China Inn
1401 The Alameda,Ste 10, San Jose, CA, 95126
China Inn Menu
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Address :
1401 The Alameda,Ste 10
San Jose, CA, 95126 - Phone (408) 288-5339
- Website https://www.chinainnsj.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Chinese Cuisine
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
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Joe S.
Easy, cheap, Chinese comfort food served to you by really nice people and it is near my house. What more do you want?
(4)Garrett P.
China Inn is among my favorite Chinese restaurants. Overall, it's cheaper than many other restaurants while staying well above them in terms of taste. The decorations are nice and are far from overpowering. It definitely has a fast food feel, but don't be fooled, the food's delicious. In terms of service, well, it's lightning fast, as they can blaze through large crowds easily. China Inn deserves a visit.
(4)Anthony T.
Service was friendly. As far as everything else I will pass. They got my order wrong, and the food was meh. I vomitted shortly after leaving the restaurant. I don't think my pork was cooked fully. Will not be returning again.
(1)Marta L.
I work accross the street, so I eat here occassionaly for lunch. Food is pretty good & fresh but the service is so-so & their customer service skills need a little improvement. They are quick but they messed up my order again. I asked for brown rice and got white rice, and I also asked for veggie spring rolls and instead got regular deep fried egg rolls- not great for my diet and not healthy. I wish they would pay more attention to customer's order and details. On another visit, forgot the fortune cookie on my take out order.
(3)Nancy C.
China Inn is fantastic! Not sure what palette the negative reviewers have for Chinese food but they are pretty off base about the flavor. Most Chinese food places around here are full of that bland starchy sauce all over everything that every dish starts to taste the same. At China Inn you will find each dish to be fresh and flavorful and not greasy. The quality of the meats and vegetables is great and I love how your order doesn't come FULL of the rice or noodles with very little meat and vegetables. It may be a little pricey for the ambience but I'll pay more for quality and service over ambience any day. Did I mention you are actually dealing with the people that own the restaurant and they really go out of their way to be fast, efficient and friendly. So Pros: excellent quality and flavor, clean, fast, great addition to the Rosegarden neighborhood Cons: parking can be scarce during certain hours, VERY small eat in area
(5)Louis F.
Traditional Chinese food, with a few American flavors. The. Food is tasteful and without the tons of grease you come to expect from Chinese food. My daughter's favorite is the fish with wine sauce. The prices are a bit high for take out but worth it when you don't have time to cook yourself and you can expect each dish flavorful and healthy. Also, an open kitchen helps make you feel very safe with the food prep and cooking. Definitely a plus to have this restaurant in the Neighborhood.
(5)E K.
SO good without having to pay restaurant prices. The service is fast and friendly - if you're ordering to go, they'll offer your tea. Great family business and so glad there's a quality fast Chinese food joint in the area.
(5)Anna P.
Don't be fooled by the exterior, or the tiny interior with all of like 4 tables. This is THE PLACE to go for real, delicious, fresh, Chinese food. I've brought Chinese people here and they can vouch for the fact that this is no Panda Express/PF Chang's frozen American Chinese crap- this is the good stuff!!! Just give it a chance, I know it looks a little quirky but it's worth it I promise. :) The service is EXCELLENT, I'm pretty sure the whole family works in the restaurant. The young girl that works the register is so sweet and helpful. The food is always fresh and so delicious, and you get HUGE portions for how cheap it is. The value for money is incredible! If you don't like the small dining area, just get it To-Go, but I enjoyed both the times I've eaten in as well. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND the Hot N Sour soup. Most everywhere I've been Hot N Sour soup is thin, watery broth with some mushrooms and maybe one lone piece of chicken hiding at the bottom. Not so at China Inn! Not only did my boyfriend and I get a whole HUGE serving bowl full of soup when we ordered a bowl as opposed to a cup, but it's thick, rich broth, full of mushrooms, LOTS of chicken in EVERY bite and of course those yummy egg filaments. The flavor is perfect and it's always piping hot and delicious. Best Hot N Sour soup I've ever had. :)
(5)Carissa G.
This is my favorite Chinese food place in the area. When I was in college I was continually looking for a Chinese food restaurant that could compare to what I was used to where I am from and nothing, but then this place popped up. The food is very good, the prices are reasonable, and the customer service is pretty good.
(4)Kristin D.
Yuck yuck yuck yuck. I've had better food at Panda Express (and that says a lot). Okay, I noticed this establishment opened recently and I always see quite a few people eating here as I go to and from my home across the street. Being lazy on a Sunday evening, I popped in for some fried rice, egg rolls and tangerine beef. We're all allowed to splurge once and awhile, right? I waited only about 10 minutes for my food and the staff was very pleasant. I was excited (and starving) by the time I got home so dug right in! EW - Wait. The beef was mushy and totally unappetizing. The egg-rolls were not exactly egg rolls. I'm still not even sure what they were. They even had mini-shrimps in them so if you don't like seafood, this is not a good choice, but regardless of the mystery roll, they were equally as gross. The fried rice was okay. I got the veggie option and the veggies were SO HUGE I was wondering if they forgot to cut them up or that's how they normally serve it. Mini pieces of rice and huge veggies makes for an interesting time while eating rice. Needless to say I took two bites of each item and threw it away. The rice itself was bland. Needless to say, I've definitely had better. Still hungry and $25.02 poorer.
(1)Frank c.
this was a very nice place to have a saturday lunch. I had the brocoli beef and pork fried rice. the brocoli was fresh and crisp. the fried rice was well prepared and very tasty. i willbe going back to this little restraunt.
(4)Stacy B.
Grabbed take-out here today, #2 lunch special lemon chicken. $6.50 plus tip bought some freshly cooked chicken, a heaping pile of fried rice, side of sauce, and a fortune cookie. No soup. No egg roll (can be added for $1.50). Took about 10 minutes, perfectly acceptable. I wish they had some reading material sitting around, like a Metro or something, but no biggie. The food was pretty good. My only complaint is the sauce which appeared to be duck sauce, not lemon sauce. Unless it was orange-colored lemon sauce? Honestly, I'm not sure I could tell the difference in a blind taste test... but still. Another thing. I didn't get it, but Hip Hip Hoorah for the no-added-cost brown rice option! I'll go back, but I doubt it will increase my 3-star rating. I simply don't think I would ever rate any Chinese food higher than that, because it never knocks my socks off.
(3)Chris P.
I'm a regular, and a fan. China Inn provides great value and there are numerous dishes that are just delicious, I keep going back. My favorite weeknight combo is a small hot + sour soup, and a small chicken salad. Portion size for both is generous and the soup is loaded with goodies like shrimp, pork, and vegetables. A small chicken salad is enough for two people! Parking on The Alameda can be a challenge - try the side street or the small back lot. Staff is extremely friendly and it's wonderful to have China Inn in the neighborhood just steps from my house. Get Inn there!
(4)Yuan Yi Z.
I ordered many dishes from China Inn and they were awesome! My family loved it. I love their hot and sour soup as well as the fried fish. This store is small but don't over look that because their food are very fresh and delicious. Moreover, China Inn also have a great price for the good quality of food that they offer. Their store is very convenient with take out order. I will definitely come back here again because their food are good price, fresh and friendly stuff! I will recommend you to all my friends and family!
(5)McKenzie B.
Love the China Inn. Great, cheap chinese food! Friendly service! Very fast! Live right near by and will continue to be a regular here.
(5)Marcello C.
I give this place a five star for take out Chinese. This place has friendly fast service. It's my go to place for quick good tasting Chinese food. It's not greasy like other places. This is a great place to go!
(5)Lisa M.
Best Chinese food in San Jose for the price. A nice family run restaurant. I love the Generals Chicken- good amount of spice and flavor- I crave this!! Fried rice is so fresh and light and fluffy! You have to try it!
(5)David M.
Inexpensive, good portions, good service, fast preparation, and the food is OK. Nothing spectacular mind you but for Chinese take out this is about as good as it gets. There's not a lot of seating so I would highly recommend ordering to go.
(3)Christina C.
I'm not really a fan of fast chinese food, but the boyfriend loves it. So this place is conveniently located near where we live. It is a family owned business. We got GREAT service, they were very friendly. The food is made to order, you can see the cook frying up your rice or your noodles after you've ordered. -- a Plus. The food is not bad - exactly what I expected. So if you really like fast chinese food, I would recommend this place. We ordered beef chow fun, eggplant dish and a side of rice. The chow fun was good, like other fast food chinese places. The eggplant dish was also good. The side of rice was hard, had to re-microwave it soften it up. I also had the potstickers and there are 6 in each order and they are HUGE potstickers! The downside is that they do not have a website. But if you just visit the location, they have menus with pictures.
(3)Archana S.
Got thr egg rolls, mangolian beef, cashew chicken n fried rice....everything was good....nothing exceptional nothing bad.....will b bk if craving Chinese someday
(3)Colin G.
Chicken and broccoli, beef with broccoli, go for lunch and get the special with fried rice. Great place for pick up. Looks small, but is a great place for chinese food.
(5)Brian S.
Read about this on Yelp and was referred here by Leiter's (see my review.) Man, Excellent Mandarin & Szechwan cuisine at low prices in a small casual atmosphere with friendly service. I love the open kitchen as you can see them cooking and hear the sizzling of those woks. was I not disappointed. The pot stickers are crispy golden with a not too thick or thin wrapper and a wonderfully seasoned ground pork, cabbage, and ginger filling; the chili packs a one two punch. The tangerine chicken is crispy and greasless and did I say tender with dry tangerine peals in a spicy tangy sauce. The Beijing grilled beef with tender morsels of beef with scallions in a sweet and tangy hoi sim sauce over crispy rice noodles. The shrimp chow mein is good; could use a bit more seasoning and shrimp and vegetables with succulent shrimp and perfectly cooked noodles. The brown rice is noutty and firm, not soggy. So, for excellent Mandarin & Szechwan cuisine at low prices in a clean casual atmosphere, China Inn cannot be beat. Keep up the good work guys.
(4)Jacob T.
alright, so I'm willing to concede I was slightly wrong. Slightly. They've got a great lunch special. It's cheap, and the pineapple chicken is awesome. Co-workers were also fans.
(3)Haily W.
Pretty decent Chinese fast food. One step above Mr. Chow's or Panda Express. The cashier and other lady (manager/owner?) were extremely nice and brought the plates, utensils and offered to bring sauce to our table. Food already comes in take out containers which is great if you can't finish! Had the fried rice, chow mein and Mongolian beef. Fried rice was good, mongolian beef was pretty tasty, but the chow mein had no flavor. The boy mixed it with the beef which he said made it perfect. $23 for just 3 items seemed a little pricey though but will last us two meals so it's worth it.
(3)Candy P.
I must be crazy!!! Whats up with all the bad reviews? Fast food is fast food. This place is actually good! I love the fact that they cook their food FRESH. Unlike Panda, where it just sits around for hours. However, It is healthier than most Chinese fast food places. I love their Chinese Chicken Salad here. It also comes with Fried Rice during lunch! Again, its nothing fancy. However it is very light and simple and healthy. Portions are enough to share or bring home for dinner. Oh, and the place is super clean! When I am short on time and want some quick GOOD affordable Chinese food, this the place to go to! So glad there is a Chinese restaurant on the Alameda now. Seriously, if anyone has tried HO MEI DO, a Chinese Restaurant which went out of business a year ago- You would be jumping for joy when you eat at China Inn.
(5)Veronica M.
China Inn has become a sort of addiction. The food is so good and their service is always awesome. This is the only Chinese restaurant where I've tried pretty much everything on the menu, and nothing has ever made me have a stomach ache (compared to an experience at P.F. Chang, where the fiance nearly died from the overly salted, overly oily food). They are really friendly and remember their return customers, so they remember what I like and know not to add egg or peanut to dishes. One time, they accidentally mixed up my egg-less fried rice with another person's order, and I only realized it when we got home. Next time we went in, the girl at the counter remembered and apologized. Bottom line, this little hole in the wall place is my hands-down favorite Chinese go-to place whenever we have guests, or really just for any time.
(5)Scooter K.
I tried here once and the friend rice was pretty decent. Just fyi, I've been seeing many customers stopping by here consistently over the past few months.
(4)Dan W.
Sometimes location and hours are everything. That's the case with China Inn. If you're in the Alameda area and yearn for Chinese food, this place pleasantly fills the bill. The hours are good, Mon-Sat: 11-9:30p, Sun: 4:30-9:30p. We had: - Grilled chicken sticks ($7) -- wow, these are great! Easily the best item we tried, 5-star. - Vegetarian spring rolls ($2.50) -- these are deep fried. - Sticky chicken wings ($7) -- I love wings, but these are too small and the honey sauce is too sweet. They will put the sauce on the side, or omit it, upon request. - Mu Shu ($8) -- good. - Kung Pao Tofu ($8) -- this is the only time I've had this dish where the predominant flavor was sweet, rather than hot. Oh yes, they have a brown rice option -- nice touch!
(3)Jacob O.
This place is bomb. Let me tell you... it definitely does not compare to a Mr. Chau's, PF Changs, or China stix or w.e fake Chinese food exists. This place is authentic, fast, and delicious. A great price with even better portions. Their table service is nothing like any other Asian restaurant I have been to... legit courteous and very on top of their service. Restaurant recommended
(4)Clair L.
People don't seem to know how to appreciate a good thing anymore! It's really difficult to find Chinese food that's both fast and made to order, especially in this area. If heat lamps are your thing, stick to Panda Express by all means. But personally, I really enjoy watching the people in chef hats stir-frying behind the counter. I also really like how clean the interior is, and the lady manning the front register is considerate to a fault. (And the way I see it, if that's the fault you're noticing about the service at an Asian Restaurant -- I'm allowed to say this, I'm Asian -- you ought to consider yourself blessed.) Certainly I wouldn't take people here expecting to impress them on a first date. Nor do I expect to find high quality in every dish on the menu. In fact, I've had one dish with the most overcooked broccoli I've seen since my high school cafeteria. But speaking as someone who needs fast and cheap eats to fill the odd half-hour lunch break, I have along with a few coworkers found several dishes we find pretty delectable. Considering the portions, the prices are really reasonable, too. And in the end, that's what I expect from a joint like this, and in these expectations, I'm rarely disappointed here.
(4)L. O.
First time, got the dinner special that comes with fried/white rice and eggrolls. I hate how they gave you hot food in Styrofoam that it melts into the food, how unhealthy! The chicken was mushy and watery, but fried rice was ok. I will not go back.
(2)Jamie A.
I don't understand all the positive reviews. I came here after reading its high ratings on here and was super disappointed. The place itself is a dump and really unpleasant to eat at. Do take out only. Secondly, the food was very sub-par!! The egg drop soup was waaaay too salty and the chicken was way over cooked. Even the egg roll that came with our dish wasn't very appetizing. I would not go back, especially considering how many other Chinese restaurants are in the area!
(1)Louise H.
When I need a hot & sour soup fix I come here. Really wonderful service, considering it's more of a take out place than a restaurant. The food tastes fresh and it arrives at your table fast. The soup, people! So good. Quick, cheap (they could probably get away with higher prices) and yummy.
(5)Benjamin C.
