Chong’s Szechwan Restaurant
485 Tyler St, Monterey, CA, 93940
Chong’s Szechwan Restaurant Menu
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Address :
485 Tyler St
Monterey, CA, 93940 - Phone (831) 373-5153
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Chinese Cuisine
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.
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Julie I.
We are a family of regulars and we love to eat here! Great lunch specials, Michelle is awesome and always remembers our names and what we order. They remember our two kids....exceptional service! Great place for cheap lunch time eats! People are always Hating, but come on ~ go somewhere else if you are not happy! We will continue to come here!
(5)Bo Z.
Worst Chinese food I have ever had in US, food not fresh, hot and sour soup tastes like sewage. Avoid!!
(1)Laxman A.
The portions are generous and quick. It is quite cheap comparatively. However, I did not feel tasty. Maybe i ordered wrong items. I had ordered vegetarian chowmin, mixed veg and chicken fried rice for my kids. They all came big plates. Place is very dirty, not organized. The bathroom is horrible.
(3)Llarelie J.
I had came to chong's for lunch a couple weeks ago and the food was pretty good. I got the lunch special, chicken chow mein and fried rice. So good. The service was really bad. The lady at the counter was so rude. I tried chong's again hoping that experience was a one time thing, however, it happened again. I called to order my food and was greeted by a "yes, what do you want?" The lady sounded annoyed and bored. I went to pick up my food and was told I needed to wait so I did. However, I had seen my food waiting on the counter for 10 mins. The lady said, "oh this must have been yours. How do you want to pay?" Really? No apology, no nothing. Sorry, but it came off so rude. The food is good but the service is terrible.
(3)J C.
They do have some authentic flavored Chinese dishes on the menu, but ingredients are not necessarily fresh. Service quality is like local weather. Sometimes you got gorgeous sunny days, but sometimes are cloudy. Your worst experience could be: You called to order and got the answer "Ready in about 10 to 15 mins." Then you showed up and got the question "We don't have it here. When did you order?" Bummer...
(2)Ariel M.
My family and I traveled to Monterey on 9/6/14 to visit the Aquarium. Afterwards my wife wanted Chinese for dinner. My kids love sizzling rice soup so I yelped and saw 3.5 stars for this place and decided to try it out. This is an older restaurant in downtown Monterey. It is very dated. My wife is huge on cleanliness so she was uncomfortable off the bat because all the furniture, paint, windows etc, are all in need of replacement. The walls are a little dirty as well as the bathrooms. This place is interesting because it's the only chinese restaurant I've ever been to which has a fully stocked bar. There was no hostess the night we went. We were just told to sit at a table of our choosing. There were only two other parties there other than ours on a Saturday evening. While the waitress was not very talkative, I don't take it that she was being rude. I just think there was more of a language barrier than anything else. We all had the sizzling rice soup, lemon chicken, beef and broccoli and chow mein. The soup was a little bland but that may just be our taste. I did notice that the shrimp and veggies looked like the frozen kind. I've had really good sizzling rice soup at our favorite Chinese restaurant in San Luis Obispo and can tell the difference between fresh shrimp and veggies and the frozen stuff. The lemon chicken was actually pretty good. That was the only exceptional dish though. Everything else was just ok.
(2)Melodii Z.
Food is fine, but the service is very very very very poor. I would not suggest you to come here again. I cannot understand the waitress's English or Chinese.......
(1)Manny G.
Today myself and my family checked out this Asian Eatery. First impression-the decor and atmosphere is very dated and in need of an update. Full liquor bar right upon entering. The place was deserted, but it was almost 3 pm (the end of lunch) on a Sunday so it's hard to tell. The lunch specials are fairly priced at $6.50 each and there is a decent variety. The food came out quickly and was hot. Portion sizes were good. More than enough for lunch. Lunch is served with a cup of soup (not sure what it is exactly..similar to Hot And Sour Soup but not hot at all..) overall, the food is not outstanding, but it is good and did not leave me feeling like I had MSG overload afterwards. Service was good. Atmosphere..meh. I will be back due to the good food for the price, portions and service.
(3)Howard T.
After being a steady customer for over 35 years and loving some of the best food like this on the peninsula, I'm going to have to say goodbye. It didn't bother me that the price went up on their #3 for 2 people meal a few dollars, but the next time i went there 2 days ago, the meal was not only more, but they eliminated an entire dish from the meal and still charged the same. Sorry, I cannot enable your greed .I think the owner was constantly telling me "that's extra" "that's extra!!!" when I asked for some sweet n sour sauce, I told her I expect to pay extra when I ask for extra, but she was livid about telling me "it's extra" If your restaurant is failing, don't beat up your customers Especially your faithful ones.!!! PANIC MANAGEMENT does not work.
(1)Sheri M.
We've been here at least half a dozen times and each time we come the service and food keeps getting worst and worst. The food was delicious the 1st and 2nd times we came but after that...the quality has gotten bad. The service is so bad that you need to be rude just like them in order to be heard. Besides not being able to understand what you want they dont give a damn about you. Yes it maybe cheap but that doesnt outweight the rudeness, intimidation (from the owner), horrible quality that this establishment is offering to the city of Monterey.
(1)Peter N.
Just moved to Monterey from MN, and stumbled onto this place. Ordered the #4 - great portions and excellent food. Fast as well.
