Chinois City Cafe
3535 Fair Oaks Blvd,Ste A, Sacramento, CA, 95864
Chinois City Cafe Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Sacramento for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Sacramento for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Sacramento for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
3535 Fair Oaks Blvd,Ste A
Sacramento, CA, 95864 - Phone (916) 485-8691
- Website https://www.chinoiscitycafe.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:30 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
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 : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
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.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Marlyn S.
A friend of mine recommend this restaurant so I went in with high expectations and found mediocrity at at best! We ordered an appetizer that came stuffed with chicken. The presentation was nice however the taste was bland and the fried outer shell was soft and mushy. But worse than that the entire meal was bland. The fried rice had no flavor and was just horrible. We didn't even finish our meal. We will not be returning to this establishment because not only did we not like the food, we didn't care for the feel of the atmosphere. Not sure how they get so many good reviews, maybe it was just an off day.
(1)Marchel B.
What I really like about this restaurant is the plethora of fresh veggies they put in their food and the quality of the chicken they use. I have pretty much stopped eating Chinese food and switched over to Thai or Vietnamese because of the standard one meat and two greasy sides of chow mein and fried rice that most serve. Chinois however uses fresh ingredients and their house fried rice is awesome with bbq pork, chicken, beef, and shrimp . Cutting back on massive amounts of carbs these days, so I enjoy the dishes with lots of veggies and delicious sauces. I do not like sweets and do not find most of their food very sweet, except the Honey Walnut Prawns which I do make an exception for. The broccoli beef is delish as is the Kung Pao chicken. I have had some of the East West fusion dishes and they are good, but I like kind of the basics here. Spicy if you please. I do have a tendency to rate restaurants by how many really obese people are there (not judging, just don't want to eat like that) and I can say that it is rare to see that at Chinois. Which to me speaks to a population of diners who like fresh health food. and I like that Chinois serves it up right!
(4)Cameron Z.
I went with a few ladies for lunch. The prices were low and we got plenty of food. I felt that everything that I ate was bland. I had to dip my lemon chicken in sweet and sour sauce in order to taste flavors. My friend got the fire chicken (or whatever it was called), but it did not reflect the name. The dish was labeled as a very spicy dish, but it wasn't that spicy. The crispy potstickers were good, but the sauce tasted funky. No one else at the table liked the sauce. My steamed rice was overdone and mushy. The service was great and the white chocolate dipped fortune cookies were good. Two of the girls loved the food, so I suppose you need to try it for yourself.
(3)Juliet S.
Let me start by saying I'm very picky about Chinese food! This place was ahhmazzing! Every dish ordered was outstandingly delicious !! My favorite was the Honey Walnut Prawns . The service was attentive and quick. I have a feeling this is going to become one of my go to spots!
(5)Georgia B.
This is definitely top 5 favorite restaurants in Sacramento. The staff is so friendly. I always get Phoenix and Dragon. I always ask for top ramen noodles, put the Phoenix and Dragon over the noodles, squeeze some lemon on it, and eat it that way. I always get the prawn potstickers also. Omg just thinking about this makes my mouth water. The last time I was there, I also got foil wrapped chicken. It was so good. I'm going today after work after all this lol
(5)Sharon D.
Amazing Mushu Pork appetizer and a super flavorful Tilapia vegetable dish!! Firecracker Beef will knock your socks off!!! The only problem is the BEER IS SO WARM - they need to turn the kegs up because it was horrible to drink warm beer. Butt Highly recommend!!!
(5)Abbie T.
Last time we got takeout I thought maybe something was off as it wasn't what we usually get. This order confirmed the food is terrible! Brown lettuce, not even remotely spicy Kung pow and over done rice. Nothing was fresh or good. Never again!
(1)Jenni T.
Good convenient Chinese food for the area, but not in my top list of favorite Chinese food places. There just isn't too many options in Arden-Arcade for Chinese food. Food- 3/5. We come here semi regularly for work, I have had the Sweet and Sour Tofu, Honey Walnut Tofu and the Orange Tofu and they are all good, but wayyy too sweet! Especially the Orange Tofu which is supposed to be spicy but it is super sweet... all their sauces are sugary sweet that you can only eat a few bites before you've had enough. My boss likes the Vegetable Lo Mein which has a good black bean sauce and tasty noodles. Good to balance out the sauce from the tofu! My coworker likes the Orange Chicken and the Lemon Chicken so maybe those aren't as sweet because she doesn't like sugar. I think my favorite part of the meal is definitely their White Chocolate Covered Fortune Cookies! Soo good! Atmosphere- 3.5/5. It's a cool space with funky colored walls and a nice bar area. Nothing fancy, pretty basic but still modern and comfortable. Bathrooms are super clean and nice. Service- 3.5/5. The one waiter is always super friendly and helpful, and he tries really hard, but the service always takes awhile even when they aren't crowded which try almost always are. Lunch usually takes between an hour to an hour and a half, so don't come here for a quick bite. Vegetarian Friendliness- 4/5. They have a nice Vegetarian section of the menu which has your usual vegi options but also different tofu options which I love because then I don't have to ask for them off the menu! Yay! Very thoughtful and different from almost every other Chinese food place I've been to. Overall- 3/5. If there was any other Chinese Food place in the area other than Panda Express, I would go there. But this is it so we have to make the best of it! I hate saying bad things about this place, because there is nothing horrible about it, it's just not particularly great.
(3)B B.
Excellent food, this is our go-to for Chinese in Sacramento. We always get good service, but Terry is beyond great! We don't eat here often, but she remembered we always get the Thai Chicken Pineapple Fried Rice regardless of which other dishes we order. The Mushi crepes are huge for an appetizer and great tasting. Our other favorites are the honey walnut prawns, egg foo young, and curry coconut chicken. We have never had a bad meal here.
