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| His Go-To Order at This Popular Fast Food Chain |
Everyone has been there: they're sitting on the couch on a Friday night, about to watch a movie, when all of a sudden they really want orange chicken and lo mein. When you really want something, the only thing that will do is Chinese takeout. In no time, you're on the hunt for a reputable restaurant that serves good Chinese food. Chain Chinese restaurants are easy to find in the U.S., and we're pretty sure that at least a few of the most popular ones are close to you.
There are some chain Chinese restaurants you should stay away from, even if you already have your favourite places in the area. The food at many Chinese chain restaurants across the country is pretty much the same, but the quality of the food can be very different depending on which one you pick. We made a list of 13 chain Chinese restaurants across the country and ranked them from worst to best based on reviews, prices, and availability in your area. That way, you'll know which restaurants to go to the next time you're craving Chinese food.
13. Asian Chao
You should definitely stay away from the Chinese restaurant chain at the very bottom of our list, no matter how much you want Chinese food. Lucky for us, unless you live in Florida, Georgia, Indiana, or Ohio, you probably won't eat at Asian Chao by accident. Most of the time, the chain restaurant is in a food court in these states. There are a lot of tasty things on Asian Chao's menu, like cheese rangoon and deep-fried plantains, but more doesn't always mean better at this restaurant.
It's too bad that Asian Chao doesn't get a lot of good reviews. People who have reviewed the Atlanta airport location on Tripadvisor often say that the food is overpriced and tastes average at best. However, they do say that the line is usually shorter than at other airport restaurants. Some reviews of the chain's food have called it "disgusting," citing bland and too salty dishes. That person even said Asian Chao had the "absolutely worst Asian food I've ever had." If you see an Asian Chao on your next layover or trip to the mall, we suggest you skip it and go for a more well-known chain.
12. Manchu Wok
The next chain Chinese restaurant on our list is often found in a food court, just like Asian Chao. Manchu Wok is a chain of Chinese restaurants that started in Canada and has since spread to a few U.S. states. It's just another common, bad takeout place that we won't be eating at any time soon. We're giving Manchu Wok higher marks than Asian Chao because most of the food there costs $12 or less, which we think is a better price for the quality.
People who have eaten at Manchu Wok also don't seem to care much about its reputation. People in Ottawa used Reddit to suggest a lot of other Chinese restaurants in the area that were better than Manchu Wok. People who have been to the O'Hare airport location have complained on Yelp that the chicken dishes are dry and hard, and the food has a bad aftertaste. They said they wished they had gone to McDonald's instead. There is one reviewer who doesn't seem to mind Manchu Wok, but most people agree that you should stay away from this place.
11. Taste of China Express
The orange chicken at Chinese Gourmet Express is said to be better than other Chinese food court options. In fact, one Reddit user looked for another location when the one near them closed. If you like Chinese food at food courts, there's a good chance you've been to a Chinese Gourmet Express. The franchise has restaurants on both coasts and in the southern U.S.
Many people have good things to say about Chinese Gourmet Express, but as with any chain, your experience will likely depend on which location you go to. People who eat at the San Jose location are generally pleased with their food, but it's nothing special—just tasty Chinese food that has been changed to fit American tastes. The reviews for the Salt Lake City location, on the other hand, are mostly negative. People have said that the chicken tastes like it's gone bad and the food is bland. If you need Chinese food quickly, Chinese Gourmet Express might be a good choice. But before you go, read some reviews.
10. Eating out
This next place on our list stands out because it has a Filipino feel to it. The Philippines opened the first Chowking restaurant in 1985. Since then, the chain has grown to include locations in the US and other countries around the world. Chowking has some unusual dishes like dim sum and popcorn chicken that you might not expect to find on this list. Overall, Chowking isn't the worst place to get Chinese food in a hurry (as long as you're near one of its locations in California, Nevada, New Jersey, or Washington).
