China Ruby
157 W 9 Mile Rd, Ferndale, MI, 48220
China Ruby Menu
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Address :
157 W 9 Mile Rd
Ferndale, MI, 48220 - Phone (248) 546-8876
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
- Mon :Closed
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
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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Sarah K.
YUM! I have been eating at China Ruby since I was a little girl and it is, hands down, my favorite Chinese restaurant. It is a tiny, little hole in the wall but appearances can be deceiving - don't judge this place without trying it first! The combination dinners are huge and include soup, an egg roll, fried rice and an entree-and most are less than $7! Their wonton soup is delicious and filled with doughy wontons-and it is always served piping hot. My favorite entree is the almond boneless chicken: fried pieces of chicken with a thick, salty gravy. So unhealthy but delicious. I also love the garlic chicken, chicken fried rice & chop suey. This place defines comfort food. So yummy!!
(5)Christopher M.
Nothing bad to say about this tiny little restaurant. The waitress was nice as can be, the food was very satisfying and arrived in an extremely timely manner. If I'm in the area and craving some quick and tastey Chinese food, I'll make sure to remember that China Ruby is the place to go!
(4)Matt A.
Fairly standard American-style Chinese food. Good portion sizes and pretty good flavor, although I wish that my items had a bit more spice to them. I ordered a cup of hot and sour soup, two egg rolls, and orange beef. Everything tasted good and was piping hot. I have a pretty high spice tolerance so I think I will ask for my food to be made extra spicy next time, but overall I'm pretty satisfied and the price was reasonable ($14 and change). I'll definitely be back.
(4)Krystle S.
Service is good and staff is nice. Small menu, but what they make is tasty. I'd recommend it if you're looking for something decent and local to Ferndale, but I've had much better Chinese food that's fresher. So while not bad food, it's also not my first choice, but it's in my top 3.
(3)Rick S.
Typical Chinese dump with trashy food. Went here for the General Tso's chicken. Its the same sweet bland garbage found in 95% of restaurants, except they add some ginger to the sauce. Been searching for something good for 20 years. Place in Dearborn on telegraph near carslyle closed in the 90's nothing compared. Read Joe B's thread (best thread on yelp by the way) and thought my tastes we aligned with his but I guess not. Szechuan Empire didn't do it for me, neither did many of the others talked about. Trizest is awesome for the Sichuan, I will go back to try the generals otherwise I'm experimenting with making it myself.
(2)Maria N.
To preface this review, I grew up on the eastside where good Chinese food is hard to find. As are lots of things. The first time I went to China Ruby was high school... about 2005? A friend who lived in Ferndale when she was a wee one took me; she had been going with her family and getting the almond chicken--sauce on the side-- as long as she could remember. Naturally, that was the first thing I ever had there when I visited with her. It was good-- probably the best almond chicken I've had to this date, though I don't really eat it ever anyway. The chicken was in lil' nugget-esque bite-size pieces, and tasted fresh-- unlike the almond chicken offerings at other places, usually a bland-tasting, falling apart breaded chicken breast... or breast-shaped chicken patty. Next time I ventured out and got sesame chicken. Yeah, I know, adventurous. But it's the best sesame chicken I've ever had. Hands down. Nothing else compares. I can't really go anywhere else and order sesame chicken because it's just going to be a letdown. The steamed broccoli tastes so good and fresh compared to the veggie options at other American-style Chinese restaurants. I always ask for extra-- it balances out the sweet and nutty flavor of the sauce. I love how heavy handed they are with the extra sprinkling of sesame seeds on top of my carry out order. Also unstoppable: the lo mein, Mongolian beef, the dumplings, and any of daily "special" dishes sometimes posted up by the register. Not a huge fan of the egg rolls (I prefer less cabbage) but that's not why I go there. China Ruby is where it's AT!
(5)Bobby M.
Thee worst almond chicken I have ever had, from this place. You're better off just eating whatever you have around the house...
(1)Rusty S.
You know how a lot of Chinese food taste like that stuff you get at the mall food court. This place isnt like those places. Its not like some real gourmet type fair but its pretty damn good. They have some nice dishes you don't see at a lot of other chinese places. I like the curry chicken a lot. If you want decent chinese food, for the low low and fast, then hit up this spot.
(3)MyThy H.
Actually 4.5/5 I donno why I've waited so long to review China Ruby and Ms. Tina after eating here almost a dozen times. For MI, this is the best Chinese fast food joint. Its not a point-point joint. Everything is ordered off a menu (see pics) and cooked to order. If you order to go, ask to speak to Tina, she rocks and remembers your voice if you order more than once. We've dined in but mostly ordered for pick up. When we order, I ALWAYS get 2 eggrolls to go. Lemme tell ya, these are the chinese eggroll wrapper not the Vietnamese kind. Thick, large girth, filled w/ shredded cabbage and veggies AND NO MEAT. I actually like it that way. If I want a meaty no-veggie egg roll, I visit Que Huong or any Vietnamese restaurant for that. Next, order the General Tso's chicken. I disagree w/ Joe B. This is the best General Tso chicken I've ever had in MI and CA. I'm 1/2 Chinese and all my friends in CA own Chinese restaurants and China Ruby has it nailed. If you order and eat in, the chicken has the perfect amount of breading and fried then coated in their amazing brown gravy sauce sitting on top of a bed of steamed broccoli (see photo). Now if you order to go, the broccoli is on top of the chicken and I donno why. General Tso's shrimp was soggy when I ordered it to go b/c the batter was too thick and there was too much sauce. Spicy Mongolian pork is delish but no veggies just sliced thin sauteed onions. Thinly sliced pork and great sauce. Szechuan Shrimp had a sweet and sour taste to it and a little bit of heat. Veggie Mu Shoo has the same shredded cabbage and veggies found in the egg rolls. You can ask for pork/beef/shrimp mu shoo as well. I love the "chinese pancakes" they come with. They might be flour tortilla but I doubt it. There's something thin and fluffy about them. All mu shoo comes with standard hoisin dipping sauce. Almond Chicken: people love this but I can't get into it. Its battered and fried w/ a sauce. Honestly reminds me of Americanized Chinese version of chicken tonkatsu. Lo Mein is essentially chow mein and pick your protein to go w/ it. Skip the fried rice. Just white rice fried up w/ soy sauce. I like my fried rice to include bits of carrots, peas, egg and diced onions. (Like Vietnamese fried rice) Unfortunately they don't offer brown rice as a healthier alternative so stick to white rice. You can enjoy the flavors of your dish better. Egg drop soup is perfect amount of egg and bamboo slivers mixed in. Add pepper for a kick. Crab wontons has more cream cheese then crab to it even if its imitation crab. Not bad, but I like their egg rolls better. For awhile we were trying to eat the ENTIRE MENU but have started to just go with what we like. For starters, can't go wrong with General Tso's and egg rolls. P.s. Bathroom is downstairs and not the cleanest. Don't expect it to be as it's a mom & pop Asian restaurant and most Chinese/Vietnamese/Thai establishments don't have the prettiest bathrooms. It'll be clean, not pretty (aka, toilet paper or paper towels stacked high) General rule, if the food is good, the bathroom sucks. If the bathroom is cleaner, damn, your food won't taste so great.
(5)Ralph C.
This my first review of anyplace or anything. I think China Ruby is one of Ferndale's friendliest & tastiest places to eat. I often have requests that they handle without missing a beat on their way to serving a made to order treat. Lately I let the always present TINA have free reign on my lunch selection. And have never been disappointed! The "Birthday Soup" (not on menu), was as "real" a Chinese dish as can be had. Dumplings outstanding. I am partial to the chicken dishes (Tai Chen!!) & Shrimp and Scallops are GREAT. Not fancy just delicious!
(5)Kristin Z.
Sesame Chicken is delicious. It is crispy with a wonderful sweet sauce. I love how the chicken doesn't get soggy. On another note...I tried the Boneless Almond Chicken because of reviews I read on here and it was really gross. The chicken was dry and the gravy barely had any flavor. It was like eating dry chicken with sauce. I don't recommend it!
(4)Steve K.
The best chinese I've had in ferndale. I've been here 5 times and have had a variety of things... great friend rice and fresh food. I did end up sick after the last time but that could have been a coincidence since my friends eat here all the time and it was just that once. Staff is kinda rude. There is indoor seating.
(4)Abby B.
My friend and me ate there to try and mix things up, and I regret every moment. After eating what seemed to be decent but unspectacular sesame chicken, my friend began to dig into his beef dish only to be put off by a disgusting "piss" smell. Should have known from the smell of the bag something was off. Now I get 2 unpaid days from work, thanks ;).
(1)Nha V.
This is only for their dumplings. I love their dumplings and their sauce. So good! Its made fresh to order and even tho comes only with 3, they r big crispy and pretty filling. The sauce is probably the best. Not the typical dumpling sauce. A little on the sweet side. I had their food a while ago, dont remember how it is. I think it was just regular.
(4)Chadd H.
I have a 10 year love of this place. It started out many years back when I lived in Ferndale, near China Ruby. I was in love and went there at least a few times each week for several months. They set the standard for me, only I didn't realize just how good I had it. I eventually made my way out east to Warren and now Saint Clair Shores, and forgot all about China Ruby. Then one day I was fed up with not knowing any good Chinese places so I went on a Yelp powered quest to find some good chinese food in my area. Not only did I strike out after trying a dozen different places, but I saw a common theme in the comments, other people were having the same problem I did. I was talking with a friend about it and telling him how I used to go to this dive of a place in Ferndale called China Ruby, but it had been so long ago I couldn't imagine them still being around. I decided to look them up on Yelp and words couldn't express my excitement at seeing they were still around. So I went out for a 10 year reunion to this place to see if it was still as good as I remembered. The place was exactly the same, down to every detail, and it was everything I had hoped for. Now I make the 30 minute drive out there at least once or twice a month when I have the hankering, it is well worth the drive. I don't know enough to know if they're "good chinese or not" to the rest of you, but to me, after years of trying, I have yet to find a place I like better.
(5)Albert K.
This is a solid American-Chinese take-out joint. If you re into more authentic Chinese you may want to try Shangri-La, Trizest, or Hong Hua. However, if you want some good Kung Pao Shrimp or General Tsao's, this is a solid restaurant. I particularly like their pork dumplings. I also appreciate the fact that they do the little things, like making the dipping sauce for the crab rangoons from scratch, If you are in Ferndale, this is your best option for Chinese.
(4)Morgan D.
I'm not familiar with authentic Chinese food...I'm a General Tso's/cashew chicken/fake Chinese food lovin' gal. Sorry! But after five years of eating at the usually gross Chinese takeout places in midtown, someone recommended China Ruby. Man! This is the best fake Chinese food I've had in QUITE a long time. The chicken was crispy on the outside, moist on the inside, and the portions are good. They don't hoard duck sauce and hot mustard behind the counter like the places I've been frequenting, which is a big plus. We've gone out of our way to get food here a couple times now!
(4)Jamie D.
Now that I'm no longer in Michigan, I miss the curry chicken and the homemade crab rangoons. The portion sizes, great price, and excellent food make China Ruby a no-brainer. If only I could get them to deliver to the east coast.
(5)Sky W.
eww! trash! hate to be a hater, but i ordered the sweet and sour chicken. they screwed up my order.
(1)J.D. O.
My favorite Chinese restaurant in the area. China Ruby offers big portions at moderate prices. After traveling to Taiwan for two weeks, my taste for Chinese food has changed a bit, but China Ruby is still about as good as you'll get in Detroit.
(4)Melissa M.
I have NO IDEA how this place has such positive reviews. It was terrible. The lady who brought us menus and water/ took our order was very nice but the lady who brought us the food was very rude. My friend asked for a side of sweet and sour and she literally ignored her. My friend and I both got a combo. She started with the egg drop soup which was the most disgusting mushy thing I have ever seen and she didn't even eat it. I had the wonton soup which was also terrible. The filling inside was a disgusting, bland piece of chicken, possibly out of a can or something. Gross. The broth it was in was bland, too. I had the sweet and sour chicken and it was terrible. The rice on the side was actually decent, but that was the only thing. The chicken was soggy and the sauce was bland and flavorless. I don't think it was worth $9, and I didn't even take the leftovers cause there was no way I was going to eat it again. I wouldn't go back.
(1)Don H.
I only went once, it was okay. I purchased sweet and sour chicken to be safe. I received a bowl of soup (wonton), a spring roll, and S&S chicken for about $9-10. Soup was ok, noodles were pretty good. Spring roll was pretty typical. S&S chicken had onions and a couple very small pieces of pepper. The sauce was all right, not horrible. Maybe a few junks of pineapple. For $10, you'd think you'd get a few more veggies.
(3)Joseph H.
My fiancee and I walked in to China Ruby on a whim. The seating is definitely limited, but it's not terrible and there is reasonable room between tables. The young lady who seated us was very gracious - she quickly pointed out that she had just cleaned our table, and that it might be wet, so she grabbed a few napkins and thoroughly dried it before letting us sit. Overall, the place seemed clean, the decor was your usual cheap Chinese restausant stuff. Lots of newspaper clippings with good reviews and awards for the place were stuck up on the walls, but nothing recent. Really, I got up and read them; I found one from 1989. The awards seemed to stop around 2005. The menu was small - I flipped it over almost immediately and found out that it was only one-sided. We ordered the crab rangoons, tried two different soups, and I got the house special Spicy Szechuan Chicken. The server asked how spicy I wanted it, I told her very spicy please. I forget what the fiancee ordered, but it was another chicken dish off their combo selection. Overall, we were thoroughly disappointed with how bland the food was. My fiancee thought the rangoons were less cheesey than they should be. The soups were both pretty mediocre, we hardly touched them. My Spicy Chicken was not spicy in the least. My fiancee doesn't like spicy at all, she tried my food and agreed there was no heat. Final impression is that everything was hot and fresh, but very bland and mediocre. I could make better Chinese at home. Will not be returning to China Ruby.
