Best place to eat in greenville sc, Chinese food done right nothing but the best quality ingredients and the staff is always pleasant. It's simply delicious and the price is right in my opinion. Its a reason why its voted "Best place to eat in Greenville SC" and I believe it made a top 25 list of best Chinese food in United States. Im always impressed - You have to try the Crab Wonton -really you can't go wrong with anything on the menu
(5)
Steve S.
First off let me start off by saying that when I first walked in the aroma that hit me was amazing. I knew the food was going to be really good. I wanted to place a to go order so I walked up to the young lady who seemed very busy taking orders over the phone so I waited but she did make eye contact with me and said she'd be right with me. She then greeted me and asked if I would like to see a menu. After looking it over I decided to go with a couple chicken dishes. The almond chicken and Kung Pow were very good! So we will definitely be back when we come through town again.... P.S. We need one in Richmond asap! :)
(4)
Vicki B.
I was torn between spicy pork and sesame chicken, so the server recommended getting the sesame chicken and asking for spicy. Terrific idea, although it still wasn't spicy enough for me. But it had good flavor and the portion was very plentiful for one person. I came back a 2nd time and found a spicy chicken dish which I missed the first time. The chicken's cooked the same way as the sesame chicken, but the sauce is different. I asked for extra, extra spicy. (They maintain their own rating system, so I think it was actually a +1 spicy) - The dish was hot but not unbearably so. I also ordered the wonton soup which was okay, but not wonton soup like I'm used to. On the west coast, wonton soup has some vegetables thrown in (carrots, bok choy, green onions); this did not. The flavor was good, but I only got one wonton, which is a little bit stingy, if you ask me.
(4)
Agent T.
secret... i'm asian. does it make this review more legitimate? no, because it's not really asian food, it's american food, asian style. or american chinese food... I judge things for what they are, and if you want american chinese food this plate will serve. i like going here, i'll admit it. i'm guilty of it. probably because it's a business meal, if it was my own personal monies i wouldn't do it, not my style, but otherwise, i enjoy the food here. the spicy, is really spicy. it's not american super spicy which is mild to anyone who eats spicy... it's really spicy. negatives about this place... no beers on draft. COME ON GUYS... good items: lettuce wraps spicy beef orange beef orange chicken lieu's spicy chicken crispy rice soup all the other beef items don't order i think it's the halibut?? big mistake, weird consistency, don't recommend i think it's the shanghai beef, or whatever comes in little strips of beef that are deep friend, not a fan.
(4)
Tracey M.
OMG!!! My husband and I decided to try this place after getting married at the Rock Quarry Garden. The food was absolutely delish and the wait was not long. The staff was friendly and attentive. I would have given them five stars, but the crying baby at the table next to us took away from the ambience.
(4)
Kitty W.
After reading many Yelp reviews, my husband and I decided to go the Lieu's for our anniversary. Well, the reviews were right on the money with Lieu's. The crab wonton's were yummy and my hubby LOVED the salt & pepper calamari. We both tried dished we haven't gotten before and WOW we were not disappointed. Everything was fresh. I really enjoyed the twice pan fried noodles with a combo of beef, chicken, shrimp and lots of crisp veggies mixed in. Hubby really liked the pressed duck with pineapple. The staff is attentive and polite, they are quick to get you anything you ask for. This will be a favorite place to go in the future and not just for a special occasion.
(5)
Michael T.
Really good Chinese cuisine! Love it!
(4)
Lester F.
Great food and great value! Our server Elizabeth was fantastic with are large party! Great apps and menu choices. We will definitely return.
(5)
D'Arcy L.
After an analytical comparison on Yelp I was able to coerce my friends to dine here instead of the dreaded PF Chang's which I somewhat despise. A work friend has coaxed me to eat here for quite some time as he loves the place! I thought it was to be a cheap Chinese buffet where you walk out groaning and unbuckle you belt while heading to the car! Man.....was I ever wrong! Growing up I can't tell you how many Chinese restaurants I've visited that were a dump but the food was in the very good to excellent category! You see......some people of my culture were not trained in the aesthetic art of interior design but down home Chinese wok cooking....now this was an art form not to be confused with imposters! Decor and design here is very clean and comfortable! Click off box #1. We were seated at a smaller booth which was comfortable and convenient. They have even larger booths if you are 4-6 as well! Our table was near the kitchen and you could hear the sizzle of the wok cooking up a storm! Taking a look at the menu it is more American Chinese food with some authentic Cantonese style dishes sprinkled in. If my grandfather was alive he would have marched into to the kitchen like he did at any Chinese restaurant and asked the head chef where he was from (in Cantonese) and where he had his chef training. This is how he could tell the real places from the wanna be's! For our party of three we ordered hot and sour soup each then salt and pepper squid, Kung pao chicken, spicy shrimp and a Singapore style mixed noodles to share with brown rice. Here's my thoughts on each dish: Hot N sour soup- this is the start of a good Chinese meal to open up your taste buds. Theirs was a light medium heat with generous tofu smll pieces of chicken and a nice sour flavour 4.5/5 Salt N pepper squid- larger portion- very crispy, salty but excellent flavour. (Probably my sodium intake for the week but damm good!) 5/5 Kung Pao chicken- a nice array of chicken, peanuts, chill and green onion. 4/5 Orange peel shrimp- my friend ordered this spicy, a nice array of shrimp in a zesty sauce. The candied fried orange peel,was a bit strong after one bite but good non the less 3/5 Singapore mixed noodles. Less curry tasting than other places, less vegetables but a good mix with beef, pork shrimp and snow peas. 3.75/5 Only downside to what ordered was all was somewhat salty! This is fairly normal for any Chinese restaurant however! I didn't taste any MSG, I didn't ask if they used any so if they did it was very light! I'd recommend asking which we failed to do! All in all a great experience!
(4)
Santiago R.
Ended up here after our previous visit to the local P.F. Chang's here in Greenville. We were so amazed at the superior reviews here in the Yelp community in comparison that we just had to try it before we left. Absolutely impressed, and this is one of the few instances I've said, thought, or written it. Keyword for my review is "portions." They're the very-definition of generous, specially for a bistro place. So that not only it was good because of the amount of food, but because of the amount of - good food - you can expect. Again, specially in comparison with a place like P. F. Chang's. Started out with the traditional Won-ton soup, while it was good, this one I'll still give to P. F. Chang's, there's just no comparing theirs. But then the plates, we went with the typical Kung-Pao Chicken, and what turned out to be an amazing Beef with Scallops. Portions, amazing. Taste, fresh. Very fresh. Good-quality meats were clearly used. A good experience, memorable. And a total #recommend.
(5)
Carolyn B.
Wow. Great food, service, and overall experience. We started with the chicken lettuce wraps which came out within 2 minutes. They give you a quarter head of lettuce, hoisin, and a soy/mustard sauce as well. We both scarfed down 2 wraps very quickly. I especially enjoyed the soy mustard sauce. It had all the flavor of mustard and enough twang to clear my sinuses. Winner winner chicken appetizer. Then we had the trio and the Cantonese duck. The food was plentiful and oh so good. The duck was crispy and full of flavor. The trio was loaded with goodies (I especially enjoyed the scallops) but the sauce it was served it was nothing like I had tasted before. It was the first time I had an asian sauce like that where I actually didn't have to salt the dish. Oh we will return. You can bet on it
(5)
Kel T.
The lunch portions are large and made fresh. My friend ordered the sesame chicken, and the pieces of white meat chicken were huge and plentiful, served piping hot and so good. The shrimp and lo mein noodles were equally as fresh and delicious. Friendly, fast service.
(4)
Keith F.
Everything about this place was great. Jazz music. Friendly and fast service. That lady was on top of it. We had several starters including a spicy calamari crab ragoons and edamame. The only fault of the whole meal was that the crab ragoons has a very strong ginger taste to them that I personally wasn't a huge fan of. The hot and sour soup was very flavorful.This restaurant has a spicy scale that ranges from 1 to 10. I ordered my kung po shrimp at a 7. It was PERFECT. It was a crescendo of flavor erupting in my mouth. The crowd was a nice mix of people. The decor is nice here as well. If I lived anywhere close to here I would eat here all the time. Highly recommended.
(5)
M C.
Delicious with wonderful service and the flavors are amazing! We started out with the spicy chicken lettuce wrap it was great and the portion is plenty for sharing. I had the ginger chicken with broccoli and brown rice wow was it good and I'm takin home 1/2 portion so much to enjoy. The coffee is from West End Coffee Roasters a local favorite of coffee lovers! My wife had the spicy coconut shrimp which she absolutely loved! She's also taking 1/2 home. We'll definitely be back!
(5)
Laura S.
Moved from Philadelphia recently. Best egg drop soup so far in town! Want go back soon try dinner.
(4)
Hector L.
A great choice for authentic style Chinese food in the Upstate. The Salt and Pepper Squid is to die for.
(5)
Chris Y.
I came to Lieus Chinese Bistro because I read in Yahoo that Lieus was voted the best Chinese restaurant in South Carolina. I can definitely see why! They offers the best food and service I have ever experienced. Honestly I would like give more stars. The fried rice and the crab wontons, which are the size of my fists, are AMAZING. I ordered the pork dumplings, which were PHENOMENAL, and my waiter told me that they were made from scratch in the kitchen. It was a bit pink, but my waiter told me it was supposed to be. Overall, I enjoyed my experience here and I will be back!
(5)
Mark H.
Went there last Sunday after not going for a while. This was after the Yahoo article naming them best Chinese in south Carolina. At 6:00 they were packed, but she told us it'll only be 10 minutes! Good to hear. The food was amazing. I got the spicy eggplant, others had the beef and cauliflower dish..wife asked if she could have mushrooms instead..."that will not be a problem" said our very attentive waiter, and boy was it good. A few beers later and we were very happy. Our waiter was very much in the weeds but did an outstanding job! Did I mention the portion sizes? HUGE. I will be back soon and more often BTW..its hard to find eggplant at an Italian restaurant around here
(5)
Jonathan L.
What Lieu's had to offer was pretty good for an "Americanized" Chinese food. Better than PF Chang's in my opinion. I am not sure if my wife and I were the only ones who noticed it but Lieu's white rice was very stiff and dry, unlike any Asian rice we've ever tasted. And the foods they had to offer is not any where close to authentic Chinese food. Most foreigners do not actually like "authentic" food but I do. Authenticness and the hard stiff rice was the reasons for the deducted stars.
(3)
Lindsay S.
Best Chinese food in Greenville!!! Blows PF changs out of the water ...... Consistency and quality EVERY time!!!
(5)
Donald D.
Like all dining places, what you order helps determine the quality of the dine. I went with my parents who ordered sweet and sour dishes. Even though they weren't inspirational, they were very well rendered versions of those dishes. I ordered Spicy Coconut Shrimp, and it was both tasty and delicious. I'd order it again, or recommend it wholeheartedly. In other words, order something unusual and you will be in for a treat. Staff = friendly Service = top notch Food = amazing Prices = reasonable The hot peach & green tea was flavorless, I recommend passing on it. And, against all previous experience with Chinese eateries, the fortune cookies were yummy.
(5)
Manoj B.
One of my favorite Chinese joints here at Greenville. To start with, the waitstaff are good. Like the ambience and the seating. I keep coming back for the Lettuce Wraps - both chicken and veg. Also love the Curry Chicken and Sweet and Sour Chicken here. Go in with friends and family. A really nice place with good food options. My Opinion: Must try.
(5)
Tommy G.
