Eugene has maybe 30 Chinese Restaurants and most of them are pretty crappy. House of Chen, though, surprises with fresh and plentiful renderings of typical Chinese-American favorites. You can get ducks by the half and whole, old school "chow mein" with crunchy noodles (or with soft pan-fried noodles), all the usual kung pao and General Tsao, egg rolls, potstickers (from the freezer), hot and sour soup, fried rice, Mandarin, Szechuan, and Hunan favorites. This is not the most elegant place (though the dining room is pretty fancy, if kitschy) but the food tastes good, the portions are huge, and the prices are pretty standard. Last night I took out one order of Mandarin Chicken (extra spicy, which it wasn't), and ended up making three separate meals. Service is friendly, if a bit slow. If you phone in your order, you may as well show up immediately. It's been my experience that they don't actually begin cooking it until you show up with the money. I've NEVER arrrived with the food ready. Instead, I show up, look around, wait for the guy to go behind the cash register, pay him the money and then sit down and wait for fifteen minutes. If you have the time, eat in. The portion sizes are about 1.5 times bigger if you eat it there. Take the rest home in a non-biodegradable styrofoam container.
(3)
Ashley F.
I really enjoyed this place. I did order take out, but I had to wait for around 20 minutes for my food, so I got a good look at the restaurant. The inside is actually really nice. It is well decorated and has a warm, almost romantic vibe. As for the food, I found it really good. The orange sauce appears to be homemade. We ordered a side of it separate from our meals and it had orange slices inside. I thought it was fantastic, as did the rest of my family. I ordered the chicken in black bean sauce and that, too, was great. Super flavorful and much more than I expected from a random chinese restaurant I chose based on how close it was to my house. BUT this is not authentic chinese food. It is just really good american chinese food. I lived in Chicago for four years and had the opportunity to eat the best food that chinatown had to offer - so, basically, I was spoiled. The takeaway: If you want solid american chinese food, this would be a great place to go, whether for take-out or eat-in.
(4)
Jason F.
After a long 10 hour day on the road driving I finally make it to Eugene with my PREGNANT wife... My wife wants Chinese food and this is the closest place. The food is nasty but that was expected. The shocker is the food comes with no sauce at all!! No soy sauce no hot mustard and worst of all we ordered shrimp and there was no red dipping sauce. I called and complained and was told sorry but I'm still no happy and neither is my PREGNANT wife!!Don't let this happen to you. If I was not so sleepy I would return this shit and ask for my money back!!
(1)
Lena M.
Had the best Shrimp Wonton Soup here the other night. I would eat this every day if I could! The best. Btw. Egg rolls were friggin tasty too
(4)
Josh W.
How in the holy hell does this place have even three stars? Our server was unkind and nearly catatonic when she served us. It was almost as if she was in a fugue state, idly hating customers until her shift was over. Anyway, I've had terrible servers before. It happens. What I won't abide is food that the people who work here wouldn't touch with a fifty, hundred... Planet length pole. The server told my mom (who was seated with the sun directly in her eyes) that we couldn't move because 'we don't get enough vitamin D anyway'. Holy. Fuck. The other users are right, the rice is some sort of microwaved short-grain bullshit. They are lying to the customer referring to it as 'fried' at all. Colorless and flavorless. I had the Kung Pao beef. Probably an exaggeration to call it beef, or meat in general. Rubbery, tasteless, goddamn, it wasn't even spicy!! Kung Pao! What's worse is that the people who work here ARE ACTUALLY CHINESE. Your country should be ashamed that you call yourself Chinese cuisine. I could go on, but now I have to go find another place to eat. Don't trust any of the positive reviews. I hope mine is the one that brings this utter cesspit down to two stars.
(1)
Thanh T.
This place gives chinese food a bad name. Colorless fried rice I mean I understand meat costs money but some frozen carrots and peas for purpose of presentation.
(1)
Georgina H.
Fried rice was short grain, a combination of :"fried" and steamed, or maybe just heated from the freezer. It was inedible and not fully heated. For lack of a better metaphor, it was like eating wet sand crystals. It was a dirty color. The person who served me touched on me, my lower back, which was inappropriate and rude. She was trying to force me out of the way after I just tipped her. The sweet and sour I ordered was good at first but it was clear some pieces were not cooked through or maintained at a temperature to be sanitary, and had bacteria. I kept spitting those pieces out. I think what they do is just chose certain customers to serve badly if the food really is as fantastic as some people say.
(2)
Paula S.
Great food, excellent service! The hot and sour soup is the best I've ever had. Had real food in it like they actually took the time to make it a great soup! Delish!
(4)
Joe S.
Our fortune cookies tasted pretty fresh for a pre-packaged item. Water tasted clean and was unencumbered by any excess ice that might make it too cold. Nobody got sick. Place smelled like mildew. Poor service, unfriendly. After one of our children spilled his water, the waitress told us not to give him anymore water! Lukewarm food on cold plates that was all obviously days-old and dry. Thick, syrupy bottled-tasting sauces. Mushy Chow Mein, General Tsao's made with tiny, hard, dry pieces of chicken drowned in goopy sauce that was cloying and tasteless. Mu Shu Chicken was burnt-tasting and I was only given three tiny, paper-thin, paper-dry pancakes for a huge platter. About nine would have been necessary. Rice was at least three days old. So-called fried rice was just white rice with a teeny bit of scrambled egg. Everything tasted of an ancient Chinese grill that hasn't been cleaned since the Tang Dynasty. One star for giving my children the classic bad Chinese food experience before they grow up and all get replaced from bad Yelp reviews.
(1)
Lulu B.
My daughter and I went there for lunch during a slow time, and were the only patrons. The server asked what I would like to drink. I hesitated for a minute and said "I believe...I Will have"....but then she rolled her eyes and walked away because I wasn't ready with a drink decision before we even sat down. The food and drinks were tasteless and the vegetables were not fresh. The gave me my check two bites into my meal and never checked on us the whole meal
(1)
Mick H.
Not only was this the worst Chinese restaurant I have ever been to, it was up there with the worst food I have ever been served! Please don't waste your time and go somewhere else! Just awful..
(1)
Sarah S.
So gross! My family got takeout here when we were staying in a nearby hotel. The food we ordered - Kung Pao chicken and Mongolian chicken - was inedible. The chicken was rubbery and gross and the sauce was pure salt. The fried rice was cold and flavorless. I wouldn't feed this food to my dog. :(
(1)
Helen B.
We like House of Chen and have been going there for 20 years! I like the chow fun dishes. We never get fried rice with our dishes, always the white rice. The owner has been there forever and we love her. Sorry to read that anyone had bad food there!
(5)
Randy L.
Writing bad reviews is like weeding the garden. No fun, but it's gotta be done. Three of us went for lunch with high hopes, based on the Yelp reviews. We WANT a good Chinese restaurant in Eugene! (No, we WANT a GREAT one, but we'd settle for good). Decor was very nice as we walked in, hostess was very hospitable. Maybe we just hit a (very) bad day, but this wasn't it. We ordered five dishes. Orange chicken sauce was ok, but the chicken was downright poor - fried, dried out, tough. Almost as if it was cooked the night before and microwaved. Fried rice was bland overcooked and uninteresting. Beef in black bean sauce with mushrooms was just bad - thin sauce, boiled beef, strange taste to the dish. Looked and tasted unappetizing - not inedible, but why would you? Pork dumplings had very heavy gluey dough, not much flavor. Szechuan prawns were ok at best... It wasn't the same place as described in other reviews. Place was empty - maybe lunch (weekend, I think) isn't the time to go? maybe the chef's off? or??? Who knows. We won't be back, at least for lunch.
(2)
Raja S.
Frankly, I am disappointed, considering the reviews. The food was okay. We ordered: Veg Spring rolls: very oily, decent taste. House Speciality Fried rice: Good taste. Chicken with Peking Sauce: Decent. what concerns me: the maintainence of the restaurant... it looks dilapidated. Feel that I could get sick if I frequent this place. The glasses looked like they were in the final stages. The restroom was unkempt. The sofa seat that I was sitting was bumpy as one side of the sofa is gone. I was impressed with the service (the waiter, who looked like the owner had a personal touch).
(2)
Janet M.
When I lived in Eugene, I worked a block from this place. I would go in for lunch or grab some takeout. It's not really a fancy or super hip place, and I don't know if I could describe it as pristinely clean. The people were quirky and very nice to me, especially after I became a regular. I became addicted to the eggplant with garlic sauce. Now, maybe this was because I usually went with my vegetarian coworker, but I also think it was delicious. I also liked the string beans ( with or without chicken) and there were a couple soups I really enjoyed, wonton and sizzling rice soups. I took my folks there when they came to visit and they enjoyed their beef dishes, too. I think this is a good option for Chinese in Eugene. ( my other attempts were Kowloon and Ocean Sky, which I never liked quite as much).
(4)
Geo H.
I remember when House of Chen was a campus location (where Sacred Heart Parking is now). We have seen it change owners once but luckily the quality of food hasn't changed. It may not be the fanciest of places but the food is remarkable good with real veggies (many Eugene Chinese restaurants use frozen for some reason). This is Cantonese style Chinese food most Chinese food in Eugene is Hong Kong style. I love their shrimp with mushroom & Chinese greens, my husband always gets the Hunan Pork. Their house chow mein as well as their BBQ pork chow mein are fantastic. Super large portion especially for take out which is easiest for us. Eugene doesn't have the best Chinese food I have ever had (I grew up in SF) but House of Chen is pretty darn good.
(4)
Jen Y.
I'm not a picky eater and I have never refused to eat something I've ordered... until I came to House of Chen. To be fair, I didn't go into the restaurant so I can't judge the cleanliness and ambiance of the place. My mom went to pick up the food and mentioned that the lady working there was very sweet and friendly. So, yea, one star for that. I ordered orange chicken and my mom ordered fried rice (basic, simple dishes). Both were completely inedible. The fried rice looked like plain white rice with some soy sauce splashed onto it and tasted like... well, nothing. The orange chicken was a joke. I've never seen orange chicken look so pale and sad. The taste was even worse. I will never go back. Ever.
(1)
Lisa C.
While the service was friendly as everyone says, and the food was good (not quite as amazing as I would have expected reading some of these reviews); I was completely dismayed at the half eaten potsticker sitting int he window. It was staring at me the entire time I was eating. I posted a picture so you don't think I am making it up. But really the food was pretty tasty so they still get 3 stars. Ew.
(3)
Emma F.
The food looked delicious but the service was slow. We ordered drinks all Vodka drinks and wasn't told until 10 mins later that they were out of vodka. The bartender then tried to push gin on us saying it's the same. Uh hello gin is not the same as vodka! After being told to order gin for the 20th time we decided just to leave.