(5)Janet D.
I love to eat there for lunch and go there twice a month. Since I am a regular, the waitresses always seat me and quickly bring my soup first and the entree promptly. My favorite is #9 which is fried rice and Pork chow Mein. The egg flower soup is delicious. When my order comes, I use soy sauce and Sriacha sauce. There is so much food I can take the rest home for dinner. Although the windows are dirty, the food is delicious and affordable at $6.99. All the waitresses work hard to delivery your order quickly.
(4)Jeanette J.
Omg......terrible customer service.....they were so rude and the food was OK....never go back there again....totally recommend chef less.....10xs better
(1)Brenda B.
The egg rolls are nice so is there shrimp but a little too greasy they could cut down on the breading a little bit. they're pork spare ribs are the bomb but on certain days I see that they don't have them try to get some yesterday had to deal with the Peking spare ribs instead. I grew up going to this restaurant when I was a little girl with my family my mom will take me there after school if I got good grades. The egg drop soup is excellent.
(4)Michelle S.
Not very good food in general (I'm not sure why authentic means having no Chinese on the menu). Some of the food came in very small portions. I was not impressed.
(2)Jeff K.
Food is below average, service is rude. Not recommended. That special wonton soup has some not so fresh pork wrapped in. I am a Chinese, I know not only this is not authentic Chinese food, but also not fresh ingredients.
(2)Anna M.
After a long car ride, we stopped at Chong's for dinner. The service was friendly, fast and the food was good. I've been eating home style Szechwan family dinners here since I was young, and now as an adult I make sure to stop in for dinner when on vacation in Monterey, CA. The Chow Mein is always just how I remember it to be (fresh, flavorful & hot) and the decor hasn't changed a bit. I love Chong's.
(4)Phiem N.
One word... YUCK! Their food is horrible. I am from out of town and wanted Chinese food for dinner. The yelp photos did not look so bad until I ordered their food and ate it. I will not eat there ever again.
(1)Stacey H.
Possibly the most tasteless food I've ever had! Staff was rude, the place was in dire need of dusting, and even the menus were falling apart. Never. Ever. Ever. Again!
(1)Lei W.
Though it was 930pm and no one was in there, but they were still open just because they said they close at 10pm. Honesty. 100 times better than "Full Moon (half truth)". Since it was Chinese New Year, I had me some pot sticker (dumplings), wrapping is kind of thick, but still tasty, had some fried shrimps, really good while its freshly prepared, and a pork rib dish, a bit heavy on the sweet sour sauce, but still good. Regardless the quality of the food, they were open and willing to serve. The waitress/manager was extremely friendly.
(5)Mypang T.
I heard from locals, that this place is the best and authentic. I have to say, GROSS. I can't believe Chinese food can fail this badly with my taste buds and stomach. My date ordered the sesame chicken. He said the first couple of bites were good and then it just started tasting like grease and he couldn't stomach it anymore. I ordered eggplant + tofu. My eggplant was so BLAND and tasteless. I had to try and "fix" it with salt and anything else I could get my hands on. It was horrible. I felt like I was eating GREASY MUSH. The eggplant may have been overcooked because I just felt like it was just GREASY MUSH. I tried to like the sauce it was in, by tasting it on the side, but all it would leave me was an aftertaste of oil. GROSS. There was no texture at all. And I love eggplant. I just don't know how the hell they messed this up, it was the WORST chinese food I've ever had. GROSS. My date also went to the bathroom in the middle of our dinner. He said the men's bathroom was overflooded with urine and was filthy. He just wanted to leave because the food wasn't good either. Service was bad too. I'm used to it, since I'm Asian and have eaten a lot of Chinese and Asian food throughout my life. My date didn't like it though. She was not friendly and took our check as soon as we paid it. Never smiled either. Typical rude Chinese service. Lame! We asked them to pack our food to go, to be polite but threw it away after we left. I never waste food because I'm a fatass, but there was nothing to save here. So sad. Afterwards, our stomachs felt horrible. We paid $23 for a couple plates of grease and oil. Horribly gross.
(1)Elysha I.
Great value for dinner! Entres under $10, generous portions, fresh veggies. Our waitress was very helpful and even gave us free extra rice with our left overs. Great to eat family style here. We'll be back.
(4)Rebekah P.
Always get a good meal at chongs. We usually always order to go and pick up to enjoy at home. It's very affordable. We love the pork fried rice, General chicken and broccoli beef.
(4)Kiyomi Y.
I cannot tell you enough how much my family and I enjoy going to this restaurant for their special won ton soup. (As you read this review, please keep in mind that it is focused only on this soup, and not on other dishes.) Around 2000, my family and I stayed at the former Double Tree in downtown Monterey. We asked the valet for a good place to eat and he mentioned Chong's. From the outset, Chong's looks like a place that only the locals are familiar with. It's in the quiet part of downtown Monterey, and has an unassuming facade. In fact, if you're not looking for it, you might walk rich toast it. Unlike most restaurants in Monterey, it doesn't advertise itself as a seafood restaurant. Rather, it's a homey Chinese restaurant with a bar and vinyl seats. The special won ton soup is the best won ton soup that I have ever eaten. I ordered it on my family's first visit, and have ordered it there ever since. Even though I live in San Jose, I will get cravings for that specific soup. Chong's is as much of a draw to Monterey for me as seeing the beach and aquarium. My parents also make trips to Monterey for Chong's, and will eat there every time they visit the area. The staff recognizes us now and sometimes will not offer me a menu because they already know what I'm going to order. If you're in the mood for some good Chinese food, I would recommend Chong's. However, keep in mind that the special won ton soup is the only thing I order, so I cannot vouch for the other dishes. I do, however, see other patrons (who look like regulars) order a variety of dishes.