(5)Ralph B.
My wife and I had a very good Chicken Salad (my wife raved about it, but I thought it could have benefited some Chinese mustard), excellent Laughing Buns, and an outstanding Lemon Drop. Service was well above average. We ate outside, which was noisy due to the nearby Fair Oaks traffic. So, the ambience was so-so.
(4)Kevin R.
This place is the best and has ruined all other Chinese restaurants for me. They just can't be beat. The prawn pot stickers are unbelievably great. But the best to me by far is their House Won Ton Soup. Be forewarned, you won't want any other Chinese food after eating here unless you have a Chinese parent who can cook for you.
(5)Louis F.
Great great food for a reasonable price!
(5)Dan K.
0.0 stars. Went for dinner on 2/21/2015. We had the typical american Chinese order of won ton soup, mu shi pork, (not sure why its not mu shu), kung pao chicken and fried noodles. The soup tasted like freezer burn water. The mu shi pork came dripping wet and pre-assembled with sesame seeds and jar hosien sauce. The noodles tasted like they added BBQ sauce. My best guess is that all of the food is frozen and then reheated. That is why everything is mushy and wet. The sauces all tasted like the canned variety. The decor is just as bad as the food. It felt like I was in 1987 all over again. The booths were dirty and falling apart. Everything to the touch was very greasy.
(1)Doug G.
Best way I could describe the entire experience is average. These service was very good and the bar and restaurant were nice...above average. BUT...the food was just truly "A-OK". There was nothing that I truly disliked but everything needed a little more flavor....Chicken Wonton soup was not to salty and the ingredients were all good quality but just needed more flavor. The Kung Pao also did not have enough flavor, just a little to bland for me. To give them credit the chicken they used was excellent quality white meat and that is a rarity in the Chinese food I have been exploring in Sacramento. If you are a local I would say it is worth a try as possibly I went on an off night. But I will not go back.
(3)Monica T.
The food was good and the drinks were made well when we finally got asked what we wanted. The service was pretty bad. We sat for about 10 min at the bar before the bartender even acknowledged us. He was busy chit chatting with what looked like regulars, though they all had drinks and food already. Not the worst, definitely not the best. Probably won't venture back
(3)Kelson P.
Dan is awesome. He knows what I want each time I come in and brings it right away. The house soup is very good. Full of scallops, shrimp, chicken, onions, carrots, bok choy, snow peas and chicken. The broth is light and rich at the same time. Good stuff. I recently had my credit card replaced by my bank (which I did not know) so my payment didn't go through. I didn't have any other forms of payment. Dan simply said, I'll keep the receipt and we can take care of it next time you come in. And that was the end of it. Great service plus great food equals return customers. Do try this place.
(5)Nancy M.
It was really hot in the restaurant. The food we ordered was very bland. The broccoli in the broccoli beef was tough. The asparagas chicken only gave you the tough ends, no tips. We told the waitress and all she said was " well tell us next time you want tips'"Sorry the broccoli was tough...that is too bad." Really??? The sauce for the potstickers tasted like vinegar...awful! The sauce for the egg rolls had no flavor. Offered us nothing! It's very pricey and the food is definitely not worth the price!! We will never eat there again!
(1)Vicki P.
Really great food and ambiance. Had great experience here with a large party. Server did a great job of keeping up with a big party. Food was wonderful! Great experience.
(4)James S.
I have never been disappointed with the food nor the service. I have even ordered take out and it was just as good. I see some bad reviews and wonder why...I love this place!
(5)Jaime B.
This is my absolute favorite Chinese food I've had! The Peking pork potstickers and laughing buns are so delicious! Also highly recommend the General's Chicken. Tasty tasty tasty! I usually call to order the food to go and pick it up. They're always fast and friendly!
(5)Nan L.
This place is the worst Chinese restaurant I've ever eaten.I would give a no star if possible.We ordered Chicken Wor wonton soup,Pork chow mein,rice and sweet sour chicken.The broth tasted so sweet like they dump tons of sugar in it.Then we noticed the crazy amount of diced carrots in it that were still hard-uncooked!To my surprise, there were no shrimp in that soup either!Most Wor wonton soup I have had always had chicken , pork and shrimp in it.I was telling my husband maybe the other dishes will be better. Our pork chow mein was worst them the soup! Again, they threw a bunch of sugar in the chow mein to make it super sweet but worst of all, there were barely any noodles in it.I told the waitress about it and she offered to get us some chow mein on the side.But when the chow mein came out, it was full of grease! Their sweet sour chicken was just okay.We just packed the food to go for our dog after that.
(1)Candace m.
I ate here on two consecutive Sundays. First time was dine-in with a group of six. The service was very good. Our waiter went out of his way to make us happy, even had a noodle dish remade for a friend on dialysis who can't have salt. Unfortunately, the food was only adequate. I had the crispy chicken pot stickers and the chicken and asparagus. Both were flavorless. And worst of all the rice was mushy. We all left saying that the food is not as good as it used to be. Last night I was in the neighborhood so decided to try it again. This time for take out. It was the worst Chinese food I've ever had!!!! I had the fried prawns and the moo goo gai pan. Again flavorless!!!! And this time the rice was a gelatinous, disgusting mess. I threw it out. How can you ruin rice?? The guy who said Pand Express is better was not kidding. So sad!!!! I definitely won't be going back.
(2)Charles K.
My family was at this establishment for Christmas Eve. Food is always exceptional however, the last few times the service and the attitude of the waitress has been very poor. Understanding the holiday and wait time can be longer however, plan to wait for an hour before your food arrives.
(2)Denise D.
