Probably best point and eat Chinese place in mountain view Palo Alto. Fresher than panda exp and better selection than Los altos branch and phill in mp. Favs include curry chicken which sells out end of day. Salt and pepper chicken, snow peas also good. Chow mean is al dente. Don't know why their dishes r fresher maybe due to higher foot traffic.
(4)
Chris M.
We have seen this restaurant many times while driving to Target in Mountain View. We finally decided to give it a try (we weren't particularly hungry for anything that day). We selected our choices...and then we watched the server put those selections on a plate in a microwave. We still ate the food -- which tasted like mediocre Chinese takeout that was microwaved after a few days. Needless to say, we won't be returning anytime soon.
(1)
Geri W.
We had 20 minutes to grab lunch between commitments, and a ready-made takeout counter looked like just the thing. So we went in and found that the staff was very accommodating to my requests that they ladle out the vegetarian servings with "no mushrooms, more broccoli" according to my allergies and tastes. My partner Jay reports that his salt and pepper meat was very tasty, and I found my vegetables to be fresh. Not sure why the low overall yelp rating from local folks, frankly - this place does well at being what it is. I would happily return.
(4)
Kat D.
Lucky Chinese? More like, WHACKY Chinese! THEY MICROWAVE THEIR FREAKEN FOOD! I was running errands during my lunch break today & needed something quick to eat. I came across this place & unfortunately didn't have the time to pull up my handy YELP app, so i ended up eating here. I ordered the spicy garlic shrimp & chow fun...and after paying for my food, I saw the lady place my food in a microwave. I was shocked & weirded out, but I was too much of in a rush to say anything, and didn't want to go through the hassle of getting a refund. The food was SUPER GREASY & too heavy to eat. I was so disgusted I couldn't finish it. I probably ate about 3 bites and even after downing a large water bottle I STILL have an oily & greasy taste in my mouth. =( Did I mention, they microwave their food??????
(1)
Kat R.
Prices have increased without exponentially and without warning. Food sits out in chafing dishes, but anything else you order is made fresh. The food is just okay. It's close, so when we have a crazing, this is convenient. It's within walking distance for us, so that's nice. I will give them props for their sesame balls, though. Those little things are addictive!! The ladies who work here are also very nice :) When we are being too lazy to actually go anywhere else for Chinese, this is where we go.
(2)
Saskia V.
Traditional buffet. The steamed pork buns are lovely.
(5)
jim p.
My local take out I usually eat here once a month. They don't microwave take out orders, and people eating in can ask them to not nuke their plates. I really enjoy the hot and sour soup (peppery) and getting a fresh order of pot stickers made right then! The black pepper chicken, sweet and sour pork, Generals chicken, and broccoli beef are all up to standard with any local place. I was disappointed with the mongolian beef, lemon chicken, and the garlic prawns have good prawns in em....just way to few! Best bet is to go for the freshest looking stuff in the case!
(3)
Eddy R.
Food is average,2 items for 7.95 the rice is considered 1 item! What! Fast service if you're in a hurry!
(2)
Salman H.
I like their 3choice plate for $7.99. I always get the black bean fish , garlic prawns and veg noodles or rice. They usually don't have too many vegetarian options. even the veg dishes sometimes are pork fried or have chicken stock so it's a bit inconvenient. I have also tried their fried fish which is just so so and a tad too oily. Service at this location is not amazing. pretty busy place and rude staff but the food is good and reasonably priced. Utensils are not really clean so I prefer take out dishes. They heat your food in a microwave before serving which some people might not like but its cool with me since it tastes alright.
(3)
Yzn A.
Sometimes you just need some good ol' greasy fast Chinese food and Lucky will not disappoint. The general chicken is my go-to meal here. It has a nice spicy kick of siracha to go nicely with sweetness. Portions are very generous. I can barely finish a meal by myself.
(4)
Wil G.
I win here with my brother when I was visiting him down in the area got to the restaurant to restaurant was clean in the Walmart anchored shopping center there. I ordered some pepper chicken some sweet-and-sour pork and some fried rice the food was okay but the sweet-and-sour pork was basically tasteless it wasn't very sweet or sour the food was okay nothing really to write home about but if you want some good fairly decent cheap Chinese food this is the place to go when you're in the area I probably wouldn't use his place again but I may go back if I'm hungry
(2)
Mike D.
I stopped by at lunch time to pick up some food. The food is very cheap, and the spicy general chicken is good, the fried rice was many hours old, very dry and tough to chew. Overall lucky is good for fast cheap Chinese food
(2)
Edward W.
2.5 stars This place is pretty cheap. A three item combo with soup of the day is $7.25 and you get a decent amount of food, just don't expect high quality food here. One of the items must be a rice/noodle item. I would say this place is comparable to Panda Express, but not as Americanized. If you are looking for cheap and fast food, look no further.
(2)
Ethan F.
I have been to the restaurant many times and I still like it. Entrees were pretty tasty and I recommended pepper chicken since it was the best. Don't go for sweet pork as it is hard to chew and very sweet.
(4)
Strobe L.
not a fan of them microwaving their food after you order.. right in front of you, always weirds me out. I'm sure other food places do it too but this one is confirmed lol. the food is good, but the sweet and sour pork not very much.. kinda awkward texture. I love their chow mein, black pepper chicken, and general spicy chicken.. maybe my only complaint about the chow mein is that it is way too greasy.
(3)
Erica K.
I have never been here before. I ordered fried rice, beef chow fun and broccoli beef. She asked if that was it. I said yes. She proceeded to place my order in the microwave! I asked her why she was placing my food in a microwave. She said the food from the steam-table was not that hot. I said I don't like microwaved food. I said to cancel the order and I walked out. I'm calling the health department and reporting this place.
(1)
Evan J.
A below-average chinese takeout place. If you're in the area, might as well go to Chef Chu instead.
(2)
Erica B.
it is gross!!! stay away! - microwaved food - overly salty - gives you the runs - go to chef chus and dont waste ur $$$$ here
(1)
Richard R.
If you want people who are sick and coughing while handling your food, then you picked the right place, the place is disgusting, the people are rude, and the old chineese chef kept scracting his groin area, and his wiping his runny nose on his shirt sleeve, I couldnt get out of this place fast enough. If you really want to be lucky, take my strong advice, never come here.
(1)
David C.
Heavy Chinese food. Heavy on the salt and MSG. Styrofoam carryouts and plastic bags. What is not to like?!? On some days, I'm absolutely craving this type of 'soul' food and the Whole Foods down the street just ain't cutting it. Would I come here on my off day? Definitely not. Does this satisfy any immediate needs for Chinese food? Absolutely.
(3)
Edward J.
I usually come here every once in awhile when I'm hungry and shopping at Wal-Mart because I oppose going to McDonald's. The food itself is not the best, but also not the worst. It's an affordable eat compared to most Chinese restaurants in the area, and the service is good. One thing I normally would have is the fried fish, and the hot and sour soup. Their item boxes are filling, and cheap. This is solely my opinion, but try it out yourself. You may have a better experience.
(3)
Neha A.
You know there is a problem when your server puts your buffet food in the... wait for it... you won't believe it the MICROWAVE!!! Avoid this place.
(1)
Nick E.
Zero stars. This is the second time I tried to order delivery from this place. The first was a Wednesday and they said they didn't have a driver. Tonight (Friday), the lady on the phone was rude and then proceeded to tell me that the minimum order for delivery is $75, after I placed my order. Are you KIDDING?!?!?! If your minimum is $75 you don't deliver. NEVER calling this place again.
(1)
Christina G.
Quick Chinese food. I've had the Mongolian beef, BBQ pork buns, and potstickers. The BBQ pork buns were decent, but I really like the potstickers. I usually go here after my haircut a couple door down at the Grateful Head, but sometimes, I stop by for some on-the-go potstickers if I'm in the area.
(3)
Sambit T.
Tried its Chicken fried rice. Well priced and sufficient in quantity.
(4)
Adam X.
Not the best food I ever tasted. The soup is disgusting, the chow fun tasted like hair, and the entree are below average food. I feel really bad for giving this rating, but it's true.
(1)
Bree T.
The food here is cheap, and you get huge portions. I came here for lunch and ended up with a huge stomach ache. The hot and sour soup is fairly bland, and so thick it's more like a syrup in texture. I got the fried rice and chow fun. The rice is meh, with very little flavor. The chow fun was novel to see in the menu, but in reality it was fairly greasy and bland. The broccoli beef was ok: the broccoli was crisp and the beef tender, but the sauce was very salty. The mushroom chicken was also very salty. Steer clear.
