or even bring us water. Once the waiter did come, he was extremely brash and not very friendly, the order wasn't taken for another 10 mins. The food did come and it was good, but again we did have to tell other waiters and staff when we needed some sauce, extra napkins, etc because our waiter was no where to be seen. We had to sit around for about 25 minutes after we had all finished eating for the waiter to come and ask if we needed boxes. Just FYI the waiter did not even come by once after he set the food down to check if everything was good or not. When it came time for the check we had to go to the front and tell the host that we were done and that we needed boxes, the waiter was MIA for literally the whole time. The food makes it worth it, but seriously they need to improve the service and the general organization and flow of the restaurant.
(3)Anita C.
Good Chinese food and willing to please. I placed a to go order and the man (I think he's the owner or definitely manager) was very helpful. He assisted me through the menu and helped me decide on an entree. The delicious: Hot & Sour Soup was killer. It actually has a good kick to it. If you need your sinuses cleared, have a bowl of this! The beef and broccoli was excellent. The sauce it's in is mouthwatering. Only thing some of the beef was a little bit chewy. The O.K.: The potsticker pork dumplings were way, wayyy, too breaded. The flavor of the pork was very good, although a bit too salty for my palate. The prawns with candied walnuts & cream sauce would have been much better without the thick, thick breading (once again). I would order from them again, absolutely, just modified a bit.
(4)Scott F.
The tangerine beef is very good: yelp.com/biz_photos/mand… Probably not authentic, but good nonetheless. I don't recommend the Peking beef: yelp.com/biz_photos/mand… the sauce is a very sweet version of sweet and sour sauce. Stick to the tangerine beef instead.
(4)Einar R.
This place is best "longer lunch" (i.e., wait-staff & appetizers) option for Apple employees within walking distance that I've been able to find. I very strongly recommend the "gourmet combination" lunch with honey walnut prawns and Mandarin beef. It's served with soup & salad to start, so it makes a great complete meal. If you're not up for beef, the honey walnut prawns n veggies combo is another humdinger - it's the honey walnut prawns that really makes this joint 4-star.
(4)Marlyn A.
My original intentions for coming here was to hopefully run into Woz, but no such luck. The Restaurant: - White table cloths - Dimmed lighting - Excellent service The Food: - Imperial Soup: Minced Chicken & Lobster in a creamy broth with egg whites - Sizzling Beef & Scallops: Slices of beef, scallops and vegetables on a sizzling platter cooked in a soy glaze - Steamed Fish in Ginger: White Fish (Talapia or Sea Bass) with Ginger, Cilantro, and Scallions in a light Soy-based sauce - Brown Rice The Verdict: - Loved the Steamed Fish in Ginger! Comes in two sizes if you order the Tilapia or one size if you order the Sea Bass. Get the Sea Bass, perfect for a small group of 3. It was light and fresh. The Ginger was not over powering and the sauce was perfect. I drenched my fish in the sauce. It was so good, felt like a home cooked meal. - The Sizzling Beef & Scallops were OK. The Sea Bass was the show stopper. Don't waste your time on this dish. - The Imperial Soup was like an Egg Drop Soup with pieces of Chicken and Lobster. Was yummy. Not a necessary meal starter but tied well with the fish. Definitely a good comfort meal. Overall: I may not come here again, but it was a good dining experience. Would have loved to seen Woz! A solid 3.5, rounding up for excellent service. This is a great spot for people who only eat at restaurants with white table cloths and have little regard for prices on a menu. #397
(4)Jesse S.
We've been here several times and always find the selection, freshness, and service to be excellent. The sauces are unique- our Lemon Chicken is fresh crispy chicken in a real lemon sauce, salt & pepper shrimp tastes distinctly of salt and pepper. Our favorite non-specialized Chinese restaurant in the area for sure!
(5)Lyena S.
For years, this has been my favorite Chinese restaurant in the South Bay Area. The food is excellent and the service is always outstanding. The menu has a variety of dishes - beef, chicken, pork, fish, shrimp. There are a couple of dishes that I have never seen anywhere else. There are always specials. The reason I like all the food is that is it not soggy. The flavors come through and not one is overwhelming. Chow mein is my absolute favorite as well as General Tsao's chicken. I also order Mongolian Beef, Shrimp and Broccoli (comes in a skillet), and Tangerine Beef. Soups and spring rolls are outstanding as well. The restaurant has sufficient parking. The atmosphere is very casual. Love the decorations - they set the mood. There is also full bar if you like a drink with your dinner. I often order carryout. They are fast and never once messed up my order.
(5)lisa a.
Never disappointed with the food or service. The portions are pretty large. Top quality ingredients. Last night we started off with the best pot stickers we've had and than ordered walnut prawns (large prawns and sauce was delicious), beef chow mien (my sons fav), lemon chicken (three filet chicken breasts), Szechwan beef (lots of water chestnuts with flank steak - one of our favs), mu shu pork and sautéed string beans (cooked to perfection) and steamed rice. There were five of us celebrating my moms 89th birthday. The was more than enough food and we even brought food home. They surprised my mom with a piece of yummi cheesecake with a candle. On other occasions we've ordered different dishes and the food has always been delicious.
(5)Dave M.
This place is neither great nor terrible. It's a little fancier than I expected, with white tablecloths and waiters in ties and vests, but prices aren't significantly different from other sit-down Chinese restaurants. The food is definitely Americanized, but not in the heavy, greasy way of a lot of places. The General Tso's chicken was not breaded and fried, but was good. Would eat there again, but won't go out of my way to do so.
(3)Curt W.
This the one Chinese Restaurant that we go back to every few months to enjoy their Honey Walnut Shrimp and Mandarin Beef. We also get the full course dinner with it. To me, this is by far the best combination of flavors on earth and I'm not joking. We don't go that often because of the price of the full dinners but it's really not too bad at about $55 per couple. If you are looking for the best Chinese Food in the Bay Area, there is nobody that comes close. Enjoy!
(5)Greg C.
Let me start this review by saying the following- out of this world amazing! As someone who ate here for many years before moving out of the Bay Area, it's the restaurant I NEED to go to whenever I'm in the area. The atmosphere is excellent; it's dark, but welcome. The wait staff is great; occasionally short with you, but for the amount of times I've gone, it's easy to overlook. Not to mention service is FAST! You'll be blown away by the turn time when you place your order. And then there's the food! My favorite dish of all time is the General Tso's chicken. The taste and quality of the General Tso's is second to none. Warning- DO NOT eat the peppers that come with the dish. You'll feel it for hours afterwards. To those that want the best Chinese food in the Bay Area, this is the place to go. I can't recommend it highly enough.
(5)Vivian Y.
Great place for Cantonese food and dim sum. Loved the chicken feet, fried noodle and other small dishes. Will be my go-to place if I crave for dim sum
(4)Anna H.
A Chinese restaurant located within walking distances from my boyfriends house and I've never heard about it? Now why is that? Well, because this place isn't anything special. My boyfriends mom was craving Chinese food and she decided to order takeout for me to pick up. Fifteen minutes after the order was placed, we arrived and our order was ready to be picked up. We ordered broccoli beef, chow mein, kung pao chicken, fried rice and regular rice. The chow mein was pretty good but had sort of a bland flavor. The kung pao chicken was decent but they put quite a bit of sauce in it. The fried rice didn't have much of a flavor to it like the chow mein. The regular rice was just plain terrible. Never had such dry rice before -_- The food here was decent overall but I prefer driving a bit farther from home to Chef Chu's to get better tasting Chinese food. Now I can see why this place had no Asian people in the restaurant at all! :P
(3)Rockey L.
Great service at this place. Staff is very respectful and polite. Ordered Beef Chow Fun and the Sesame Chicken. Both were very good and good sized portions. Very tasty but a bit more pricy than other Chinese restaurants in the area. Either way its worth it to eat here every now and then.
(4)Terb S.
I cannot tell you that this Chinese food was good in any way. It's simple and as basic as it gets w/ a flavor profile that's incredibly bland - which is an understatement. I swear that Panda Express is closely comparable. I personally would avoid or order a small dish and try. We are still talking about it - not positively - hours after.
(1)Mike S.
Going down hill ! Management needs to steep it up. It is Nice place inside. Service was good but waiter very Grumby Food use to be much better. Could not even eat all the the pot stickers way to doughy. Sorry not going back.
(1)Patty L.
First Impression: Chinese restaurant trying to be French with cheap decor What was ordered: Pu-Pu Platter (Spring rolls, prawns, teriyaki beef, ribs, paper chicken, crab puffs): 3/5 - Ordered this appetizer because of its funny name. It was an appetizer mix. Some are alright, some are not so good. Three Flavored Chow Fun: 2/5 - It wasn't flavorful and overall unappealing in presentation. Afterthought: I have high expectation for Asian food, so I could have been too harsh.
(2)Shannon N.
I love this place!! Service is so-so depending on who you get but the food is so good! The scallops are my favorite.
(4)Jess G.
Best Chinese food in town. Amazing fried rice and honey walnut prawns! My family and I always have a great experience here.
(5)J B.
Beware anyone who wants real Chinese food. This restaurant is for non-Chinese who love a bland dining experience on cloth tables with cloth napkins. I should have turned around and walked out when I did not see any Chinese seated and enjoying the place. The food has no taste. Lots of corn starch, though. My spicy dish rated only to the first 3 steps up to the top of the Empire State Building. Unlike real Chinese restaurants where each dish is delivered hot to your table as it is prepared, the food at Mandarin Gourmet is brought out together, all at once; so, the food is guaranteed tepid at best. The vegetables were cooked al dente---good; the chicken seemed fatty---bad. If the food were anything like the ambiance, I would rate this place 2 1/2 stars. Alas, though, it only rates 1.
(1)Alice C.
This is a solid Chinese place that looks like a P.F.Chang's but is a bit more authentic. They have a lot of Chinese dishes that you would normally see in a menu for any Chinese places. The soups come in a bigger size than we thought -- a small would serve 2 to 4. The dishes are pretty safe for a group of people, and taste decent, a notch better than a lot of takeout places. They also have a lot of seafood dishes that is a bit tougher to find (steamed fish, anyone?) The wait service is not super fancy but definitely better than your usual Chinese restaurant. I'd recommend this place for when your in-laws visit or for a coworker's bday lunch.
(4)Ozzy D.
The food was fantastic and the service couldn't be any better.I would recommend this restaurant to anyone who hasn't tried it.
(5)Jessica P.
Some of the Chinese dishes are good and some not so it really depends on what you order. Basic Chinese food in a nice surrounding.
(3)Alison A.
Great lunch specials, and fast service.
(3)R P.
I visit this place maybe once a year for the last couple of years. Was there last Friday evening. I've remembered it being better - food wise in the past. Decor is nice, pleasant, service is always prompt & attentive. This time we tried the veggie spring roles, Sizzling Prawns & the Lemon chicken The spring roles where made with a light touch, not dripping in oil, good bite but just lacking in taste unfortunately. The sizzling prawns, the sauce was more like gravy, kind of heavy and not a lot of flavor. it didn't get finished. My usual go to dish - Lemon Chicken was just average. It was missing the magic that I remember from previous visits. Don't know what exactly, just lacking. The sauce was good, chicken looked good, prepped good. Again just lacking Probably will be a while, check the yelp reviews and see how things are doing.
(3)Howell S.
Haven't been here for awhile but I loved their food, especially the seschuan prawns! All their food has been great when I've gone. :)
(4)Kimmy G.
Came here for family dinner for the first time. I was pretty impressed with their food. The honey walnut prawns was definitely a hit (thanks yelpers). The Mandarin beef was really good, and everything else was definitely enjoyable. The service here was great. They were attentive and on top of everything. The inside is nice too. It's quiet and has a good amount of room. If you are looking for a place to go with a group this is a good option. They also have lunch and dinner specials for groups. I would definitely be up to going to this place again and trying some of their other dishes. Until next time Mandarin Gourmet.
(4)Ling K.
Expensive Chinese American food!!!! I cringe every time my non Asian friend wants to meet up here. He raves how great this place it. The other reviewer was right... everything has a sweet taste to it. If I want awesome Chinese American food, eat at either Union Chinese or Ma's Kitchen. Plus it won't put a major dent in your wallet and you'll get tons of food to take home. 1 Star for service. Always very friendly. 1 Str for decor. Tastefully done.
