I've been coming to Chopsticks Express in Milwaukie for over ten years. I'm not sure how you would categorize this type of Chinese food, but it's not the chop suey type. It's meat, vegetables and rice, mostly. Now that the owner does all of the cooking, it is consistently good. I've tried most of the dishes. The food has kind of a home style look and taste, meaning it's not gourmet, But I could eat here every day and not tire of it. The Teryaki Chicken Special is Quite good and has a char-grilled flavor to it. It's only$4.95! and will fill you. I think the Mandarin Chicken is better than Panda Express Orange Chicken. The price is very, very reasonable, and you will not leave hungry, especially if you order a combo. The atmosphere is fast-food-like, and reminds me of a terminal of some sort, and has a video poker section. I've seen what I would call snobby types walk out after giving the place a once-over glance. But that's there loss. The two people who run it and put in crazy long hours, are not overtly cheery, but are always nice and helpful, and will often offer a to-go bag before you even ask. So I encourage people to turn off there snob-o-meter and try Chopsticks Express in Milwaukie.
(4)
Dan S.
Below average, not sure how they stay in business. Much more rice than veggies in the chicken veggie bowl. Bone and cartridge is a nice touch! Nice people and free Keno tickets are only plus.
(2)
Alisa G.
I've walked by this place a million times and finally decided to stop in. The place is huge and impeccably clean, which is a nice surprise. I ordered a spicy chicken rice bowl and received a TON of food for $5.25. What a value! The food is hot, hot, hot off the grill - or wok if you will - and came in just a couple of minutes. My only gripe is that there isn't much teriyaki flavor. Just kind of hot saltiness without the sweet, garlicky, gingery flavor I was looking for. I opted for very tender thigh meat but you can upgrade to breast meat for a bit more.
(4)
Ryan C.
This is a classic and simple Chinese restaurant. Me and my family have been coming here for years and while they do not always compare to the spendy fusion Asian restaurants out there, they are a great inexpensive alternative. They have traditional 80's Chinese dishes and haven't updated their dining room so don't expect anything fancy. Their rice is never over cooked and I have yet to eat anything I would have sent back. It's a locally owned place where they remember you and appreciate you when you return. I plan on coming back here for more years to come :)
(5)
Wade V.
Lunch special was copious and the hot pepper spice was high for Schezwan Chicken. Could use more schezwan pepper and less crushed red, was sweet and hot, not much sour, salt level was fine. The ambiance is plain order at the counter style, with no music and minor decor. Food 'for here' is served in Styrofoam clamshell on a plastic tray with plastic fork, napkin and lightweight chopsticks, food to go omits the tray and adds a plastic bag. limited condiments up front only, can get hot mustard. The service was very fast speed, but with no smile and a; "want water with that, it very hot" The rice was barely acceptable. The fortune cookie said; "Don't worry about failure" I agree. I go back and try something else. Maybe I can get the woman to crack a smile somehow.
(3)
Jason C.
Went here for the first time today. Service was good & the food was great! I had the mandarin chicken combo & bao. The food was fresh and tasty. Chicken coating was crunchy and a generous amount of sauce. Egg roll was piping hot and fresh with nice crispy shell. Inside was not soggy like so many other places I have been. Chow mein was flavorful and had a good texture. They keep their restaurant very clean and tidy. Ample seating with counters facing the window so I could enjoy the beautiful day. I will definitely be going back!! Not sure why they don't come up on a search for Chinese food on Yelp or iPhone maps. I've been searching for a good Chinese fast food place for a while. Glad I stumbled upon this place.
(5)
Summer W.
Want cheap fast Chinese food? This is your place. I've been going here since I was in high school.
(5)
T K.
Always see this place when I pass by on the bus. So today I thought I'd give it a try. Decor is very simple and very outdated. Though they have the latest Oregon lottery slots games. The owner was offputting and while I asked her for a few minutes to look at the menu since it was my first time there, she just stared at me and I felt rushed. Price is great. $6.50 for rice, chow mein, eggroll, and entree. Food; Horrible. The only reason this place gets two stars is because of the eggroll. Pretty damn good eggroll. The chicken, while being doused in sauce was flavorless and it was pretty much all celery with side of chicken. Rice was bland. Noodles were meh (but points for them being pan friend noodles). I only got a water but noticed it's a no-refill kinda place (unless you wanna pay). Will not be returning ever.
(2)
Ann S.
My son and I love this place. We always wander thru the local comic book and collectible store and then stop at Chopsticks for the best Teryaki and lemonade. It is cheap, served quickly, you get a mountain of food, and it tastes great. Some may be put off by the owner. We have been a patron for 3 years and I have not seen her smile once. I like it that way. The whole restaurant is dodgy as all hell. I always imagine they have a stash of Mogwais for sale in the back room if you happen to know the secret phrase. As soon as you step inside it is like a timewarp back into the late 80s which is awesome. The place and the owners have a ton of character. 5 stars all the way. Best chicken teryaki we have eaten worldwide.