(1)
Tim P.
This place is kind of like a worse version of panda express. At least there you know the orange chicken is good to eat. I'd give them a 2 star due to the cheap prices, but if I were you I wouldn't eat here. Service is ok.
(1)
Doug C.
2 locations, one on grant & elcamino in the nobhill shopping center and one at showers/california in the walmart shopping center. Higher quality meat than any sandwich store like subway or deli. No reformed loafs of meat, no hamburger patties with pink slime and no horsemeat meatballs like Ikea. Fresh vegetables in the stir frys. can be oily sometimes. some selections healthier than others. Green beans + tofu, stir fried broccoli. They can use no oil if you ask them. Between $7-$8 for 3 items. Healthier than a $5 subway sandwich or a burger+fries.
(3)
Harsh G.
I am really big fan of Chinese food, but this place had me one of my bad experience ever. It was too oily and smell like a shit. I left all my food and walk away. I even told the manager or owner, she didn't even care about it. One thing I suggest, where you old Chinese cougars on management, unproffesional. Beware might serving old food from week.
(1)
Dana C.
FYI, rice or chow mien counts as one item so if you get a two item combo for $6.25 it's rice or chow mien plus one other item (eg broccoli beef, etc.). I thought this was very very odd as I've never encountered this before, and I'm a Chinese food takeout monster. Nowhere does it actually tell you about this weirdness. You find out when you pay. Food is so-so. The fried rice is pretty bland, and the veggies do not taste good. I will not be back.
(1)
Colin B.
Stopped by to try it out after running an errand. blank junk chinese food. Just nothing good about it, its not cheap, its not hot, its just blank orange chicken and noodles. you want a good chinese food place? Su Hongs First Wok Panda Express
(1)
Christopher G.
Called in a order and had to dial twice because they hung up. Rude service and terrible food. Panda Express is way better and that's no compliment.
(1)
Stephanie S.
We used Lucky Chinese Restaurant's Catering Service and it was excellent. To me, whether your product/food or what ever you are selling is good or not so good, I believe Customer Service should ALWAYS be Good. In this case, We received both - Good Food (Great Vegetarian Dishes!) and Good Customer Service. Thank you Lucky!
(5)
Pixie P.
I like the fact that they have no MSG, and they have brown rice. HEALTHY is the aim, in such an unhealthy world! The place is decently clean and the food is not bad. I like the fish and shrimp dishes. This is the go-to place when I want something inexpensive and nutritious.
(4)
Gunn S.
I've been looking for a cheap americanized chinese fast food place with decent flavor near my office and this was one of the places I tried for takeout lunch one day. While I didn't have any objections to the food (general tso's chicken is what it is unless it's fried gristle), it didn't wow me with flavor and I thought the pricing was a bit high for their 2-items + rice plate. I don't typically order soup so giving it to me "free" doesn't exactly win you anything with me as the consumer; I'd rather have the combo 75c or $1 cheaper. ALl in all, the meal was edible with hot sauce. With so many other similar places to patronize though, I'll likely pass this place by in the future when I'm looking for my lunchtime americanized chinese/general tso's chicken fix. -g
(2)
Red Tail H.
It's really a 2.5 star kind of place. If you get there when the food is fresh on the steam table, they're pretty good. If you get here after the food's been sitting, go elsewhere! Oh, and no free refills. 50 cents if you want more to drink.
(3)
Sam N.
it cannot get more authentic than this in Mountain View. Good food, cheap, fast, and has some healthier choices than most chinese restaurants. Just try to get over the rude service and order take out. It's rare that you get good customer service in restaurants in Asia -so don't take it personal!
(4)
Ashley B.
the place was empty and I still felt rushed. the beef broccoli had a weird taste, the spicy chicken wasn't spicy. the only reason I gave two stars is because the portion size is large.
(2)
Roberta K.
I stopped by Lucky's today at lunch time to pick up some quick food. I hadn't been in the area for several years so I was happy to see that they were still around - mainly because they don't use MSG, which can be difficult to find. I'm familiar with Lucky because years ago, I went to their first restaurant in Los Altos. So it was nice to go in there again and see the same food, however they are STILL overpriced....to me, $7+ is a lot for three items on a plate, and I only got 3 prawns with my green beans. (Has anyone noticed that the styrofoam clamshells that Asian restaurants are now using are smaller than they used to be?). I have to agree with the other reviewers - the Asian lady at the cash register was downright unfriendly. I even said a couple of witty comments to her, hoping to animate her, but she just looked at me with a dead face. Dead faces make me uncomfortable. The food was pretty good and I will continue to go there in a pinch, because I now work in this area - but they need to do something with that cashier.
(3)
Magda M.
I got one of the 2 item deals to go, which comes with the soup of the day. I really enjoyed the soup, which was hot 'n' sour soup. I ordered the General's Chicken which was probably the spiciest Chinese chicken dish I've ever had at a fast-food Chinese restaurant. I really enjoy spicy things but I would think that the average Chinese food lover would find this dish to be too spicy. I got the chow mein and it was fairly good but a bit dry, considering the noodles are fairly thick.
(3)
Chris C.
Echo others feelings about bland overpriced food with staff more interested in chatting loudly that making sure the food is any good. "Soup" is nasty like someone crapped out a squid....
(1)
Vivian L.
This panda express and place where no Asians eat at and you got Lucky Chinese Restaurant. The only good thing about this place is that they don't MSG but it wasn't good quality Chinese Food by any sort.
(1)
Giovanni R.
Yipes! My fiance and I love chinese food. We're not chinese food experts, but this place was just...no good at all! First of all, they don't have much of a selection. The fried rice has BBQ'd pork in it and it looked a bit undercooked. The beef broccoli was all just broccoli. The 2 item plate is $6+ but one of the items has to be rice or chow mein. There were two people in there during dinner time, it has a funky smell, unfriendly service. Not impressed to say the least.
(1)
Alicia M.
I love Lucky's they are great for some fast chinese food! I have been there a few times in the last couple of months. Today I got green beans with praws, black bean fish and chow mein. The green beans are crispy and covered in yummy sauce, the prawns are large and meaty, the fish has some red and green bell peppers and has been marinated and steamed so the flavor is super locked in and the chow mein is thick noodle just the way I like it, they also give you a soup with your purchase. Im not a hot and sour soup fan so I couldnt tell you weather its good or not but everything I have had from there has been very tasty and the quantity is enough for lunch and dinner later.
(4)
Ms. Good K.
this in NOT good Chinese food at all. you would get better Chinese from Mr Chau's than this place. the service is not great either, plus the prices are a bit too high for the quality of the food. the egg rolls had chunks of a rubbery squid type whatever inside, and i did NOT like the taste. the rice was very very dry. the chicken wings are pretty good, but they charge like $1 for each little drummette. if u walk up to the counter and notice that the food has been sitting and request a fresh serving, they will have a straight up attitude with you at which point you either just take the old/sitting food or GO ELSEWHERE!!
(1)
christina c.
I went around 8pm so there wasn't a huge selection of dishes for their 3 or 4 item combos but I wasn't very impressed. By the way, it's really a 2 or 3 item combo b/c one of the items you choose must be rice or noodles. It's like a panda express basically.
(2)
Robyn K.
It's OK. Panda Express has more of a selection. The hot and sour soup is good. But if you order the spicy shrimp, watch how they carefully only give you 4 shrimp EVERY TIME. It looks like they are randomly scooping the food out, but they have obviously been told to only serve 4 shrimp with the spicy shrimp dish. The rest is all vegetables. It's pretty funny. I'd probably give 3 stars if it weren't for that.
(2)
Kristina P.
Four-star on the fast food scale. I'm tempted to say five because this is my favorite place for hot-n-sour soup. No meat, no shrimp, no MSG, just tofu and mushroom bits and egg. I ate their soup (and theirs alone) by the quart when I was pregnant. Ask for extra green onions to make it even more perfect. I also love their general's chicken. The chow mein is a little greasy but hey, it's a fast-food joint. Where else can you eat this fast, this good?
(4)
Ben C.
So I was driving around this area looking for food (I had just been to Target), and saw this place. I love chinese fast food, so I gave it a try. I was impressed with the way the food looked, it was much tastier looking than most places like this. They also included egg drop soup on the side. I never had the soup, since it was 95 out that day and it was really hot. But the food was mediocre, and had a weird bland taste to everything. I couldn't tell what it was, but it wasn't something delicious like MSG. I'll probably not come back here, since I found Canton Chinese a few blocks away that's definitely better.