Like other people have mentioned, this is a small establishment designed for take out, not really a sit in restaurant. I took my grandparents here because it is close to the old people's home and is walking distance. I spent $36 on 3 items - mapo tofu, hot pan fried green beans, and walnut shrimp. None of those were tasty. My grand father said he enjoyed the mapo tofu and rice, but this is coming from a 93 year old who forgot his dentures so he gummed at the food. Nothing spectacular about this place, the price is too expensive for what it is. The point or two they get from me is it is family run and you can tell they really care about their business. Perhaps lunch prices and menu might be better. For really authentic chinese places cupertino is a better bet.
(2)Eclectic E.
I'm very happy China Inn opened near Santa Clara University. The service is great and the food flavorful. You feel like a welcome guest of a family.
(3)Haley D.
The Spring Rolls here are seriously the bomb. Great job. Seems like everythings made to order. The Pork Fried Rice was really good, too. But I didnt like the Lemon Chicken. Bleh. Then again, I grew up on Panda Express and I prefer the seperate peices and not the whole chicken breast. Hm... I'd go back and try the Pinapple Chicken and Spring Rolls. Thats about it.
(3)Tom A.
I'm amazed at the number of Yelpers who use the term "fast food" in their reviews.The Food at China Inn is cooked to order - it is NOT steam-table food ala Panda Express. OK, so it's not a gourmet restaurant with fancy tablecloths but this is a very respectable neighborhood place with great prices and an excellent staff that gladly accommodates special requests. I especially recommend the noodle dishes - I could alternate the Beef Chow Fun and Singapore Style Rice Noodles for weeks. Don't let the small size and modest appearance put you off - this is good food cooked fresh to order, and delicious.
(4)Amanda N.
After, realizing I wasn't going to get good Chinese by picking restaurants that deliver in my area, I picked China Inn based on Yelp reviews. So glad I did! As so many other have said, it's now my go-to Chinese. Tasty, fast & easy to order over the phone.
(5)Patty A.
My husband and I found this restaurant on Yelp!!! And it's our favorite chinese restaurant. The food is amazing!!! the place is clean. The owner and her family are great people. We love coming here for dinner!! Yummmmy!!!
(5)Leia B.
Love the food since it's right down the street from my work!
(5)Angel S.
I ordered the Poo Poo Platter and seeing this dish on the menu made me laugh because I thought it was fictional but it's real! The platter had fried chicken, fried wonton with cream cheese, egg rolls, fried shrimp, etc. We also ordered other entrees such as the fried rice, fried chicken on a stick, wonton soup (the bomb!), and beef chow fun. Delicious food, nice staff, and place is clean but can feel a little cramped on a busy day.
(5)Natalie M.
will definitely be back! family-run place where service is very friendly - we asked the oldest daughter to suggest something really good - and the food is fast. portions are huge, especially given the price. the food is quality meat and veggies. this place gets TONS of take-out traffic and regulars. dinner for 2 adults - $46 (including 2 diet cokes) appetizer - grilled chicken skewers: the amount of chicken could make this an entree. Marinated in various things including what smelled like some curry powder. Delish & dense. entrees - tangerine chicken: not the sweet stuff you get at panda. spicy but tolerable - just watch out for the slices of jalapeno they garnish with. really crispy and lots of tasty scallion bits. 4 seasons: chicken, beef, shrimp and pork with snow peas, several types of mushroom, carrots, water chesnuts all covered in brown sauce. chow fun: smooth chicken slices with sprouts, white onion and fat, flat rice noodles covered in an oyster-ish sauce. the best dish of the night! re: MSG concerns - i'm allergic to it and several hours later, i'm totally fine. so i think anyone's concerns should be at ease. re: parking - street parking and lot behind the shop. their lunch prices are really cheap too.
(4)Gloria N.
Love this place! Finally spicy Chinese food. Quick service and such good food. Haven't had a bad meal yet.
(5)Maralina M.
I have been in maybe 5 times, but they always know what I want when I come in the door. The food is fresh and prepared just how you ask for it. You can order off the menu without strange looks, and if you tell them you want it super spicy, it is! Remember that it really is a tiny place that is mostly take out. That is what you go there for and really shouldn't reflect on this clean, friendly little place.
(4)Gregg R.
We've tried China Inn several times over the past year. This is a clean, well located restaurant for dining in or taking out. This is not a romantic, expensive Chinese restaurant, but it doesn't pretend to be. Instead this is a great place to get very good food. I've had dinners in some of the most expensive Chinese restaurants anywhere for many years, but I have to say - the food here MATCHES the expensive places in taste, quality and variety. I really like this place and appreciate it being right in the Rose Garden neighborhood. The Hot & Sour soup - along with many other dishes are as good as anything I've ever had in San Francisco or New York. It is a pleasure to write about China Inn.
(4)Motaz H.
I love this place. Good quality chinese food and cheap also.
(4)Wendy W.
NO MSG... food is most excellent
(5)Katelyn K.
Edible, but expensive and doesn't do it for me. Had the sesame chicken, egg flower soup, and eggroll. The chicken had a thick sauce with a maple syrup-y consistency. I much prefer crispy chicken with a light coating. The egg flower soup was good.
(2)J S.
I work in the neighborhood and was glad to see a chinese restaurant open - I'm sick of Papa John's and Subway. We went on the third night they were open and they were pretty busy. I had the mongolian beef (pretty good, not the best I've ever had) and my partner had Kung Pao which he said could be a little spicier. We both shared the crab wonton and pork spring rolls which were both excellent. They were homemade and not the usual rolls and wonton found on most buffets and a lot of non-buffets. Would I travel on my day off from Campbell to eat here - no but I will definitely eat there again while I'm on the clock.
(4)Rob S.
Finally stopped in to check out China Inn after months of looking but never trying. I have to say I'm glad I went. I kept my order simple just some beef and broccoli, but the food was quite tasty. Portions are plenty large enough to split among two or three people. I'll def be back again soon!
(4)Adam W.
I came here a couple months back with my step mom and we were both highly impressed with not only the quality but the size of the portions. The food isn't greasy like some Chinese restaurants. They give you a big mound of food for not a whole lot of money. The dining area is quite small but it is always kept very clean. There is also outside seating available. I would definitely recommend this place to my family and friends anytime they are in the mood for some good Chinese.
(5)Ward B.
this place was a pleasant surprise, good prices and great food cooked to order. it was very clean inside, and the staff was friendly. Don't let the location or small size fool you, this place is legit!
(4)Nicholas D.
Pretty good Chinese food and lunch prices are great. You get a good helping of food and every dish and salad I've had so far has been excellent.
(4)James L.
I wasn't expecting much. It's a Chinese fast food place after all. But the service was great. I think the owners are the help staff so they are attentive and their service is a pleasure. Pot stickers were a bit too big but I guess you get more for your money. I had their lemon chicken, wasn't too bad. So I would say this place is A-ok. You really can't go wrong but is nothing special.
(3)Christina F.
Excellent Chinese food. Proprietors are very friendly and remember repeat visitors. Wonderful having quality Chinese food in the neighborhood. And QUICK service. Ambiance is lacking, but it is not geared toward on-site dining - although there are a few tables to make this possible. Don't be swayed by reports that this is not authentic Chinese.
(5)Christine L.
TERRIBLE!! We have been getting take-out from here since it opened and it has become just awful. EVERYTHING is breaded. From the Kung Pao Chicken to all the beef. I hate all the deep fried crap. SO obvious that they think they can get away with fried dough covering low quality meat. Just horrible. Never again. Panda is better.
(1)shiloh b.
Just not that great. We got the green beans, candied walnut prawns, kung pao chicken and chicken salad. All was mediocre. The beans were cooked decently but the flavor wasn't that great. The breading on the prawns was not tasty. The salad was probably the best of what we got. Usually kung pao chicken has water chestnuts, zuchini etc. This rendition was just chicken and peanuts.
(2)selina g.
great food....Ive ate here twice...best place for some soup on a cold day...oh and there chicken salad is the greatest.... MMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmm just thinking about it makes me hungry....FAMILY owned business. So give it a chance. Hey we all gotta start somewhere. I used the restroom and the little girls maybe 9-10yrs old were rolling wontons and laughing it was so cute, the grandparent cook, and the yong adults serve.... giant portions...I love the china inn
(5)Shaun L.
This is a decent place for take-out. The service is quick and the food is good. The fried dishes are not as good as advertised, however, so I would recommend the non-fried options instead. Price-wise it's not unreasonable, so I'd say if you want good Chinese with good service and reasonable prices, this is a safe bet.
(3)Kathee S.
I tried China Inn with my daughter Sunday 3/21, due to all the Yelp reviews and the fact that we love chinese food and a good place is hard to find. We ordered General Chicken, potstickers, chicken chow mein, pork fried rice, chinese chicken salad and their spring rolls. I have to be honest and say that every item we tried was excellent, fresh and hot. We ordered small sizes of every item and got served nice large portions with plenty to take home for leftovers. I think their prices are reasonable too. For all the above mentioned items, it cost us a total of $35. For quick hot fresh chinese food, I would definitely eat here again! I'm a new fan!
(4)J L L.
This place is small but serves the best Chinese food I have tasted in a very long time. I believe it is family owned and it is always nice to support small local businesses.. If you ask them to leave something out of a dish they totally accommodate you. Their lunch deals are a good buy and a nice quantity of food. Your to go order is ready in 10 to 15 minutes. My boyfriend and I eat here at least 4 to 5 times a month. I recommend this place to everyone who lives any where near there.
(5)Harry S.
Delighted to have an inexpensive, quality Chinese restaurant within walking distance of our home. I've had lunch here several times and have never been disappointed. My wife and I have particularly enjoyed the China Inn Chicken Salad, Tangy Lemon Chicken, Kung Pao Chicken, and Prawns with Fresh Vegetables. We go early to get a table so we can eat there, as the seating is really limited. Not a steam table place -- everything is cooked to order. A welcome addition to the neighborhood.
(4)Miles X.
Wow I have the Hot and sour soup, Chicken salad and Chinese rice noodle stirfried with shredded pork again this time, they are so good that really want to go back there everyday. Thanks!
(5)Amanda V.
Fantastic food and great service. My co-workers and I frequent China Inn for lunch and highly recommend their food (especially the chicken salad, pork fried rice, crab/cream cheese wontons, soups, eggrolls, pineapple chicken....!!!). We also just had them cater an event for us - tons of food that all of our staff enjoyed! Thanks to everyone at China Inn for everything!!!
(5)Tim M.
I moved to The Alameda about 1 month after Ho Mei Do closed and was sad that that there wasn't a Chinese restaurant within walking distance anymore. Fast forward two years and China Inn opens. Yay! Chinese food! Cooked to order, fast and the smells drifting through the neighborhood were enticing. My excitement kinda left once I tried the food. There isn't much in the flavor department and my dinner order of a small chicken salad, general chicken and small chow mein ended up costing about $25. It was enough for 2 meals, but still kinda expensive for chinese food... even on The Alameda. I keep going there every so often for lunch to try different things in hopes of finding something that is worth the dinner prices. No luck so far. But since it's close by and the lunch prices are reasonable for what you get, I'll still keep trying.
(3)Johnny S.
my new spot for lunch when im at the office. really good stuff!
(4)Jennnifer T.
I have eaten here a number of times and the food is amazingly good for such a simple storefront. Their food is fresh and tasty without being too oily. Certainly not a great place to eat in, but their take out is great!
(4)jennifer b.
I live nearby and this is a great take-away option. We've been back at least 6 times in the short time it's been open. My food is always made fresh. You can stand aside and watch them wok it. The chow mein is yum. We get it every time. Also good is the twice cooked pork and shrimp lover's entrees. The sizzling rice soup is also tasty. The lunch specials are a good deal. I'm honestly surprised at the negative reviews re: price. You could go two stores up to Tee Nee Thai and pay double the price.
(4)Micah M.
Deliciou
(4)Daniel R.
I had a chicken and rice plate. It was served up fast and the service was friendly and attentive. The food was typical of Chinese food in this price range. The sauce was very good. The meat was cheap. I was not a fan of the egg roll. But the sweet and sour sauce was good. The rice was pretty good. This place was about what I would expect, but I won't be going back.
(3)Shauna H.
A little pricey for what you get during dinner time. I tried General's chicken and Teriyaki chicken, both of them were way too salty. The egg rolls seemed overcooked, maybe it was just the wrapper they used. I thought I would be getting a nice smooth egg roll, like at King Egg Roll, but it was dark and the skinned was really bubbled. They looked like homemade egg rolls my friend makes, but hers taste better. Sorry! I will not be back.
(2)Joe V.
We absolutely love this Chinese Restaurant. Having lived in New York City and eating all the Chinese food we'd care to admit, we have to give it up for China Inn. It is a family owned restaurant (very modest in appearance) that serves up Chinese food of the same quality and excellent taste as high-tiered Chinese dining establishments charging double if not triple the prices that are offered here. Extremely clean. We've always been made to feel very welcomed and, over time, as part of their family. This in no way sways my review of their food. Objectively speaking... it is some of the best Chinese food I have ever eaten. A brief postprandial regret never hampers our willingness to come back for more again and again. Highly recommend General Tsao's chicken with white meat, the crispy schezuan beef is to die for. They also make dishes any how you ask them to. Also, loyal customers may discover over time that there are delights awaiting them at China Inn that will not be found on their menu. Excellent excellent place to eat on the Alameda.
(5)Otis F.
I've been looking for a neighborhood Chinese restaurant to add to my rotation. Thanks to China Inn I've finally found it. It is in between a fancy Chinese restaurant and those Panda Inn type joints. However the food is right up there with some of the best you'll find. The chicken salad is top notch, the wontons were recommended by the friendly staff and did not disappoint and last but not least the Generals Chicken should be promoted to whatever is about the rank of General. When the craving for Chinese food hits I will be at China Inn!
(4)Liz R.
I only ever order take-out from here (my family lives right down the street) but we've been ordering this Chinese food for years because we love it. It's super reasonably priced, no matter how large the order is it always seems to be ready for pickup in 10 minutes, and they've never screwed up any of our orders. I don't think I would ever eat in here just because it is a little small on the inside and I can get a little claustrophobic in confined areas, but the outdoor seating would prolly be cool. I'd just rather walk 5 minutes and eat it at home lol
(5)Eli T.
Great food - Chinese food with NO MSG! Can you believe it? Family of cooks and the food is incredibly fresh and amazing tasting! You definitely will need to try it - and guarantee you will make this place a regular stop!
(5)Colby D.
I didn't particularly like my meal from here, as all the meat was dry and tasted as if it had been reheated. The egg soup was the strangest I've ever had, with huge pieces of vegetables cut up in it, though it was probably my favorite part of the meal. I did not enjoy the chow fun at all. It was my first time trying it and I don't know if I don't like it in general or if it just wasn't good here. The employees were very polite and the small restaurant looks and smells very clean, so I couldn't give less than three stars. However, I doubt I will be back and I will continue my search for my go-to Chinese restaurant in downtown San Jose.
(3)Aj C.