(5)
Ryan B.
My first bite of spicy shrimp was of a fishy tasting shrimp - ewe! Thought I would go to the other side of the styrofoam togo dish and try the spicy chicken - again ewe!!! - did I mention they looked exactly the same???? Separated by what I would call week old left over fried rice from a can! I did manage to eat it after putting enough sarachi sauce, soy and chinese mustard to kill a horse on it. The only thing i can say - 40+ items on the menu and not one of them look different when served. Can't wait to see what's in store for me in a couple hours, after reading Tanisha B's --- great and I'm wearing white pants today - should be interesting!
(1)
JW R.
I go through the Milwaukie Transit Center fairly often but rarely get off that particular reservation. Last week I had nearly an hour to kill on an unexpected trip through Milwaukie around noon. Plenty of time to wander, well, across the street to this bento/teriyaki place. A wide variety of stuff to be had here, as I recall the numbers on the menu went into the 40s. Of course I got chicken teriyaki, don't wanna go for a steak if they can't cook a burger, right? It was is pretty good stuff. It's not the boilerplate teriyaki, it's a little more gingery than sweet but balanced well. It came in packed in a little styrofoam bowl, the sauce was distributed unevenly and it was impossible to stir it up. The chicken was cooked nicely, not at all dry, but didn't seem to be marinated. It was dumped on top of everything else so unless you're a careful eater you're gonna end up with a ton of rice left after the protein's gone. The service is meh. The lady behind the counter was a mumbler and they charge for pop refills. The place is kind of rundown but it's clean. If you're in the area, well, I'm not even sure what's nearby but you could do a lot worse than this spot.
(3)
Andrew W.
Do You like Panda Express? Yes? Then come here, it's better and cheaper. Don't like Panda Express? Then don't come here. Go find this supposed "gourmet" Chinese food (I don't believe American Chinese food can ever be called gourmet) somewhere else. Cheap easy, tasty, and filling. $6.50 for a combo is great price for all the food you get. I had the Generals Chicken mild combo. I loved it. I got a good helping of chow mien and friend rice... and.... an egg roll with it! The same thing at Panda would have been $3 dollars more. The restaurant looks like an Elks Lodge bingo hall and that's a detraction to some but to me its just fitting to the business model. We live in Milwaukie and it within walking distance but almost didn't go because of the bad reviews. A friend I trust told us that if we liked Panda, we would like Chopsticks and she was right.
(4)
Diane M.
Saw this restaurant on Sunday so today we thought we would try it, Bad Idea! The food was bland not spicy as indicated. I and my 2 dining partners had the spicy chicken which consisted of some brown sauce, celery and all dark meat chicken. I upgraded to the fried rice for 30 cents more and it was burned. Should have stayed with steamed rice. I can definately knock it off my list of Chinese restaurants.
(1)
Don W.
Ive seen this place before but never stopped here. I was just looking for a fast and easy dinner so I stopped here to get something to go ,bad idea.This was possibly the worst tasting Chinese food I've ever had. I wonder how they've managed to stay open as long as they have.
(1)
Dan H.
I've been here twice....and the food was TERRIBLE!! The sauce they use for their Teriyaki dishes are bland and have no flavor. I just had their lunch special (Szechuan Chicken) and the same thing.....bland and flavorless. I love chinese food.....was looking forward to that for lunch today.....and I couldn't even finish this!The chef at this place needs to go check out Milwaukie Teriyaki down the street and take notes.
(1)
Sam R.
I'm always looking for a good hole in the wall place and this is one of them. The food is better than average. Not great but better than Panda Express. It is more the atmosphere one comes for. The 1980's decor that hasn't been updated since then. The food being serviced in styrofoam plates and bowls. Plastic utensils or wood chop sticks and paper napkins top off the experience. The food is cheap, hot and made fast. The counter person brings it to the table for you. If you're hungry and want a quick cheap no thrills meal this is the place for you.
(3)
Sarah B.
Really good Chinese American standards, inexpensive, fast, and family owned. Try the Cashew Chicken. It is the best in town! Only bad part is the bathroom needs an update.
(4)
Jon B.
Excellent food! The lady at the counter is always there and will order/make your food the way you want it! Don't like spicy? No problem! Definitely coming back!
(5)
Steve K.
Seems like very average from the outside and the food reflects the decor. The owner seemed tired and bothered I was in there. Nothing special and I won't do back unless I'm really hungry and in the area.
(2)
Lindsay H.
The owner is always there working her ass off with a big smile. She knows my order by heart, even if I don't go for a year or two. I love that the food is made to order and that nothing has changed since its been open. Chopsticks is the heart of Milwaukie.