(2)Melissa S.
Best Chinese rest. Ive found. Everything is good. The waiter I had the last time I went though was extremely rude and unattentive.
(5)Krusty C.
American-ized Chinese food. The ambiance is nice, the food is only okay. We got prompt service on a Friday night, but the selection was mostly a dumbed down menu of food that appeals to the American taste for salty and sweet. We had lamb with scallion which did not at all taste of lamb - more like pork. The garlic chicken was unnecessarily breaded and bathed in sweet garlic sauce. The best dish was the briased string beans, which were accented with onion. It was acceptable for this American, but a disappointment for my Chinese wife and mother in law.
(3)Mama J M.
I love the food at mandarin gourmet but what the heck is up with the service. All the servers and bussers are men which I find very odd and all of them are incredibly rude. I came here for lunch with a friend and the waiter was of super rude. He was short, distant and unwilling to help me figure out what to order my kids. The worst part, is that the owner was just as bad. Lunch stops at 2:15 I believe and at 2:30 we were the only ones left in the restaurant. We'd paid and were just wrapping things up, when he came over and asked us to leave. Really?? They serve lunch until 2:15! What if we had arrived at 2:15? Would we have had to leave by 2:30? I found it in very poor taste to ask customers to leave. My family and I eat mandarin gourmet takeout every year on Christmas Eve and I think I'll just stick to that. Food is great but I wouldn't suggest eating in the restaurant unless you enjoy being treated poorly
(3)Dorene S.
Coming here was a last minute decision (another place we went to was full) so I didn't have time to Yelp. If I did, I may have ordered the walnut shrimp as it's apparently a favorite. Unfortunately, what I ended up ordering (lunch menu - Tangerine beef for $9.50) was just mediocre. The steamed rice that it came with was hard and dry, and the beef was tough and not very tasty. For someone who likes Happy Panda, Panda Express or any one of the express Chinese American food, this place is probably a little better than those, but one should NEVER could come here looking for authentic Chinese food. The decor is nice though - and it's not at all busy during lunch time, so great for business meetings that requires more private conversations. The waitpeople are also somewhat friendly and courteous. KPI (Key Performance Indicators) ratings (1-5, 5 - best): Quality: 1 Delivery/Service: 3 Cost: 1
(1)Alix K.
I just moved offices from San Francisco (surrounded by amazing Chinese food) and decided to try this place because it had good Yelp reviews - yipes! This is the first time that yelp has steered me wrong. Way wrong. We each got a lunch plate (soup, salad, dish, rice). Soup was fine/good. Salad was meh. Both of our dishes were VERY sweet and breaded/fried. I tried to get the healthiest thing on the menu and ended up feeling nasty (and I only had a couple pieces of mine and one of his). Yes, I know Chinese food is not generally healthy for you but wow - this was over the top disgusting.
(1)K G.
The management and staff here need to read a good book on customer service. During our last two visits there, it was clear that they just want to get the most money out of customers in the shortest length of time while providing minimal service. We had just sat down to our table last night when the waiter rushed over and asked what drinks we would like to order. We hadn't even checked the wine list let alone gotten settled in. I asked for a glass of Kendall Jackson chardonnay, but was abruptly told that it is not offered by the glass. Instead, I was told to order the Testarossa chardonnay (at $11.50 a glass the most expensive choice) because it was "good". No other explanation. He was rushing me into making a choice on the spot. Not a nice way to begin a meal. I presented a coupon from the Entertainment Book that was good for one free dinner. Because there was a typo on the back of the coupon that listed another restaurant's address, the waiter rudely refused to accept it and argued with everything I said. He never once offered to ask the manager about the situation or be polite and gracious in any way. It was not my fault the wrong address was on the back of the coupon. The food was so-so. We had trouble distinguishing the meat in two of the dishes we ordered because the lamb and beef looked and tasted the same. The Honey Walnut Prawns were spongy and had a bizarre texture. We won't be going back. No restaurant that treats us this way deserves our business.
(1)Kaye T.
This is actually one of my favorite Chinese restaurants around the area. Most of the people who come here are employees from the companies within the area. I know their chicken dishes are.really good. I believe they were Kung pao ad tsing tsao? Lol. I really don't remember. One dish I will always order here is definitely the Peking duck!!! It's one of the most expensive dishes on the menu, but it's completely worth it.
(4)Philip L.
Awesome lunch special - had the Mongolian Beef. I didn't finish it, but I brought it home and it was still good the next day for a snack. It was also nice to have some fruit at the end -- not sure if that happens all the time, but nice when it does. Cold kiwi, lychee, and oranges -- delicious! One thing that confuses me is that people seem to complain about the service, but I've always experienced good service here. They're efficient and the food comes out at the right time.
(5)Glenn O.
I've been to the Mandarin Gourmet near Oakridge Mall and I believe that this is the same owners as their style of cooking / taste is the same. Ended up here for lunch the other day. Had a lunch special dish with Hunan chicken and mixed veggies. They use a very sweet syrupy sauce for most of their dishes and there is a lot of it. I like sweet sauces, but there is a limit on how much is applied before it becomes overwhelming and this place gives an abundance of it with their meat dishes. The mixed veggies has a corn starch based sauce which has a slimy consistency. It also does not look very appealing. One person ordered a beef dish which she could not eat. Too much sauce and tough... The interior is nice and the service was pretty good. But I don't go to restaurants based on ambiance, I go for good food. There are a lot of other good Chinese places in this area...
(2)Michael W.
PROS: + Solid chinese food CONS: - Kung Pao is a bit heavy on the water chestnuts Found out about this place from my Mom. She told me that it was a good Chinese restaurant with a twist. "Twist"? What twist? So we went to check it out. From the outside this place doesn't even look like a restaurant, look like a office of some sort. The sign is visible, in English, but does not have an accompanying Chinese name. When you get inside, it super clean and there is a fairly large wine selection on one of the walls. The walls are decorated elegantly. All the servers speak English and the menu is all in English too. The only Chinese character on the menu is the character for hot/spicy. The lack of Chinese writing in the menu would worry me, but don't be this place is legit. Here is what I have tried and my thoughts. Three Flavor Sizzling Rice Soup - Nice seafood chicken soup with sizzling rice. Good flavor and nice texture from the rice. Prawns & Honeyed Walnuts - Shrimp is fried perfectly and the walnuts are candied to perfection. GET THIS ONE! Sesame Chicken - Excellent, very lightly battered fried chicken tossed with a nice sweet glaze and topped with sesame seeds. GET THIS ONE! Fried Rice chicken - decent fried rice, nothing out of the ordinary. Three Flavored Chow Fun - Nice flavor and stir-fried properly. Steamed Fish in Ginger - Traditionally prepared good light fish dish. Sauteed Asparagus - well prepared asparagus, no tough parts. Imperial soup - Fantastic soup with chicken, lobster and egg drop. Great flavor. GET THIS ONE! I have been here many times and I bring all my relatives from out of town here. I am never disappointed. The chef here is very good and the food is prepared well. I have only come here during dinner, so I can't comment on the food during lunch time.
(4)Doug R.
Peking beef, green beans, and scallops are very good. I've been here about 10 times and have always been happy with the food and the service.
(4)Tin S.
Sorry guys. Not my taste. Many people like their taste of food and this does not deserve a 1 star. But WHY. Let me tell why. 1) My first question was. "I want a dish which does not have any sweet taste". They replied that every dish has some sweet sauce. They said they will have us made something spicy - The dishes that we were served were more sweet than sugar. DO THEY CALL THAT SPICY. 2) They were busy and not listen to anything that we say and were in a hurry to just take our order and not care for our requirements at all. GO TO HELL GUYS.
(1)Fil L.
Excellent high end food! great ambience for a classier look and feel. friendly staff. jumbo sized shrimp w walnut. lettuce cups are also great.
(5)Yelp R.
If the service is bad, it can not be compensated by food, in a restaurant. and food here was just about average. Service was bad. This old Chinese server named George came to out table, just had a bad attitude and unhappy guy. Didn't have any enthusiasm while taking order, didn't want to change greasy and gray plates (that were supposed to be white). 'Go front and talk to manager' is what he told us. Should have walked off, but our party was hungry. Never came to refill drinks, nothing. I might sound racist, but, the caucasian guy clearing up the table and plates had a nice demeanor and friendly.
(2)Lauren S.
Exceptionally foul. I ate two bites of my Moo Goo Gai Pan and then threw it away. I don't know if the chicken was undercooked, rotten to begin with, or what. (It was pick up though so I'm not going to take the time to take it back - but seriously disgusting). Now I'm sitting here at my desk on the verge of an anxiety attack wondering if I'll start puking any time soon. I figured I'd eat the rice with a little soy sauce on it since I'm out of options for food now - two bites in and bit into something that was not food. Pulled a black hair from my mouth. I'm blonde. FuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuÂuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuÂuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuÂuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu this place. How can chinese places in Cupertino of all places be so bad!?!
(1)James T.
So looked on yelp for "the best potstickers" because my wife and I felt like eating some good dumplings. Saw several reviews say they had the best potstickers. Well if this is someones opinion of the best, then they have different taste then I. These are far from the best I've had. I judge the first rime I go to a Chinese restaurant by a few things. 1) potstickers 2) sweet and sour pork and 3) the rice. Why these three dishes? Well in my opinion they are staples of the food, they are extremely easy to make and if you can't make the easy ones, how good will the rest of the food be? We started with potstickers. First off, in my opinion, when I cut into the crispy golden dumpling of goodness, the meat sound not be dark or red in color. Even if they are pork, don't get it and never will, so that's turn off number 1. The outside was crisp, loke it should be, but the inside had very little flavor and was almost to doughy. Second we ordered the poo poo platter. Good variety. It came with crab ragoons, foil chicken, bbq ribs, spring rolls and teriyaki beef skewers. Long story short ragoons were all cream cheese, rib and beef were tough chucken was good and I didn't try the spring roll. Lastly, pork fried rice and sweet and sour pork. Rice was average at best. Not bad, but nothing memorable. The sweet and sour pork (my daughter's favorite) was nothing but average. Fried crust wasn't that crisp and the pork was kinda tough. The sauce was strange. Not bad, but not the typical sweet and sour you would think. More like tomatoe beef sauce. Anyway, I was really hoping to find a new favorite spit for Chinese, but that didn't happen. The service on the other hand was excellent. Even the iwner came to our table and explained the menu. Didnt need the help, but it was nice to see someone go the extra mile.
(2)Sandeep S.
This place has really really bad food. We ordered some take out - Lemon Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken, Veggie Delight - and the food was just horrible. Lemon chicken was just plain chicken with a jar of lemon sauce. Kung Pao chicken was not upto the mark either. Never again. Never.
(1)Brett B.
Perfect place to go for a nice business lunch in Cupertino. The decor is of a very nice restaurant, however the prices aren't bad. If there is anything you must get, it is definitely the honey walnut prawns! They are so delicious!
(4)Ly D.
Came here for dinner with a party of 8. I reserved a table so we were quickly seated. I did the ordering -- 2 orders of Paper Wrapped Chicken to start, Imperial soup for all, 2 orders of Combination Chow Mein, 2 orders of Sauteed String Beans, 1 order of Sesame Chicken, 1 order of Hot Braised Prawns, 1 order of Kung Pao Prawns, and white rice for all. I've always liked this location more than the one in San Jose. However, I noticed that it was taking awhile for our food to come out. We were served the soup first and then all of our other dishes trickled out right after. The soup was good, we liked it a lot. When the waiter asked if that was everything, I thought it was but then my mom noticed there was no Paper Wrapped Chicken! He said that I never ordered it but it was the first thing I said! "We'd like to start off with 2 orders of Paper Wrapped Chicken" -- everyone heard me say it .. I got annoyed that he kept telling me I didn't order it when I clearly did. Whatever. He brought it out about five minutes later. Back to the food. The Combination Chow Mein was really good, it didn't taste like it was drenched in oil like other places. I've always loved their Sauteed String Beans and they were consistent that night. My favorite dish had to be the Sesame Chicken! I was afraid it would be too sweet but it was done very nicely. The Hot Braised Prawns were also really good. The Kung Pao Prawns were just okay to me, I wouldn't order that again. It was packed with water chestnuts and not enough prawns. A big disappointment was the rice. How could you mess up rice? I don't know but it had a weird texture, definitely not how I eat my rice. The Paper Wrapped Chicken was VERY salty ): It's usually done so well but I guess it just depends on the night. The experience was nice and the food was good. I'm definitely coming back for more Combination Chow Mein, Sauteed String Beans & Sesame Chicken!