(2)
Sherri C.
I am usually hesitant to try a Chinese restaurant in a mini-mall set-up, but I happened to run into this small Chinese food chain with my mom, which was, as the restaurant is named, lucky. She did all the talking in Mandarin and ordered up awesome fresh shrimp with snow peas and Mongolian beef. They have a full menu including soups, chow fun / mein, as well as a lite menu that offers steamed items with garlic or black bean sauce on the side. While these items are priced a little on the high side, the quality is above the stereotypical average for these places. When in a pinch for time and a quick Chinese meal, I would choose the Lucky express line over Panda Express any day.
(4)
Travis D.
My girlfriend has a thing for Panda Express. Now hold on and give me a chance to explain. I realize that among foodies a love for this style of food is heresy, but thats because people don't approach it the right way. The style of food you get at Panda Express and similar places IS NOT Chinese food. So let me establish that before i get hounded by all you yelpers dismissing anything you see as inauthentic. For now lets call it Mall Food Court Chinese. It must be approached with caution and without comparison to real chinese food. Much like the american hot dog, which bares little resemblance to its original german cousin, Mall Food Court Chinese is simply an american take on chinese food. I know many people think its gross, but also like a hot dog when you fly in blind, not thinking about what you're chowing down on, it really is delicious. Sometimes you just get that craving that only a heaping plate of fried rice, a fried egg roll, and a heaping serving of chicken or beef covered in a deliciously sweet and spicy sauce will satisfy. When my girlfriend and i were going to school and living in San Antonio, Panda Express was the spot to hit when we had such a craving. We we moved to Palo Alto 6 months ago we were excited because we assumed that a significantly larger asian population would lead to an abundance of good, cheap asian restaurants, much in the same way that San Antonio is overflowing with good, cheap, absolutely delicious taquerias. At least up to this point that assumption has been wholly false. With the nearest Panda Express located about a 20 minute drive away (far too long to get chinese food from a steam table) Rachel and i started hitting places near us for cheap chinese take out. First we hit University St. in Palo Alto because we could walk there from home, then we ventured out to Menlo Park, California Street, Mountain View, Redwood City, and onward, finding nothing. We're starting to get sick of paying $25 for Chinese take out for two that isn't even that good. What gives? A few weeks ago we were heading over to target in mountain view and noticed Lucky across the street. We stopped in grabbed a menu and looked it over once we got home. Most stuff was in the normal $9-10 range, but they had an express line, just like at the mall that was like 7 bucks for a plate of food. Though it was more than panda express, we thought we'd give it a try. We walk in and the place is a little bit dirty and creepy feeling, but by going to this type of place, you have to be able to tolerate a bit of that. I was going to get fried rice, but it looked a little bit undercooked, and im trying not to look like a beached whale when i run the san francisco half marathon in february so i go the steamed rice. It was just bland, steamed rice, like i can make at home for like 30 cents, it was a mistake, but that one's on me. Moving down the line i saw they had both orange chicken and general's chicken, two of my favorites. I normally alternate between them, but i wanted to see how they did both of them so i got both (so much for cutting the calories is guess). To my surprise the server scoops out the chicken from out of the steam table (and under a heat lamp) onto my plate then puts it in the microwave. Now last time i checked a steam table and heat lamp were for keeping food warm, whats the deal with the microwave? I go to the end of the line after my food was done heating to find that i would be receiving a cup of hot and sour soup with my meal. It was a nice surprise, i love hot and sour soup. I start to get into the chicken to find that they both lack sauce, which to me is the best part. There's hardly enough sauce to cover the chicken, much less add some flavor to the rice that its sitting on. The sauce for the orange chicken is okay, the sauce for the general's chicken is actually pretty good. Its got some kick to it, im from Texas so i like that sort of thing. My other complaint is that the chicken still wasn't very warm and was not of stellar quality. In fact, it was rather bad. Now i know other places that i know and love use low quality chicken (thats how they get the price of a dinner down to $5 and still turn a profit), but at least they make it taste good. Every bite i took i was reminded that this chicken was pretty gross. About half way through i stopped with the chicken. During this whole "getting healthy" phase im trying not to eat too much, especially if it isn't very good. I move over to the hot and sour soup. Much like the chicken, it was resting in its own heating device when i ordered it: a double boiler. But just like the chicken it was cold and suspectly thick, bordering on gelatinous. It was pretty gross. I want to give one star but can't bring myself to do it. So lucky gets two, but i won't be going back.
(2)
Carol N.
So the hubs and I went in there to have lunch. 2 item combo was around $7...ok...sure, not bad. Come to find out, they didn't give much rice at all and rice or noodles have to be one of your items. So...if you want rice or noodles and 2 more choices, it's actually 3 items and not 2 items like other places are. Needless to say, we ended up leaving and not eating there. We didn't see it until after the fact, that the sign said rice or noodles had to be 1 item. We won't be returning. We ended up going to New Mongolian BBQ on Castro Street.
(1)
Stephanie L.
Ugh, this place does NOT have good or even decent food. I ordered their wor won ton soup because I saw that a couple other customers eating it. OK, one employee on their lunch break and one actual customer unhappily tucking into it. I didn't feel like eating anything particularly heavy which is why I didn't opt for the premade food. My hubby got a three item plate which had black pepper chicken and spicy shrimp. That came with a very very bland hot and sour soup and rice. If I had to pick something that was the "best" it would have to be the black pepper chicken, but really that's not saying much. I'd much rather go to Panda Express after dining here.
(1)
Albert C.
Fair Chinese "fast food", a la the Ranch 99 delis. Basically, their best deal is a slightly more expensive version of Ranch 99. Except they serve hot and sour soup instead of egg drop. Good enough to pass muster when you're hungry and want food fast. No Chinese on their in-store menu but they do have some on their carryout menu. Truly told, this place really makes me miss similar places in Taipei that are cheaper yet much tastier.
(3)
Ben D.
Wow...I have to agree with Monica. This is worse than Panda Express. This is the Taco Bell of Chinese food (without the value menu). No way would I eat here again. Good think it's in a good location or else it would have gone out of business a long time ago.
(1)
Robert B.
I wanted 1/2 chow mien and half rice. The lady said no! I said why not every else they lets you do that? so whatever. Give me the chow mien. There was a rubber band in the chow mien. I took it back to the counter and the lady was not at the least bit interested.The rude oriental lady at the cash register did not care! So I am telling everyone out there what happened to me. They will not see me again.
(1)
Christine H.
I don't usually like these express, pick-what- you- want- from-the- steamers-type of places, but it's super close to work, so I eat here once in a while. That being said, it's good in comparison to Mr.Chau's, Panda Express, or Tien Fu. I don't like it when I see the workers wrap eggrolls or any other type of food preparation in front of customers on the dining tables, so -1 star for that.
(3)
Marie M.
i crave this place all the time its so delish their chow mein has veggies in it which i love and alot of places seems to just have the noodles i like the beef and broccoli and sweet and sour pork its so fresh unlike mr chaus eeeww gross its all sloppy and gross but they need to get a better staff and their prices went up a lil
(4)
Kelley P.
Horrible nasty "Chinese" food. I'm half-Chinese and this food is awful. It's worse than Panda Express. Every time I eat the food from here (as I've given them a few tries), I've gotten sick to my stomach. The food makes me feel sick and bloated too. Great weight loss plan though if you want to go that route. Three times and I'm giving up on this place!
(1)
Aarica C.
I eat here about once a week. I hardley ever get out of the office because I'm very busy. I can call them and my food is ready in 10 minutes. Their food is VERY good in comparison to the other "fast food" chains. Food tastes fresh, even in the express line. They are a bit pricey but worth it, I think.
(5)
Jo M.
If you are looking for quick and inexpensive Chinese food, this is the right place. The staff are always friendly. They always give us a good portion so we always bring the leftover home. Definitely better than some of the other places. Example, for General Tsao Chicken, you can actually taste the chicken meat at Lucky's.. at other Chinese restaurants, you taste more dough than chicken meat.. Yuck! Our family goes here often whenever we do not have time to cook dinner. They also do catering and I have received a lot of good feedback from my colleagues at work whenever I order from Lucky's.
(5)
R C.
Wish they didn't have to microwave the food, but better than I'd expect...