The food here is hit or miss. The good: General's chicken, mushi crepes, Peking potstickers, calamari, honey walnut prawns, evil jungle beef. The bad: chicken satay, orange or lemon chicken, sesame chicken, chow mein, ma po beancakes. Takeout prices are reasonable and orders take 15-20 minutes. Spend the extra 30 cents a pop to get the white chocolate covered fortune cookies- yum! They only use breast meat for their chicken dishes :)
(3)John S.
The food here is terrible. I had the fried rice, chicken chow mein, walnut prawns, sweet and sour pork, and potstickers. 1. Sweet and sour pork was soggy 2. Fried rice and chow mein lacked flavor 3. Walnut prawns were soggy and not crispy. Plus they come with pineapples. Name a walnut prawns dish that has pineapples? 4. It's overpriced Chinese food
(1)Christine G.
Hot & Sour soup was good. Chicken lettuce wraps were okay. Kung Pao chicken was okay too but did not have a lot of flavor. The quality of the chicken was good. I think they use canned mushrooms though. Service was good. Friendly staff. Reasonable prices. But unfortunately I am going to have to continue my search for great Chinese food in the city.
(3)caryl r.
Running around tonight helping a friend pick out some new work wear, we realized we were hungry and wanted to grab some grub. She mentioned Chinois, a local restaurant I had never been to before. Wow. What a yummy treat this was! I had their Curry Coconut Shrimp with white Jasmine rice. Very tasty, I've never had anything like it. The sauce was flavorful but not overpowering. The vegetables were cooked but crisp, and the shrimp was cooked perfectly. My friend enjoyed her String Bean Beef with Black Bean Sauce, as well as the Long Island Iced Tea specialty. The alcohol content was not to be trifled with! To top it off, we finished with dipped fortune cookies, which were the perfect ending to our superb meal. The portions were huge, with plenty of leftovers to take home to the family, and priced right. I will definitely be back to this gem!
(4)Heidi M.
One of my all-time favorite restaurants still after all these years. We ordered Honey Walnut Prawns, General Beef, Won Tons, Lemon Chicken, potstickers. OMG, my mouth waters just thinking about this food and the white chocolate covered fortune cookies at the end of our meal. I still wish they had the Eggplant Fans, but honestly, you can't go wrong here. The meat is white and lean, not fatty like a lot of Asian restaurants serve. The sauces have amazing, unique flavors. The mooshoo crepes are the bomb, too. I can't wait to go back again!! The staff is really nice, too and the place is immaculate.
(5)Summer M.
Went to Chinois for dinner because we were craving Chinese food with a nice ambience. Chinois does indeed deliver a fancier restaurant experience than your standard hole-in-the-wall Chinese eatery (which is what we usually frequent) and it doesn't have the lingering cookie-cutter chain feeling of PF Changs. The cocktails were pretty good, his Evil Jungle Beef was hot and evil just like he likes it, my Chicken Chow Fun was good n' noodly. Service was a bit on the slow side, but overall it was a nice night-out experience. We *were* a bit distracted by the nearby loud drunk table of seniors who were laughing like they just discovered nitrous... but meh, can't fault the restaurant too much for that. As long as their customers aren't throwing food at me or setting the joint on fire, I'm pretty easy-going.
(3)Sterling W.
I've been recently re-reminded why Chinois City Cafe is my favorite Chinese restaurant: The Prawn Pot Sticker appetizers are a must. I have many personal favorites, but the "Phoenix and Dragon" house specialty is always a crowd-pleaser. Their unique, original dishes are probably their strong suit, but the ambiance also works for "date-night". Full service bar as well. My wife and I drive in from 25 minutes away, and we can get decent "Chinese" locally... Enjoy!
(5)Ashley M.
This is a great family restaurant! Everything is fresh and I love that they use white meat chicken. It's a great place for people who like healthy portions of quality food. My favorites are the chicken chow mein and Phoenix and Dragon. The foil wrapped chicken appetizer and spring rolls are great too!
(5)Fred M.
My fiancee probably wouldn't agree with my review, but this is my review, neener neener neener. Anyway, I liked my dish and the fried rice. There was enough to take home and it was just as good the next day. Our waitress was attentive and funny, and the only thing that would improve my rating is to improve the speed of the food coming out of the kitchen. Overall, a job well done.
(4)Jessica L.
Wow, why does this place have good reviews? The chow mein sauce is most defiantly "K C masterpiece BBQ"Kinda gross. The pot stickers doughy and slighty under cooked, once a gain kinda gross. I'm pretty sure Panda Express is better. My steamed rice was starchy, doughy, and definitely undercooker. The beef in my broccoli b33f was chewy and poorly cut... not to mention the broccoli was enormous. I could barely fit it in my mouth. And the fried wontons that came with my lunch were disgustingly greasy, chewy and far from crispy. For the price and portions you get.... all your getting is below mediocre food. I would not be going back.
(1)Sarah E.
This place is amazing both in food taste and customer service! My boyfriend took me here for the first time and he's been raving about this place for a year, it clearly made a good impression on him. I'm pretty sure our server's name was Terry but regardless she was absolutely above and beyond accommodating to both me and my boyfriend. She started us off with waters, was very nice about making sure our lettuce wraps came out first and was very prompt when we needed refills. AND THE FOOD WAS DELICIOUS! It's not very common that we take food to go but we felt obligated because leaving it would have been a crime in at least 13 countries. I ate leftovers and it was still so tasty, worth every penny (AND it wasnt expensive) I would love to return here as soon as possible but I still have leftovers because of the amazing amount of abundance of food. Thoroughly impressed with this restaurant, cant wait for my return!
(5)Daniel L.