(2)Michael S.
Best food around my office at 9 mile and Woodward hands down. Fast, hot, delicious, generous portions and all served with a smile.
(5)Hannah S.
Worst service and Chinese food I've ever had. They also served us spring rolls, instead of egg rolls and didn't ever come to the table to get us more water. Don't waste your time or taste buds.
(1)Joe B.
Some of you may have seen my Talk post about my search for some really good General Tso's Chicken. I have my favorites but I want the best. After sending out a thread I got a couple responses and decided to try one of the local favorites suggested. China Ruby sits on the south side of 9 Mile just West of Woodward on the Ferndale strip. It's next door to the bike shop and Winezilla. It's fairly unassuming and from the outside looks pretty unremarkable but people swear by this place!!! I had to check it out on Tony Stark's recommendation and this was my take on it. I ordered the General's Chicken combo "as hot" as they could make it with a spring roll and some wonton soup on the side for good measure. Who doesn't love spring rolls or wonton soup after all?! The soup was OK...someone here compared it to chicken flavored rainwater but it was fairly decent. I've had worse, and better, but I can say that the wonton was way way overcooked and fell apart into doughy masses that were not so fantastic. On top of that, they could use a little meat in them (sorry vegans), and maybe some Asian Bok Choy floating in the broth, which would make this a much better soup. The spring roll was really good..I truly enjoyed it. It was crispy and fresh and a decent size relative to most. The clincher was the egg roll though. One of the better, maybe the best, I've ever had with NO sprouts to speak of which is a very good sign. It was all cabbage and carrots and a few other veggies and it was packed! Their egg rolls are the biggest I've ever seen although they could really use some real plum sauce to accompany them rather than those packets of Duck Sauce, at to that some actual spicy Chinese hot mustard versus those generic packets, and again, it would be a huge improvement. Now onto my quest. I'll start by saying that my combo probably weighed an actual 5 pounds. You could likely feed a family of four on one combo. As for the contents...I got a ton of fried rice, some steamed broccoli florets and the Tso's. The fried rice was sub par at best....I couldn't tell if there was chicken in it but it was pretty bland. The florets were steamed just right and not over or under done. The General's though, the reason for this excursion to begin with, was not very good. Someone mentioned that they use "pressed" chicken which is pretty ubiquitous in so many Chinese joint's chicken dishes. I'm not sure if it's actually formed but they do batter it TO DEATH! Biting into the biggest piece of "white meat" I found that it was mostly breading...that spongy kind that has virtually no texture to it. The sauce was, unfortunately and probably, the same they use for their Sesame Chicken and likely a mother sauce they adapt to any dish ordered within limits. It's not what I was looking for but I will give them huge props for the spice level being hotter than most I've ordered elsewhere!! Considering I asked for it as hot as they could make it, I was underwhelmed but they made a nice effort nonetheless. But my search for the best General's will continue for now. Onto Carrie Lee's in Waterford...and maybe Mon Jin Lao next if they make a version of Tso's.
(3)Pea J.
I've been going there forever...Tina the owner always makes sure everything is okay..the food is plentiful good and inexpensive... Hard combo to best...
(5)Minh S.
This place is pretty small, and easy to miss if you're not looking for it (it's the next street after Inyo) but it's pretty good. Chinese is Chinese though. I liked the dumplings, but the sauce that came with it was very oily. But it tasted yummy. I guess sacrifices must be made in the health area for the taste area. The food is pretty good. I ordered the curry chicken, but it wasnt the yellow curry that you might think. It's more of a vietnamese curry, which is black and looks like teriyaki sauce. It was good though...well good enough for me to be back. If I'm ever in the area again, i'd stop here. There were some things that sounded interesting on the menu that I didn't get to try. Oh yeah and they've been at that location since 1991 (at least), and the people that own it are Vietnamese, not Chinese. So if you're Vietnamese and lonely (or friendly), you can converse in the mother tongue.
(4)Deena D.
this review is only for their chicken fried rice and shrimp fried rice. I cannot speak for anything else on the menu, since I have never tried anything else here. The fried rice is delicious and ALWAYS fresh, with a generous portion of either chicken or shrimp. I have been coming here for a few years now, and have not been disappointed yet.
(5)Sterling H.
I think Rina summed it up perfectly in the previous review. Cheap Chinese food at a cheap price. After one visit, I wouldn't torture my taste buds again.
(2)ha a.
still fabulous after all these years! tina never forgets what you like!
(5)Heather J.
I have yet to find a "go to" Chinese takeout restaurant in the Ferndale and Royal Oak area. I entered China Ruby with high hopes for a solid restaurant option based on the current crop of Yelp reviews. Did it meet expectations? The large menu holds all the typical dishes for American-Chinese fare: almond chicken, sweet and sour, broccoli in a brown sauce, lots of noodle dishes, egg fu yung. Nothing stands out as an unusual addition. Helpful guidelines for spiciness and popular or specialty choices are on the menu; staff was happy to answer questions. The beau and I decided to dine in on a foggy evening, watching the traffic stream by on Nine Mile and Woodward. He went for sweet and sour chicken; I had General Tso's on rice. Egg rolls came highly recommended, though we could take or leave them normally. I found mine too large and a bit too greasy to eat. The beau finished half of his. I could have gone without. China Ruby's portions are generous enough for two and a half meals, definitely intended to be taken home. With standard prices between $6 and $10, you can clear up what you'll eat tomorrow for lunch and dinner the instant you sign your pen to a printed receipt and come out ahead of whatever other fast food meal or Starbucks frothy calorie catastrophe of mocha caramel venti deliciousness might tempt you. The food itself was not especially memorable. It wasn't greasy, too spicy or awash in its own sauces. I asked for sauce on the side to be able to decide how much I would use, which is definitely the way to go. But the flavours failed to pop much. They blur together in a bit of baked, crispy crunch and chewy chicken. I would have liked more kick to the food, and that might be my fault. Next time, I'll ask for them to spice it up a bit. The sauces are thick and pretty goopy, hence why getting a saucer on the side makes the dining experience much less messy and more tasteful.
(3)Heather M.
This place is B*A*D as in "not good"!! Giant oversized bland eggrolls stuffed solely w cabbage. Ate spicy peanut chicken dish - no flavor. They screwed up our order n sent the wrong second dish - broccoli n beef , instead sent broccoli n chicken :/ another flavorless dish. Only thing I can say in their favor was they weren't skimpy on the chicken nor was it breaded . . . But still, overall blech
(1)Alexander W.
I only ever get sesame chicken and it is always good. I didn't take off a star... I just don't have the "whole story" about this place to be able to give it five stars. I never eat in or try different dishes. Prices are good.
(4)Ms K.
I've been eating at this restaurant for 13 years now since I moved to Oakland County. Bit if a language barrier but the owners are very friendly and the food never disappoints. Highly recommended.
(5)Rina B.
Low quality Chinese food for a low price.
(2)Christa B.
Recently moved to the area and had to find good chinese food...this is the place! Had the lo mein, sweet and sour chicken, pepper steak, shrimp fried rice...everything is good, fresh, and hot. This place is always busy (small) but is worth the wait. Carryout is always a good choice :)
(5)Victor R.
I've been to China Ruby three or four times now and I have to say its been a nice surprise. I always get the General's Chicken and I've been very happy with it. The chicken is fried crispy with breading yet not dried out. The sauce is flavorful and unlike a lot of other hole in the wall Chinese places they actually give you enough sauce to coat all the chicken, even when getting take out. The only issue I had with the General's Chicken is that even when you order it as spicy/hot as they make you can barely taste the heat at all. That said, its still really flavorful so I wasn't overly disappointed. I've also had the fried pork dumplings and they are fantastic. I don't know what they put in them or in the dipping sauce but they are by far the best dumplings I've ever had. That said the egg rolls are on the bland side of average. The wrappers are good, crunchy without being dried out or tough but the filling is nothing but shredded cabbage, no meat or other veggies. My girlfriend loved them but I could take them or leave them and would opt for a different appetizer. The hot and sour soup was again kind of bland, not enough hot or sour to really pop. The wonton soup, however, was fantastic. It had a lot of wonton in it, much more than you usually see in carry out Chinese food. The portions sizes are quite big. I've order the combo meals with soup and egg roll and the stand alone large entree, regardless of which I ordered it lasted me two meals and reheats wonderfully, which for me is a must of take out Chinese. If you're going to eat in they have about five four-top tables and a few seats at the counter. The restaurant is very clean and bright so don't let the kind of dingy, faded sign scare you off. Not the greatest Chinese food in the world but very solid and consistently good in both flavor and value. Definitely check it out. Just remember when picking up take out orders that its on 9 mile and parking is often impossible and always metered unless your willing to walk a few blocks.
(4)S H.
There were so many good reviews so my husband and i decided to test it out! We were pretty stoked to try a new place especially if it was going to be better than anything else around. We were really disappointed :( it was gross. We order the Spicy Mongolian Beef. There was more white onion than beef in the dish. We had to pick out most of it just so we could actually get to some of the "good stuff". Unfortunately, to boot, it was also not spicy and it also didnt have hardly any flavor, unless you count fat or grease a flavor. ew. We also got the Cashew Chicken. I normally LOVE Cashew Chicken. This was, again, really disappointing. It was mediocre and best. The Egg rolls were ok, the spring rolls were ok. Rice was standard. Chinese food never lasts more than 48 hours in our house. It's day four, im pretty sure it's just going to be thrown out. Again, ew. Idk what these positive reviews were raving about. I would take Wing Hing Inn over China Ruby anyday (which says a lot) or drive all the way to Birmingham for decent Chinese instead of going to this place ever again. It is seriously overrated by a long shot!!
(1)Tony S.
Kind of fun watching people trying to get in and out through the messed up front entry door. Don't let this hole in the wall looking place fool you, the food is very good. Used to go here with my buddy quite a bit back in the day. The best pot stickers in Michigan. The best General Tso's chicken in Michigan. Great Shanghai Shrimp. Egg rolls: no meat in these. meh. Hot & Sour soup: meh. 4.25 Stars
(4)Treasure G.
I seriously love this place. I can only speak on the almond chicken and sweet and sour chicken (I'm a creature of habit), but both are awesome. Two things I don't enjoy here: the soda is always flat and they don't have plum sauce (say what?!) Other than that, they have great prices and super fast and friendly service (the lady who is always working knows my voice when I call. Not sure if that's a good or a bad thing ... haha).
(4)Dave M.
Almost 20 years ago, I stepped inside Ferndale's China Ruby for the first time, on the advice of a friend. A fresh coat of paint and numerous "Best Of" awards later, China Ruby is still doing what it does best--serving up tasty Asian cuisine in large portions, at rock bottom prices. This 30-some seat diner is located in a strip just west of Woodward on 9 mile. You could easily walk right past without ever noticing this place. The crowd inside, mostly regulars, is an eclectic mix on any given day. Owner Tina presides over the dining room, carryout and cash register. The service is friendly and quick--really quick! Start with the dumplings, which are loaded with ground pork and veggies. They can be enjoyed steamed or fried. Vegetable and chicken dumplings are also available. The hot and sour soup and the egg drop are both good. The egg rolls = disappointing. On our most recent visit, we tried the evening's special entrée, Szechuan rice noodles with beef. The noodles were thick, the beef tender and juicy. We ordered this "mild-plus", which packed just a bit of heat. The brown Szechuan sauce, clinging to the noodles, was delicious. Personal favorites here are the Amazing Chicken--with peapods, mushrooms, onions, water chestnuts and carrots, in a tangy dark sauce; Kung Pao Chicken and Shrimp; and the Sesame Chicken, which can be ordered traditionally (breaded and fried), or stir-fried without the breading. What stands out about the Sesame Chicken and Amazing Chicken are the sauces. I'm not sure what the secret ingredient is, but once you start eating, you can't stop. You've been warned.
(4)Benjamin S.
Brilliant, unpretentious Chinese takeout; my family and I have been coming here for at least twenty years, and there are places that satisfy like this. Their tofu and vegetarian dishes are a particular delight.
(5)Adam B.
I was in town on business for a day and looking for a good place to have some Chinese. I took a ride down to China Ruby based on these reviews. It basically looks like your average take out place on the inside with extra tables. I got the Mongolian beef combo. The food was very good and the people were extremely friendly. If you're not looking for a "restaurant" setting, and just looking to have a good meal, I definitely recommend it.
(4)Nickie P.
Good, solid Chinese food. The egg drop soup I had was a bit bland. All in all, nothing special, but a good place to go for quick takeout.
(3)Neil K.
While I am not Chinese, I consider myself a professional American Chinese food aficionado. I usually love a good authentic hole in the wall Chinese restaurant and China Ruby had some great qualities, but this restaurant broke one of my most sacred Chinese food vows; though shall not serve small pieces of breaded chicken! Breaking this vow leads to to dry chicken with more crunch than juicy chicken. It leads me think that they might be doing this to serve less chicken, which equates to less costs, and replace it with unhealthy fried breading. I will say that their sauce was great in both the general Tso's and garlic chicken though. Another red flag was raised when I tasted their hot and sour soup..... Kind of bland and much more broth than substance. I will catch them on another day and try some other dishes. Until then, stay crispy everyone!
(3)Jean P.
