If you're looking for decent Chinese in Durango, this is the place. Great hot and sour soup. Everything we tried was good. Clean place, good service, good lunch specials. Is it the best Chinese I've ever had? Of course not. But for Chinese outside of a major city with an active Chinatown, this is just about as decent as it gets. Granted, there are hidden gems every now and again. I'd give this place 3 1/2 stars if I could. That is a very positive score.
(4)
James D.
Who would have thought...? This is authentic Chinese food in Historic Downtown Durango. The menu is huge, therefore, choosing an entree was difficult. So, we ordered the Imperial meal at the back of the menu and shared family style. The service was great and the food to match.
(5)
Victoria S.
Traveling from Arizona, we did alot of searching on Yelp! to help guide us to great places to eat. We really appreciated the high marks May Palace was getting, we needed to see for ourselves. From the moment we walked in we were greeted and given menus and took our drink order. Really nice place and you can tell that locals really like it too. I ordered vegetable fried rice minus the soy sauce since it has gluten in it. After we gave our order our server, possibly the owner came by and asked if i had a allergy to gluten and i said yes, and she said, oh well you should have mentioned that, we have lots of options for you. Because my dinner was already in process, i just went with it, but the lesson i learned was not just assume that restaurants don't know what gluten is or have a gluten free menu. I guess i didn't feel like going down that road and had my heart set on my vegetable friend rice with no soy sauce. The feel of May Palace was warm and we feel like we have made some new friends. We will be back when we visit Durango again.
(5)
J L.
This is an excellent Chinese restaurant!! The reviews on this place are legit and please take them to heart. The prices are remarkable and the service is superb. The food has many layers of flavor and depth. Don't go anywhere else!!!!!
(5)
Melissa G.
While in Durango my daughter had a craving for Chinese. After browsing Yelp we decided to go here based on the reviews. We were here for lunch on a weekday and they had a huge list of lunch specials for 7 bucks. (This is a great deal for Durango!) All the lunch specials came with soup, egg roll & won ton and your choice of steamed or fried rice. Food was good all around and the owner was very friendly. Will visit again next time we are in town.
(4)
Denny B.
Wow, was this a nice surprise. Right on Main street in old downtown Durango. Real high quality - not oily or greasy - great flavor - fresh ingredients - fast service - friendly owners and staff. We are now huge fans of this place. Free parking anywhere in the city after 6 pm.
(4)
Sean M.
I have been a fan of May Palace for years. They have an unbeatable lunch special, and their volcano shrimp and sesame chicken are a must!
(5)
Tami D.
The service was great and the food is low priced. However, you definitely get what you pay for. The food is probably decent for a small mountain town but I was not impressed. The decor was the typical cheap Chinese restaurant style although it was all very clean. I would have preferred to have spent more money and gone to a restaurant with more ambiance and better food.
(3)
Durango R.
What a great place for lunch. We have so many options but you have to try this place. On main and great service!!! The food is so fresh.
(5)
Will E.
I walked in to try their $6.95 lunch special, and ordered the vegetarian Kung Pao with fried rice and hot and sour soup. The Kung Pao was delicious. I believe that the sauce set it apart. I'm not a vegetarian, but I didn't miss having meat in the dish, and I liked the extra veggies in it. It was great food for a very reasonable price. It was 3 o"clock and thus not very crowded, but the service was quick and friendly. On an incidental note, if circumstances allow, chat with the owner. She is a very nice lady. I think she might co-own with her husband, but he was not there when I visited.
(5)
Sam F.
The BEST Chinese food in Durango. Seriously people, this place is a hidden gem. Not sure why this place isn't busier because the food is great, the service is always fast and friendly and everything is just chill! My family and I have been coming here for years so we chat with the owners a lot and they are so nice! It's a couple who runs the place and the woman is Chinese so she totally knows what's up. Our favorite dishes are the House special Duck (so yummy and where are you going to find duck in Durango?), mongolian beef, curry lamb and kung pao chicken/vegetables. My sister really likes the sweet and sour pork but I tend to like the more savory items. The wor-wonton soup is GREAT! Lots of wontons and vegetables and it tastes great with the spicy mustard that is on the table. The menu is HUGE so you can find whatever you want on here. You can also order in and pick it up if you don't want to eat in, but I like to eat there and relax, get some hot tea and enjoy my food. They also have lunch specials so this place is good for both lunch and dinner. Give it a try you will NOT be disappointed!! =D
(5)
Jeremy T.