(1)
Darcey P.
I had the fried prawn appetizer and the shrimp fried rice. The fried prawns were plentiful, large order, with crispy, thin crusts. Good sweet and sour sauce. Very fresh, high quality ingredients in everything. I loved the fried rice. I order it at every Chinese restaurant, and this one is superb!! My mom had the Chicken Chow Mein. She raved about the variety of vegetables and how the noodles were cooked perfectly. This service was ideal. The servers were so attentive, kind and accommodating. I'll be back for sure!
(5)
Michele S.
We love House of Chen! We have been going there consistently for a few years now, and a few of our favorites are Kung Pao Chicken, Won Ton Soup and Broccoli Beef. The owner is delightful, and has remembered our names and favorite orders since the first time we were there! We are even able to go on our lunch hour and get in and out with plenty of time. The decor may be a bit old, but it's always a great experience.
(4)
Joey H.
Well, I felt like Chinese take out, so, I went online to yelp to see what was the 'best' in the Eugene area. House of Chen came up as your top choice. I ordered the orange beef and orange chicken. The orange sauce was, probably the most homemade sauce I have ever tasted at any Chinese place. It actually tasted like oranges, not like sugar with orange extract or some crap. But as I took it to-go, it was not crispy what so ever within ten minutes of getting it, to eating. The chicken was not very flavorful, but I did enjoy the beef. Lunch all together came to 13.90 for the 2 orders, portions were good size for lunch though. The decor was simply amazing, I almost wanted to stay. They also had incense burning you could smell, but that is not my 'thing'. Waiter seemed very attentive and helpful. Can the Eugene area just get some good Chinese food? I am ready!
(3)
Evan C.
The lady who works here has seriously got to be the most extraverted person on the planet. If you've been in even once she'll remember you and your order, and if you've never been in before she'll quickly become your newest friend. That kind of cheeriness counts for a lot in my book, especially in a town like Eugene where service usually takes a back seat. I've never seen anyone besides her outside the kitchen, but she's got the power of a full waitstaff in one arm. And the food impresses, as well. I'm a sucker for the house special fried rice, which is odd, because usually fried rice is the last thing I'd gravitate toward. But they do it really well here, and the portion is enormous for the price. Virtually everything else is great, too - another personal favorite is the roast duck, complete with the crispy, fatty skin that's sure to kill me as kindly and gently as possible. The decor deserves its own paragraph, but it's difficult to describe without using the word "kitschy", which doesn't even begin to sum it all up. It's like the sort of cheesy multi-floor dragon-palace Chinese restaurants you'd expect to find somewhere in Bladerunner, only made real. But it's never tacky, because there's something so genuine and passionate about it that it just works.
(4)
Ohio State B.
This was the greasiest food I have ever had! The egg role literally was mush and my entree literally looked like soup there was so much grease!
(1)
Hula H.
Sometimes you just need to return to the classics. House of Chen is one of those. Not the latest trend, or fad in the Eugene Food Scene - but an always "safe harbor" when it comes to experiencing Chinese food in Eugene. What you will not find is a heat lamp anywhere; opting for made to order ample servings of each menu item. You will also experience natural flavors that are combined to enhance, but not overwhelm your palate. The Duck is just the way it should be; dark, juicy tender morsels of roasted duck served with a variety of sauces; orange sauce made with real fruit juice and not too sugary. I am new at writing reviews and just want to share my enthusiasm for House of Chen. Go. Try it! You will not be disappointed. If you don't want authentic and want the everyday, American Chinese - check out Louie's. But if you want really good Chinese food; House of Chen is a must go.
(5)
Shoshanah H.
I love this place because Im a picky eater and they always get my order correct. The same woman is always working at the front and she is so kind and always asks about my schooling. Maybe not the most gourmet but still my favorite chinese in the eug
(4)
Eric P.
I personally don't like to eat the American style Chinese food as it really isn't that good. But there is something overly comforting when Mother Mao tells you hello and remembers what you had the last time. And that was several months ago. There is nothing fancy or a specialty, just damn good MSG laden food!
(4)
billy r.
This is the best Chinese style food I have had in Oregon. That is not saying much. Hear-tell there is good stuff in Portland, but when visiting Portland, Chinese food is never on my to do list. The lady helping us was extremely nice. The food was pretty good. The piping hot egg rolls were great. I will be back here again. I think I'll ask them to spice it up a bit.
(3)
K. S.
Great chinese food, and the nicest staff who remember your likes and dislikes. Very soothing environment. We love this place!
(4)
Phil ..
Some of the best Chinese I've had recently. I've eaten here several times now when visiting Eugene.
(4)
Cally H.
By far the best Chinese restaurant in Eugene. The owner was very kind and the service was fast. There is a large variety of food for everyone. The fresh tasting Garlic Shrimp was the highlight of the meal. We will be back!
(4)
Jazmin H.
The best sweet and sour chicken I've found on the west coast. Light and crispy battered chicken in a tasty sauce with the right veggies. Haven't been back through Eugene in several years but was a solid choice across from U of O for years of debate tournaments.
(5)
Leigh-Anne B.
I am giving this place 1 star because I have to give it something. We ended up here by mistake. We were supposed to go to Chen's Happy Garden since the reviews were much better. This place had the WORST service ever. Worst food in a long time. Worst "manager" ? ever... We were there for over 2 hours tonight. We got our bill before we even got all of our food. When asking the waitress simple questions about items on the menu, she was unable to answer any of them. When she went back to ask someone in the back, she came back 10 minutes later saying they didn't know either. If they are cooking the food, how do they not know how many of each item will be on the platter appetizer. They brought out the veggie chow fun first & there was 1 mushroom & 4 pieces of broccoli on it. On the WHOLE platter. Then we waited a very long time before they brought the next dish. They clearly weren't cooking by ticket, they were just making random things. Your first dish would be stone cold before the accompanying rice came out. It was terrible. Who brings you your bill without fulfilling your order first?? There was a couple at a table near us who waited over 30 minutes for someone to come take their order. The man finally went to find someone himself. I know it was Christmas & I fully expected it to be packed. But this was a complete disaster & we will never go back.
(1)
Meggie W.
It's common knowledge that Eugene is a barren wasteland when it comes to Chinese food. Thankfully, House of Chen is a beacon of hope for those searching for decent Chinese-American style grub. A friend recommended this place to me, saying that he knew that a bunch of the Chinese professors on campus like to eat here. Since that's about the most solid recommendation you can get, I decided to check it out. We ordered hot and sour soup, General Tsao's chicken, and Kung Pao beef. Everything was good, but the chicken was the stand out. We'll order it the next time, I bet. The decor is AMAZING-- so kitschy I almost pinched myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. The ladies room has silver-foil, floral wallpaper that's probably from the 70's. They have those awesome Chinese light fixtures with red tassels that you rarely see anymore. We were seated next to a concrete fountain (!!!) and I had a hard time concentrating on our conversation I was so enthralled with all the different Buddhas and floral arrangements and retro awesomeness. I have a single question test that I carry out for Chinese food places that I like to call the "Panda Express Challenge". When I finish eating at a new restaurant, I ask myself "Am I feeling regret that I did not just go to Panda Express in the EMU?" If the answer is yes, then that restaurant has failed the Panda Express Challenge and I don't eat there again. Most places in Eugene have failed so far. In comparison, House of Chen is strongest pass I have issued to date.
(4)
Sean S.
I love this place. The owners are super nice and remember what we order every time. The food is the best Chinese in Eugene by far. Cheap lunch menu and all around good stuff. I will go back again and again.
(4)
Greg H.
Favorite Chinese restaurant I've had in Eugene. Being used to Chinese food from San Francisco, I'm usually appalled at whatever passes for Chinese food in Oregon. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food here. Plus, the older woman who usually serves there is one of the nicest people I've ever met and always remembers me and what I like to order, even if I haven't been there for months.
(5)
Anne B.
Hands down, the best Chinese in Eugene. We've been going there off and on for over a decade now, have tried most of the menu at one time or another, and have never been disappointed. The food is always fresh, made when you order it, and served in generous portions. Kung Pao King, Broccoli Chicken and Sechuan Chicken are my particular favorites. When we went low-carb nine years ago, the kitchen accommodated our dietary change without batting an eyelash. Having explained that we wished to avoid sugar and cornstarch in the sauces, they simply made up a sauce for our dishes without those things that was perfect and very tasty. We asked once to hold the MSG. Turns out they don't use MSG to start with. When you make Chinese food the right way, it's not needed. Truth be told, we first started going here for the ambiance and then got hooked by the food! The decor is kitschy but serene. Nothing beats Chinese dinner out after a long day next to a running fountain or a huge jade plant taking up the entire window next to our favorite booth. Traditional Chinese instrumental music is usually playing unobtrusively overhead. If you are waiting for take-out or heading toward the restrooms, the front of the restaurant contains plenty of museum-like interest to look at including some lovely furniture, statuary and an impressive carved wooden archway at the entrance. Chinese New Year is particularly entertaining with gold and red decorations all over the place. One of the owners, Annie, always greets us, seats us, and waits on us personally when she's there (which seems like all the time... I think we've only ever been there two or three times in a decade that she wasn't). She is wonderful and is one of the things about this place that always brings us back. Speaking rapid-fire Hong Kong English, she remembers what we order, the quirks of our eating habits, asks what we've been up to since we were last there and remembers what was going on last time we told her! She is the undisputed mother hen of that roost and charms everyone who walks in the door. If you get a craving for Chinese food in Eugene, go to House of Chen! Ten years later and having tried literally every other Chinese place in town, we still go back again and again!
(5)
Madame M.
While staying at the uber glamorous Days Inn, I decided to try the House of Chen for some Chow Fun. I am a born and raised Eugene-er and I can't believe I never tried this place before. Well, I am happy to report the food was tasty and the decor of the restaurant was kitschylicious(yes I said that). The chow fun wasn't all greasy like it usually is at some Chinese restaurants. Instead, it was flavorful and packed full of veggies and shrimp. Also, the wait staff is super nice and personable with their many repeat customers (which i could tell since they knew a lot of them on a first name basis) I will most definitely be a repeat customer.
(4)
John W.
I love Chinese food, but most Chinese restaurants are mediocre. I judge a Chinese restaurant by the quality and variety of vegetables they use. The House of Chen fits the bill, with tasty sauces as well. The authentic decor alone makes this place worth going to, and service is friendly. To top it off, prices are very reasonable. The bill came to under $40 for 4 of us. That's a rarity these days. When in Eugene, the House of Chen is a must.
(5)
Keezer K.
Best Chinese in town, I never really liked chinese food until house of Chen. The ma n pa owners are too sweet and the service is always a delight ;)
(4)
Ashley F.