This place is conveniently located near my place and I was craving Chinese food since it was also near a place I had to go prior. I walked towards it and immediately saw two stickers saying that Yelp loves them and so I was more inclined to go i and be the judge of it myself. I asked the employee what's popular there and what's spicy since I love spicy food. She suggested kung pao chicken, general tso's chicken, and the szechuan beef. I ended up getting the kung pao chicken. During the checkout, it was unfortunate to know that they don't accept Discover cards. Transaction went smoothly. I noticed that they had outdoor seating so I decided to get my puppy and wait outside. I waited for about 10-15 minutes until my food was delivered to me. Kung Pao Chicken: 4/5 - It was pretty good chicken. It wasn't spicy to me at all as it was claimed. It had an interesting zing into it. It was a bit over average but it also wasn't the best I had. Rice: 3/5 - The fried rice was average. It's definitely better than Panda Express rice. It consisted of the casual egg, peas, and carrots in the rice. Overall, this was an above average Chinese restaurant. I'm definitely intrigued to try more of what they have. For the cashier: It wouldn't hurt to smile at the customers :)
(4)Avni B.
I would definitely recommend this place as a "take out" restaurant. Though they have a few options for indoor and outdoor seating, it's pretty cramped and to be honest, smells like the kitchen, because the kitchen is actually RIGHT there. The food: Pork potstickers: the pork had good flavor and the dipping sauces weren't overtly salty. They paired really well together! Chow Mein (Veggie): I ordered this expecting it to actually have vegetables. What it ended up being was a box full of noddles with 3 pieces of broccoli in it. Next time, I'll have to tell them to add more veggies to it. I also found that the dish was a bit too oily (or saucy, I couldn't figure it out) for my taste. Chow Mein (Chicken): Same as above with the oil/saucy party, but this dish had a generous portion of chicken and the same amount of veggies that were in the Veggie Chow mein Sichuan-style String Beans w/ Chicken: MY FAVORITE. The green beans are fried to perfection with amazingggg flavor. The chicken was also nice and tender, was not dry or overcooked which I've found in a lot of other Chinese restaurants. Overall, the food is great if you're looking for takeout. I wouldn't recommend this place for date night or if you're looking to go out for dinner.
(4)Helen D.
Always fast, cooked fresh and delicious! Very reasonably priced. It's the closest in flavour to what we could get in our hometown.
(5)Starla M.
BE CAREFUL when ordering take-out. I ordered Hunan Chicken and got Pineapple Chicken. Unfortunately they closed by the time I opened up the order. Make sure you check your orders before leaving. Pissed! I hate pineapple in savory dishes.
(2)Kenny P.
Judging from the reviews, I thought this place would be a decent option for a quick dinner before going to meet some friends for beer. As ordered the Mongolian Beef and Brown Rice which was recommended. It was waayyyy to SALTY for my taste... I don't often eat stuff like this but it was definitely not good. I'll just sum it up to ordering the wrong dish! The service was good and its a seemingly well run family restaurant that is clean so I'm not going to bash them as the worst Chinese restaurant ever. Its a very small location, so be prepared to possible wait for a table or order to go as I assume many others do.
(2)Mike M.
Lunchtime on a Saturday in San Jose... Lots of choices... We were feeling like some quick Chinese; browsing Yelp we found this place. Low on ambiance, but high on taste. We decided to give it a try and were not disappointed! The prices are reasonable, with a large selection of lunch specials that have a main selection and then it comes with plain rice or fried rice. Many Yelp reviewers raved about the Mongolian Beef ($6.75 lunch special) so we tried that. We also tried the Tangerine Chicken ($6.95 lunch special). The Mongolian Beef was fantastic! I highly recommend this. The beef was great, with a tasty sauce and the grilled onions were perfect. This is the thing to get when you eat here. The Tangerine Chicken was very good, but paled in comparison the Mongolian Beef. The staff was friendly and service was good and quick.
(4)Alex K.
I had a pleasant experience here at China Inn. We ordered take out during the Oscars, we were a little suspicious of this place, but ended up with a hearty tasty meal. + Pork fried rice - YUMMY! + General Chicken - Pretty good, but it was breaded, I dont really care for breaded chicken. + Szechuan Beef - YUMMY! China Inn is a solid choice if you are craving some Chinese food and don't feel like going very far for it! This spot is less than a mile from my house so its yummy and convenient.
(3)Roslyn B.
This is our go to Chinese restaurant in our neighborhood. The place is always clean, the service is good, and the food is always tasty. My favorites are the green beans, walnut prawns, kung pao chicken, and the option to have brown rice. We have been coming here for the last 4 years and everytime, the food is great. We call in most times and bring home, but there is a small seating area to eat in, and a few tables out front so you can people watch. Love this place and will continue giving them my business.
(5)Roger H.
I live in San Jose and have been to many Chinese restaurants in the area. Some are good at some point, but with time, new management, greed, etc. they lose their quality. So far this place has not. For example the beef fried rice as has at least 20% more delicious, high-quality beef than any other Chinese restaurant I know. The sweet and sour pork is fantastic too, with a high-quality grade of pork that is deep fried for each order so it's crispy under the sweet sauce. The egg rolls are extremely good, better than any other Chinese restaurant I've been (and I've been to at least a dozen). If I recall they have shrimp in them too (yum!). The service is fast and friendly but not overbearing by any stretch. On the bad side, there are no free-refillable soda fountain drinks (kind of a big deal for me since I like have a condition whereby I need to drink a lot more fluid than most people to not choke), but I guess the place is just too small to afford a self-serve fountain drink station. And, in general, the place really is just a hole-in-the-wall (although clean), and I wouldn't take a first date here probably unless you know she's not the snooty type who is going to stare at the decor the entire meal. I also wouldn't order in if here during rush hour with more than about 10 people because seating is just too limited and packed. There are no divisions, for example, between the tables, so it has the California cafeteria style thing that I really don't like much (having grown up in the midwest, we didn't shove total strangers close together like that there). But if you want really good-tasting Chinese and fast, this is the place!
(5)Anthony M.
I had the fried prawns as an appetizer, the BBQ pork fried rice, Mongolian beef, and prawn sauté. Fried prawns: The fired prawns were crispy, not rubbery, but there wasn't anything exceptional about them. BBQ pork fried rice: The rice was nice and fluffy and the pork was flavorful, but it was just a tad greasy. Mongolian beef: The meat was tender and flavorful, but it should have been a bit more spicy. Prawn sauté: This was star of the show. The prawns were cooked all the way through, but weren't rubbery. The vegetables were also cooked, but still crisp. The staff was friendly even during the busy dinner rush. I'm marking down because it's a tad pricey and they don't refill your drinks.
(3)Kia F.
Still the best Chinese chicken salad EVAH. I chase it with the crab n cheese wontons and fall into bliss. Won't break the bank either. Hello? What else d'ya need?
(5)Elena M.
Great food, affordable prices, wide selection. Hot & sour soup is a big hit, I order it each time, and it never fails.
(5)Leo M.
Though good taste. This place steals you from what a chef is supposed to add in rice (really! Three mini shrimps, no meat and just veggies at $10 bucks).
(1)Josh K.
Just moved to the neighborhood from Mountain View and was missing Los Altos-based Chef Chu's. Stumbled on China Inn and it was great! Mongolian beef and steamed potstickers were perfectly done -- even the steamed white rice was fluffy and flavorful. Don't let the storefront appearance turn you away -- this place is great!
(4)L G.
There are approximately 20 combos available for lunch from 11:30am to 3:00 pm. Combinations are available with steamed white rice or their pork fried rice. Chicken Salad Tangy Lemon Chicken Kung Pao Chicken Almond or Cashew Chicken Twice Cooked Pork Yu Shang Pork Braised Tofu Ma Po Tofu Sichuan Style Sting Beans Teriyaki Chicken Tender Fish Fillet in Wine Sauce Mongolian Beef Fresh Broccoli Beef or Chicken Sichuan Beef Prawns with Fresh Vegetables Prawns in Lobster Sauce Seasonal Vegetable Delight Hunan Chicken Pineapple Chicken Generals Chicken There is street parking and a private lot at the rear. A few seats/tables are available outside. The place is quaint and the service is fast especially for take out.
(4)Sabrina L.
MSG-free Chinese food? Who has heard of such a thing?! My boyfriend and I came here while we were in town. We were recommended this place by our gracious Airbnb hosts, who raved about it, and we were not disappointed. I ordered the spicy eggplant and my boyfriend ordered the General's Chicken (the more commonly named "General Tso's Chicken), and the food was delicious. The chicken actually tasted healthy and meaty. It was noticeably different from other Chinese food we've had in the past, which I think is safe to attribute to the absence of MSG, which by the way, is not even boldly advertised as the draw to their restaurant. Apparently, it's only notated in small font in the bottom corner of the menu - bravo, China Inn! I feel like that just allows their reputation to speak for itself (which it totally does). Another bonus is that it's a simple, unassuming restaurant run by a Chinese family without the frills and thrills that all these new-age hipster restaurants are sporting. We loved the food so much that we grabbed an order to go, which we happily enjoyed back in LA, but now pine for. My only disappointment is the fact that they have tangerine chicken and beef and fish fillet in wine sauce, but somehow couldn't make tangerine fish, which is my favorite dish. The restaurant is quite small, but not intimate. It's definitely not a place you'd wanna go on a first date at - the plates are plastic and it looks like a fast food Chinese joint, which is fine because I came here for the food, not to admire the creative uses of mason jars as cups and lamps. The food is decently priced, served in ample portions. They accept credit cards, and there is a small parking lot available around the back. Otherwise, there is street or metered parking nearby.
(4)Kim J.
My friend and I wanted to try something new off fluc so we tried this Portions good Prices are great Shrimp was fresh tasting Fried rice good Chicken chow mein Sweet n sour pork Bbq beef Downfall: We both got upset stomachs less then an hour later, was all bad. We know for a fact the Chinese food caused it
(2)Doug C.
Americanized chinese food mich higher quality than panda express family owned; kids work with parents extensive menu inside all new construction best dry fried string beans I have had. little salty, spicy $6.50 / where can you find that? Great for takeout.
(5)Madhuri K.
Couldn't get into the place we wanted to and we were short on time - so we have this place a try. Had hot and sour soup, pot stickers, sweet and sour pork, chicken chow mein. Everything tastes good and fresh. We liked seeing that the kitchen was very clean- as we walked through to the bathrooms. It's a casual hole in the wall- but we liked everything we had.
(4)Tiago P.
Finding it was easy. Seemed more people would order for takeout, but enough seating inside. Ordered: *Mu Shu chicken - not bad, but felt some veggie was missing from it. the Pancakes were warm, thin, and not dry *Mongolian Beef - too salty. Not sure what happened to this dish. the beef was tender, but the sauce did not mesh well. *Special Fried Rice - very good, even as leftovers *Hot & Sour Soup - tastey. thick. with tea and soda, came out to over $40 which thinking about it now, we got over charged - could have been because they brought over general chicken and put that on our bill when it was a mistake? As a learning point, do look at the charges on your bill. I hope that the owners will also accommodate this and write it in English. Still deciding if we should come back.
(3)Cathy H.
China inn has good lunch specials, but my favorite item is the Singapore noodles. The noodles have a lot of meat and egg and the curry spices-are just right. The other folks in the office like the lunch specials which are a great deal.
(4)Nicole H.
Best Chinese food I've found in San Jose. Can't beat the price & the flavor is outstanding. Must have the hot and sour soup and chow fun with shrimp. SO GOOD!
(5)Mark F.
This place was highly recommended by one of my Yelp friends but they compared it to Hunan Taste. I agree that the food is very good but the style of the food here is nothing like Hunan Taste. This place makes your standard Cantonese style Chinese food where many of the dishes have sugary sweet sauces where Hunan Taste does not use sugar at all. The prices are better than Hunan Taste and a great value in general. I've been back twice now and have tried 3 of the dishes. Mongolian beef. Sliced tender beef fillet sautéed with scallions & ginger in a savory seasoned sauce. This was very tasty, just a tiny bit spicy and a tiny bit sweet. The beef was tender and the onions were nice and crisp. Sichuan-Style String Beans with Chicken. String beans deep-fried until blistered, quickly sautéed with a chili-garlic paste, lightly sprinkled with minced preserved mustard greens. Now here is where I will give China Inn the win over Hunan Taste. The String Beans were awesome! Nice and crisp and full of flavor. Crispy Sichuan Beef. Tender beef fillet, deep-fried, then tossed with a hot spicy garlic sauce. This dish was quite good but a bit soggy from all the sauce and it had no veggies so I was a bit bummed. I'll definitely be back!
(4)Tanner D.
Fresh n' customizable chicken wok is duh_licious! Chicken fried rice and General's Chicken were also delicious. If you want it spicy, be sure to ask as they tend to go light on the spices. Small dining area in front is best suited for partied of 2-4 and for those waiting to pick up take out orders. Food is freshly made to order, high quality ingredients, breast meat chicken, fresh crisp veggies, and tasty sauces. Family style, prompt and helpful service from the cashier girl. The lunch menu is a great deal to go, some dishes under $7 each make it easy on the pocket. We only waited for about 10 minutes for our food, an impressive turn around time for the quality, bravo! Menu offers all classic Chinese options, chow meins, fried rice, chicken, Beef, lamb, and pork options. Veggie only dishes too.
(4)Adam D.
This family owned gem, opened in 2009, and is one of our go to places for Chinese cuisine. It offers distinct flavors of China. The family is always pleasant to deal with a very straightforward service, plenty of care and smiles. The place is very clean and tidy although somewhat small; nonetheless, we have never had an issue with seating, as most that dine here have their orders to go. The hustling traffic here is an indication of its popularity. The dishes are more authentic than most places and I fully agree with it's four star rating. I've dinned here few dozen times and I come back for two reasons, very fresh tasty food and reasonable portions. I've tried just about everything, but almost always we indulge in the Sichuan-Style String Beans, which are deep-fried until blistered, quickly sautéed with a chili-garlic paste, lightly sprinkled with minced preserved mustard greens. It's perfectly crispy and the flavor is explosive. I would highly recommend this to go along with a meat dish, such as, Crispy Sichuan Beef. Tender beef fillet, deep-fried, then tossed with a hot spicy garlic sauce, resulting in a super crunchy texture with garlic flavor of great piquancy. You really can't go wrong here. Make sure you peruse their daily specials posted on a chalk board to the left of the counter. It's also a full service restaurant, although it may not appear as such.
(5)Ryan S.
This was the worst Chinese food I have ever had in my life. The beef was inedible. The chicken was mediocre at best. The egg rolls tasted weird. Not what I was expecting from a 4-Star place. First and last time at this place.
(1)John L.
This is a good, fast takeout restaurant. So far I've had four meals and loved every dish. Tonight I had their pork fried rice and mu shu shrimp. I've had the tangerine beef and a few others. They are rare, IMO, since they shine at both more Americanized and more traditional dishes. Tonight we ordered beef w/ green beans in black bean sauce, which is not on the menu and my girlfriend loved it. We live close so we will probably be customers at least a few times a year..
(5)Dale D.