I consider Lieu's my home away from home. It's warm, welcoming, and smells good too! Peter & Francis are your hosts and if you're fortunate to grab a chair or table in the bar, Brian (Brownie) will take great care of you. Their food is excellent...I've never had any selection from their menu that wasn't and I've made many selections (guessing I've visited Lieu's 2 to 3 DOZEN times in the past 6 months...and I live in Ohio!!!) I've heard several people compare Lieu's to P. F. Chang's and while there are some similarities, my opinion is that Lieu's is superior in every aspect! Stop by soon and tell them "Tommy" sent you. Brownie will no doubt pop open a Thomas Creek Amber Lager for you in celebration!
(5)
Sharon X.
Very bad Chinese food. Fake Chinese food, super sweeeeeeet beef and scallop. Wait too long ...... Don't come again. Not worth your time and money
(1)
Tori W.
I tried Lieus sometime last year and it's the only Chinese place I eat from now. Everyone in there is friendly and while you do pay more for your meal, its good quality food worth every penny. Anytime I want Chinese I go here. I order take out from here often. They are always quick and never have missed anything in my order. The woman manager/owner is professional and friendly. I've only met the man owner once but he was very professional as well. Two thumbs up to Lieus Chinese bistro. Best in Greenville.
(5)
Julie W.
I eat here a couple times a month for lunch. Lunch prices are great. Kung pao chicken is the bomb. I like spicy food and I order 3 star spicy. 4 star spicy just ends up tasting like straight chili powder and no longer the right taste. Hot and sour soup is good. Tempura green beans are a great appetizer to share. Don't use the napkin they give you and ask for a black one. The white one will turn your entire outfit white. They must be a low quality fabric or maybe they use a bad detergent to clean them. I have pointed this out to the owner and he didn't seem to care and offered me his lint roller.
(3)
Sue E.
Been going to Lieu's for years and enjoying everything I tried. Until last night when both my husband and I found our food to be too salty. Could not taste the favor for the salt. We hope this is not the way it will be from now on.
(2)
Chris C.
I have been going to Lieu's ever since they open for business. I met Peter and Francis while going there and they are the best. They make you feel warm and invited like part of a large family! Their wait staff there are excellent by far the best in Greenville. P.F. Chang's I can't say that about or their food. The food at Lieu's is excellent. I did make a mistake and got the Kung Poa Chicken a 5 star once!! LOL Let's just say when they say it's hot..then it's hot. But I haven't had a bad meal there and I go there a lot. I would recommend this place to anyone who likes Chinese food! If you visit Greenville, this is the first place to try.
(5)
Sandeep R.
A Restaurant built for great customer satisfaction. Great food and service!
(5)
Johnathon S.
Still the best, forget the rest! Best food in town. Best service in town. Best at being the best! If you havent tried this place, hurry! Life is too short to miss this! Bring some friends, its fun to share :)
(5)
Thor I.
Great food and great service. Our first time here we met the owner who was working as hard or harder than the employees. I get the spicy chicken every time i come. Highly recommended.
(5)
Kevin R.
great food great service the duck is yummy
(5)
Austin C.
Crab wontons are amazing
(5)
Jennie D.
Love me some Lieu's! My husband and I go at least 2x a month and have never had a complaint or concern. The food is always fresh and tasty with the Spicy Chicken being my favorite. My husband really likes the Happy Family (cooked Nep's style) and the ginger shrimp. Great cocktails, friendly staff, clean facilities and a warm atmosphere make Lieu's a unique and favorite place for Chinese food. Say hello to Nep when you're there!
(5)
Kirk S.
KILLS PF Changs, anyday, anytime. Best chinese food in Greenville! Never had a bad experience.
(5)
Stefanie B.
After reading many positive reviews, we decided to stop by and give Lieu's a try. You walk in and it feels like a diner/family restaurant with the padded booth chairs. The service was good (very quick) but the food was not as good as I was expecting it to be. We decided to order a bunch of appetizers instead of an entree. The calamari was seasoned well, very thick cut. Not my bf's favorite. The lettuce wraps are much better at PF Changs. The firecracker salmon roll lacked something--was not impressed. Maybe the wrong sauce. The seared ahi tuna was a disappointment. Bland with no flavor to the searing. I don't think this place was bad- but I do think it felt like a PF Chang knockoff (PF Changs tastes better, better ambiance,better sauces)
(2)
Neal D.
This review is for take-out lunch. We ordered Kung Pao Chicken, Ginger Shrimp, Vegetable Lo-Mein, and Chicken with Snow Peas. Also Hot and Sour Soup. All of the dishes were very tasty, though a bit oily. That may have been because we asked for the "3 Star" spice-level and so they added a bunch of that hot chili oil. Definitely above average Chinese food.
(4)
Amy B.
Great food terrible service I won't eat there again definitely an order to go kinda place
(3)
John M.
Great value for lunch and the Kung Pao Chicken is amazing, however the beef and broccoli dish was disappointing.
(4)
Mike M.
Popped in for a good quick lunch. Efficient service, spicy chicken garlic dish was crispy and delicious. Gave my colleauge a hard time about substituting tofu for meat on the lunch menu, made him order something else, odd treatment for this area.
(3)
Yane Y.
On their DINNER. Place is a great restaurant --- slightly on the pricey side, but I guess you are paying for the quality. I've been here three times, so i suppose you can take with a grain of salt -- as compared to someone else who may have come a gazillion times. All three times, I've ordered their spicy seafood noodle soup (jjam-ppong!). This last time was the spiciest it has been. However, the broth is great! noodles are nice and slightly chewy -- the way they are supposed to be. The happy family, which we ordered most recently was great as well. It's a savory, brown sauce -- not too heavy. The meats (beef, scallop, chicken, etc.) were all good. However, although it was good, I thought it was a bit pricey. It can get quite loud, so be prepared if you go at a busy hour. The ambiance is nice...
(4)
Wm H.
Great place, it was busy the night we were there with a big group. But you would have thought we were their only customers. Food was good, service was top notch, and libations were great! For sure this is on my list for another visit!
(5)
Jason L.
The food here is well above average and consistent but too much like PF changs that I am deducting at least 1/2 a star. I wish the owner great success as I love Chinese food but I would prefer some originality. The Lieu's spicy chicken, which I was expecting fireworks, ended up falling short it and reminded me more of glorified chicken nuggets in a mundane sweet/spicy chilli sauce. I would like to see much larger suculent pieces of crispy chicken and a little more sophistication / originality with the flavor. The almond chicken was fine but I prefer whole almonds to diced. The highlight was the beef/ scallops and mongolian beef, which you can get at changs. The wonton was good but a little too salty and the hot and sour was nothing special. I will be back to try some other dishes but I feel like it's going to boil down to price with this restaurant and changs.
(3)
Heather M.
I am a Lieu's-er. Our family eats at Lieu's about once/month and it's the most consistent restaurant in Greenville, food wise. Our favorites are spicy ginger shrimp, Mongolian beef, sesame chicken and Kung pao anything. The spring rolls, steamed dumplings and lettuce wraps are awesome too. Definitely the best Chinese in Greenville!
(5)
Paul M.
I eat here more than any other restaurant in Greenville. The staff and service make other restaurants pale in comparison. Any dish I've had is great and remember this is cook to order food so feel free to make a special request!
(5)
Dh K.
After seeing a lot of positive reviews, I was really hoping for a higher end food quality. Unfortunately, the food was not that great. The best part of my experience was the waiter service, which was quite good. I ordered their pan fried Chilean sea bass only to have it come out deep fried. The waiter said that's the way they've cooked it for 11 years. I said others may not care, but it really should be listed as deep fried because it was completely encrusted in deep fried batter. He graciously offered to take it back and asked if I'd like to try something else. I wasn't going to order anything else, but because he handled the situation so nicely, I decided to try another pan fried dish--salmon, which turned out to be pretty good but very salty, as was the hot and sour soup. Overall, the dishes tended to be salty, though I did like the flavors. I plan to come back and try again and ask for low sodium and see what happens. For the dishes I got, I'd give the food 2.5 stars, but the service was closer to a 4, so I went with a 3.
(3)
Vj S.
Food is 10/10 , probably best chineese food ive eaten in a long time. Seems fresh . Fast service, nice seating and overall ambience is upscale . Would definately go back there and recommend it to others !
(5)
Erin H.
Lieu's and P.F. Chang's in one week. Chinese is one of my least favorite cuisines - I'm a much bigger fan of Thai and Vietnamese when it comes to Asian cooking. I will preface my review with that disclaimer. Due to some outings planned by friends, I found myself at P.F. Chang's this past Saturday night and Lieu's on Tuesday night. So I decided to compare them and post the review to each of their Yelp pages. P.F. Chang's was incredibly busy the night I dined there. We had a 5:30 reservation, and when we left at 7:30 they still had a two hour wait. In spite of this, our service was excellent. Our server was absolutely on the ball, and when he was not available there was always someone else stopping by to deliver food or check on us. When the bill was calculated incorrectly for my friends, the manager came out to personally explain to them what happened and to present a corrected bill. Even though the restaurant was very crowded, we managed to feel cozy tucked away in our elevated booth against the wall. But I don't think I would have enjoyed sitting at one of the tables in the middle of the floor. As for the food, it was very good. Not exceptional - but a very solid tasty meal. I enjoyed a coconut curry vegetarian dish, and my husband enjoyed wok-seared beef. We started with the understandably popular lettuce wraps and finished with a small chocolate peanut butter dessert. The prices were very reasonable - our meal and 2 beers came to $45 before tip (our dessert was comped due to a birthday). All in all, a very nice experience. As for Lieu's, I want to like it because it is local, and 99% of the time I prefer local to chain. Tuesday night Lieu's was very empty. We had a large table in the corner all to ourselves. Our server did a great job and made sure all the people in our party of 7 received their food at the same time. I started with a mojito and an order of spring rolls. There was no muddled mint in the mojito! I asked about it and the server said for some reason they choose to make it that way. My spring rolls came with two sauces. I would have appreciated if our server had explained that one was an extremely spicy mustard. I took a large dip of it and my sinuses proceeded to catch fire and empty out. During the handful of times I have been at Lieu's, I find their sauces to be on the sweeter side. That is one of my primary complaints with Americanized Chinese food. This night I had pan fried noodles with chicken. The noodles are a little strange - they are very crispy and you need to mash them down into the sauce. But the end result was still pretty good - just a little sweeter than I might have liked. The portion was also quite large - more than I could finish - which is unusual for me. The interior of Lieu's is looking a bit worn. After many years of faithfully serving Greenville's masses, I think they could use an update. With the increased competition coming to Woodruff Road, this may be even more important. So there you have it - three stars to Lieu's and four to P.F. Chang's. For those who enjoy an American take on Chinese food, you can have a good meal at either one.
(3)
Robert R.
The food is generally good. There is some inconsistency in the spiciness level in the times I've ordered. Also, some meals seem to be swimming in sauce and extremely salty. The prices are in-line with a sit down restaurant, but the quality of the food isn't. It's a step up from take out, but a step below want they should be for the price.
(3)
K W.
It's been 4 years since I moved from Fountain Inn, now that I am moving back to Greenville, SC I had to make sure my absolute favorite restaurant is still rocking the foodie palate...and it is! Lieu's will be the first place I visit when I get back to Greenville, followed by a quick trip to Strossner's Bakery..OMG..so exited!
(5)
Dale D.
Had been searching for a sit down chinese place for sometime. Everything in our area is buffet and is fine on occasion but wait service IS nice. Arrived mid-afternoon on Saturday to a light crowd and were seated quickly. Seems to be an older building but clean with a very nice "feel". Ordered our drinks and enjoyed checking out the wide variety on the menu. Started with the Hot and Sour soup. Very good. Added Vegetable Spring Rolls. Here I have to commend our waitress for pointing out the sweet dipping sauce versus the Wasabi Mustard. I sampled the Wasabi Mustard with a tiny, tiny dip and cleared my sinus cavities completely. Not a huge fan of "spicy" myself but the masochists out there should LOVE this stuff! Wife had Lieu's Spicy Chicken and I the Happy Family. Great flavor, large portions, and excellent service. The wifes chicken was a bit spicy for her taste but it didn't seem to slow her down much! I loved the way each flavor of the Happy Family stood out. Beef, chicken, shrimp and scallops all stood out with the brown sauce as an accompaniment. The word that comes to mind is "fresh". Wife had Oolong tea and I had a Newcastle Brown. Wife is still talking about how good the tea was. If you've read this far, thanks. I rarely do reviews but felt this was a deserving restaurant.