(4)
andrew b.
yuk,,,,ended up there about half hour before closing...cold food.the place was cold and thn began putting chairs up food was.,,greasy,,,the worst part..is the workers brought out delicous looking trays of steaming rice and entree for them selves and ate it next to us,,,,only the beer was good.........stay away from this place
(1)
Susan D.
This is fabulous food for the price. Favorites include: beef broccoli, tofu & mushrooms, orange chicken.
(4)
Eugene L.
Happen to be down the street so I stopped by Lucky got the 3 item Combo- Pork Fried Rice ,Black Bean Fish,Salt and Pepper Fish and Hot and Sour soup. Grabbed a couple of Fortune Cookies they both had good fortunes. The Fortunes reminded me of a French Girl I used to date . She liked Chinese food more than I did LOL. We used to take our fortunes and stuff them into the Airbag Compartment in her work car. She got a new company car and the guy that got her old one had a fender bender and got a face full of Fortunes. LOL.
(3)
Monica A.
I have been coming to Lucky Chinese Restaurant since I was in grade school. Well YEARS down the road, and not much has changed. They have two locations, one off of Grant and this one off of Showers. The quality at both locations are identical. Another similar entity is their price. Let's start with flavor. Their food is definitely not authentic, they have that real americanized taste, but I'm not complaining. I am going to have to say that 3 of my stars go towards their food. I noticed a lot of my fellow reviewing peers mentioned ordering from the a la carte menu but I have to suggest choosing a made to order meal. I like to get the California Special which includes their DELICIOUS chicken salad, an egg roll, soup and pot stickers all for about $7.50. So if anyone argued portions, I would have to disagree, they give you your fair share plus some. Customer service is not a big issue for me here. I've come here for so long that they recognize my face. So in a way, I've earned a smile here and there, plus a little more patience from their staff. Heres a tip: Their beef chow fun is absolutely amazing. Try it out. It is really hearty and they serve it in a huge container for about $8. It can easily feed 3 people. Heres another tip: Want more food? Well then ask for your order to go, they tend to pile on just a little more on your container. Enjoy! Practice you chopstick etiquette!
(4)
Caro B.
Lucky is what you'll be if you don't end up with the runs after eating here. It's pretty hit or miss, and lately I've found myself on the "miss" side. The only thing that keeps me coming back, ready to take my chances, is the chow mein. It is absolutely to die for. However, after having bad luck with food here 2 times in a row I just can't bring myself to come back ever again, even for the chow mein. Other cons to this restaurant include the bitchy ladies that serve the food, and the early time the kitchen closes (seriously, why is there only 1 main course left at 7:30pm on a Saturday?). Really the restaurant is just another Panda Express. You're much better off going there.
(1)
Victor L.
Ehhhhh..... this is your standard 2-item, 3-item, or 4-item Chinese food place. And one of the items has to be rice or chow mein. Soup is included. For $7.25 for 3 item, you're much better off going somewhere else. Pho Vi Hoa maybe? Luu Noodle in the same plaza? The Korean So Gong Dong Tofu House? All are the same price as this (excluding tip), all are better, and all are about *2* minutes away. I think they kinda skimped on the portions and the food was incredibly so-so. When they spooned everything onto the plate the first thing they did to it was put it in the microwave, heh. I would skip this place. Nothing to see here.
(2)
Gabriel R.
Cheap fresh decent
(3)
Erica L.
I moved to the Mountain View area back in April and have drove by this place many times and today I was hungry when I passed by so I decided to give this restaurant a shot. I ordered the Spicy General's Chicken and Chow Mein which came with Hot & Sour Soup. I originally wanted the fried rice but the fried rice was white, so I refrained from ordering that. I watched the lady place my items on a plate and as meager as they were, I figured you get what you pay for, couldn't be more than $5 right? I then walked over to see what drinks they have to offer, got my drink and stood at the register waiting to pay. She brought over a green tray for me to dine-in along with my Hot & Sour Soup. I wondered... 'Where is my food?' Not really thinking anything of it, I pay $8.99 for my lunch (which is overpriced for the measly portions I got) and then she walks over to pull my food from a microwave! At this point I'm starving and too lazy to go anywhere else, plus Chinese food tastes the same after you heat it up anyway, right? WRONG. The Hot & Sour Soup was so thick I can only compare it to the density of maple syrup, the Chow Mein was flavorless and the breading on the chicken was soggy. Bleffk. I've been to many steam table Chinese restaurants for lunch because it's usually good, fast and cheap but this place was gross, slow and expensive. I would certainly not recommend Lucky Chinese Restaurant to anyone.
(1)
David T.
Stopped by after an errand too. It was very much amercanized chinese food, BUT, the mushrooms in my chicken dish were very fresh and the overall dish was tasty regardless of cantonese authenticity. The hot and sour soup was very good too and it was a good amount of food for the price. The women behind the counter did not have very good english, but once they understood I was trying to avoid wheat, they went out of their way to recommend dishes for me. For what it is, an inexpensive fast americanized chinese place, it is very good.
(4)
Silvia T.
I want to say this restaurant always treat me like a family member.. Always treat me good and food is good.. Always ready to go buy and eat right away.. Kim is one of the best person in there always greeting you with a great smile .. Good service I always get there
(4)
Bobby B.
Yuck where do i start Worse than panda express Mediocre to bad America Chinese food Food was warm not fresh and selection was average Hot and sour soup had extra sludge inside (prob MSG or gelatin that didn't melt) Would not come back Also they only accept MasterCard or visa.. And the meal was over ten bucks for three items (one of which included rice)..wth
(1)
Peaches C.
I've tried Lucky's once since it was convenient for me that day. They remind me of a downscale version of Panda Express. They pretty much have the same menu items as Panda. Lucky would be a great place to come if you're not looking for anything special but to just get your hunger taken care of. I tried the shrimp and green beans which I thought was pretty decent. Their hot and sour soup was okay too. Lucky Chinese restaurant is good for fast cheap Chinese food.
(3)
Robert S.
cheap chinese fast food of sorts in mt. view. Came with a small group and I really did not want to go here as it looked like the non chain version of panda express. 2 high notes that I liked: 1. The Mongolian beef was not drenched in sauce and actually somewhat free of sauce and was nice and spicy. 2. not traditional but I want brown rice as an option and lucky Chinese gives you this option. 1 note that I did not like was the poor excuse for hot and sour soup. The soup was salty and really was just bad and really bad.
(3)
Jacqueline D.
This is not the place to go for fresh, authentic Chinese food. If, however, you want a combo of lots of greasy food - the type of combo that you can only get at a real Chinese restaurant by ordering family style - this is the place to go. I think it's better than Panda Express, personally, and the staff is quite friendly. It is a bit pricy for what it is though.
(3)
Melanie R.
It is like Panda Express, but it has lemon chicken. Which one i end up going to depends on if I want lemon chicken or orange chicken. The thing I don't like is that they offer a 2, 3, or 4 item combo, but you have to get the rice or chow mein and that counts as an item. No other place does it like that and i think it is a bit misleading. Yes, like other reviewers, I do believe the staff is kind of curt, bordering on rude. It is quick, decent, and priced like similar places. If you want really good Chinese, go to Chef Chu's.
(3)
Mel G.
Cheap food, horrible customer service!
(2)
Sandra S.
I like Lucky! This is your rush in, get a to-go order of Chinese food from the steam table, rush out kind of restaurant. If you do decide to eat at the restaurant, they have real plates and silverware for you - so its not a total fast food experience. You can get brown rice instead of steamed rice or fried rice on a combination plate. The entrees are good and they refresh them on a regular basis. If you order off the menu, the food is even better. I really like their combination fried rice-- the fried rice here is not very high in fat, has a lot of veggies and meats so that's a real plus. The staff are super friendly and remember you once you've come a few times. Being treated like a friend makes for a welcoming environment and I like that. Just writing this is making me hungry for Lucky! If you're at the San Antonio shopping center, this is a good pit stop!
(4)
Monica W.
American Chinese food is hard to do wrong. Sure, you can do "mediocre" pretty easily, but bits of fried/stir-fried meat and veggies in a batch of sweet/sour/savory sauce is HARD to actually make unpleasant to eat. Congratulations, Lucky. Are you proud of yourself? Any, ANY strip mall/cat-meat dollar scoop/Panda Express Chinese joint can make Chinese takeout tasty in all its junky, fatty, MSG-y glory, but the food at Lucky is so gross it's hard to swallow. To top it off, prices are what you would expect at a place where they cook your food to order... i.e. twice what you'd expect at a Panda Express rip-off.