Most of the time, the quality of the food at Chowking doesn't match up with the rest of the restaurants on our list. Customers say that the siopao and Halo-Halo (a shaved ice dessert) are especially good when they're at their best. At its worst, the portions are small and the quality is poor. Chowking isn't necessarily the worst thing you could do if you want it, but make sure you read reviews for the place you're thinking about because reviews can be different for different places.
9. Leeann Chin
People from the Midwest may have heard of the Chinese restaurant chain Leeann Chin, whose name comes from its owner and founder, Leeann Chin. Chin started the Minneapolis-based chain in 1980. He was born and raised in China, and the casual restaurant has grown to have over 40 locations, mostly in the Midwest.
The prices on Leeann Chin's menu are very fair. Many of the appetisers cost less than $5, and the main courses cost around $10. There's no doubt that the chain has gotten worse over the years and isn't the high-quality business it used to be. In one Reddit thread, people from St. Paul are nostalgically talking about the Leeann Chin from the past, remembering its beautiful architecture, more sophisticated, high-end atmosphere, and delicious food. Several Yelp reviewers have said the same thing about the drop in food quality. Leeann Chin seems to serve pretty good Chinese fast food, but if you want to have the same experience you had 15 years ago, you might want to try somewhere else.
8. Hi, Mr. Chow
Mr. Chow is not the kind of Chinese restaurant you'll go to just because you feel like it. The fancy chain that serves Beijing food is more of a destination spot that you might look for the next time you're in Beverly Hills, New York, Miami, or Las Vegas. If you want to book a high-class Chinese meal at Mr. Chow's restaurant, all you have to do is visit his website. And while Mr. Chow's food isn't bad (the chain's famous chicken satay may even impress you), it probably won't live up to your hopes either.
A lot of the dishes at Mr. Chow, the most expensive Chinese restaurant chain on this list, cost more than $50. For that price, we think the food had better be the best you've ever had. Reviewers on Yelp don't have many good things to say about the business, and most of them agree that what you get isn't worth what you pay. Some customers are so upset that Mr. Chow's prices aren't giving them the truth. Figure out where you want to go to Mr. Chow before you go, and be ready to spend a lot of money.
7. Get Stix
People from the west coast may have been at a Pick Up Stix location for a quick and tasty Chinese lunch. One thing that makes this chain stand out to us is that they serve a wide range of dishes, not just Chinese-American favourites. For example, they serve tofu-based dishes and low-calorie options. We also think that Pick Up Stix is a very good deal, since most of the options cost just above $10.
Like the other Chinese restaurants on this list that are chains, Pick Up Stix reviews vary depending on where you go. People like what Pick Up Stix has to offer, though, on the whole. Reviewers really like the house special chicken. Some people have even gone to Reddit to find recipes they can use when they move away from their local Pick Up Stix. Visit the restaurant the next time you're in Southern California. It's worth it, especially if you want to try something new when it comes to Chinese fast food.
6. Panera Bread
Panda Express is likely the only Chinese restaurant chain on this list that you've already been to. The chain is known across the country for its tasty and affordable American-Chinese food. You can make an endless number of meal combinations. For example, we love a meal with chow mein, orange chicken (which Panda Express sells an insane amount of), and string bean chicken breast. The kitchen is also nice because you can see what's going on and watch the food go from the wok to your plate.
However, Panda Express's food can be hit or miss, just like at any other restaurant. Some items that look like they would be tasty, like the honey walnut prawns, are ranked at the bottom because they don't have the right texture. One great thing about Panda Express is that the chain is easy to find and always serves the same dishes. If you have a favourite dish, it will probably be a safe choice when you're on vacation or a road trip.
5. Pei Wei
Just ahead of Panda Express is Pei Wei, which isn't as well known but is almost everywhere in the country. P.F. Pei Wei is basically a cheaper version of its old parent company, P.F. It used to work with Chang's but stopped in 2017. This chain made our list for more than one reason. One of the main reasons was the huge menu, which includes some surprising items like Mongolian green beans, chicken pad thai, and mango habanero wings.