I have never eaten here and I never will again. The food was not good. My rice was cold and the chicken ( that's what they called it) was so hot I burnt my mouth. I had 2 bits of the "chicken" and then just ate my cold rice because I needed food. I blame myself for going in. I wanted food from another place that was closed for pluming issues. 1 extra star for the lady that took my money. She at least smiled before giving me "chicken".
(2)Talia S.
This place is one of the best Chinese restaurants in San Jose! I was impressed with the tastiness of the mushu pork or the generals chicken, they were all so mouth wateringly delicious! I recommend getting take out and then going home to pig out. That's what we did and the night was epic. I was happily satisfied with my meal and there were enough leftovers that will probably last us another meal! Definitely coming back.
(5)George T.
China Inn is right down the street from where I live, and after passing by it a few times and checking Yelp for reviews on it, I finally decided to try it. My girlfriend and I ordered their Pork Fried Rice, Crab and Cheese Puffs, Sichuan-Style String Beans and their Tangerine Chicken. The Pork Fried rice was pretty good, as were the String Beans. The entrees, though, were a little disappointing. The Tangerine Chicken was a bit on the salty-side, and the only thing "tangerine" about it was the tangerine-peal, which gave the chicken an awfully-bitter taste if you accidentally take a bite of it. The Crab and Cheese Puffs contained imitation crab, and they looked a bit deflated, rather than "puffy". The good thing about our meal was that it was fairly inexpensive, as well as convenient. Their have quick service and they are very kind. Maybe I ordered the wrong entrees, so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt. If you're looking for a quick bite, and you're looking for something a step above Panda Express, AND you're around the Alameda, China Inn is your place.
(3)Lorraine H.
I split a tofu dish and a vegetarian plate with a friend. Both plates were fabulous. The veggies were fresh and the spicy garlic sauce was delicious--not too bland and not too spicy. They said they don't use MSG on anything which I was happy to hear. Great lunch. The food came out fairly quickly despite the lunch crowd. As usual, I used my travel size water tester to check the water quality. I requested water with no ice. The water tested 250 here (with 50 and lower being cleaner and safer to drink). This is typical of the tap water in San Jose and in the majority of local restaurants that don't filter their water. At least they were honest and said that they don't filter it. It's nice that they give the option of sitting outside, but it's quite noisy with all the traffic going by. It's not that big of a deal, however, if you're just stopping here for a quick lunch. If they had more seating and a more tranquil atmosphere, I'm sure they'd attract an even bigger lunch crowd. If you need a rejuvenating lunch, get your food to go and walk a few blocks down the road to Green Design Indoor Outdoor Plantscape and eat amongst all the beautiful plants and water features. If all their veggies were organic and locally sourced and if they provided filtered water, I'd give them 5 stars. Overall experience was very good. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Max B.
We are a family born and raised in Rose Garden neighborhood and have often traded our favorite Taiwan restaurant (Willow Glen) for China Inn on the Alameda based strictly on the quality of food and price. It's family owned and operated business with a kind/proud mother and daughter(s) managing the front. It is small, very clean, zero atmosphere, kitchen/cafe style, but a great place for take-out or a quick bite! Our teenager enjoys sitting outside and taking our dogs to chill at the outdoor table. The Pot Stickers, Pork Fried Rice, House Chow Mien, Garlic Shrimp, General's Chicken, Mongolian Beef and Wonton Soup are our favorites and we've never been disappointed. The seafood and veggies are always fresh (selling point and testament for a small restaurant) AND freshly cooked in front of you! You won't find a better a Chinese restaurant for the price and this is a real gem in the neighborhood. For those of you familiar with New York's Chinatown, this is our San Jose "Wo Hop". We also enjoy their neighboring restaurants For Thai and Mexican. :)
(4)Osman S.
We ordered fish fillets with black bean sauce and tofu with black bean sauce. The portions were big but the food was just OK. It had lots of salt which overpowered pretty much everything.
(3)Janet O.
I've been back to this Inn a lot. I've tried most of their dishes and oh my! I remain a fan! I usually order a la carte and share their big portions. It's enough for two or even three women. Today I went for their white fish with green beans in black bean sauce. Perfectly cooked, ample portions and so on point and I've come to expect. Service is always the same. Matter of fact and she always remembers you. Today my friend ordered a coke with the meal and I kept silent while the owner/Staff walked away. I explained that she will be back with my tea because she knows I like hot tea:) Yeah!
(5)Moises B.
DO NOT EAT HERE: I usually never review places, especially bad places, but I am warning you. This place is absolutely disgusting, save yourself the money, agony and regret. I have no idea how this place has overall good reviews, I'm convinced that the people who gave this place a positive review are uncultured swine with No tastebuds. I ordered the tangerine beef and my wife had the schezuan beef. First of all the place is really small and the service was horrible from the start. We asked for water with our food and the water tasted like horrible/poor quality/tap water. Our food was brought out to us quickly, almost too quickly. When I took a bite of my food my initial reaction was to cringe at the horrible, indescribable, horrendous taste. My wife bit into her food and the feeling was mutual. I tried her food and she tried mine, which was a mistake. After those two bites we decided that was enough and we ditched our food and left, didnt even bother trying to get our money back, we just left. Our pallets and stomaches felt violated, and was overwhelmed with nausea and wanting to throw up. I do not understand how these people can get away with serving this poor excuse for food. Do not go.
(1)Rick S.
This is a highly respected neighborhood take out joint which produces pretty good Chinese food considering where you are. Of course, you can also dine in the spartan, noisy little front room. Pretty much everything here is a solid 'B' , except for the tea which is disappointing to say the least. ============ And now for my rant: This place Is family run, which means that the kids, who are obviously under age, "help out" for long hours everyday and don't seem very happy about it. Obviously I don't have the full story, and I don't mean to be culturally insensitive, but I do kinda have a problem with this.
(3)Yvonne C.
My go to fast Chinese spot. They make the most AHMAYZING hot and sour soup here! Wow! HUGE shrimp and treasures galore up in my soup! Their Mongolian beef, string bean chicken, and chicken fried rice are out of this world! The chow mien and chicken salad are just ok. Solid Chinese on the Alameda!
(4)Hollis K.
I'm gonna keep this short and simple. Do not eat here. I found last night in my food several pieces of hair--one of these hairs was apparently of the pubic persuasion. Absolutely disgusting. I've frequented this place over the last five years out of mere convenience, but this era now comes to an end. The customer service has always been crappy, the food consistently mediocre, and the woman has always been rude and bitchy. I've been nothing but a good customer, have given them the benefit of the doubt (again due to the walking convenience), but I AM DONE. I will also go as far to follow up with the health department. If interested in a good option for decent Chinese Food that has great customer service and a wonderful ambiance, please visit Peking House in downtown San Jose on Post Street. Ask for Lucy. =) I work hard for my money and I value my time. If you hold the same values, then please go elsewhere. Go somewhere sanitary where you will be appreciated!
(1)Pootaire J.
This is an ok everyday middle of the road Chinese joint with quick friendly turnover of to-go orders. We had the calamari, boiled wontons with spicy peanut sauce, general's chicken and combo fried rice. Calamari is probably best eaten in-house where the breading doesn't have a chance to soften after being packaged and brought home - but the flavor was good. General's chicken was the best of the lot, spicy and saucy like it should be. Boiled wontons were a flavor miss, needed more peanut sauce. They seem very fond of onions here - the calamari, dumplings and fried rice were liberally dosed with them. If you don't like a lot of onions you might want to specify that when you order. If you love onions, you're in luck!
(3)Yurica K.
This review is mainly about the service. We came in shortly after 9pm and the waitress told us that the last order is at 9.15pm because the kitchen closes at 9.30pm. No problem, we ordered before 9.15pm but didn't realize that the whole restaurant would be closing at 9.30pm. Maybe she should have mentioned that instead of closing up the restaurant around us, putting chairs on the table and then at 9.30pm repeatedly saying loudly 'we close at 9:30pm' as if she wasn't really talking to us but to her colleague. If she wanted us out by 9.30pm then she should have not even taken our order, it's clear that we can't eat within 10 minutes. The food was actually good but I'm definitely not coming here again.
(2)Brian D.
This little hole in the wall is shockingly awesome! The fresh green beans oyster sauced with shrimp is terrific! So was the Hot And Sour soup! Really great! This place is so surprising but then it does have substantial foot traffic for it's to go only menu I see often when I drive by.so what was I thinking! They offer a lot of Americanized but Hong Kong style dishes....like 40 of them.The veggie/beef/chicken combinations you love.....so close to both San Jose State and Santa Clara university...I highly recommend!
(4)Carrie H.
I was hoping for some classic guilty-pleasure Chinese takeout, but the food was beyond terrible. The hot and sour soup tastes like thickened soy sauce, the king pao tofu was oddly sweet and not at all spicy, and the Hong Kong noodles were a greasy, salty mess. I had a few bites and tosses it all. Try someplace else
(1)Rachel B.
My husband and I just arrived in Santa Clara and wanted to go out for our first night in town. We picked China Inn because of the Yelp reviews. We ate in, and woman helping us was very friendly and quick to fill our glass with water. We ordered chicken fried rice, tangerine chicken, and sichuan beef. The best dish was the chicken fried rice. I did not care for the beef or the tangerine - both had a sauce to them that I found to be too sweet (and too abundant). I was looking forward to some dishes with some spice to them, but these did not deliver. I don't typically order either of these dishes at other Chinese places, so perhaps that is the issue; I just didn't know what to expect. My husband enjoyed the tangerine chicken, although he, too, wished for more spice. I definitely feel that Yelp steered us wrong on this one. Also, it may seem cheap, but you have to order rice if you want any..
(2)Juan C.
I had lunch here today and I ordered the Kung Pao Chicken lunch special. It was mediocre at best. I have to agree with other reviews and say that the chicken was very salty. The Pork Fried Rice was nothing to write home about either. At other Chinese Restaurants they throw in a cup of soup and a spring roll or two for their lunch specials, not here. Two items is all I got, not even a pot of hot tea. No one even offered me a refill on my water. I won't be returning nor would I recommend it to other Yelpers.
(3)Jenalys C.
If I ordered to go, I probably would be giving this place 5 stars. However we told the "server" (she couldn't have been older than 14) that we didn't like the potstickers... they were the worst I've ever had, and yet we were still charged for them. When we asked if it was typical for them to charge for a dish that wasn't enjoyed but the customers, she told us we ate half of it so of course they charged us. Okay there are only 6 of them and there were two of us... so yes each of us tried one and immediately decided we didn't like it. Not great customer service but honestly that's not atypical of a chinese restaurant. Oh the other downside is that the dishes don't come with rice, you have to pay extra. Weird.. So I ordered the chowmein and it was nothing special but delicious to me anyways and I got the Hunan chicken. Delicious! It came with a lot of chicken too. The boyfriend got General's chicken which was also very good but also came with a lot of peppers and definitely not as much chicken, so I was happy with my choice. I was left with plenty of leftovers. I definitely won't go back to dine in, but I will order take out because that was some great food.
(3)Rebecca E.
This place is delicious. I can order over the phone and it's ready in 10 min!! Fast service and delicious food! Can't get any better then that.
(5)Sara C.
My family and I went on Saturday evening. The place was packed so we decided it was just nice enough to sit outside. It was quite lovely. The service was good and I loved their chicken chow fun. their chicken won ton soup was delish!! The kids aren't super Chinese food lovers, but we walked away full and without the kiddos complaints! Good food, easy parking, generous portions, and decent prices. Give them a try.
(4)Carlos A.
WOW! I was pretty impressed with this place. I went for lunch and it was pretty packed although it's small size probably made it look more packed than it really was. All I can say is orders were flying out of that kitchen like crazy and since you can see straight into the kitchen you can see the 2 chefs cooking everything "made to order". The dishes that came out looked amazing and smelled even better. This guy in front of me ordered his "to go" and it was crazy to see that once the chow mein was cooked it got dumped straight into the "to go" container, talk about fresh. So my order was simple I wanted a quart of combination won ton soup to go. With 6 people ahead of me my wait was no longer than 10 minuted. On to the good stuff. The soup was still hot when I got home and my first impression was that this container was packed with chicken, BBQ pork, shrimp, Chinese cabbage, carrots and of course won tons. The broth was tasty and not heavy on the sodium (due to NO MSG) the other ingredients were tasty as well but the won ton stole the show. The wrapper was thick and was cooked al dente. Not like other places where the wrapper falls off from being too soggy once a chopstick touches them. The flavor off the won ton was, well how a won ton should taste...yummeh! I do plan on going back and trying everything over time. They have a huge menu so gimme a couple months.lol. Another selling point was when I was leaving the lady working the counter told me she hopes the soup helps me feel better with my cold. I guess wearing baggy sweats and a sweater coming in soaked from the rain made me look ill. Even though I wasn't I told her "thank you". Moral of the review get out there and try this place. It's convenient if your on your way to the Sharks game too so save your money and avoid Chipotle and come here.
(4)Eric W.
This is a nice little restaurant with an extensive menu with good selection. Anytime I try a new place, I always order the Mongolian beef to gauge how good the place is. I would had like the meat to be cut thinner, I would had prefer more scallions than onions and it was missing a touch of sweetness. The service is excellent and place is kept very clean which I like. If I'm in the area I would definitely come back and try out their other dishes.
(3)ANGEL R.
It's pretty good. I'm not a huge Chinese food fan, but the bf is. He really likes this place. I like the chicken chow mein and broccoli with beef.
(3)Michelle V.
LEGITIMATELY some of the best Chinese food in the area. This Chinese restaurant is like a little hole-in-the-wall spot on The Alameda and in a pretty sketchy looking area. But it's a CLEAN little hole-in-the-wall spot that offers some really delicious eats. We actually walked in and ordered takeout cause we assumed it's the type of place to only have takeout but surprisingly there were lots of people walking in after 8pm to have dinner there. We ordered this snow white chicken dish which had paper-thin white chicken sauteed with snow peas & shiitake mushrooms in a light wine sauce and a shrimp dish and this other delicious spicy egg plant dish. I also got a side of chow mein and a wonton soup. Yes, we eat BIG. People always assume we're ordering for a family of 4 but it's usually just us two and we grub like beasts. :) I really enjoyed all three dishes. The eggplant dish had this crazy spice to it that was just so flavorful. And the snow white chicken was packed with tons of chicken. They definitely don't skimp on adding that protein in for you. Major plus for us weightlifters! We had to wait for about 20 minutes or so for our food, but that's normal since they were cooking and packing tons of it for us. I can't wait to get another Chinese food craving to hit this spot up again and try their other entrees.
(5)Brad H.
Very good inexpensive takeout Chinese.
(4)Alyssa D.
The vegetable chow mein is bomb. And the sichuan style string beans. I get that with steamed rice. Good sized portions. Decent prices. Fast service. The food is good but greasy. But that's chinese fast food for ya. They have outdoor seating which is nice. Good place to grab lunch or dinner.
(4)Julia G.
When our previous Chinese place raised their prices too much, we started looking elsewhere. We gave China Inn a shot before we moved into the area. This place is great. It's definitely more of a takeout place, since it's so small. The food is delicious and reasonably priced. I'm a big fan of the pineapple chicken, which looks like sweet and sour, but it's sweeter. Love the chicken fried rice, too. Their lunch specials are also good- you get plenty of food for around $7. I'll have to try the wonton soup one of these days.