(5)Nancy B.
After a long drive to Monterey, we decided to order some Chinese takeout and so we tried Chong's. While the sizzling rice soup (something we never had) and Kung pao chicken were pretty good, I have to give it two stars on account of the salt and pepper shrimp. Now I've ordered this dish before at other places and know what to expect so I was shocked to come across shrimp cooked with the entire shell case on and not deveined. After peeling and deveining the shrimp ourselves, we hardly had time to enjoy the dish. In addition, as we ordered takeout, we didnt receive utensils or napkins. We were lucky that we stayed somewhere that utensils were available but for those in a hotel room with no kitchen, be warned or at least ask for them. On a positive note, the food was inexpensive so that is good.
(2)blanket j.
Used to go quite often in 1985 with Rohan, Dorman, Paynich while at DLI. Beef chow fun!
(5)Will C.
One of the Best American-Chinese Food I have had. Lunch special is highly recommended. Mongolian Beef/ Sweet and Sour Pork is my favorite 2. The food amount & quality vs. the price is fabulous. Recommend to go.
(4)Tony T.
I have been here quite a few times. food for the most part it's okay. the service fast some more friendly some were not. the food is cooked too fast there is no flavor. recently I had some chow fun there was no flavor meats had no flavor tasted very plain. I will not be coming back. Yes its cheap, sometimes you Get what you pay for
(2)Ron W.
In Mty on Tyler Street, a block north of the transit center. It's New Year's evening 2014--glad somebody is open so I fall in. Enjoyed my vegetable chow mein. Tasty blend of chopped celery, green onions, bean sprouts, a little brocolli, good noodle texture. Greasy / oily but probably supposed to be. (I am no gormand:) Free soda refills would be nice. I will be back though. I like the cozy, authentic, local feel of this place.
(4)Phil R.
The beef chow fun's texture was excellent, but lacked flavor. Soy sauce made it better. The servers were nice and we got parking right out front.
(2)Christy D.
Ive been eating at this establishment for years but not anymore. The restaurants women's restroom door has been broken for over three years and the cleanliness is terrible. I'm really surprised that they haven't been shut down by health department.
(1)Chris K.
When entering, you will notice a bad smell (rest room?). Two of the waitresses were polite and friendly but one was pretty abrupt. Their soup was just horrible - bland and with lots of celery and carrots. Their best lunch dish was Seafood on Rice: very good quality prawns and squids in tasty sauce but was a bit greasy. The rice was much better than Full Moon's. Overall, the meat dishes had heavy strong-tasting sauce. Kung Po Chicken and Mongolian Beef was tasty but again very greasy and Chicken with Green Beans had too heavy sauce. I still haven't found good Mongolian Beef on this trip. Still a good place for a quick lunch - maybe better for take away.
(3)Dan M.
This is absolutely the best chinese food I've had. Great flavors in the food and the Mongolian beef and special wonton soup is awesome. Keep it up guys! The interior decor is outdated. Its usually very cold and loud inside. Sometimes you get strange looks from the staff and they like to yell at each other. But you cant beat the lunch menu and its prices.
(4)Nancy Y.
Really the only major pluses are that it is right downtown, cheap by Monterey standards and service is quick. On the downside, the food is very so-so, tends to be standard items a little heavy on the side, oily side, old looking decor and noisy. Not really up to the level of good Chinese, but at these prices we are getting what we have paid for.
(2)J. K.
i know, it's just Chinese food, but it's excellent. Lunch for $6 is still huge, dinner portion and quality isn't sacrificed. I had Mongolian beef, meat quality was so good and tender, not one bad piece of meat. Pork Lo mien was great, too. Our server was super fast and good. And just a small thing that matters, they actually give you plenty of good napkins without having to beg for them (if you know what I mean).
(5)B C.
I've been eating at Chongs for about 20 years (maybe more). I no longer live in town, but whenever I am back visiting friends and family, I figure out a way to sneak over to Chongs for lunch. As others have posted, this is not "Haute Chinese Cuisine" - its Chinese comfort food. Whether it is a cold winter day, (or a cold summer one!), or a warm summer afternoon, Chong's lunch specials cannot be beat for value. Good, honest rib-stickin' Chinese food, it is. I am not kidding when I say that the lunch specials have been EXACTLY THE SAME as they have been for 20 years. Not only the same items, but they taste exactly the same and have the same enormous portions. Even when I was in my 20's and could bankrupt most "all you can eat" places, Chong's never left me hungry. Now that I'm in my forties, I typically can't finish an entire lunch, but I sure try! The coolest thing is that my favorite item (the "Shredded Pork" lunch special (I think it is #10) still has all the same flavors that I have loved for the last 20 years. I can even still pick out the peppers and nibble on them to "kick up the heat" the way I did when I first sat down at their lunch counter. And correct me if I'm wrong, but I think the prices haven't changed in 20 years either! I mean $5.50 for these enormous lunch specials (including soup!)??? And no skimpy "lunch special" portions either! One of the things I've always loved about Chong's is that they give even gringos a real portion of rice, not assuming that just cause I'm a white guy I don't eat a lot of rice. Chongs is to Chinese what the best New Jersey diners are to American food - if you're looking for gourmet, your in the wrong place, but if you want a laid-back, comfortable atmosphere where you can sit at the counter and chit-chat with the waitress (who has been there for 12+ years, by the way) while enjoying hearty portions of flavorful (albeit heavy) food, then Chong's is your place!