(4)Adrianna C.
First off I'd like to start by saying that this was one of the worst experiences (in regards to customer service) my boyfriend and I have had at a restaurant. My boyfriend and I are San Jose locals and usually dine at the Mandarin Gourmet in south San Jose (which i would give them 5 stars for service and food), we happened to be in the Cupertino area over the weekend and thought we'd give this place a shot, especially since they had a similar menu to the other Mandarin Gourmet. The restaurant itself is pleasant, seemed to be very modern and clean. Our server walked up to the table with no greeting at all, except "do you know what you want?", we ordered, he brought out the food in a timely manner, but disappeared after that. He never came to check on us, see if we needed anything, etc. I would also like to point out the majority of patrons there that night were older middle aged people, who did appear to have money, with that being said my boyfriend and I noticed that he was noticeably more attentive to those guests and not to us. My boyfriend waved down another server to ask for the check and boxes, that server responded by saying "i have to get your waiter". Never happened!! So i flagged down the owner or manager and he immediately took our dishes, packed them up and brought out the check. The whole service experience was terrible. The food was nothing special, as a matter of fact it was very bland. We will not be dining here again. We will continue to take our business to the Mandarin Gourmet in South San Jose!
(1)Vivian A.
Came here for a work sponsored lunch with colleagues. Glad I did because for the average price per dish (around $15), the portions were really small. We ordered family style dishes, so that we all can have a little taste of everything, but the 'family style' size was barely enough for one spoonful for 3 people (and considering we had a party of 15, those plates didn't go very far). We ordered: Prawns with Honey Walnut : Probably their best dish. We ordered two plates thinking that would be enough, but like I said, portions are small. I think only half the table got a shrimp each (The other half just yelled at those that did). We ended up ordering more to appease the other side - 4 plates total. Sea Bass with something: I wish I could tell you what it was with. We could make out that it was fish, so that's why we knew, and it was good. But again, heavily doused with thick sauce, which I think, ruined the delicate taste of the fish. It was moist and melt-in-your-mouth though, after you scrape off all that sauce..... Chinese Chicken Salad Sesame Chicken Mongolian Beef Beef with Broccoli Chicken with Cashews Kung Pao Chicken Tofu with Vegetables Lettuce Chicken Wraps I wish I could rate the other dishes but... we couldn't make out what dish was what: although tasty, the dishes were heavily fried and heavily doused with thick sauce. I was able to tell what we ordered 'cuz I was lucky enough to be sitting by the girl ordering for the group. What's worse, the flavors all started blending in together. We couldn't tell if it was a chicken plate.. or a beef plate. They go really heavy on the thick sauce and the sauces are all really sweet. So it helps to have extra rice on hand: 1) because the plate your ordered won't have enough food and 2) you'll need the rice to dilute the overly-sweet sauce. What's good is that they have an option for brown rice! Yaaay! The dishes are small but the ambiance is nice. The dishes are mainly deep fried, can't-tell-what-I'm-putting-in-my-mouth heavily doused overly sweet sauces but the two that were good (Seabass and Honey Walnut Shrimp) are spot on. Solid 3 stars.
(3)Neil V.
Simply amazing food and fantastic service. The wait staff is always on top of everything. We have been coming to Mandarin Gourmet for years and the food and service only gets better.
(5)Tamiko B.
Good Chinese, it is what I'd call above the average Americanized fare in quality. My friend and I were really treated well and welcomed warmly on a recent evening. Now I almost DON'T want to go back because if I get bad service the next time I visit...the reviews of bad service kind of scare me into going again!!! A really good reason that we were treated well might be because Steve Wozniak was there with a dinner companion, sitting right next to us. LOL We had the Pu-Pu Platter, General Tso's beef, vegetable fried rice and string beans...while the food and the restaurant are beautiful, very appetizing to the eye and the palate, the prices are more than I'd usually pay. My husband had some of the fare (leftovers) and said that it wasn't any better or any worse than the cheaper places that we've eaten. On a humorous note, it was Cinco De Mayo and they made MARGARITAS for us with salt!!! Straight ones that were soooooo good. Will go for special occasions; I love Chinese food but will stick to the lower-cost places that I love so much. Although the prices were higher, there was enough food left over for 2 more meals!!!
(4)Kriti R.
God knows why this place doesn't get better ratings... The food is great! Especially for Indians and Vegetarians. My dad and grandparents are vegan so this is one of the few non-Indian restaurants we can take them out to where they have plenty of options. Caught Steve Wozniak eating here too - gets the Apple stamp of approval! Gotta love Cupertino... Vegan: -They make the hot & sour soup vegan! Make sure you tell them no egg, meat, or seafood specifically though. It's still pretty good. -Sauteed String Beans - 3 stars. Nothing too special about this, but they try to make it flavorful. -Eggplant in Hot Garlic Sauce - BOMB.COM!! Love this dish. -Crispy Garlic Egglant - my vegan side of the fam's absolute fav -Vegetable Delight - I think they put crack in their sauces cuz they make the veggies taste so bomb. And they include a TON! They aren't stingy on the portions :) -Tofu with vegetables - I'd give this 3 stars. I'm not a huge fan of their tofu dishes, but my family still loves it so maybe I'm just weird. -Vegetable Pan Fried Noodles - THIS IS MY FAVORITE! If you've ever tried Chop Suey from India, this totally reminds me of that. Crispy noodles with sizzling sauce and plentiful veggies... what's not to like? Non-Veg: -Hot & Sour Soup - 5 stars! I love it here. They make it just the right amount of spicy :) -Wor Won Ton Soup - 3 stars. Kind of bland for me, couldn't finish it. -Chang Sha Chicken in Paper - 5 stars!! Chicken with hot garlic sauce is never something you want to miss out on. I LOVE water chestnuts and they include little pieces of it, which I like. -Chicken with Cashews - 5 stars! Their sauces for the poultry dishes are phenomenal! It really appeals to my Indian tastebuds at least :) -Kung Pao Chicken - 4 stars, good but not great. Go for the dishes with the garlic sauces! -Sweet & Sour Chicken - 2 stars. I might be a bad judge for this dish because I don't like sweet chicken, so feel free to try your luck. -Fried Rice - Tastes SOOOO good with the entrees. Definitely order this over the white rice. -Mandarin Pan Fried Noodles - same rating as the veggie version! Any of the pan-fried noodle dishes are a must order at this place :) If you're vegan or vegetarian, don't miss out on this place! They have a fantastic selection of food and it's all packed with flavor. It definitely appeals to the Indian taste buds since I see at least one Indian family there during every visit! Service has always been 5 stars and I've been coming here for 6 years now.
(5)Kristin K.
I love their lunch takeout. Its super fast and they always do a good job packaging your food. For example, I order the fried tofu, and they poke holes in the lid so that the steam doesnt make your tofu soggy. Its great! They also have honey walnut chicken which I cant find anywhere else! My fiance loves honey walnut prawns but I dont eat prawns so its the best of both worlds for us. I have never actually eaten at the restaurant, so I cant say anything about their service or how things taste there, but for takeout I would highly recommend. Portion sizes are huge, food is packaged up really well, and it is ready in like 10 mins (thats less time than it takes me to hang up the phone, get in my car and drive there!). Prices are pretty good too, so we can order a few dishes and split them and not feel like we spent a ton of money for lunch.
(4)Allen S.
First, I liked that the service was prompt and visited a lot to fill up the water. The food came quickly. I had the combination lunch - - - Mandarin beef and prawns with honeyed walnuts, side of fried rice and a side salad) and everything was tasty. The honeyed walnut prawns were sweet and the walnuts were great (not bitter). The mandarin beef was also sweet, and it was kind of like the Chinese version of chicken fried steak but instead of gravy, it was covered in a sweet golden/red glaze. I liked the food. It was not too expensive for "gourmet". I am the "fried rice police" and I rate their fried rice at a 3 out of 10. It should have been so easy for a Chinese restaurant. If their fried rice was of better quality (softer, fresher, and hotter), I would have increased my overall Yelp star rating.
(3)Chers S.
I work fairly close to this establishment and one of my coworkers wanted to have our holiday luncheon at Mandarin Gourmet. The service is a bit off... our server seated us right away but he was pretty rude/demanding when taking our order. The soup and salad came out really fast but I'm sure that's all pre-prepared in the back. The regular lunch entrees are a decent size for around $10-12. Order the lunch combination if you prefer some veggies with your meal otherwise it will be rice + meat. I ordered the Tangerine Beef - white version of chinese food- which was surprisingly fried and tasty. It was so difficult to get a take out box. I asked multiple servers and it took 4 attempts before I was finally given a box. I almost gave up.
(3)Will S.
Went there after the wwdc 2013 keynote. Lunch special. Good soup and entree with sweet brown sauces. Was better than I remembered. Saw Woz as we were leaving. +1 star for celebrity sighting.
(4)Janine K.
I've been eating here since I can remember and it's pretty good. The restaurant itself is really nice and exceptionally clean. Tables are nicely spread out so you don't feel cramped in like animals. The waiters are very attentive, lots of water refills (something I always look our for!). I would definitely recommend this place for any kind of dinner, whether it be a dinner for two, a family dinner or a business function. Around lunchtime, you'll find it to be pretty crowded, mostly with the business crowd from the neighboring business. Parking can be pretty bad here since the lot is petite, but there is street parking pretty close. The food at Mandarin Gourmet is hit or miss. Some things are really good and some are just whatever. Some of the beef dishes can be pretty tough and sometimes over cooked, so order with caution! Overall the food here is pretty good, but pretty standard. You're not going to find anything interesting here, just your usual Chinese dishes.
(3)Chris A.
Looking for a new Chinese Restaurant after a disappointing experience with our local. Unfortunately Mandarin Gourmet is not going to become our new favorite. The food was bland at best and tasted like ketchup was a main ingredient on a couple of dishes. I guess we need to keep looking...
(2)Lily L.
This is an Americanized Chinese restaurant. Don't expect authentic Chinese food. With that said, the food is good and is preferred by many Americans. The best deal is their lunch special (~$12). It comes with an entrée, a choice of steamed or fried rice, and a small salad with a nice house dressing that I've only seen served here. My favorites are the Tangerine Beef and General's Chicken. There are many other dishes that are good as well. The atmosphere is nice. It is quieter than the average Chinese restaurant and is much cleaner looking (they have white table cloths). The service feels very mechanical but it is efficient. Lots of business lunches here.
(3)Sheri S.
The food here is very good, with high quality ingredients especially the egg roll, golden battered prawn, tangerine beef, and prawns with cashews. Prices are a bit higher than most other quality Chinese restaurants but the ambiance is upscale. There are several major negatives: 1. The lemon chicken was tasteless with very little sauce. All 5 of us did not like it. 2. The waiter was not very friendly or helpful. 3. Upon leaving the restaurant around 8:30pm, no one thanked us for coming or even said goodnight. There was a man at the cash register at the front desk who was counting the money and could not be bothered to look up. 4. The walkway along DeAnza in front of the restaurant and around the right side to the parking lot is very dark. How about some small lights put in the grass? My motherinlaw who uses a walker was afraid as she could hardly see. 5. The sign in front of the restaurant is very difficult to see and read at night-even though we have been here several times before, we passed the restaurant by. This used to be our second favorite restaurant in the south bay, but we will probably try others rather than come back if these items aren't corrected.......
(3)Alisha Y.
It has been years since I have had dinner here with the family. We ordered the Kung Pao Chicken, Mongolian Beef, and Broccoli with Hot Garlic Sauce. I love garlic so I had some great hopes for the broccoli with garlic sauce. It was okay, not too great. The Kung Pao Chicken tasted on point. It tastes how Kung Pao should taste! All the flavors are there. I didn't care much for the beef since I am not a beef eater. I would come here again but not anytime soon. Great ambiance though!