(1)
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Address :530 Showers Dr,Ste 8
Mountain View, CA, 94040
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : No Attire : Casual Ambience : Divey Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Dogs Allowed : No Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
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.
Surai J.
Probably best point and eat Chinese place in mountain view Palo Alto. Fresher than panda exp and better selection than Los altos branch and phill in mp. Favs include curry chicken which sells out end of day. Salt and pepper chicken, snow peas also good. Chow mean is al dente. Don't know why their dishes r fresher maybe due to higher foot traffic.
(4)Chris M.
We have seen this restaurant many times while driving to Target in Mountain View. We finally decided to give it a try (we weren't particularly hungry for anything that day). We selected our choices...and then we watched the server put those selections on a plate in a microwave. We still ate the food -- which tasted like mediocre Chinese takeout that was microwaved after a few days. Needless to say, we won't be returning anytime soon.
(1)Geri W.
We had 20 minutes to grab lunch between commitments, and a ready-made takeout counter looked like just the thing. So we went in and found that the staff was very accommodating to my requests that they ladle out the vegetarian servings with "no mushrooms, more broccoli" according to my allergies and tastes. My partner Jay reports that his salt and pepper meat was very tasty, and I found my vegetables to be fresh. Not sure why the low overall yelp rating from local folks, frankly - this place does well at being what it is. I would happily return.
(4)Kat D.
Lucky Chinese? More like, WHACKY Chinese! THEY MICROWAVE THEIR FREAKEN FOOD! I was running errands during my lunch break today & needed something quick to eat. I came across this place & unfortunately didn't have the time to pull up my handy YELP app, so i ended up eating here. I ordered the spicy garlic shrimp & chow fun...and after paying for my food, I saw the lady place my food in a microwave. I was shocked & weirded out, but I was too much of in a rush to say anything, and didn't want to go through the hassle of getting a refund. The food was SUPER GREASY & too heavy to eat. I was so disgusted I couldn't finish it. I probably ate about 3 bites and even after downing a large water bottle I STILL have an oily & greasy taste in my mouth. =( Did I mention, they microwave their food??????
(1)Kat R.
Prices have increased without exponentially and without warning. Food sits out in chafing dishes, but anything else you order is made fresh. The food is just okay. It's close, so when we have a crazing, this is convenient. It's within walking distance for us, so that's nice. I will give them props for their sesame balls, though. Those little things are addictive!! The ladies who work here are also very nice :) When we are being too lazy to actually go anywhere else for Chinese, this is where we go.
(2)Saskia V.
Traditional buffet. The steamed pork buns are lovely.
(5)jim p.
My local take out I usually eat here once a month. They don't microwave take out orders, and people eating in can ask them to not nuke their plates. I really enjoy the hot and sour soup (peppery) and getting a fresh order of pot stickers made right then! The black pepper chicken, sweet and sour pork, Generals chicken, and broccoli beef are all up to standard with any local place. I was disappointed with the mongolian beef, lemon chicken, and the garlic prawns have good prawns in em....just way to few! Best bet is to go for the freshest looking stuff in the case!
(3)Eddy R.
Food is average,2 items for 7.95 the rice is considered 1 item! What! Fast service if you're in a hurry!
(2)Salman H.
I like their 3choice plate for $7.99. I always get the black bean fish , garlic prawns and veg noodles or rice. They usually don't have too many vegetarian options. even the veg dishes sometimes are pork fried or have chicken stock so it's a bit inconvenient. I have also tried their fried fish which is just so so and a tad too oily. Service at this location is not amazing. pretty busy place and rude staff but the food is good and reasonably priced. Utensils are not really clean so I prefer take out dishes. They heat your food in a microwave before serving which some people might not like but its cool with me since it tastes alright.
(3)Yzn A.
Sometimes you just need some good ol' greasy fast Chinese food and Lucky will not disappoint. The general chicken is my go-to meal here. It has a nice spicy kick of siracha to go nicely with sweetness. Portions are very generous. I can barely finish a meal by myself.
(4)Wil G.
I win here with my brother when I was visiting him down in the area got to the restaurant to restaurant was clean in the Walmart anchored shopping center there. I ordered some pepper chicken some sweet-and-sour pork and some fried rice the food was okay but the sweet-and-sour pork was basically tasteless it wasn't very sweet or sour the food was okay nothing really to write home about but if you want some good fairly decent cheap Chinese food this is the place to go when you're in the area I probably wouldn't use his place again but I may go back if I'm hungry
(2)Mike D.
I stopped by at lunch time to pick up some food. The food is very cheap, and the spicy general chicken is good, the fried rice was many hours old, very dry and tough to chew. Overall lucky is good for fast cheap Chinese food
(2)Edward W.
2.5 stars This place is pretty cheap. A three item combo with soup of the day is $7.25 and you get a decent amount of food, just don't expect high quality food here. One of the items must be a rice/noodle item. I would say this place is comparable to Panda Express, but not as Americanized. If you are looking for cheap and fast food, look no further.
(2)Ethan F.
I have been to the restaurant many times and I still like it. Entrees were pretty tasty and I recommended pepper chicken since it was the best. Don't go for sweet pork as it is hard to chew and very sweet.
(4)Strobe L.
not a fan of them microwaving their food after you order.. right in front of you, always weirds me out. I'm sure other food places do it too but this one is confirmed lol. the food is good, but the sweet and sour pork not very much.. kinda awkward texture. I love their chow mein, black pepper chicken, and general spicy chicken.. maybe my only complaint about the chow mein is that it is way too greasy.
(3)Erica K.
I have never been here before. I ordered fried rice, beef chow fun and broccoli beef. She asked if that was it. I said yes. She proceeded to place my order in the microwave! I asked her why she was placing my food in a microwave. She said the food from the steam-table was not that hot. I said I don't like microwaved food. I said to cancel the order and I walked out. I'm calling the health department and reporting this place.
(1)Evan J.
A below-average chinese takeout place. If you're in the area, might as well go to Chef Chu instead.
(2)Erica B.
it is gross!!! stay away! - microwaved food - overly salty - gives you the runs - go to chef chus and dont waste ur $$$$ here
(1)Richard R.
If you want people who are sick and coughing while handling your food, then you picked the right place, the place is disgusting, the people are rude, and the old chineese chef kept scracting his groin area, and his wiping his runny nose on his shirt sleeve, I couldnt get out of this place fast enough. If you really want to be lucky, take my strong advice, never come here.
(1)David C.
Heavy Chinese food. Heavy on the salt and MSG. Styrofoam carryouts and plastic bags. What is not to like?!? On some days, I'm absolutely craving this type of 'soul' food and the Whole Foods down the street just ain't cutting it. Would I come here on my off day? Definitely not. Does this satisfy any immediate needs for Chinese food? Absolutely.
(3)Edward J.
I usually come here every once in awhile when I'm hungry and shopping at Wal-Mart because I oppose going to McDonald's. The food itself is not the best, but also not the worst. It's an affordable eat compared to most Chinese restaurants in the area, and the service is good. One thing I normally would have is the fried fish, and the hot and sour soup. Their item boxes are filling, and cheap. This is solely my opinion, but try it out yourself. You may have a better experience.
(3)Neha A.
You know there is a problem when your server puts your buffet food in the... wait for it... you won't believe it the MICROWAVE!!! Avoid this place.
(1)Nick E.
Zero stars. This is the second time I tried to order delivery from this place. The first was a Wednesday and they said they didn't have a driver. Tonight (Friday), the lady on the phone was rude and then proceeded to tell me that the minimum order for delivery is $75, after I placed my order. Are you KIDDING?!?!?! If your minimum is $75 you don't deliver. NEVER calling this place again.
(1)Christina G.
Quick Chinese food. I've had the Mongolian beef, BBQ pork buns, and potstickers. The BBQ pork buns were decent, but I really like the potstickers. I usually go here after my haircut a couple door down at the Grateful Head, but sometimes, I stop by for some on-the-go potstickers if I'm in the area.
(3)Sambit T.
Tried its Chicken fried rice. Well priced and sufficient in quantity.
(4)Adam X.
Not the best food I ever tasted. The soup is disgusting, the chow fun tasted like hair, and the entree are below average food. I feel really bad for giving this rating, but it's true.
(1)Bree T.