I really enjoyed this place. I did order take out, but I had to wait for around 20 minutes for my food, so I got a good look at the restaurant. The inside is actually really nice. It is well decorated and has a warm, almost romantic vibe. As for the food, I found it really good. The orange sauce appears to be homemade. We ordered a side of it separate from our meals and it had orange slices inside. I thought it was fantastic, as did the rest of my family. I ordered the chicken in black bean sauce and that, too, was great. Super flavorful and much more than I expected from a random chinese restaurant I chose based on how close it was to my house. BUT this is not authentic chinese food. It is just really good american chinese food. I lived in Chicago for four years and had the opportunity to eat the best food that chinatown had to offer - so, basically, I was spoiled. The takeaway: If you want solid american chinese food, this would be a great place to go, whether for take-out or eat-in.
(4)
Jason F.
After a long 10 hour day on the road driving I finally make it to Eugene with my PREGNANT wife... My wife wants Chinese food and this is the closest place. The food is nasty but that was expected. The shocker is the food comes with no sauce at all!! No soy sauce no hot mustard and worst of all we ordered shrimp and there was no red dipping sauce. I called and complained and was told sorry but I'm still no happy and neither is my PREGNANT wife!!Don't let this happen to you. If I was not so sleepy I would return this shit and ask for my money back!!
(1)
Lena M.
Had the best Shrimp Wonton Soup here the other night. I would eat this every day if I could! The best. Btw. Egg rolls were friggin tasty too
(4)
Lulu B.
My daughter and I went there for lunch during a slow time, and were the only patrons. The server asked what I would like to drink. I hesitated for a minute and said "I believe...I Will have"....but then she rolled her eyes and walked away because I wasn't ready with a drink decision before we even sat down. The food and drinks were tasteless and the vegetables were not fresh. The gave me my check two bites into my meal and never checked on us the whole meal
(1)
Mick H.
Not only was this the worst Chinese restaurant I have ever been to, it was up there with the worst food I have ever been served! Please don't waste your time and go somewhere else! Just awful..
(1)
Josh W.
How in the holy hell does this place have even three stars? Our server was unkind and nearly catatonic when she served us. It was almost as if she was in a fugue state, idly hating customers until her shift was over. Anyway, I've had terrible servers before. It happens. What I won't abide is food that the people who work here wouldn't touch with a fifty, hundred... Planet length pole. The server told my mom (who was seated with the sun directly in her eyes) that we couldn't move because 'we don't get enough vitamin D anyway'. Holy. Fuck. The other users are right, the rice is some sort of microwaved short-grain bullshit. They are lying to the customer referring to it as 'fried' at all. Colorless and flavorless. I had the Kung Pao beef. Probably an exaggeration to call it beef, or meat in general. Rubbery, tasteless, goddamn, it wasn't even spicy!! Kung Pao! What's worse is that the people who work here ARE ACTUALLY CHINESE. Your country should be ashamed that you call yourself Chinese cuisine. I could go on, but now I have to go find another place to eat. Don't trust any of the positive reviews. I hope mine is the one that brings this utter cesspit down to two stars.
(1)
Thanh T.
This place gives chinese food a bad name. Colorless fried rice I mean I understand meat costs money but some frozen carrots and peas for purpose of presentation.
(1)
Georgina H.
Fried rice was short grain, a combination of :"fried" and steamed, or maybe just heated from the freezer. It was inedible and not fully heated. For lack of a better metaphor, it was like eating wet sand crystals. It was a dirty color. The person who served me touched on me, my lower back, which was inappropriate and rude. She was trying to force me out of the way after I just tipped her. The sweet and sour I ordered was good at first but it was clear some pieces were not cooked through or maintained at a temperature to be sanitary, and had bacteria. I kept spitting those pieces out. I think what they do is just chose certain customers to serve badly if the food really is as fantastic as some people say.
(2)
Paula S.
Great food, excellent service! The hot and sour soup is the best I've ever had. Had real food in it like they actually took the time to make it a great soup! Delish!
(4)
Joe S.
Our fortune cookies tasted pretty fresh for a pre-packaged item. Water tasted clean and was unencumbered by any excess ice that might make it too cold. Nobody got sick. Place smelled like mildew. Poor service, unfriendly. After one of our children spilled his water, the waitress told us not to give him anymore water! Lukewarm food on cold plates that was all obviously days-old and dry. Thick, syrupy bottled-tasting sauces. Mushy Chow Mein, General Tsao's made with tiny, hard, dry pieces of chicken drowned in goopy sauce that was cloying and tasteless. Mu Shu Chicken was burnt-tasting and I was only given three tiny, paper-thin, paper-dry pancakes for a huge platter. About nine would have been necessary. Rice was at least three days old. So-called fried rice was just white rice with a teeny bit of scrambled egg. Everything tasted of an ancient Chinese grill that hasn't been cleaned since the Tang Dynasty. One star for giving my children the classic bad Chinese food experience before they grow up and all get replaced from bad Yelp reviews.
(1)
Sarah S.
So gross! My family got takeout here when we were staying in a nearby hotel. The food we ordered - Kung Pao chicken and Mongolian chicken - was inedible. The chicken was rubbery and gross and the sauce was pure salt. The fried rice was cold and flavorless. I wouldn't feed this food to my dog. :(
(1)
Helen B.
We like House of Chen and have been going there for 20 years! I like the chow fun dishes. We never get fried rice with our dishes, always the white rice. The owner has been there forever and we love her. Sorry to read that anyone had bad food there!
(5)
Doug D.
Nice place. OK chinese food. Nothing more.
(3)
K. S.
Great chinese food, and the nicest staff who remember your likes and dislikes. Very soothing environment. We love this place!
(4)
Phil ..
Some of the best Chinese I've had recently. I've eaten here several times now when visiting Eugene.
(4)
Randy L.
Writing bad reviews is like weeding the garden. No fun, but it's gotta be done. Three of us went for lunch with high hopes, based on the Yelp reviews. We WANT a good Chinese restaurant in Eugene! (No, we WANT a GREAT one, but we'd settle for good). Decor was very nice as we walked in, hostess was very hospitable. Maybe we just hit a (very) bad day, but this wasn't it. We ordered five dishes. Orange chicken sauce was ok, but the chicken was downright poor - fried, dried out, tough. Almost as if it was cooked the night before and microwaved. Fried rice was bland overcooked and uninteresting. Beef in black bean sauce with mushrooms was just bad - thin sauce, boiled beef, strange taste to the dish. Looked and tasted unappetizing - not inedible, but why would you? Pork dumplings had very heavy gluey dough, not much flavor. Szechuan prawns were ok at best... It wasn't the same place as described in other reviews. Place was empty - maybe lunch (weekend, I think) isn't the time to go? maybe the chef's off? or??? Who knows. We won't be back, at least for lunch.
(2)
Raja S.
Frankly, I am disappointed, considering the reviews. The food was okay. We ordered: Veg Spring rolls: very oily, decent taste. House Speciality Fried rice: Good taste. Chicken with Peking Sauce: Decent. what concerns me: the maintainence of the restaurant... it looks dilapidated. Feel that I could get sick if I frequent this place. The glasses looked like they were in the final stages. The restroom was unkempt. The sofa seat that I was sitting was bumpy as one side of the sofa is gone. I was impressed with the service (the waiter, who looked like the owner had a personal touch).
(2)
Janet M.
When I lived in Eugene, I worked a block from this place. I would go in for lunch or grab some takeout. It's not really a fancy or super hip place, and I don't know if I could describe it as pristinely clean. The people were quirky and very nice to me, especially after I became a regular. I became addicted to the eggplant with garlic sauce. Now, maybe this was because I usually went with my vegetarian coworker, but I also think it was delicious. I also liked the string beans ( with or without chicken) and there were a couple soups I really enjoyed, wonton and sizzling rice soups. I took my folks there when they came to visit and they enjoyed their beef dishes, too. I think this is a good option for Chinese in Eugene. ( my other attempts were Kowloon and Ocean Sky, which I never liked quite as much).
(4)
Geo H.
I remember when House of Chen was a campus location (where Sacred Heart Parking is now). We have seen it change owners once but luckily the quality of food hasn't changed. It may not be the fanciest of places but the food is remarkable good with real veggies (many Eugene Chinese restaurants use frozen for some reason). This is Cantonese style Chinese food most Chinese food in Eugene is Hong Kong style. I love their shrimp with mushroom & Chinese greens, my husband always gets the Hunan Pork. Their house chow mein as well as their BBQ pork chow mein are fantastic. Super large portion especially for take out which is easiest for us. Eugene doesn't have the best Chinese food I have ever had (I grew up in SF) but House of Chen is pretty darn good.
(4)
Jen Y.
I'm not a picky eater and I have never refused to eat something I've ordered... until I came to House of Chen. To be fair, I didn't go into the restaurant so I can't judge the cleanliness and ambiance of the place. My mom went to pick up the food and mentioned that the lady working there was very sweet and friendly. So, yea, one star for that. I ordered orange chicken and my mom ordered fried rice (basic, simple dishes). Both were completely inedible. The fried rice looked like plain white rice with some soy sauce splashed onto it and tasted like... well, nothing. The orange chicken was a joke. I've never seen orange chicken look so pale and sad. The taste was even worse. I will never go back. Ever.
(1)
Lisa C.
While the service was friendly as everyone says, and the food was good (not quite as amazing as I would have expected reading some of these reviews); I was completely dismayed at the half eaten potsticker sitting int he window. It was staring at me the entire time I was eating. I posted a picture so you don't think I am making it up. But really the food was pretty tasty so they still get 3 stars. Ew.
(3)
Emma F.
The food looked delicious but the service was slow. We ordered drinks all Vodka drinks and wasn't told until 10 mins later that they were out of vodka. The bartender then tried to push gin on us saying it's the same. Uh hello gin is not the same as vodka! After being told to order gin for the 20th time we decided just to leave.
(1)
Darcey P.
I had the fried prawn appetizer and the shrimp fried rice. The fried prawns were plentiful, large order, with crispy, thin crusts. Good sweet and sour sauce. Very fresh, high quality ingredients in everything. I loved the fried rice. I order it at every Chinese restaurant, and this one is superb!! My mom had the Chicken Chow Mein. She raved about the variety of vegetables and how the noodles were cooked perfectly. This service was ideal. The servers were so attentive, kind and accommodating. I'll be back for sure!
(5)
Michele S.
We love House of Chen! We have been going there consistently for a few years now, and a few of our favorites are Kung Pao Chicken, Won Ton Soup and Broccoli Beef. The owner is delightful, and has remembered our names and favorite orders since the first time we were there! We are even able to go on our lunch hour and get in and out with plenty of time. The decor may be a bit old, but it's always a great experience.