I cannot believe what I am seeing. How can this place have an average of three stars!!!! Am I in a parallel universe? I just moved out of sacramento about 4mo ago and still have dreams of the food at this place. The food is exploding with unique flavor, the atmosphere is smooth casual, the waiters are well seasoned in their trade and will strive to give you a personal experience. The honey walnut chicken is to die for and the gift wrapped chicken apps are the bomb!!! OMG, I may fly to sacramento this weekend and get my Chinois fix. I have yet to find a similar place in Los Angeles. Go here, have an experience and don't be fooled by the three star rating. There must be a cosmic flux that makes it look like three stars as in reality it is 5+.
(5)Steve L.
Long ago, in a Sacramento far, far away, there was a groundbreaking restaurant called Chinois East-West, at the current site of the disappointingly corporate Bandera. Chniois East-West served innovative and tasty dishes in a hip, urban setting, and it drew rave reviews from skeptical San Franciscans and New Yorkers. It was one of the first places to help the Capital City draw its modern identity as a proud restaurant town. After Chinois East-West mysteriously closed its doors in the mid-90s, one of the partners, David Soo Hoo, opened a delicious but long-ago shuttered Chinese fast food joint at Market Square. The other partners opened Chinois City Cafe at Fair Oaks and Watt, and things have never been the same. While it has a sleek, dark look and a small bar - a fine place for a quiet drink--the food is just ok, far removed from back in the day. Many of the stir-fry dishes are cooked in a black bean sauce, which gives them a similar earthy flavor that is unique but not altogether satisfying. The portions are not particularly large and the prices are on the high side of moderate. Overall, you can find better food, and more of it, for less money all over town.
(3)Vivian C.
This place is God awful and I really do NOT UNDERSTAND how they're still in business. I had to come here for a work lunch and the food we had was just unbelievably bad. The chow mein was worse quality than say... the Hot Wok at Raley's/Bel Air (and theirs is actually pretty good. And a steamed rice was at least a day old, dry and crumbly -- completely unacceptable. But my coworkers didn't seem too bothered by it and why, I have no idea? The quality of all the other dishes what is just way below par and I am so surprised this business is still surviving. I will never eat here again :-(
(1)samantha s.
DELICIOUS CHINESE FOOD. I'm Chinese so I have authority when speaking about Chinese food. Things i LOVE about Chinois: + ginormous portions + honey walnut prawns MMMM the BEST + curried singapore noodles +peking potstickers +house special chow mein +lunch specials the list goes on. I REALLY love their white chocolate covered fortune cookies... A+! I love you Chinois!
(5)Rowdy R.
Pick anything -I dare you! It's ten times better here, unreal.
(5)Bryan H.
Delicious food! Veggies were super fresh, food was freshly cooked, and all the meat in the various dishes we ordered was as tender as ever! We'll definitely be back! Great service too!
(5)Jennifer H.
Delicious food!! The honey walnut chicken is amazing. Really a great value for the money. But the people there really seem to hate their jobs. o_O
(4)Jim V.
Great food and service, especially from the middle-aged Asian waitress. Be sure to ask her for recommendations. We love the firecracker beef and honey walnut shrimp! And the dipped fortune cookies are delectable. From the bar: try a blue mandarin martini. A bit on the sweet side, but still excellent!
(4)Jessica T.
Not sure if management reads their Yelp reviews, but seeing as I tried to send them an email from their website & was unable, I figured I might communicate here & hope that someone at the establishment reads it & mentions it When I call to place a pick-up order and ask what is in a particular dish--it is because I'm picky. Here's how my phone conversation went with the order-taker... Me: Hi, I'm placing a pick-up order...Can you tell me what is in the chicken curry? Him: I think it's chicken, yellow curry sauce, red bell peppers, green bell peppers, onions and some carrot. Me: Thanks. I'll have the chicken curry, then, but with no onions or green bell peppers, please. I was anxious when my husband brought home our dishes--I stayed at home with our newborn--and opened up my chicken curry. Sure enough, the order was not what I expected: Chicken (yes), yellow curry (yes), carrots (yes), celery (ewww) and no red bell pepper (ugh, bummer). I should have stopped the guy on the phone when he said "I think it's..." and asked him to check with the chef or the manager. As someone who has managed restaurants for years, however, I have expectations of order-takers that involves 1) knowing what is in the dishes you are speaking to customers about or 2) if you don't know/aren't sure--check with someone! Everyone will be much happier if you simply tell your guests, "I'm sorry, I'm not really positive what is in that dish, but let me check with someone so we can make sure to get your order right." Regarding the food here... IT IS DELICIOUS. I've been going here for about 10 years, but always have to convince my husband that their food is not overpriced. He has the misconception that they are a more-expensive-than-is-usual Chinese food restaurant, but we ordered the potstickers, chicken curry & lemon chicken and our bill was $24 & change. He was surprised and is every time. Next time, he'll forget again and tell me it's pricey & I will have to remind him :) Oh well. I will continue going to Chinois, purely because their food is so wonderful, but will hope that their staff becomes either more knowledgeable about the menu or isn't too shy/busy to speak up and ask someone if they aren't sure. Had I been a dine-in customer I may have asked them to re-do the dish as the server had said it was.
(3)M. F.
Kind of far out, but worth the drive. Chinois had pretty tasty food (general's chicken, mongolian beef, fried rice) and a few kind of bland dishes (chow mein wasn't too impressive). Our server was AMAZING, though. He was hustling every table in the restaurant and being completely professional and attentive in the process. The restaurant also allowed us to bring our own cake and they brought out everything we needed to serve at no extra cost.
(4)Angela H.
I have really only been here for drinks and to watch sports. I always sit at the bar but the appetizers are yummy. Great staff too
(3)Rosa V.