(5)
John B.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant. I love meeting clients here for lunch. The Asian tuna salad is the best.
(5)
Ryan F.
We had a great meal--try the crab wantons, they're delicious--and the entrees were tasty and very reasonably priced. The service was excellent, even though it was a busy Friday night. I look forward to going back!
(5)
Kevin D.
I took my wife there on our first date.I went out of a limb and took visiting company executives from New York there for lunch and came out looking like I knew what I was doing. The food is consistently good. I like the mu shu pork myself. The portions are pretty generous. Service has always been great. Lunch specials under $10. Last time I checked, they only take reservations for larger parties. However, I've never had to wait long, and usually not at all.
(5)
John S.
First Timer at this place as it was down the street from my hotel. Everything was fresh and very tasty. I sat at the bar and met Peter and a regular customer. What can I say ....I'll be back for more!
(5)
Chip E.
Kind welcoming server with knowledge of the menu. Elegant, comfortable eating space. The food is fresh, very tasty, and a wide variety of dishes. Generous portions. The tempura green beans were crispy and not greasy!!! Fried tofu with Chinese black mushrooms and baby bok choy outstanding!
(4)
Chef Nomad ..
The decor and ambiance is casually sophisticated. The menu is still very much Americanized, but the taste is far from Americanized Fast-food chinese cuisine. The ingredients are fresh and the food is well prepared. A nice feature to the restaurant has is to allow the customer to dictate the level of spicyness (1 to 5 stars) they want if any at all. Definitely recommend a visit.
(4)
John C.
My wife can attest that I would eat Chinese every meal if I could (why not - the Chinese do). Lieu's is your typical American Chinese place with exceptional service and food. Better than the chain down the street with the exception of the hot & sour soup. Had the MuSu Chicken and pork dumplings as an appitizer. Both were very good with excellent portions. Still like Happy China better.
(3)
Anda C.
First time customer after hearing and reading about how everyone else I know are repeat customers. Went for lunch with my daughter and it was excellent. The edamane was warm with just the right amount of salt. My wonton soup was very light and flavorful, no heavy oily taste at all. My daughter LOVED the honey ginger salad dressing. I had the Kung Pao shrimp (mild) and she had the Mongolian Beef and they were both excellent. Thought the prices were in line for the amount of food, decor etc. The only complaint was service was just a little slow. If I had a set amount of time for lunch that might have been a problem and that is the only reason I didn't give this review five stars.
(4)
Scott D.
One of favorite joints! The food is amazing. Lieu's Spicy Chicken is my favorite dish. We also love the Crispy Crab Wontons. We live about 20 miles away, but we still pickup take out on a pretty regular basis. Trust me, you'll love this place.
(5)
Emily S.
I've tried this place 3 times and finally concluded that I have to go to PF Chang's for decent service and good (American) Chinese food. First, I have always disliked the lack of a children's menu, but on my last visit, our server made it worse by insisting that we order an entire adult lunch entree for my toddler, including soup or salad which he cannot eat, or be charged additionally for a steamed vegetable or some healthy side that would be suitable for him. (We eventually declined to order him a meal and just shared our food). Next came my salad, which had a POOL of ginger dressing - at least 2/3 cup - in the bottom of the bowl. The bottom half of the salad was inedible as a result, and my mention of this was met with no apology, no offer to fix it for me or future customers, but just "Yeah. That dressing comes out fast." I was extremely frustrated to be treated as if a soup serving of salad dressing is just an accepted part of dining at Lieu's! Worse, when the server spilled a pool of that dressing on the table, she didn't clean it up or even bring an extra napkin. The entrees were alright, but overly sweet and not as spicy as we'd ordered. There were several other minor frustrations throughout the meal - our entrees arrived well more than 30 minutes after we ordered them for a weekday lunch, a to-go box took 10 more minutes (again, no apology when I had to ask twice), etc. I like supporting a local business, and Lieu's has the best crab rangoons in town. But if that is how I can expect to be treated when I come, then PF Chang's it is.
(2)
Barbara W.
First of all...I simply don't get all the comparisons to that evil national chain in other reviews. That would be like comparing a local burger joint to something like Fuddrucker's (which, ironically, is next to Lieu's)...I just don't understand why the comparison. My husband and I had a very nice meal here...good enough that we actually ATE the leftovers that we brought home :) I LOVE a good hot and sour soup, and here it was very good...even though the addition of chicken was odd to me. The sauce on the double pan fried noodles with shrimp was excellent, and the shrimp were spectacular...fresh and perfectly cooked. The only problem was that the noodles were almost impossible to eat because they were crisp...like solid crisp...and to eat them you kind of had to just smash them. DEFINITELY don't get the double pan fried noodles if you go here on a first date ;) The peking chicken was very good. I really feel like if I had ordered different things that Lieu's absolutely would have earned 4-stars...but here's the problem... My husband and I have stopped eating red meat and pork...and honestly, all my favorite Chinese dishes contain pork. So normally I would have sampled some pork dishes at Lieu's, and I'm sure they would have been great, but the lack of being able to order pork has put me in a bit of Chinese food mourning. FYI...even though the hot and sour soup says 'chicken' on the menu...I think it also contains a bit of shredded pork (which is probably part of the reason it was so absolutely yummy)...please don't tell my husband :)
(3)
Vanessa T.
This place is great! Server made excellent recommendations! Selection of tea was wonderful, great original drinks. Servers were attentive. The wonton soup is delicious. The broth alone was phenomenal! The "happy family" was tasty. Portions are large and meant for sharing! A definite must try restaurant! They do take out too.
(5)
Cameron H.
I was told this place resembled P.F. Changs. Unfortunately it wasn't. Nice decor. Huge location. But the food was just decent. I ordered the Wonton Soup, which tasted like hot water with a wonton in it. Then I ordered Spicy Pepper Chicken. It was ok.. Had some decent heat. Not sure if I would make the trip back.
(3)
Tyler R.
Reviewing Lieu's is quite simple. The food is high quality, the service attentive, and the prices reasonable. I find it to be the perfect mix between Americanized Chinese food (that traditionally swims in a glistening neon sauce - you know you love it) and more traditional fare. Do yourself a favor, ditch the commercialized TGI McTuesday's version of Lieu's (PF Changs) and enjoy a local business that actually has some stake in whether or not you have a good dining experience.
(4)
Mike B.
I'm a repeat customer when in town if I have a craving for Chinese. I guess by saying I am a repeat customer says what I think of the place? The food is good to above average (it isn't a 5 star restaurant, it is a Chinese Bistro - keep your expectations in check). I'll be back again.
(3)
Solomon W.
A lot my friends really wanted to go to this place, but having Taiwan roots, I was definitely skeptical... as I am in any Asian eatery that does not have a Chinese menu... or offer you chopsticks as the primary utensil. Lieu's is within earshot of P.F. Chang's on the busy Woodruff, and the atmosphere is almost identical as well. The prices are high, the drinks are expensive, and the dishes are mostly eaten individually. The servers are all American, but I that certainly makes for better service. Catering to Americans definitely does the customer service department a service. Most of the fare is your typical Sweet and Sour Chicken and Buddha's Delight, but there are a few dishes that give a shoutout to traditional Chinese offerings such as Ma Po Tofu and Sichuan Green Beans. I do like that you can customize your spice. I went with the Sichuan Green Beans, as they are my favorite Eastern veggie. I got them as spicy as Lieu's allows, and I thought it had quite the kick. Nice. They were crispy, but I still wish they would have put the traditional pork into the sauce, instead of making the dish vegetarian. My friends dishes were all reminiscent of your neighborhood Asian take-out. The beef and scallops were soggy, the orange chicken was crispy, but overly sweet, the crab wontons were chock full of cream cheese, the chicken broccoli was a little bland. This restaurant is definitely a little more clean cut and fresh than your typical nitty gritty Asian joint, and it offers a touch more local appeal than Chang's. It is a good place to take a group for a nice unique dinner.
(2)
Ann Marie D.
Let me start by saying, I am not huge on Chinese food. That said, the service here was good, the portion sizes were HUGE, and they have a decent selection of wine and specialty cocktails. I went with a group of friends and they got our food out fast as lightning. I had the fried rice with beef- which I know is not what most people would order, but that aside I have never seen rice with so much oil. There was an pool of it in my takeout box when I got home. Several people in my party had the spring rolls and really enjoyed them. If you really enjoy Chinese food, then I would highly recommend you go here!
(3)
Jay L.
Still the best service and freshest food in town.
(5)
Josh B.
Went back to Lieu's this evening and had as good a meal as we have had since arriving in this area. The food is just awesome and the menu is so superb.
(5)
Brittany B.
We came here for chinese new years. The service was under whelming, it took us years to be seated. All we came for was dessert--basically green tea ice cream. They must have thought we were asking for some fancy meticulous sushi order. Phew. They messed up our order, so that was tricky for them too.
(3)
Ben E.
By far, this is the best Chinese food I have ever had in my life. The atmosphere is relaxed and peaceful, while the service is some of the best in Greenville. Add amazing food, and it makes Lieu's my favorite restaurant in Greenville. I simply have never had a bad experience here. If you're into spicy, I suggest the Kung Pao chicken.
(5)
Robin D.
At the risk of being a detractor, I honestly wasn't that impressed with Lieu's. Perhaps it's because I actually enjoy PF Chang's and our table was very confused throughout the whole meal as to how or why everything is so similar to PF Chang's - from their logo, to the menu choices, even down to the banana spring rolls for dessert! We ordered the chicken wraps for an appetizer and they were sort of ok, but we all prefer PF Chang's. For the meal, we ordered dan dan noodles and Lieu's Spicy Chicken. (I even had to catch myself when ordering because I started to say "Chang's Spicy Chcken," embarrassing myself in front of the waiter.) The chicken dish was ok, but the dan dan noodles were strange and slimy. Because we just missed the lunch menu by a few minutes and paid dinner prices in the middle of the day in an empty restaurant, the prices seemed a little high. After seeing so many positive reviews on here, I wonder if we failed to order dishes that best represent what Lieu's has to offer, but doubt we'll go back to find out. If we want Chinese food like PF Chang's, we'll just go to PF Chang's.
(2)
Chris M.
In short, I love this restaurant! The atmosphere is great but can be a little on the noisy side and the wait staff has always been very helpful and prompt but do seem to be over worked. Lieu's Chinese Bistro offers a fair amount of options and just about anyone can find something they will like. You can choose to make your meal more spicy or less depending on your tastes and the cooks get it right on. I highly recommend that anyone who likes good food and good times try this place out at least once.
(4)
Ben A.
I have not found better Chinese food in this area. The food is outstanding, the service is excellent and the prices are reasonable. The menu has great variety. We live in another town about 50 miles away, but every time we need to go to Greenville we eat there. On several occasions, we have made a special trip to have our guests enjoy wonderful food. To find any Chinese restaurant as good or better, I would have to drive 200 miles to the Atlanta area. I recommend this restaurant without hesitation.
(5)
Chris K.
Tough one to review. Restaurant obviously caters to non-Chinese. Makes perfect business sense in the Greenville market, go broke otherwise. Not bad as PF Chang, but only a few steps away. For what it is, non-authentic Chinese, pretty decent food. The crispy duck was the standout dish at our table, among six other ok dishes.