I have been to China Ruby a couple of times...I'm totally craving it right now but am trying to cut back so I'll just have to daydream while I review! My husband and I came here a few times and have always eaten in. Service is FAST FAST FAST! After placing your order, you immediately get soup (assuming you ordered a combo) and by the time you're swallowing the last spoonful, here comes lunch! I have tried a couple of different entrees, and the only one that didn't delight my heart & soul was a shrimp & vegetable one - guess I was expecting a lighter-tasting sauce but it was real brown and real heavy. I could just bury my head in the huge pile of steaming hot rice and live there though! The egg rolls are darn tasty too, and also tongue-burning hot even if you leave them til "dessert." The atmosphere is Basic Chinese Diner: not fancy at all, a few tables, a big window facing the action on 9 Mile. This is a no-muss, no-fuss operation. It's clean enough...I can't say I'd eat off the floor, but the tables are always tidy and wiped down. If you're craving something super hot, salty, and a little bit greasy, China Ruby has you covered. Don't go there right before getting your blood pressure checked, though. We learned that one the hard way.
(4)Rebecca T.
Just like I remember from high school (complete with the same woman working behind the counter). Typical Chinese fare, massive amounts, good fried rice, cheap and plenty for leftovers, what more could you ask for? Besides better parking, but that's my gripe with the City of Ferndale.
(4)Erich Z.
Your everyday suburban General Tso's/ Almond Chicken/ Sweet and Sour garbage. If you like eating that crap then more power to you. There is nothing on the menu other than Meat + Veggie +Syrupy Sauce combinations, which I liked when I was maybe 16, but have since outgrown. If you like the Chinese Food in the mall, expect to be satisfied here.
(2)Alex G.
I found it very difficult to place an order over the phone with this place. The woman did not understand english. For one quart and one combo platter she tried to charge me $27.49. I asked her to justify the price and she giggled and handed the phone to someone else where I could her her say "I don't know how". I would strongly recommend driving there, drawing circles around the menu items you want and handing it to the woman if you want food here.
(1)Shawn W.
Great local Chinese food place. I've had pretty good experiences each time I've eaten here. The chicken in the chicken dishes is tender, the flavors are good, and the orders are prepared quickly. Overall, this is one of the better fast Chinese food restaurants in the area.
(4)Jill J.
We recently moved to Ferndale and have been sampling the Chinese restaurants in the area and China Ruby is by far our favorite (granted, as several reviewers have pointed out, they are in some astoundingly bad company). Tasty and incredibly fast, their full portions are huge and my partner and I can split one and still feel satisfied. He likes the General Tso's - and likes that they'll kick up the spice on request - and I am a big fan of the sesame chicken, which here isn't the soggy mess that I've found elsewhere. Oh - and re: parking - if you are calling in then you can park short term behind the restaurant.
(4)Rene R.
Since moving to the area within the past year I have been on the search for some good Chinese food. The first time I ordered from here my thoughts were that if far surpassed my expectations and was far better than the other local joints. I like that their sweet and sour chicken comes in the orange-ish sauce and not the red sauce, and their egg roll was pretty amazing compared to others I had tried. Second time ordering from here with my boyfriend it was only ok. I ordered a veggie dish and it had way too many water chestnuts and bamboo shoots. But what really got me was that we got one egg roll and one spring roll, yet we didn't ask for a spring roll. Ok, mistakes happen. I let it slide because I figured next time I would stick to the sweet and sour chicken and all would be good. Third time, and unfortunately we placed the order right before close, I told them about last time and specified that we wanted two egg rolls. Got home, opened the food only to find that we didn't receive any egg rolls (or spring rolls for that matter). I just ordered from here for my fourth and final time. Apparently the staff cannot tell the difference between an egg roll and a spring roll, as we received spring rolls with our meals after specifying egg rolls.
(2)Miike G.
This place was recommended to me from a close friend of the area. What I didn't realize was that they served "styrofoam meats" or "pressed meats" when you order a meal with "chicken, beef". So if you like fake meat check this dump out!
(1)Todd E.
I was sick this weekend and got some wonton soup. I think it was just chicken flavored rain water laden with too many noodles and nothing else.
(2)Jenn V.
Needed to fix my craving for some Chinese food tonight and took a chance at trying this place out. Called in my order and it was done in 10 mins. We stuck to sweet and sour chicken, since I didn't want to take a risk on a place I had never tried.. so we kept it simple. The combo plates include the entree, fried rice, egg roll and choice of soup (hot and sour, wonton or egg drop). They are reasonably priced at around $7.50. The menu seems pretty standard to most Chinese places and the quality is OK-- not gross, but not fabulous. Somewhere in btwn and perfectly acceptable by my standards. And the portions are HUGE. The combos are enough for a good 2 meals. Although I got take out I noticed that the restaurant itself wasn't a 'greasy diner' nor 'absolutely disgusting inside' as some reviewers have claimed. I am not calling them liars, I just want to point out that the only explanation could be that they have remodeled. The floor was newer looking tile, the walls looked freshly painted and they had clean looking tables and chairs with an LCD hanging from the wall. I would still probably stick to take out though. Ultimately, China Ruby is quick, decent and cheap. All I need when it comes time to fulfill a Chinese food craving!
(3)Jessica Y.
The lo-mein is intense. I'm really picky about my lo-mein because I like New York style Chinese food, and often I get this soupy watery mess of lo-mein. But this was well sauced and crazy awesome. I thought the egg drop soup was a bit too thin, but other than that I'll go back. It's kind of cute inside, tiny and busy. The cashier was very sweet too.
(4)Robert P.
ok, i live so close to this place I wish it was on the same level of goodness as Mays thai food but alas it is not. Pretty much american style chinese although if you read all the articles on the walls it seems otherwise. You can ask the chef to do some special lobster i believe canton style but you have to let them know beforehand because they just dont stock that kind of food anymore... sad face anywho decent overall nothing crazy out of this world but not as bad at HONG KONG ONE lol gosh i hate that place...
(3)Angela F.
Was just getting ready to head out for some Chinese food. Luckily, China Ruby is just down the street! I thought I would check out the Yelper commentary and was pleased to see them here. Agree with some of the others - we usually get the Mongolian Beef and M-S Pork and are extremely happy with our orders. Both of which we "go high maintenance" on and get extra this, light that. And yep - the others are right. They will remember me and my special order as soon as I say Moo Shoo Pork! Always get takeout. Clean inside, which is the main thing. UPDATE: They did, in fact remodel. Nice clean paint, flooring, and tables and chairs. Food seemed even better than the usually great stuff and I fell asleep within 45 minutes. THAT's a sign of good Chinese Food!
(4)Otis M.
Comfort food. We've been coming here for 15 years. Great place for a filling lunch, get a combo. The garlic chicken is my fave.
(3)Andy V.
I got some carry-out here based on the reviews. I was pretty impressed. Young's in RO is far closer to me but the grease and mundane greasy food rules it out. We got Amazing Chicken and Szechwan Shrimp. Both were very good. The prices are on par with most places like this and a quart here = a quart anywhere so I don't get why everyone says this is some great value. The sauces were excellent, the meat was great the vegetables were a little lacking but they didn't fill the dishes full of filler celery like other places do so big bonus points for that. We'll be back.
(4)Stephen D.
The food is served hot and quick, but honestly it's typical midwestern "Chinese" fare - the normal stuff is bland, and the spicy stuff is typical. The service is fast, though, which I like.
(2)Nate H.
The only chinese food place I have been to more than once in the past three years. Consistently good food. The pot stickers are the best around and the lo mein is even better the next day reheated. Little bit of a greasy diner inside but like all good take out places food is done quickly and well. Perfect for sitting in front of the TV watching UFC, I've been told. Go figure.
(4)Kara M.
I don't get the rave reviews AT ALL. I've given China Ruby a fair share of tries, and the food just isn't good. I know everyone has their favorite places, but I'm baffled every time I hear about how great China Ruby is. Thank goodness I'm not the only person I know who agrees... I don't know who the people are who are rating this place highly, or voting for it for the numerous "best of" awards, but they aren't people I know. Blech blech blech. There is just no effort put into the food. Look at your wonton soup the next time you go in...where is the...well...anything? EWWWW. I live in Ferndale, walk by frequently, and just think "how the HELL is this place still operating?"
(1)speak n.
This place is pretty good and right next to my favorite coffee shop, Java Hutt. I have gone next door to eat here and gone back to studying at Java Hutt. The food is pretty good, quick service, and the price is right. It is definitely worth the trip when in Ferndale.
(3)Erica K.
Ok, so now I live in Chicago, and I have to admit I'm a little spoiled by China Town, but that aside, I used to really enjoy going to China Ruby. My ex-boyfriend lived right down the street so we went kind of a lot. The food was usually good and the service was very fast and friendly. I totally recommend checking it out, and if I happen to make it back I'll post an update!
(3)Keith C.
China Ruby is consistently good. Love the Mongolian Beef or Pepper Steak. Perfect for takeout. The owner (Lisa?) is friendly. Service is fast (takeout ready in 10 minutes). I hope they can remodel and "freshen" up the place a bit in the future. Downtown Ferndale is moving upscale....we need China Ruby to follow and do well.
(4)Jay D.
The service is fast, the food is reasonably priced, the lomein is....soft. I have had much better vegetable lomein, to be honest. Vegetable delight (with white rice) is pretty decent. They always give ample fortune cookies, and that makes me happy. The decor leaves a lot to be desired.
(3)Abby B.
My friend and me ate there to try and mix things up, and I regret every moment. After eating what seemed to be decent but unspectacular sesame chicken, my friend began to dig into his beef dish only to be put off by a disgusting "piss" smell. Should have known from the smell of the bag something was off. Now I get 2 unpaid days from work, thanks ;).
(1)Nha V.
This is only for their dumplings. I love their dumplings and their sauce. So good! Its made fresh to order and even tho comes only with 3, they r big crispy and pretty filling. The sauce is probably the best. Not the typical dumpling sauce. A little on the sweet side. I had their food a while ago, dont remember how it is. I think it was just regular.
(4)Morgan D.
I'm not familiar with authentic Chinese food...I'm a General Tso's/cashew chicken/fake Chinese food lovin' gal. Sorry! But after five years of eating at the usually gross Chinese takeout places in midtown, someone recommended China Ruby. Man! This is the best fake Chinese food I've had in QUITE a long time. The chicken was crispy on the outside, moist on the inside, and the portions are good. They don't hoard duck sauce and hot mustard behind the counter like the places I've been frequenting, which is a big plus. We've gone out of our way to get food here a couple times now!
(4)Steve K.
The best chinese I've had in ferndale. I've been here 5 times and have had a variety of things... great friend rice and fresh food. I did end up sick after the last time but that could have been a coincidence since my friends eat here all the time and it was just that once. Staff is kinda rude. There is indoor seating.
(4)MyThy H.
Actually 4.5/5 I donno why I've waited so long to review China Ruby and Ms. Tina after eating here almost a dozen times. For MI, this is the best Chinese fast food joint. Its not a point-point joint. Everything is ordered off a menu (see pics) and cooked to order. If you order to go, ask to speak to Tina, she rocks and remembers your voice if you order more than once. We've dined in but mostly ordered for pick up. When we order, I ALWAYS get 2 eggrolls to go. Lemme tell ya, these are the chinese eggroll wrapper not the Vietnamese kind. Thick, large girth, filled w/ shredded cabbage and veggies AND NO MEAT. I actually like it that way. If I want a meaty no-veggie egg roll, I visit Que Huong or any Vietnamese restaurant for that. Next, order the General Tso's chicken. I disagree w/ Joe B. This is the best General Tso chicken I've ever had in MI and CA. I'm 1/2 Chinese and all my friends in CA own Chinese restaurants and China Ruby has it nailed. If you order and eat in, the chicken has the perfect amount of breading and fried then coated in their amazing brown gravy sauce sitting on top of a bed of steamed broccoli (see photo). Now if you order to go, the broccoli is on top of the chicken and I donno why. General Tso's shrimp was soggy when I ordered it to go b/c the batter was too thick and there was too much sauce. Spicy Mongolian pork is delish but no veggies just sliced thin sauteed onions. Thinly sliced pork and great sauce. Szechuan Shrimp had a sweet and sour taste to it and a little bit of heat. Veggie Mu Shoo has the same shredded cabbage and veggies found in the egg rolls. You can ask for pork/beef/shrimp mu shoo as well. I love the "chinese pancakes" they come with. They might be flour tortilla but I doubt it. There's something thin and fluffy about them. All mu shoo comes with standard hoisin dipping sauce. Almond Chicken: people love this but I can't get into it. Its battered and fried w/ a sauce. Honestly reminds me of Americanized Chinese version of chicken tonkatsu. Lo Mein is essentially chow mein and pick your protein to go w/ it. Skip the fried rice. Just white rice fried up w/ soy sauce. I like my fried rice to include bits of carrots, peas, egg and diced onions. (Like Vietnamese fried rice) Unfortunately they don't offer brown rice as a healthier alternative so stick to white rice. You can enjoy the flavors of your dish better. Egg drop soup is perfect amount of egg and bamboo slivers mixed in. Add pepper for a kick. Crab wontons has more cream cheese then crab to it even if its imitation crab. Not bad, but I like their egg rolls better. For awhile we were trying to eat the ENTIRE MENU but have started to just go with what we like. For starters, can't go wrong with General Tso's and egg rolls. P.s. Bathroom is downstairs and not the cleanest. Don't expect it to be as it's a mom & pop Asian restaurant and most Chinese/Vietnamese/Thai establishments don't have the prettiest bathrooms. It'll be clean, not pretty (aka, toilet paper or paper towels stacked high) General rule, if the food is good, the bathroom sucks. If the bathroom is cleaner, damn, your food won't taste so great.