One star for friendly waiter and the white-chocolate dipped fortune cookie with sprinkles. The rest of the meal was awful. OAT-freaking-MEAL in the veggie pot stickers?? Wha wha what?!! Who puts oatmeal in a pot sticker??? With no veggies at all? Couldn't finish half of one. The Shrimp Pot Stickers had a prawn surrounded by filling and dough, with the tail still on and sticking out of it, like the entire thing, with a strange sauce and overly sweet coconut sprinkled on top. Really strange. We also ordered Sesame Chicken. Grossest chinese chicken dish ever. Fried chicken with some kind of gravy poured on top that had terrible presentation, as the gravy was in a blob on the side of the plate. It tasted disgusting, like brown gravy with loads of cornstarch...no sweetness...just brown gravy like you'd put on turkey!!! But not edible. The lady at the table across from us actually ordered the same thing and returned it. We also ordered Veggie Chow Mein...would have been good if the mushrooms didn't have piles of sand in them. Also ordered Honey Walnut Shrimp, as other reviewers suggested. The shrimp was OK...but half the dish was canned pineapple, and some of the walnuts were crunchy and some were stale. Also the sauce was just sweet mayonnaise with piles of cornstarch...We also ordered the Thai Chicken Pineapple Fried Rice. This was actually the only thing I ended up eating, as it tasted pretty good. But, by that point, I was in fear of the food, and had a hard time enjoying it. I wanted to like this place, as it's close to our neighborhood, and the waitstaff were friendly, but no...not returning. Ever.
(1)Leopard S.
Please keep in mind this restaurant is French/Chinese fusion cuisine...not traditional Chinese. We went for dinner-this is my second time here. The waitress was very kind and helpful with my questions regarding the menu. We were seated in a quieter, less busy part of the restaurant, which was nice. Nice decor, though the music didn't fit the atmosphere. The thai iced tea was very rich, and definitely sweet. I had their spring roll-veggies and vermicelli with sweet and sour sauce-fresh and yummy! We had the orange beef and honey walnut prawns. The orange beef was more orange in flavor than spicy-they served it with celery, red and green bell peppers, carrots and spring onion. The honey walnut prawns was served on a pineapple husk with pineapple chunks. The prawns were cooked perfectly with the sauce. The walnuts were a little overcooked. I loved the pineapple with the honey walnut prawns. I'm a big fan of this dish and this was the first time I'd had it with pineapple. All in all, I would come here again. Very pleasant experience.
(4)Stacy G.
I have mixed emotions over this place. In an office meeting lunch a few years ago, my Kung Pao chicken plate from Chinois featured a fairly sizable bug, which turned me off from the place for several years (naturally, I think). The memory still haunts me today. However, I have since been back a couple of times (hey, it's close to my office) and have thankfully not repeated that experience. While I find the interior rather dark for my taste (I prefer the ever-sunny Danielle's next door), Chinois does have a few things going for them. The calamari appetizer is quite tasty and the Emerald Garden Prawn and Scallop Stir Fry (served in a green curry sauce) is my favorite of the entrees. I like that I can order Thai food at a mostly Chinese restaurant. I guess that's the fun of fusion. Everyone at the office loves the chocolate-covered fortune cookies.
(2)Jami E.
Delicious chinese food; it has been a staple in Sacramento for a long time. I've been many, many times and I am always happy and leave with a fully belly.
(5)Andrew L.
It's been a few years since I've eaten here, but I can vividly remember how horrible their rice was. I'm not talking fried rice, I'm talking about steamed white rice. The quintessential staple to all Asian meals. Somehow, this place messed up their rice bad enough to scar me for life.... but I digress. I used to live in East Sac, so I always passed by this place when I was driving around. A coworker of mine was quite enthusiastic about recommending this place, so i finally gave it a go one evening. I walked into the poorly lit restaurant and figured the dimness might help to conceal my forever alone eating habits, so I quietly took a seat and browsed through the menu. If memory serves correctly, I ordered the kung pao chicken, which differs from one chinese restaurant to another, so no complaints there. But it wasn't spectacular enough to earn a place in my memory. What did, however, earn a place in it was the white rice. I recall after eating a few chopstick loads of rice, I asked for a new bowl since mine tasted pasty. I eventually got another bowl of rice, but this one was no better... just warmer. At that point, I asked them to pack up my entree and I went home to eat my leftovers with some 90-second rice. Perhaps it was just a one-time thing, but I can see a few other reviews where they've messed up on their rice. considering the inflated price for eating "fusion" chinese food, it's simply inexcusable for them to mess up such a basic like white rice. I'm pretty forgiving about a lot of things, i've had flies kamikaze into some noodles that a street food vendor has served me, picked out the fly, and eaten the rest of the food with delight (it was a 3rd world country)... but this was just upsetting. At its best, I think this place might deserve a 3-star rating, but based on my own personal experience, I'm giving them 2 stars (they get the extra star for replacing my rice upon request).
(2)N. M.
I wish there were zero stars. This place is not Chinese food and it was the worst time. We gave it three tries, but they're out. Desperate for good Chinese in our hood :(
(1)Amy Q.
This is my go-to chinese take out place. I love the sweet and sour pork and the pot stickers with the vinegar dipping sauce is addicting. The moment I call, my food is ready to pick up in 15 minutes. Its always packed neatly, and in a brown paper bag. All the food is fresh and hot and is never just sitting around. The service was fast and inviting. I'm always up to try new things on the menu, my mother in law prefers the garlic chicken and my father in law loves the wonton soup. It has everything you want in a clean chinese restaurant and other items, hence "asian fusion" that won't dissappoint you either.
(5)Rander P.