The food here is cheap, and you get huge portions. I came here for lunch and ended up with a huge stomach ache. The hot and sour soup is fairly bland, and so thick it's more like a syrup in texture. I got the fried rice and chow fun. The rice is meh, with very little flavor. The chow fun was novel to see in the menu, but in reality it was fairly greasy and bland. The broccoli beef was ok: the broccoli was crisp and the beef tender, but the sauce was very salty. The mushroom chicken was also very salty. Steer clear.
(1)Tim P.
This place is kind of like a worse version of panda express. At least there you know the orange chicken is good to eat. I'd give them a 2 star due to the cheap prices, but if I were you I wouldn't eat here. Service is ok.
(1)Doug C.
2 locations, one on grant & elcamino in the nobhill shopping center and one at showers/california in the walmart shopping center. Higher quality meat than any sandwich store like subway or deli. No reformed loafs of meat, no hamburger patties with pink slime and no horsemeat meatballs like Ikea. Fresh vegetables in the stir frys. can be oily sometimes. some selections healthier than others. Green beans + tofu, stir fried broccoli. They can use no oil if you ask them. Between $7-$8 for 3 items. Healthier than a $5 subway sandwich or a burger+fries.
(3)Harsh G.
I am really big fan of Chinese food, but this place had me one of my bad experience ever. It was too oily and smell like a shit. I left all my food and walk away. I even told the manager or owner, she didn't even care about it. One thing I suggest, where you old Chinese cougars on management, unproffesional. Beware might serving old food from week.
(1)Dana C.
FYI, rice or chow mien counts as one item so if you get a two item combo for $6.25 it's rice or chow mien plus one other item (eg broccoli beef, etc.). I thought this was very very odd as I've never encountered this before, and I'm a Chinese food takeout monster. Nowhere does it actually tell you about this weirdness. You find out when you pay. Food is so-so. The fried rice is pretty bland, and the veggies do not taste good. I will not be back.
(1)Colin B.
Stopped by to try it out after running an errand. blank junk chinese food. Just nothing good about it, its not cheap, its not hot, its just blank orange chicken and noodles. you want a good chinese food place? Su Hongs First Wok Panda Express
(1)Christopher G.
Called in a order and had to dial twice because they hung up. Rude service and terrible food. Panda Express is way better and that's no compliment.
(1)Stephanie S.
We used Lucky Chinese Restaurant's Catering Service and it was excellent. To me, whether your product/food or what ever you are selling is good or not so good, I believe Customer Service should ALWAYS be Good. In this case, We received both - Good Food (Great Vegetarian Dishes!) and Good Customer Service. Thank you Lucky!
(5)Pixie P.
I like the fact that they have no MSG, and they have brown rice. HEALTHY is the aim, in such an unhealthy world! The place is decently clean and the food is not bad. I like the fish and shrimp dishes. This is the go-to place when I want something inexpensive and nutritious.
(4)Gunn S.
I've been looking for a cheap americanized chinese fast food place with decent flavor near my office and this was one of the places I tried for takeout lunch one day. While I didn't have any objections to the food (general tso's chicken is what it is unless it's fried gristle), it didn't wow me with flavor and I thought the pricing was a bit high for their 2-items + rice plate. I don't typically order soup so giving it to me "free" doesn't exactly win you anything with me as the consumer; I'd rather have the combo 75c or $1 cheaper. ALl in all, the meal was edible with hot sauce. With so many other similar places to patronize though, I'll likely pass this place by in the future when I'm looking for my lunchtime americanized chinese/general tso's chicken fix. -g
(2)Red Tail H.
It's really a 2.5 star kind of place. If you get there when the food is fresh on the steam table, they're pretty good. If you get here after the food's been sitting, go elsewhere! Oh, and no free refills. 50 cents if you want more to drink.
(3)Sam N.
it cannot get more authentic than this in Mountain View. Good food, cheap, fast, and has some healthier choices than most chinese restaurants. Just try to get over the rude service and order take out. It's rare that you get good customer service in restaurants in Asia -so don't take it personal!
(4)Ashley B.
the place was empty and I still felt rushed. the beef broccoli had a weird taste, the spicy chicken wasn't spicy. the only reason I gave two stars is because the portion size is large.
(2)Roberta K.
I stopped by Lucky's today at lunch time to pick up some quick food. I hadn't been in the area for several years so I was happy to see that they were still around - mainly because they don't use MSG, which can be difficult to find. I'm familiar with Lucky because years ago, I went to their first restaurant in Los Altos. So it was nice to go in there again and see the same food, however they are STILL overpriced....to me, $7+ is a lot for three items on a plate, and I only got 3 prawns with my green beans. (Has anyone noticed that the styrofoam clamshells that Asian restaurants are now using are smaller than they used to be?). I have to agree with the other reviewers - the Asian lady at the cash register was downright unfriendly. I even said a couple of witty comments to her, hoping to animate her, but she just looked at me with a dead face. Dead faces make me uncomfortable. The food was pretty good and I will continue to go there in a pinch, because I now work in this area - but they need to do something with that cashier.
(3)Magda M.
I got one of the 2 item deals to go, which comes with the soup of the day. I really enjoyed the soup, which was hot 'n' sour soup. I ordered the General's Chicken which was probably the spiciest Chinese chicken dish I've ever had at a fast-food Chinese restaurant. I really enjoy spicy things but I would think that the average Chinese food lover would find this dish to be too spicy. I got the chow mein and it was fairly good but a bit dry, considering the noodles are fairly thick.
(3)Chris C.
Echo others feelings about bland overpriced food with staff more interested in chatting loudly that making sure the food is any good. "Soup" is nasty like someone crapped out a squid....
(1)Vivian L.
This panda express and place where no Asians eat at and you got Lucky Chinese Restaurant. The only good thing about this place is that they don't MSG but it wasn't good quality Chinese Food by any sort.
(1)Giovanni R.
Yipes! My fiance and I love chinese food. We're not chinese food experts, but this place was just...no good at all! First of all, they don't have much of a selection. The fried rice has BBQ'd pork in it and it looked a bit undercooked. The beef broccoli was all just broccoli. The 2 item plate is $6+ but one of the items has to be rice or chow mein. There were two people in there during dinner time, it has a funky smell, unfriendly service. Not impressed to say the least.
(1)Alicia M.
I love Lucky's they are great for some fast chinese food! I have been there a few times in the last couple of months. Today I got green beans with praws, black bean fish and chow mein. The green beans are crispy and covered in yummy sauce, the prawns are large and meaty, the fish has some red and green bell peppers and has been marinated and steamed so the flavor is super locked in and the chow mein is thick noodle just the way I like it, they also give you a soup with your purchase. Im not a hot and sour soup fan so I couldnt tell you weather its good or not but everything I have had from there has been very tasty and the quantity is enough for lunch and dinner later.
(4)Ms. Good K.
this in NOT good Chinese food at all. you would get better Chinese from Mr Chau's than this place. the service is not great either, plus the prices are a bit too high for the quality of the food. the egg rolls had chunks of a rubbery squid type whatever inside, and i did NOT like the taste. the rice was very very dry. the chicken wings are pretty good, but they charge like $1 for each little drummette. if u walk up to the counter and notice that the food has been sitting and request a fresh serving, they will have a straight up attitude with you at which point you either just take the old/sitting food or GO ELSEWHERE!!
(1)christina c.
I went around 8pm so there wasn't a huge selection of dishes for their 3 or 4 item combos but I wasn't very impressed. By the way, it's really a 2 or 3 item combo b/c one of the items you choose must be rice or noodles. It's like a panda express basically.
(2)Robyn K.
It's OK. Panda Express has more of a selection. The hot and sour soup is good. But if you order the spicy shrimp, watch how they carefully only give you 4 shrimp EVERY TIME. It looks like they are randomly scooping the food out, but they have obviously been told to only serve 4 shrimp with the spicy shrimp dish. The rest is all vegetables. It's pretty funny. I'd probably give 3 stars if it weren't for that.
(2)Kristina P.
Four-star on the fast food scale. I'm tempted to say five because this is my favorite place for hot-n-sour soup. No meat, no shrimp, no MSG, just tofu and mushroom bits and egg. I ate their soup (and theirs alone) by the quart when I was pregnant. Ask for extra green onions to make it even more perfect. I also love their general's chicken. The chow mein is a little greasy but hey, it's a fast-food joint. Where else can you eat this fast, this good?
(4)Ben C.
So I was driving around this area looking for food (I had just been to Target), and saw this place. I love chinese fast food, so I gave it a try. I was impressed with the way the food looked, it was much tastier looking than most places like this. They also included egg drop soup on the side. I never had the soup, since it was 95 out that day and it was really hot. But the food was mediocre, and had a weird bland taste to everything. I couldn't tell what it was, but it wasn't something delicious like MSG. I'll probably not come back here, since I found Canton Chinese a few blocks away that's definitely better.