(3)
Beth G.
My husband and I eat here at least once a week. They are very flexible on creating anything that you would like to eat as long as they have the ingredients. We always look forward to talking to the owners Francis and her husband Peter, they make us feel like we are a part of their family. The waitstaff is very experienced, some have been there for over 5 years, recommend you ask for Napti. My favorite dish is the Sea Bass, I ask for it steamed over a bed of spinach. Chef David ensures everything is fresh, the atmosphere is nice, restaurant is clean and the service can't be beat! When families and friends visit this is the first place we take them to when they arrive in Greenville. I highly recommend this restaurant to everyone!
(5)
Horace P.
I have eaten at Lieu's three times now, I have found the food to be both fresh and high quality, so it's a bit more expensive than your standard Chinese fair but higher quality food is worth it IMO. My favorite dish so far is the Peking Chicken, its spicy fried chicken white meat in a sweet hot style sauce, a dish that you don't often see on lunch menu. I also like the fact that you can select your level of spice in the spicy dishes (from one star to 5 star) be warned I like spicy and two star is about all I can handle. The only issues I have with the place is the service seems to be a bit slow, even at the bar. I had to ask for the check on two of my lunch visits to make an hour lunch break, but this won't keep me from going back to Lieu's.
(4)
Jack C.
This is the first time I've gone to Lieu's Chinese Bistro and I'll definitely go back for more. The menu has a lot of diversity, it's classy food but still tasty enough for even a picky eater like me to enjoy (plenty of dishes without peppers, onions, etc). The portion size of the food was more than enough, we ordered dumplings, Dan Dan Noodles, Beef with Broccoli and some pepper chicken dish (none cost more than $13) for two people... Needless to say I have 3 boxes of food in my fridge that we couldn't finish at the restaurant. Service was prompt and friendly; although it may have been overkill, our waitress would bring a new diet coke to the table before even half of my current one was gone. I would say this is casual to dressy, the atmosphere was dim and on the quiet side but it was enjoyable. As for the food, I'm just going to say "it's the best Chinese food I've had in a LONG time", it truly was fantastic. If you're in the area, Lieu's Chinese Bistro is definitely worth the trip.
(5)
courtney b.
WOW I actually can not believe I've never reviewed this place. Well its AWESOME the best chienese food in Greenville. Its my staple and "go-to" place for good, resonably priced food. And Luke the manager-sometimes waiter is MY FAVORITE he always remmebers me and makes sure we have top notch serivce. I recommend the hot sake, ginger chicken and broc, seame chicken...actually just try everything at least once.
(4)
Anthony R.
I live about 30 minutes away and have catering from Lieu's many times. My favorite is the Spicy Coconut Shrimp. The spiciness adds flavor to the dish, not being spicy just to be hot. I recently attended a meeting there and enjoyed everything I had. The lettuce wraps were good, a make your own style. Lieu's version of General Tso's chicken, called Lieu's Chicken was good as well. A good amount of heat, without being too hot. The environment is upscale, without being too stuffy. Overall, if my wife liked Asian good I would go there a lot more.
(4)
Gary L.
Having to travel for work is not always very fun, but I have appreciated (actually am more in-debted) to the Yelper's who provide tips and advice on their favorite places. All the recommendations from the community have been spot-on, and for that I am grateful and hope my reviews will also be useful to others. Coming from San Francisco, my standards for Chinese food are pretty high but I have some axioms on how to evaluate this type of cuisine: 1) If the waiter is not rude or pushy, then it's not authentic. 2) The tastiness of the food always has an inverse relationship to how dirty the bathroom and how sticky or greasy the floor is. The nastier the commode-the more flavorful the food (don't know why that is, and it's gross but true.) 3) If it's just off the interstate-avoid at all costs. My experience at Lieu's was actually very nice. The service was very good, the food delicious, and reasonably priced. The wait staff were very attentive (almost too eager-swooping in to take away my just finished dish as it was an early supper during the week, and the place was not crowded. ) I had the Happy Family- a wok-fried combo of shrimp, chicken, beef and broccoli, carrot and snow peas in a brown sauce. The meats were tender, the veggies cooked with the right bite and not mushy. The gravy was tasty but just a tad too much soy, but was smooth (and not lumpy from too much corn starch -always a good sign.) It was served with a nice bowl of brown rice, cooked to perfection. With a beer, the tab came out to $20 without tip. Good size portions, and the food came out very quickly after ordering. The restaurant was spotless, with modern furnishings and a welcoming atmosphere. After this meal at Lieu's I will have to re-consider my original criteria for Chinese food. It is possible to get a nice meal in this clean and comfortable restaurant off the interstate.
(5)
Aaron C.
HEAVY, GREASY, and not all that good. I grew up in a town that had good, authentic Chinese food...... and Lieu's just doesn't cut it for me! I have only been there once and probably won't return. I have never had a garlic green been dish that was so oily and heavy in my life and that was one of the lighter dishes that we had. It's your typical "American Style" Chinese food restaurant...... In California it would be the Chinese restaurant that didn't have a single Asian person eating there. That's a good sign that you need to stay away. You might as well go to Panda Express!
(2)
Jonna P.
Fantastic food, great atmosphere (although can get a little noisy, so I wouldn't recommend it if your trying for a uber-romantic night). The firecracker salmon roll is incredible and the salt and pepper calamari is to die for. Both of these dishes are on the spicy side, so make sure to order a Cosmo, the bartender is wonderful. I've never been to some of the competition around on Woodruff Road, however I've been to my fair share of upscale Chinese restaurants in other areas of the country and Lieu's ranks right up there with some from SF and the San Diego area!
(5)
Carol B.
After moving to Greenville from New York I thought my days of good Chinese food were over. Boy, was I wrong. Lieus is GREAT. We've dined there 6 or 7 times and have never been disappointed.
(4)
Taylor G.
Great food with great service! We have been hearing about Lieu's and we kept forgetting to try it, but last night we decided to go somewhere new and we ended up here. The food was really yummy, I like that you can customize the level of spicy if you want to. Their regular spicy is good for me, but I'm a bit of a spice wimp. My daughter loved her Lo Mein, which we got in a half order and that would have been enough for me to eat and probably have leftovers if I'd have ordered it. I had the orange peel beef which was excellent. We will definitely be back.
(4)
Brian P.
Great place for a date. Food is fantastic and the bar is terrific. Their homemade Chinese hot mustard is my favorite. Not too pricey either. This is far better than P. F. Changs and a local business.
(4)
Lesley B.
If PF Chang's was authentic and had impeccable service they'd have to call it Lieu's. Fantastic. Every single time. I do like it better for lunch or for a group at dinner. A bit too bustling for a romantic date. Ginormous portions!!
(5)
nicole r.
I love this place!! I try and visit at least once a week to get my chinese fix! Among my favorites: spicy garlic tofu, ginger chicken & broccoli and the dumplings as an appetizer. You cant go wrong with anything you pick here, you can tell the food is fresh, especially when it comes to the seafood dishes. You get large portions, enough for 2 people to share and feel full. The prices (for the dinner menu) range from about $12-15, and the food is worth every penny. The staff is great too, very welcoming with a great knowledge of the menu and can make great reccommendations for first timers! Not to mention the bartender can make a mean martini! I would definitley reccommend this place to anyone looking to have a great meal that will leave you coming back for more!
(5)
C A.
I was just there tonight as an out of town business person dining alone. This place has all the ambiance of the pretend Mexican restaurant in the Charlotte airport where I had lunch today. Way too kid friendly. I can;t imagine going back. To be fair, the food was actually pretty good. All the ingredients seemed fresh. Seafood was good and the veggies were still a little crisp; very nice. Service was a bit rushed. Prices are fair. For takeout, it's one step up from the Chinese franchise in my supermarket back home. For eat in, I can't imagine going back. Sorry.
(2)
Jay E.
I have family in Greenville so every time I visit the first place we go is Lieu's! By far the best Chinese cuisine I've had in the United States. The atmosphere, service and food can't be beat! I highly recommend the calamari, ribs, steamed sea bass.
(5)
Justin T.
Whenever I visit my parents we always make sure to swing by on the way home from the airport. This slightly upscale Chinese restaurant blows away some of the competition around the area and the nation, including the famous PF Chang's. Having lived in the San Francisco Bay area and spent some time in Chinatown I was a little skeptical when we first entered. However our waiter was charming and well informed, and despite a packed house, never ignored our table. I had some of the best Schechwan green beans of my life. They were flavorful and fragrant, and not greasy like many other places. My parents and I also shared chicken with snow peas that did not get lost in heavy sauce, but was very delicate, with crisp vegetables, just what the dish should be. The restaurant features recognizably American Chinese food, but unlike the insipid offerings at many other restaurants, Lieu's pulls off the dishes without them becoming heavy or flavorless imitations of what good Chinese food can be. That said don't expect any of the more exotic, and more traditional Chinese fair you would find in a bigger city, but that is hardly a disappointment for the vast number of eaters out there. This place does what it needs to well: serving popular Chinese dishes very well with fresh produce and ingredients.
(4)
Tony D.
I love this place! The food is absolutely delicious. I visit Greenville on business occassionaly (from Boston) and I always make it a point to stop at Lieu's at least once. I'll even stop by on my way from the airport to the hotel! The people who work there are very nice but then again I've found most folk in Greenville to be friendly. The restaurant is very clean and spacious with a small bar area. The food is exceptional. I'll usually get shrimp in a coconut curry sauce or shrimp in a spicy hot sauce. I like that you can tailor the amount of heat in your order, from 1 to 5 peppers. Beware - 3 peppers is pretty hot and I like hot food. I have gone 4 peppers once but 3 is just right. I've had their chicken lettuce wraps and veggie lettuce wraps as appetizers and they were very good. If you live in Greenville or are visiting the area you owe it to yourself to try this place.
(5)
Jason Y.
Best Chinese in the city, hands down.
(5)
Sheridan P.
the food is not spectacular, but above average. the wait and kitchen staff are knowledgable and accomodating. their best dish is no longer on the menu, but they always prepare it when asked. the duck rolls are good too. decor is modern and spacious. great bar area.
(4)
Steven H.
I haven't had anything bad at Lieu's. This place consistently serves the best Chinese food you can find. The service is impeccable. I'm a fan of Screwdrivers, and they make theirs with fresh squeezed orange juice. Highly reccommended for upscale Chinese cuisine.
(5)
Robert M.
What PF Chang's could be if they where run by Chinese people. top place in the city for Chinese food.
(5)
J.T. M.
amazing food that blows away pf changs. however, it is pricey. good fast service and all of the selections are tasty. spicy ginger shrimp happens to be my favorite along with mongolian beef. they will make any dish hotter for you by upping the spice on the star scale going up to 5. highly recommended for good, american chinese.
(4)
jmapple a.
DELICIOUS FOOD!!! This restaurant was recommended to me by several friends and I am so glad I finally went and checked it out! It is on Woodruff but I have often forgotten it is there because it is stuffed back into a little pocket behind Fuddruckers & FATZ. I had a mango chicken plate & my husband had one of their soups...he hasn't stopped talking about it!!! I wish they would do more with the decor on the inside though...it is sort of plain so it lacks the atmosphere of PF Changs but definitely has better food.
(5)
Grant L.
Lieu's is one of the best restaurants in Greenville, and a personal favorite of mine. I usually eat here quite frequently. The first thing you will notice upon entering the restaurant is the how clean it is. I haven't been to a cleaner restaurant. The place is so spotless, I would eat off the floor. The food is out of this world! Lieu's runs circles around PF Changs. The food has more flavor, it's fresher, and a better grade overall. You never have to ask anything of the staff. The waiter or waitress keeps your drinks full and table clean. Lieu's is locally owned, which is great. All in all, it's a topnotch restaurant and the best place for chinese food.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes 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.