(5)Christa B.
Recently moved to the area and had to find good chinese food...this is the place! Had the lo mein, sweet and sour chicken, pepper steak, shrimp fried rice...everything is good, fresh, and hot. This place is always busy (small) but is worth the wait. Carryout is always a good choice :)
(5)Albert K.
This is a solid American-Chinese take-out joint. If you re into more authentic Chinese you may want to try Shangri-La, Trizest, or Hong Hua. However, if you want some good Kung Pao Shrimp or General Tsao's, this is a solid restaurant. I particularly like their pork dumplings. I also appreciate the fact that they do the little things, like making the dipping sauce for the crab rangoons from scratch, If you are in Ferndale, this is your best option for Chinese.
(4)Christopher M.
Nothing bad to say about this tiny little restaurant. The waitress was nice as can be, the food was very satisfying and arrived in an extremely timely manner. If I'm in the area and craving some quick and tastey Chinese food, I'll make sure to remember that China Ruby is the place to go!
(4)Matt A.
Fairly standard American-style Chinese food. Good portion sizes and pretty good flavor, although I wish that my items had a bit more spice to them. I ordered a cup of hot and sour soup, two egg rolls, and orange beef. Everything tasted good and was piping hot. I have a pretty high spice tolerance so I think I will ask for my food to be made extra spicy next time, but overall I'm pretty satisfied and the price was reasonable ($14 and change). I'll definitely be back.
(4)Krystle S.
Service is good and staff is nice. Small menu, but what they make is tasty. I'd recommend it if you're looking for something decent and local to Ferndale, but I've had much better Chinese food that's fresher. So while not bad food, it's also not my first choice, but it's in my top 3.
(3)Maria N.
To preface this review, I grew up on the eastside where good Chinese food is hard to find. As are lots of things. The first time I went to China Ruby was high school... about 2005? A friend who lived in Ferndale when she was a wee one took me; she had been going with her family and getting the almond chicken--sauce on the side-- as long as she could remember. Naturally, that was the first thing I ever had there when I visited with her. It was good-- probably the best almond chicken I've had to this date, though I don't really eat it ever anyway. The chicken was in lil' nugget-esque bite-size pieces, and tasted fresh-- unlike the almond chicken offerings at other places, usually a bland-tasting, falling apart breaded chicken breast... or breast-shaped chicken patty. Next time I ventured out and got sesame chicken. Yeah, I know, adventurous. But it's the best sesame chicken I've ever had. Hands down. Nothing else compares. I can't really go anywhere else and order sesame chicken because it's just going to be a letdown. The steamed broccoli tastes so good and fresh compared to the veggie options at other American-style Chinese restaurants. I always ask for extra-- it balances out the sweet and nutty flavor of the sauce. I love how heavy handed they are with the extra sprinkling of sesame seeds on top of my carry out order. Also unstoppable: the lo mein, Mongolian beef, the dumplings, and any of daily "special" dishes sometimes posted up by the register. Not a huge fan of the egg rolls (I prefer less cabbage) but that's not why I go there. China Ruby is where it's AT!
(5)Ralph C.
This my first review of anyplace or anything. I think China Ruby is one of Ferndale's friendliest & tastiest places to eat. I often have requests that they handle without missing a beat on their way to serving a made to order treat. Lately I let the always present TINA have free reign on my lunch selection. And have never been disappointed! The "Birthday Soup" (not on menu), was as "real" a Chinese dish as can be had. Dumplings outstanding. I am partial to the chicken dishes (Tai Chen!!) & Shrimp and Scallops are GREAT. Not fancy just delicious!
(5)Heather J.
I have yet to find a "go to" Chinese takeout restaurant in the Ferndale and Royal Oak area. I entered China Ruby with high hopes for a solid restaurant option based on the current crop of Yelp reviews. Did it meet expectations? The large menu holds all the typical dishes for American-Chinese fare: almond chicken, sweet and sour, broccoli in a brown sauce, lots of noodle dishes, egg fu yung. Nothing stands out as an unusual addition. Helpful guidelines for spiciness and popular or specialty choices are on the menu; staff was happy to answer questions. The beau and I decided to dine in on a foggy evening, watching the traffic stream by on Nine Mile and Woodward. He went for sweet and sour chicken; I had General Tso's on rice. Egg rolls came highly recommended, though we could take or leave them normally. I found mine too large and a bit too greasy to eat. The beau finished half of his. I could have gone without. China Ruby's portions are generous enough for two and a half meals, definitely intended to be taken home. With standard prices between $6 and $10, you can clear up what you'll eat tomorrow for lunch and dinner the instant you sign your pen to a printed receipt and come out ahead of whatever other fast food meal or Starbucks frothy calorie catastrophe of mocha caramel venti deliciousness might tempt you. The food itself was not especially memorable. It wasn't greasy, too spicy or awash in its own sauces. I asked for sauce on the side to be able to decide how much I would use, which is definitely the way to go. But the flavours failed to pop much. They blur together in a bit of baked, crispy crunch and chewy chicken. I would have liked more kick to the food, and that might be my fault. Next time, I'll ask for them to spice it up a bit. The sauces are thick and pretty goopy, hence why getting a saucer on the side makes the dining experience much less messy and more tasteful.
(3)Heather M.
This place is B*A*D as in "not good"!! Giant oversized bland eggrolls stuffed solely w cabbage. Ate spicy peanut chicken dish - no flavor. They screwed up our order n sent the wrong second dish - broccoli n beef , instead sent broccoli n chicken :/ another flavorless dish. Only thing I can say in their favor was they weren't skimpy on the chicken nor was it breaded . . . But still, overall blech
(1)Alexander W.
I only ever get sesame chicken and it is always good. I didn't take off a star... I just don't have the "whole story" about this place to be able to give it five stars. I never eat in or try different dishes. Prices are good.
(4)Ms K.
I've been eating at this restaurant for 13 years now since I moved to Oakland County. Bit if a language barrier but the owners are very friendly and the food never disappoints. Highly recommended.
(5)Kristin Z.
Sesame Chicken is delicious. It is crispy with a wonderful sweet sauce. I love how the chicken doesn't get soggy. On another note...I tried the Boneless Almond Chicken because of reviews I read on here and it was really gross. The chicken was dry and the gravy barely had any flavor. It was like eating dry chicken with sauce. I don't recommend it!
(4)Joseph H.
My fiancee and I walked in to China Ruby on a whim. The seating is definitely limited, but it's not terrible and there is reasonable room between tables. The young lady who seated us was very gracious - she quickly pointed out that she had just cleaned our table, and that it might be wet, so she grabbed a few napkins and thoroughly dried it before letting us sit. Overall, the place seemed clean, the decor was your usual cheap Chinese restausant stuff. Lots of newspaper clippings with good reviews and awards for the place were stuck up on the walls, but nothing recent. Really, I got up and read them; I found one from 1989. The awards seemed to stop around 2005. The menu was small - I flipped it over almost immediately and found out that it was only one-sided. We ordered the crab rangoons, tried two different soups, and I got the house special Spicy Szechuan Chicken. The server asked how spicy I wanted it, I told her very spicy please. I forget what the fiancee ordered, but it was another chicken dish off their combo selection. Overall, we were thoroughly disappointed with how bland the food was. My fiancee thought the rangoons were less cheesey than they should be. The soups were both pretty mediocre, we hardly touched them. My Spicy Chicken was not spicy in the least. My fiancee doesn't like spicy at all, she tried my food and agreed there was no heat. Final impression is that everything was hot and fresh, but very bland and mediocre. I could make better Chinese at home. Will not be returning to China Ruby.
(2)Michael S.
Best food around my office at 9 mile and Woodward hands down. Fast, hot, delicious, generous portions and all served with a smile.
(5)Chadd H.
I have a 10 year love of this place. It started out many years back when I lived in Ferndale, near China Ruby. I was in love and went there at least a few times each week for several months. They set the standard for me, only I didn't realize just how good I had it. I eventually made my way out east to Warren and now Saint Clair Shores, and forgot all about China Ruby. Then one day I was fed up with not knowing any good Chinese places so I went on a Yelp powered quest to find some good chinese food in my area. Not only did I strike out after trying a dozen different places, but I saw a common theme in the comments, other people were having the same problem I did. I was talking with a friend about it and telling him how I used to go to this dive of a place in Ferndale called China Ruby, but it had been so long ago I couldn't imagine them still being around. I decided to look them up on Yelp and words couldn't express my excitement at seeing they were still around. So I went out for a 10 year reunion to this place to see if it was still as good as I remembered. The place was exactly the same, down to every detail, and it was everything I had hoped for. Now I make the 30 minute drive out there at least once or twice a month when I have the hankering, it is well worth the drive. I don't know enough to know if they're "good chinese or not" to the rest of you, but to me, after years of trying, I have yet to find a place I like better.
(5)Melissa M.
I have NO IDEA how this place has such positive reviews. It was terrible. The lady who brought us menus and water/ took our order was very nice but the lady who brought us the food was very rude. My friend asked for a side of sweet and sour and she literally ignored her. My friend and I both got a combo. She started with the egg drop soup which was the most disgusting mushy thing I have ever seen and she didn't even eat it. I had the wonton soup which was also terrible. The filling inside was a disgusting, bland piece of chicken, possibly out of a can or something. Gross. The broth it was in was bland, too. I had the sweet and sour chicken and it was terrible. The rice on the side was actually decent, but that was the only thing. The chicken was soggy and the sauce was bland and flavorless. I don't think it was worth $9, and I didn't even take the leftovers cause there was no way I was going to eat it again. I wouldn't go back.
(1)Don H.
I only went once, it was okay. I purchased sweet and sour chicken to be safe. I received a bowl of soup (wonton), a spring roll, and S&S chicken for about $9-10. Soup was ok, noodles were pretty good. Spring roll was pretty typical. S&S chicken had onions and a couple very small pieces of pepper. The sauce was all right, not horrible. Maybe a few junks of pineapple. For $10, you'd think you'd get a few more veggies.
(3)Hannah S.
Worst service and Chinese food I've ever had. They also served us spring rolls, instead of egg rolls and didn't ever come to the table to get us more water. Don't waste your time or taste buds.
(1)Rick S.
Typical Chinese dump with trashy food. Went here for the General Tso's chicken. Its the same sweet bland garbage found in 95% of restaurants, except they add some ginger to the sauce. Been searching for something good for 20 years. Place in Dearborn on telegraph near carslyle closed in the 90's nothing compared. Read Joe B's thread (best thread on yelp by the way) and thought my tastes we aligned with his but I guess not. Szechuan Empire didn't do it for me, neither did many of the others talked about. Trizest is awesome for the Sichuan, I will go back to try the generals otherwise I'm experimenting with making it myself.
(2)Rina B.
Low quality Chinese food for a low price.
(2)Kara M.
I don't get the rave reviews AT ALL. I've given China Ruby a fair share of tries, and the food just isn't good. I know everyone has their favorite places, but I'm baffled every time I hear about how great China Ruby is. Thank goodness I'm not the only person I know who agrees... I don't know who the people are who are rating this place highly, or voting for it for the numerous "best of" awards, but they aren't people I know. Blech blech blech. There is just no effort put into the food. Look at your wonton soup the next time you go in...where is the...well...anything? EWWWW. I live in Ferndale, walk by frequently, and just think "how the HELL is this place still operating?"
(1)speak n.
This place is pretty good and right next to my favorite coffee shop, Java Hutt. I have gone next door to eat here and gone back to studying at Java Hutt. The food is pretty good, quick service, and the price is right. It is definitely worth the trip when in Ferndale.
(3)Erica K.
Ok, so now I live in Chicago, and I have to admit I'm a little spoiled by China Town, but that aside, I used to really enjoy going to China Ruby. My ex-boyfriend lived right down the street so we went kind of a lot. The food was usually good and the service was very fast and friendly. I totally recommend checking it out, and if I happen to make it back I'll post an update!
(3)Keith C.
China Ruby is consistently good. Love the Mongolian Beef or Pepper Steak. Perfect for takeout. The owner (Lisa?) is friendly. Service is fast (takeout ready in 10 minutes). I hope they can remodel and "freshen" up the place a bit in the future. Downtown Ferndale is moving upscale....we need China Ruby to follow and do well.
(4)Jay D.
The service is fast, the food is reasonably priced, the lomein is....soft. I have had much better vegetable lomein, to be honest. Vegetable delight (with white rice) is pretty decent. They always give ample fortune cookies, and that makes me happy. The decor leaves a lot to be desired.
(3)Minh S.
This place is pretty small, and easy to miss if you're not looking for it (it's the next street after Inyo) but it's pretty good. Chinese is Chinese though. I liked the dumplings, but the sauce that came with it was very oily. But it tasted yummy. I guess sacrifices must be made in the health area for the taste area. The food is pretty good. I ordered the curry chicken, but it wasnt the yellow curry that you might think. It's more of a vietnamese curry, which is black and looks like teriyaki sauce. It was good though...well good enough for me to be back. If I'm ever in the area again, i'd stop here. There were some things that sounded interesting on the menu that I didn't get to try. Oh yeah and they've been at that location since 1991 (at least), and the people that own it are Vietnamese, not Chinese. So if you're Vietnamese and lonely (or friendly), you can converse in the mother tongue.
(4)Deena D.
this review is only for their chicken fried rice and shrimp fried rice. I cannot speak for anything else on the menu, since I have never tried anything else here. The fried rice is delicious and ALWAYS fresh, with a generous portion of either chicken or shrimp. I have been coming here for a few years now, and have not been disappointed yet.
(5)Sterling H.
I think Rina summed it up perfectly in the previous review. Cheap Chinese food at a cheap price. After one visit, I wouldn't torture my taste buds again.