I have weighed back and forth between 3 star and 4 star for this place, and I settled on 4, as with the principles of rounding, 3.5 goes to 4. I grew up in Durango, and I remember when the May Palace was at the North end of town, and it was an amazing restaurant, and when they moved downtown everything about it seemed to diminish. That said, I am trying not to hold that against them, and reading a couple other reviews sort of helped me with that. If you take it for what it is, they do a good job. The service is friendly, there is always a table, the prices are reasonable, it is right on Main Street downtown, and the food is pretty good. The May Palace will always hold a special place in my heart, as it was one of my Dad's favorite places, in fact when my Dad was dying from cancer it was the one place he wanted to still go to, and the last time I ever ate out at a restaurant with him was the May Palace, so yes, I am a fan.
(4)
Catherine G.
In town for a few days from Idaho and our 12 year old was craving Chinese food. We fell in love with historic downtown and found this charming little place while looking around. The hostess and waiter were hilarious and joked around with us making it very enjoyable. Large portions (too much for those staying in a hotel!) for a very reasonable price. If we ever make it back to Durango we will definitely come back!
(5)
Karen L.
May's was a good spot for us because we were a fairly large group and person has a hearing deficit. So, we appreciated the quiet atmosphere and good service. But I would not recommend it for the food.
(2)
Amy T.
Easy to find the place, friendly staff, fair food Had Lemon Chicken, Chinese Festival, wonton soup- everything tasted the same. No bright, distinct flavors. Good Chinese food is difficult to find in most cities and I find ratings on Yelp are usually too generous for Chinese food. Too little exposure to truly great Chinese food for most folks? This was an enjoyable evening with cheerful, kind staff.
(2)
Aaron P.
Been here for 30 years for a reason. Don't let a bit of outdated decor fool you. Legit.
(5)
Jason M.
Great Chinese food and very reasonably priced for the amount you get. Service was excellent and atmosphere is intimate and fairly quiet. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)
Dave T.
Great food, great service! 5 of us walked in on a Friday night about 7:45 - it wasn't at all busy and the staff were VERY nice, attentive and fun. The food was great, the atmosphere is exactly what I'd expect from a chinese restaurant like this and we were all full and enjoyed our time there. I HIGHLY recommend!
(5)
Will W.
No waiting... Great food... Remembers repeat customers.
(4)
David H.
Not fancy but very good and fresh Chinese food, large portions at more than reasonable prices - and very friendly service. What more can you ask for?
(5)
Greg P.
Food was fresh and crispy just different flavor profiles for common chinese dishes, I had the twice cooked pork and the sauce was a completely different flavor profile then any other twice cooked pork I have had in any restaurant. It is my favorite Chinese dish so i try it in any restaurant that has it. My wife had the szechuan chicken with again a completely different flavor profile from any Chinese dish either of us had ever. Neither tasted bad, just different. So if you are ordering don't give your taste buds a heads up on what they should be expecting. The Hot and Sour soup was really heavy on the Vinegar too. My wife didn't like her egg drop soup either she said it tasted funny.
(2)
Joya P.
This place is unbelievably fantastic! The BEST Chinese food EVER, huge portions, great prices, fabulous service. And if you never get to try their Japanese margarita, you have missed one of the finest pleasures in life! Our first visit and guaranteed it won't be our last!
Great fresh food! The owner was very kind and took a personal interest in our eating experience. If you like Chinese food you have got to come to this restaurant. Lunch specials are great!
(5)
Terry M.
My 1st time to May Palace. I had the Szechuan Chicken tonight, it was not as spicy as I typically like it, I got 3 of 5 stars of graduated hotness. Of course it was average for me too. I just livened it up a bit with the mustard sauce at the table. Big servings that need to be boxed to go. Reasonable prices, Good food, and didn't have to wait.
(4)
Cody E.
Pretty good food ... large portions too. They served the food "family style" so my wife and I could sample each other's food. Service was very friendly too. Great prices. Simple atmosphere.
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
Dahlia A.
This place is FANTASTIC!! What a gem! I stumbled upon this little Chinese restaurant while out and about. The price is RIGHT for lunch. Soup, an egg roll, a wonton, steamed or fried rice and an entré all for $6.95. WHAT A DEAL!!!! I also had a Mai Thai and it was out of this world! I payed $14 even and have the lady a nice tip. This is seriously GOOD food. Eat here for lunch at once!!