Bill F.
Best place to eat in greenville sc, Chinese food done right nothing but the best quality ingredients and the staff is always pleasant. It's simply delicious and the price is right in my opinion. Its a reason why its voted "Best place to eat in Greenville SC" and I believe it made a top 25 list of best Chinese food in United States. Im always impressed - You have to try the Crab Wonton -really you can't go wrong with anything on the menu
(5)Steve S.
First off let me start off by saying that when I first walked in the aroma that hit me was amazing. I knew the food was going to be really good. I wanted to place a to go order so I walked up to the young lady who seemed very busy taking orders over the phone so I waited but she did make eye contact with me and said she'd be right with me. She then greeted me and asked if I would like to see a menu. After looking it over I decided to go with a couple chicken dishes. The almond chicken and Kung Pow were very good! So we will definitely be back when we come through town again.... P.S. We need one in Richmond asap! :)
(4)Vicki B.
I was torn between spicy pork and sesame chicken, so the server recommended getting the sesame chicken and asking for spicy. Terrific idea, although it still wasn't spicy enough for me. But it had good flavor and the portion was very plentiful for one person. I came back a 2nd time and found a spicy chicken dish which I missed the first time. The chicken's cooked the same way as the sesame chicken, but the sauce is different. I asked for extra, extra spicy. (They maintain their own rating system, so I think it was actually a +1 spicy) - The dish was hot but not unbearably so. I also ordered the wonton soup which was okay, but not wonton soup like I'm used to. On the west coast, wonton soup has some vegetables thrown in (carrots, bok choy, green onions); this did not. The flavor was good, but I only got one wonton, which is a little bit stingy, if you ask me.
(4)Agent T.
secret... i'm asian. does it make this review more legitimate? no, because it's not really asian food, it's american food, asian style. or american chinese food... I judge things for what they are, and if you want american chinese food this plate will serve. i like going here, i'll admit it. i'm guilty of it. probably because it's a business meal, if it was my own personal monies i wouldn't do it, not my style, but otherwise, i enjoy the food here. the spicy, is really spicy. it's not american super spicy which is mild to anyone who eats spicy... it's really spicy. negatives about this place... no beers on draft. COME ON GUYS... good items: lettuce wraps spicy beef orange beef orange chicken lieu's spicy chicken crispy rice soup all the other beef items don't order i think it's the halibut?? big mistake, weird consistency, don't recommend i think it's the shanghai beef, or whatever comes in little strips of beef that are deep friend, not a fan.
(4)Tracey M.
OMG!!! My husband and I decided to try this place after getting married at the Rock Quarry Garden. The food was absolutely delish and the wait was not long. The staff was friendly and attentive. I would have given them five stars, but the crying baby at the table next to us took away from the ambience.
(4)Kitty W.
After reading many Yelp reviews, my husband and I decided to go the Lieu's for our anniversary. Well, the reviews were right on the money with Lieu's. The crab wonton's were yummy and my hubby LOVED the salt & pepper calamari. We both tried dished we haven't gotten before and WOW we were not disappointed. Everything was fresh. I really enjoyed the twice pan fried noodles with a combo of beef, chicken, shrimp and lots of crisp veggies mixed in. Hubby really liked the pressed duck with pineapple. The staff is attentive and polite, they are quick to get you anything you ask for. This will be a favorite place to go in the future and not just for a special occasion.
(5)Michael T.
Really good Chinese cuisine! Love it!
(4)Lester F.
Great food and great value! Our server Elizabeth was fantastic with are large party! Great apps and menu choices. We will definitely return.
(5)D'Arcy L.
After an analytical comparison on Yelp I was able to coerce my friends to dine here instead of the dreaded PF Chang's which I somewhat despise. A work friend has coaxed me to eat here for quite some time as he loves the place! I thought it was to be a cheap Chinese buffet where you walk out groaning and unbuckle you belt while heading to the car! Man.....was I ever wrong! Growing up I can't tell you how many Chinese restaurants I've visited that were a dump but the food was in the very good to excellent category! You see......some people of my culture were not trained in the aesthetic art of interior design but down home Chinese wok cooking....now this was an art form not to be confused with imposters! Decor and design here is very clean and comfortable! Click off box #1. We were seated at a smaller booth which was comfortable and convenient. They have even larger booths if you are 4-6 as well! Our table was near the kitchen and you could hear the sizzle of the wok cooking up a storm! Taking a look at the menu it is more American Chinese food with some authentic Cantonese style dishes sprinkled in. If my grandfather was alive he would have marched into to the kitchen like he did at any Chinese restaurant and asked the head chef where he was from (in Cantonese) and where he had his chef training. This is how he could tell the real places from the wanna be's! For our party of three we ordered hot and sour soup each then salt and pepper squid, Kung pao chicken, spicy shrimp and a Singapore style mixed noodles to share with brown rice. Here's my thoughts on each dish: Hot N sour soup- this is the start of a good Chinese meal to open up your taste buds. Theirs was a light medium heat with generous tofu smll pieces of chicken and a nice sour flavour 4.5/5 Salt N pepper squid- larger portion- very crispy, salty but excellent flavour. (Probably my sodium intake for the week but damm good!) 5/5 Kung Pao chicken- a nice array of chicken, peanuts, chill and green onion. 4/5 Orange peel shrimp- my friend ordered this spicy, a nice array of shrimp in a zesty sauce. The candied fried orange peel,was a bit strong after one bite but good non the less 3/5 Singapore mixed noodles. Less curry tasting than other places, less vegetables but a good mix with beef, pork shrimp and snow peas. 3.75/5 Only downside to what ordered was all was somewhat salty! This is fairly normal for any Chinese restaurant however! I didn't taste any MSG, I didn't ask if they used any so if they did it was very light! I'd recommend asking which we failed to do! All in all a great experience!
(4)Santiago R.
Ended up here after our previous visit to the local P.F. Chang's here in Greenville. We were so amazed at the superior reviews here in the Yelp community in comparison that we just had to try it before we left. Absolutely impressed, and this is one of the few instances I've said, thought, or written it. Keyword for my review is "portions." They're the very-definition of generous, specially for a bistro place. So that not only it was good because of the amount of food, but because of the amount of - good food - you can expect. Again, specially in comparison with a place like P. F. Chang's. Started out with the traditional Won-ton soup, while it was good, this one I'll still give to P. F. Chang's, there's just no comparing theirs. But then the plates, we went with the typical Kung-Pao Chicken, and what turned out to be an amazing Beef with Scallops. Portions, amazing. Taste, fresh. Very fresh. Good-quality meats were clearly used. A good experience, memorable. And a total #recommend.
(5)Carolyn B.
Wow. Great food, service, and overall experience. We started with the chicken lettuce wraps which came out within 2 minutes. They give you a quarter head of lettuce, hoisin, and a soy/mustard sauce as well. We both scarfed down 2 wraps very quickly. I especially enjoyed the soy mustard sauce. It had all the flavor of mustard and enough twang to clear my sinuses. Winner winner chicken appetizer. Then we had the trio and the Cantonese duck. The food was plentiful and oh so good. The duck was crispy and full of flavor. The trio was loaded with goodies (I especially enjoyed the scallops) but the sauce it was served it was nothing like I had tasted before. It was the first time I had an asian sauce like that where I actually didn't have to salt the dish. Oh we will return. You can bet on it
(5)Kel T.
The lunch portions are large and made fresh. My friend ordered the sesame chicken, and the pieces of white meat chicken were huge and plentiful, served piping hot and so good. The shrimp and lo mein noodles were equally as fresh and delicious. Friendly, fast service.
(4)Keith F.
Everything about this place was great. Jazz music. Friendly and fast service. That lady was on top of it. We had several starters including a spicy calamari crab ragoons and edamame. The only fault of the whole meal was that the crab ragoons has a very strong ginger taste to them that I personally wasn't a huge fan of. The hot and sour soup was very flavorful.This restaurant has a spicy scale that ranges from 1 to 10. I ordered my kung po shrimp at a 7. It was PERFECT. It was a crescendo of flavor erupting in my mouth. The crowd was a nice mix of people. The decor is nice here as well. If I lived anywhere close to here I would eat here all the time. Highly recommended.
(5)M C.
Delicious with wonderful service and the flavors are amazing! We started out with the spicy chicken lettuce wrap it was great and the portion is plenty for sharing. I had the ginger chicken with broccoli and brown rice wow was it good and I'm takin home 1/2 portion so much to enjoy. The coffee is from West End Coffee Roasters a local favorite of coffee lovers! My wife had the spicy coconut shrimp which she absolutely loved! She's also taking 1/2 home. We'll definitely be back!
(5)Laura S.
Moved from Philadelphia recently. Best egg drop soup so far in town! Want go back soon try dinner.
(4)Hector L.
A great choice for authentic style Chinese food in the Upstate. The Salt and Pepper Squid is to die for.
(5)Chris Y.
I came to Lieus Chinese Bistro because I read in Yahoo that Lieus was voted the best Chinese restaurant in South Carolina. I can definitely see why! They offers the best food and service I have ever experienced. Honestly I would like give more stars. The fried rice and the crab wontons, which are the size of my fists, are AMAZING. I ordered the pork dumplings, which were PHENOMENAL, and my waiter told me that they were made from scratch in the kitchen. It was a bit pink, but my waiter told me it was supposed to be. Overall, I enjoyed my experience here and I will be back!
(5)Mark H.
Went there last Sunday after not going for a while. This was after the Yahoo article naming them best Chinese in south Carolina. At 6:00 they were packed, but she told us it'll only be 10 minutes! Good to hear. The food was amazing. I got the spicy eggplant, others had the beef and cauliflower dish..wife asked if she could have mushrooms instead..."that will not be a problem" said our very attentive waiter, and boy was it good. A few beers later and we were very happy. Our waiter was very much in the weeds but did an outstanding job! Did I mention the portion sizes? HUGE. I will be back soon and more often BTW..its hard to find eggplant at an Italian restaurant around here
(5)Jonathan L.
What Lieu's had to offer was pretty good for an "Americanized" Chinese food. Better than PF Chang's in my opinion. I am not sure if my wife and I were the only ones who noticed it but Lieu's white rice was very stiff and dry, unlike any Asian rice we've ever tasted. And the foods they had to offer is not any where close to authentic Chinese food. Most foreigners do not actually like "authentic" food but I do. Authenticness and the hard stiff rice was the reasons for the deducted stars.
(3)Lindsay S.
Best Chinese food in Greenville!!! Blows PF changs out of the water ...... Consistency and quality EVERY time!!!
(5)Donald D.
Like all dining places, what you order helps determine the quality of the dine. I went with my parents who ordered sweet and sour dishes. Even though they weren't inspirational, they were very well rendered versions of those dishes. I ordered Spicy Coconut Shrimp, and it was both tasty and delicious. I'd order it again, or recommend it wholeheartedly. In other words, order something unusual and you will be in for a treat. Staff = friendly Service = top notch Food = amazing Prices = reasonable The hot peach & green tea was flavorless, I recommend passing on it. And, against all previous experience with Chinese eateries, the fortune cookies were yummy.
(5)Manoj B.
One of my favorite Chinese joints here at Greenville. To start with, the waitstaff are good. Like the ambience and the seating. I keep coming back for the Lettuce Wraps - both chicken and veg. Also love the Curry Chicken and Sweet and Sour Chicken here. Go in with friends and family. A really nice place with good food options. My Opinion: Must try.
(5)Tommy G.