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Caters : Yes
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
Gosh P.
I've been coming to Chopsticks Express in Milwaukie for over ten years. I'm not sure how you would categorize this type of Chinese food, but it's not the chop suey type. It's meat, vegetables and rice, mostly. Now that the owner does all of the cooking, it is consistently good. I've tried most of the dishes. The food has kind of a home style look and taste, meaning it's not gourmet, But I could eat here every day and not tire of it. The Teryaki Chicken Special is Quite good and has a char-grilled flavor to it. It's only$4.95! and will fill you. I think the Mandarin Chicken is better than Panda Express Orange Chicken. The price is very, very reasonable, and you will not leave hungry, especially if you order a combo. The atmosphere is fast-food-like, and reminds me of a terminal of some sort, and has a video poker section. I've seen what I would call snobby types walk out after giving the place a once-over glance. But that's there loss. The two people who run it and put in crazy long hours, are not overtly cheery, but are always nice and helpful, and will often offer a to-go bag before you even ask. So I encourage people to turn off there snob-o-meter and try Chopsticks Express in Milwaukie.
(4)Dan S.
Below average, not sure how they stay in business. Much more rice than veggies in the chicken veggie bowl. Bone and cartridge is a nice touch! Nice people and free Keno tickets are only plus.
(2)Alisa G.
I've walked by this place a million times and finally decided to stop in. The place is huge and impeccably clean, which is a nice surprise. I ordered a spicy chicken rice bowl and received a TON of food for $5.25. What a value! The food is hot, hot, hot off the grill - or wok if you will - and came in just a couple of minutes. My only gripe is that there isn't much teriyaki flavor. Just kind of hot saltiness without the sweet, garlicky, gingery flavor I was looking for. I opted for very tender thigh meat but you can upgrade to breast meat for a bit more.
(4)Ryan C.
This is a classic and simple Chinese restaurant. Me and my family have been coming here for years and while they do not always compare to the spendy fusion Asian restaurants out there, they are a great inexpensive alternative. They have traditional 80's Chinese dishes and haven't updated their dining room so don't expect anything fancy. Their rice is never over cooked and I have yet to eat anything I would have sent back. It's a locally owned place where they remember you and appreciate you when you return. I plan on coming back here for more years to come :)
(5)Wade V.
Lunch special was copious and the hot pepper spice was high for Schezwan Chicken. Could use more schezwan pepper and less crushed red, was sweet and hot, not much sour, salt level was fine. The ambiance is plain order at the counter style, with no music and minor decor. Food 'for here' is served in Styrofoam clamshell on a plastic tray with plastic fork, napkin and lightweight chopsticks, food to go omits the tray and adds a plastic bag. limited condiments up front only, can get hot mustard. The service was very fast speed, but with no smile and a; "want water with that, it very hot" The rice was barely acceptable. The fortune cookie said; "Don't worry about failure" I agree. I go back and try something else. Maybe I can get the woman to crack a smile somehow.
(3)Jason C.
Went here for the first time today. Service was good & the food was great! I had the mandarin chicken combo & bao. The food was fresh and tasty. Chicken coating was crunchy and a generous amount of sauce. Egg roll was piping hot and fresh with nice crispy shell. Inside was not soggy like so many other places I have been. Chow mein was flavorful and had a good texture. They keep their restaurant very clean and tidy. Ample seating with counters facing the window so I could enjoy the beautiful day. I will definitely be going back!! Not sure why they don't come up on a search for Chinese food on Yelp or iPhone maps. I've been searching for a good Chinese fast food place for a while. Glad I stumbled upon this place.
(5)Summer W.
Want cheap fast Chinese food? This is your place. I've been going here since I was in high school.
(5)T K.
Always see this place when I pass by on the bus. So today I thought I'd give it a try. Decor is very simple and very outdated. Though they have the latest Oregon lottery slots games. The owner was offputting and while I asked her for a few minutes to look at the menu since it was my first time there, she just stared at me and I felt rushed. Price is great. $6.50 for rice, chow mein, eggroll, and entree. Food; Horrible. The only reason this place gets two stars is because of the eggroll. Pretty damn good eggroll. The chicken, while being doused in sauce was flavorless and it was pretty much all celery with side of chicken. Rice was bland. Noodles were meh (but points for them being pan friend noodles). I only got a water but noticed it's a no-refill kinda place (unless you wanna pay). Will not be returning ever.
(2)Ann S.
My son and I love this place. We always wander thru the local comic book and collectible store and then stop at Chopsticks for the best Teryaki and lemonade. It is cheap, served quickly, you get a mountain of food, and it tastes great. Some may be put off by the owner. We have been a patron for 3 years and I have not seen her smile once. I like it that way. The whole restaurant is dodgy as all hell. I always imagine they have a stash of Mogwais for sale in the back room if you happen to know the secret phrase. As soon as you step inside it is like a timewarp back into the late 80s which is awesome. The place and the owners have a ton of character. 5 stars all the way. Best chicken teryaki we have eaten worldwide.