(2)Joe B.
Some of you may have seen my Talk post about my search for some really good General Tso's Chicken. I have my favorites but I want the best. After sending out a thread I got a couple responses and decided to try one of the local favorites suggested. China Ruby sits on the south side of 9 Mile just West of Woodward on the Ferndale strip. It's next door to the bike shop and Winezilla. It's fairly unassuming and from the outside looks pretty unremarkable but people swear by this place!!! I had to check it out on Tony Stark's recommendation and this was my take on it. I ordered the General's Chicken combo "as hot" as they could make it with a spring roll and some wonton soup on the side for good measure. Who doesn't love spring rolls or wonton soup after all?! The soup was OK...someone here compared it to chicken flavored rainwater but it was fairly decent. I've had worse, and better, but I can say that the wonton was way way overcooked and fell apart into doughy masses that were not so fantastic. On top of that, they could use a little meat in them (sorry vegans), and maybe some Asian Bok Choy floating in the broth, which would make this a much better soup. The spring roll was really good..I truly enjoyed it. It was crispy and fresh and a decent size relative to most. The clincher was the egg roll though. One of the better, maybe the best, I've ever had with NO sprouts to speak of which is a very good sign. It was all cabbage and carrots and a few other veggies and it was packed! Their egg rolls are the biggest I've ever seen although they could really use some real plum sauce to accompany them rather than those packets of Duck Sauce, at to that some actual spicy Chinese hot mustard versus those generic packets, and again, it would be a huge improvement. Now onto my quest. I'll start by saying that my combo probably weighed an actual 5 pounds. You could likely feed a family of four on one combo. As for the contents...I got a ton of fried rice, some steamed broccoli florets and the Tso's. The fried rice was sub par at best....I couldn't tell if there was chicken in it but it was pretty bland. The florets were steamed just right and not over or under done. The General's though, the reason for this excursion to begin with, was not very good. Someone mentioned that they use "pressed" chicken which is pretty ubiquitous in so many Chinese joint's chicken dishes. I'm not sure if it's actually formed but they do batter it TO DEATH! Biting into the biggest piece of "white meat" I found that it was mostly breading...that spongy kind that has virtually no texture to it. The sauce was, unfortunately and probably, the same they use for their Sesame Chicken and likely a mother sauce they adapt to any dish ordered within limits. It's not what I was looking for but I will give them huge props for the spice level being hotter than most I've ordered elsewhere!! Considering I asked for it as hot as they could make it, I was underwhelmed but they made a nice effort nonetheless. But my search for the best General's will continue for now. Onto Carrie Lee's in Waterford...and maybe Mon Jin Lao next if they make a version of Tso's.
(3)Pea J.
I've been going there forever...Tina the owner always makes sure everything is okay..the food is plentiful good and inexpensive... Hard combo to best...
(5)Victor R.
I've been to China Ruby three or four times now and I have to say its been a nice surprise. I always get the General's Chicken and I've been very happy with it. The chicken is fried crispy with breading yet not dried out. The sauce is flavorful and unlike a lot of other hole in the wall Chinese places they actually give you enough sauce to coat all the chicken, even when getting take out. The only issue I had with the General's Chicken is that even when you order it as spicy/hot as they make you can barely taste the heat at all. That said, its still really flavorful so I wasn't overly disappointed. I've also had the fried pork dumplings and they are fantastic. I don't know what they put in them or in the dipping sauce but they are by far the best dumplings I've ever had. That said the egg rolls are on the bland side of average. The wrappers are good, crunchy without being dried out or tough but the filling is nothing but shredded cabbage, no meat or other veggies. My girlfriend loved them but I could take them or leave them and would opt for a different appetizer. The hot and sour soup was again kind of bland, not enough hot or sour to really pop. The wonton soup, however, was fantastic. It had a lot of wonton in it, much more than you usually see in carry out Chinese food. The portions sizes are quite big. I've order the combo meals with soup and egg roll and the stand alone large entree, regardless of which I ordered it lasted me two meals and reheats wonderfully, which for me is a must of take out Chinese. If you're going to eat in they have about five four-top tables and a few seats at the counter. The restaurant is very clean and bright so don't let the kind of dingy, faded sign scare you off. Not the greatest Chinese food in the world but very solid and consistently good in both flavor and value. Definitely check it out. Just remember when picking up take out orders that its on 9 mile and parking is often impossible and always metered unless your willing to walk a few blocks.
(4)Jamie D.
Now that I'm no longer in Michigan, I miss the curry chicken and the homemade crab rangoons. The portion sizes, great price, and excellent food make China Ruby a no-brainer. If only I could get them to deliver to the east coast.
(5)S H.
There were so many good reviews so my husband and i decided to test it out! We were pretty stoked to try a new place especially if it was going to be better than anything else around. We were really disappointed :( it was gross. We order the Spicy Mongolian Beef. There was more white onion than beef in the dish. We had to pick out most of it just so we could actually get to some of the "good stuff". Unfortunately, to boot, it was also not spicy and it also didnt have hardly any flavor, unless you count fat or grease a flavor. ew. We also got the Cashew Chicken. I normally LOVE Cashew Chicken. This was, again, really disappointing. It was mediocre and best. The Egg rolls were ok, the spring rolls were ok. Rice was standard. Chinese food never lasts more than 48 hours in our house. It's day four, im pretty sure it's just going to be thrown out. Again, ew. Idk what these positive reviews were raving about. I would take Wing Hing Inn over China Ruby anyday (which says a lot) or drive all the way to Birmingham for decent Chinese instead of going to this place ever again. It is seriously overrated by a long shot!!
(1)Sarah K.
YUM! I have been eating at China Ruby since I was a little girl and it is, hands down, my favorite Chinese restaurant. It is a tiny, little hole in the wall but appearances can be deceiving - don't judge this place without trying it first! The combination dinners are huge and include soup, an egg roll, fried rice and an entree-and most are less than $7! Their wonton soup is delicious and filled with doughy wontons-and it is always served piping hot. My favorite entree is the almond boneless chicken: fried pieces of chicken with a thick, salty gravy. So unhealthy but delicious. I also love the garlic chicken, chicken fried rice & chop suey. This place defines comfort food. So yummy!!
(5)Bobby M.
Thee worst almond chicken I have ever had, from this place. You're better off just eating whatever you have around the house...
(1)Rusty S.
You know how a lot of Chinese food taste like that stuff you get at the mall food court. This place isnt like those places. Its not like some real gourmet type fair but its pretty damn good. They have some nice dishes you don't see at a lot of other chinese places. I like the curry chicken a lot. If you want decent chinese food, for the low low and fast, then hit up this spot.
(3)Tony S.
Kind of fun watching people trying to get in and out through the messed up front entry door. Don't let this hole in the wall looking place fool you, the food is very good. Used to go here with my buddy quite a bit back in the day. The best pot stickers in Michigan. The best General Tso's chicken in Michigan. Great Shanghai Shrimp. Egg rolls: no meat in these. meh. Hot & Sour soup: meh. 4.25 Stars
(4)Treasure G.
I seriously love this place. I can only speak on the almond chicken and sweet and sour chicken (I'm a creature of habit), but both are awesome. Two things I don't enjoy here: the soda is always flat and they don't have plum sauce (say what?!) Other than that, they have great prices and super fast and friendly service (the lady who is always working knows my voice when I call. Not sure if that's a good or a bad thing ... haha).
(4)Dave M.
Almost 20 years ago, I stepped inside Ferndale's China Ruby for the first time, on the advice of a friend. A fresh coat of paint and numerous "Best Of" awards later, China Ruby is still doing what it does best--serving up tasty Asian cuisine in large portions, at rock bottom prices. This 30-some seat diner is located in a strip just west of Woodward on 9 mile. You could easily walk right past without ever noticing this place. The crowd inside, mostly regulars, is an eclectic mix on any given day. Owner Tina presides over the dining room, carryout and cash register. The service is friendly and quick--really quick! Start with the dumplings, which are loaded with ground pork and veggies. They can be enjoyed steamed or fried. Vegetable and chicken dumplings are also available. The hot and sour soup and the egg drop are both good. The egg rolls = disappointing. On our most recent visit, we tried the evening's special entrée, Szechuan rice noodles with beef. The noodles were thick, the beef tender and juicy. We ordered this "mild-plus", which packed just a bit of heat. The brown Szechuan sauce, clinging to the noodles, was delicious. Personal favorites here are the Amazing Chicken--with peapods, mushrooms, onions, water chestnuts and carrots, in a tangy dark sauce; Kung Pao Chicken and Shrimp; and the Sesame Chicken, which can be ordered traditionally (breaded and fried), or stir-fried without the breading. What stands out about the Sesame Chicken and Amazing Chicken are the sauces. I'm not sure what the secret ingredient is, but once you start eating, you can't stop. You've been warned.
(4)Jill J.
We recently moved to Ferndale and have been sampling the Chinese restaurants in the area and China Ruby is by far our favorite (granted, as several reviewers have pointed out, they are in some astoundingly bad company). Tasty and incredibly fast, their full portions are huge and my partner and I can split one and still feel satisfied. He likes the General Tso's - and likes that they'll kick up the spice on request - and I am a big fan of the sesame chicken, which here isn't the soggy mess that I've found elsewhere. Oh - and re: parking - if you are calling in then you can park short term behind the restaurant.
(4)Sky W.
eww! trash! hate to be a hater, but i ordered the sweet and sour chicken. they screwed up my order.
(1)J.D. O.
My favorite Chinese restaurant in the area. China Ruby offers big portions at moderate prices. After traveling to Taiwan for two weeks, my taste for Chinese food has changed a bit, but China Ruby is still about as good as you'll get in Detroit.
(4)Angela F.
Was just getting ready to head out for some Chinese food. Luckily, China Ruby is just down the street! I thought I would check out the Yelper commentary and was pleased to see them here. Agree with some of the others - we usually get the Mongolian Beef and M-S Pork and are extremely happy with our orders. Both of which we "go high maintenance" on and get extra this, light that. And yep - the others are right. They will remember me and my special order as soon as I say Moo Shoo Pork! Always get takeout. Clean inside, which is the main thing. UPDATE: They did, in fact remodel. Nice clean paint, flooring, and tables and chairs. Food seemed even better than the usually great stuff and I fell asleep within 45 minutes. THAT's a sign of good Chinese Food!
(4)Otis M.
Comfort food. We've been coming here for 15 years. Great place for a filling lunch, get a combo. The garlic chicken is my fave.
(3)Miike G.
This place was recommended to me from a close friend of the area. What I didn't realize was that they served "styrofoam meats" or "pressed meats" when you order a meal with "chicken, beef". So if you like fake meat check this dump out!
(1)Todd E.
I was sick this weekend and got some wonton soup. I think it was just chicken flavored rain water laden with too many noodles and nothing else.
(2)ha a.
still fabulous after all these years! tina never forgets what you like!
(5)Erich Z.
Your everyday suburban General Tso's/ Almond Chicken/ Sweet and Sour garbage. If you like eating that crap then more power to you. There is nothing on the menu other than Meat + Veggie +Syrupy Sauce combinations, which I liked when I was maybe 16, but have since outgrown. If you like the Chinese Food in the mall, expect to be satisfied here.
(2)Alex G.
I found it very difficult to place an order over the phone with this place. The woman did not understand english. For one quart and one combo platter she tried to charge me $27.49. I asked her to justify the price and she giggled and handed the phone to someone else where I could her her say "I don't know how". I would strongly recommend driving there, drawing circles around the menu items you want and handing it to the woman if you want food here.
(1)Rene R.
Since moving to the area within the past year I have been on the search for some good Chinese food. The first time I ordered from here my thoughts were that if far surpassed my expectations and was far better than the other local joints. I like that their sweet and sour chicken comes in the orange-ish sauce and not the red sauce, and their egg roll was pretty amazing compared to others I had tried. Second time ordering from here with my boyfriend it was only ok. I ordered a veggie dish and it had way too many water chestnuts and bamboo shoots. But what really got me was that we got one egg roll and one spring roll, yet we didn't ask for a spring roll. Ok, mistakes happen. I let it slide because I figured next time I would stick to the sweet and sour chicken and all would be good. Third time, and unfortunately we placed the order right before close, I told them about last time and specified that we wanted two egg rolls. Got home, opened the food only to find that we didn't receive any egg rolls (or spring rolls for that matter). I just ordered from here for my fourth and final time. Apparently the staff cannot tell the difference between an egg roll and a spring roll, as we received spring rolls with our meals after specifying egg rolls.
(2)Jean P.
I have been to China Ruby a couple of times...I'm totally craving it right now but am trying to cut back so I'll just have to daydream while I review! My husband and I came here a few times and have always eaten in. Service is FAST FAST FAST! After placing your order, you immediately get soup (assuming you ordered a combo) and by the time you're swallowing the last spoonful, here comes lunch! I have tried a couple of different entrees, and the only one that didn't delight my heart & soul was a shrimp & vegetable one - guess I was expecting a lighter-tasting sauce but it was real brown and real heavy. I could just bury my head in the huge pile of steaming hot rice and live there though! The egg rolls are darn tasty too, and also tongue-burning hot even if you leave them til "dessert." The atmosphere is Basic Chinese Diner: not fancy at all, a few tables, a big window facing the action on 9 Mile. This is a no-muss, no-fuss operation. It's clean enough...I can't say I'd eat off the floor, but the tables are always tidy and wiped down. If you're craving something super hot, salty, and a little bit greasy, China Ruby has you covered. Don't go there right before getting your blood pressure checked, though. We learned that one the hard way.
(4)Rebecca T.