(4)Gina V.
Authentic Chinese Food offerings with friendly service. A large bowl of Wonton soup fill with veggies and dumplings is my absolute fav! They have great lunch specials too. You get far more than you pay for. It's not for everyone. It's not fancy and the decor is outdated but the food and service is good.
(4)Raul N.
I'm not generally one to crave greasy spoon Chinese food, but one of my friends swears that Chong's is the best Chinese food in town. So I took a leap of faith . . . and fell off a cliff. We sat down and the place was packed. I took this as a good sign--in retrospect, I realize now that most were probably more attracted to the cheap price tag and speed of service at Chong's rather than the quality of the food. I ordered one of the lunch specials--the General's spicy chicken. My friends ordered the kung pao chicken and the ma po tofu. I decided to get an order of potstickers for the table. I was a little surprised that our food was out lickety split--I think in under five minutes? Impressive. Alas, the speed of service didn't make up for the quality of the food. The chicken was fried and greasy. I guess I deserved that for ordering such an Americanized dish. But the flavors were off for me--I wanted something spicy, but all I tasted was tomato. Odd. I tried some of my friends' food--the ma po tofu wasn't bad, a little chewy but flavorful; the kung pao chicken was salty, but spicy. The potstickers arrived well after our food. They were dripping with grease. I hesitantly took a bite. They didn't taste much better than they looked. The wrapper was doughy; the filling inside was overpowered by ginger. If you're looking for cheap Chinese food, well Chong's certainly fits the bill. But remember, you get what you pay for. While it sounds like Chong's has a bit of a cult following, I'll be sticking with Full Moon Mandarin instead. They might cost you a few more pennies, but the food is worth the extra investment.
(2)Joseph C.
We have ordered out from Chong's before and thought the food was just ok. We decided to visit Chong's late night on a Thursday since they closed at 10pm. We ordered the No. 3 family dinner. Soup, really weird almost like a goo. The broth almost stuck together with everything like gelatin. Fried shrimp, horrible after taste of the fry was really bad. Chicken wings, horrible fried beyond taste. It reminded me of Christmas Vacation with Chevy Chase and the over cooked turkey. Sweet and Sour Chicken, ok the fried chicken was mostly tendons I don't think there was really any meat. The Almond Chicken Chow Mien, ok. The pork fried rice, how can you mess something like this up it was alright I guess compared to everything else. Cashew Beef, bad Really Bad. The beef was like a sponge, I would think it is loaded with a tenderizer there is no way possible to have a beef of that texture. MSG. The food that we had was nothing that would bring us back. There was this other lady working there that night. In the middle of eating she sneezed really loud I turned to look to see if she was going to wash her hands. She just said thank you like I was concerned for her health and started laughing. GROSS. After we signed our ticket this lady came to pick up the check. She grabbed the receipt tray from under my hand separated the white slip from my copy then turned the tray over and dumped my copy of the receipt on the table and walked off with out saying anything. We said that was really rude. I still had to finish the rest of my beer before we took off. The lady came up to our table and told us that "We are closed and you must leave now." This really pissed me off. My girlfriend and I where having a great conversation while I was finishing my beer and this lady just ruined it for us. I just did not understand why we had to leave. For a Restaurant that stops seating at 10pm would kick us out at 10:20pm. I would of thought they would of been so thankful for our business that evening. Would never go back.
(1)Daniel G.
My wife wanted to try this place because a friend of a friend works there. The food was ok but not great. I enjoyed the shrimp fried rice but the wontons in the wonton soup seemed previously reheated or overcooked. The worst part was the lemon chicken. It was soooo lemony that it was near inedible. I had 2 pieces and could not stomach more. I will just have to stick with the simple menu items next time.
(2)Alon Y.
The fourth star is for the lightning quick service, location, and price. I got the black bean short ribs, a recommendation from the waitress. She claimed they were tender, and they we just that with a creamy sauce. The dish costs 5.95 and had soup with the lunch special. Cheap, quick, and tasty.
(4)Kelsi S.
Best Chinese in the 831
(5)Michael J.
You either get Chong's or you don't. I love the service, the speed at which my food arrives, the insanely reasonable price...but most of all Chong's whole funky vibe. Full bar (never seen anyone order booze), empty lobster tank, plastic flowers everywhere, actual working class locals scattered around the dining room. Go there twice in a month and you will become a local, too.
(4)Lisa T.