(2)Sherri C.
I am usually hesitant to try a Chinese restaurant in a mini-mall set-up, but I happened to run into this small Chinese food chain with my mom, which was, as the restaurant is named, lucky. She did all the talking in Mandarin and ordered up awesome fresh shrimp with snow peas and Mongolian beef. They have a full menu including soups, chow fun / mein, as well as a lite menu that offers steamed items with garlic or black bean sauce on the side. While these items are priced a little on the high side, the quality is above the stereotypical average for these places. When in a pinch for time and a quick Chinese meal, I would choose the Lucky express line over Panda Express any day.
(4)Travis D.
My girlfriend has a thing for Panda Express. Now hold on and give me a chance to explain. I realize that among foodies a love for this style of food is heresy, but thats because people don't approach it the right way. The style of food you get at Panda Express and similar places IS NOT Chinese food. So let me establish that before i get hounded by all you yelpers dismissing anything you see as inauthentic. For now lets call it Mall Food Court Chinese. It must be approached with caution and without comparison to real chinese food. Much like the american hot dog, which bares little resemblance to its original german cousin, Mall Food Court Chinese is simply an american take on chinese food. I know many people think its gross, but also like a hot dog when you fly in blind, not thinking about what you're chowing down on, it really is delicious. Sometimes you just get that craving that only a heaping plate of fried rice, a fried egg roll, and a heaping serving of chicken or beef covered in a deliciously sweet and spicy sauce will satisfy. When my girlfriend and i were going to school and living in San Antonio, Panda Express was the spot to hit when we had such a craving. We we moved to Palo Alto 6 months ago we were excited because we assumed that a significantly larger asian population would lead to an abundance of good, cheap asian restaurants, much in the same way that San Antonio is overflowing with good, cheap, absolutely delicious taquerias. At least up to this point that assumption has been wholly false. With the nearest Panda Express located about a 20 minute drive away (far too long to get chinese food from a steam table) Rachel and i started hitting places near us for cheap chinese take out. First we hit University St. in Palo Alto because we could walk there from home, then we ventured out to Menlo Park, California Street, Mountain View, Redwood City, and onward, finding nothing. We're starting to get sick of paying $25 for Chinese take out for two that isn't even that good. What gives? A few weeks ago we were heading over to target in mountain view and noticed Lucky across the street. We stopped in grabbed a menu and looked it over once we got home. Most stuff was in the normal $9-10 range, but they had an express line, just like at the mall that was like 7 bucks for a plate of food. Though it was more than panda express, we thought we'd give it a try. We walk in and the place is a little bit dirty and creepy feeling, but by going to this type of place, you have to be able to tolerate a bit of that. I was going to get fried rice, but it looked a little bit undercooked, and im trying not to look like a beached whale when i run the san francisco half marathon in february so i go the steamed rice. It was just bland, steamed rice, like i can make at home for like 30 cents, it was a mistake, but that one's on me. Moving down the line i saw they had both orange chicken and general's chicken, two of my favorites. I normally alternate between them, but i wanted to see how they did both of them so i got both (so much for cutting the calories is guess). To my surprise the server scoops out the chicken from out of the steam table (and under a heat lamp) onto my plate then puts it in the microwave. Now last time i checked a steam table and heat lamp were for keeping food warm, whats the deal with the microwave? I go to the end of the line after my food was done heating to find that i would be receiving a cup of hot and sour soup with my meal. It was a nice surprise, i love hot and sour soup. I start to get into the chicken to find that they both lack sauce, which to me is the best part. There's hardly enough sauce to cover the chicken, much less add some flavor to the rice that its sitting on. The sauce for the orange chicken is okay, the sauce for the general's chicken is actually pretty good. Its got some kick to it, im from Texas so i like that sort of thing. My other complaint is that the chicken still wasn't very warm and was not of stellar quality. In fact, it was rather bad. Now i know other places that i know and love use low quality chicken (thats how they get the price of a dinner down to $5 and still turn a profit), but at least they make it taste good. Every bite i took i was reminded that this chicken was pretty gross. About half way through i stopped with the chicken. During this whole "getting healthy" phase im trying not to eat too much, especially if it isn't very good. I move over to the hot and sour soup. Much like the chicken, it was resting in its own heating device when i ordered it: a double boiler. But just like the chicken it was cold and suspectly thick, bordering on gelatinous. It was pretty gross. I want to give one star but can't bring myself to do it. So lucky gets two, but i won't be going back.
(2)Carol N.
So the hubs and I went in there to have lunch. 2 item combo was around $7...ok...sure, not bad. Come to find out, they didn't give much rice at all and rice or noodles have to be one of your items. So...if you want rice or noodles and 2 more choices, it's actually 3 items and not 2 items like other places are. Needless to say, we ended up leaving and not eating there. We didn't see it until after the fact, that the sign said rice or noodles had to be 1 item. We won't be returning. We ended up going to New Mongolian BBQ on Castro Street.
(1)Stephanie L.
Ugh, this place does NOT have good or even decent food. I ordered their wor won ton soup because I saw that a couple other customers eating it. OK, one employee on their lunch break and one actual customer unhappily tucking into it. I didn't feel like eating anything particularly heavy which is why I didn't opt for the premade food. My hubby got a three item plate which had black pepper chicken and spicy shrimp. That came with a very very bland hot and sour soup and rice. If I had to pick something that was the "best" it would have to be the black pepper chicken, but really that's not saying much. I'd much rather go to Panda Express after dining here.
(1)Albert C.
Fair Chinese "fast food", a la the Ranch 99 delis. Basically, their best deal is a slightly more expensive version of Ranch 99. Except they serve hot and sour soup instead of egg drop. Good enough to pass muster when you're hungry and want food fast. No Chinese on their in-store menu but they do have some on their carryout menu. Truly told, this place really makes me miss similar places in Taipei that are cheaper yet much tastier.
(3)Ben D.
Wow...I have to agree with Monica. This is worse than Panda Express. This is the Taco Bell of Chinese food (without the value menu). No way would I eat here again. Good think it's in a good location or else it would have gone out of business a long time ago.
(1)Robert B.
I wanted 1/2 chow mien and half rice. The lady said no! I said why not every else they lets you do that? so whatever. Give me the chow mien. There was a rubber band in the chow mien. I took it back to the counter and the lady was not at the least bit interested.The rude oriental lady at the cash register did not care! So I am telling everyone out there what happened to me. They will not see me again.
(1)Christine H.
I don't usually like these express, pick-what- you- want- from-the- steamers-type of places, but it's super close to work, so I eat here once in a while. That being said, it's good in comparison to Mr.Chau's, Panda Express, or Tien Fu. I don't like it when I see the workers wrap eggrolls or any other type of food preparation in front of customers on the dining tables, so -1 star for that.
(3)Marie M.
i crave this place all the time its so delish their chow mein has veggies in it which i love and alot of places seems to just have the noodles i like the beef and broccoli and sweet and sour pork its so fresh unlike mr chaus eeeww gross its all sloppy and gross but they need to get a better staff and their prices went up a lil
(4)Kelley P.
Horrible nasty "Chinese" food. I'm half-Chinese and this food is awful. It's worse than Panda Express. Every time I eat the food from here (as I've given them a few tries), I've gotten sick to my stomach. The food makes me feel sick and bloated too. Great weight loss plan though if you want to go that route. Three times and I'm giving up on this place!
(1)Aarica C.
I eat here about once a week. I hardley ever get out of the office because I'm very busy. I can call them and my food is ready in 10 minutes. Their food is VERY good in comparison to the other "fast food" chains. Food tastes fresh, even in the express line. They are a bit pricey but worth it, I think.
(5)Jo M.
If you are looking for quick and inexpensive Chinese food, this is the right place. The staff are always friendly. They always give us a good portion so we always bring the leftover home. Definitely better than some of the other places. Example, for General Tsao Chicken, you can actually taste the chicken meat at Lucky's.. at other Chinese restaurants, you taste more dough than chicken meat.. Yuck! Our family goes here often whenever we do not have time to cook dinner. They also do catering and I have received a lot of good feedback from my colleagues at work whenever I order from Lucky's.
(5)R C.
Wish they didn't have to microwave the food, but better than I'd expect...