(4)
Joey H.
Well, I felt like Chinese take out, so, I went online to yelp to see what was the 'best' in the Eugene area. House of Chen came up as your top choice. I ordered the orange beef and orange chicken. The orange sauce was, probably the most homemade sauce I have ever tasted at any Chinese place. It actually tasted like oranges, not like sugar with orange extract or some crap. But as I took it to-go, it was not crispy what so ever within ten minutes of getting it, to eating. The chicken was not very flavorful, but I did enjoy the beef. Lunch all together came to 13.90 for the 2 orders, portions were good size for lunch though. The decor was simply amazing, I almost wanted to stay. They also had incense burning you could smell, but that is not my 'thing'. Waiter seemed very attentive and helpful. Can the Eugene area just get some good Chinese food? I am ready!
(3)
Evan C.
The lady who works here has seriously got to be the most extraverted person on the planet. If you've been in even once she'll remember you and your order, and if you've never been in before she'll quickly become your newest friend. That kind of cheeriness counts for a lot in my book, especially in a town like Eugene where service usually takes a back seat. I've never seen anyone besides her outside the kitchen, but she's got the power of a full waitstaff in one arm. And the food impresses, as well. I'm a sucker for the house special fried rice, which is odd, because usually fried rice is the last thing I'd gravitate toward. But they do it really well here, and the portion is enormous for the price. Virtually everything else is great, too - another personal favorite is the roast duck, complete with the crispy, fatty skin that's sure to kill me as kindly and gently as possible. The decor deserves its own paragraph, but it's difficult to describe without using the word "kitschy", which doesn't even begin to sum it all up. It's like the sort of cheesy multi-floor dragon-palace Chinese restaurants you'd expect to find somewhere in Bladerunner, only made real. But it's never tacky, because there's something so genuine and passionate about it that it just works.
(4)
Ohio State B.
This was the greasiest food I have ever had! The egg role literally was mush and my entree literally looked like soup there was so much grease!
(1)
Hula H.
Sometimes you just need to return to the classics. House of Chen is one of those. Not the latest trend, or fad in the Eugene Food Scene - but an always "safe harbor" when it comes to experiencing Chinese food in Eugene. What you will not find is a heat lamp anywhere; opting for made to order ample servings of each menu item. You will also experience natural flavors that are combined to enhance, but not overwhelm your palate. The Duck is just the way it should be; dark, juicy tender morsels of roasted duck served with a variety of sauces; orange sauce made with real fruit juice and not too sugary. I am new at writing reviews and just want to share my enthusiasm for House of Chen. Go. Try it! You will not be disappointed. If you don't want authentic and want the everyday, American Chinese - check out Louie's. But if you want really good Chinese food; House of Chen is a must go.
(5)
Shoshanah H.
I love this place because Im a picky eater and they always get my order correct. The same woman is always working at the front and she is so kind and always asks about my schooling. Maybe not the most gourmet but still my favorite chinese in the eug
(4)
Eric P.
I personally don't like to eat the American style Chinese food as it really isn't that good. But there is something overly comforting when Mother Mao tells you hello and remembers what you had the last time. And that was several months ago. There is nothing fancy or a specialty, just damn good MSG laden food!
(4)
billy r.
This is the best Chinese style food I have had in Oregon. That is not saying much. Hear-tell there is good stuff in Portland, but when visiting Portland, Chinese food is never on my to do list. The lady helping us was extremely nice. The food was pretty good. The piping hot egg rolls were great. I will be back here again. I think I'll ask them to spice it up a bit.
(3)
Leigh-Anne B.
I am giving this place 1 star because I have to give it something. We ended up here by mistake. We were supposed to go to Chen's Happy Garden since the reviews were much better. This place had the WORST service ever. Worst food in a long time. Worst "manager" ? ever... We were there for over 2 hours tonight. We got our bill before we even got all of our food. When asking the waitress simple questions about items on the menu, she was unable to answer any of them. When she went back to ask someone in the back, she came back 10 minutes later saying they didn't know either. If they are cooking the food, how do they not know how many of each item will be on the platter appetizer. They brought out the veggie chow fun first & there was 1 mushroom & 4 pieces of broccoli on it. On the WHOLE platter. Then we waited a very long time before they brought the next dish. They clearly weren't cooking by ticket, they were just making random things. Your first dish would be stone cold before the accompanying rice came out. It was terrible. Who brings you your bill without fulfilling your order first?? There was a couple at a table near us who waited over 30 minutes for someone to come take their order. The man finally went to find someone himself. I know it was Christmas & I fully expected it to be packed. But this was a complete disaster & we will never go back.
(1)
Meggie W.
It's common knowledge that Eugene is a barren wasteland when it comes to Chinese food. Thankfully, House of Chen is a beacon of hope for those searching for decent Chinese-American style grub. A friend recommended this place to me, saying that he knew that a bunch of the Chinese professors on campus like to eat here. Since that's about the most solid recommendation you can get, I decided to check it out. We ordered hot and sour soup, General Tsao's chicken, and Kung Pao beef. Everything was good, but the chicken was the stand out. We'll order it the next time, I bet. The decor is AMAZING-- so kitschy I almost pinched myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. The ladies room has silver-foil, floral wallpaper that's probably from the 70's. They have those awesome Chinese light fixtures with red tassels that you rarely see anymore. We were seated next to a concrete fountain (!!!) and I had a hard time concentrating on our conversation I was so enthralled with all the different Buddhas and floral arrangements and retro awesomeness. I have a single question test that I carry out for Chinese food places that I like to call the "Panda Express Challenge". When I finish eating at a new restaurant, I ask myself "Am I feeling regret that I did not just go to Panda Express in the EMU?" If the answer is yes, then that restaurant has failed the Panda Express Challenge and I don't eat there again. Most places in Eugene have failed so far. In comparison, House of Chen is strongest pass I have issued to date.
(4)
Sean S.
I love this place. The owners are super nice and remember what we order every time. The food is the best Chinese in Eugene by far. Cheap lunch menu and all around good stuff. I will go back again and again.
(4)
Greg H.
Favorite Chinese restaurant I've had in Eugene. Being used to Chinese food from San Francisco, I'm usually appalled at whatever passes for Chinese food in Oregon. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food here. Plus, the older woman who usually serves there is one of the nicest people I've ever met and always remembers me and what I like to order, even if I haven't been there for months.
(5)
Cally H.
By far the best Chinese restaurant in Eugene. The owner was very kind and the service was fast. There is a large variety of food for everyone. The fresh tasting Garlic Shrimp was the highlight of the meal. We will be back!
(4)
Jazmin H.
The best sweet and sour chicken I've found on the west coast. Light and crispy battered chicken in a tasty sauce with the right veggies. Haven't been back through Eugene in several years but was a solid choice across from U of O for years of debate tournaments.
(5)
Anne B.
Hands down, the best Chinese in Eugene. We've been going there off and on for over a decade now, have tried most of the menu at one time or another, and have never been disappointed. The food is always fresh, made when you order it, and served in generous portions. Kung Pao King, Broccoli Chicken and Sechuan Chicken are my particular favorites. When we went low-carb nine years ago, the kitchen accommodated our dietary change without batting an eyelash. Having explained that we wished to avoid sugar and cornstarch in the sauces, they simply made up a sauce for our dishes without those things that was perfect and very tasty. We asked once to hold the MSG. Turns out they don't use MSG to start with. When you make Chinese food the right way, it's not needed. Truth be told, we first started going here for the ambiance and then got hooked by the food! The decor is kitschy but serene. Nothing beats Chinese dinner out after a long day next to a running fountain or a huge jade plant taking up the entire window next to our favorite booth. Traditional Chinese instrumental music is usually playing unobtrusively overhead. If you are waiting for take-out or heading toward the restrooms, the front of the restaurant contains plenty of museum-like interest to look at including some lovely furniture, statuary and an impressive carved wooden archway at the entrance. Chinese New Year is particularly entertaining with gold and red decorations all over the place. One of the owners, Annie, always greets us, seats us, and waits on us personally when she's there (which seems like all the time... I think we've only ever been there two or three times in a decade that she wasn't). She is wonderful and is one of the things about this place that always brings us back. Speaking rapid-fire Hong Kong English, she remembers what we order, the quirks of our eating habits, asks what we've been up to since we were last there and remembers what was going on last time we told her! She is the undisputed mother hen of that roost and charms everyone who walks in the door. If you get a craving for Chinese food in Eugene, go to House of Chen! Ten years later and having tried literally every other Chinese place in town, we still go back again and again!
(5)
Madame M.
While staying at the uber glamorous Days Inn, I decided to try the House of Chen for some Chow Fun. I am a born and raised Eugene-er and I can't believe I never tried this place before. Well, I am happy to report the food was tasty and the decor of the restaurant was kitschylicious(yes I said that). The chow fun wasn't all greasy like it usually is at some Chinese restaurants. Instead, it was flavorful and packed full of veggies and shrimp. Also, the wait staff is super nice and personable with their many repeat customers (which i could tell since they knew a lot of them on a first name basis) I will most definitely be a repeat customer.
(4)
John W.
I love Chinese food, but most Chinese restaurants are mediocre. I judge a Chinese restaurant by the quality and variety of vegetables they use. The House of Chen fits the bill, with tasty sauces as well. The authentic decor alone makes this place worth going to, and service is friendly. To top it off, prices are very reasonable. The bill came to under $40 for 4 of us. That's a rarity these days. When in Eugene, the House of Chen is a must.
(5)
Keezer K.
Best Chinese in town, I never really liked chinese food until house of Chen. The ma n pa owners are too sweet and the service is always a delight ;)
(4)
Anthony R.
Eugene has maybe 30 Chinese Restaurants and most of them are pretty crappy. House of Chen, though, surprises with fresh and plentiful renderings of typical Chinese-American favorites. You can get ducks by the half and whole, old school "chow mein" with crunchy noodles (or with soft pan-fried noodles), all the usual kung pao and General Tsao, egg rolls, potstickers (from the freezer), hot and sour soup, fried rice, Mandarin, Szechuan, and Hunan favorites. This is not the most elegant place (though the dining room is pretty fancy, if kitschy) but the food tastes good, the portions are huge, and the prices are pretty standard. Last night I took out one order of Mandarin Chicken (extra spicy, which it wasn't), and ended up making three separate meals. Service is friendly, if a bit slow. If you phone in your order, you may as well show up immediately. It's been my experience that they don't actually begin cooking it until you show up with the money. I've NEVER arrrived with the food ready. Instead, I show up, look around, wait for the guy to go behind the cash register, pay him the money and then sit down and wait for fifteen minutes. If you have the time, eat in. The portion sizes are about 1.5 times bigger if you eat it there. Take the rest home in a non-biodegradable styrofoam container.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : No Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
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.