This place has legitimate Chinese food. In an area with 80% white people according to the 2000 census, I needed my Chinese food fix quick! My boyfriend and I came in on a Tuesday night at 9pm! We were the only ones in there at that time. There was ample amount of parking, and this place is SO EASY TO MISS because it's incredibly dim. When you're only familiar with big billboards and bright lights from LA, this place is like a dark alley. But don't let that prevent you from trying their food. Between me and the boyfriend, we ordered beef with black bean sauce & kung pao chicken. One plate should've been enough for the both of us, especially with rice. So it's safe to say that we were STUFFED. There was one party that came in at 9:55PM! The female owner didn't want them to come in, but the male owner let them. Apparently, the female owner already cashed out the credit card machine, so she asked them if they're going to pay with cash before letting them sit down. So if you ever decide to have a late night at Chong's, be courteous and take it to go.
(4)Edward M.
Been going here for many years. Simple good family style food. The only place in the Monterey area that serves Manduren Duck. Such a great dish. Good for children and large party's.
(5)Mrs. S.
I grew up with this place, and I moved away, but every time I come home, Chongs is a must and I compare all others to Johnny's food. Now... a few disclaimers. It's not the cleanest place in the world. I know this... like I said, I grew up with Chongs. I think we had a birthday celebration here for someone in our family every other year. My parents have been eating at Chongs since before I was born (over 30 years now). And, they use MSG. If you don't want MSG, you should let them know. Another disclaimer, we order a lot of non-americanized dishes.... maybe that makes a difference. And we never order the "family menu." I just don't think that's their best option... those options really never taste as good as the dishes we like to order. I've read a few posts about the service, and they kind of make me laugh and cringe inside, because we've known these waitresses for many, many years. And yes... the service is Asian... which can often mean abrupt, assertive, forthcoming, and maybe a bit edgy depending on their mood. I would compare it to the generic Asian auntie.... no sugar coating, and I can see how it could be seen as rude. I really think this is a cultural difference. If you can't handle this type of service, you are better off at white-washed chain restaurant PF Changs. And I stole this line from someone else: "This is not "Haute Chinese Cuisine" - its Chinese comfort food." All of these disclaimers could be a turnoff, but... Chong's food is so delicious. I wish I had a Chongs in San Diego. My favorites are definitely the egg fu yung, the fried rice, and spicy eggplant. They also do a nice chinese broccoli with oyster sauce when it's in season, and if you ever get the steamed fish... yum. I also like their pot stickers, won ton soup, and shrimp noodle soup. Also, their chinese chicken salad is delicious! Actually, everything we order is good. We always go in a big group, and Chongs has never disappointed. We've seen the Chang family grow over the years... we remember when Johnny was single, when he got married, when he had his first child, and now the girls are all grown up. Crazy. Nothing beats a family owned restaurant with excellent comfort food that has been around for years. If this place ever closes, our family will be heartbroken. What would downtown Monterey be without Chongs? Lacking... that's for sure. And no, we never go to PF Changs. We hate it. Everything tastes the same, no matter what you order. Yes, it's cleaner, yes they have fancy teas, and ok, the lettuce wraps are not bad, but you can get those at CPK. Thankfully, you don't really go to Chongs if you want PF Changs, and you don't go to PF Changs if you like Chongs. So luckily, Chongs has survived for those in Monterey who want yummy Chinese American food. I want some Chinese chicken salad from Chongs for breakfast after writing about it.... I might need to make a trip home just for Chongs. Don't worry, I'll tell my Grandpa I came for him.
(5)Don P.
What a surprise. We used to drive past this place all the time because the exterior looked old and worn. But we decided to give it a chance based upon the yelp reviews. The food was quite good for American Chinese style. I usually prefer authentic Chinese food instead of American Chinese food, but once in a while I get a craving. I went with the standby King Pao chicken and my wife had vegetable lo mein. My dish was cooked perfectly with ample bits of both meat and vegetables. My wife's lo mein noodles were surprisingly good with an almost handmade quality. Not necessarily gourmet, but fits the bill quite well. Definitely worth an adventurous trip and we would return.
(4)Shiho F.
I've streamlined my take-out order to this: *Chinese Chicken Salad with Peanuts on the Side * Hong Kong Style Vegetable Chowmein - Only Bean Sprouts & Bokchoy (Can't get enough of the fresh crunch from the bean sprouts and bokchoy ... so green & lovely.) * Fortune Cookies (yes please)... one of the better ones I've ever had and very positive fortunes (not that I believe but very motivating/inspirational) *Chili Oil (pretty sure they make it) Feeds 2 just fine, perhaps three... Today I wanted to have something healthy with it (it's a New Year aka post-Master Cleanse thing) so I made Enoki Itame or Enoki sauteed in a little olive oil with garlic, Hiyayako or cold soft tofu topped with fresh grated ginger, green onions and ponzu (a citrus soy) and Natto (fermented soy beans with green onions). Served it all with a Malbec (to be honest Kirkland Signature haha! Costco brand only because I didn't have any white chilled and it was only $7.99 so I had to give it a whirl. Not to shabby.) If it was for more than myself or two people I would add on the following: * Potstickers (thick meaty and killer) * Sizzling Rice Soup or their Egg Flower Soup If I was going to feed more than 3 people I'd add: *Tofu & Bokchoy Garlic Sautee (slightly off the menu but they will make almost anything you ask... if you ask nicely)
(5)Jessica M.
My family has been coming here for as long as I can remember... I love the owners!
(5)Kayla P.