(5)J. G. P.
If you're looking for decent Chinese in Durango, this is the place. Great hot and sour soup. Everything we tried was good. Clean place, good service, good lunch specials. Is it the best Chinese I've ever had? Of course not. But for Chinese outside of a major city with an active Chinatown, this is just about as decent as it gets. Granted, there are hidden gems every now and again. I'd give this place 3 1/2 stars if I could. That is a very positive score.
(4)James D.
Who would have thought...? This is authentic Chinese food in Historic Downtown Durango. The menu is huge, therefore, choosing an entree was difficult. So, we ordered the Imperial meal at the back of the menu and shared family style. The service was great and the food to match.
(5)Victoria S.
Traveling from Arizona, we did alot of searching on Yelp! to help guide us to great places to eat. We really appreciated the high marks May Palace was getting, we needed to see for ourselves. From the moment we walked in we were greeted and given menus and took our drink order. Really nice place and you can tell that locals really like it too. I ordered vegetable fried rice minus the soy sauce since it has gluten in it. After we gave our order our server, possibly the owner came by and asked if i had a allergy to gluten and i said yes, and she said, oh well you should have mentioned that, we have lots of options for you. Because my dinner was already in process, i just went with it, but the lesson i learned was not just assume that restaurants don't know what gluten is or have a gluten free menu. I guess i didn't feel like going down that road and had my heart set on my vegetable friend rice with no soy sauce. The feel of May Palace was warm and we feel like we have made some new friends. We will be back when we visit Durango again.
(5)J L.
This is an excellent Chinese restaurant!! The reviews on this place are legit and please take them to heart. The prices are remarkable and the service is superb. The food has many layers of flavor and depth. Don't go anywhere else!!!!!
(5)Melissa G.
While in Durango my daughter had a craving for Chinese. After browsing Yelp we decided to go here based on the reviews. We were here for lunch on a weekday and they had a huge list of lunch specials for 7 bucks. (This is a great deal for Durango!) All the lunch specials came with soup, egg roll & won ton and your choice of steamed or fried rice. Food was good all around and the owner was very friendly. Will visit again next time we are in town.
(4)Denny B.
Wow, was this a nice surprise. Right on Main street in old downtown Durango. Real high quality - not oily or greasy - great flavor - fresh ingredients - fast service - friendly owners and staff. We are now huge fans of this place. Free parking anywhere in the city after 6 pm.
(4)Sean M.
I have been a fan of May Palace for years. They have an unbeatable lunch special, and their volcano shrimp and sesame chicken are a must!
(5)Tami D.
The service was great and the food is low priced. However, you definitely get what you pay for. The food is probably decent for a small mountain town but I was not impressed. The decor was the typical cheap Chinese restaurant style although it was all very clean. I would have preferred to have spent more money and gone to a restaurant with more ambiance and better food.
(3)Durango R.
What a great place for lunch. We have so many options but you have to try this place. On main and great service!!! The food is so fresh.
(5)Will E.
I walked in to try their $6.95 lunch special, and ordered the vegetarian Kung Pao with fried rice and hot and sour soup. The Kung Pao was delicious. I believe that the sauce set it apart. I'm not a vegetarian, but I didn't miss having meat in the dish, and I liked the extra veggies in it. It was great food for a very reasonable price. It was 3 o"clock and thus not very crowded, but the service was quick and friendly. On an incidental note, if circumstances allow, chat with the owner. She is a very nice lady. I think she might co-own with her husband, but he was not there when I visited.
(5)Sam F.
The BEST Chinese food in Durango. Seriously people, this place is a hidden gem. Not sure why this place isn't busier because the food is great, the service is always fast and friendly and everything is just chill! My family and I have been coming here for years so we chat with the owners a lot and they are so nice! It's a couple who runs the place and the woman is Chinese so she totally knows what's up. Our favorite dishes are the House special Duck (so yummy and where are you going to find duck in Durango?), mongolian beef, curry lamb and kung pao chicken/vegetables. My sister really likes the sweet and sour pork but I tend to like the more savory items. The wor-wonton soup is GREAT! Lots of wontons and vegetables and it tastes great with the spicy mustard that is on the table. The menu is HUGE so you can find whatever you want on here. You can also order in and pick it up if you don't want to eat in, but I like to eat there and relax, get some hot tea and enjoy my food. They also have lunch specials so this place is good for both lunch and dinner. Give it a try you will NOT be disappointed!! =D
(5)Jeremy T.