(4)Michael C.
I'm still new to the area, don't have all my pots and pans yet so I am unfortunately ordering take out before I get completely settled in. The advantage of this is that I get to explore a lot of new food options. After reading Soni and Michelle's reviews, I decided to give this place a shot. It was right down the road, after all. I will disagree with Michelle on one point - it is not in a sketchy looking area. Sure, the Thai restaurant is boarded up, but the Indian movie theater looks fun. Anyways as I hadn't been there, I walked in, and agreed - there is a mix of sit down and New York-style in this place. I decided against my usual go tos of General Tso's in favor of the Pork in Imperial Sauce and a side of 2 egg rolls. For $3 the two Egg Rolls are a steal. These aren't the thin spring rolls you'll get at some places, but instead the hefty deep fried variety. Full of veggies and meat. I give a lot of props to the staff for giving me a side of sweet and sour for them. As for the pork, not what I was expecting. This does not change my score of the place - I was the one that ordered something against my norm. It was still good, but a bit more sour than I'm used to so probably would not order again. As a note, their lunch specials seem really well priced. Regardless, I will return and this might be my local neighborhood take out Chinese (with Jade Cathay working as more seafood/dim sum). Looking forward to writing an update soon.
(4)Justin S.
Joked with the female who took my phone in order for carry out. "This really is going to be the best hit and sour in town, right?" I asked her. She responded very confidently, "Yep." She was right and confident for a great reason. The soup is more than your average hot and sour. The tofu is perfect and it contains a medley of ingredients that add to the flavor and texture. I am impressed. I now have my goto soup for any time I don't feel good. China Inn has become a staple in my family's goto carry out restaurants.
(5)Fred S.
Absolutely dislike this place, rude, and impatient. Ordered a take out lunch box, the box was very dirty with sauce all over the side and the bag. After credit card payment, this rude lady tossed my card on the sticky table instead of handing it back to me. If it was a busy day I would understand, but there was no line and maybe 2 tables of 2. Unacceptable, and would never go back again. Plus, the biggest let down was, all the attitude and rudeness, the food was not at all worth the wait. Rice was hard, beef was way over cooked, chicken was hard like rock, what are they good at? I don't know!
(1)Christine L.
If you're looking for decently priced authentic Chinese food, this is the place to go!
(4)Christopher S.
This place is legit, I dare say say that it is too legit to quit. Godamnation this food is quality! The Sichuan beef was superb as was the lo mein. The prices are not bad and the food came out quick. You wouldn't expect much from this place given its small and modest interior, but they know how to deliver the goods. If China Inn were a woman, I would court her religiously and treat her like a classy lady. I would be patient with her and not pressure her sexually until she was ready. I would always be respectful and not crowd her with my love despite my strong feelings. Oh China Inn....I would even have a long distance relationship if it meant you were mine. PLEASE DON'T SAY GOODBYE CHINA INN, I WILL VISIT SAN JOSE SOON TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN!!!
(5)Kailey O.
I picked this place randomly on yelp to meet a friend for dinner. I ordered hot and sour soup, which came with shrimp. I don't eat shrimp, so i was slightly alarmed to see it in my soup. Most other places do not put shrimp in the hot and sour soup. I ate around them and didn't say anything, but it totally threw me off. The kung pao chicken was really good, but nothing was as spicy as i was expecting. The beef we had (I forgot which one it was) was especially good! I really liked it and would definitely order it again. Parking isnt that difficult- just find a side street and it's free. The restaurant only seats about 15-20 people max, so it's pretty small. Lots of people are in and out ordering take out, but there is waiter service. Overall, it was a mediocre experience and I probably would not return.
(3)Sasha G.
First time we came here, we ordered two chicken based dishes, both of which were really good! However, the second time, we went with friends and we all ordered mainly different beef dishes. They were really similar in taste and weren't that exciting... The prices are OK and the service too, so overall a nice place.
(4)Van W.
It is chinese food for white people :) nothing against it. Its just A ok. People normally just do takeouts
(3)Ronny D.
A-OK. That's pretty much how I would describe the dinner from China Inn. Very typical American Chinese food. Looks like it is family owned. Two 10-14 yo girls run the front while the pop cook in the kitchen.
(3)Mike P.
This place is everything that you would expect from a Chinese food place, and close to downtown! Tasty food, reasonable prices, and really terrible Lemon Chicken, which we all know is only there to trick white people. Take-out and dine-in are both options. Not much else to say. It's tasty!
(5)Manisha S.
We ordered for Crab & Cheese Puffs and one of the rolls. Puffs were ok but rolls were too oily. For entrees we ordered singapore noodles with chicken and veg and flat noodles with shrimp and egg combo . It had good portion of vegetables and shrimp . Presentation was good too.Elderly couple on table next to ours came and asked for the name of the dishes we ordered. I took out 2 stars because it was very oily and a little too pricey for chinese food.
(3)Shinny L.
I've been here a few times and have been pleasantly surprised every time. Had it not been for a desperate long study night and craving for decent chinese food, I probably would have never tried this place and definitely would have lived to regret it. Ironically, I don't agree with Marie S. that China Inn's food is Americanized. Or rather, it has all the good components of americanized chinese food (brown rice is available!! The place is bright and clean!) but without sacrificing certain dishes and taste. I would eat here often if it were within walking distance to either work or home, but as its not, it's still my go-to take-out chinese place. Don't be fooled by the seemingly non-authentic looking exterior and interior - try the food and judge it on that, like you might any good hole in the wall old school chinese place. Though it's also a plus that it's pretty darn clean as well inside. I love the braised tofu (hong sao do fu), a favorite dish my dad used to order when I was a child.
(4)Cristina L.
This place was great! We live in southern CA and came to this city for the Winchester house. We yelped Chinese food and after reading through decided on this place. It's very small but the great food is worth the trip and struggle for parking . We got the potstickers , egg rolls (both were not greasy), asparagus with garlic sauce, sweet and sour pork and chow mein beef. Food was fresh and timely . The whole time we were here the place had someone coming in to pick up an order and the owner would talk to them. You can tell this place is popular and for good reason. If I were ever in town I would come here again.
(4)Karlo B.
Went here to try some new Chinese food other than the blue mango in willow glen and I was very happy with my choice. This is a very nice and small family owned restaurant. Their children or something were our cashiers and the service could be better, but hey, they are kids. You can really expect much from them I guess lol. My togo order came out in timely fashion and was still delicious when I got home. You can definitely tell it was a nice change from your average Chinese restaurant. I still can't put my finger on it, but the flavor is unique. Well done!
(4)Joe A.
If a small family run, neighborhood restaurant with a solid variety of good Chinese food served quickly and at good prices with generous portions is what you're looking for, then China Inn on the Alameda is a great choice. My office is within a half mile from the restaurant and it's become a favorite location both for eat-in and take out lunches. It's even become a go to place for occasional dinner take-out. The food is always fresh, tasty and well prepared and it's always served hot and quickly. The staff is friendly and courteous and you always get exactly what's described on the menu...as in if the menu notes "spicy" it is exactly as spicy as you would expect...not too much...not too little. It's a great little place for a quick tasty meal.
(5)Felicia B.
When this restaurant first opened I was so excited. Although the owners (children included) weren't the friendliest folks I would eat there frequently, UNTIL, one day I placed a phone order for some fried chicken wings which I ask that they not close the container(I wanted them to stay crispy). The person who took my order was rude and abrupt to me and she hung the phone up in my face.So When I arrived to pick my order up I was met by the owner (the woman) and she appeared to be annoyed l told that I thought she was rude and if I wasn't so hungry and out time (lunch time) I wouldn't have come to pick my order up and that I defiantly wouldn't be back. That's been about a year ago.
(1)David S.
So happy that I can walk to this gem. Nice indoor and outdoor seating, I usually get take out. Much better quality than you would expect from a corner joint. I've loved everything I've ordered.
(4)Carl H.
The staff here are friendly but the food is not remarkable. Ordered the pork fried rice which was bland and seemed like a side not an entree. Would not order again. The Mongolian beef was ok but didn't come with rice. Overall an unremarkable experience.
(3)Robert P.
Clean....no MSG......COOKS WITH VEGETABLE OIL which I prefer. I frequently come here for lunch and the prices are good. Servings are good.
(5)Jessica M.
30x30 8 This is one I should have reviewed before I moved but yeah... this place is an awesome pick up Chinese place for a decent price. They have wonderful crab and cream cheese puff things that I CRAVE. Service and food is quick and while it is not FANCY...it will satisfy your basic Chinese food cravings. Staff has only made one mistake on my order out of the dozen times I have ordered food and they corrected it with no issues. I had to go pick up the correction (since they do not deliver) but it was still handled well. I hope to find a place that can take China Inn's place up here in Oregon.
(4)Erick K.
Small mom and pop Chinese restaurant. Nothing to write home about, but it's fast, cheap and it's good so it's perfect for lunch. Generals Tso's chicken is my favorite. Singaporean style chow mein, Mongolian beef are also good. Very good service.
(4)Ted C.
Authentic Chinese food. Good wok flavor. We ordered: Almond chicken Sichuan string beans Chicken chow fun Mongolian beef General's chicken Good portions. Fast service.
(4)Anonymous Y.
I ordered take out. It was OK, however, did not justify the 15 dollars for a side of rice and a poultry order. I'd eat again in a pinch when I need some Chinese food, but I wouldn't call this my go to place. I had the tangerine chicken- it was just ok.
(3)Vicky R.
The food here is pretty good - not the best, but it's near my workplace and affordable. I've only been here 3 times. The service here is not the best. The first time I called in an order for take out - a woman answered the phone and took my order, then before I could ask how long the wait time was she hung up on me - tried calling again, no answer. I showed up 20 minutes later, hoping my food would be ready. I got there paid and they just told me to wait... i waited... and 25 minutes later, my food was ready. If I had known it was going to be a 45 minute wait time I wouldn't have ordered!! The next time I ordered take out they said 15 minutes, i showed up in 20 and it was ready. Maybe the first time was a fluke! Overall, food is good - not great. Service could be better!
(3)Loreliz J.
Pretty solid Americanized Chinese food. Definitely better than Panda Express. We had the lemon chicken, braised triple mushroom and veggie fried rice. We liked all three. I was also happy to see on their menu that they don't use MSG. Space is small so most people get food to go. They have a tiny parking lot in the back. Street parking was easy to find on a Friday night.
(4)Mike G.
I eat here often. It's close to where I work. The restaurant is very small, maybe 5 tables inside and a couple outside. The food has always been good with their unique style of flavors. They claim they do not use MSG, which was the hook to get me to go there, but how can you tell for sure? The portions are a good size and the service is good. Give it a try!
(4)Ivonne N.
Ugh...not cool China Inn. I have been a fan of this place for a while now. I am hesitant to leave a bad review but I am beyond annoyed. Finding a hair (questionable at that) in our food is not ok. Ever. Ever. Gross ever ever. Nothing in the world would make me go to this place ever again. So bummed.
(1)Cristal C.
While meeting up the man on his lunch break, we wanted to change up our typical routine of hitting Rosie's for a slice and some beer, so we decided on some Chinese cuisine. They have the typical items on their menu such as chow mein, fried rice, and all the usual entrees. We settled for beef chow fun, sweet and sour pork, and crab wontons. I wasn't too sure if we needed to go up to the counter to order or just wait at our table because it took forever for the employees to acknowledge us. Since we were pressed for time, we just walked up and ordered. After we ordered we took a seat in the super cramped and small dining area. Luckily, it didn't take long for our food to come out. The portions were pretty impressive especially since we dished out a pretty penny for our meal. I enjoyed everything except for the crab wontons. The wontons tasted really fishy and were super oily. Overall, this is a decent place for Chinese food, but there's definitely way better places to go to in San Jose.
(3)Chris M.
The best Chinese food in the area. I only give it three stars because it is very hard to rate a Chinese restaurant. Usually they have just as many good things on their menu as bad. This place is pretty good. The kung pao chicken, mandarin chicken, BBQ pork fried rice, hot n sour soup and crab cheese puffs are all pretty good. I think the general chicken was good too. Chow mein is, well, it's chow mein. Nothing special. They have a pretty good menu. Experiment. U will find something u like. And they do have a daily special menu which is pretty cool. Despite the three stars that I give it, I recommend it.
(3)Gregory P.
Literally the BEST Chinese food I've ever had, the tangerine chicken is amazing, I get it every time I come here. Fried rice is so so but their entrees are awesome.
(5)Sandra N.
Tiny family run Chinese restaurant with delicious, fresh, authentic and cheap Chinese food :) I'll admit that at first, I was kinda sketched out by the looks of the place and worried about the quality of the food here. But in the end the food proved my expectations wrong. I ordered the Mongolian Beef lunch special which was $6.50. For the lunch specials, you have a choice of steamed or fried rice to go with your food. The food took awhile to come out but that's because they cook it right when you order it so it's fresh! The service was great since the waitress refilled our water many times. The Mongolian beef was tender and tasted delicious with a good amount of sauce. It came with lots of green onions and a big scoop of rice. This place probably isn't special enough for me to come all the way back but if I'm in this area and I'm craving Chinese food I'll definitely eat here again :)
(4)Deanna D.
Hands down, best Chinese food I've had in years. As the reviews suggested, the place is pretty small so we ordered take out. Food was still pipping hot when we got home. Ordered the Kung Pao Chicken, Mongolian Lamb, Egg Rolls and the Crab & Cream Puffs. Delicious. Highly recommend.
(5)Matt B.
My favorite Chinese take out. Kung pao, Beijing beef, egg roles, noodles are all excellently served.
(4)Kathleen S.
Absolutely delicious!! Great food great price next next time we're in San Jose we plan on eating again!
(5)Mark C.
The Garlic Prawns and Zuchini (special order)! The Markster Doggie gives this restaurant a: Yelp! Yelp! Yelp! Yelp! Yelp!
(5)Chandra S.
Aaaaaahhh easygoing Chinese comfort food. The type that comes in the cool cardboard boxes with a Chinese temple and "thank you" on it. The type that you munch on in the evening in front of the tv, then reheat the next day for lunch and pick at through the week and then still like it. That sort of food is made here. It is not fancy high end stuff made by a former iron chef who was laid off for being to experimental, this is food made for YOU, not a restaurant critic. It's fast, it's yummy, it cheapish and the lady running the place is super nice. I personally love the chow fun, the Chinese broccoli and the wonton noodle soup and the fact that it is still good the next day just rocks!
(4)Stephanie L.
I'm going to revise my review. I went back for the first time in a year in December, and the food has definitely improved. The food has lots of flavor, and they have definitely toned down on the salt. Everything seems a lot cleaner, and the food recently has always come out fresh and hot. They have awesome prices, and this is a great place for a lunch establishment. Glad that their food is back on track!
(4)Greg M.
Great Service and Quality. Family owned and ran so they treat you really good here. Food is delicous and great portion size.
(5)Brock B.
Food was good. Nothing great. I didn't call in advance. I ordered inside and they prepared it quickly. The combination wonton soup is awesome and a meal on its own. containers of food were only about 80% full. Maybe the cook got hungry.