Just like I remember from high school (complete with the same woman working behind the counter). Typical Chinese fare, massive amounts, good fried rice, cheap and plenty for leftovers, what more could you ask for? Besides better parking, but that's my gripe with the City of Ferndale.
(4)Jessica Y.
The lo-mein is intense. I'm really picky about my lo-mein because I like New York style Chinese food, and often I get this soupy watery mess of lo-mein. But this was well sauced and crazy awesome. I thought the egg drop soup was a bit too thin, but other than that I'll go back. It's kind of cute inside, tiny and busy. The cashier was very sweet too.
(4)Robert P.
ok, i live so close to this place I wish it was on the same level of goodness as Mays thai food but alas it is not. Pretty much american style chinese although if you read all the articles on the walls it seems otherwise. You can ask the chef to do some special lobster i believe canton style but you have to let them know beforehand because they just dont stock that kind of food anymore... sad face anywho decent overall nothing crazy out of this world but not as bad at HONG KONG ONE lol gosh i hate that place...
(3)Adam B.
I was in town on business for a day and looking for a good place to have some Chinese. I took a ride down to China Ruby based on these reviews. It basically looks like your average take out place on the inside with extra tables. I got the Mongolian beef combo. The food was very good and the people were extremely friendly. If you're not looking for a "restaurant" setting, and just looking to have a good meal, I definitely recommend it.
(4)Nickie P.
Good, solid Chinese food. The egg drop soup I had was a bit bland. All in all, nothing special, but a good place to go for quick takeout.
(3)Benjamin S.
Brilliant, unpretentious Chinese takeout; my family and I have been coming here for at least twenty years, and there are places that satisfy like this. Their tofu and vegetarian dishes are a particular delight.
(5)Neil K.
While I am not Chinese, I consider myself a professional American Chinese food aficionado. I usually love a good authentic hole in the wall Chinese restaurant and China Ruby had some great qualities, but this restaurant broke one of my most sacred Chinese food vows; though shall not serve small pieces of breaded chicken! Breaking this vow leads to to dry chicken with more crunch than juicy chicken. It leads me think that they might be doing this to serve less chicken, which equates to less costs, and replace it with unhealthy fried breading. I will say that their sauce was great in both the general Tso's and garlic chicken though. Another red flag was raised when I tasted their hot and sour soup..... Kind of bland and much more broth than substance. I will catch them on another day and try some other dishes. Until then, stay crispy everyone!
(3)Jenn V.
Needed to fix my craving for some Chinese food tonight and took a chance at trying this place out. Called in my order and it was done in 10 mins. We stuck to sweet and sour chicken, since I didn't want to take a risk on a place I had never tried.. so we kept it simple. The combo plates include the entree, fried rice, egg roll and choice of soup (hot and sour, wonton or egg drop). They are reasonably priced at around $7.50. The menu seems pretty standard to most Chinese places and the quality is OK-- not gross, but not fabulous. Somewhere in btwn and perfectly acceptable by my standards. And the portions are HUGE. The combos are enough for a good 2 meals. Although I got take out I noticed that the restaurant itself wasn't a 'greasy diner' nor 'absolutely disgusting inside' as some reviewers have claimed. I am not calling them liars, I just want to point out that the only explanation could be that they have remodeled. The floor was newer looking tile, the walls looked freshly painted and they had clean looking tables and chairs with an LCD hanging from the wall. I would still probably stick to take out though. Ultimately, China Ruby is quick, decent and cheap. All I need when it comes time to fulfill a Chinese food craving!
(3)Shawn W.
Great local Chinese food place. I've had pretty good experiences each time I've eaten here. The chicken in the chicken dishes is tender, the flavors are good, and the orders are prepared quickly. Overall, this is one of the better fast Chinese food restaurants in the area.
(4)Andy V.
I got some carry-out here based on the reviews. I was pretty impressed. Young's in RO is far closer to me but the grease and mundane greasy food rules it out. We got Amazing Chicken and Szechwan Shrimp. Both were very good. The prices are on par with most places like this and a quart here = a quart anywhere so I don't get why everyone says this is some great value. The sauces were excellent, the meat was great the vegetables were a little lacking but they didn't fill the dishes full of filler celery like other places do so big bonus points for that. We'll be back.
(4)Stephen D.
The food is served hot and quick, but honestly it's typical midwestern "Chinese" fare - the normal stuff is bland, and the spicy stuff is typical. The service is fast, though, which I like.
(2)Nate H.
The only chinese food place I have been to more than once in the past three years. Consistently good food. The pot stickers are the best around and the lo mein is even better the next day reheated. Little bit of a greasy diner inside but like all good take out places food is done quickly and well. Perfect for sitting in front of the TV watching UFC, I've been told. Go figure.
(4)Chadd H.
I have a 10 year love of this place. It started out many years back when I lived in Ferndale, near China Ruby. I was in love and went there at least a few times each week for several months. They set the standard for me, only I didn't realize just how good I had it. I eventually made my way out east to Warren and now Saint Clair Shores, and forgot all about China Ruby. Then one day I was fed up with not knowing any good Chinese places so I went on a Yelp powered quest to find some good chinese food in my area. Not only did I strike out after trying a dozen different places, but I saw a common theme in the comments, other people were having the same problem I did. I was talking with a friend about it and telling him how I used to go to this dive of a place in Ferndale called China Ruby, but it had been so long ago I couldn't imagine them still being around. I decided to look them up on Yelp and words couldn't express my excitement at seeing they were still around. So I went out for a 10 year reunion to this place to see if it was still as good as I remembered. The place was exactly the same, down to every detail, and it was everything I had hoped for. Now I make the 30 minute drive out there at least once or twice a month when I have the hankering, it is well worth the drive. I don't know enough to know if they're "good chinese or not" to the rest of you, but to me, after years of trying, I have yet to find a place I like better.
(5)Melissa M.
I have NO IDEA how this place has such positive reviews. It was terrible. The lady who brought us menus and water/ took our order was very nice but the lady who brought us the food was very rude. My friend asked for a side of sweet and sour and she literally ignored her. My friend and I both got a combo. She started with the egg drop soup which was the most disgusting mushy thing I have ever seen and she didn't even eat it. I had the wonton soup which was also terrible. The filling inside was a disgusting, bland piece of chicken, possibly out of a can or something. Gross. The broth it was in was bland, too. I had the sweet and sour chicken and it was terrible. The rice on the side was actually decent, but that was the only thing. The chicken was soggy and the sauce was bland and flavorless. I don't think it was worth $9, and I didn't even take the leftovers cause there was no way I was going to eat it again. I wouldn't go back.
(1)Joseph H.
My fiancee and I walked in to China Ruby on a whim. The seating is definitely limited, but it's not terrible and there is reasonable room between tables. The young lady who seated us was very gracious - she quickly pointed out that she had just cleaned our table, and that it might be wet, so she grabbed a few napkins and thoroughly dried it before letting us sit. Overall, the place seemed clean, the decor was your usual cheap Chinese restausant stuff. Lots of newspaper clippings with good reviews and awards for the place were stuck up on the walls, but nothing recent. Really, I got up and read them; I found one from 1989. The awards seemed to stop around 2005. The menu was small - I flipped it over almost immediately and found out that it was only one-sided. We ordered the crab rangoons, tried two different soups, and I got the house special Spicy Szechuan Chicken. The server asked how spicy I wanted it, I told her very spicy please. I forget what the fiancee ordered, but it was another chicken dish off their combo selection. Overall, we were thoroughly disappointed with how bland the food was. My fiancee thought the rangoons were less cheesey than they should be. The soups were both pretty mediocre, we hardly touched them. My Spicy Chicken was not spicy in the least. My fiancee doesn't like spicy at all, she tried my food and agreed there was no heat. Final impression is that everything was hot and fresh, but very bland and mediocre. I could make better Chinese at home. Will not be returning to China Ruby.
(2)Michael S.
Best food around my office at 9 mile and Woodward hands down. Fast, hot, delicious, generous portions and all served with a smile.
(5)Albert K.
This is a solid American-Chinese take-out joint. If you re into more authentic Chinese you may want to try Shangri-La, Trizest, or Hong Hua. However, if you want some good Kung Pao Shrimp or General Tsao's, this is a solid restaurant. I particularly like their pork dumplings. I also appreciate the fact that they do the little things, like making the dipping sauce for the crab rangoons from scratch, If you are in Ferndale, this is your best option for Chinese.
(4)Christopher M.
Nothing bad to say about this tiny little restaurant. The waitress was nice as can be, the food was very satisfying and arrived in an extremely timely manner. If I'm in the area and craving some quick and tastey Chinese food, I'll make sure to remember that China Ruby is the place to go!
(4)Matt A.
Fairly standard American-style Chinese food. Good portion sizes and pretty good flavor, although I wish that my items had a bit more spice to them. I ordered a cup of hot and sour soup, two egg rolls, and orange beef. Everything tasted good and was piping hot. I have a pretty high spice tolerance so I think I will ask for my food to be made extra spicy next time, but overall I'm pretty satisfied and the price was reasonable ($14 and change). I'll definitely be back.
(4)Nickie P.
Good, solid Chinese food. The egg drop soup I had was a bit bland. All in all, nothing special, but a good place to go for quick takeout.
(3)Benjamin S.
Brilliant, unpretentious Chinese takeout; my family and I have been coming here for at least twenty years, and there are places that satisfy like this. Their tofu and vegetarian dishes are a particular delight.
(5)Neil K.
While I am not Chinese, I consider myself a professional American Chinese food aficionado. I usually love a good authentic hole in the wall Chinese restaurant and China Ruby had some great qualities, but this restaurant broke one of my most sacred Chinese food vows; though shall not serve small pieces of breaded chicken! Breaking this vow leads to to dry chicken with more crunch than juicy chicken. It leads me think that they might be doing this to serve less chicken, which equates to less costs, and replace it with unhealthy fried breading. I will say that their sauce was great in both the general Tso's and garlic chicken though. Another red flag was raised when I tasted their hot and sour soup..... Kind of bland and much more broth than substance. I will catch them on another day and try some other dishes. Until then, stay crispy everyone!
(3)Don H.
I only went once, it was okay. I purchased sweet and sour chicken to be safe. I received a bowl of soup (wonton), a spring roll, and S&S chicken for about $9-10. Soup was ok, noodles were pretty good. Spring roll was pretty typical. S&S chicken had onions and a couple very small pieces of pepper. The sauce was all right, not horrible. Maybe a few junks of pineapple. For $10, you'd think you'd get a few more veggies.
(3)Rick S.
Typical Chinese dump with trashy food. Went here for the General Tso's chicken. Its the same sweet bland garbage found in 95% of restaurants, except they add some ginger to the sauce. Been searching for something good for 20 years. Place in Dearborn on telegraph near carslyle closed in the 90's nothing compared. Read Joe B's thread (best thread on yelp by the way) and thought my tastes we aligned with his but I guess not. Szechuan Empire didn't do it for me, neither did many of the others talked about. Trizest is awesome for the Sichuan, I will go back to try the generals otherwise I'm experimenting with making it myself.
(2)Keith C.
China Ruby is consistently good. Love the Mongolian Beef or Pepper Steak. Perfect for takeout. The owner (Lisa?) is friendly. Service is fast (takeout ready in 10 minutes). I hope they can remodel and "freshen" up the place a bit in the future. Downtown Ferndale is moving upscale....we need China Ruby to follow and do well.
(4)Jay D.
The service is fast, the food is reasonably priced, the lomein is....soft. I have had much better vegetable lomein, to be honest. Vegetable delight (with white rice) is pretty decent. They always give ample fortune cookies, and that makes me happy. The decor leaves a lot to be desired.
(3)ha a.
still fabulous after all these years! tina never forgets what you like!
(5)Heather M.
This place is B*A*D as in "not good"!! Giant oversized bland eggrolls stuffed solely w cabbage. Ate spicy peanut chicken dish - no flavor. They screwed up our order n sent the wrong second dish - broccoli n beef , instead sent broccoli n chicken :/ another flavorless dish. Only thing I can say in their favor was they weren't skimpy on the chicken nor was it breaded . . . But still, overall blech
(1)Alexander W.
I only ever get sesame chicken and it is always good. I didn't take off a star... I just don't have the "whole story" about this place to be able to give it five stars. I never eat in or try different dishes. Prices are good.
(4)Krystle S.
Service is good and staff is nice. Small menu, but what they make is tasty. I'd recommend it if you're looking for something decent and local to Ferndale, but I've had much better Chinese food that's fresher. So while not bad food, it's also not my first choice, but it's in my top 3.
(3)Maria N.
To preface this review, I grew up on the eastside where good Chinese food is hard to find. As are lots of things. The first time I went to China Ruby was high school... about 2005? A friend who lived in Ferndale when she was a wee one took me; she had been going with her family and getting the almond chicken--sauce on the side-- as long as she could remember. Naturally, that was the first thing I ever had there when I visited with her. It was good-- probably the best almond chicken I've had to this date, though I don't really eat it ever anyway. The chicken was in lil' nugget-esque bite-size pieces, and tasted fresh-- unlike the almond chicken offerings at other places, usually a bland-tasting, falling apart breaded chicken breast... or breast-shaped chicken patty. Next time I ventured out and got sesame chicken. Yeah, I know, adventurous. But it's the best sesame chicken I've ever had. Hands down. Nothing else compares. I can't really go anywhere else and order sesame chicken because it's just going to be a letdown. The steamed broccoli tastes so good and fresh compared to the veggie options at other American-style Chinese restaurants. I always ask for extra-- it balances out the sweet and nutty flavor of the sauce. I love how heavy handed they are with the extra sprinkling of sesame seeds on top of my carry out order. Also unstoppable: the lo mein, Mongolian beef, the dumplings, and any of daily "special" dishes sometimes posted up by the register. Not a huge fan of the egg rolls (I prefer less cabbage) but that's not why I go there. China Ruby is where it's AT!