(3)Sheeva G.
I've been coming here for years and I really enjoy this place. I wouldnt necessarily say it's the best chinese food out there, but if you're craving it, you won't be disappointed. I've been to the SJ location with the bf also, but I have to like the one closer to my house for obvious reasons :). I have had multiple things on the menu, but my favorites are the kung pao chicken and the mongolian beef. It's my local go-to chinese place for sure.
(4)Jessica C.
I come here for their awesome service and large portions, but mostly for the: honey walnut prawns. honey walnut prawns. honey walnut prawns. honey walnut prawns. honey walnut prawns.
(5)Tony R.
The average 3.5 stars rating that Mandarin Gourmet currently has is about right on the money. I have been to this location and the San Jose location, this one is my favorite of those two, never been to the Palo Alto location however. Like most other restaurants, this place has its high points and its low points. To start off with the good, most of the dishes here are above par, the basics like the fried rice, beef and broccoli, chicken or beef chow mein are delicious. But believe me when I say that the honey walnut prawns are a must have, I could probably eat a whole order of them to myself, and I'm not lying. The prawns don't really have a "fishy" taste to them like some that can really overpower or kill the taste, and the sauce that accompanies the prawns is not too sweet, has a good balance, and compliments the prawns very well. Now with the good, comes the bad, or the "just whatevers". The waiters rarely come to your table to check on you, and they don't ever refill your drinks. Most of the dishes here are served as family dishes, so large portions, the prices range from about $12-$18 per dish on average. Unfortunately you're not gonna love everything on the menu, I've had lemon chicken before, but the lemon chicken from Mandarin Gourmet is not one of their best dishes, the smell reminds me of Pine Sol. I also do not recommend the crab cheese puffs, the taste was too fishy and killed the puffs. The food here is pretty decent, but I wish it wasn't as expensive, or you didn't have to buy their dishes in such large portions. FYI, I docked a star because of the price.
(3)Sagar A.
I visited this place today for dinner as its was one of my friend's birthday. I was expecting (5 star) a lot better than what I have experienced. But food was good, would recommend anyone up for a nice chinese place for hang out. For appetizers we ordered crab cheese puff & golden battered prawns, which were right on, too good. Then it was sweet & sour soup, which was little burned on the pan I suppose as we can taste it.. Main entrees were good all of them (Mangolian Lamb, Changsha Chicken Wrapped in Paper (5/5), Prawns with Lobster Sauce), look at the pics I uploaded. Surely one of good chinese place around. They also have a full bar & a great wide choice of wines :)
(4)Shana W.
A Chinese girl from San Francisco with A LOT of diverse culture type of foods, sorry Mandarin Gourmet, you deserve 2 stars. Mandarin Gourmet totally reminds me of an upscale of Panda Express. Sorry! But why lie right? Prices here are EXTREMELY over priced for the type of food that you are ordering. To top it off, the food here is super loaded with sauces....NO BUENO :-( They give you small portions for the prices that you pay for. I was totally disappointed that I tried to use my Chinese skills with one of the Chinese workers and he totally didn't understand me. What a shame! The only reason why I am giving Mandarin Gourmet 2 stars is because they were clean and in a nice area of Cupertino. Don't think I'll be back.
(2)Marissa F.
This restaurant has gotta be one the nicest Chinese restaurants in the bay. It's squeaky clean, the decor is simple yet classy, and the servers are attentive and well-dressed. I also appreciated the lemon slice in my water (love that!) and the fact that they have a full bar. For those things, I'll award this place 3 stars. Minus 2 stars because I wasn't a fan of the food. It's Americanized Chinese food, definitely not authentic Chinese fare. None of the seven dishes we ordered were very flavorful and were just average at best. We had a decent amount of food leftover and nobody jumped at the opportunity to take the stuff home. That sooooo would not be the story if we had been at East Lake, New East Lake, or Ocean Palace. I did enjoy my fortune cookie though....maybe because it was made elsewhere. P.S. If you're looking to dine at a Chinese restaurant where the only Asian people are the employees, then you gotta hit up this spot!
(3)Al C.
Much better Chinese food than any other place I've been to in Silicon Valley...and borderline ok to take the kiddies. Full bar which is a big plus especially on a Friday night. The service is well-above average and the food is also a strong point. Not a super crowded or noisy/fast environment you'd expect at a typical Chinese restaurant...a good place to slowly enjoy your food.
(4)Mike D.
We have been going here for years.... The food is wonderful, the wait staff very friendly and the atmosphere very enjoyable. In fact, it is a special place where we have celebrated many family events such as Daughters engagement, birthdays, girls off to college, etc. As for the food, everything is great, but my favorites are Pupu Platter appetizers Honey Walnut Prawns Tangerine Beef Special Chowmein Lemmon Chicken Twice cooked Pork ....... I should stop here, as I found myself going thru ALL my favorites. Hope you enjoy this place as much as our family does..
(5)Chesley H.
This is by far the best Chinese restaurant in the Bay Area. Plus, it's the classiest looking Chinese restaurant around. White table cloths, nice statues, nice painting on walls. My favorite dishes are: Prawns with honey walnuts, Sesame chicken, Tangerine beef, Chang Sha chicken. Everyone I bring here loves the food. The service is great and they have the best busboys (for lack of a better term) in town. They fill up your water glass faster than you get anywhere and are always attentive.
(5)Chris J.
Fantastic Chinese, and solid service. Went with a fairly large group and did family-style dining, and virtually every single dish was fabulous. I'd go back--if I were to be in Cupertino for dinner again.
(4)Archie R.
Food: Vegetarian chow -mein. Amazing . Will keep me coming here. I love the ambiance of this place. The service is good and attentive. A nice dining experience .
(3)Stephanie A.
This is one of my favorite lunch spots in the area: clean restaurant, decent lunch special, good service, tasty food. You can say their food is not authentic, that it is "Chinese like", that the "Chinese" is only in the food's name, that it is an Americanise food, you can say all that, but for me it works great. Their food is a combination of Chinese ingredients and western cooking. The restaurant made an adaptation to the taste of a non-Chinese people like me who want to have "Chinese" in their food's name but won't be able to handle it if we get the real deal. People like me, who can not handle the authentic food but want to say "Chinese" when they speak about their lunch, we come to Mandarin Gourmet. I am proud to be an "American Chinese" eater, I like it :-) Only minus - It can get crowded at lunch.
(4)David S.
I like this restaurant. My favorite dish is the prawns with walnuts. Very tasty. This place is kinda fancy, not your typical Chinese restaurant, so make sure to dress up a bit. It's also great for large groups. I once celebrated an event with family here, they gave us our own section and good service. Overall, great Chnese restaurant.
(5)Mark B.
My favorite Cupertino Chinese food, some dishes a bit sweeter than other restaurants, which I like. Upscale.
(5)Frank L.
PROS: Food is good, we specially like "Mu Shu Pork" and "Kung Pao Chicken". Environment is great. It is not like most of Chinese restaurants with people talking loudly and kids running around. CONS: Wish they can tune the lights brighter. Wish they could remove dishes after the customers left or do it slowly without generating lots of noise.
(4)Oscar K.
I have to admit I've only eaten inside once or twice so I can't comment on the service and atmosphere and whatnot. My family has been getting take out here for over a decade. I highly recommend the sesame chicken. It's sort of like orange chicken, but it's got a nice kick to it and the orange isn't overpowering like some places. It's my favorite dish. I also like salt and pepper shrimp and the mandarin beef.
(4)Kaveh H.
Plain and simple, this place serves Americanized Chinese food. If you don't mind that and enjoy saucy, tasty food, then Mandarin Gourmet is the perfect place for you. Pros: -Lunch specials - you get a dish, chinese chicken salad (with the best dressing ever), and hot and sour soup for ~9 dollars -Good service - whenever your water seems to be a little low, it's filled before you know it; servers are friendly; food comes out at a good rate Cons: -portions are little small for the price (this is only applicable to dinner) -saucy and fried foods (this is a pro if you like that stuff) Dishes I like: Tangerine beef, eggplant in hot garlic sauce, peking beef, house chicken salad
(4)S S.
My family and I have come here for years and the service has always been great. The staff even recognize us! As far as the food, yes, it is "Americanized" Chinese food. I have brought Chinese friends here and they didn't really like it. (I've noticed that the majority of people in there are often not Asian). I have had almost all the vegetarian options and there really isn't much variety, at least not the same kind you would see in other Chinese restaurants in the Bay Area. The veggie spring rolls are great; we usually get veggie chow mein or vegetable delight. The location is good and there is ample parking. The decor/atmosphere are very elegant.
(4)Maria V.
Love it! My favorite is def the chicken salad and the crab wontons. However, I can not forget the rice which is to die for though not healthy, but when eating Chinese food... who cares. Enjoy everyone! The service is fab too!!!
(4)Vinny M.
Um not a fan of this place. As many have already stated, this is more of an "Americanized Chinese food." While I don't usually mind if the food is "Americanized," this place I did not enjoy AT ALL. I guess I should have known since there was not one other Asian person in the room besides me and the waiters, speaking of which, were a bit rude and never to be seen. On to the food.. We ordered for appetizer: Fried Prawns and Cream Cheese Crab Wontons. The Fried prawns were kind of gross, they were covered in panko breading and it seemed like the actual prawn was tiny compared to how much breading surrounded it. I found myself cutting off the excess breading and picking out the prawn. The Cream Cheese Crab wontons were OK, but i've had better elsewhere. They seemed more "fishy" than "crabby" (if that makes any sense). Both the wontons and prawns came with a sweet and sour sauce and hot mustard. Both of which were good and the only saving grace for these appetizers. For Entree we had: Chicken fried rice, Mongolian Beef and Sesame Chicken. The rice was OK but the chicken in it was also breaded which made it a little weird. I'm used to just plain chicken in my fried rice not breaded chicken. Sesame Chicken was just YUCK. I notice some people on here enjoyed it but ours was just gross. It was breaded and topped with some sweet and sour red sauce that just tasted nasty. It was like candy sweet with a hint of burned taste to it. I don't usually mind sweetened sauces on my meats (Honey Walnut Prawns or Chicken Terriyaki are ok) but if the sweetened sauce tastes TOOO sweet then it might as well be a dessert right? Well that's how this chicken tasted like. After a few bites I decided not to continue eating it. The Mongolian beef was OK but this time it was TOOO salty. The meat itself was also kind of gamey. Made me second guess if it was actually beef that I was eating. (I'm sure it was beef, but possibly the way it was cooked made me think it was something else). Lastly when the bill came they gave us two fortune cookies, both of which looked dark brown as if they were over cooked. They also tasted bland...(maybe since I already ate the extra sweet Sesame chicken, my palate was already off.) When the bill came we ended up spending WAAY too much for what we actually got. And thinking back, the prices of each dish were quite high. Also for the price, I expect the waiter to at least be there. He seemed like he'd disappear in the back and only came to deliver the food, never to be seen again. Oh and I found it quite annoying that at a Chinese Restaurant, there was no soy sauce on the table already. And even when the food was served, the soy sauce was not delievered. We had to flag our waiter down after he already left just to get soy sauce. I would say I DEFINITELY am not coming back here. There are a lot of other hole-in-the-wall Chinese restaurants that are MUCH better and that are MUCh cheaper!
(1)Sarah S.
I've passed by this place many times over the years and never felt a desire to try it. It seems to be fairly common knowledge that the place isn't super authentic and is on the pricier side. However my friend read good reviews about the service on yelp and suggested we try it out. We came for a late lunch, and the lunch specials are a good deal! You get a salad, entree and fortune cookie for around $10 I believe. And the place was spacious and quiet. It seemed like most of the people dining were business men or small groups. Would definitely come back for the lunch special if I want Chinese, but would probably go somewhere else for dinner.
(4)Betty C.