Doug D.
Nice place. OK chinese food. Nothing more.
(3)Anthony R.
Eugene has maybe 30 Chinese Restaurants and most of them are pretty crappy. House of Chen, though, surprises with fresh and plentiful renderings of typical Chinese-American favorites. You can get ducks by the half and whole, old school "chow mein" with crunchy noodles (or with soft pan-fried noodles), all the usual kung pao and General Tsao, egg rolls, potstickers (from the freezer), hot and sour soup, fried rice, Mandarin, Szechuan, and Hunan favorites. This is not the most elegant place (though the dining room is pretty fancy, if kitschy) but the food tastes good, the portions are huge, and the prices are pretty standard. Last night I took out one order of Mandarin Chicken (extra spicy, which it wasn't), and ended up making three separate meals. Service is friendly, if a bit slow. If you phone in your order, you may as well show up immediately. It's been my experience that they don't actually begin cooking it until you show up with the money. I've NEVER arrrived with the food ready. Instead, I show up, look around, wait for the guy to go behind the cash register, pay him the money and then sit down and wait for fifteen minutes. If you have the time, eat in. The portion sizes are about 1.5 times bigger if you eat it there. Take the rest home in a non-biodegradable styrofoam container.
(3)Ashley F.
I really enjoyed this place. I did order take out, but I had to wait for around 20 minutes for my food, so I got a good look at the restaurant. The inside is actually really nice. It is well decorated and has a warm, almost romantic vibe. As for the food, I found it really good. The orange sauce appears to be homemade. We ordered a side of it separate from our meals and it had orange slices inside. I thought it was fantastic, as did the rest of my family. I ordered the chicken in black bean sauce and that, too, was great. Super flavorful and much more than I expected from a random chinese restaurant I chose based on how close it was to my house. BUT this is not authentic chinese food. It is just really good american chinese food. I lived in Chicago for four years and had the opportunity to eat the best food that chinatown had to offer - so, basically, I was spoiled. The takeaway: If you want solid american chinese food, this would be a great place to go, whether for take-out or eat-in.
(4)Jason F.
After a long 10 hour day on the road driving I finally make it to Eugene with my PREGNANT wife... My wife wants Chinese food and this is the closest place. The food is nasty but that was expected. The shocker is the food comes with no sauce at all!! No soy sauce no hot mustard and worst of all we ordered shrimp and there was no red dipping sauce. I called and complained and was told sorry but I'm still no happy and neither is my PREGNANT wife!!Don't let this happen to you. If I was not so sleepy I would return this shit and ask for my money back!!
(1)Lena M.
Had the best Shrimp Wonton Soup here the other night. I would eat this every day if I could! The best. Btw. Egg rolls were friggin tasty too
(4)Josh W.
How in the holy hell does this place have even three stars? Our server was unkind and nearly catatonic when she served us. It was almost as if she was in a fugue state, idly hating customers until her shift was over. Anyway, I've had terrible servers before. It happens. What I won't abide is food that the people who work here wouldn't touch with a fifty, hundred... Planet length pole. The server told my mom (who was seated with the sun directly in her eyes) that we couldn't move because 'we don't get enough vitamin D anyway'. Holy. Fuck. The other users are right, the rice is some sort of microwaved short-grain bullshit. They are lying to the customer referring to it as 'fried' at all. Colorless and flavorless. I had the Kung Pao beef. Probably an exaggeration to call it beef, or meat in general. Rubbery, tasteless, goddamn, it wasn't even spicy!! Kung Pao! What's worse is that the people who work here ARE ACTUALLY CHINESE. Your country should be ashamed that you call yourself Chinese cuisine. I could go on, but now I have to go find another place to eat. Don't trust any of the positive reviews. I hope mine is the one that brings this utter cesspit down to two stars.
(1)Thanh T.
This place gives chinese food a bad name. Colorless fried rice I mean I understand meat costs money but some frozen carrots and peas for purpose of presentation.
(1)Georgina H.
Fried rice was short grain, a combination of :"fried" and steamed, or maybe just heated from the freezer. It was inedible and not fully heated. For lack of a better metaphor, it was like eating wet sand crystals. It was a dirty color. The person who served me touched on me, my lower back, which was inappropriate and rude. She was trying to force me out of the way after I just tipped her. The sweet and sour I ordered was good at first but it was clear some pieces were not cooked through or maintained at a temperature to be sanitary, and had bacteria. I kept spitting those pieces out. I think what they do is just chose certain customers to serve badly if the food really is as fantastic as some people say.
(2)Paula S.
Great food, excellent service! The hot and sour soup is the best I've ever had. Had real food in it like they actually took the time to make it a great soup! Delish!
(4)Joe S.
Our fortune cookies tasted pretty fresh for a pre-packaged item. Water tasted clean and was unencumbered by any excess ice that might make it too cold. Nobody got sick. Place smelled like mildew. Poor service, unfriendly. After one of our children spilled his water, the waitress told us not to give him anymore water! Lukewarm food on cold plates that was all obviously days-old and dry. Thick, syrupy bottled-tasting sauces. Mushy Chow Mein, General Tsao's made with tiny, hard, dry pieces of chicken drowned in goopy sauce that was cloying and tasteless. Mu Shu Chicken was burnt-tasting and I was only given three tiny, paper-thin, paper-dry pancakes for a huge platter. About nine would have been necessary. Rice was at least three days old. So-called fried rice was just white rice with a teeny bit of scrambled egg. Everything tasted of an ancient Chinese grill that hasn't been cleaned since the Tang Dynasty. One star for giving my children the classic bad Chinese food experience before they grow up and all get replaced from bad Yelp reviews.
(1)Lulu B.
My daughter and I went there for lunch during a slow time, and were the only patrons. The server asked what I would like to drink. I hesitated for a minute and said "I believe...I Will have"....but then she rolled her eyes and walked away because I wasn't ready with a drink decision before we even sat down. The food and drinks were tasteless and the vegetables were not fresh. The gave me my check two bites into my meal and never checked on us the whole meal
(1)Mick H.
Not only was this the worst Chinese restaurant I have ever been to, it was up there with the worst food I have ever been served! Please don't waste your time and go somewhere else! Just awful..
(1)Sarah S.
So gross! My family got takeout here when we were staying in a nearby hotel. The food we ordered - Kung Pao chicken and Mongolian chicken - was inedible. The chicken was rubbery and gross and the sauce was pure salt. The fried rice was cold and flavorless. I wouldn't feed this food to my dog. :(
(1)Helen B.
We like House of Chen and have been going there for 20 years! I like the chow fun dishes. We never get fried rice with our dishes, always the white rice. The owner has been there forever and we love her. Sorry to read that anyone had bad food there!
(5)Randy L.
Writing bad reviews is like weeding the garden. No fun, but it's gotta be done. Three of us went for lunch with high hopes, based on the Yelp reviews. We WANT a good Chinese restaurant in Eugene! (No, we WANT a GREAT one, but we'd settle for good). Decor was very nice as we walked in, hostess was very hospitable. Maybe we just hit a (very) bad day, but this wasn't it. We ordered five dishes. Orange chicken sauce was ok, but the chicken was downright poor - fried, dried out, tough. Almost as if it was cooked the night before and microwaved. Fried rice was bland overcooked and uninteresting. Beef in black bean sauce with mushrooms was just bad - thin sauce, boiled beef, strange taste to the dish. Looked and tasted unappetizing - not inedible, but why would you? Pork dumplings had very heavy gluey dough, not much flavor. Szechuan prawns were ok at best... It wasn't the same place as described in other reviews. Place was empty - maybe lunch (weekend, I think) isn't the time to go? maybe the chef's off? or??? Who knows. We won't be back, at least for lunch.
(2)Raja S.
Frankly, I am disappointed, considering the reviews. The food was okay. We ordered: Veg Spring rolls: very oily, decent taste. House Speciality Fried rice: Good taste. Chicken with Peking Sauce: Decent. what concerns me: the maintainence of the restaurant... it looks dilapidated. Feel that I could get sick if I frequent this place. The glasses looked like they were in the final stages. The restroom was unkempt. The sofa seat that I was sitting was bumpy as one side of the sofa is gone. I was impressed with the service (the waiter, who looked like the owner had a personal touch).
(2)Janet M.
When I lived in Eugene, I worked a block from this place. I would go in for lunch or grab some takeout. It's not really a fancy or super hip place, and I don't know if I could describe it as pristinely clean. The people were quirky and very nice to me, especially after I became a regular. I became addicted to the eggplant with garlic sauce. Now, maybe this was because I usually went with my vegetarian coworker, but I also think it was delicious. I also liked the string beans ( with or without chicken) and there were a couple soups I really enjoyed, wonton and sizzling rice soups. I took my folks there when they came to visit and they enjoyed their beef dishes, too. I think this is a good option for Chinese in Eugene. ( my other attempts were Kowloon and Ocean Sky, which I never liked quite as much).
(4)Geo H.
I remember when House of Chen was a campus location (where Sacred Heart Parking is now). We have seen it change owners once but luckily the quality of food hasn't changed. It may not be the fanciest of places but the food is remarkable good with real veggies (many Eugene Chinese restaurants use frozen for some reason). This is Cantonese style Chinese food most Chinese food in Eugene is Hong Kong style. I love their shrimp with mushroom & Chinese greens, my husband always gets the Hunan Pork. Their house chow mein as well as their BBQ pork chow mein are fantastic. Super large portion especially for take out which is easiest for us. Eugene doesn't have the best Chinese food I have ever had (I grew up in SF) but House of Chen is pretty darn good.
(4)Jen Y.
I'm not a picky eater and I have never refused to eat something I've ordered... until I came to House of Chen. To be fair, I didn't go into the restaurant so I can't judge the cleanliness and ambiance of the place. My mom went to pick up the food and mentioned that the lady working there was very sweet and friendly. So, yea, one star for that. I ordered orange chicken and my mom ordered fried rice (basic, simple dishes). Both were completely inedible. The fried rice looked like plain white rice with some soy sauce splashed onto it and tasted like... well, nothing. The orange chicken was a joke. I've never seen orange chicken look so pale and sad. The taste was even worse. I will never go back. Ever.
(1)Lisa C.
While the service was friendly as everyone says, and the food was good (not quite as amazing as I would have expected reading some of these reviews); I was completely dismayed at the half eaten potsticker sitting int he window. It was staring at me the entire time I was eating. I posted a picture so you don't think I am making it up. But really the food was pretty tasty so they still get 3 stars. Ew.
(3)Emma F.
The food looked delicious but the service was slow. We ordered drinks all Vodka drinks and wasn't told until 10 mins later that they were out of vodka. The bartender then tried to push gin on us saying it's the same. Uh hello gin is not the same as vodka! After being told to order gin for the 20th time we decided just to leave.