(4)andrew b.
yuk,,,,ended up there about half hour before closing...cold food.the place was cold and thn began putting chairs up food was.,,greasy,,,the worst part..is the workers brought out delicous looking trays of steaming rice and entree for them selves and ate it next to us,,,,only the beer was good.........stay away from this place
(1)Susan D.
This is fabulous food for the price. Favorites include: beef broccoli, tofu & mushrooms, orange chicken.
(4)Eugene L.
Happen to be down the street so I stopped by Lucky got the 3 item Combo- Pork Fried Rice ,Black Bean Fish,Salt and Pepper Fish and Hot and Sour soup. Grabbed a couple of Fortune Cookies they both had good fortunes. The Fortunes reminded me of a French Girl I used to date . She liked Chinese food more than I did LOL. We used to take our fortunes and stuff them into the Airbag Compartment in her work car. She got a new company car and the guy that got her old one had a fender bender and got a face full of Fortunes. LOL.
(3)Monica A.
I have been coming to Lucky Chinese Restaurant since I was in grade school. Well YEARS down the road, and not much has changed. They have two locations, one off of Grant and this one off of Showers. The quality at both locations are identical. Another similar entity is their price. Let's start with flavor. Their food is definitely not authentic, they have that real americanized taste, but I'm not complaining. I am going to have to say that 3 of my stars go towards their food. I noticed a lot of my fellow reviewing peers mentioned ordering from the a la carte menu but I have to suggest choosing a made to order meal. I like to get the California Special which includes their DELICIOUS chicken salad, an egg roll, soup and pot stickers all for about $7.50. So if anyone argued portions, I would have to disagree, they give you your fair share plus some. Customer service is not a big issue for me here. I've come here for so long that they recognize my face. So in a way, I've earned a smile here and there, plus a little more patience from their staff. Heres a tip: Their beef chow fun is absolutely amazing. Try it out. It is really hearty and they serve it in a huge container for about $8. It can easily feed 3 people. Heres another tip: Want more food? Well then ask for your order to go, they tend to pile on just a little more on your container. Enjoy! Practice you chopstick etiquette!
(4)Caro B.
Lucky is what you'll be if you don't end up with the runs after eating here. It's pretty hit or miss, and lately I've found myself on the "miss" side. The only thing that keeps me coming back, ready to take my chances, is the chow mein. It is absolutely to die for. However, after having bad luck with food here 2 times in a row I just can't bring myself to come back ever again, even for the chow mein. Other cons to this restaurant include the bitchy ladies that serve the food, and the early time the kitchen closes (seriously, why is there only 1 main course left at 7:30pm on a Saturday?). Really the restaurant is just another Panda Express. You're much better off going there.
(1)Victor L.
Ehhhhh..... this is your standard 2-item, 3-item, or 4-item Chinese food place. And one of the items has to be rice or chow mein. Soup is included. For $7.25 for 3 item, you're much better off going somewhere else. Pho Vi Hoa maybe? Luu Noodle in the same plaza? The Korean So Gong Dong Tofu House? All are the same price as this (excluding tip), all are better, and all are about *2* minutes away. I think they kinda skimped on the portions and the food was incredibly so-so. When they spooned everything onto the plate the first thing they did to it was put it in the microwave, heh. I would skip this place. Nothing to see here.
(2)Gabriel R.
Cheap fresh decent
(3)Erica L.
I moved to the Mountain View area back in April and have drove by this place many times and today I was hungry when I passed by so I decided to give this restaurant a shot. I ordered the Spicy General's Chicken and Chow Mein which came with Hot & Sour Soup. I originally wanted the fried rice but the fried rice was white, so I refrained from ordering that. I watched the lady place my items on a plate and as meager as they were, I figured you get what you pay for, couldn't be more than $5 right? I then walked over to see what drinks they have to offer, got my drink and stood at the register waiting to pay. She brought over a green tray for me to dine-in along with my Hot & Sour Soup. I wondered... 'Where is my food?' Not really thinking anything of it, I pay $8.99 for my lunch (which is overpriced for the measly portions I got) and then she walks over to pull my food from a microwave! At this point I'm starving and too lazy to go anywhere else, plus Chinese food tastes the same after you heat it up anyway, right? WRONG. The Hot & Sour Soup was so thick I can only compare it to the density of maple syrup, the Chow Mein was flavorless and the breading on the chicken was soggy. Bleffk. I've been to many steam table Chinese restaurants for lunch because it's usually good, fast and cheap but this place was gross, slow and expensive. I would certainly not recommend Lucky Chinese Restaurant to anyone.
(1)David T.
Stopped by after an errand too. It was very much amercanized chinese food, BUT, the mushrooms in my chicken dish were very fresh and the overall dish was tasty regardless of cantonese authenticity. The hot and sour soup was very good too and it was a good amount of food for the price. The women behind the counter did not have very good english, but once they understood I was trying to avoid wheat, they went out of their way to recommend dishes for me. For what it is, an inexpensive fast americanized chinese place, it is very good.
(4)Silvia T.
I want to say this restaurant always treat me like a family member.. Always treat me good and food is good.. Always ready to go buy and eat right away.. Kim is one of the best person in there always greeting you with a great smile .. Good service I always get there
(4)Bobby B.
Yuck where do i start Worse than panda express Mediocre to bad America Chinese food Food was warm not fresh and selection was average Hot and sour soup had extra sludge inside (prob MSG or gelatin that didn't melt) Would not come back Also they only accept MasterCard or visa.. And the meal was over ten bucks for three items (one of which included rice)..wth
(1)Peaches C.
I've tried Lucky's once since it was convenient for me that day. They remind me of a downscale version of Panda Express. They pretty much have the same menu items as Panda. Lucky would be a great place to come if you're not looking for anything special but to just get your hunger taken care of. I tried the shrimp and green beans which I thought was pretty decent. Their hot and sour soup was okay too. Lucky Chinese restaurant is good for fast cheap Chinese food.
(3)Robert S.
cheap chinese fast food of sorts in mt. view. Came with a small group and I really did not want to go here as it looked like the non chain version of panda express. 2 high notes that I liked: 1. The Mongolian beef was not drenched in sauce and actually somewhat free of sauce and was nice and spicy. 2. not traditional but I want brown rice as an option and lucky Chinese gives you this option. 1 note that I did not like was the poor excuse for hot and sour soup. The soup was salty and really was just bad and really bad.
(3)Jacqueline D.
This is not the place to go for fresh, authentic Chinese food. If, however, you want a combo of lots of greasy food - the type of combo that you can only get at a real Chinese restaurant by ordering family style - this is the place to go. I think it's better than Panda Express, personally, and the staff is quite friendly. It is a bit pricy for what it is though.
(3)Melanie R.
It is like Panda Express, but it has lemon chicken. Which one i end up going to depends on if I want lemon chicken or orange chicken. The thing I don't like is that they offer a 2, 3, or 4 item combo, but you have to get the rice or chow mein and that counts as an item. No other place does it like that and i think it is a bit misleading. Yes, like other reviewers, I do believe the staff is kind of curt, bordering on rude. It is quick, decent, and priced like similar places. If you want really good Chinese, go to Chef Chu's.
(3)Mel G.
Cheap food, horrible customer service!
(2)Sandra S.
I like Lucky! This is your rush in, get a to-go order of Chinese food from the steam table, rush out kind of restaurant. If you do decide to eat at the restaurant, they have real plates and silverware for you - so its not a total fast food experience. You can get brown rice instead of steamed rice or fried rice on a combination plate. The entrees are good and they refresh them on a regular basis. If you order off the menu, the food is even better. I really like their combination fried rice-- the fried rice here is not very high in fat, has a lot of veggies and meats so that's a real plus. The staff are super friendly and remember you once you've come a few times. Being treated like a friend makes for a welcoming environment and I like that. Just writing this is making me hungry for Lucky! If you're at the San Antonio shopping center, this is a good pit stop!
(4)Monica W.
American Chinese food is hard to do wrong. Sure, you can do "mediocre" pretty easily, but bits of fried/stir-fried meat and veggies in a batch of sweet/sour/savory sauce is HARD to actually make unpleasant to eat. Congratulations, Lucky. Are you proud of yourself? Any, ANY strip mall/cat-meat dollar scoop/Panda Express Chinese joint can make Chinese takeout tasty in all its junky, fatty, MSG-y glory, but the food at Lucky is so gross it's hard to swallow. To top it off, prices are what you would expect at a place where they cook your food to order... i.e. twice what you'd expect at a Panda Express rip-off.
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