Went today for a coworkers lunch. Decor: nice and clean, lots of business lunch type of people, cloth napkins (always a nice touch) Had the lunch banquet menu: sweet and sour soup - really sour and not my fav chicken salad and eggroll - the chicken was dry breast, sliced so that it looked like almonds, the dressing was too sweet and not sesame, the eggroll was okay the other courses were unimaginative - fried dry string beans obviously had msg on them (string beans don't taste that good) and the shrimp and green beans was okay, not very saucy but tasted very good, healthy even. the mongolian beef looked scary, and we couldn't tell what it was when it came. the rest of the food was okay. i agree w/ the other reviews that if you're looking for authentic, this is not it. but it's still a step above say Yan- Can or Pand Express.
(3)Albert W.
Honey walnut prawns - 1 star (This is the worst I have ever had) General Tso's beef - 2 stars Hunan lamb - 1.5 stars .. Does Hunan lamb even have sauce? Definitely not authentic Chinese food. All dishes had abundant sauces. Prawns are overly breaded and extremely small about 51/60 count type. We had leftover and wanted to pack it. The main server gave us a dirty look but the assistant server took the plates and packed it right of way. One extra star for the fast water refiling by the assistant server.
(2)R D.
Good Food...Great Ambience...Excellent Management...and very friendly staff. Love their Velvet Corn Soup...Mostly we pick food to go...but we have eaten a few times there during lunch and dinner... They have extensive lunch combos. Fills you up very well. Only issue is their red sauce items are very sweet...everything in brown and black bean sauce is awesome. Definitely give a thumbs up.
(4)Mimi Z.
Again, i have to update and say the quality of food is still amazing here. Although it is true you can get cheaper chinese food, this place is so yummy! The service is great and everyone is super professional and clean. The decor is beautiful, the place is very clean and respectable. You dont have that feeling of "i wonder if my food is clean" that you sometimes get at other chinese places. Also, i feel like the dishes arent filled with sodium or MSG, i never get left with a heavy gross feeling that i get with most chinese places. I mean, i'm chinese and i almost NEVER eat out at chinese places b/c i cant stand the way it makes me feel. I usually choose lighter options. I'm also vegetarian so I cant really speak much about the meats here, but my friends still swear by the basil chicken, walnut prawns, duck and beef dishes. so i went here 2 nights ago and i discovered a new favorite dish, ask for the asparagus! it was lightly sauteed with a brown garlicy sauce, so good! i could have eaten it all by myself! the string beans, fried tofu, "ma-po-tofu" are also very good. everything tastes so fresh! give it a try, its worth paying a few extra dollars for the nice atmosphere! note how i kept saying CLEAN, everything is so clean!
(5)Eric L.
Great food, great service. Normally don't eat eggplant, but one of their eggplant dishes is pretty good.
(5)D E.
Mandarin Gourmet is like a fancier Panda Express without all the douchery of a PF Changs. This is by no means authentic Chinese food, but it's not bad for what it is. You also can't really beat the lunch specials. Most of them are under $10 and include soup, salad, a bowl of rice, and an entree. Service is nice, but a bit slow, and it gets crowded at lunch, since Apple is right across the street.
(3)Nancy C.
I took some clients to dinner here, the restaurant has a decent vegetarian menu. The food was really outstanding. We had the crispy garlic eggplant and the green beans sauteed in spicy garlic sauce (ok, I like garlic!), both dishes were perfectly cooked and spiced. We also had hot and sour soup (perfect!), brown rice, and sauteed spinach (not crazy about that particular dish, no texture). The waiter had an attitude, annoying enough to make me want to give the restaurant a 3-star rating, but the quality of the meal was top-notch.
(4)Michael M.
Excellent place for a business lunch in Cupertino. Attentive staff and tasty food. Quiet enough for two to talk, and several times I've been there with groups of 10 or more. Mandarin Gourmet handled things well.
(4)Kent D.
The food is not very good. We shared 6 or 7 dishes at lunch and almost every single one was either bland or overly sweetened. The prices are decent and the service is good, but I'd rather go to Hong Fu which is just across Steven's Creek from Mandarin Gourmet. If you want authentic, spicy Chinese food, avoid this place. If you want americanized food with loads of sugary sauce, this is your place.
(2)Skm S.
Good food Parking on side great setting and decor
(4)Steve H.
Best Chinese food in Cupertino. I've never had a bad meal here. They have a Chinese Chicken Salad for lunch that's really tasty.
(4)Mike C.
This is a great place for lunch in Cupertino. I have been coming here for years. The staff is very friendly and professional. The luncheon specials are all very good and certainly very filling. I would recommend a visit to Mandarin Gourmet in Cupertino for a business lunch without hesitation.
(4)Hari D.
Oh, we were here today for lunch, pretty good experience. Great food and service, very hard to find that combination. We got kung pao scallops, honey walnut shrimps and garlic eggplant; everything with brown rice, pretty good preparation. Waiters were waiting on us all the time, good experience. Keep it up and we will be back for sure.
(5)Sabrina S.
Very fancy and takes itself a bit too seriously for me--overly formal. Still, the food is good, and the service efficient. Just be prepared to pay for it.
(3)Jenn S.
Yes, the crispy tofu was tasty, the sesame chicken was the best I've ever had, and shrimp walnut was delectable. Somehow, though, 2/3rd of the way through dinner, I got a yucky feeling. It may have been the service and it may have been that we all ordered rich, deep fried dishes. And it may have just been diminishing returns. Ultimately, though, it was the realization that a mile or two away from us (over the freeway and through the crowded Ranch 99 parking lot to Cupertino Village we could have gone) was a plethora of choice Chinese food at half the $$. AND, there was only one dessert option.
(3)Brett B.
Crispy fried eggplant in garlic sauce... that's all you need to know
(4)Chris S.
Place is fantastic. I've not had a dish I didn't love here. One of my favorite dishes is still the Sesame Chicken. Great soup... great atmosphere for dressy folk or casual... You won't be disappointed. Not the friendliest staff, but they are usually on top of things. They're all business. That's fine with me though.
(5)batvanio i.
This is one of the worst Chinese restaurants. And I have to say, this is the very first place where I ordered food and then dumped all of it in the trash. I mean, I have seen bad food, but this was simply inedible. And it was not cheep too.. The chow mein was bland and tasteless, the eggplants were drowned in sugary sirup, the soup was watery and bland too, mongolian beef was ultra-salty. Pretty much everything was abysmal. Do not go there!
(1)K E.
My family went here last night for my mom's birthday. It was an excellent meal. The service was very professional, but not really "friendly," food was served in a timely manner, and everything tasted great. What we ordered: Mongolian Lamb - Great flavors but the sauce overpowered the meat a bit. Basil Chicken - A really really nice dish; the basil gave an excellent flavor that made this the favorite of the night. Beef Chow Fun - Pretty average. Nothing special. Sauteed Eggplant - I can't really judge this one as I'm not a fan of eggplant...but my mom loved it. Won Ton Soup - The broth was really delicious; it was mild and light. The won tons were excellent and there were chunks of chicken and pork in the soup that added that extra burst of flavor. The downside...the soup, which served four, cost $15. This was way too much, in my opinion! Overall, this is a great place to get a truly wonderful meal but it is also "gourmet" in a negative way. In other words, the portions aren't as big as the prices.
(4)Tom L.
Not much to say here, they probably don't deserve more than 3 stars because the service and food here have really gone down hill over the years....I've been frequenting this place for at least 10 years+. Either my standards have gone up or their food and service quality have gone down - probably both. But there you have it. If you're looking for good Chinese places, you can skip this one. There are better places in Mountain View.
(3)Leann H.
Ok, passed by this restaurant many, many times and finally decided to eat there. Service was nice. We were seated quickly and our waiter was very attentive....mostly because there were more waiters in the restaurant then there were customers. Personally, it makes me a little uncomfortable when 3 waiters stand 10 feet away from you and just watch you while you eat and wait for you to finish, but that's just me...I'm not really sure why there were so many employees. The food was alright. Not great, but not bad. After we arrived, we received our entrees in less than 5 minutes, which I found a bit suspicious. I had deep-fried scallops which were good, but a little on the greasy side. My boyfriend had a beef dish and the beef was fatty. The steamed rice was also undercooked, which I have to say, is a deal breaker for me. Like I said, the food wasn't bad, but not nearly good enough to pay $15.95 for....if my meal was from a Chinese takeout place and had cost $6.95, I would have been satisfied, but I won't be going back to this restaurant.
(3)Jamie S.
Love this place! I have been coming here for years! Food is yummy and service is great! Maybe not the most traditional but still very delicious!
(4)livelife k.
We're a fan of this place. We always order chicken chowmein noodles with General Tsao's chicken and Sesame chicken. Can't go wrong!
(4)Moe R.
As others have said, this is Americanized Chinese food (but I don't think that's a bad thing, unless you happen to be looking for something traditional.) Nice place, a bit pricier than most but it has cloth napkins and attentive service, making it suitable for a business lunch (more so than most Chinese restaurants). Food was quite good. We had the Moo Shu pork which was very tasty and prepared by the waiter, rather than being delivered to the table as components, as most places do. I like the pancakes thinner than they use here but that's a minor quibble. The shrimp with honeyed walnuts (I may not have the name right) were very well prepared. Walnuts were crispy and cooked to be dark and toasty, the shrimp was fried with a light tempura-style batter. It was dressed just right with a lightly sweet sauce. If you're looking for "Chinese Chinese" food, you may be disappointed but if you want a more elegant setting and good, though not authentic, food prepared well, I think you will be happy here.
(4)May B.
Ordered the honey walnut prawns, eggplant in garlic sauce, sweet and sour pork, veggie noodles and food was ok. However the service made it an unpleasant to dine there.
(3)Yi Z.
Wow, this place was like P.F. Chang's before P.F. Chang's was even invented. It's definitely targeted toward non-Asian people. Yes, the lettuce cups taste good. No, I will never go back. Why should anyone settle for a place like Mandarin Gourmet when there are literally hundreds of good Chinese restaurants within a five mile radius?
(2)cherrychip b.
Mandarin Gourmet is definitely my husband's favorite Chinese restaurant. It's clean, classy, and the food is always good, not to mention great services for a Chinese restaurant. I agree that it's slightly Americanized (I'm Chinese), but it's good food. What to get? 1) Definitely the Pu Pu platter - great value for the price!! * BTW, the egg rolls are homemade at the restaurant. It's tasty and not oily at all. The teriyaki beef is also absolutely delicious. 2) The Seafood Blossom Soup is lovely on a cold day or for dinner anytime. 3) I LOVE the Mandarin Beef. It's the bomb. Woot! 4) If you're feeling healthy, get the Steamed Fish with Ginger (comes on a sizzling plate), and the White Wine Spinach (slurps!) 5) If you like eggplant, Mandarin Gourmet does a very interesting take on it. Quite yummy! Unfortunately, this place does not make good noodles or fried rice. But, that's ok because the other stuff makes up for it!
(4)Yi G.
Agree someone's review said that this is a american Chinese food restaurant, a panda express with tables. The environment is good and the price is unexpectedness. But the cooking style and flavor is not really Chinese.
(3)Jim C.
Overpriced Americanized Chinese restaurant that seems surprisingly popular with the local Apple and Cupertino crowd. Weekday lunch time is usually crowded and I can't believe I had to wait 20 min for a table here once. Most lunch specials are in the $8-12 range and you get soup and rice with your main entree. This is pricey compared to the numerous other Chinese places where you can get a good lunch special for $6-8. The kung pao chicken I had was edible but I wouldn't order it again. Chinese chicken salad is pretty tasty and you get a large lunch entree portion but there's nothing authentic about this dish except for the "Chinese" in its name. Bottom line: Okay Americanized Chinese restaurant with pleasant setting for a business lunch. Come before the lunch rush to ensure a table. For non-authentic tasty Chinese at similar inflated prices, I much prefer PF Changs.
(3)Dave K.
I can't believe I haven't yelped this place yet. I work kitty corner from this place and have probably been here a good 20 times. It is definitely not an authentic Chinese restaurant. Hong Fu across the street is more authentic. But this is definitely better than PF Changs, both in taste and cost. I still is a tad pricey, but overall not too bad. They do the honey walnut prawns well here and general tso's chicken is chicken strips coated with sauce, not the typical battered and fried and coated that I'm used to. The food always seems a bit dry here, but people love it. As a tip, without a reservation, definitely come before 12:10pm. It gets completely packed by 12:20pm. It often feels like they're trying to rush you out during crowded lunch hours and I think it shows in the quality of their food. Decent as always but nothing special.