(1)Darcey P.
I had the fried prawn appetizer and the shrimp fried rice. The fried prawns were plentiful, large order, with crispy, thin crusts. Good sweet and sour sauce. Very fresh, high quality ingredients in everything. I loved the fried rice. I order it at every Chinese restaurant, and this one is superb!! My mom had the Chicken Chow Mein. She raved about the variety of vegetables and how the noodles were cooked perfectly. This service was ideal. The servers were so attentive, kind and accommodating. I'll be back for sure!
(5)Michele S.
We love House of Chen! We have been going there consistently for a few years now, and a few of our favorites are Kung Pao Chicken, Won Ton Soup and Broccoli Beef. The owner is delightful, and has remembered our names and favorite orders since the first time we were there! We are even able to go on our lunch hour and get in and out with plenty of time. The decor may be a bit old, but it's always a great experience.
(4)Joey H.
Well, I felt like Chinese take out, so, I went online to yelp to see what was the 'best' in the Eugene area. House of Chen came up as your top choice. I ordered the orange beef and orange chicken. The orange sauce was, probably the most homemade sauce I have ever tasted at any Chinese place. It actually tasted like oranges, not like sugar with orange extract or some crap. But as I took it to-go, it was not crispy what so ever within ten minutes of getting it, to eating. The chicken was not very flavorful, but I did enjoy the beef. Lunch all together came to 13.90 for the 2 orders, portions were good size for lunch though. The decor was simply amazing, I almost wanted to stay. They also had incense burning you could smell, but that is not my 'thing'. Waiter seemed very attentive and helpful. Can the Eugene area just get some good Chinese food? I am ready!
(3)Evan C.
The lady who works here has seriously got to be the most extraverted person on the planet. If you've been in even once she'll remember you and your order, and if you've never been in before she'll quickly become your newest friend. That kind of cheeriness counts for a lot in my book, especially in a town like Eugene where service usually takes a back seat. I've never seen anyone besides her outside the kitchen, but she's got the power of a full waitstaff in one arm. And the food impresses, as well. I'm a sucker for the house special fried rice, which is odd, because usually fried rice is the last thing I'd gravitate toward. But they do it really well here, and the portion is enormous for the price. Virtually everything else is great, too - another personal favorite is the roast duck, complete with the crispy, fatty skin that's sure to kill me as kindly and gently as possible. The decor deserves its own paragraph, but it's difficult to describe without using the word "kitschy", which doesn't even begin to sum it all up. It's like the sort of cheesy multi-floor dragon-palace Chinese restaurants you'd expect to find somewhere in Bladerunner, only made real. But it's never tacky, because there's something so genuine and passionate about it that it just works.
(4)Ohio State B.
This was the greasiest food I have ever had! The egg role literally was mush and my entree literally looked like soup there was so much grease!
(1)Hula H.
Sometimes you just need to return to the classics. House of Chen is one of those. Not the latest trend, or fad in the Eugene Food Scene - but an always "safe harbor" when it comes to experiencing Chinese food in Eugene. What you will not find is a heat lamp anywhere; opting for made to order ample servings of each menu item. You will also experience natural flavors that are combined to enhance, but not overwhelm your palate. The Duck is just the way it should be; dark, juicy tender morsels of roasted duck served with a variety of sauces; orange sauce made with real fruit juice and not too sugary. I am new at writing reviews and just want to share my enthusiasm for House of Chen. Go. Try it! You will not be disappointed. If you don't want authentic and want the everyday, American Chinese - check out Louie's. But if you want really good Chinese food; House of Chen is a must go.
(5)Shoshanah H.
I love this place because Im a picky eater and they always get my order correct. The same woman is always working at the front and she is so kind and always asks about my schooling. Maybe not the most gourmet but still my favorite chinese in the eug
(4)Eric P.
I personally don't like to eat the American style Chinese food as it really isn't that good. But there is something overly comforting when Mother Mao tells you hello and remembers what you had the last time. And that was several months ago. There is nothing fancy or a specialty, just damn good MSG laden food!
(4)billy r.
This is the best Chinese style food I have had in Oregon. That is not saying much. Hear-tell there is good stuff in Portland, but when visiting Portland, Chinese food is never on my to do list. The lady helping us was extremely nice. The food was pretty good. The piping hot egg rolls were great. I will be back here again. I think I'll ask them to spice it up a bit.
(3)K. S.
Great chinese food, and the nicest staff who remember your likes and dislikes. Very soothing environment. We love this place!
(4)Phil ..
Some of the best Chinese I've had recently. I've eaten here several times now when visiting Eugene.
(4)Cally H.
By far the best Chinese restaurant in Eugene. The owner was very kind and the service was fast. There is a large variety of food for everyone. The fresh tasting Garlic Shrimp was the highlight of the meal. We will be back!
(4)Jazmin H.
The best sweet and sour chicken I've found on the west coast. Light and crispy battered chicken in a tasty sauce with the right veggies. Haven't been back through Eugene in several years but was a solid choice across from U of O for years of debate tournaments.
(5)Leigh-Anne B.
I am giving this place 1 star because I have to give it something. We ended up here by mistake. We were supposed to go to Chen's Happy Garden since the reviews were much better. This place had the WORST service ever. Worst food in a long time. Worst "manager" ? ever... We were there for over 2 hours tonight. We got our bill before we even got all of our food. When asking the waitress simple questions about items on the menu, she was unable to answer any of them. When she went back to ask someone in the back, she came back 10 minutes later saying they didn't know either. If they are cooking the food, how do they not know how many of each item will be on the platter appetizer. They brought out the veggie chow fun first & there was 1 mushroom & 4 pieces of broccoli on it. On the WHOLE platter. Then we waited a very long time before they brought the next dish. They clearly weren't cooking by ticket, they were just making random things. Your first dish would be stone cold before the accompanying rice came out. It was terrible. Who brings you your bill without fulfilling your order first?? There was a couple at a table near us who waited over 30 minutes for someone to come take their order. The man finally went to find someone himself. I know it was Christmas & I fully expected it to be packed. But this was a complete disaster & we will never go back.
(1)Meggie W.
It's common knowledge that Eugene is a barren wasteland when it comes to Chinese food. Thankfully, House of Chen is a beacon of hope for those searching for decent Chinese-American style grub. A friend recommended this place to me, saying that he knew that a bunch of the Chinese professors on campus like to eat here. Since that's about the most solid recommendation you can get, I decided to check it out. We ordered hot and sour soup, General Tsao's chicken, and Kung Pao beef. Everything was good, but the chicken was the stand out. We'll order it the next time, I bet. The decor is AMAZING-- so kitschy I almost pinched myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. The ladies room has silver-foil, floral wallpaper that's probably from the 70's. They have those awesome Chinese light fixtures with red tassels that you rarely see anymore. We were seated next to a concrete fountain (!!!) and I had a hard time concentrating on our conversation I was so enthralled with all the different Buddhas and floral arrangements and retro awesomeness. I have a single question test that I carry out for Chinese food places that I like to call the "Panda Express Challenge". When I finish eating at a new restaurant, I ask myself "Am I feeling regret that I did not just go to Panda Express in the EMU?" If the answer is yes, then that restaurant has failed the Panda Express Challenge and I don't eat there again. Most places in Eugene have failed so far. In comparison, House of Chen is strongest pass I have issued to date.
(4)Sean S.
I love this place. The owners are super nice and remember what we order every time. The food is the best Chinese in Eugene by far. Cheap lunch menu and all around good stuff. I will go back again and again.
(4)Greg H.
Favorite Chinese restaurant I've had in Eugene. Being used to Chinese food from San Francisco, I'm usually appalled at whatever passes for Chinese food in Oregon. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food here. Plus, the older woman who usually serves there is one of the nicest people I've ever met and always remembers me and what I like to order, even if I haven't been there for months.
(5)Anne B.
Hands down, the best Chinese in Eugene. We've been going there off and on for over a decade now, have tried most of the menu at one time or another, and have never been disappointed. The food is always fresh, made when you order it, and served in generous portions. Kung Pao King, Broccoli Chicken and Sechuan Chicken are my particular favorites. When we went low-carb nine years ago, the kitchen accommodated our dietary change without batting an eyelash. Having explained that we wished to avoid sugar and cornstarch in the sauces, they simply made up a sauce for our dishes without those things that was perfect and very tasty. We asked once to hold the MSG. Turns out they don't use MSG to start with. When you make Chinese food the right way, it's not needed. Truth be told, we first started going here for the ambiance and then got hooked by the food! The decor is kitschy but serene. Nothing beats Chinese dinner out after a long day next to a running fountain or a huge jade plant taking up the entire window next to our favorite booth. Traditional Chinese instrumental music is usually playing unobtrusively overhead. If you are waiting for take-out or heading toward the restrooms, the front of the restaurant contains plenty of museum-like interest to look at including some lovely furniture, statuary and an impressive carved wooden archway at the entrance. Chinese New Year is particularly entertaining with gold and red decorations all over the place. One of the owners, Annie, always greets us, seats us, and waits on us personally when she's there (which seems like all the time... I think we've only ever been there two or three times in a decade that she wasn't). She is wonderful and is one of the things about this place that always brings us back. Speaking rapid-fire Hong Kong English, she remembers what we order, the quirks of our eating habits, asks what we've been up to since we were last there and remembers what was going on last time we told her! She is the undisputed mother hen of that roost and charms everyone who walks in the door. If you get a craving for Chinese food in Eugene, go to House of Chen! Ten years later and having tried literally every other Chinese place in town, we still go back again and again!
(5)Madame M.
While staying at the uber glamorous Days Inn, I decided to try the House of Chen for some Chow Fun. I am a born and raised Eugene-er and I can't believe I never tried this place before. Well, I am happy to report the food was tasty and the decor of the restaurant was kitschylicious(yes I said that). The chow fun wasn't all greasy like it usually is at some Chinese restaurants. Instead, it was flavorful and packed full of veggies and shrimp. Also, the wait staff is super nice and personable with their many repeat customers (which i could tell since they knew a lot of them on a first name basis) I will most definitely be a repeat customer.
(4)John W.
I love Chinese food, but most Chinese restaurants are mediocre. I judge a Chinese restaurant by the quality and variety of vegetables they use. The House of Chen fits the bill, with tasty sauces as well. The authentic decor alone makes this place worth going to, and service is friendly. To top it off, prices are very reasonable. The bill came to under $40 for 4 of us. That's a rarity these days. When in Eugene, the House of Chen is a must.
(5)Keezer K.
Best Chinese in town, I never really liked chinese food until house of Chen. The ma n pa owners are too sweet and the service is always a delight ;)
(4)Ashley F.