I consider Lieu's my home away from home. It's warm, welcoming, and smells good too! Peter & Francis are your hosts and if you're fortunate to grab a chair or table in the bar, Brian (Brownie) will take great care of you. Their food is excellent...I've never had any selection from their menu that wasn't and I've made many selections (guessing I've visited Lieu's 2 to 3 DOZEN times in the past 6 months...and I live in Ohio!!!) I've heard several people compare Lieu's to P. F. Chang's and while there are some similarities, my opinion is that Lieu's is superior in every aspect! Stop by soon and tell them "Tommy" sent you. Brownie will no doubt pop open a Thomas Creek Amber Lager for you in celebration!
(5)Sharon X.
Very bad Chinese food. Fake Chinese food, super sweeeeeeet beef and scallop. Wait too long ...... Don't come again. Not worth your time and money
(1)Tori W.
I tried Lieus sometime last year and it's the only Chinese place I eat from now. Everyone in there is friendly and while you do pay more for your meal, its good quality food worth every penny. Anytime I want Chinese I go here. I order take out from here often. They are always quick and never have missed anything in my order. The woman manager/owner is professional and friendly. I've only met the man owner once but he was very professional as well. Two thumbs up to Lieus Chinese bistro. Best in Greenville.
(5)Julie W.
I eat here a couple times a month for lunch. Lunch prices are great. Kung pao chicken is the bomb. I like spicy food and I order 3 star spicy. 4 star spicy just ends up tasting like straight chili powder and no longer the right taste. Hot and sour soup is good. Tempura green beans are a great appetizer to share. Don't use the napkin they give you and ask for a black one. The white one will turn your entire outfit white. They must be a low quality fabric or maybe they use a bad detergent to clean them. I have pointed this out to the owner and he didn't seem to care and offered me his lint roller.
(3)Sue E.
Been going to Lieu's for years and enjoying everything I tried. Until last night when both my husband and I found our food to be too salty. Could not taste the favor for the salt. We hope this is not the way it will be from now on.
(2)Chris C.
I have been going to Lieu's ever since they open for business. I met Peter and Francis while going there and they are the best. They make you feel warm and invited like part of a large family! Their wait staff there are excellent by far the best in Greenville. P.F. Chang's I can't say that about or their food. The food at Lieu's is excellent. I did make a mistake and got the Kung Poa Chicken a 5 star once!! LOL Let's just say when they say it's hot..then it's hot. But I haven't had a bad meal there and I go there a lot. I would recommend this place to anyone who likes Chinese food! If you visit Greenville, this is the first place to try.
(5)Sandeep R.
A Restaurant built for great customer satisfaction. Great food and service!
(5)Johnathon S.
Still the best, forget the rest! Best food in town. Best service in town. Best at being the best! If you havent tried this place, hurry! Life is too short to miss this! Bring some friends, its fun to share :)
(5)Thor I.
Great food and great service. Our first time here we met the owner who was working as hard or harder than the employees. I get the spicy chicken every time i come. Highly recommended.
(5)Kevin R.
great food great service the duck is yummy
(5)Austin C.
Crab wontons are amazing
(5)Jennie D.
Love me some Lieu's! My husband and I go at least 2x a month and have never had a complaint or concern. The food is always fresh and tasty with the Spicy Chicken being my favorite. My husband really likes the Happy Family (cooked Nep's style) and the ginger shrimp. Great cocktails, friendly staff, clean facilities and a warm atmosphere make Lieu's a unique and favorite place for Chinese food. Say hello to Nep when you're there!
(5)Kirk S.
KILLS PF Changs, anyday, anytime. Best chinese food in Greenville! Never had a bad experience.
(5)Stefanie B.
After reading many positive reviews, we decided to stop by and give Lieu's a try. You walk in and it feels like a diner/family restaurant with the padded booth chairs. The service was good (very quick) but the food was not as good as I was expecting it to be. We decided to order a bunch of appetizers instead of an entree. The calamari was seasoned well, very thick cut. Not my bf's favorite. The lettuce wraps are much better at PF Changs. The firecracker salmon roll lacked something--was not impressed. Maybe the wrong sauce. The seared ahi tuna was a disappointment. Bland with no flavor to the searing. I don't think this place was bad- but I do think it felt like a PF Chang knockoff (PF Changs tastes better, better ambiance,better sauces)
(2)Neal D.
This review is for take-out lunch. We ordered Kung Pao Chicken, Ginger Shrimp, Vegetable Lo-Mein, and Chicken with Snow Peas. Also Hot and Sour Soup. All of the dishes were very tasty, though a bit oily. That may have been because we asked for the "3 Star" spice-level and so they added a bunch of that hot chili oil. Definitely above average Chinese food.
(4)Amy B.
Great food terrible service I won't eat there again definitely an order to go kinda place
(3)John M.
Great value for lunch and the Kung Pao Chicken is amazing, however the beef and broccoli dish was disappointing.
(4)Mike M.
Popped in for a good quick lunch. Efficient service, spicy chicken garlic dish was crispy and delicious. Gave my colleauge a hard time about substituting tofu for meat on the lunch menu, made him order something else, odd treatment for this area.
(3)Yane Y.
On their DINNER. Place is a great restaurant --- slightly on the pricey side, but I guess you are paying for the quality. I've been here three times, so i suppose you can take with a grain of salt -- as compared to someone else who may have come a gazillion times. All three times, I've ordered their spicy seafood noodle soup (jjam-ppong!). This last time was the spiciest it has been. However, the broth is great! noodles are nice and slightly chewy -- the way they are supposed to be. The happy family, which we ordered most recently was great as well. It's a savory, brown sauce -- not too heavy. The meats (beef, scallop, chicken, etc.) were all good. However, although it was good, I thought it was a bit pricey. It can get quite loud, so be prepared if you go at a busy hour. The ambiance is nice...
(4)Wm H.
Great place, it was busy the night we were there with a big group. But you would have thought we were their only customers. Food was good, service was top notch, and libations were great! For sure this is on my list for another visit!
(5)Jason L.
The food here is well above average and consistent but too much like PF changs that I am deducting at least 1/2 a star. I wish the owner great success as I love Chinese food but I would prefer some originality. The Lieu's spicy chicken, which I was expecting fireworks, ended up falling short it and reminded me more of glorified chicken nuggets in a mundane sweet/spicy chilli sauce. I would like to see much larger suculent pieces of crispy chicken and a little more sophistication / originality with the flavor. The almond chicken was fine but I prefer whole almonds to diced. The highlight was the beef/ scallops and mongolian beef, which you can get at changs. The wonton was good but a little too salty and the hot and sour was nothing special. I will be back to try some other dishes but I feel like it's going to boil down to price with this restaurant and changs.
(3)Heather M.
I am a Lieu's-er. Our family eats at Lieu's about once/month and it's the most consistent restaurant in Greenville, food wise. Our favorites are spicy ginger shrimp, Mongolian beef, sesame chicken and Kung pao anything. The spring rolls, steamed dumplings and lettuce wraps are awesome too. Definitely the best Chinese in Greenville!
(5)Paul M.
I eat here more than any other restaurant in Greenville. The staff and service make other restaurants pale in comparison. Any dish I've had is great and remember this is cook to order food so feel free to make a special request!
(5)Dh K.
After seeing a lot of positive reviews, I was really hoping for a higher end food quality. Unfortunately, the food was not that great. The best part of my experience was the waiter service, which was quite good. I ordered their pan fried Chilean sea bass only to have it come out deep fried. The waiter said that's the way they've cooked it for 11 years. I said others may not care, but it really should be listed as deep fried because it was completely encrusted in deep fried batter. He graciously offered to take it back and asked if I'd like to try something else. I wasn't going to order anything else, but because he handled the situation so nicely, I decided to try another pan fried dish--salmon, which turned out to be pretty good but very salty, as was the hot and sour soup. Overall, the dishes tended to be salty, though I did like the flavors. I plan to come back and try again and ask for low sodium and see what happens. For the dishes I got, I'd give the food 2.5 stars, but the service was closer to a 4, so I went with a 3.
(3)Vj S.
Food is 10/10 , probably best chineese food ive eaten in a long time. Seems fresh . Fast service, nice seating and overall ambience is upscale . Would definately go back there and recommend it to others !
(5)Erin H.
Lieu's and P.F. Chang's in one week. Chinese is one of my least favorite cuisines - I'm a much bigger fan of Thai and Vietnamese when it comes to Asian cooking. I will preface my review with that disclaimer. Due to some outings planned by friends, I found myself at P.F. Chang's this past Saturday night and Lieu's on Tuesday night. So I decided to compare them and post the review to each of their Yelp pages. P.F. Chang's was incredibly busy the night I dined there. We had a 5:30 reservation, and when we left at 7:30 they still had a two hour wait. In spite of this, our service was excellent. Our server was absolutely on the ball, and when he was not available there was always someone else stopping by to deliver food or check on us. When the bill was calculated incorrectly for my friends, the manager came out to personally explain to them what happened and to present a corrected bill. Even though the restaurant was very crowded, we managed to feel cozy tucked away in our elevated booth against the wall. But I don't think I would have enjoyed sitting at one of the tables in the middle of the floor. As for the food, it was very good. Not exceptional - but a very solid tasty meal. I enjoyed a coconut curry vegetarian dish, and my husband enjoyed wok-seared beef. We started with the understandably popular lettuce wraps and finished with a small chocolate peanut butter dessert. The prices were very reasonable - our meal and 2 beers came to $45 before tip (our dessert was comped due to a birthday). All in all, a very nice experience. As for Lieu's, I want to like it because it is local, and 99% of the time I prefer local to chain. Tuesday night Lieu's was very empty. We had a large table in the corner all to ourselves. Our server did a great job and made sure all the people in our party of 7 received their food at the same time. I started with a mojito and an order of spring rolls. There was no muddled mint in the mojito! I asked about it and the server said for some reason they choose to make it that way. My spring rolls came with two sauces. I would have appreciated if our server had explained that one was an extremely spicy mustard. I took a large dip of it and my sinuses proceeded to catch fire and empty out. During the handful of times I have been at Lieu's, I find their sauces to be on the sweeter side. That is one of my primary complaints with Americanized Chinese food. This night I had pan fried noodles with chicken. The noodles are a little strange - they are very crispy and you need to mash them down into the sauce. But the end result was still pretty good - just a little sweeter than I might have liked. The portion was also quite large - more than I could finish - which is unusual for me. The interior of Lieu's is looking a bit worn. After many years of faithfully serving Greenville's masses, I think they could use an update. With the increased competition coming to Woodruff Road, this may be even more important. So there you have it - three stars to Lieu's and four to P.F. Chang's. For those who enjoy an American take on Chinese food, you can have a good meal at either one.
(3)Robert R.
The food is generally good. There is some inconsistency in the spiciness level in the times I've ordered. Also, some meals seem to be swimming in sauce and extremely salty. The prices are in-line with a sit down restaurant, but the quality of the food isn't. It's a step up from take out, but a step below want they should be for the price.
(3)K W.
It's been 4 years since I moved from Fountain Inn, now that I am moving back to Greenville, SC I had to make sure my absolute favorite restaurant is still rocking the foodie palate...and it is! Lieu's will be the first place I visit when I get back to Greenville, followed by a quick trip to Strossner's Bakery..OMG..so exited!
(5)Dale D.
Had been searching for a sit down chinese place for sometime. Everything in our area is buffet and is fine on occasion but wait service IS nice. Arrived mid-afternoon on Saturday to a light crowd and were seated quickly. Seems to be an older building but clean with a very nice "feel". Ordered our drinks and enjoyed checking out the wide variety on the menu. Started with the Hot and Sour soup. Very good. Added Vegetable Spring Rolls. Here I have to commend our waitress for pointing out the sweet dipping sauce versus the Wasabi Mustard. I sampled the Wasabi Mustard with a tiny, tiny dip and cleared my sinus cavities completely. Not a huge fan of "spicy" myself but the masochists out there should LOVE this stuff! Wife had Lieu's Spicy Chicken and I the Happy Family. Great flavor, large portions, and excellent service. The wifes chicken was a bit spicy for her taste but it didn't seem to slow her down much! I loved the way each flavor of the Happy Family stood out. Beef, chicken, shrimp and scallops all stood out with the brown sauce as an accompaniment. The word that comes to mind is "fresh". Wife had Oolong tea and I had a Newcastle Brown. Wife is still talking about how good the tea was. If you've read this far, thanks. I rarely do reviews but felt this was a deserving restaurant.