(3)Jon I.
A long time favorite. Silicon Valley's real china town has lots of options. But Mandarine Gourmet has consistently delivered top quality food in an elegant atmosphere for over a decade. Honey walnut prawns are the best I've ever had. Hot and sour soup is top notch. In fact, I've eaten almost everything on the menu and you really can't go wrong.
(4)Irene L.
I had the garlic eggplant and it was ok. The prices are average. The decor and service were mediocre. I didn't find this restaurant all that amazing, but would come back.
(3)Jan B.
Food was OK, nothing special. Sweet and sour chicken listed pineapple, didn't see one chunk, but copious amounts of onion. Ordered an iced tea - was instant tea. Yuck. Are you kidding me? The restaurant is posh looking with a wine list and white tableclothes and they can't be bothered to brew tea? how hard is it? And isn't tea a supposedly Asian speciality?
(2)Eladio S.
I like the food at Mandarin Gourmet. I've been here on several occasions with my family and we've always enjoyed the food. I actually brought my Aunt from Texas here one time and she was raving about it. I don't think they have too many Chinese restaurants in Austin... If you want authentic Chinese cuisine, then don't go here. This is definitely your "Americanized" Chinese fare. However, they do a good job with it. The dishes are tasty and not overly greasy. The presentation is nice as is the ambiance of the venue. I'd go back when i'm craving this type of food. Definitely better than going to Mr. Chau's or Panda Express....
(3)monica s.
I love this place! The food and service was great. Sure it probably is Americanized Chinese food, but I really enjoyed everything about this restaurant. Good food, clean restaurant and great service. What more could you want?! Definitely a completely different experience from Hong Fu down the street!
(5)Matt S.
The sesame chicken is great (good flavor and minimal spice) and the honey walnut prawns are amazing! Nice atmosphere, friendly staff, and reasonable prices. Great value!
(5)Helen W.
We used to eat here frequently and found the food fresh and well prepared. Last two times over the last year have been a disappointment, especially today's take out meal. The chicken with peas and broccoli was absolutely tasteless-no seasoning at all in the watery sauce. Asparagus was woody and equally tasteless. Not sure they should even be serving asparagus since its not in season. And they forgot the rice. When I called to tell the manager about my disappointment with the dinner he didn't offer any apologies or encouragement to give them another chance.
(1)Lalu B.
Sometimes you want a fancy Chinese place but for the money this place is really a poor value. All the dishes should taste spectacular, as if you were attending a Chinese wedding banquet, but the food does not live up to the impeccable decor. Too bad. I remember this place being much much better ten-twelve years ago.
(3)Eve K.
3.5 stars. My choice for a Chinese lunch around Cupertino is Potsticker King, but when co-workers want to just walk across the street, we wind up here. Cost to worth it ratio: 2.5 stars Highlights: - Lots of lunch special options: a whole page worth and you get soup and salad. Portions enough that you can share - Combo options: I opted for the kung pao scallops and walnut prawns. I like variety. Scallops were great and sauce was classic kung paoy. Prawns were fine, but had a bit more breading than I was used to. - Chicken with cashews: probably my favorite dish that we ordered. Tender chicken, good brown sauce, cashews still pretty crunchy and not soggy. - Nice ambiance: not your normal Chinese hole in the wall type (not that there's anything wrong with that). Also fancier place settings, presentation, etc. - One of the better Americanized versions of Chinese: your place for kung pao, mu shu, sweet and sour, etc. I still like Americanized Chinese, I just consider this a different category and type of food than what you would get at an authentic Chinese banquet meal. Kinda like Baja Fresh vs your authentic taco truck per se. Lowlights (my flip side to highlights): - Another shrimp dish: was too saucy and sticky in an orange sauce. Sorry can't remember the name of it. - General chicken: not deep fried but small strips. Tasted ok, but just not expected. - Soup: hot and sour a bit too tangy for me - Can be bit more expensive than other similar places A fine lunch experience getting out to a sit down meal, so I'm sure I'll be back.
(3)Jeanette P.
Went beck last night to Mandarin Gourmet, with two good and one bad experience under the wings. The atmosphere is 5 star, though it can be a little noisy, when it gets crowded. The service is usually nice, last night was great. We got there just before 6 pm. and it was not busy. We were greeted and seated, and both our waiter and the person refilling water, were very smily, personally and friendly. They accommodated changes to our menu, we ordered the Deluxe Gourmet for two. The Hot and Sour soup was good, yet to our taste not the "Original". The battered shrimp and meat skewer appetizer was delicious, both tender and moist. The Chicken salad was good, though they had thinly sliced chicken instead of chunks of meat... Just a little different, seemed more like lunchmeat. We got fried rice, very tasty, but a bit on the oily side, when you combine it with the main dishes ( we ordered a side order of regular rice due to this). Mongolian Beef, very, very moist and tender, nice portion, less oil would have made it absolutely perfect. Walnut shrimp exceptional, and a nice big portion. My husband loves salt, I don't, and even he said it was a bit salty overall. With moderation of oil and salt.... This would make a perfect dinner. I would give this 3 1/2 star, with improvement of holding back on oil and salt 4 stars. Still looking for that Fung Lum experience, for those of you that had the pleasure of going there; you know what I mean....
(4)Morning B.
I'm not a huge fan of Chinese Food to begin with and this place certainly did not change my attitude. Food wasn't anything to rave about nor was the customer service. Portions were pretty generous though...but since the food was so lousy it doesn't really matter. Don't waste your calories here!
(2)Raquel R.
The good: Sweet and sour pork The bad: prices are steep The ugly: soda glasses are so small, and they do not refill them- ever. I like this place. They are attentive to a point and the food is good. Everything seems really clean and nice. I'm big on cleanliness. But I don't understand some of the things they do here- like for instance one time I went here with my boyfriend and this place was dead, super dead, but they seat us in the way way back. That is okay but then they get this huge party about 10 minutes after we are seated. This huge party sat right next to us. This huge party that the restaurant knew was coming but still decided to seat us right in there personal space. I didn't get it. I think it was our like 4 year anniversary and we just wanted a little quiet low key place. To look back now it's a little humorous but at the time I was over it. Needless to say we didn't go back for about 7 months. Better seating this time but still no soda refills. One thing though is that the oolong tea that they bring to your table upon request is freakin amazing. Love that stuff. beef chow mein is good (beef is so good) sweet and sour pork is fabulous. spring rolls are tasty. rice is cooked perfectly. Beware: the beef skewer appetizer thing, it sucks.
(3)patrick f.
I just ate here today with my family for lunch and based on my visit, it was just ok. I mostly judge this on the food, because that's why we went here, to eat. As soon as we walked in, I noticed the decor and the crowd. It was a pretty nice place, and I noticed that the crowd was composed of mostly non-Asians. In general, just based on the crowd I wasn't so sure how good the food would be, because I assume that if the food is really good, I would be seeing more Chinese people here. So anyways, we order the lunch special. Salad was pretty good, hot & sour soup tasted MSG like.. the rest of the food was okay but didn't take me over the top. Service was quick however, but seating a bit tight as I was getting bumped by some of the waiters. For good and authentic Chinese food, I still prefer East Lake, New East Lake, Ocean Delight, and Ocean palace. They're still number 1 in my book.
(3)Alex F.
Best Chinese food in the bay area. Honey walnut prawns are phenomenal, service is exceptional without being pretentious, the people are friendly and the food is insanely great.
(5)Christina P.
It's official, I have finally found the best Chinese food in the South Bay!!! Ever since I moved back up here from San Diego, the only good Chinese food I've had has been a half hour away-- and I honestly can't be driving 1 hour round trip to get some chow. I have been searching for longer than I'd like to admit, and the Mandarin Gourmet takes the cake! They have two kinds of eggplant dishes and the sauteed eggplant was by far my favorite. We also had a chow mein dish, and a chicken dish similar (if not) to General Tso's Chicken -- all of which were VERY good, not greasy, and there were no "mystery" chunks, either! They did a great wrap job to make sure nothing spilled in the car, and were really nice on the phone, as well as when we came in to pick up our order! Can't wait to go back!
(5)Kevin S.
I honestly thought this was going to be good. I am, after all, a big fan of Eliza's on Potrero Hill, and many reviewers proclaim that place as a temple of Chinese Food for White People. And so they similarly tout Mandarin Gourmet down here in Apple-onia. Pulling up and seeing a fairly nice building filled with a crowd heavily tilted toward the moneyed and Caucasian, I thought to myself, "Surely these people are enjoying food similar to the quality, freshness, and flavorfulness of Eliza's." Uh....no. Look, it's a nice room, but I honestly think that is the only thing recommending it to my fellow whiteys, because it couldn't be the food, the service, or the prices. Maybe life down here in the Cup' is so desultory that diners can be lulled to an insensate state by schmancy surroundings and high prices. "Hey, look what we're paying, that must have been good!" I imagine they cry when the bill arrives. No, I don't think that was good. Only one thing we tried here was relatively decent, and that was beef fried rice. Everything else suffered from very bad preparation. And the service was anything but personable. We started with pot stickers and what is usually called crab rangoon elsewhere. The former were saddled with thick, unappetizing doughy skins, which pretty much ruins the experience of eating what can be my absolute favorite Chinese appetizer. We ate them but I was longing for Eliza's thin, perfectly cooked version the entire time. The crab wontons were even worse. Tough fried wonton dough--I suspect they were frozen--surrounded a cream cheese mixture that needed more green onion and much less slightly stinky crab. I like crab in my crab rangoons but the crab needs to be sweet and fresh. There was a distinct puff of off-putting smell when you bit into these. Ick. IQ ordered a dish that purported to be crispy fried eggplant, and I ordered the aforementioned beef fried rice. IQ's dish was a total bummer. He loves eggplant and the crispy eggplant description caught his eye. What arrived even looked promising if a little surprising. Huge crocquette looking golden balls of batter. Oh, perhaps a succulent, light, airy, nearly tempura-like coating on the eggplant? Aromatic, seasoned eggplant cooked to a carmelized, creamy state of bliss? Nope. Dense eggplant bombs with a doughy flavorless nimbus surrounding an unevenly cooked planetoid of slightly bitter eggplant. IQ had the good sense to ask for the garlic sauce on the side, thinking it would be slathered on thickly based on other dishes sailing by our table, so he was able to control the pungent sauce but no amount of outside flavor could rescue these disappointing, overpriced disasters on a plate. My beef fried rice was the only winner of the evening, with tender if slightly oversized slices of flavorful beef in a savory seasoned and well appointed fried rice mixture of peas, carrots, onion, and rice. But let's face it, if you screw up beef fried rice, what can you cook? The version here should be an also ran at the prices Mandarin Gourmet serves. In my review of PF Chang's in Palo Alto, I note the feng hsui aptness with which the large horse sculpture there turns its rear to the restaurant's diners. Here at Mandarin Gourmet, six lovely and slightly smaller steeds face the diners. They should really think that through. This place is far overpriced, far too stuffy, and far from a good place to look for tasty Chinese food, even if you do have white taste buds like me.
(2)Darin M.
The management people here seemed nice enough and the wait staff was quick if not a bit curt or terse. The moment I sat down, a waiter was in my face asking me if I knew what I wanted and this was my first time visiting this restaurant and I didn't know what types of specials they might have. I knew that I wanted to try a curry dish as this is generally a good test of a Chinese place so I ordered the Chicken Curry and the waiter said it was good and obliged me recommendation. I also asked for a hot and sour soup when I saw the waiter again. When the soup came, they also brought out a salad with little slivers of chicken on the plate. The salad was your usual, run-of-the-mill iceberg lettuce salad and the dressing was not particularly special in any way. The chicken slivers were just weird so I avoided them as much as possible. The Hot and Sour soup was mostly sour to the point that it made me wince a few times trying to gulp it down. This was not a good indication that things were going to get any better. When the Curry Chicken came, it was fairly typical looking but lacked that certain something that a good chef can bring to a curry dish. The sauce was okay but not great. The worst part about the Curry Chicken dish was, there was a gritty bit of something in my first bite and lots of gristle in the chicken. The gristle issue is prevalent at restaurants that don't take the time to carefully remove bad pieces of chicken prior to the food going out to the customer. I notice this happens more often in restaurants that just don't have anything special to offer and that's the way I feel about Mandarin Gourmet. The food was just okay. Nothing to write home about, so to speak. I'm not sure if it was my fault for ordering Chicken Curry at a Mandarin place as I'm not particularly well versed in regional Chinese cuisine specialities but there were enough other things wrong with the taste and over all quality of the food here that I would not give this restaurant a second chance.