(3)Jeremy H.
This is a favorite for my office peers. You just can't beat the price on the lunch deals. I've never ever left the place hungry. Food comes out quick and the staff is polite. They do General's Chicken very well.
(5)Josh S.
One of the only places we passed that was open past 7 on 4th of July. Ordered the mapo tofu, tangerine beef, and sweet & sour pork. They included a free Chinese chicken salad for coming in on the evening of the 4th. I asked if they could make the mapo tofu super spicy and they asked me for a number scale, gave them a 9/10 on the hot scale. Boy did they deliver - sauce was filled with red chilis and chili oil. While super hot, the flavor was nice and savory without being too salty, perfect on rice. The burn stuck around for a pleasantly long period. The tangerine beef (which I just finished leftovers of, the portions were quite generous) was a nice balance of sweet and savory but a little bit on the salty side. However the texture was perfect and it was not cloyingly sweet as is the case in most similar dishes. Girlfriend had the sweet & sour pork and she enjoyed it. Overall very affordable, solid takeout, service was incredibly fast and the service was friendly. Much better than some of the similar takeout places in Willow Glen - this place will probably be my go-to in the future.
(4)Anuran C.
This is a great place to eat Chinese. Unlike many other stores whats different here is this: 1) Portions are large and they give what they write. When its prawns, they give a lot of this. Great return for the money. 2) The food is extremely non-greasy and I always felt healthy after eating here. No guilty feeling. Of course if you eat anything fried, no can can stop you from feeling gulity..... I am glad I live so close by.
(4)Margaret C.
Too salty! (And I like salt). Had the mushu pork, tangerine chicken and braised eggplant. Ordered takeout, quick and convenient. Brown Rice was dry. Overall, decent for takeout, but not a gourmet choice.
(2)Matteo M.
Terrible. So bad I almost die of ( ° °)bola. I wish I went to panda espress fffffffffffffffffffffffuck this place.
(1)Gabriela D.
First time coming here last night after passing by many times, and I must say, I wish I would have come sooner. My boyfriend and I went kinda crazy with the order (4 items between the two of us) but it was WELL worth the $33. I was pleasantly surprised by the low price for such quality, quantity and well-prepared food. The Mongolian beef was probably my favorite of the plates we ordered last night; that alone was enough to satisfy me. I love a good Chinese restaurant so this may well become my go-to spot when I have that craving.
(4)Bill E.
I can see why this place got such high reviews. Excellent food in a nice clean environment with very attentive staff. Seems like a family ran business. If/when I am in the area I will come back for a inexpensive casual meal.
(5)Brandy C.
The service was fast and clean. Lots of people stop in but the place is small. The food was good. I didn't care too much for the tangerine chicken but the sweet-and-sour pork was great.
(3)Larry L.
Good Chinese. The chow fun is the best over ever had...swear! The family is really nice and attentive, great place for a quick bite.
(4)Phyroath C.
This place is hot or miss depending on what time of day you go or who's in the kitchen. We've had bad food but we've also had great food and we come here quite often. The salt and pepper calamari is the bomb.
(4)Leddee H.
Thanks to my good friends who live in the Rose Garden area of San Jose, I think I found my new go-to Chinese place in San Jose, and this happened somewhat by accident. We were offered dinner, and the selection consisted of the mu shu chicken, shrimp with pea pods, and ma po tofu. All of the ingredients seemed fresh and well seasoned, especially in the mu shu dish (my favorite). The proteins were tender and cooked perfectly. And the tofu in the ma po tofu dish was soft and creamy (although a little bit too spicy for my liking). This place is conveniently located in the Alameda, and I guess it's known for takeout since that's how I was lucky enough to try this little gem. I will definitely try this place again when I'm in the area! Check this place out!
(4)Marisa J.
Randomly came here after seeing a movie and the food was EXCELLENT! It also came out really fast which was great since we were so hungry, and the service was nice, too. The place is very small so you don't expect much from looks, but the food did make up for it and is totally worth it! Oh, good prices, too!
(5)Agnes S.
Good food, clean place, nice service. Quick dinner with the kids. Shrimp and black bean sauce not on menu but they made it for us.
(4)Jay S.
The Seasonal Vegetable Delight was not delightful. It featured a passable selection of vegetables. The inclusion of two types of mushrooms was cool, but there were no distinctly Chinese vegetables in here--not even like a baby bok choy, nothing. Like, not to be racist, but don't give me these American-ass vegetables, b. I know these vegetables go home and nod along in agreement while they watch the O'Reilly Factor. I know these vegetables proudly trace their roots back to the Mayflower. I know these vegetables bring up the fact that they did not vote for Obama every chance they get. You think I can't tell that these vegetables drove a Hummer to work the day before they ended up on my plate? These vegetables are so American, they were probably picked by an illegal migrant worker. Don't play me with these star spangled vegetables, dawg. There's a fucking deli down the street if I want that. Make that Chinese shit for me. I know you don't go home and feed your family these gwai-lo lookin-ass Yankee vegetables. Show me some love. Delight me. The sauce was okay, pretty generic. I knew it wouldn't be Buddha's Feast, but I guess the unimaginative sauce wouldn't have been so bad if the vegetables were more exciting. Their hot mustard is hotter than all the fucks, tho. Not spicy hot but horseradish hot. I'm over here sniffling like a coke head after a bad breakup. It's lightweight embarrassing. Also, they gave me one napkin. I hate that cheap shit, man. That's like using one square of toilet paper to wipe your ass. It's just mad suspect. Nobody can live like that. Give me an extra napkin; let me flourish. It wasn't terrible, though. I know people kinda look at three stars as a diss, but three stars supposedly means "A-OK" and I'm not in the mood for hyperbole right now.
(3)Malia W.
I've been here about three times. Every time the food is consistently good. It's family owned, the daughter usually rings me up. My most recent visit I bought sweet and sour pork, a large chicken salad, chicken chow mien, and beef and broccoli for take out. It came out to about 36 dollars and some change. The portions where pretty big, it fed 3.5 (.5 being my little grandma ;) with leftovers. The place is pretty small, so I'd go for take out or small groups of four or less. Parking is crap!!! street is your best bet, but they do have a small lot in the back. You must try the chicken salad!!!
(4)Lisa S.
There are many reasons why I love China Inn. The food is amazing! Everything I've tried I really liked. The service is friendly and the food comes out quick. I recommend their lunch specials. The egg rolls and hot and sour soup are excellent. There are many vegetarian options (try the vegetable delight). I notice a lot of To Go orders but they do have a few tables inside and out.
(5)Meghann F.
Got the shrimp Mu Shu app - super tasty - fast hot and fresh!! It comes with rice paper type burrito shells. I wasn't exactly sure what to do with these - so i rolled the shrimp dish up in it, and it worked for a bit, but I was more than content to just eat without it. I actually went again the next night - because it was super tasty - and this time I ordered the brown rice with it. Not too creative while i was there and didn't branch out too much - but I would highly recommend it!
(4)Kriti R.
Parking is tough to find around dinner time. It's a really tiny hole in the wall restaurant with barely any seating. Better for to-go orders I'm guessing. Service - 4 stars. Friendly, fast, and attentive. Removed 1 star because she took my bowl of hot and sour soup away before I was finished (granted there was just a little bit left, but I ALWAYS finish my soup)! Hot & Sour Soup - 2 stars. Lukewarm soup tasted reheated and was a tad gelatinous. Flavors in it were decent though. $3.50 Hong Kong-Style crispy pan fried Angel-hair noodles - 4 stars! I'd come back for this! It was a little overpriced though at $10.95. Thankfully portions were good. I think they added a bit too much sauce over it, but otherwise the flavors combined with the crunchiness of the noodles were delicious! Kung pao chicken - 2 stars. Didn't finish this dish because I don't like sweet chicken very much and the sauce was a little on the sweeter side for me. I thought it would be spicy, but it totally wasn't. $8.95 Balances out to an even 3 stars! I don't know why people gave this place 1 $ sign. It was not as cheap as I thought it would be.
(3)Brice H.
awesome little family owned chinese joint. I've lived across the street for over a year now, and have seen lines out the door at this place many times, but never went in. Was craving chinese food, so wandered in looking for some chow mein. I loved that everyone that was in the place, from the cashier to the chef, all looked to be family. The food came out quick, and I could watch them making the food in Woks right behind the cashier. I ordered the shrimp chow fun, and I was happy to find that it was solid quality. Not a greasy salty filled mess, but a really nicely done homemade tasting dish. The price was right too, at only 8 dollars. I will definitely come here over Panda Express next time I am craving a quick chinese fix!
(4)Kalem B.
I really enjoy the food at China Inn and I feel fortunate that the Hanchett Park/Rose Garden area has a decent place like this to indulge in a far-east feast. You can order over the phone and pick it up in the store... I don't believe they have delivery. As for the food, it is consistently good. Some of my favorites are the hot and sour soup (juuuuust right), General's chicken and any of the chow mein. Yes, I know I get the more popular "American" stuff when I order, but that's because I am only a product of the environment I grew up in. Prices are in line with most chinese food establishments, but what gives this place its solid four star rating is how nice the folks working inside are and how tidy and clean the restaurants always is. I hope China Inn stays around the area for as long as I do. Try it!
(4)Adam S.
Great hole in the wall Chinese food. Check it out. Food was perfect, my fiance doesn't usually like Chinese food but she loved this place. Portions were huge. Everything was great.
(5)Carl W.
A very unassuming, family-run, semi-Americanized Chinese joint in the midst of generally more hipster-looking places. Much as Janet O. said, I never would have really gone there without Yelp, and I'm glad that I did. Most people use it as a pick-up spot, but unless I am really in a hurry I prefer to eat on site rather than give the food a chance to cool, and it's really a much nicer dining area than most pick-up-oriented places have. Unlike some Chinese places, you never really get any attitude for "taking up a table" either, even if you're here solo. The only thing I'm not crazy about is the egg rolls, but I'm not a fan of this food item in general. Definitely appreciate the combo pricing, anyway! (Last time I just asked for no egg rolls, of course I didn't save any money that way, but I just didn't want to waste the food again). Finally, my favorite dish so far is the Kung Pao Chicken, which was both flavorful and plentiful! Comes with plenty of fried rice too. I think I would be a happier camper if I had a place like this closer to my own place! What can ya do.
(4)Sarah W.
Their pricing seems cheaper/better than other Chinese places around San Jose. I really like their: pork wonton soup, steamed pot stickers are delicious, and their pork fried rice is really tasty and fresh. The tangerine beef was too tangy and not sweet enough for my liking. Also, their prawn sautee with vegetables didn't taste very good. The oyster sauce was quite watery and salty. I was a little dissapointed, especially with the prawns dish. But id go back for soup, PFR, and pot stickers any day.
(4)Rob J.
Solid take-out style food - not great at all but will do the trick. Found it a bit greasy and quite salty - but if that's what you're looking for, here it is.
(3)Sandy B.
Not bad, not great. Just your run of the mill Chinese. Not much more I can say, really.
(3)David R.
I went there with my wife and daughter last night. I was very pleased with the visit. Great food, fast and polite service, reasonably priced, big portions. Small place but we were very comfortable because of the nice service. I got the Kung pao shrimp and the sauce was awesome. I will definitely return.
(4)Jaymer D.
I come here because it's the closest Chinese restaurant to me, their hours are convenient and they're pretty fast. I'd rather support local restaurants over chains, even tho I think Panda Express has a handful of dishes that are way more tastier IMO. Love the place and the family are very polite and accommodating. Love their fried rice.
(3)Heath W.
I love their noodles. Excellent little family run Resturant.
(5)James M.
My fiance and I live down the street from this place so we decided to give it a try. There was only one person in there so we were hesitant but decided to give them the benefit of the doubt. First, we started with the pu pu plater for two which included: - 2 chicken sticks (BURT, DRY AND SALTY) - 2 Crab and cheese wontons (FROZEN, NOT FRESH AND OVERCOOKED) - 2 Fried prawns (OVERCOOKED AND NO FLAVOR) - 2 Vegetable spring rolls (BLAND) Being as hungry as we were, we ate the appetizers anyways and hope the entrees would make up for the poor appetizers. We shared our entrees of Tangerine chicken and sauteed asparagus. -Tangerine chicken (NO TANGERINE FLAVOR AND SUPER SALTY) -Sauteed asparagus (DID NOT CUT THE ENDS OFF THE ASPARAGUS AND THE "SAUTEE SAUCE" LOOKED LIKE A WHITE JELLY THAT WAS POURED FROM A CAN AND THE GARLIC WAS BURNT) We brought our dishes back up to the counter and told them the issue and they were nice about taking the dishes back. Very nice staff but nasty food. Will not go back. The 1 star is for the 2 young girls that were up working the front, they were very kind.
(1)Shana A.
Dirty, dirty, dirty! I ordered mixed vegetables and I found a long black human hair in them. Then, when I got my fried fish fillet, I found a fly fried into the batter. I don't understand how anyone gave this nasty place a good review. I told the manager I wasn't paying, then I got up and left. I lost my appetite immediately. You couldn't pay me to go back to this place!
(1)Raquel K.
We found this restaurant on yelp. Before we walked in we could smell the wonderful aromas coming from the kitchen. It's a small place, but there is seating inside and out. It's very clean. While we were waiting for our food lots of people came to pick up to go orders. Good sign! The food we ordered was fresh and delicious. We grabbed menus to decide out order for next time.
(4)Lyna K.
Decent Asian/American chinese take out. I have ordered a few different items and nothing really sticks out in my mind, but nothing was bad. It is definitely more of a neighborhood Take out place rather than a destination.
(3)Louisa M.
Went there with a new guy I've been seeing. Not very impressed but he knew just what to order. I love chinese food. It's hard to come across bad chinese for me because I love the flavors. But this was just sort of blandish (not sure if that's a word). NEwho, tried it, didn't very much like it, but my date was awesome about flavoring it up. Knows how to mix that sracha.
(4)William C.
Nice little restaurant with good Chinese food. I would recommend over Panda Express, unless of course you enjoy eating out of styrofoam.
(4)Hiver V.
Cheap good Chinese food. I have gone in several times and have brought friends. Everybody is courteous and attentive. the sauces are pungent and unique. Try the lunch menu. I get this black bean chow fun, and I have to say I have not had anything quite like it. Kind of like the Geuze of black bean sauces...
(4)Lydia V.
Our favorite local Chinese joint. I love the Shang Hai noodle (its got a hint of curry! yum!) We also love their fried rice and tofu dishes. I think its family-owned which makes it even BETTER! :)
(5)Carrie V.
I've been here several times, as this place is so conveniently located close to home. I wish they delivered! I've had so many of their dishes it's hard to pick a favorite, but I really love the Hunan chicken, the mushu pork, the singapore-style chow fun, the Bejing beef...those are the things I've had most recently that I've liked the best so they stick out in my mind. We had the snow white chicken another reviewer recommends and, although the sauce is good and the chicken tender, I was disappointed that there were so few vegetables in the dish. They were definitely stingy with the snow peas and mushrooms and I love veggies so that was a bummer. All in all, this place has captured our attention for sure. Even though we keep checking out menus for other places online thinking we should try a new Chinese restaurant, we can't seem to bring ourselves to do it. We're loyal customers and probably will be for a long time to come :)
(5)Imran G.