I have been here a few times in the past and thought the food was pretty good. I am not sure what happened, but this last meal was awful. I am not sure how this happens at a Chinese/Asian place, but my rice was CRUNCHY! That is something that is inexcusable in my opinion, but let me rewind. For an appetizer, we started with a Mushu pork wrap. Not exactly your traditional Mushu pancake, but it was decent. Not a whole lot of pork in the wrap, but plenty of flavorful vegetables such as cabbage and carrots. Next is one of the main entrees; lacquer duck. It was supposed to be something like Peking duck. It was nothing like that. You can see in the picture that the duck is a dull brown. It tasted like it was deep-fried and finished in the oven; dry and overcooked. Though not dry enough to get the skin crispy like with traditional Peking duck. The rice flour buns that came with the dish must have been cooked with the crunchy rice that I got. This shows a true lack of caring. They were cold and dry. The Mongolian beef we got was very OK, nothing really bad or good about it. The last dish was the seasonal vegetable medley. Someone please tell me how canned mushrooms are seasonal? I think the vegetables may have all been frozen they definitely did not taste fresh. The only real thing I liked was the white chocolate covered fortune cookies, that is it. Until the quality improves, I cannot see recommending this place. Got to either Hoi Cin or New Canton. 1 star = Poor. I would not eat here for free or if you paid me. 2 star = So-So. I would rather eat somewhere else. 3 star= Average. I would or would not eat here again. It would depend on my company. 4 star= Good. I would recommend eating here. 5 star= Excellent. Driving two hours to eat here, would be time well spent.
(2)Linda V.
Love this place! Black bean chicken, potstickers, spring rolls and veggie chow mien are the BEST I have ever had!
(5)Flexoh B.
I am not a fan of condescending attitudes... this place seems to have that as a prerequisite of employment. Sorry guys, will not repeat
(1)Tish A.
The food was excellent (though the menu is small) and the service was exemplary! We have just moved to the area and were so impressed with this place! Try it for sure! You'll LOVE it. And, their fortune cookies are to die for!
(4)Ali F.
Service is a HUGE part of my reviews. I agree w/ Kevin G's assessment of Chinois' service...very professional. I come here for 2 things..... EVIL JUNGLE BEEF & a Fuzzy Parrot OTR. The bar is quite popular & can get rather loud. Kinda like the Mandarin's bar at quittin' time. The Deluxe Appetizer Combo is a good bet, espesh if you are in for a drink & not wanting dinner. ENJOY!
(3)Tiffany K.
When I pay $13 for Chinese food at lunch time, my first thought is, It better be pretty good. 'Cause I know a few Chinese restaurants that get it right for less money. Upon entering, after my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I did like seeing a modern twist to the Chinese restaurant: purple folded napkins with green chopsticks artfully inserted. It had a very neo 80's feel to it: subdued lighting, spots of bright colors, geometric shapes. I was disappointed when my chicken cabbage leaf cups contained frozen vegetables. I was hoping that it was just my imagination. You know 'em when you see 'em. Uniform orange cubes, small kernels of corn and small, slightly wrinkled peas - just the right amount of each one to be represented equally. My friend's stir fry also had them. To me, that's a sign of laziness! C'mon folks! Pick up the knife! I had the honey walnut prawns. Now I do realize that this was Asian fusion, but honestly, the amount of pineapple on my plate waaay outnumbered the prawns. And they were on the small side to boot. I had a good time with my friends, and that was the important thing. But next time, I think we'll try someplace new.
(3)Jason B.
Value - Expensive / Bad Service - OK Ambiance - Nice Food - Bad Overall 1.5 stars Cuisine from Chi-NO. Not a typo. The food lacked general flavor. We started off with Pork Pot Stickers and Won Ton Soup. I did not care for the pot sticker sauce, as it was very acidic and had a strong vinegar flavor. My girlfriend Carlie ordered the Won Ton Soup. I enjoyed it, she did not. For the main entree, I ordered the Jambalaya. I asked the waiter how it was prepped. I didn't realize "dirty" rice meant day old fried rice. The dish in general lacked any semblance of flavor, except the tomatoes which had a curious punch to them. Not a good punch either. Overall, the dish was hard to jam down my throat. Carlie ordered the ginger beef dish. Again, her dish lacked flavor, except the actual ginger. That had a strong kick to it. Carlie asked to have the item taken off the menu (but she meant the bill). I thought taking it off the menu was appropriate. The waiter informed us that it is a traditional dish. I have had traditional Chinese food many times, and this was not traditional. Unless traditionally the cook is bad. We were here for Carlie's birthday. The waiter tried to make it right by bringing out a slice of chocolate cake, and even that was freezer burned tasting. So at the end of the evening, we left dissatisfied, 50.00 bucks lighter, and a bad taste in our mouths.
(1)Heidi P.
I don't crave Chinese food very often here in the Sacramento area. I grew up in the Bay Area, and was spoiled with authentic Chinese food. When a friend first brought me to Chinois, I was intrigued with the unusual selections. My favorite was always the Phoenix and Dragon. Prawns, chicken sure, but the lovely twist is the added avocado and Provincial sauce. I loved this dish. I don't know if the economy is affecting Chinois, or there is a new chief, but lately I can barley find the avocado. The dish use to have long slices of avocado and you couldn't miss them. Something seems off with the provincial sauce too. It looks to much like a brown gravy instead of a white creamy sauce. I think unless one of my friends and family insists on eating here, I won't be back. There are so many other great places to eat and I want my dining dollar to be spent on truly yummy meals.
(3)John S.
I have been going to Chinois since I was a little kid, and could not love this place more. I get the same thing every time. The pot stickers are the best I have ever had, and I always follow up with some Mongolian beef and white rice. Great food, good people, and warm atmosphere!
(5)Erin L.
I've been to Chinois a few times for business luncheons and it's been consistently good. The vegetables are always fresh, colorful and crisp. The service is prompt and friendly. I like the lighting (not too bright) and the full bar. I love that they offer brown rice in substitution for white rice and the fortune cookies are dipped in white chocolate. Its not traditional Chinese and the spicy dishes could be a little (well a lot) spicier. The portions are large and I always leave with leftovers.