This place is definitely better than the other chinese food places I have tried in the Monterey area. If I wanted chinese food, I would come back to Chongs. I ordered a family dinner to go, and I was very pleased. The broccoli beef wasn't as delicious as I would hope to be, that is my favorite chinese food dish. But I am very glad I found a decent chinese food place that I can see myself going back to.
(4)Kim H.
Delicious Chinese Food! John and his fabulous, friendly, fast, efficient staff, (wife Jennifer included) have been working hard, long hours for decades feeding the hungry. He is usually slaving over a hot stove, while Jennifer and the other pretty women are serving in the dining areas. The $5.50 lunch specials are so good. Their Won Ton soup is the best around. Family style meals are your best choice, since portions are so huge. Centrally located downtown Monterey, this place is a local's favorite. Try It! You will fall in love, Too. =}
(5)Brittan C.
I'm giving 3 stars because I've only been here once for won ton soup when I was sick and it was REALLY GOOD. Good broth, won tons, greens, water chestnuts, shrimp, chicken and pork, yum.
(3)Christella T.
Stopped here on a Saturday night driving through Monterey with my bf. The reviews sounded good enough and the prices were right, so we decided to give it a try. When we walked in, a lady at the door said, "go in and find your own table in the back room." We thought that was rude, but proceeded to walk in anyway. Another lady in the back said, "I don't have any tables back here....go back to the front and wait." =/ We weren't very hungry, so we ordered a chicken chow mein dish to share. They charged us an extra dollar to split an entree...Really?? An extra dollar just for an extra plate and fork?? Sigh. The chow mein was huge and tasted decent....the sauce was kind of soupy though. The bathroom was nasty with a huge black feces-looking mess on the floor. Gross!! I won't be back.
(2)Kameron T.
WHERE THE BEEF?!!!!! BLAND! BLAND! BLAND! I have been trying to find a really good Chinese Restaurant in the area in the reasonably priced range. Tommy's Wok in Carmel is outstanding but more of a special occasion restaurant because they are $$$. I read the reviews for Chongs & thought I would give it a try. I ordered the Pot Stickers, Combination Fried Rice, Almond Chicken Chow Mein, Mu Shu Pork & Steamed Rice. The Good: The food is not extra ordinarily greasy like the Great Wall. Lots & lots of Bok Choy that was crunchy but bland. The Bad: The Pot Stickers were nice & big cooked nicely but the filling was very marginal & there wasn't any sauce with them so they were on the dry side. The combination Fried Rice did not have any meat what so ever. The chow mein was flavorless & once again very little meat! The Mu Shu Pork tasted mostly like scrambled eggs, once again very very little meat. WHERES THE MEAT!!! The Ugly: Being warned in the reviews about the ambience of this place I chose to wait for take out. Wow, what an undesirable place to dine. The place is way outdated, the seats worn & tattered. There was globs of toilet paper in the vented windows above the door. No music, all you could hear was the dishwasher in the back clanging pots & pans. The staff wasn't particularly rude but not very attentive. I don't think I saw one person smile "guests or staff" the entire time I waited for my food. I am still on my quest for good reasonably priced chinese food in Monterey.
(2)Jen S.
3.5. Good, greasy Chinese food that hits the spot. The flashfried green beans were pretty tasty, as was the general chicken. Beef chow fun was ok, but I'm pretty picky about that dish. Feels like you're in a timewarp in there, like late 1970s, which means Chong's has been able to hang in there for a long time.
(3)Darren R.
Went here for lunch. Parking on the street was plentiful. Friendly staff and quick service. Reasonably priced. Good food. Will be back again.
(4)Alexander B.
The "Eek! Methinks not" rating is perfect way to describe this place. I read the below reviews before I went to this place and all I have to say is: Were we all eating at the same place?! This excerpt from wiki: The most prominent traits of Sichuanese cuisine are described by four words: spicy, hot, fresh and fragrant." This place fails on all four counts. I got the Ma po dofu, asking for it extra spicy (it even says on the menu that it's hot) and for a ho hum mush of tofu and greens. Sure the dish was warm, but it was in no way fresh or fragrant! Perhaps the main chef was taking the day off? I though they couldn't possibly fail with potsickers.... I mean, how can you go wrong with something that's just pork, cabbage, ginger, garlic, and some sesame oil?? Why did it taste like breakfast sausage at Ihop? Why was there no ginger and garlic? and why, oh why was it soggy, even though it looked like someone attempted to fry it??? Delicious, this place was not, although it was cheap. However, so are my favorite places in San Francisco (Little Beijing on Noriega!) I'll never eat here again, and I wonder about the people's palate who recommended this place in the first place. This place could have rocked, but it flopped.
(1)LL N.
1st timer in here. heard about it and I was craving chinese food. Ordered the sweet n sour chicken, and seafood chow mein. absolutely unediable....tasteless. Hard pieces of old dried up chicken, with cold pink glaze.... the chow mein was FULL of noodels, 4 pieces of small shripmp, 4 tiny peices of calamari, plus cold and tasteless. pushed the food away, paid, and ran out. never, ever again. the seats are in need of desparate repair or just get new ones. dirty and dingey too.
(1)Kristen B.