Confucius Says: Man trapped in pantry have ass in jam! The China Inn is not that great. But it's not too bad either. I feel bad for Chinese restaurants because they're a dime a dozen in the US so it's really hard for them to stand apart from their brethren. Stereotypical Chinese restaurant notes: - Place is a family run business - Parents were cooking and the daughter was waiting tables/ordering - Not very sit down friendly more of a take-out place The food was mediocre. Their Chicken and broccoli tasted like every single chicken and broccoli I've ever ordered. Now that I think about it, that's pretty impressive. No matter what state I'm in the Chinese food tastes the same! Maybe they all use the same cook book or order their ingredients from the same guy. Either way, if you're hungry and want something familiar this is your spot
(3)Brad v.
This is my standard go-to place for lunch near work. It is family run and the food is always fresh. They have plenty of lunch plates as well as a full menu of entrees, soups, and noodle dishes. I end up eating here about twice a week and am never disappointed.
(5)Michael L.
Yes: Tasty, well-located, clean, friendly, consistent Strip-mall look and feel. didn't like the interior decoration (tacky)
(4)Alex B.
It's hard to find a decent Chinese restaurant in San Jose. This is the best I've found so far. Prices are a tad high for take-out, but portions are big and food is fresh. Give it a try!
(4)Melissa S.
Pork won ton soup: lacked flavor and had way too much pepper for my taste. Cream cheese won ton ball things: too cream cheesy, tasted like fried cream cheese not that appetizing for my taste. The one thing that I didn't dislike was the mongolian beef.
(3)Don C.
when i first time looked the place from outside, really diappointed. inside, there are 8 tables. but the food was great like a fancy chinese restaurant. simply enjoyed it.
(4)Nichol H.
It was okay..... Edna Rays or Taiwan Kitchen is 50x better. The food was okay but they use A LOT of garlic. I'm sorry but I compare this place to Panda Express - its just Okay.
(2)Luchie d.
BEEF CHOW FUN. I was shocked to find a great BCF in my hood.. Very happy with China Inn. They know how to cook veggies - never soggy but with a nice bite. Nice family that runs the restaurant. We have requested no sugar and less salt and they are happy to adjust for our orders. Their take out containers are awesome and even reusable.
(4)Alexander N.
Tried this place for the first time tonight hoping for some decent cheap chinese food based on the reviews, I was not impressed. Here's why: I ordered the following: * 1 Mongolian Beef * 1 Kung Pao Shrimp * 1 Chicken Chowmein * 1 Tangerine Chicken * 1 order steamed rice for two * 1 order of spring rolls Total Bill: $46.95 Call me stingy, but how is that "cheap" Chinese? Wouldn't be a big deal if the food was tolerable, but it isn't. The prawns had an awful aftertaste, like they were under cooked. Everything else was bland. Not a repeat customer.
(2)Justin M.
This place is a hidden gem! My wife and I use to live close to the Rose Garden and we would frequent this place for lunch and for pick-up. The owner is a sweet lady and very social when I come in. Her daughter is also very nice and does a wonderful job. The food is some of the best around and a great value. Our favorite dishes are the Mongolian Beef, Moo Shu Pork, and General's Chicken. You can even order a lunch menu combination for dinner and get a side of (fried)rice and egg roll with any lunch entree for an additional $2.
(5)A. I.
Pineapple chicken was dry and cold
(2)Shannon L.
Excellent that this is on my way home as I don't have any chinese spots close by. Also great that it's open all afternoon since I leave work around 3 pm. Chicken salad was great - poo poo platter was good - but will get the crab/cheese puffs and chicken appetizer separate next time instead as that was AWESOME! Spring rolls were fine but the fried prawns were not a hit so will pass in the future. Also had the s/s pork and house rice and beef chow fun. All very good.
(4)Flor D.
Yes, I had low expectations. Yes, I was expecting to see coupons or specials in my local paper or on the counter of this establishment. Yes, I knew this was budget. Yes, this joint was average. Nothing great, but nothing bad. They are brand new, and the service can best be described as "eager to please." We walked up on a Saturday around 845PM. Ordered broccoli beef, chicken fried rice, hot & sour soup, and a veggie egg roll. The food was prepared fresh, and immediately after I ordered it. The flames from the kitchen took me by surprise, I am used to seeing trays of food under heating lamps. If nothing else, the food was not greasy. Hot & sour soup was mild and lacking flavor, while the rice seemed to be missing FRIED. If you like it healthy, them maybe you'll like it here. For those on a budget looking to satisfy a craving, most items are on sale from 11-1. By sale I mean $6 dollars and some change including rice. Tragically, and with how cold the Alameda is to small business joints, I give it 4 months...
(3)Jess C.
My go-to place for fast food chinese! I always get the kung pao chicken. I've thought about ordering other things, but I always go back to the kung pao because it's just so consistent and yummy. I love that they offer brown rice, and keep in mind that they aren't open for lunch on sundays! Go ahead and give them a try, you won't regret it :)
(4)Curtis W.
Good local spot. You can tell its a family run place, which is the best kind in my opinion. Kung Pao and Chow Mein were really tasty. Would go again
(4)Jim L.
Best Chinese take out within 15 minute drive of the Rose Garden. For years we've wished for very good Chinese takeout near our neighborhood. For the last 3 years this has been our go-to spot. Fast, friendly, reasonable prices. Standouts are: Mongolian Beef, Chicken Salad, Snow White Chicken, and Chef's Special Fried Rice.
(5)carli m.
This place is great for what it is -- a small, family run, affordable Chinese place! My husband and I tried it out right before a Sharks game because everything else nearby was packed, and it was perfect! The service is great (again, family run) and the food is better than you'd expect. The place is clean (always a huge plus!!) and it's super affordable. Totally recommend.
(4)Kiara D.
On a chili day in October, I needed something warm for dinner. I went to China Inn and it was JUST OKAY. I ordered my food to-go, and on the way home, I noticed a weird scent (not appealing). I ordered the chicken won ton soup, which was not that great. It had a weird scent to it. I also had the chicken, pork and shrimp chow mien, which was better than the soup, but still, I've had better. And finally, the potstickers were okay. I guess I'm picky when it comes to Chinese food...any kind of food for that matter. : /
(3)Kathy p.
Our favorites are the chicken sticks, mongolian beef (ask for it to be spicy!) and the hot and sour soup. SO GOOD. The young girl that works there is so nice.
(5)Karen D.
This is our go to Chinese place. Everything is cooked fresh while we are waiting. We love their eggplant and I just discovered the Hong Kong style chow mein. Yummy. Service is fast and always friendly.
(4)Sara H.
This is the best chinese food I've had in a very long time. Since the old wok inn closed in san jose years ago. Don't let the tiny interior scare you away. This is authentic chinese food. Fast, fresh, hot, made to order. Huge portions and fairly cheap. My favorite is the brocoli beef with pork fried rice. I've also tried the teriyaki chicken with steamed rice and the lemon chicken with steamed white rice. The lemon chicken wasn't as good as I had hoped. The pieces of chicken were over battered and fried and the lemon sauce was a bit to sweet. Other than that no complaints at all. Its a family business. They always greet the regulars and are very friendly. I frequent this place at least twice a week. I am a die hard fan. I highly suggest this place for great chinese food.
(5)Priscilla M.
No its not a motel! Despite its off key outside appearance, it is truly the underdog worthy of your time. Large portion and inexpensive prices, the food is actually its greatest appeal. Looking for cheap, good quality chinese food. I think you just found your place.
(4)Christopher F.
This place opened fairly recently and we started going mostly because of the coupons that they used to have in the neighborhood value pak. They've since stopped offering the coupons, but we still occasionally get take out from here since it's so convenient. We live right around the corner and it's an easy walk. It's kinda pricey. I know a lot of people think this is cheap, but it's really not. Noodles shouldn't cost that much. But the food is tasty. That being said, portion-wise they go through peaks and valleys. It really depends on what you order sometimes they're really good with their portions, other times, you look at it and think to yourself, "nine bucks for this?!?!" They're, at least, very clean and very friendly, which is why don't mind coming back every once in a while. If they offered the coupon again, I'd be back more often. If they lowered their prices, I'd be back more often.
(3)Guy B.
Saw all the good reviews, so I wanted to try. First impression wasn't good since no one in the place was Chinese and remained that way until I finished my dinner. Lots of take out, again no Chinese. Food not bad just Americanized for clientele. If you like average food, this is your place
(3)Rô M.
Love their Kung Pao chicken! They are fast when you are in a hurry and are hungry.
(4)Theresa M.
Lunch was greasy and overpriced. There's no atmosphere at all. This is a restaurant I would not visit again and would not recommend to friends.
(1)BeyonSoy T.
Delicious, Inexpensive and Fast... Did you need more information that that? Oh and the service is SO awesome---I ordered some food for a party and they even carried my large order for me to my car! Crispy Beef, Friend Rice, Orange Chicken, Crab Wontons, Salt and Pepper Fish---OMG this review is making me hungry! Its a dependable place for delicious and satisfying Chinese food. GO!
(4)Man W.
Freindly service, Great food. If your getting over or into a cold this season then WonTon soup is what you need. Delicious!
(5)Amanda H.
This place is delicious, fresh and always on time! If you are looking for a great go-to local Chinese place...this is it. I love that they make the food fresh and the food itself is so good. I recommend the tangerine beef and beef chow mein.
(4)Salma G.
Best chinese food in the world ! Their chow mein is really known for its amazing flavor ! People are always skeptical about good chinese spices flavors and chinese FOOD ! But their food has what all folks want GOOD, YUMMY FRESH and FLAVORFUL chinese food !
(5)Je R.
Well, I'm really perplexed as to why China Inn has such high ratings?? One word for China Inn - DISAPPOINTING!! I really wanted to try this place after all of the high ratings on Yelp. I was in the area so I decided to pick up take out for me and the crew. Stuffed Fried Won Tons. it's really hard to find won tons that are filled. On the plus side, the won tons were not greasy at all and the pork filling was very tasty. However, we felt the won tons were a bit overdone and they were really small - 3.5 stars. Won Ton Soup. One of the better Won Ton soups we've had. The pork was lean, the veggies crunchy. The won tons were perfect - held up in the broth without falling apart, but not doughy. The broth was clear and flavorful, but a tad salty - 4 stars. Hot and Sour Soup. This soup was pretty good, but the white pepper overpowered the soup and we did not find a "kick" from the red vinegar. A little less pepper, a little more vinegar and this soup would have been 5 stars. Final rating: 3.5 stars. Snow White Chicken. We weren't impressed at all. It had tons of white meat chicken, but very few veggies. This dish was also extremely salty - 2 stars. Mongolian Beef. This dish was very bland. The beef was soft, but overly chewy at the same time. Again, it was very salty - 2 stars. China Inn's menu states that it doesn't use MSG so I'm not sure why the food was so salty. I wouldn't go out of my way just for Won Ton soup. China Inn, please lay off the salt!!! You would have received a higher rating if we could actually taste the food beyond the salt!
(2)James F.
Great family owned business. The people there are really friendly and the food is great. I've tried almost everything on the menu and I haven't come across anything I didn't like.
(5)Nate S.
A friend of mine recommended this place and I am so glad that he did. As one other post said, this place is a hidden gem. It's a family run business and the place is very casual. The service is fantastic and the prices are reasonable given the amount of food you get. As for the food, they serve some really really good stuff. I have tried over a dozen items on the menu and all were very good. My fave is the general's chicken with fried rice. Also, if you like it spicy, they will make anything spicy for you. Yum! The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is because parking can be tough depending on what time of day you go. There is a small parking lot in the back, but otherwise it's street parking.
(4)Lorraine B.
It's hard to find a restaurant with good food and decent service. This place has great food and I've never had better service. Ever since our first time going there, this is my favorite Chinese place. The prices are decent and the portions are huge. The crispy beef is my husband's favorite and he usually orders it every time we go there. The service is wonderful, we are always greeted with a smile and the owner stops by our table to visit with us and say hi. Very sweet lady. One time my two year old son was having a meltdown during dinner and she came out and asked him if he wanted a tour of the kitchen. So she took him to walk around and see everything back there. He came back smiling and telling us about it. One time, my son and I stopped there and were waiting for our takeout to be ready and she got out a tangerine and asked if my son could have it while we waited. I can't gush about her enough. Small dining room but they once accommodated our party of 9. All in all a great place.
(5)Michael G.
This has been our favorite local Chinese take-out restaurant. Everything is very fresh and made to order. The Won-Ton soup is some of the best! We also get Mu-Shu Chicken every time.
(5)Jose G.
Very solid place to enjoy an inexpensive and tasty meal. This is our preferred place to have food to take home. Very fresh. I love the hot and sour soup! The Mongolian beef or the kung pao chicken are always a favourite of mine. Very inexpensive lunch too.
(4)Stephen I.
Biked over here for lunch. Love that the have another place to eat on the Alameda. Spicy Eggplant with garlic sauce was decent, but not outstanding. If you like spicy then the Thai restaurant a few stores down does better spicy asian food. That said, you can tell this place is authentic so so Chinese food down to the typos on the menu (both printed and above the cash registers).
(3)Annalisa S.
This is one of my favorite spots to eat. The food is consistently good, and the family that runs it is awesome. My favorites: + Chicken & Broccoli + Beef Chow Fun + Kung Pao Tofu
(5)David D.
How many times have you bitten into a piece of orange chicken only to discover a bony or gummy bit of chicken on the other inside of that fried orange crust???? Never here at China Inn! Their choice of chicken, meat, and fish is perfect; never a gummy orange chicken! Yeah!!! Their pricing is very fair. And, if you like something with a little kick, try a bowl of their Hot and Sour soup; yummy. They've got about 6 tables inside and a couple outside. So, it's not meant for large groups; unless you're doing take out or want to take over the whole restaurant. Definitely a jeans and t-shirt place.
(5)Mandy L.
Fast, friendly service. Great for takeout if you live in the neighborhood. There was one incident where we ordered something to go, and when we went to pick up the food, they had ran out of that item. To make up for it, they gave us extra of something else on the menu at no cost. Awesome! I'm typically not a Chinese food fan, but this place skips the MSG and has a great, expansive menu. Also, it's family run, which is always a nice touch to any business.
(3)Marie S.
I've eaten here a number of times now and I feel that for what it is - a quick, cheap, American-style Chinese-food place - it's perfect. The menu has all the standard fare, but you know you can find what you have a hankering for. Some of it is a little to bland for my taste - broccoli beef, blah. But it's done well, and when you have a craving, well, they've got that. There are three things that keep me coming back: (1) extremely fast service. My food is always done and waiting for me by the time I walk across the street. And it's piping hot - no warming tables here; (2) scrupulously clean kitchens. Enough said; and (3) the tasty, tasty chicken salad - a large will feed two easily for $10! One of these days I'm going to eat-in and have the crispy fish. It sounds tasty, and might just be the thing that knocks this place up some stars for me.
(3)A.J. P.