(4)Amy A.
Many menu items are fantastic (like the city fried rice...mmm), but you can't miss the Honey Walnut Prawns! They are the best!
(4)J W.
Absolutely delicious food! Our family has been enjoying their take out for years, mushi pork and wor wonton soup are excellent. Bo is a great host. Enjoy. Jan W.
(5)IsTallerInHeels ..
People need to understand that this is not a Chinese restaurant. Its a fusion of French and Chinese flavors. Its healthy, Fresh veggies and they use no MSG. whether its take out or dine in the food never changes. It is always well prepared and consistent. I am a fan!
(4)Kristin M.
The BEST Walnut Prawns ever. The service was a delight and the portions are out of this world. Been there a few times and was greeted, served, and food was of same quality each and every time. THUMBS up to Chinois City Cafe.
(5)Brad E.
Ok...this was a favorite of mine but it has gone way down hill.. The food ain't what it used to be and then they closed down due to exterminate some sort of rodents recently.......no more!!!
(2)Kristina G.
Quaint little place.
(3)Kris P.
Another great neighborhood bar and restaurant. Plenty of delicious food, attentive service, and reasonable prices. The bartender is a kick.
(4)W T.
DISAPPOINTING!!!! I ordered the connoisseur combo. It was HORRIBLE. The potstickers were the best part (and I don't even really like potstickers). The rice tasted broken down, low quality and unappealling with NO FLAVOR at all and barely anything in it. The chow mein was overcooked, mushy, with a starchy sauce without ANY spice at all. Not sure what flavor we were going for; but it was "different" and not in a good way. I was NOT pleased and will not go there again. For the $10.00 I bought I should have gone to Raley's for the lemon shrimp combo. I would have had a HIGHER QUALITY MEAL and money left over for dessert. Yes, I was VERY DISAPPOINTED!
(1)Courtney M.
I love Chinois. My parents and I eat there often and it's good each and every time. Our favorites include the lemon chicken, the salt and pepper prawns and of course the fried rice. They serve a lot of food for a good price and the staff is super nice.
(4)Morgan S.
This place is pretty awesome. They have all your basic Chinese food dishes, but they have a spin and flavor all their own! Everywhere I go, I order mongolian beef. This dish did not disappoint! Their mongolian beef has a flavor bordering on sweet, spicy, smokey almost a bbq flavor I never had anywhere else. All their dishes we had were great! I highly recommend this place. Good atmosphere and great service too!
(4)Kevin G.
Okay food. Can't necessarily call it anything close to authentic chinese, but I was all over that Fat's restaurant in Folsom, so it's obviously not about authenticity. Besides, maybe faithful adherence to the chinese M.O. was never the intent. Anyway, I had a tomato beef chow mein, and the wife had an orange chicken dish. Except for the chicken part, it tasted just like a tall glass of Minute Maid; just add celery, carrots and red bell peppers. As for the chow mein, it was spaghetti. Tasty, slightly sweet spaghetti, but still. The service was great; very professional, very courteous; very well dressed. Doesn't make up for food that was fair-to-middlin'. Overall, an okay lunch in a nice restaurant. But pretty high-priced for the quality and preparation of the food.
(3)James S.
I've had a good amount of take-out and a few dinners here and always been pleased. The honey walnut prawns are great, and the pot stickers are my favorite, big fat dumplings filled with a dense meatloaf. I miss the brandy chicken wings they dropped off the menu, though. Visited for lunch for the first time last week, the beef with broccoli lunch special was delicious, vegetables nice and crisp, tender beef and a sprinkling of black beans gave it a nice twist. Good strong mai tai's from the bar, quick service, and large portions (I didn't see anyone leaving without a take-home bag).
(4)Alan I.
Lunch menu is pricey but the food was good, served hot, and service was standing by. We will be back soon.
(4)izze d.
I really enjoyed this restaurant, I went here with about 13 people and we were seated right away in a comfy table and it was a busy night. Their decor is really cool and the way they fold the napkins are pretty. We ordered a lot of food because everyone was planing on sharing. We didn't have to wait long and the food was delicious and came in big portions. The prices weren't that bad either.
(4)Billy B.
I have been dining at this restaurant for over 10 years and absolutely love it. Judging by the reviews, this is the most misunderstood restaurant in Sacramento. It's not Chinese food folks, it's Asian Fusion, there's a difference. If you're looking for stir fries in which the flavor of the dish is dominated by greasy, MSG laden sauces, then this isn't the place for you. Instead, you should be dining at some dirty Chinese food pit on Broadway. However, if you're looking for innovative twists on Asian classics that incorporate healthier, clean tasting sauces that allow the flavors of the veggies and meats to be a more integral part of the dish, then this is the place for you. The veggies are never overcooked and are always crisp and fresh. All of the chicken dishes use breast meat as opposed to the greasy thigh meat served at most dirty pits. The breaded chicken dishes, such as the General Chicken, include lightly breaded chicken breast chunks as opposed to the mostly breaded grizzle that you'll get at most places. Some of my favorite dishes include the pesto chow mein, the mongolian chicken which is sweet and tangy, lemon chicken, honey walnut prawns, and medley vegetable stir fry which is served in a very light sauce. The pot stickers are also good, but I highly recommend requesting a side of sauce as the red wine vinegar an soy vinegar sauces are weak to say the least. Request the sweet chile sauce or sweet and sour sauce to accompany the pot stickers.
(4)Bevan R.
So I may be no expert on Chinese cuisine, but I was surprised at the number of "creamy" dishes there were. Not that they were bad, per se, but they were kind of odd to me. I do, however, LOVE their handmade potstickers and the mooshi (sp?) is pretty delicious. Other than that, I cant really say that I am hooked. My parents love it so I end up giving it many tries anyways haha.