(5)John B.
This is my favorite Chinese restaurant. I love meeting clients here for lunch. The Asian tuna salad is the best.
(5)Ryan F.
We had a great meal--try the crab wantons, they're delicious--and the entrees were tasty and very reasonably priced. The service was excellent, even though it was a busy Friday night. I look forward to going back!
(5)Kevin D.
I took my wife there on our first date.I went out of a limb and took visiting company executives from New York there for lunch and came out looking like I knew what I was doing. The food is consistently good. I like the mu shu pork myself. The portions are pretty generous. Service has always been great. Lunch specials under $10. Last time I checked, they only take reservations for larger parties. However, I've never had to wait long, and usually not at all.
(5)John S.
First Timer at this place as it was down the street from my hotel. Everything was fresh and very tasty. I sat at the bar and met Peter and a regular customer. What can I say ....I'll be back for more!
(5)Chip E.
Kind welcoming server with knowledge of the menu. Elegant, comfortable eating space. The food is fresh, very tasty, and a wide variety of dishes. Generous portions. The tempura green beans were crispy and not greasy!!! Fried tofu with Chinese black mushrooms and baby bok choy outstanding!
(4)Chef Nomad ..
The decor and ambiance is casually sophisticated. The menu is still very much Americanized, but the taste is far from Americanized Fast-food chinese cuisine. The ingredients are fresh and the food is well prepared. A nice feature to the restaurant has is to allow the customer to dictate the level of spicyness (1 to 5 stars) they want if any at all. Definitely recommend a visit.
(4)John C.
My wife can attest that I would eat Chinese every meal if I could (why not - the Chinese do). Lieu's is your typical American Chinese place with exceptional service and food. Better than the chain down the street with the exception of the hot & sour soup. Had the MuSu Chicken and pork dumplings as an appitizer. Both were very good with excellent portions. Still like Happy China better.
(3)Anda C.
First time customer after hearing and reading about how everyone else I know are repeat customers. Went for lunch with my daughter and it was excellent. The edamane was warm with just the right amount of salt. My wonton soup was very light and flavorful, no heavy oily taste at all. My daughter LOVED the honey ginger salad dressing. I had the Kung Pao shrimp (mild) and she had the Mongolian Beef and they were both excellent. Thought the prices were in line for the amount of food, decor etc. The only complaint was service was just a little slow. If I had a set amount of time for lunch that might have been a problem and that is the only reason I didn't give this review five stars.
(4)Scott D.
One of favorite joints! The food is amazing. Lieu's Spicy Chicken is my favorite dish. We also love the Crispy Crab Wontons. We live about 20 miles away, but we still pickup take out on a pretty regular basis. Trust me, you'll love this place.
(5)Emily S.
I've tried this place 3 times and finally concluded that I have to go to PF Chang's for decent service and good (American) Chinese food. First, I have always disliked the lack of a children's menu, but on my last visit, our server made it worse by insisting that we order an entire adult lunch entree for my toddler, including soup or salad which he cannot eat, or be charged additionally for a steamed vegetable or some healthy side that would be suitable for him. (We eventually declined to order him a meal and just shared our food). Next came my salad, which had a POOL of ginger dressing - at least 2/3 cup - in the bottom of the bowl. The bottom half of the salad was inedible as a result, and my mention of this was met with no apology, no offer to fix it for me or future customers, but just "Yeah. That dressing comes out fast." I was extremely frustrated to be treated as if a soup serving of salad dressing is just an accepted part of dining at Lieu's! Worse, when the server spilled a pool of that dressing on the table, she didn't clean it up or even bring an extra napkin. The entrees were alright, but overly sweet and not as spicy as we'd ordered. There were several other minor frustrations throughout the meal - our entrees arrived well more than 30 minutes after we ordered them for a weekday lunch, a to-go box took 10 more minutes (again, no apology when I had to ask twice), etc. I like supporting a local business, and Lieu's has the best crab rangoons in town. But if that is how I can expect to be treated when I come, then PF Chang's it is.
(2)Barbara W.
First of all...I simply don't get all the comparisons to that evil national chain in other reviews. That would be like comparing a local burger joint to something like Fuddrucker's (which, ironically, is next to Lieu's)...I just don't understand why the comparison. My husband and I had a very nice meal here...good enough that we actually ATE the leftovers that we brought home :) I LOVE a good hot and sour soup, and here it was very good...even though the addition of chicken was odd to me. The sauce on the double pan fried noodles with shrimp was excellent, and the shrimp were spectacular...fresh and perfectly cooked. The only problem was that the noodles were almost impossible to eat because they were crisp...like solid crisp...and to eat them you kind of had to just smash them. DEFINITELY don't get the double pan fried noodles if you go here on a first date ;) The peking chicken was very good. I really feel like if I had ordered different things that Lieu's absolutely would have earned 4-stars...but here's the problem... My husband and I have stopped eating red meat and pork...and honestly, all my favorite Chinese dishes contain pork. So normally I would have sampled some pork dishes at Lieu's, and I'm sure they would have been great, but the lack of being able to order pork has put me in a bit of Chinese food mourning. FYI...even though the hot and sour soup says 'chicken' on the menu...I think it also contains a bit of shredded pork (which is probably part of the reason it was so absolutely yummy)...please don't tell my husband :)
(3)Vanessa T.
This place is great! Server made excellent recommendations! Selection of tea was wonderful, great original drinks. Servers were attentive. The wonton soup is delicious. The broth alone was phenomenal! The "happy family" was tasty. Portions are large and meant for sharing! A definite must try restaurant! They do take out too.
(5)Cameron H.
I was told this place resembled P.F. Changs. Unfortunately it wasn't. Nice decor. Huge location. But the food was just decent. I ordered the Wonton Soup, which tasted like hot water with a wonton in it. Then I ordered Spicy Pepper Chicken. It was ok.. Had some decent heat. Not sure if I would make the trip back.
(3)Tyler R.
Reviewing Lieu's is quite simple. The food is high quality, the service attentive, and the prices reasonable. I find it to be the perfect mix between Americanized Chinese food (that traditionally swims in a glistening neon sauce - you know you love it) and more traditional fare. Do yourself a favor, ditch the commercialized TGI McTuesday's version of Lieu's (PF Changs) and enjoy a local business that actually has some stake in whether or not you have a good dining experience.
(4)Mike B.
I'm a repeat customer when in town if I have a craving for Chinese. I guess by saying I am a repeat customer says what I think of the place? The food is good to above average (it isn't a 5 star restaurant, it is a Chinese Bistro - keep your expectations in check). I'll be back again.
(3)Solomon W.
A lot my friends really wanted to go to this place, but having Taiwan roots, I was definitely skeptical... as I am in any Asian eatery that does not have a Chinese menu... or offer you chopsticks as the primary utensil. Lieu's is within earshot of P.F. Chang's on the busy Woodruff, and the atmosphere is almost identical as well. The prices are high, the drinks are expensive, and the dishes are mostly eaten individually. The servers are all American, but I that certainly makes for better service. Catering to Americans definitely does the customer service department a service. Most of the fare is your typical Sweet and Sour Chicken and Buddha's Delight, but there are a few dishes that give a shoutout to traditional Chinese offerings such as Ma Po Tofu and Sichuan Green Beans. I do like that you can customize your spice. I went with the Sichuan Green Beans, as they are my favorite Eastern veggie. I got them as spicy as Lieu's allows, and I thought it had quite the kick. Nice. They were crispy, but I still wish they would have put the traditional pork into the sauce, instead of making the dish vegetarian. My friends dishes were all reminiscent of your neighborhood Asian take-out. The beef and scallops were soggy, the orange chicken was crispy, but overly sweet, the crab wontons were chock full of cream cheese, the chicken broccoli was a little bland. This restaurant is definitely a little more clean cut and fresh than your typical nitty gritty Asian joint, and it offers a touch more local appeal than Chang's. It is a good place to take a group for a nice unique dinner.
(2)Ann Marie D.
Let me start by saying, I am not huge on Chinese food. That said, the service here was good, the portion sizes were HUGE, and they have a decent selection of wine and specialty cocktails. I went with a group of friends and they got our food out fast as lightning. I had the fried rice with beef- which I know is not what most people would order, but that aside I have never seen rice with so much oil. There was an pool of it in my takeout box when I got home. Several people in my party had the spring rolls and really enjoyed them. If you really enjoy Chinese food, then I would highly recommend you go here!
(3)Jay L.
Still the best service and freshest food in town.
(5)Josh B.
Went back to Lieu's this evening and had as good a meal as we have had since arriving in this area. The food is just awesome and the menu is so superb.
(5)Brittany B.
We came here for chinese new years. The service was under whelming, it took us years to be seated. All we came for was dessert--basically green tea ice cream. They must have thought we were asking for some fancy meticulous sushi order. Phew. They messed up our order, so that was tricky for them too.
(3)Ben E.
By far, this is the best Chinese food I have ever had in my life. The atmosphere is relaxed and peaceful, while the service is some of the best in Greenville. Add amazing food, and it makes Lieu's my favorite restaurant in Greenville. I simply have never had a bad experience here. If you're into spicy, I suggest the Kung Pao chicken.
(5)Robin D.
At the risk of being a detractor, I honestly wasn't that impressed with Lieu's. Perhaps it's because I actually enjoy PF Chang's and our table was very confused throughout the whole meal as to how or why everything is so similar to PF Chang's - from their logo, to the menu choices, even down to the banana spring rolls for dessert! We ordered the chicken wraps for an appetizer and they were sort of ok, but we all prefer PF Chang's. For the meal, we ordered dan dan noodles and Lieu's Spicy Chicken. (I even had to catch myself when ordering because I started to say "Chang's Spicy Chcken," embarrassing myself in front of the waiter.) The chicken dish was ok, but the dan dan noodles were strange and slimy. Because we just missed the lunch menu by a few minutes and paid dinner prices in the middle of the day in an empty restaurant, the prices seemed a little high. After seeing so many positive reviews on here, I wonder if we failed to order dishes that best represent what Lieu's has to offer, but doubt we'll go back to find out. If we want Chinese food like PF Chang's, we'll just go to PF Chang's.
(2)Chris M.
In short, I love this restaurant! The atmosphere is great but can be a little on the noisy side and the wait staff has always been very helpful and prompt but do seem to be over worked. Lieu's Chinese Bistro offers a fair amount of options and just about anyone can find something they will like. You can choose to make your meal more spicy or less depending on your tastes and the cooks get it right on. I highly recommend that anyone who likes good food and good times try this place out at least once.
(4)Ben A.
I have not found better Chinese food in this area. The food is outstanding, the service is excellent and the prices are reasonable. The menu has great variety. We live in another town about 50 miles away, but every time we need to go to Greenville we eat there. On several occasions, we have made a special trip to have our guests enjoy wonderful food. To find any Chinese restaurant as good or better, I would have to drive 200 miles to the Atlanta area. I recommend this restaurant without hesitation.
(5)Chris K.
Tough one to review. Restaurant obviously caters to non-Chinese. Makes perfect business sense in the Greenville market, go broke otherwise. Not bad as PF Chang, but only a few steps away. For what it is, non-authentic Chinese, pretty decent food. The crispy duck was the standout dish at our table, among six other ok dishes.