I went here for dinner with my boyfriend because we were craving (American) Chinese food. We ordered the potstickers, special chow mein, and garlic chicken. The prices are very reasonable for the amount of food you receive -- we took home 3 Chinese-style takeout boxes of leftovers! I will warn you ahead of time that the food is very, very greasy....but it's also pretty tasty. Next time I'll order takeout since the interior isn't very cozy.
(3)Andrea H.
Chong's is the quintessential Chinese American diner. I grew up with this place. Yes, they make fabulously greasy American Chinese food -- sometimes you're just in the mood for it, admit it! -- great lunch plates, but they also cook "real" Chinese food quite well, like the crab sauteed in the shell. I recommend the pork spareribs, the special wonton soup, the sizzling rice soup, and the beef chow fun. They also know Chinese traditions. My mom was very satisfied with the dishes they chose for my dad's funeral luncheon.
(4)Tiana S.
Dont let the rundown atmosphere fool you. The spot is legit when it comes to the food. And the price! Well, goes without saying that one can walk in, enjoy a huge meal for lunch @about $8(drink included), and roll on out satisfied.lol I really love the potstickers. I like the consistency of the dough; a little chewy with great filling. An order will run about $8 (I think its worth it). Lunch is the best time to hit this joint being that its so cheap with the specials! I think its from 11-3pm(lunch).
(5)Sirena F.
This place has amazing tasting Chinese food! The waitress was sooo nice too. We called 20mins before they closed to make sure we could still be served and they said yes. Once we got there about 5mins later they didn't rush us but instead kept saying, "Take your time." They were nice and clean and the food was probably the best Chinese I've ever had! Definitely going back when I have extra money since it was a bit pricier than other Chinese restaurants I've been to. But so worth it!
(5)Nicholas C.
Heard about this place from my sister and my family decided to try it out and loved it! The prices were under 10 bucks for everything and the portions were huge!!! Definently recommend going here for great Chinese food and just great food all around!
(5)Brian J.
There is good Chinese food in Monterey. And its at Chongs. Chongs is the all time home town favorite in Monterey. It's old, it's got so much character. There's this throwback quality to the place that hasn't changed since the 20 years I've been coming here. I'm a little taken back by some of the 1 star reviews, but it doesn't completely surprise me. Why the place is deemed szechwan(sichuan), I have no idea. Szechwan food is typically spicy(as in OMG my mouth is on fire). You wont find that here. I also have it on good authority that the owner's are from Hong Kong. Pretty sure they speak cantonese here. The cantonese stuff is fine and what I come for. Also I come for the old worn tables, the friendly staff that recognizes me and asks me what I'm up to in broken English, and the food. It's not the ambiance of say, PF Chang's, but I say F that noise. Coming to Chongs is like coming to your kitchen dinner table. It's faux asian nostalgic, plastic chopsticks, and Chinese-American goodness. Ok, here's the real review. This food is generally greasy tasty dishes that comes to be defines as that quintessential American style Chinese food. It is authentic, it is,however, far from what you might find in China. I'd say Chinese food doesn't exist in America, because they rely on more salty, veggie(like leeks), and intestinal meat dishes. It's a whole different ballgame. In America you find starchy, heavy meat dishes, yet still with far more veggies when compared with western cusine. Chong's of course is perhaps the best of this latter style. It's a chinese american greasy spoon. Assess it accordingly. Inside there's a bar, which is barely used, but interesting to see in a place like this. No beer on tap, and, well, the mixed drinks are pretty awfully made. Also, they used to serve hamburgers and fries and stuff. Hence, Chinese and American food, as is proclaimed outside on the storefront. Don't get American food. Sit down, order some oolong, get the menu out and choose wisely. Pork spare ribs, mongolian beef, and anything with bok choy will do fine, but the beef chow fun and special wonton shine. Ask for the fried oysters or lobster, and you will be denied; it will forever be on the menu but never really available. Eat your heart out, portions are large and plates are cheap. Tip your waitresses, some hold two jobs and some put their kids thru college working well into retirement age. When it's done eat your fortune cookie and tack on the "in bed" before the owner thanks you for coming as you leave. I have nothing but fondness for chongs. How many other restaurants next to Alvarado have been around for so long and have been so great and reasonably priced? Its that joint you go to when you are hungry, period. Around here, the block has changed so much, even the Starbucks doesn't exist anymore. Some places have remained. But the day chongs leaves will make monterey unrecognizable to me. It's like Reds donuts, or Rosines, or the Crown. About as home as there ever was one. Oh, and anyone who thinks Full Moon is good (FULL MOON?!, comon) doesn't understand Chong's. They get more foot traffic of course, but long time locals know where to go. There are plenty of cheap Chinese takeout places that can never match Chong's. Oh and why are people talking about ma po dofu? Buy your tofu at whole foods. Get the chow fun(pan fried flat noodles), its the best in all the world. Having sampled beef chow fun offerings in Asia, SJ, and NYC, I can tell you its about as good (if not better) than what you would find in a restaurant in Hong Kong. Know how some places do noodles, or soups, or dumplings better? Chongs does the greasy stuff better. Trust me, I'm Chinese.
(5)Michael B.
Chong's sweet chongs. Make sure to ask for the 'house hot mustard'. In California in general, what the East Coast calls Lo Mein is Chow Mein. Go with friends and do one of the family style meals. I love this place. You will too if you visit.
(4)Robert H.