(3)Robin T.
This is my favorite upscale Chinese restaurant in town. I don't claim it to be authentic (I think you'd need to find a place on Broadway or Stockton Blvd. for that - this is definitely more Chinese-European fusion), but the dishes are absolutely delish. I especially love the prawn potstickers with a scrumptious coconut sauce, the general's chicken (so gingery and crisp), the thai coconut chicken fried rice (right on with the spiciness quotient), and the mongolian beef (very tender). My parents love their jambalaya (see, it's definitely a fusion restaurant!) and the lemon chicken is a huge hit with the grandmother-in-law. Others we know swear by the Chinese chicken salad and the honey walnut prawns. I love the freshness of the vegetables - the broccoli, carrots, bok choy, etc. are always cooked tender-crisp - and the beef is tender, the chicken is white-meat. I give it only 4 stars because the decor is very dated - way too 80's neon glitter - but the booths are comfortable and the service is always excellent. The place is very clean and Bo (the owner?) is always on the premises. I never have to ask the waiter for a refill of water because it's constantly replenished and service is brisk but personable. There's a full bar (unusual for a Chinese restaurant) with a good mix of signature drinks. Having said that, we usually get take-out and it's such an amazing deal. They pack those little white boxes with an overabundance of food - it's almost magical. We order a few dishes for dinner and end up having leftovers for lunch and sometimes dinner the next day. So, although the prices may seem a little steeper than the typical Chinese restaurant, the size of the portions end up making up for any sticker shock. So, if you go to Chinois, don't expect authentic Chinese cooking (no chicken feet soup here!) but do expect hearty portions of deliciously seasoned and well presented food. This is definitely a restaurant that both you and your in-laws would enjoy.
(4)Alex F.
Chinois is an old favorite. My dad loved it here, and we would visit often. The owner is a really awesome guy. A lot of the same staff has been there for over 8 years. I have discovered better chinese food, but Chinois is not bad. They do not have a great menu for vegetarians. They have good spring rolls!
(4)Meredith M.
This restaurant makes me wish that I still lived in Sacramento. I have even tried to bring my take-out when I fly home. This place is a little bit more expensive, but the food is just too good to deny. I highly recommend the potstickers and sweet & sour chicken, they are delicious! The food portions are large and there's plenty to take home, which is good because it is even better cold!
(4)Daniel W.
Dining alone, I only sampled one dish, the Green Curry with scallops, prawns, and eggplant . . . so take this for what it's worth. At $17 it was pricey, but the portion was enormous . . . a good dozen large shrimp, and a near equal portion of large scallops, so value was absolutely not a problem. the seafood was perfectly cooked and fresh tasting. However, the dish was killed by the sauce: it was thick, unattractive, lacking in spice with way too little green curry paste, and no hint of freshness from the promised basil -- I want to believe that those weren't flecks of flavorless dried basil in the sauce, but I'm pretty sure they were. This dish was badly in need of more heat, texture, and acidity. Were it not for the quality of its ingredients, it would warrant one star.
(2)Nate S.
I really want Chinois to be good. I love Chinese food, and the place is super-close to my house. Unfortunately, my dinners from there have ranged only from acceptable to insipid, my most recent (and expensive) dinner fitting squarely into the latter category. Putting aside the fact that they charged for a dish we never received, the food was truly unremarkable without exception. The best of the lot were passable pork pot stickers. The rest of the lineup was so bland and underseasoned as to make one suspect that the kitchen has developed some new technology which actually sucks flavor out of food. Stir frys and a vegetable curry were utterly without redeeming features; noodle dishes were just plain bland. I cannot for the life of me understand what makes other reviewers so enamored of this honky-Asian joint, especially when vastly better Chinese food is available to Arden-area dwellers at Hoicin, on Folsom Blvd. Sorry, but I just don't get it.
(2)Margaret H.
I can't believe I'm reviewing the same Chinois that someone gave a 5-star rating. My husband and I ate there with another couple recently. Our friends had eaten there a few years ago and enjoyed it. All I can say is that something must have changed drastically with the cooking because the food served to us varied from tasteless to inedible (and none of us are picky eaters). The shrimp "cocktail" was a plate of shrimp with nondescript dipping sauce in a bowl. The shrimp was so mealy as to be inedible. It appeared to have been frozen and thawed more than once. None of us had ever returned a dish in our lives, but we did with this one. As far as the potstickers go, they were bland and blah. I've had better ones from Raley's and Bel Air. The rest of the food we ordered (fish and Chinese) was not as good as the average strip mall Chinese restaurant. We were there from about 6:30 to 7:30 and there was just a handful of people there. I'm really sorry that Chinois seems to be hitting the skids. I know it once had a
(1)Kristina B.
I ordered take out after reading the new food critic from the Sac. Bee's review. I should have known better as I think he has no business writing about food. I should have gone with my gut instinct. But after many years of not eating Chinese, thanks to Sac. County's Health Dept. website, I decided to give it a try. What a mistake. The worst food that I have had in many years. I would rather have good food and fear of the cockroach than the food I got here. The shrimp tasted like dirt therefore, the entire dish tasted like mud! A three year old with a butter knife could have better knife skills that the cooks in the kitchen. Onions and bell peppers were the size a silver dollar. I would like to tell specifically what we ordered however, I have thrown away the menu as we will NEVER eat there again. We ordered a spicy beef curry--it was the only thing that was ok. We had a spicy prawn dish--I would have preferred to like my dogs muddy paw. And another beef dish that was forgettable except for the chuncks of onion and bell pepper that were larger than my dogs paw. GROSS, GROSS, GROSS!
(1)