Also, we're happy to say that Pei Wei's prices are about the same as those of most of the other restaurants on this list. Most of the main courses cost less than $15. Most of the reviews on Tripadvisor for a Texas location are positive, but there is one complaint about a dish that was soggy or otherwise not up to par. As long as you live near a Pei Wei and want a quick and tasty Chinese meal, we say go for it.
4. P.F. Chang's
The truth about P.F. Chang is that it's not really one of the nicer Chinese restaurants in the U.S. Chang's is that, like most of the other places on our list, it serves dishes that have been heavily Americanized. So, P.F. Chang's usually has pretty good main dishes, and since it's a big chain, the food is pretty much the same everywhere. What makes this chain stand out (and a big part of why it's so high on our list) is that former employees say they had good times working there and that the food is always made from scratch when you order it.
People often go to P.F. Chang's for a special occasion meal, but not all customers agree with the hype. Some have even said the food is bland and expensive. Since most of the dinner dishes cost more than $20, you probably won't go there very often. But its happy hour deals are worth mentioning; you might find yourself at a P.F. the day after work during the week. eat at Chang's and drink $5 sides and drinks.
3. Din Tai Fung
Most people have never heard of the hidden gem Din Tai Fung unless they live on the West Coast or close to its one location in New York. The first location of the now-global chain was opened by Yang Bing-yi in Taiwan in the 1970s. Since then, it's become famous for its authentic xiao long bao, which are also called soup dumplings. The only bad thing about Din Tai Fung is that it isn't spread out more in the United States.
What makes Din Tai Fung different from other dumpling shops is the skill of the chefs. To get the perfect folds on its xiao long bao, chefs have to show they are experts in the field before they can work at a Din Tai Fung location. Customers have mostly good things to say about a location in Portland, OR. The dishes are worth the slightly higher prices than the average option on this list (10 xiao long bao cost $15.50), according to customers.
2. Xi'an Well-Known Foods
We're sorry if you're not in New York City, because that's the only place where our number two pick works. We think the best thing about Xi'an Famous Foods is the great prices. For example, an order of hand-pulled noodles only costs $8. The huge range of foods on Xi'an Famous Foods' menu is also very impressive. Besides the usual noodles and dumplings, they serve oxtail, salads, and even burgers. The best thing about the small chain is that the food is pretty true to Xi'an.
People in New York City think that Xi'an Famous Foods is one of the best places to get Chinese food to go. A Reddit thread says that the cumin lamb noodles are very popular, and other reviewers love the place's chewy noodles. Even so, it looks like Xi'an isn't afraid to add a lot of spice. If you can't handle spicy foods, make sure you ask for your dish to be mild or without spice.
1. Lao Sze Chuan
At the top of our list is a chain from Chicago that you'll probably only get to try if you're close to the Windy City. There are many articles on Google that talk about how great the small chain's authentic Sichuan flavours are, which is why so many people love it. Customers agree with the good reviews on Reddit and strongly suggest Lao Sze Chuan to people in Chicago who are looking for Sichuan food.
Lao Sze Chuan is a fancier place to sit down, but the prices are still fair, and there are lots of tasty options for less than $20. If you have more money, though, you can treat yourself to some of the more expensive items on the menu, like the interesting boiled duck blood curd. We're sure you'll enjoy anything you order from Lao Sze Chuan.
How to do it
When people compare and rank Chinese restaurant chains, the food quality is the most important thing that they look at. A lot of what we know about the quality of the food and how consistent the offerings are comes from reviews written by customers. Chains whose food quality seemed to vary from one location to another were lower on our list than chains whose reviews were more consistent.
We also thought about how easy it would be to get the chain in our area. This wasn't a big deal when it came to ordering our list, but if a few were similar, we tended to choose the one with more locations. We also looked at how much the menu cost. We don't mind spending a lot of money on good food, but when it comes to Chinese food, we want to get what we pay for. Last but not least, we looked at how authentic the food was. Most of the Chinese restaurants on this list serve food that has been Americanized, but we liked it when a chain could honestly say that its food had authentic Chinese flavours.
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