We tried this restaurant because of the ratings, and the best rated restaurant was closed on Mondays. Food would not pass in a Buffet. Bland and overcooked. Our server was friendly, and she saw that we ate little of our dishes, yet offered no help such as another dish.
(2)Chuen N.
Best, cheapest dinner in Monterey for $6.25+tax (and tip, of course). I got the Beef Chow Fun, and it was very well prepared, since you can see that slight charred pan fry on the flat rice noodle, like it's supposed to be. My wife got the Dinner Combination, and she says it came with the best fried rice she's ever had. No, it's not San Francisco Chinatown Chinese food, but it's very good, given its location, and definitely a good value for your money.
(4)Neice K.
With such a long winter I was always freezing in Monterey, so, my solution has now become an addiction, The Wor Noodle Soup at Chongs. The steaming hot broth, veggie's, shrimp, pork and chicken with super yummy noodles is a dish that can feed two hungry mouths. I have had my share of noodle soup, but this is my all time favorite one. Thanks to Chongs, my summer bathing suit is now alittle tight, oh well...
(4)Renee W.
Been going there for as long as I can remember. Nice set up, friendly wait staff, good food, pretty good prices. Try: Chicken chow mein Sizzling Rice Soup General Chicken The only downfall is that some of their stuff is alittle bland, but maybe that's how chinese food is from this region of China?
(4)mio F.
Chongs is where my family goes for Chinese Food in the Monterey Peninsula The service is wonderful most likely JON the owner and chef will be there with his lovely wife serving you food Very good overall in the chicken/beef section I love their chinese chicken salad ( i love adding hot roasted chili saucs) Special Wonton Soup ( lovely) eggplant dish and POT STICKERS!!!!!
(5)R L.
Easy lunch, good food, generous portion, friendly staff. Sweet!
(5)Will T.
This place is pretty rough on the palate. I came here only because Full Moon is closed on Monday's and this was close by. I got a couple of items but it was heavy on grease; ingredients such as vegetables were obviously out of a sysco can and the dishes were overall lacking in flavor and any authenticity. Stay away, there's better to be had elsewhere.
(1)fit m.
I'm sorry, but this place absolutely rocks! Their lunch specials cost next to nothing. However, the portion size is ginormous. Be prepared to loosen your belt a couple of notches after chowing down here. I'm an 'merican, so I can't comment on authenticity. I can say the following however: 1. the lunch special is the cost of a tip for a dinner at an inexpensive restaurant 2. the veggies are very fresh and tasty 3. the temperature/heat of the soup and main dish were PERFECT. 4. all ingredients were very fresh and spiced to perfection. 5. Oh, and the staff is super friendly. 6. If you're interested in this sort of thing, the turn around time was about one minute for the soup, and well under 5 minutes for the main dish. This place is awesome and I will be back for lunch (and possibly dinner).
(5)Scot H.
For locals, Chong's is a true classic of the Monterey area. Many of us had their first Chinese food experience at this landmark. As our formative years passed and the world changed, Chong's stayed the same...exactly the same. For this reason, it is more than a restaurant to us. I can totally understand the less than stellar impression it leaves on visitors to this area, but they just don't experience it the same way we do. If nostalgia isn't your thing, you are probably much better off going to Tommy's Wok in Carmel. However, if you want a taste that has weathered the test of time and holds a special place in the hearts of central coast residents, look no further.
(4)Joe B.
Yuck. Heavy on the grease and mush. Not spicy despite requests. You can do better.
(1)Christine J.
Ok, so this place is a dump and I can hardly understand the waitresses. I've moved out of the area but adore coming back here any time I'm in town. I have to give it 4 stars because I'm totally addicted to the special wonton soup. I literally get off the plane at Monterey airport and head over to Chongs to order this. The mushu pork and Mongolian beef are also tasty, but there's just something about my beloved soup that makes me crave coming here.
(4)Samantha L.
Chong's is a locals place in Monterey, and much loved. It's a Chinese/American restaraunt in the classic mold. The wait staff and cooks have been consistent for a very long time indeed, it's a place where you are remembered as a customer, it's a friendly place. The lunch specials are a superior value, and are usually very tastey. I had their seafood over rice (not risky in the least for freshness) with scallops and squid and prawns, or the old favourite comfort food ma po dofu for lunch on an ongoing basis for years when I worked in the neighbourhood. The menu reflects what a non-Chinese diner expects to see, you won't find gailan on the menu sadly, but for a classic Chinese/American menu the food is far superior to just about any in town. With this in mind, Chong's is a great place, give them a try.
(4)Josh D.
Chong's is great, and you can't beat it for the money. They also have a full bar. Kind of reminds me of the Chinese restaurant from "A Christmas Story". You can keep PF Chang's...I'm stickin' with Chong's.
(4)Rosa R.
$5.50 + tax = ~$6.00 lunch special. Very cheap for the area, but the food mirrored the price. I got the Ma Po Tofu lunch special and it tasted like it came from a bad mix. I didn't find the customer service too impressive either - the waitress took the cash and left the fortune cookie right on the table...they must believe their tables are clean enough to eat off of. It's not a place I will be showing off to any of my visitors.
(2)Cynthia P.
the best of the low quality chinese food variety in the monterey peninsula (which doesn't say much, but hey, take it for what it is).
(3)