Looking for that late night dinner that's not Taco Bell or La Vic? Need something fresh at lunchtime that's not too heavy? Really don't want to deal with Downtown San Jose parking? Look no further than China Inn on the Alameda. With the largest eggrolls known to man (practically veggie/egg bricks) and a General's Chicken that competes with any major restaurant, China Inn provides that fast and family run Chinese food establishment accessible to students and families alike. Some of my go-to's include: Broccoli Beef, General's Chicken, Lemon Chicken, fried rice...it's always hard to make up my mind since I haven't found an item that hasn't satisfied me enough to consider going to another local restaurant where I know the customer service won't be as good.
(4)Patty C.
East Coast style chinese! I am not sure if you can get it anywhere else in SJ. Corn starch coatings, high fructose corn syrup sweet and sour sauce, egg rolls, egg dop soup, and MSG. Need I say more?
(4)Shannon S.
If you're looking for not-to-expensive, tasty Chinese food, go here! They have tasty dishes. The only complaint I have is with their vegetable pot stickers. They were doughey, and they weren't crunchy at all. The filling was good but when I order pot stickers, I would hope for them to be cooked a little more and have a little bit of crunch to them. Their mixed vegetable with garlic sauce was really good! That is an average dish on all Chinese menus, but they managed to make an average dish taste not average. :) Their vegetable chow mein was tasty too. Get some good-tasting Chinese food here! You won't regret it. :)
(4)Janet K.
I'm only giving it three stars because, I've tried only one dish, the beef chow fun. Very good, huge portions. I really question their advertisement of no MSG, because after my meal, which I only ate half of, I became really, really thirsty and very sleepy. Too small to do a sit down and parking is not that great, but I would go again for good chinese take out fare, beats Panda Express.
(3)Lola R.
Sorry, I wanted to like this place, but, the Kung Pao chicken was really sweet, no spice at all, everything was super greasy and deep fried, and the waitress said 2 words to us the whole time, never came back to refill water or to give me to go box...sorry I won't be back.
(2)Alana P.
The BEST chinese food in san jose really!!!!
(5)Ali S.
Love getting take out here - best Chinese in SJ!!! Super great ingredients and quick to get my food ready.
(5)Devin P.
I enjoy the food for convenience at a decent price. I would prefer Panda Express, but I do appreciate that this place seems to cook their food fresh and is family owned. I like the way Imran G. summarized it.
(3)Sandy C.
Pretty good for a local destination :) I always enjoy the: Chicken and broccoli Ma Po Tofu (I have had better though...) It's a small take out location with a few tables. Great for those nights when I need a quick Chinese food fix! (gotta get my rice-fix)
(4)Jeannie N.
After countless failed attempts to find a decent Chinese take out place in our neighborhood we were referred to China Inn. A coworker raved about this place and how good they were, adding "This is the first Chinese take out place I've eaten at where my stomach didn't revolt afterwards." Um...promising. We went there tonight to try this place out. The nice girl that greets us in the front is obviously the owner's daughter or some other family member that has been forced to work in the family joint for the summer. I feel for her so I am extra nice. She gives my daughter a fortune cookie and I am instantly charmed (so is my 18 month old). The place is small but very clean and cheery. There are probably 6 to 8 two tops there, a couple pushed together to make a couple of four tops. The place is small, which is probably ok since most of their clientele is probably take-out orders. Although I wouldn't mind eating there myself, I didn't see any highchairs so we decided to do take out instead. We ordered the Sticky Chicken Wings (or Sticky Chiicken Wings if you don't spell check your menu -- this kind of bothers me, but what are you going to do?), The General's Chicken (my husband's standard) and my standard dish, Moo Shu Pork. The order comes right away and before we know it we are making the short trek home to enjoy our hot Chinese meal. The Sticky Wings were indeed sticky. I think the sauce is honey-based and they are super messy! I thought they were a little on the salty side and the texture was a little bit too cooked because they were chewy. But they were tasty, not the worst I've had, but not the best, either. They were...ok. I wish they were breaded and fried instead of just deep fried. The General Chicken was SUPER SPICY and even my husband thought this and he is a spice hound. But they were cooked to perfection and steaming hot even after riding around the car and making the trek up to our apartment. The sauce was the perfect blend of sweet and tangy, albeit spicier than what I normally would like. Now comes the real disappointment of the meal: The Moo Shu Pork. And since they forgot both the sauce and the pancakes (basically the MOO and the SHU) I'm just going to call this dish "Pork." I know this happens and I really shouldn't judge the meal by the lack of pancakes and plum sauce but really, the HEART of MOO SHU PORK is the pancakes and the plum sauce (can I get a "what-what!?"). Aggravating! Oh well, the Pork was actually pretty good, a good blend of meat and veggies and egg and sauce. *sigh* We will definitely give China Inn another chance and my husband has high hopes that this will soon become our "go to" place although my jury is still out on this one. Waiting for deliberation. Waiting for Moo Shu.
(3)Maurice S.
Went there around 530pm. I was expecting a chinese take out spot,thinking the foods would be already made and held hot, but they actually need to make it after you order it, so it's best to phone in if you plan to try this place. Food didn't take exceedingly long, but I had to use the bathroom, and I don't believe there is a bathroom available for customers. The food came out hot (which I liked), and was still hot when I got home. The food was good, had the house chicken w/ fried rice and an egg roll, came to $9+. King egg roll and lil chef are both several dollars cheaper. The house chicken was good, and so was the rice. I really wanted the chow mein, but that would have been another three dollars. I guess you're punished if you want to substitute. All in all, it was better than average. I will go back she try this pineapple chicken which looked pretty good.
(3)Shana W.
Came here the other night for dinner with my bf and daughter. We ordered the ma po tofu, sticky chicken wings, beef chow fun and sweet and sour pork. I'm not able to rate the sweet and sour pork because I got to full by the time I wanted some. So, here's to the other dishes we ordered. The sticky chicken wings had a great taste to it, a bit on the sticky side, guess that's why they call it sticky chicken wings. The beef chow fun, let me just tell you that it has great flavor to it, but they used WAY too much oil to cook it. We had asked to box our left over beef chow fun, believe the box was soaking in oil....one word for you GROSS!!! The ma po tofu was good but not great, it had a good flavor to it, they could add some more meat to it to bring out the flavor in it. What China Inn needs to do is lay low on the MSG!!! I was really paying for it later that night.
(3)Claire M.
I think this is my new favorite everyday Chinese food source. The dishes weren't too fancy, but they were so tasty and flavorful! After reading some of my previous reviews, I must have a thing about cleanliness. I would say the restaurant is clean, and you can tell through their food/cooking. I ordered the lemon chicken. The chicken was lean and the breading was thin & crispy. The lemon sauce was a great balance of tangy and sweet. One thing I was really impressed with were the cooking options for the seasonal vegetables. We ordered it steamed with spicy garlic sauce. Yummers! I will definitely go back! We called in our order and it was ready in 15 minutes. Prices are reasonable as well.
(4)Raymond G.
This restaurant has really picked up it's stride. It has become our second kitchen just walking distance from our house. The food is excellent and the hostess/ owner is the best. I would highly recommend the Chow Fun, Chicken with Broccoli, Braised Tofu, Chicken Skewers and their Hot & Sour Soup. They recently found out that my wife is pregnant. So they would adjust the flavor to her preference! That's customer service. I just wish that the dining area was bigger. I hope they expand.
(4)albert r.
I love this place! it's one of the best Chinese spots in San Jose!! We made it a Saturday dinner place for a few months, until we moved to the other side of town. ...BUT! still make the trek often enough now. All the food I've had there has been off the chain!...and really good too!
(5)Stanley C.
CHINA INN Turns out this place is right next to work, so I had to give it a try. China Inn looks like the traditional Chinese fast food takeout restaurant, located on a corner street, with only a few tables and chairs inside. Prices ranged from $6-10 for rice plates. Having a deep love for fish in wine sauce over rice, I decided to try it on the menu. Unfortunately, there wasn't enough fish and way too many "filler" veggies for my taste. Plus, the sauce was a bit thick with not enough wine flavor. But I will give China Inn another try, since they have other interesting rice dishes on the menu. It's not great, but it's not Mr. Chau's either.
(3)Farhad M.
Pleasantly surprised at how awesome this restaurant is, especially after all the crappy reviews I've read about it. I can't believe I waited this freaking long to try China Inn out, especially considering I live right across the street from it! I honestly don't know if all the previously negative posters even ate at the same restaurant as I did last night Mongolian beef was well flavored and with quality slices of beef and the chicken fried rice was LOADED with tons of high-quality chicken breast (no funky chicken pieces like most other restaurants). The item I wasn't sure about was the hot and sour soup -- it wasn't very hot or very sour, but it was loaded with tons of medium-sized prawns (never seen that in hot and sour soup before, but they were tasty regardless). Portions were quite large as all the items came packaged in the quart-sized takeout containers. I also discovered that one can get any of the lunch specials ANYTIME for $1.50 more (and they come with an eggroll outside of lunch hours). This will be perfect for a single portion meal after work without dropping $20-25 on several different items. Like I said earlier, I'm pissed at myself for being dissuaded from trying China Inn for so long based on bad reviews, but now that I've tried it I can't wait to go back. This area of town has sorely been lacking any chinese restaurants and I'm glad China Inn is now here to fill the void. PS- They also have coupons (10% off, $2 off $20, and $4 off $30) in those valupak things that come along with your junk mail
(5)Eber H.
I don't usually port reviews for anything...espcially food. I believe we are all completely bias. But you give and take from what your hear...I guess. I am kind of disappointed from the reviews I have been seeing on here.... First off...there are very few "authentic" Chinese restaurants around in San Jose...so if you want to compare to Mr. Chau's, Panda Express...China Inn is in a whole other league. Chinese food is so Americanized it's not even funny, and there is hardly anything Chinese about Sweet & Sour or Kung Pao this and that...truth is us Americans love deep fried, sweet and sour, fattening delightfulness...not to mention the ridiculous amount of MSG that most Chinese restaurants use... This is the closest (in SJ) your gonna get to getting quality "authentic" Chinese food. It's healthy, it's fresh and tasty. Here are some dishes I recommend....Mongolian Beef (consistently good) tender beef slices, and full of flavor, Mao Po Tofu is great, and 3 Flavor Shrimp is amazing. I love the soup's not a fan of sodium packed broth...Hot and Sour soup is always made from scratch and they use fresh vegetables and ingredients...truly home-style. It's cooked to order, great customer service, and they even stay open later than what's posted on the sign. Don't judge it for the size of the restaurant or the cheesy sign lol, go for the food...afterall that's what's most important.
(5)Liezl C.
It was just meh. Sure I can end the review here, but you yelpers deserve a more thorough explanation. Pros: + Large portions! My Kung Pao chicken was easily 2 meals. + Option for brown rice! Had a nice fluffy texture, very good. Didn't have to pay extra for it either. + Inexpensive. My super large meal was only $5.95, but that's for the lunch special. I saw that entrees are usually about $8.50. + Lots of veggies in my kung pao: zucchini, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, green and red bell pepper + Asked if I wanted peanuts in it, which is nice because people have nut allergies. Cons: - Too salty, but I guess that's what I get for fast Chinese food. Flavor of sauce was just okay. - The texture of the chicken was...weird. Like bouncy, if that makes sense. Did not like that at all. Not even breast meat, all random meat pieces I think. Bottom Line: I may go back here to try something else, but I don't want any more random chicken meat!
(3)Bapu R.
Back to the small place again, Food was delicious and service was fast. The receptionist knows how to talk with customers :) very friendly. yes same as old review because nothing changed here.
(4)The Y.
Those that understand Chinese food know that this is a good place. Those that give low ratings should stick to PF Changs or Panda Express. (From reading the 1-star reviews it is obvious some just do not have a palate.. always comparing with Mr. Chau's? Hilarious!) You get tons of quality food (wide selection) for a decent price and with friendly service. Table service is offered (when there is room). Hot & Sour soup? Chunky! Lots of stuff in it and not just H2O. Snow White Chicken? Very silky smooth texture. Green beans? Can't get enough of them! If you truly enjoy eating Chinese food this place will not disappoint. (needs more seating!)
(4)Kathee S.
LOVE this place!!! The food is yum and cooked fresh to order!! I have not had a bad experience to date here, and I've been here more than a dozen times. I love their General Chicken and Pork Fried Rice....I am super picky about Chinese Food and this one gets 5 stars from me! Definitely a regular!
(5)Salvador M.
This is a nice small quiet little hole in the wall. The lunch specials are fantastic, Won Ton soup is to die for.
(5)Archie G.
The Alameda is filled with wonderful, unique places to eat. It makes it fun and enjoyable to live in the area. Rosalena's is one of the best breakfast/lunch spots in San Jose. Greenlee's makes great crepes and other dessert treats. Rosie's New York Pizzeria adds some character to the neighborhood. And of course, the newer additions such as Calvin's, Tee Nee Thai, and Wine Affairs added to the street by offering some of, if not the best, Philly Cheesesteaks, Thai food, and wine bar in the area. China Inn is the new addition to the neighborhood and wow, calling this place a disappointment is an understatement. It fails in every way possible. There is nothing unique or special like the other aforementioned establishments. China Inn is not about eating inside. It is a tiny venue, set up for quick takeout and ridiculous prices. For $35, I was able to pruchase some of Chinese food favorites such as crab meat cheese wontons (decent), hot & sour soup (gross), Kung Pao chicken (not spicy at all), and spicy prawns (mediocre). This place is a joke. My food was in front of me in less than 30-seconds. I have no idea why they had 4 cooks there. It seemed the food was already prepared and probably just sitting around all day. They use the lowest quality meats, vegetables, and other varying ingredients. The hot & sour soup was mega watery. The chicken was full of tendons and I had no idea what I was putting in my mouth. The prawns were super tiny and smelled and tasted like bay shrimp. overpriced takeout that makes Mr. Chau's look like fine dining. This is easily the worst restaurant on the Alameda. Yes, there is plenty of competition in the area. But this place is just plain disgusting. Basura!
(1)Kym L.
To all you nay-sayers: Pbbbbth! I work right down the street and have been eating at this place since day one. I LOVE it. I give it four stars because I only dole out 5's to.. well, almost no one. I've only ever had one "bad" item from here, and that was simply because I chose to go out on a limb and try something "different" (it was the Lovers' Prawns, BTW). I don't know what kind of Chinese food everyone else has been eating, but seriously, this is about as good as it gets for quick, fairly inexpensive Chinese. If any of you remember the place that USED to be on the Alameda (which is now Rosie's Pizza), you'd be grateful for this place ten times over.
(4)Ara M.
China Inn is definitely out of place on that side of the Alameda near Calvin's and a Wine Affair, it has no charm at all ! It would be more at home across the street at the Blockbuster strip mall. I had such low expectations when I went to this place, that I was pleasantly surprised with my food. We had sweet and sour pork, sweet and sour chicken, won ton soup, fried rice and Mongolian beef. My nephews liked it. Food was edible. I think it is half a step above Mr. Chaus in that the place was very clean. It is overpriced, but that is probably because of the location. I agree with @Archie G about the chicken. It had a suspicious texture. If you are in the mood for greasy Chinese fast food and live or work in the area, then I recommend it.
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