I have weighed back and forth between 3 star and 4 star for this place, and I settled on 4, as with the principles of rounding, 3.5 goes to 4. I grew up in Durango, and I remember when the May Palace was at the North end of town, and it was an amazing restaurant, and when they moved downtown everything about it seemed to diminish. That said, I am trying not to hold that against them, and reading a couple other reviews sort of helped me with that. If you take it for what it is, they do a good job. The service is friendly, there is always a table, the prices are reasonable, it is right on Main Street downtown, and the food is pretty good. The May Palace will always hold a special place in my heart, as it was one of my Dad's favorite places, in fact when my Dad was dying from cancer it was the one place he wanted to still go to, and the last time I ever ate out at a restaurant with him was the May Palace, so yes, I am a fan.
(4)Catherine G.
In town for a few days from Idaho and our 12 year old was craving Chinese food. We fell in love with historic downtown and found this charming little place while looking around. The hostess and waiter were hilarious and joked around with us making it very enjoyable. Large portions (too much for those staying in a hotel!) for a very reasonable price. If we ever make it back to Durango we will definitely come back!
(5)Karen L.
May's was a good spot for us because we were a fairly large group and person has a hearing deficit. So, we appreciated the quiet atmosphere and good service. But I would not recommend it for the food.
(2)Amy T.
Easy to find the place, friendly staff, fair food Had Lemon Chicken, Chinese Festival, wonton soup- everything tasted the same. No bright, distinct flavors. Good Chinese food is difficult to find in most cities and I find ratings on Yelp are usually too generous for Chinese food. Too little exposure to truly great Chinese food for most folks? This was an enjoyable evening with cheerful, kind staff.
(2)Aaron P.
Been here for 30 years for a reason. Don't let a bit of outdated decor fool you. Legit.
(5)Jason M.
Great Chinese food and very reasonably priced for the amount you get. Service was excellent and atmosphere is intimate and fairly quiet. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Dave T.
Great food, great service! 5 of us walked in on a Friday night about 7:45 - it wasn't at all busy and the staff were VERY nice, attentive and fun. The food was great, the atmosphere is exactly what I'd expect from a chinese restaurant like this and we were all full and enjoyed our time there. I HIGHLY recommend!
(5)Will W.
No waiting... Great food... Remembers repeat customers.
(4)David H.
Not fancy but very good and fresh Chinese food, large portions at more than reasonable prices - and very friendly service. What more can you ask for?
(5)Greg P.
Food was fresh and crispy just different flavor profiles for common chinese dishes, I had the twice cooked pork and the sauce was a completely different flavor profile then any other twice cooked pork I have had in any restaurant. It is my favorite Chinese dish so i try it in any restaurant that has it. My wife had the szechuan chicken with again a completely different flavor profile from any Chinese dish either of us had ever. Neither tasted bad, just different. So if you are ordering don't give your taste buds a heads up on what they should be expecting. The Hot and Sour soup was really heavy on the Vinegar too. My wife didn't like her egg drop soup either she said it tasted funny.
(2)Joya P.
This place is unbelievably fantastic! The BEST Chinese food EVER, huge portions, great prices, fabulous service. And if you never get to try their Japanese margarita, you have missed one of the finest pleasures in life! Our first visit and guaranteed it won't be our last!
(5)Michael R.
Interior decor is a bit outdated, but the food was great. Be prepared to get a lot of food when ordering a full size dinner entrée. Hot and sour soup was delicious. Sweet and sour and hot mustard sauces were a little different than most other Chinese restaurants so be prepared!
(4)Bryan K.
Great fresh food! The owner was very kind and took a personal interest in our eating experience. If you like Chinese food you have got to come to this restaurant. Lunch specials are great!
(5)Terry M.
My 1st time to May Palace. I had the Szechuan Chicken tonight, it was not as spicy as I typically like it, I got 3 of 5 stars of graduated hotness. Of course it was average for me too. I just livened it up a bit with the mustard sauce at the table. Big servings that need to be boxed to go. Reasonable prices, Good food, and didn't have to wait.
(4)Cody E.
Pretty good food ... large portions too. They served the food "family style" so my wife and I could sample each other's food. Service was very friendly too. Great prices. Simple atmosphere.
(5)