China City Restaurant

We’d seen the China City Restaurant any number of times when we’d stopped at a favorite hamburger/steak place, just across San Mateo. It always seemed busy at lunch and we thought we’d pop in for a change in food styles. As you can see from the pictures, it seemed like a fairly nice place. I really liked the traditional decor and the wooden wall decorations. The jasmine tea, unfortunately only so, so. We struggled a bit getting across our order. The waiter had difficulty understanding our statements allergic to shellfish and mushrooms, is the food fried in same oil as the shrimp, and do you use MSG?. No, to our questions. He came back a few minutes later and said the soup had “MS-Gay” in it. Our normal reaction to MSG is swollen joints, and did they ever swell up. Maybe I misunderstood the waiter, perhaps he meant everything except the soup had MSG added. We switched soups and proceeded with the wait. When the food was delivered, we found it over cooked and the deep fried items were a dark brown color in our experience that indicates the cooking oil is too old. The taste wasn’t the normal crisp and flavorful we found in good Chinese restaurants. We were very disappointed further, not long after we left. Both of us had a greasy feeling in our mouth. Now, don’t totally misunderstand, we like Chinese food, but not the style served here. So, if you like greasy, overcooked food, and are willing to play Russian roulette with food allergies then, go ahead and visit this restaurant. Otherwise, run as fast as you can very, very far away.

Outstanding hot and sour soup. Sweet and sour shrimp was delicious and made to order with a great fluffy batter. Sechuan beef had lots of fresh vegetables and a great but not particularly spicy flavor. Egg roll was house made and had a great 5 spice flavor.

This is the best Chinese restaurant in town. It's always delicious and they remember what we like and don't like. I've never had a bad meal here. The hot and sour soup is the best I've ever tasted.

Really good Chinese food! My husband had the spicy pork plate and I had the combo general taos sesame chicken with sweet and sour shrimp.

Very good food, flavorful and a lot of food for a lunch portion which is no bad thing at all. Egg roll was dynamite! Friendly staff. I would highly reccomend and will be back.

Wow, delicious, generous servings, fast service, wonderful food, super affordable!!!!

The food was good, but they did not get my order right. I did not get my 3 soups, but was charged 50 cents extra for each, even though I picked up my order, not delivered. Also, only got 1 egg roll instead of 3. However, the ladies waiting on customers were very nice.

Update: it is with great sadness that I must inform everyone that China City has changed & not for the better. About a month ago the waitress who has been there for many years told us that the restaurant had "new bosses". At that time everything seemed about the same. We just left there and we won't be going back. The service was terrible, forgot what we ordered, no refills, forgot items and they were not that busy. As far as the food, that was the biggest disappointment. The egg drop and sweet and sour soup was very watered down. Both dishes we ordered were not very fresh or warm, egg rolls were not very warm and everything had an old taste to it. As far as I can tell all of the old owners and staff are gone and they seem to be cutting corners in food quality and staff. China City was always quick, fresh and a good quantity of food as well as friendly service. All of that is gone. we have been going there for 15yrs, My friends and I will not be going back. So very sad.

Delicious food, wonderful customer service and great prices! Thank you!!!!

I love that the food is always fresh! The price for the size of your serving is amazing, and the staff are such sweetheart. I like to get orange chicken, and although it's not on the menu, they always make it for me. They use the best cuts of chicken!