(5)Hannah S.
Worst service and Chinese food I've ever had. They also served us spring rolls, instead of egg rolls and didn't ever come to the table to get us more water. Don't waste your time or taste buds.
(1)Kristin Z.
Sesame Chicken is delicious. It is crispy with a wonderful sweet sauce. I love how the chicken doesn't get soggy. On another note...I tried the Boneless Almond Chicken because of reviews I read on here and it was really gross. The chicken was dry and the gravy barely had any flavor. It was like eating dry chicken with sauce. I don't recommend it!
(4)Steve K.
The best chinese I've had in ferndale. I've been here 5 times and have had a variety of things... great friend rice and fresh food. I did end up sick after the last time but that could have been a coincidence since my friends eat here all the time and it was just that once. Staff is kinda rude. There is indoor seating.
(4)Abby B.
My friend and me ate there to try and mix things up, and I regret every moment. After eating what seemed to be decent but unspectacular sesame chicken, my friend began to dig into his beef dish only to be put off by a disgusting "piss" smell. Should have known from the smell of the bag something was off. Now I get 2 unpaid days from work, thanks ;).
(1)Nha V.
This is only for their dumplings. I love their dumplings and their sauce. So good! Its made fresh to order and even tho comes only with 3, they r big crispy and pretty filling. The sauce is probably the best. Not the typical dumpling sauce. A little on the sweet side. I had their food a while ago, dont remember how it is. I think it was just regular.
(4)MyThy H.
Actually 4.5/5 I donno why I've waited so long to review China Ruby and Ms. Tina after eating here almost a dozen times. For MI, this is the best Chinese fast food joint. Its not a point-point joint. Everything is ordered off a menu (see pics) and cooked to order. If you order to go, ask to speak to Tina, she rocks and remembers your voice if you order more than once. We've dined in but mostly ordered for pick up. When we order, I ALWAYS get 2 eggrolls to go. Lemme tell ya, these are the chinese eggroll wrapper not the Vietnamese kind. Thick, large girth, filled w/ shredded cabbage and veggies AND NO MEAT. I actually like it that way. If I want a meaty no-veggie egg roll, I visit Que Huong or any Vietnamese restaurant for that. Next, order the General Tso's chicken. I disagree w/ Joe B. This is the best General Tso chicken I've ever had in MI and CA. I'm 1/2 Chinese and all my friends in CA own Chinese restaurants and China Ruby has it nailed. If you order and eat in, the chicken has the perfect amount of breading and fried then coated in their amazing brown gravy sauce sitting on top of a bed of steamed broccoli (see photo). Now if you order to go, the broccoli is on top of the chicken and I donno why. General Tso's shrimp was soggy when I ordered it to go b/c the batter was too thick and there was too much sauce. Spicy Mongolian pork is delish but no veggies just sliced thin sauteed onions. Thinly sliced pork and great sauce. Szechuan Shrimp had a sweet and sour taste to it and a little bit of heat. Veggie Mu Shoo has the same shredded cabbage and veggies found in the egg rolls. You can ask for pork/beef/shrimp mu shoo as well. I love the "chinese pancakes" they come with. They might be flour tortilla but I doubt it. There's something thin and fluffy about them. All mu shoo comes with standard hoisin dipping sauce. Almond Chicken: people love this but I can't get into it. Its battered and fried w/ a sauce. Honestly reminds me of Americanized Chinese version of chicken tonkatsu. Lo Mein is essentially chow mein and pick your protein to go w/ it. Skip the fried rice. Just white rice fried up w/ soy sauce. I like my fried rice to include bits of carrots, peas, egg and diced onions. (Like Vietnamese fried rice) Unfortunately they don't offer brown rice as a healthier alternative so stick to white rice. You can enjoy the flavors of your dish better. Egg drop soup is perfect amount of egg and bamboo slivers mixed in. Add pepper for a kick. Crab wontons has more cream cheese then crab to it even if its imitation crab. Not bad, but I like their egg rolls better. For awhile we were trying to eat the ENTIRE MENU but have started to just go with what we like. For starters, can't go wrong with General Tso's and egg rolls. P.s. Bathroom is downstairs and not the cleanest. Don't expect it to be as it's a mom & pop Asian restaurant and most Chinese/Vietnamese/Thai establishments don't have the prettiest bathrooms. It'll be clean, not pretty (aka, toilet paper or paper towels stacked high) General rule, if the food is good, the bathroom sucks. If the bathroom is cleaner, damn, your food won't taste so great.
(5)Ralph C.
This my first review of anyplace or anything. I think China Ruby is one of Ferndale's friendliest & tastiest places to eat. I often have requests that they handle without missing a beat on their way to serving a made to order treat. Lately I let the always present TINA have free reign on my lunch selection. And have never been disappointed! The "Birthday Soup" (not on menu), was as "real" a Chinese dish as can be had. Dumplings outstanding. I am partial to the chicken dishes (Tai Chen!!) & Shrimp and Scallops are GREAT. Not fancy just delicious!
(5)Heather J.
I have yet to find a "go to" Chinese takeout restaurant in the Ferndale and Royal Oak area. I entered China Ruby with high hopes for a solid restaurant option based on the current crop of Yelp reviews. Did it meet expectations? The large menu holds all the typical dishes for American-Chinese fare: almond chicken, sweet and sour, broccoli in a brown sauce, lots of noodle dishes, egg fu yung. Nothing stands out as an unusual addition. Helpful guidelines for spiciness and popular or specialty choices are on the menu; staff was happy to answer questions. The beau and I decided to dine in on a foggy evening, watching the traffic stream by on Nine Mile and Woodward. He went for sweet and sour chicken; I had General Tso's on rice. Egg rolls came highly recommended, though we could take or leave them normally. I found mine too large and a bit too greasy to eat. The beau finished half of his. I could have gone without. China Ruby's portions are generous enough for two and a half meals, definitely intended to be taken home. With standard prices between $6 and $10, you can clear up what you'll eat tomorrow for lunch and dinner the instant you sign your pen to a printed receipt and come out ahead of whatever other fast food meal or Starbucks frothy calorie catastrophe of mocha caramel venti deliciousness might tempt you. The food itself was not especially memorable. It wasn't greasy, too spicy or awash in its own sauces. I asked for sauce on the side to be able to decide how much I would use, which is definitely the way to go. But the flavours failed to pop much. They blur together in a bit of baked, crispy crunch and chewy chicken. I would have liked more kick to the food, and that might be my fault. Next time, I'll ask for them to spice it up a bit. The sauces are thick and pretty goopy, hence why getting a saucer on the side makes the dining experience much less messy and more tasteful.
(3)Ms K.
I've been eating at this restaurant for 13 years now since I moved to Oakland County. Bit if a language barrier but the owners are very friendly and the food never disappoints. Highly recommended.
(5)Rina B.
Low quality Chinese food for a low price.
(2)Christa B.
Recently moved to the area and had to find good chinese food...this is the place! Had the lo mein, sweet and sour chicken, pepper steak, shrimp fried rice...everything is good, fresh, and hot. This place is always busy (small) but is worth the wait. Carryout is always a good choice :)
(5)Morgan D.
I'm not familiar with authentic Chinese food...I'm a General Tso's/cashew chicken/fake Chinese food lovin' gal. Sorry! But after five years of eating at the usually gross Chinese takeout places in midtown, someone recommended China Ruby. Man! This is the best fake Chinese food I've had in QUITE a long time. The chicken was crispy on the outside, moist on the inside, and the portions are good. They don't hoard duck sauce and hot mustard behind the counter like the places I've been frequenting, which is a big plus. We've gone out of our way to get food here a couple times now!
(4)Jamie D.
Now that I'm no longer in Michigan, I miss the curry chicken and the homemade crab rangoons. The portion sizes, great price, and excellent food make China Ruby a no-brainer. If only I could get them to deliver to the east coast.
(5)Joe B.
Some of you may have seen my Talk post about my search for some really good General Tso's Chicken. I have my favorites but I want the best. After sending out a thread I got a couple responses and decided to try one of the local favorites suggested. China Ruby sits on the south side of 9 Mile just West of Woodward on the Ferndale strip. It's next door to the bike shop and Winezilla. It's fairly unassuming and from the outside looks pretty unremarkable but people swear by this place!!! I had to check it out on Tony Stark's recommendation and this was my take on it. I ordered the General's Chicken combo "as hot" as they could make it with a spring roll and some wonton soup on the side for good measure. Who doesn't love spring rolls or wonton soup after all?! The soup was OK...someone here compared it to chicken flavored rainwater but it was fairly decent. I've had worse, and better, but I can say that the wonton was way way overcooked and fell apart into doughy masses that were not so fantastic. On top of that, they could use a little meat in them (sorry vegans), and maybe some Asian Bok Choy floating in the broth, which would make this a much better soup. The spring roll was really good..I truly enjoyed it. It was crispy and fresh and a decent size relative to most. The clincher was the egg roll though. One of the better, maybe the best, I've ever had with NO sprouts to speak of which is a very good sign. It was all cabbage and carrots and a few other veggies and it was packed! Their egg rolls are the biggest I've ever seen although they could really use some real plum sauce to accompany them rather than those packets of Duck Sauce, at to that some actual spicy Chinese hot mustard versus those generic packets, and again, it would be a huge improvement. Now onto my quest. I'll start by saying that my combo probably weighed an actual 5 pounds. You could likely feed a family of four on one combo. As for the contents...I got a ton of fried rice, some steamed broccoli florets and the Tso's. The fried rice was sub par at best....I couldn't tell if there was chicken in it but it was pretty bland. The florets were steamed just right and not over or under done. The General's though, the reason for this excursion to begin with, was not very good. Someone mentioned that they use "pressed" chicken which is pretty ubiquitous in so many Chinese joint's chicken dishes. I'm not sure if it's actually formed but they do batter it TO DEATH! Biting into the biggest piece of "white meat" I found that it was mostly breading...that spongy kind that has virtually no texture to it. The sauce was, unfortunately and probably, the same they use for their Sesame Chicken and likely a mother sauce they adapt to any dish ordered within limits. It's not what I was looking for but I will give them huge props for the spice level being hotter than most I've ordered elsewhere!! Considering I asked for it as hot as they could make it, I was underwhelmed but they made a nice effort nonetheless. But my search for the best General's will continue for now. Onto Carrie Lee's in Waterford...and maybe Mon Jin Lao next if they make a version of Tso's.
(3)Pea J.
I've been going there forever...Tina the owner always makes sure everything is okay..the food is plentiful good and inexpensive... Hard combo to best...
(5)Minh S.
This place is pretty small, and easy to miss if you're not looking for it (it's the next street after Inyo) but it's pretty good. Chinese is Chinese though. I liked the dumplings, but the sauce that came with it was very oily. But it tasted yummy. I guess sacrifices must be made in the health area for the taste area. The food is pretty good. I ordered the curry chicken, but it wasnt the yellow curry that you might think. It's more of a vietnamese curry, which is black and looks like teriyaki sauce. It was good though...well good enough for me to be back. If I'm ever in the area again, i'd stop here. There were some things that sounded interesting on the menu that I didn't get to try. Oh yeah and they've been at that location since 1991 (at least), and the people that own it are Vietnamese, not Chinese. So if you're Vietnamese and lonely (or friendly), you can converse in the mother tongue.
(4)Deena D.
this review is only for their chicken fried rice and shrimp fried rice. I cannot speak for anything else on the menu, since I have never tried anything else here. The fried rice is delicious and ALWAYS fresh, with a generous portion of either chicken or shrimp. I have been coming here for a few years now, and have not been disappointed yet.
(5)Sterling H.
I think Rina summed it up perfectly in the previous review. Cheap Chinese food at a cheap price. After one visit, I wouldn't torture my taste buds again.
(2)Victor R.
I've been to China Ruby three or four times now and I have to say its been a nice surprise. I always get the General's Chicken and I've been very happy with it. The chicken is fried crispy with breading yet not dried out. The sauce is flavorful and unlike a lot of other hole in the wall Chinese places they actually give you enough sauce to coat all the chicken, even when getting take out. The only issue I had with the General's Chicken is that even when you order it as spicy/hot as they make you can barely taste the heat at all. That said, its still really flavorful so I wasn't overly disappointed. I've also had the fried pork dumplings and they are fantastic. I don't know what they put in them or in the dipping sauce but they are by far the best dumplings I've ever had. That said the egg rolls are on the bland side of average. The wrappers are good, crunchy without being dried out or tough but the filling is nothing but shredded cabbage, no meat or other veggies. My girlfriend loved them but I could take them or leave them and would opt for a different appetizer. The hot and sour soup was again kind of bland, not enough hot or sour to really pop. The wonton soup, however, was fantastic. It had a lot of wonton in it, much more than you usually see in carry out Chinese food. The portions sizes are quite big. I've order the combo meals with soup and egg roll and the stand alone large entree, regardless of which I ordered it lasted me two meals and reheats wonderfully, which for me is a must of take out Chinese. If you're going to eat in they have about five four-top tables and a few seats at the counter. The restaurant is very clean and bright so don't let the kind of dingy, faded sign scare you off. Not the greatest Chinese food in the world but very solid and consistently good in both flavor and value. Definitely check it out. Just remember when picking up take out orders that its on 9 mile and parking is often impossible and always metered unless your willing to walk a few blocks.
(4)S H.