(5)Ryan B.
My first bite of spicy shrimp was of a fishy tasting shrimp - ewe! Thought I would go to the other side of the styrofoam togo dish and try the spicy chicken - again ewe!!! - did I mention they looked exactly the same???? Separated by what I would call week old left over fried rice from a can! I did manage to eat it after putting enough sarachi sauce, soy and chinese mustard to kill a horse on it. The only thing i can say - 40+ items on the menu and not one of them look different when served. Can't wait to see what's in store for me in a couple hours, after reading Tanisha B's --- great and I'm wearing white pants today - should be interesting!
(1)JW R.
I go through the Milwaukie Transit Center fairly often but rarely get off that particular reservation. Last week I had nearly an hour to kill on an unexpected trip through Milwaukie around noon. Plenty of time to wander, well, across the street to this bento/teriyaki place. A wide variety of stuff to be had here, as I recall the numbers on the menu went into the 40s. Of course I got chicken teriyaki, don't wanna go for a steak if they can't cook a burger, right? It was is pretty good stuff. It's not the boilerplate teriyaki, it's a little more gingery than sweet but balanced well. It came in packed in a little styrofoam bowl, the sauce was distributed unevenly and it was impossible to stir it up. The chicken was cooked nicely, not at all dry, but didn't seem to be marinated. It was dumped on top of everything else so unless you're a careful eater you're gonna end up with a ton of rice left after the protein's gone. The service is meh. The lady behind the counter was a mumbler and they charge for pop refills. The place is kind of rundown but it's clean. If you're in the area, well, I'm not even sure what's nearby but you could do a lot worse than this spot.
(3)Andrew W.
Do You like Panda Express? Yes? Then come here, it's better and cheaper. Don't like Panda Express? Then don't come here. Go find this supposed "gourmet" Chinese food (I don't believe American Chinese food can ever be called gourmet) somewhere else. Cheap easy, tasty, and filling. $6.50 for a combo is great price for all the food you get. I had the Generals Chicken mild combo. I loved it. I got a good helping of chow mien and friend rice... and.... an egg roll with it! The same thing at Panda would have been $3 dollars more. The restaurant looks like an Elks Lodge bingo hall and that's a detraction to some but to me its just fitting to the business model. We live in Milwaukie and it within walking distance but almost didn't go because of the bad reviews. A friend I trust told us that if we liked Panda, we would like Chopsticks and she was right.
(4)Diane M.
Saw this restaurant on Sunday so today we thought we would try it, Bad Idea! The food was bland not spicy as indicated. I and my 2 dining partners had the spicy chicken which consisted of some brown sauce, celery and all dark meat chicken. I upgraded to the fried rice for 30 cents more and it was burned. Should have stayed with steamed rice. I can definately knock it off my list of Chinese restaurants.
(1)Don W.
Ive seen this place before but never stopped here. I was just looking for a fast and easy dinner so I stopped here to get something to go ,bad idea.This was possibly the worst tasting Chinese food I've ever had. I wonder how they've managed to stay open as long as they have.
(1)Dan H.
I've been here twice....and the food was TERRIBLE!! The sauce they use for their Teriyaki dishes are bland and have no flavor. I just had their lunch special (Szechuan Chicken) and the same thing.....bland and flavorless. I love chinese food.....was looking forward to that for lunch today.....and I couldn't even finish this!The chef at this place needs to go check out Milwaukie Teriyaki down the street and take notes.
(1)Sam R.
I'm always looking for a good hole in the wall place and this is one of them. The food is better than average. Not great but better than Panda Express. It is more the atmosphere one comes for. The 1980's decor that hasn't been updated since then. The food being serviced in styrofoam plates and bowls. Plastic utensils or wood chop sticks and paper napkins top off the experience. The food is cheap, hot and made fast. The counter person brings it to the table for you. If you're hungry and want a quick cheap no thrills meal this is the place for you.
(3)Sarah B.
Really good Chinese American standards, inexpensive, fast, and family owned. Try the Cashew Chicken. It is the best in town! Only bad part is the bathroom needs an update.
(4)Jon B.
Excellent food! The lady at the counter is always there and will order/make your food the way you want it! Don't like spicy? No problem! Definitely coming back!
(5)Steve K.
Seems like very average from the outside and the food reflects the decor. The owner seemed tired and bothered I was in there. Nothing special and I won't do back unless I'm really hungry and in the area.
(2)Lindsay H.
The owner is always there working her ass off with a big smile. She knows my order by heart, even if I don't go for a year or two. I love that the food is made to order and that nothing has changed since its been open. Chopsticks is the heart of Milwaukie.
(5)