I really enjoyed this place. I did order take out, but I had to wait for around 20 minutes for my food, so I got a good look at the restaurant. The inside is actually really nice. It is well decorated and has a warm, almost romantic vibe. As for the food, I found it really good. The orange sauce appears to be homemade. We ordered a side of it separate from our meals and it had orange slices inside. I thought it was fantastic, as did the rest of my family. I ordered the chicken in black bean sauce and that, too, was great. Super flavorful and much more than I expected from a random chinese restaurant I chose based on how close it was to my house. BUT this is not authentic chinese food. It is just really good american chinese food. I lived in Chicago for four years and had the opportunity to eat the best food that chinatown had to offer - so, basically, I was spoiled. The takeaway: If you want solid american chinese food, this would be a great place to go, whether for take-out or eat-in.
(4)Jason F.
After a long 10 hour day on the road driving I finally make it to Eugene with my PREGNANT wife... My wife wants Chinese food and this is the closest place. The food is nasty but that was expected. The shocker is the food comes with no sauce at all!! No soy sauce no hot mustard and worst of all we ordered shrimp and there was no red dipping sauce. I called and complained and was told sorry but I'm still no happy and neither is my PREGNANT wife!!Don't let this happen to you. If I was not so sleepy I would return this shit and ask for my money back!!
(1)Lena M.
Had the best Shrimp Wonton Soup here the other night. I would eat this every day if I could! The best. Btw. Egg rolls were friggin tasty too
(4)Lulu B.
My daughter and I went there for lunch during a slow time, and were the only patrons. The server asked what I would like to drink. I hesitated for a minute and said "I believe...I Will have"....but then she rolled her eyes and walked away because I wasn't ready with a drink decision before we even sat down. The food and drinks were tasteless and the vegetables were not fresh. The gave me my check two bites into my meal and never checked on us the whole meal
(1)Mick H.
Not only was this the worst Chinese restaurant I have ever been to, it was up there with the worst food I have ever been served! Please don't waste your time and go somewhere else! Just awful..
(1)Josh W.
How in the holy hell does this place have even three stars? Our server was unkind and nearly catatonic when she served us. It was almost as if she was in a fugue state, idly hating customers until her shift was over. Anyway, I've had terrible servers before. It happens. What I won't abide is food that the people who work here wouldn't touch with a fifty, hundred... Planet length pole. The server told my mom (who was seated with the sun directly in her eyes) that we couldn't move because 'we don't get enough vitamin D anyway'. Holy. Fuck. The other users are right, the rice is some sort of microwaved short-grain bullshit. They are lying to the customer referring to it as 'fried' at all. Colorless and flavorless. I had the Kung Pao beef. Probably an exaggeration to call it beef, or meat in general. Rubbery, tasteless, goddamn, it wasn't even spicy!! Kung Pao! What's worse is that the people who work here ARE ACTUALLY CHINESE. Your country should be ashamed that you call yourself Chinese cuisine. I could go on, but now I have to go find another place to eat. Don't trust any of the positive reviews. I hope mine is the one that brings this utter cesspit down to two stars.
(1)Thanh T.
This place gives chinese food a bad name. Colorless fried rice I mean I understand meat costs money but some frozen carrots and peas for purpose of presentation.
(1)Georgina H.
Fried rice was short grain, a combination of :"fried" and steamed, or maybe just heated from the freezer. It was inedible and not fully heated. For lack of a better metaphor, it was like eating wet sand crystals. It was a dirty color. The person who served me touched on me, my lower back, which was inappropriate and rude. She was trying to force me out of the way after I just tipped her. The sweet and sour I ordered was good at first but it was clear some pieces were not cooked through or maintained at a temperature to be sanitary, and had bacteria. I kept spitting those pieces out. I think what they do is just chose certain customers to serve badly if the food really is as fantastic as some people say.
(2)Paula S.
Great food, excellent service! The hot and sour soup is the best I've ever had. Had real food in it like they actually took the time to make it a great soup! Delish!
(4)Joe S.
Our fortune cookies tasted pretty fresh for a pre-packaged item. Water tasted clean and was unencumbered by any excess ice that might make it too cold. Nobody got sick. Place smelled like mildew. Poor service, unfriendly. After one of our children spilled his water, the waitress told us not to give him anymore water! Lukewarm food on cold plates that was all obviously days-old and dry. Thick, syrupy bottled-tasting sauces. Mushy Chow Mein, General Tsao's made with tiny, hard, dry pieces of chicken drowned in goopy sauce that was cloying and tasteless. Mu Shu Chicken was burnt-tasting and I was only given three tiny, paper-thin, paper-dry pancakes for a huge platter. About nine would have been necessary. Rice was at least three days old. So-called fried rice was just white rice with a teeny bit of scrambled egg. Everything tasted of an ancient Chinese grill that hasn't been cleaned since the Tang Dynasty. One star for giving my children the classic bad Chinese food experience before they grow up and all get replaced from bad Yelp reviews.
(1)Sarah S.
So gross! My family got takeout here when we were staying in a nearby hotel. The food we ordered - Kung Pao chicken and Mongolian chicken - was inedible. The chicken was rubbery and gross and the sauce was pure salt. The fried rice was cold and flavorless. I wouldn't feed this food to my dog. :(
(1)Helen B.
We like House of Chen and have been going there for 20 years! I like the chow fun dishes. We never get fried rice with our dishes, always the white rice. The owner has been there forever and we love her. Sorry to read that anyone had bad food there!
(5)Doug D.
Nice place. OK chinese food. Nothing more.
(3)K. S.
Great chinese food, and the nicest staff who remember your likes and dislikes. Very soothing environment. We love this place!
(4)Phil ..
Some of the best Chinese I've had recently. I've eaten here several times now when visiting Eugene.
(4)Randy L.
Writing bad reviews is like weeding the garden. No fun, but it's gotta be done. Three of us went for lunch with high hopes, based on the Yelp reviews. We WANT a good Chinese restaurant in Eugene! (No, we WANT a GREAT one, but we'd settle for good). Decor was very nice as we walked in, hostess was very hospitable. Maybe we just hit a (very) bad day, but this wasn't it. We ordered five dishes. Orange chicken sauce was ok, but the chicken was downright poor - fried, dried out, tough. Almost as if it was cooked the night before and microwaved. Fried rice was bland overcooked and uninteresting. Beef in black bean sauce with mushrooms was just bad - thin sauce, boiled beef, strange taste to the dish. Looked and tasted unappetizing - not inedible, but why would you? Pork dumplings had very heavy gluey dough, not much flavor. Szechuan prawns were ok at best... It wasn't the same place as described in other reviews. Place was empty - maybe lunch (weekend, I think) isn't the time to go? maybe the chef's off? or??? Who knows. We won't be back, at least for lunch.
(2)Raja S.
Frankly, I am disappointed, considering the reviews. The food was okay. We ordered: Veg Spring rolls: very oily, decent taste. House Speciality Fried rice: Good taste. Chicken with Peking Sauce: Decent. what concerns me: the maintainence of the restaurant... it looks dilapidated. Feel that I could get sick if I frequent this place. The glasses looked like they were in the final stages. The restroom was unkempt. The sofa seat that I was sitting was bumpy as one side of the sofa is gone. I was impressed with the service (the waiter, who looked like the owner had a personal touch).
(2)Janet M.
When I lived in Eugene, I worked a block from this place. I would go in for lunch or grab some takeout. It's not really a fancy or super hip place, and I don't know if I could describe it as pristinely clean. The people were quirky and very nice to me, especially after I became a regular. I became addicted to the eggplant with garlic sauce. Now, maybe this was because I usually went with my vegetarian coworker, but I also think it was delicious. I also liked the string beans ( with or without chicken) and there were a couple soups I really enjoyed, wonton and sizzling rice soups. I took my folks there when they came to visit and they enjoyed their beef dishes, too. I think this is a good option for Chinese in Eugene. ( my other attempts were Kowloon and Ocean Sky, which I never liked quite as much).
(4)Geo H.
I remember when House of Chen was a campus location (where Sacred Heart Parking is now). We have seen it change owners once but luckily the quality of food hasn't changed. It may not be the fanciest of places but the food is remarkable good with real veggies (many Eugene Chinese restaurants use frozen for some reason). This is Cantonese style Chinese food most Chinese food in Eugene is Hong Kong style. I love their shrimp with mushroom & Chinese greens, my husband always gets the Hunan Pork. Their house chow mein as well as their BBQ pork chow mein are fantastic. Super large portion especially for take out which is easiest for us. Eugene doesn't have the best Chinese food I have ever had (I grew up in SF) but House of Chen is pretty darn good.
(4)Jen Y.
I'm not a picky eater and I have never refused to eat something I've ordered... until I came to House of Chen. To be fair, I didn't go into the restaurant so I can't judge the cleanliness and ambiance of the place. My mom went to pick up the food and mentioned that the lady working there was very sweet and friendly. So, yea, one star for that. I ordered orange chicken and my mom ordered fried rice (basic, simple dishes). Both were completely inedible. The fried rice looked like plain white rice with some soy sauce splashed onto it and tasted like... well, nothing. The orange chicken was a joke. I've never seen orange chicken look so pale and sad. The taste was even worse. I will never go back. Ever.
(1)Lisa C.
While the service was friendly as everyone says, and the food was good (not quite as amazing as I would have expected reading some of these reviews); I was completely dismayed at the half eaten potsticker sitting int he window. It was staring at me the entire time I was eating. I posted a picture so you don't think I am making it up. But really the food was pretty tasty so they still get 3 stars. Ew.
(3)Emma F.
The food looked delicious but the service was slow. We ordered drinks all Vodka drinks and wasn't told until 10 mins later that they were out of vodka. The bartender then tried to push gin on us saying it's the same. Uh hello gin is not the same as vodka! After being told to order gin for the 20th time we decided just to leave.
(1)Darcey P.
I had the fried prawn appetizer and the shrimp fried rice. The fried prawns were plentiful, large order, with crispy, thin crusts. Good sweet and sour sauce. Very fresh, high quality ingredients in everything. I loved the fried rice. I order it at every Chinese restaurant, and this one is superb!! My mom had the Chicken Chow Mein. She raved about the variety of vegetables and how the noodles were cooked perfectly. This service was ideal. The servers were so attentive, kind and accommodating. I'll be back for sure!
(5)Michele S.
We love House of Chen! We have been going there consistently for a few years now, and a few of our favorites are Kung Pao Chicken, Won Ton Soup and Broccoli Beef. The owner is delightful, and has remembered our names and favorite orders since the first time we were there! We are even able to go on our lunch hour and get in and out with plenty of time. The decor may be a bit old, but it's always a great experience.