There were so many good reviews so my husband and i decided to test it out! We were pretty stoked to try a new place especially if it was going to be better than anything else around. We were really disappointed :( it was gross. We order the Spicy Mongolian Beef. There was more white onion than beef in the dish. We had to pick out most of it just so we could actually get to some of the "good stuff". Unfortunately, to boot, it was also not spicy and it also didnt have hardly any flavor, unless you count fat or grease a flavor. ew. We also got the Cashew Chicken. I normally LOVE Cashew Chicken. This was, again, really disappointing. It was mediocre and best. The Egg rolls were ok, the spring rolls were ok. Rice was standard. Chinese food never lasts more than 48 hours in our house. It's day four, im pretty sure it's just going to be thrown out. Again, ew. Idk what these positive reviews were raving about. I would take Wing Hing Inn over China Ruby anyday (which says a lot) or drive all the way to Birmingham for decent Chinese instead of going to this place ever again. It is seriously overrated by a long shot!!
(1)Sarah K.
YUM! I have been eating at China Ruby since I was a little girl and it is, hands down, my favorite Chinese restaurant. It is a tiny, little hole in the wall but appearances can be deceiving - don't judge this place without trying it first! The combination dinners are huge and include soup, an egg roll, fried rice and an entree-and most are less than $7! Their wonton soup is delicious and filled with doughy wontons-and it is always served piping hot. My favorite entree is the almond boneless chicken: fried pieces of chicken with a thick, salty gravy. So unhealthy but delicious. I also love the garlic chicken, chicken fried rice & chop suey. This place defines comfort food. So yummy!!
(5)Bobby M.
Thee worst almond chicken I have ever had, from this place. You're better off just eating whatever you have around the house...
(1)Rusty S.
You know how a lot of Chinese food taste like that stuff you get at the mall food court. This place isnt like those places. Its not like some real gourmet type fair but its pretty damn good. They have some nice dishes you don't see at a lot of other chinese places. I like the curry chicken a lot. If you want decent chinese food, for the low low and fast, then hit up this spot.
(3)Tony S.
Kind of fun watching people trying to get in and out through the messed up front entry door. Don't let this hole in the wall looking place fool you, the food is very good. Used to go here with my buddy quite a bit back in the day. The best pot stickers in Michigan. The best General Tso's chicken in Michigan. Great Shanghai Shrimp. Egg rolls: no meat in these. meh. Hot & Sour soup: meh. 4.25 Stars
(4)Treasure G.
I seriously love this place. I can only speak on the almond chicken and sweet and sour chicken (I'm a creature of habit), but both are awesome. Two things I don't enjoy here: the soda is always flat and they don't have plum sauce (say what?!) Other than that, they have great prices and super fast and friendly service (the lady who is always working knows my voice when I call. Not sure if that's a good or a bad thing ... haha).
(4)Dave M.
Almost 20 years ago, I stepped inside Ferndale's China Ruby for the first time, on the advice of a friend. A fresh coat of paint and numerous "Best Of" awards later, China Ruby is still doing what it does best--serving up tasty Asian cuisine in large portions, at rock bottom prices. This 30-some seat diner is located in a strip just west of Woodward on 9 mile. You could easily walk right past without ever noticing this place. The crowd inside, mostly regulars, is an eclectic mix on any given day. Owner Tina presides over the dining room, carryout and cash register. The service is friendly and quick--really quick! Start with the dumplings, which are loaded with ground pork and veggies. They can be enjoyed steamed or fried. Vegetable and chicken dumplings are also available. The hot and sour soup and the egg drop are both good. The egg rolls = disappointing. On our most recent visit, we tried the evening's special entrée, Szechuan rice noodles with beef. The noodles were thick, the beef tender and juicy. We ordered this "mild-plus", which packed just a bit of heat. The brown Szechuan sauce, clinging to the noodles, was delicious. Personal favorites here are the Amazing Chicken--with peapods, mushrooms, onions, water chestnuts and carrots, in a tangy dark sauce; Kung Pao Chicken and Shrimp; and the Sesame Chicken, which can be ordered traditionally (breaded and fried), or stir-fried without the breading. What stands out about the Sesame Chicken and Amazing Chicken are the sauces. I'm not sure what the secret ingredient is, but once you start eating, you can't stop. You've been warned.
(4)Adam B.
I was in town on business for a day and looking for a good place to have some Chinese. I took a ride down to China Ruby based on these reviews. It basically looks like your average take out place on the inside with extra tables. I got the Mongolian beef combo. The food was very good and the people were extremely friendly. If you're not looking for a "restaurant" setting, and just looking to have a good meal, I definitely recommend it.
(4)Jean P.
I have been to China Ruby a couple of times...I'm totally craving it right now but am trying to cut back so I'll just have to daydream while I review! My husband and I came here a few times and have always eaten in. Service is FAST FAST FAST! After placing your order, you immediately get soup (assuming you ordered a combo) and by the time you're swallowing the last spoonful, here comes lunch! I have tried a couple of different entrees, and the only one that didn't delight my heart & soul was a shrimp & vegetable one - guess I was expecting a lighter-tasting sauce but it was real brown and real heavy. I could just bury my head in the huge pile of steaming hot rice and live there though! The egg rolls are darn tasty too, and also tongue-burning hot even if you leave them til "dessert." The atmosphere is Basic Chinese Diner: not fancy at all, a few tables, a big window facing the action on 9 Mile. This is a no-muss, no-fuss operation. It's clean enough...I can't say I'd eat off the floor, but the tables are always tidy and wiped down. If you're craving something super hot, salty, and a little bit greasy, China Ruby has you covered. Don't go there right before getting your blood pressure checked, though. We learned that one the hard way.
(4)Rebecca T.
Just like I remember from high school (complete with the same woman working behind the counter). Typical Chinese fare, massive amounts, good fried rice, cheap and plenty for leftovers, what more could you ask for? Besides better parking, but that's my gripe with the City of Ferndale.
(4)Erich Z.
Your everyday suburban General Tso's/ Almond Chicken/ Sweet and Sour garbage. If you like eating that crap then more power to you. There is nothing on the menu other than Meat + Veggie +Syrupy Sauce combinations, which I liked when I was maybe 16, but have since outgrown. If you like the Chinese Food in the mall, expect to be satisfied here.
(2)Alex G.
I found it very difficult to place an order over the phone with this place. The woman did not understand english. For one quart and one combo platter she tried to charge me $27.49. I asked her to justify the price and she giggled and handed the phone to someone else where I could her her say "I don't know how". I would strongly recommend driving there, drawing circles around the menu items you want and handing it to the woman if you want food here.
(1)Shawn W.
Great local Chinese food place. I've had pretty good experiences each time I've eaten here. The chicken in the chicken dishes is tender, the flavors are good, and the orders are prepared quickly. Overall, this is one of the better fast Chinese food restaurants in the area.
(4)Jill J.
We recently moved to Ferndale and have been sampling the Chinese restaurants in the area and China Ruby is by far our favorite (granted, as several reviewers have pointed out, they are in some astoundingly bad company). Tasty and incredibly fast, their full portions are huge and my partner and I can split one and still feel satisfied. He likes the General Tso's - and likes that they'll kick up the spice on request - and I am a big fan of the sesame chicken, which here isn't the soggy mess that I've found elsewhere. Oh - and re: parking - if you are calling in then you can park short term behind the restaurant.
(4)Todd E.
I was sick this weekend and got some wonton soup. I think it was just chicken flavored rain water laden with too many noodles and nothing else.
(2)Andy V.
I got some carry-out here based on the reviews. I was pretty impressed. Young's in RO is far closer to me but the grease and mundane greasy food rules it out. We got Amazing Chicken and Szechwan Shrimp. Both were very good. The prices are on par with most places like this and a quart here = a quart anywhere so I don't get why everyone says this is some great value. The sauces were excellent, the meat was great the vegetables were a little lacking but they didn't fill the dishes full of filler celery like other places do so big bonus points for that. We'll be back.
(4)Stephen D.
The food is served hot and quick, but honestly it's typical midwestern "Chinese" fare - the normal stuff is bland, and the spicy stuff is typical. The service is fast, though, which I like.
(2)Nate H.
The only chinese food place I have been to more than once in the past three years. Consistently good food. The pot stickers are the best around and the lo mein is even better the next day reheated. Little bit of a greasy diner inside but like all good take out places food is done quickly and well. Perfect for sitting in front of the TV watching UFC, I've been told. Go figure.
(4)Kara M.
I don't get the rave reviews AT ALL. I've given China Ruby a fair share of tries, and the food just isn't good. I know everyone has their favorite places, but I'm baffled every time I hear about how great China Ruby is. Thank goodness I'm not the only person I know who agrees... I don't know who the people are who are rating this place highly, or voting for it for the numerous "best of" awards, but they aren't people I know. Blech blech blech. There is just no effort put into the food. Look at your wonton soup the next time you go in...where is the...well...anything? EWWWW. I live in Ferndale, walk by frequently, and just think "how the HELL is this place still operating?"
(1)speak n.
This place is pretty good and right next to my favorite coffee shop, Java Hutt. I have gone next door to eat here and gone back to studying at Java Hutt. The food is pretty good, quick service, and the price is right. It is definitely worth the trip when in Ferndale.
(3)Erica K.
Ok, so now I live in Chicago, and I have to admit I'm a little spoiled by China Town, but that aside, I used to really enjoy going to China Ruby. My ex-boyfriend lived right down the street so we went kind of a lot. The food was usually good and the service was very fast and friendly. I totally recommend checking it out, and if I happen to make it back I'll post an update!
(3)Rene R.
Since moving to the area within the past year I have been on the search for some good Chinese food. The first time I ordered from here my thoughts were that if far surpassed my expectations and was far better than the other local joints. I like that their sweet and sour chicken comes in the orange-ish sauce and not the red sauce, and their egg roll was pretty amazing compared to others I had tried. Second time ordering from here with my boyfriend it was only ok. I ordered a veggie dish and it had way too many water chestnuts and bamboo shoots. But what really got me was that we got one egg roll and one spring roll, yet we didn't ask for a spring roll. Ok, mistakes happen. I let it slide because I figured next time I would stick to the sweet and sour chicken and all would be good. Third time, and unfortunately we placed the order right before close, I told them about last time and specified that we wanted two egg rolls. Got home, opened the food only to find that we didn't receive any egg rolls (or spring rolls for that matter). I just ordered from here for my fourth and final time. Apparently the staff cannot tell the difference between an egg roll and a spring roll, as we received spring rolls with our meals after specifying egg rolls.
(2)Jenn V.
Needed to fix my craving for some Chinese food tonight and took a chance at trying this place out. Called in my order and it was done in 10 mins. We stuck to sweet and sour chicken, since I didn't want to take a risk on a place I had never tried.. so we kept it simple. The combo plates include the entree, fried rice, egg roll and choice of soup (hot and sour, wonton or egg drop). They are reasonably priced at around $7.50. The menu seems pretty standard to most Chinese places and the quality is OK-- not gross, but not fabulous. Somewhere in btwn and perfectly acceptable by my standards. And the portions are HUGE. The combos are enough for a good 2 meals. Although I got take out I noticed that the restaurant itself wasn't a 'greasy diner' nor 'absolutely disgusting inside' as some reviewers have claimed. I am not calling them liars, I just want to point out that the only explanation could be that they have remodeled. The floor was newer looking tile, the walls looked freshly painted and they had clean looking tables and chairs with an LCD hanging from the wall. I would still probably stick to take out though. Ultimately, China Ruby is quick, decent and cheap. All I need when it comes time to fulfill a Chinese food craving!
(3)Jessica Y.
The lo-mein is intense. I'm really picky about my lo-mein because I like New York style Chinese food, and often I get this soupy watery mess of lo-mein. But this was well sauced and crazy awesome. I thought the egg drop soup was a bit too thin, but other than that I'll go back. It's kind of cute inside, tiny and busy. The cashier was very sweet too.
(4)Robert P.
ok, i live so close to this place I wish it was on the same level of goodness as Mays thai food but alas it is not. Pretty much american style chinese although if you read all the articles on the walls it seems otherwise. You can ask the chef to do some special lobster i believe canton style but you have to let them know beforehand because they just dont stock that kind of food anymore... sad face anywho decent overall nothing crazy out of this world but not as bad at HONG KONG ONE lol gosh i hate that place...
(3)Sky W.
eww! trash! hate to be a hater, but i ordered the sweet and sour chicken. they screwed up my order.
(1)J.D. O.
My favorite Chinese restaurant in the area. China Ruby offers big portions at moderate prices. After traveling to Taiwan for two weeks, my taste for Chinese food has changed a bit, but China Ruby is still about as good as you'll get in Detroit.
(4)Angela F.
Was just getting ready to head out for some Chinese food. Luckily, China Ruby is just down the street! I thought I would check out the Yelper commentary and was pleased to see them here. Agree with some of the others - we usually get the Mongolian Beef and M-S Pork and are extremely happy with our orders. Both of which we "go high maintenance" on and get extra this, light that. And yep - the others are right. They will remember me and my special order as soon as I say Moo Shoo Pork! Always get takeout. Clean inside, which is the main thing. UPDATE: They did, in fact remodel. Nice clean paint, flooring, and tables and chairs. Food seemed even better than the usually great stuff and I fell asleep within 45 minutes. THAT's a sign of good Chinese Food!
(4)Otis M.
Comfort food. We've been coming here for 15 years. Great place for a filling lunch, get a combo. The garlic chicken is my fave.
(3)Miike G.
This place was recommended to me from a close friend of the area. What I didn't realize was that they served "styrofoam meats" or "pressed meats" when you order a meal with "chicken, beef". So if you like fake meat check this dump out!
(1)