(1)Jenny H.
The best Chinese food in town in my opinion. I sometimes get their takeout. It is expensive but delicious. I often go there for lunch due to better weekday lunch specials. The tangerine beef is delightful. The portions are generous as well. The service is good. Usually the men waiters are not friendly but speedy. Last Friday a woman was working the front and seated me and took my order. She was so warm and friendly and made me feel important. I love this place!
(4)Ron B.
This place has been around forever. I remember going here as a kid.... The food is good and the atmosphere is nice. It's one of the fancier Chinese restaurants in the area, but not crazy fancy. One of the last times I went, though, I suspect they used MSG even though I specifically verified that there is none of this stuff in their food. I had a reaction to the food, that is generally associated with MSG... but overall, a great place for a nice dinner, and especially for special occasions with many attendees - they can sit you in a nice area and attend to a large group pretty well.
(4)Jessica C.
If you want classic americanized Chinese food like everyone said, go here. It's uber expensive and small portioned for the price. But the thing is it's good. Comparable to any other Chinese place, just double the price. But you do pay for the nice atmosphere and not necessarily having to clean your own chopsticks before eating.
(3)Stacey C.
You know how sometimes you have inexplicable cravings for a certain food out of the blue, and you simply MUST HAVE IT RIGHT AWAY!? That pretty much only happens to me with the food at Mandarin Gourmet. They have locations in Palo Alto, San Jose, and Cupertino - but I've found that the Cupertino location is the most consistent and produces the best food. I have been getting the same dishes for years and years, so much so that I need no menu - General Tso's Chicken, Tangerine Beef, Honey Walnut Prawns (a MUST HAVE) - oh, and you should start with the potstickers, they're amazing and made in-house. They also have an amazing lunch special that is a great deal - make sure to check with the location you plan on visiting before showing up for this, though - all the locations have different days/times for their lunch specials. You get a cup of Hot & Sour Soup, fried wontons, Chinese chicken salad, (on occasion, egg rolls), a main course and rice (fried or steamed) for about $13 with tip! Bring a friend and you can share main courses too! Every person that I introduce to this restaurant becomes addicted. It's that damn good. Service is fast, although not particularly friendly - but I came for the chow, not to make new buddies, so I don't really care. If you're looking for amazing Chinese food, and don't mind paying a little extra at dinnertime (they're a tad expensive), you have to try this place.
(5)Denise L.
Food is great! We always make it a point to order at least the sizzling soup, honey walnut prawns (sometimes 2 orders), and mongolian beef. This is not your typical Chinese restaurant!
(4)Shanna K.
The food is good, if a little pricey. I really like the Imperial Soup (minced chicken, perfectly cooked lobster, and egg white in a perfectly cooked broth).. needs a bit of salt but it's so light and good. The pot stickers and chow mein are too oily for me, the lemon chicken very salty. (Not a dish I usually order but I've tasted it.) They are famous for their chicken salad. Elegant atmosphere. Clean. Friendly staff. Nice bar, plus some decent wine like Testarossa. One can certainly do worse.
(3)Judy G.
Mandarin has the best Chinese food we have had anywhere. Our whole family loves it! The service is great and so is the food.
(5)SJGal L.
Worst Chinese food ever! I have had a lot of good Chinese food as my ex in-laws are Chinese and we have eaten at many very good Chinese places in the Bay area. This is not one of them. We went with a large group from work. It has been years since I have been at a table and treated so rudely by a waiter. He literally barked, and never came back once the food was served. We were in awe of the sheer craziness of it all...."is this for real?" For most people the food was fair to poor. Most people didn't touch their soup of the day once they took a scoop, complaints of too salty, abounded. The staff didn't offer hot tea, soya or hot sauce, were irritated when more rice or refills on the tiny ice filled glasses of soda/ice tea were asked for and on and on. The group thought was "never again" and had the gratuity not been included we wouldn't have tipped a penny. Really awful all the way around....SKIP IT!
(1)Erica S.
I went here for lunch a few times with coworkers. For $8-9 lunch menus, it's a pretty good deal. Each lunch item comes with chicken salad, hot and sour soup, and white or fried rice. We always share our entrees with people so we can try a little bit of everything. I would say it's a more Americanized Chinese restaurant, but the service is pretty good. Clean restaurant. Parking can be hard to find during busy lunch hours.
(3)Cheryl P.
I was craving some sizzling rice soup so bff suggested dining here. Spacious and clean. A little empty - was strange having a line of bored waiters watching you eat. :P Sizzling rice soup was yummy, but not the best I've had - sizzle pop sizzzzle Lazy man's chicken lettuce cup - A little on the salty side but I'd come back for more b/c the waiter actually puts the mix into each cup individually on separate plates for you! Now if I can just get him to hand feed it to me .... Mandarin beef - tangy, a little spicy and crunchy Vegetable medley - aka Buddha's feast. Baby corn tasted a little funky. Dish lacked in flavor & freshness. Coming back in the future for the lettuce cups and to give the honey glazed prawns a try.
(3)Uyen D.
Solid American Chinese food. The decor is clean and makes you feel like you're in a really great nice restaurant. The staff is Chinese and friendly, no one rushes you to order and provide good feedback. Fast to top off your water.
(3)Heather P.
If my husband is in charge of the dinner plans, Mandarin Gourmet is always his first suggestion! He has been coming here since he moved to the bay area 10+ years ago and when we met 6 years ago he quickly made me a believer. This is some good Chinese food that will be at your table in record time. His favorite - hands down its the General Tso's chicken and the hot and sour soup. My favorite - definitely the hibachi prawns with lots of great veggies on the side. The lemon chicken is a close second, as it has a perfectly light luscious lemon sauce. We are repeat customers and are never disappointed by the service, ambiance or quality of food!
(4)N C.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in the world. The one exception might be this crazy authentic hot-pot Chinese restaurant out in Flushing, Queens NY that my roommate took me to once. But you can't really eat there unless you're up for an hour-and-a-half subway ride and know how to speak Chinese at least semi-fluently. My family has been coming to this restaurant for like 15 years and the wild thing is we always request the same waiter now (George!) and he hasn't aged a bit over the years. I don't know how that's possible, but perhaps working at such a delicious restaurant is the elixir of life. Or maybe he's just got good genes. At this point, it's somewhat hard to figure out whether people coming for the first time would have the same experience, since George always knows what we want to order and he brings us a complimentary fruit platter at the end of the meal and then we tip him like 40%. Pretty much how it goes. Anyway, here's what we always order and it's always excellent: -Hot Tea -Mai-Tai's (usually pretty nicely spiked) -Sauteed String Beans -Crispy Eggplant in Hot Garlic Sauce (this dish is pretty much what got me to like eggplant after growing up hating it) -Ma Po Tofu OR Red-cooked tofu -Chow Mein, although I like the sizzling noodle dish that is kind of crispy and cooks when they sautee it at your table -I also occasionally get paper-wrapped chicken or salt n pepper chicken or lemon chicken or general tso's chicken. Try and get George to be your waiter if possible. And tip him nicely -- he's got grandkids now (though you'd never guess it from looking at him). Enjoy!
(5)Angie M.
Husband and I have been regular patrons of Mandarin for at least 8 years. The food is great, service is good, and there is a good wine selection as well. We usually order the Peking Chicken and Chicken Chow Mein and that gets us plenty of food. Their pot stickers are also very yummy; I can really taste the ginger and garlic in them. The wine is decently priced and matches the food well, we usually order the Simi Sauvignon Blanc ($23/bottle). Many people have said it's Americanized Chinese, well, what's wrong with that?!? If nothing else it's a smart business move for them. There are TONS of Chinese restaurants in the area that probably serve more "authentic" cuisine..... why compete?!?
(5)Joanna L.
Mandarin Gourmet is great, I love the food and I have never been disappointed with anything I have ordered. I do agree that it is "Americanized" Chinese but I happen to like that. The staff is very accommodating for just a family dinner, take-out or an office lunch. The service is always very attentive and polite and the prices are very affordable. I would recommend Mandarin Gourmet to anyone looking for a non-traditional Chinese restaurant.
(5)Lisa C.
The food here is good - we generally order some combination of these dishes: mongolian beef or chicken, honey walnut prawns (they also make a version with chicken), sesame chicken, chang-sha chicken, crab cheese puffs, salt and pepper prawns. The size of the entrees is decent. As other reviewers commented, the food is more suited to an "Americanized" palate, but sometimes, that just hits the spot. I certainly don't mind! They are generally crowded in the evenings - we get take out so that's one way to avoid the wait.
(4)Brent A.
My friend had been wanting to get me to come here for ages, so we finally went this past weekend. When I walked in, I felt a little surprised at coming to a 'higher-end' restaurant, but we continued on our journey. After being seated, I was promptly served water, but had to wait a little bit for the menu. Having no menu gave me time to really put this place in perspective. Picture it, white tablecloths, nice décor, impeccable service, and in front of me, plastic chopsticks. The chopsticks you would find in Pho Hoa or any other generic Asian restaurant. That's strange for an 'upper-scale' restaurant. The menu was basic. It had various dishes, Hunan, Mongolian, Sichuan, and other regional flavors. I found that somewhat odd, as I was expecting "Mandarin" (although than spans most of mainland China). I guess I was expecting a specified focus on a specific region. Oh well. As we had various dishes and bowls served, I noticed that most of my dishware was dirty. My soup spoon had a dried piece of something green on it. Being hungry, I plucked it off, and chowed down on my sizzling rice soup. Most of the vegetables seemed under-steamed yet remained tasty. The other dishes we ordered were delightful. They were heavily sauced and had deep, rich flavors. My real stiff with this place are the prices. Each dish is about $12-16, appetizers run you $7-12, and most drinks are $5 a pop or more. What the hell? For the two of us, we easily dropped $70, which included our tip. I can find better Chinese food for much less in the Bay. I do admit though, the garlic crispy eggplant was delicious. Hehe...
(3)Carla C.
With Nishanth C. back in action from New York (only temporarily), Lexi T. and I met him here for dinner last week. Call us Valley morons, but the signage on this place wasn't glaringly obvious enough for us, so we ended up driving up and down De Anza for ten minutes before stumbling upon Nish's car at a red light and following him into the parking lot. Trust me, this becomes useful information in a moment. So we go ahead and order all his favorites (sauteed string beans were fab), and truth to whatever deity you worship, the food arrived in a shorter amount of time than Lexi and I spent accidentally cruising De Anza. And you know what? It was good. As we were scraping our plates clean, Nish mused "You know, I'm so proud you're my friends right now," which made me feel quite lovely as I'd been getting flack for not finishing my burrito at Taqueria La Cumbre the week before (Nish kindly finished that 2:00 AM job for me), but mostly because I too know the feeling of getting verklempt watching your friends/family/complete strangers enjoy your favorite food just as much as you do. Sentimentality aside, the decor is quite nice inside and I admittedly felt a bit out of place in my Valley-Internet-Company uniform of jeans and nice t-shirt. It also caters to a bit older clientele, so our raucous reliving of highlights from our drunken escapades probably wasn't interpreted as angel's song by the families and couples around us.
(4)Piya K.
The food is ok. Yes,Americanized Chinese, if you want to call it so. But they do it nicely. What I did not like, was the service. We went for dinner on a Saturday night at around 9:00pm. They asked us to order quickly as their kitchen closes by 9:30 pm, which was also fine with us. The food came in quickly as well. But then we had one of the waiter standing on our head, waiting for us to finish quickly. They also started cleaning up the floors etc while we were eating. It was as if they could not wait to close the place. The cheque came in almost along with the dinner. Needless to say, we did not enjoy the dinner any bit. Not because the food wasn't good, but because of the poor hospitality of the place. I will not go back because I can find the same kind of food with a better service else where.