(4)Joey H.
Well, I felt like Chinese take out, so, I went online to yelp to see what was the 'best' in the Eugene area. House of Chen came up as your top choice. I ordered the orange beef and orange chicken. The orange sauce was, probably the most homemade sauce I have ever tasted at any Chinese place. It actually tasted like oranges, not like sugar with orange extract or some crap. But as I took it to-go, it was not crispy what so ever within ten minutes of getting it, to eating. The chicken was not very flavorful, but I did enjoy the beef. Lunch all together came to 13.90 for the 2 orders, portions were good size for lunch though. The decor was simply amazing, I almost wanted to stay. They also had incense burning you could smell, but that is not my 'thing'. Waiter seemed very attentive and helpful. Can the Eugene area just get some good Chinese food? I am ready!
(3)Evan C.
The lady who works here has seriously got to be the most extraverted person on the planet. If you've been in even once she'll remember you and your order, and if you've never been in before she'll quickly become your newest friend. That kind of cheeriness counts for a lot in my book, especially in a town like Eugene where service usually takes a back seat. I've never seen anyone besides her outside the kitchen, but she's got the power of a full waitstaff in one arm. And the food impresses, as well. I'm a sucker for the house special fried rice, which is odd, because usually fried rice is the last thing I'd gravitate toward. But they do it really well here, and the portion is enormous for the price. Virtually everything else is great, too - another personal favorite is the roast duck, complete with the crispy, fatty skin that's sure to kill me as kindly and gently as possible. The decor deserves its own paragraph, but it's difficult to describe without using the word "kitschy", which doesn't even begin to sum it all up. It's like the sort of cheesy multi-floor dragon-palace Chinese restaurants you'd expect to find somewhere in Bladerunner, only made real. But it's never tacky, because there's something so genuine and passionate about it that it just works.
(4)Ohio State B.
This was the greasiest food I have ever had! The egg role literally was mush and my entree literally looked like soup there was so much grease!
(1)Hula H.
Sometimes you just need to return to the classics. House of Chen is one of those. Not the latest trend, or fad in the Eugene Food Scene - but an always "safe harbor" when it comes to experiencing Chinese food in Eugene. What you will not find is a heat lamp anywhere; opting for made to order ample servings of each menu item. You will also experience natural flavors that are combined to enhance, but not overwhelm your palate. The Duck is just the way it should be; dark, juicy tender morsels of roasted duck served with a variety of sauces; orange sauce made with real fruit juice and not too sugary. I am new at writing reviews and just want to share my enthusiasm for House of Chen. Go. Try it! You will not be disappointed. If you don't want authentic and want the everyday, American Chinese - check out Louie's. But if you want really good Chinese food; House of Chen is a must go.
(5)Shoshanah H.
I love this place because Im a picky eater and they always get my order correct. The same woman is always working at the front and she is so kind and always asks about my schooling. Maybe not the most gourmet but still my favorite chinese in the eug
(4)Eric P.
I personally don't like to eat the American style Chinese food as it really isn't that good. But there is something overly comforting when Mother Mao tells you hello and remembers what you had the last time. And that was several months ago. There is nothing fancy or a specialty, just damn good MSG laden food!
(4)billy r.
This is the best Chinese style food I have had in Oregon. That is not saying much. Hear-tell there is good stuff in Portland, but when visiting Portland, Chinese food is never on my to do list. The lady helping us was extremely nice. The food was pretty good. The piping hot egg rolls were great. I will be back here again. I think I'll ask them to spice it up a bit.
(3)Leigh-Anne B.
I am giving this place 1 star because I have to give it something. We ended up here by mistake. We were supposed to go to Chen's Happy Garden since the reviews were much better. This place had the WORST service ever. Worst food in a long time. Worst "manager" ? ever... We were there for over 2 hours tonight. We got our bill before we even got all of our food. When asking the waitress simple questions about items on the menu, she was unable to answer any of them. When she went back to ask someone in the back, she came back 10 minutes later saying they didn't know either. If they are cooking the food, how do they not know how many of each item will be on the platter appetizer. They brought out the veggie chow fun first & there was 1 mushroom & 4 pieces of broccoli on it. On the WHOLE platter. Then we waited a very long time before they brought the next dish. They clearly weren't cooking by ticket, they were just making random things. Your first dish would be stone cold before the accompanying rice came out. It was terrible. Who brings you your bill without fulfilling your order first?? There was a couple at a table near us who waited over 30 minutes for someone to come take their order. The man finally went to find someone himself. I know it was Christmas & I fully expected it to be packed. But this was a complete disaster & we will never go back.
(1)Meggie W.
It's common knowledge that Eugene is a barren wasteland when it comes to Chinese food. Thankfully, House of Chen is a beacon of hope for those searching for decent Chinese-American style grub. A friend recommended this place to me, saying that he knew that a bunch of the Chinese professors on campus like to eat here. Since that's about the most solid recommendation you can get, I decided to check it out. We ordered hot and sour soup, General Tsao's chicken, and Kung Pao beef. Everything was good, but the chicken was the stand out. We'll order it the next time, I bet. The decor is AMAZING-- so kitschy I almost pinched myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming. The ladies room has silver-foil, floral wallpaper that's probably from the 70's. They have those awesome Chinese light fixtures with red tassels that you rarely see anymore. We were seated next to a concrete fountain (!!!) and I had a hard time concentrating on our conversation I was so enthralled with all the different Buddhas and floral arrangements and retro awesomeness. I have a single question test that I carry out for Chinese food places that I like to call the "Panda Express Challenge". When I finish eating at a new restaurant, I ask myself "Am I feeling regret that I did not just go to Panda Express in the EMU?" If the answer is yes, then that restaurant has failed the Panda Express Challenge and I don't eat there again. Most places in Eugene have failed so far. In comparison, House of Chen is strongest pass I have issued to date.
(4)Sean S.
I love this place. The owners are super nice and remember what we order every time. The food is the best Chinese in Eugene by far. Cheap lunch menu and all around good stuff. I will go back again and again.
(4)Greg H.
Favorite Chinese restaurant I've had in Eugene. Being used to Chinese food from San Francisco, I'm usually appalled at whatever passes for Chinese food in Oregon. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the food here. Plus, the older woman who usually serves there is one of the nicest people I've ever met and always remembers me and what I like to order, even if I haven't been there for months.
(5)Cally H.
By far the best Chinese restaurant in Eugene. The owner was very kind and the service was fast. There is a large variety of food for everyone. The fresh tasting Garlic Shrimp was the highlight of the meal. We will be back!
(4)Jazmin H.
The best sweet and sour chicken I've found on the west coast. Light and crispy battered chicken in a tasty sauce with the right veggies. Haven't been back through Eugene in several years but was a solid choice across from U of O for years of debate tournaments.
(5)Anne B.
Hands down, the best Chinese in Eugene. We've been going there off and on for over a decade now, have tried most of the menu at one time or another, and have never been disappointed. The food is always fresh, made when you order it, and served in generous portions. Kung Pao King, Broccoli Chicken and Sechuan Chicken are my particular favorites. When we went low-carb nine years ago, the kitchen accommodated our dietary change without batting an eyelash. Having explained that we wished to avoid sugar and cornstarch in the sauces, they simply made up a sauce for our dishes without those things that was perfect and very tasty. We asked once to hold the MSG. Turns out they don't use MSG to start with. When you make Chinese food the right way, it's not needed. Truth be told, we first started going here for the ambiance and then got hooked by the food! The decor is kitschy but serene. Nothing beats Chinese dinner out after a long day next to a running fountain or a huge jade plant taking up the entire window next to our favorite booth. Traditional Chinese instrumental music is usually playing unobtrusively overhead. If you are waiting for take-out or heading toward the restrooms, the front of the restaurant contains plenty of museum-like interest to look at including some lovely furniture, statuary and an impressive carved wooden archway at the entrance. Chinese New Year is particularly entertaining with gold and red decorations all over the place. One of the owners, Annie, always greets us, seats us, and waits on us personally when she's there (which seems like all the time... I think we've only ever been there two or three times in a decade that she wasn't). She is wonderful and is one of the things about this place that always brings us back. Speaking rapid-fire Hong Kong English, she remembers what we order, the quirks of our eating habits, asks what we've been up to since we were last there and remembers what was going on last time we told her! She is the undisputed mother hen of that roost and charms everyone who walks in the door. If you get a craving for Chinese food in Eugene, go to House of Chen! Ten years later and having tried literally every other Chinese place in town, we still go back again and again!
(5)Madame M.
While staying at the uber glamorous Days Inn, I decided to try the House of Chen for some Chow Fun. I am a born and raised Eugene-er and I can't believe I never tried this place before. Well, I am happy to report the food was tasty and the decor of the restaurant was kitschylicious(yes I said that). The chow fun wasn't all greasy like it usually is at some Chinese restaurants. Instead, it was flavorful and packed full of veggies and shrimp. Also, the wait staff is super nice and personable with their many repeat customers (which i could tell since they knew a lot of them on a first name basis) I will most definitely be a repeat customer.
(4)John W.
I love Chinese food, but most Chinese restaurants are mediocre. I judge a Chinese restaurant by the quality and variety of vegetables they use. The House of Chen fits the bill, with tasty sauces as well. The authentic decor alone makes this place worth going to, and service is friendly. To top it off, prices are very reasonable. The bill came to under $40 for 4 of us. That's a rarity these days. When in Eugene, the House of Chen is a must.
(5)Keezer K.
Best Chinese in town, I never really liked chinese food until house of Chen. The ma n pa owners are too sweet and the service is always a delight ;)
(4)Anthony R.
Eugene has maybe 30 Chinese Restaurants and most of them are pretty crappy. House of Chen, though, surprises with fresh and plentiful renderings of typical Chinese-American favorites. You can get ducks by the half and whole, old school "chow mein" with crunchy noodles (or with soft pan-fried noodles), all the usual kung pao and General Tsao, egg rolls, potstickers (from the freezer), hot and sour soup, fried rice, Mandarin, Szechuan, and Hunan favorites. This is not the most elegant place (though the dining room is pretty fancy, if kitschy) but the food tastes good, the portions are huge, and the prices are pretty standard. Last night I took out one order of Mandarin Chicken (extra spicy, which it wasn't), and ended up making three separate meals. Service is friendly, if a bit slow. If you phone in your order, you may as well show up immediately. It's been my experience that they don't actually begin cooking it until you show up with the money. I've NEVER arrrived with the food ready. Instead, I show up, look around, wait for the guy to go behind the cash register, pay him the money and then sit down and wait for fifteen minutes. If you have the time, eat in. The portion sizes are about 1.5 times bigger if you eat it there. Take the rest home in a non-biodegradable styrofoam container.
(3)