(3)Beth G.
My husband and I eat here at least once a week. They are very flexible on creating anything that you would like to eat as long as they have the ingredients. We always look forward to talking to the owners Francis and her husband Peter, they make us feel like we are a part of their family. The waitstaff is very experienced, some have been there for over 5 years, recommend you ask for Napti. My favorite dish is the Sea Bass, I ask for it steamed over a bed of spinach. Chef David ensures everything is fresh, the atmosphere is nice, restaurant is clean and the service can't be beat! When families and friends visit this is the first place we take them to when they arrive in Greenville. I highly recommend this restaurant to everyone!
(5)Horace P.
I have eaten at Lieu's three times now, I have found the food to be both fresh and high quality, so it's a bit more expensive than your standard Chinese fair but higher quality food is worth it IMO. My favorite dish so far is the Peking Chicken, its spicy fried chicken white meat in a sweet hot style sauce, a dish that you don't often see on lunch menu. I also like the fact that you can select your level of spice in the spicy dishes (from one star to 5 star) be warned I like spicy and two star is about all I can handle. The only issues I have with the place is the service seems to be a bit slow, even at the bar. I had to ask for the check on two of my lunch visits to make an hour lunch break, but this won't keep me from going back to Lieu's.
(4)Jack C.
This is the first time I've gone to Lieu's Chinese Bistro and I'll definitely go back for more. The menu has a lot of diversity, it's classy food but still tasty enough for even a picky eater like me to enjoy (plenty of dishes without peppers, onions, etc). The portion size of the food was more than enough, we ordered dumplings, Dan Dan Noodles, Beef with Broccoli and some pepper chicken dish (none cost more than $13) for two people... Needless to say I have 3 boxes of food in my fridge that we couldn't finish at the restaurant. Service was prompt and friendly; although it may have been overkill, our waitress would bring a new diet coke to the table before even half of my current one was gone. I would say this is casual to dressy, the atmosphere was dim and on the quiet side but it was enjoyable. As for the food, I'm just going to say "it's the best Chinese food I've had in a LONG time", it truly was fantastic. If you're in the area, Lieu's Chinese Bistro is definitely worth the trip.
(5)courtney b.
WOW I actually can not believe I've never reviewed this place. Well its AWESOME the best chienese food in Greenville. Its my staple and "go-to" place for good, resonably priced food. And Luke the manager-sometimes waiter is MY FAVORITE he always remmebers me and makes sure we have top notch serivce. I recommend the hot sake, ginger chicken and broc, seame chicken...actually just try everything at least once.
(4)Anthony R.
I live about 30 minutes away and have catering from Lieu's many times. My favorite is the Spicy Coconut Shrimp. The spiciness adds flavor to the dish, not being spicy just to be hot. I recently attended a meeting there and enjoyed everything I had. The lettuce wraps were good, a make your own style. Lieu's version of General Tso's chicken, called Lieu's Chicken was good as well. A good amount of heat, without being too hot. The environment is upscale, without being too stuffy. Overall, if my wife liked Asian good I would go there a lot more.
(4)Gary L.
Having to travel for work is not always very fun, but I have appreciated (actually am more in-debted) to the Yelper's who provide tips and advice on their favorite places. All the recommendations from the community have been spot-on, and for that I am grateful and hope my reviews will also be useful to others. Coming from San Francisco, my standards for Chinese food are pretty high but I have some axioms on how to evaluate this type of cuisine: 1) If the waiter is not rude or pushy, then it's not authentic. 2) The tastiness of the food always has an inverse relationship to how dirty the bathroom and how sticky or greasy the floor is. The nastier the commode-the more flavorful the food (don't know why that is, and it's gross but true.) 3) If it's just off the interstate-avoid at all costs. My experience at Lieu's was actually very nice. The service was very good, the food delicious, and reasonably priced. The wait staff were very attentive (almost too eager-swooping in to take away my just finished dish as it was an early supper during the week, and the place was not crowded. ) I had the Happy Family- a wok-fried combo of shrimp, chicken, beef and broccoli, carrot and snow peas in a brown sauce. The meats were tender, the veggies cooked with the right bite and not mushy. The gravy was tasty but just a tad too much soy, but was smooth (and not lumpy from too much corn starch -always a good sign.) It was served with a nice bowl of brown rice, cooked to perfection. With a beer, the tab came out to $20 without tip. Good size portions, and the food came out very quickly after ordering. The restaurant was spotless, with modern furnishings and a welcoming atmosphere. After this meal at Lieu's I will have to re-consider my original criteria for Chinese food. It is possible to get a nice meal in this clean and comfortable restaurant off the interstate.
(5)Aaron C.
HEAVY, GREASY, and not all that good. I grew up in a town that had good, authentic Chinese food...... and Lieu's just doesn't cut it for me! I have only been there once and probably won't return. I have never had a garlic green been dish that was so oily and heavy in my life and that was one of the lighter dishes that we had. It's your typical "American Style" Chinese food restaurant...... In California it would be the Chinese restaurant that didn't have a single Asian person eating there. That's a good sign that you need to stay away. You might as well go to Panda Express!
(2)Jonna P.
Fantastic food, great atmosphere (although can get a little noisy, so I wouldn't recommend it if your trying for a uber-romantic night). The firecracker salmon roll is incredible and the salt and pepper calamari is to die for. Both of these dishes are on the spicy side, so make sure to order a Cosmo, the bartender is wonderful. I've never been to some of the competition around on Woodruff Road, however I've been to my fair share of upscale Chinese restaurants in other areas of the country and Lieu's ranks right up there with some from SF and the San Diego area!
(5)Carol B.
After moving to Greenville from New York I thought my days of good Chinese food were over. Boy, was I wrong. Lieus is GREAT. We've dined there 6 or 7 times and have never been disappointed.
(4)Taylor G.
Great food with great service! We have been hearing about Lieu's and we kept forgetting to try it, but last night we decided to go somewhere new and we ended up here. The food was really yummy, I like that you can customize the level of spicy if you want to. Their regular spicy is good for me, but I'm a bit of a spice wimp. My daughter loved her Lo Mein, which we got in a half order and that would have been enough for me to eat and probably have leftovers if I'd have ordered it. I had the orange peel beef which was excellent. We will definitely be back.
(4)Brian P.
Great place for a date. Food is fantastic and the bar is terrific. Their homemade Chinese hot mustard is my favorite. Not too pricey either. This is far better than P. F. Changs and a local business.
(4)Lesley B.
If PF Chang's was authentic and had impeccable service they'd have to call it Lieu's. Fantastic. Every single time. I do like it better for lunch or for a group at dinner. A bit too bustling for a romantic date. Ginormous portions!!
(5)nicole r.
I love this place!! I try and visit at least once a week to get my chinese fix! Among my favorites: spicy garlic tofu, ginger chicken & broccoli and the dumplings as an appetizer. You cant go wrong with anything you pick here, you can tell the food is fresh, especially when it comes to the seafood dishes. You get large portions, enough for 2 people to share and feel full. The prices (for the dinner menu) range from about $12-15, and the food is worth every penny. The staff is great too, very welcoming with a great knowledge of the menu and can make great reccommendations for first timers! Not to mention the bartender can make a mean martini! I would definitley reccommend this place to anyone looking to have a great meal that will leave you coming back for more!
(5)C A.
I was just there tonight as an out of town business person dining alone. This place has all the ambiance of the pretend Mexican restaurant in the Charlotte airport where I had lunch today. Way too kid friendly. I can;t imagine going back. To be fair, the food was actually pretty good. All the ingredients seemed fresh. Seafood was good and the veggies were still a little crisp; very nice. Service was a bit rushed. Prices are fair. For takeout, it's one step up from the Chinese franchise in my supermarket back home. For eat in, I can't imagine going back. Sorry.
(2)Jay E.
I have family in Greenville so every time I visit the first place we go is Lieu's! By far the best Chinese cuisine I've had in the United States. The atmosphere, service and food can't be beat! I highly recommend the calamari, ribs, steamed sea bass.
(5)Justin T.
Whenever I visit my parents we always make sure to swing by on the way home from the airport. This slightly upscale Chinese restaurant blows away some of the competition around the area and the nation, including the famous PF Chang's. Having lived in the San Francisco Bay area and spent some time in Chinatown I was a little skeptical when we first entered. However our waiter was charming and well informed, and despite a packed house, never ignored our table. I had some of the best Schechwan green beans of my life. They were flavorful and fragrant, and not greasy like many other places. My parents and I also shared chicken with snow peas that did not get lost in heavy sauce, but was very delicate, with crisp vegetables, just what the dish should be. The restaurant features recognizably American Chinese food, but unlike the insipid offerings at many other restaurants, Lieu's pulls off the dishes without them becoming heavy or flavorless imitations of what good Chinese food can be. That said don't expect any of the more exotic, and more traditional Chinese fair you would find in a bigger city, but that is hardly a disappointment for the vast number of eaters out there. This place does what it needs to well: serving popular Chinese dishes very well with fresh produce and ingredients.
(4)Tony D.
I love this place! The food is absolutely delicious. I visit Greenville on business occassionaly (from Boston) and I always make it a point to stop at Lieu's at least once. I'll even stop by on my way from the airport to the hotel! The people who work there are very nice but then again I've found most folk in Greenville to be friendly. The restaurant is very clean and spacious with a small bar area. The food is exceptional. I'll usually get shrimp in a coconut curry sauce or shrimp in a spicy hot sauce. I like that you can tailor the amount of heat in your order, from 1 to 5 peppers. Beware - 3 peppers is pretty hot and I like hot food. I have gone 4 peppers once but 3 is just right. I've had their chicken lettuce wraps and veggie lettuce wraps as appetizers and they were very good. If you live in Greenville or are visiting the area you owe it to yourself to try this place.
(5)Jason Y.
Best Chinese in the city, hands down.
(5)Sheridan P.
the food is not spectacular, but above average. the wait and kitchen staff are knowledgable and accomodating. their best dish is no longer on the menu, but they always prepare it when asked. the duck rolls are good too. decor is modern and spacious. great bar area.
(4)Steven H.
I haven't had anything bad at Lieu's. This place consistently serves the best Chinese food you can find. The service is impeccable. I'm a fan of Screwdrivers, and they make theirs with fresh squeezed orange juice. Highly reccommended for upscale Chinese cuisine.
(5)Robert M.
What PF Chang's could be if they where run by Chinese people. top place in the city for Chinese food.
(5)J.T. M.
amazing food that blows away pf changs. however, it is pricey. good fast service and all of the selections are tasty. spicy ginger shrimp happens to be my favorite along with mongolian beef. they will make any dish hotter for you by upping the spice on the star scale going up to 5. highly recommended for good, american chinese.
(4)jmapple a.
DELICIOUS FOOD!!! This restaurant was recommended to me by several friends and I am so glad I finally went and checked it out! It is on Woodruff but I have often forgotten it is there because it is stuffed back into a little pocket behind Fuddruckers & FATZ. I had a mango chicken plate & my husband had one of their soups...he hasn't stopped talking about it!!! I wish they would do more with the decor on the inside though...it is sort of plain so it lacks the atmosphere of PF Changs but definitely has better food.
(5)Grant L.
Lieu's is one of the best restaurants in Greenville, and a personal favorite of mine. I usually eat here quite frequently. The first thing you will notice upon entering the restaurant is the how clean it is. I haven't been to a cleaner restaurant. The place is so spotless, I would eat off the floor. The food is out of this world! Lieu's runs circles around PF Changs. The food has more flavor, it's fresher, and a better grade overall. You never have to ask anything of the staff. The waiter or waitress keeps your drinks full and table clean. Lieu's is locally owned, which is great. All in all, it's a topnotch restaurant and the best place for chinese food.
(5)