(2)Mary H.
Great for the Americanized standards, tasty eggplant dishes. The decor is much nicer than their San Jose sibling restaurant. Pricey. *Horrible* service. Hadn't been in a few years, so I tried it again after mediocre service before. This time, I was greeted with Insincere and borderline hostile waiters/host/bar/cashier. They made an obvious error when taking a phone order, then were hostile and rude despite my efforts at diplomacy. I won't be going back for another few years, it seems.
(2)Audrey H.
The food is vile. We had lunch there today. The free "chicken salad" appetizer had strips of stale chicken. The hot and sour soup tasted like ash. my tofu dish was awash in gooey soy souce and the testure of the tofu can only be described as mummified. It's been repeating on me for the past 5 hours. Oh, and did I mention it gave me the shits? that's right. I thought tofu would be safe! If you have no taste buds and an iron gut, by all means, visit this place. Otherwise, run.
(1)Tisha Dee H.
The absolute best Chinese food around. But let me also say that I don't even like Chinese food. Somehow I discovered this place about 13 years ago and have been enjoying it ever since. No one else compares to quality and selection! My personal fav is the honey walnut shrimp!!!
(5)Robert J.
I enjoy the Mandarin Gourmet. So does my family. But, we're not exactly sure why. Maybe it's the subdued soft lighting, the clean tablecloths, an the tasteful Ming feeling ornament and statuary. Or, maybe it's just the friendly wait staff. And the place is quiet. And...we never have had to wait. We almost never see Chinese people dining there, and wonder why. While the menu is not extensive as the big Chinese banquet eateries around the Peninsula, the selection is ample. There are always specials, too. Wine list is minimal. The food? Well...it's OK. Be careful, a lot of "brown sauces" which duplicate easily across the categories. The portions are not large, but the presentation is pleasing. Service is swift and friendly. Price are about +$2 over your neighborhood strip mall Chinese. We like it, and keep going back. It's kinda like our "default" Chinese.
(4)Michael P.
Have been a number of times. Very good service, very good food!! If you are thinking Chinese Food.... Try Mandarin Gourmet!
(4)Eugene F.
Normally, I would shun going to a place like this, but have been invited out several times to eat here for both work and regular dinners. Food is so so, and is really geared toward the American palate (read: Chinese food for the white man) so, if you're looking for something super authentico, go further down the street to Ranch 99. Prices are also kinda high for what they are offering, as well. Clientele is predominantly white and more likely than not the Saratoga/Los Gatos crowd seeking some adventure outside of their town limits. Environment is DARK. I guess that they're trying to mask the food or something. Now, I know I'm being a stickler here, but I don't like the steamed rice there. It's a long-grain rice, but it tastes like cardboard to me. I prefer Calrose or Jasmine rice with my Chinese food ... they just serve not-so-good rice.
(2)Mara T.
Not my favorite place for lunch, but sometimes I gotta go with the flow so I find myself here at MG for lunch with coworkers. I'm also not a huge chinese food fan overall, so I typically only go to one or two fave places where I know I love certain dishes, but at MG you can definitely find something to eat which your belly will like, so it's a worthwhile trip overall. They have a small lunch menu that is something like $8 or $9 with soup and rice, or you can order off the bigger menu if the lunch one is not tickling your taste buds. The food is okay, but nothing special. There are some things here that are much better elsewhere, like their honey walnut prawns. I love the ones at Tao Tao but at MG they are sloopy goopy covered in white cream sauce, not appealing visually OR from a taste perspective. I am also not a huge 'sauce' gal for Chinese and I tend to think that MG oversauces much of their stuff. Service is pretty quick, they almost always have seating available, and you gotta give MG props for being around the BayArea for so long as I went there years and years ago before I even had fully-developed taste buds to know what I was enjoying (or not). Decent place for lunch and/or dinner if you are craving Chinese in the Cupertino area. Would give 3.5 stars, but alas not an option so 3 it is.
(3)A.v. N.
No, it's not "authentic" Chinese food like you'll find in China, for all you nit-picky Chinese food purists out there. But if you're not one of these people, and you just want a nice place to dine to enjoy a good-tasting quality meal, then you'll enjoy Mandarin Gourmet. The mushu pork is money in the bank. Definitely chew slowly and savor it. The chow mein is not so greasy like you'll often find at other Chinese places, and the walnut prawns are awesome (kinda hard to mess that up). Services was friendly and setting was nice. Decent place to take a date. Just make sure she's not a nit-picky Chinese food purist :)
(4)Delia C.
I personally love this place, my family has gone there for at least 6 years. I think that the food has gone a bit down hill but other wise it is okay. I don't recommend the fried rise though, tasted like grease and vegetables. and try not to come to often as it is very expensive.
(4)Kristen C.
My favorite Chinese restaurant--yummy! Not inexpensive, but great food, very clean (even white tablecloths), pleasant atmosphere, and friendly service. Three-Flavor Sizzling Rice Soup (shrimp, scallops, and even litle chunks of lobster, plus lots of good veggies) Crispy Prawns with Salt and Pepper (note: you can ask for them without the breading, which when they have smaller prawns in stock can overwhelm the prawns) Tangerine Beef (sweet and spicy) Eggplant in Hot Garlic Sauce Mandarin Deluxe Pan-Fried Noodles Changsha Chicken Wrapped in Paper (my mother's favorite--it's actually foil, not parchment, but the flavors meld nicely) I've also frequented the Palo Alto location, which has a slightly more formal feel to it--the only downside there is that they stopped using lobster chunks in the Three-Flavor Sizzling Rice Soup and replace them with white fish--it's still good, but not as stellar as the old version (which is still the version in Cupertino).
(5)Karen V.
My family has been coming here for years, and we live in the Almaden Valley, so it's not exactly a short ride. Their food, service, decor, and ambiance are all outstanding. We're particularly in love with their corn soup and their Sesame Chicken. Nothing else south of San Francisco beats this for Chinese food in the Bay Area.
(5)Nirmal S.
Average Americanized Chinese food.
(4)Lisa L.
What Mandarin Gourmet on Blossom Hill lacks, this Mandarin delivers. It has outstanding food, a relaxing and pretty atmosphere, attentive servers and great variety. This food is the best quality chinese food I have had. My fav dishes are Mandarin Deluxe pan fried noodles (incredibly good!), tangerine beef, general tso's chicken and my latest try, the spicy green beans.
(5)Maggie E.
Food is tasty, comes out hot and service is top notch. With a lot of competition in Cupertino, Mandarin Gourmet holds there own. Fried rice, honey walnut prawns and General Tso's sizzling beef are fantastic. Dining and bathrooms are clean and well kept. Staff is freindly and always anticipating your need for water, more food or the check. I love this place.
(5)Adam W.
I've been a huge fan of Mandarin Gourmet for 15+ years. It's only a little more expensive than a typical neighborhood Chinise restaurant, but it is far, far superior. The dining room is elegant but welcoming and the food is the best around. No giant fiberglass horses, and the food speaks for itself. Some of the dishes are Americanized as most chinese food is, but it's much more tastefully thought out than most. As I understand it, they have a "secret menu" like a lot of Chinese restaurants do, perhaps for the actual Chinese customers. I actually suspect that they make some dishes differently (sweeter) for white people... especially the vegetables. The pot stickers are the best I've ever had. Big and doughy and have a wonderful savory and ginger accented flavor. It seems that my favorite entree, the Chicken Supreme, is off the regular menu but now on the secret menu (which I haven't actually laid eyes on) and they still make it for me. Ask for it... it's the best. Has anyone ever seen a cooler soy sauce pourer? I have to ask where I can get one.
(5)Maryanne R.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in the area. It's a great choice for dining with a big group - we've done many MNO's (mom's night out) here and always had very good food and good service and the price is reasonable too. We ususally go over to Park Place in the Cypress hotel across the street for dessert after our dinner here. We ordered takeout from here last night for my birthday and it was good, but not hot enough. Leftovers today were not great. Their food is definitely best consumed on location.
(4)Jenny C.
If you want authentic, run the other way. How do I know it's not authentic? 1) The hostess is really friendly and thanked me BY NAME! 2) They serve brown rice - which is a plus for me but when have you ever been to an authentic Chinese restaurant with brown rice? 3) One of their servers is hispanic That said, this place still has yummy food and not too expensive. Basically, if you want to eat Chinese food in an American restaurant, this is your place.
(3)Keven W.
Definitely was not "authentic" Chinese food. For some reason my sister got conned into eating this sh*t by her friends instead of going to Curry House. But anyways the food was terrible and pretty gross. I took one bite and went to the bathroom puked that sh*t out. I am not a picky eater, but I have to say this was the worst yet.
(1)Sujeet B.
The location's great, the parking lot is always accomodating, and their specials are certainly worth the attempt, if you're the cautious-yet-curious type. But I'd take two stars off for their service. Its not bad, just rushed. They're always in a hurry, and neither exactly friendly nor helpful when it comes to helping new customers with selections. That being said, Mandarin Gourmet is certainly worth the trip. I'd recommend a look at their specials before browsing the menu. We made some good selections off the specials' list recently, and I'd recommend the Basil Chicken in a hearbeat. The food's great, not greasy, and certainly not the kind that feels, er, "artificially enriched", for lack of a better term. A solid three stars out of five. The Cupertino place and the San Jose place are quite different by way of layout; in case you're equidistant from the two. The Cupertino one has an interesting exterior, while the San Jose one has a nice little "tucked away" feel with a roomy interior. Oh, and another reason they didn't make the five stars - they, or at least the people running the San Jose place; are quite 'strict' about the time. We went in once around the late eight o'clock hour of the evening, and it almost felt like our server was punctuating every sentence he spoke with "the kitchen closes at nine", or perhaps half past nine. After a couple of iterations, it was quite annoying. Oh, well...the things one does for good Chinese food.
(3)Paul M.
Service was excellent and so was the food. In Cupertino many of the chinese restaurants cater more to Chinese people but I didn't feel that way here.
(4)Lisa S.
Good, healthy and fresh food. It tastes great. Service is good. Really easy to get a table. Very good soup.
(4)Michele S.
Everything I have had has been yummy. Love the tangerine beef and chicken. Have only ordered take out - but inside is nice.
(4)Denis S.
This place has some of my favorite Chinese food, in a nice atmosphere, but for very reasonable prices. Anything with the garlic sauce is delicious, but my favorite has to be the crispy eggplant in hot garlic sauce. Also, their Moo Shi is always good. My friends and I have a tradition around coming for the last 6 years. Lets hope we can keep it going!
(5)Brian H.
Mandarin Gourmet? More like, "Man, dare I? No way!" Never mind. Overall: 2.75/5 Very nice setting and decent food but I will not return because I felt unwanted and it is simply too expensive for the food. It would be good if you're on a semi-serious date or a nice family gathering. At least you will get a window seat because there were enough tables by the windows to fit all the patrons there to pad the impression of popularity. But who will even look? This restaurant is like the gorilla walking across the ball-tossing game--no one ever suspected this place to be there. The sign is quite faded, and this is the first time my girlfriend and I have even heard of this place after living around there for over 15 years. Decor: 1 Very clean and pleasing setting with decorations and classical music of the romantic period softly playing in the background. Large room with many white and empty tables. The few people eating there were quiet in general, hopefully not out of fear. Window seats are nice for lighting. Food: 0.5 x 2 Food tasted average. It was hard to eat slabs of meat when they wouldn't give us cutting utensils, though. Price: 0.5 $12-13 for dishes you'd find anywhere. There was a charge for a tiny bowl of rice that didn't come with my Mandarin Beef or whatever I got. The ball of rice was about the size of a baseball. However, I went in with a buy-1-get-1 coupon from Lockerz, so I feel I got the rightful price on the main dishes. Service: 0.25 Quiet, curt servers. Didn't give me a knife to cut my slabs of meat. The woman at the front was nice, though. And one of the servers asked me if I wanted rice with my dish. Perhaps you will get better treatment if you don't bring a coupon.
(2)