China Gourmet Express

I’m not sure why this place has 2-​ish stars. I really like it! Yes it’s fast food, but the food here is just as good as the local Chinese restaurants in the area (which are veeeery good).
My favorite dishes to get are the fried rice, chow mein, the fried shrimp, and the salt and pepper fish! The food here is very delicious and the prices are low. Also, if you’re lucky, the server might over pack your to go container. Sometimes it happens. :) Haha, but definitely give this place a chance.

These Chinese people are gross! They ALWAYS serve yesterday’s food THE NEXT MORNING. IF you go early when the door opens for business.. go inside and STARE AT each food items on display. YOU WILL NOTICE the old food in the display either mixed up with new or on side or corner. this IS NOT A HONEST BUSINESS.. Just another dirty Chinese place that tricks their American customers!!! MOST ALL OTHER Chinese fast food in Oakland does THE SAME THING!!! Im never eating there again! Im telling everyone on Facebook… and they use CHEAP STYROFOAM that melts when contacted with HOT TEMPERATURES food. if you eat that YOU WILL probably developed CANCER… I thought it was ILLEGAL to use STYROFOAM in Oakland??

Listen, I use to go there all the time but the last time I was there they ran out of chicken so I had to wait for my order. I sat across from the kitchen and as I glanced in I saw the cook DROP SOME CHICKEN ON THE FLOOR AND PUT IT BACK IN THE PAN. This did not happen once but about three times. Every time he pick the food off of the floor and put it back in, he would look up quickly to make sure no one saw this. For some reason he only saw me looking at him the very last time he did it and I was sitting there with my mouth open in disbelief. I got up and told the woman at the cash register and she told me she would tell the owner but kept taking orders. I left and never returned. That was so disgusting I was afraid to eat out after this. Please be ware, the food is good but chances are that it has been on the floor.

No, this isn’t gourmet dining. What is IS is fast, economical and filling. It’s perfectly decent steam-​table Chinese. I usually get their chicken chow mien, sliced barbecue pork, and green beans with vegetables, or shrimp with vegetables. For under $ 10, and you crave quick Chinese, it’s the best I’ve found in the area, and they’re open until 10 p.m. The restaurant is clean, the staff is always polite.

Some of the worst Chinese food ever! Only gave it one star so my review would populate.

Third time I have been there recently and they were closed early. I will no longer patronize this business.

Quick and simple I personally enjoy the food here. Always get the #4 team rice with 2 sides

It’s decent but don’t expect more than a Chinese fast food joint. It’s very inexpensive though so for the price it’s definitely grub-​able, and it’s kept very clean and the food HOT. The pot stickers, spiced green beans, and the bbq pork are their best dishes. FYI KOIT radio is on pretty loud in there too, so it’s best for take out. Your kids will love to watch the gold-​fish (at least mine does).

I really enjoyed the food here. We had the chicken, vegetable, and chow mein. They were all fresh and delicious. It was not greasy nor too salty. This was our 2^nd time. It’s actually better than some other well known restaurants. I will definitely come back.

If you want cheap Chinese food that will fill you up then this is the place to go.
I had the chicken chow mein, sweet and sour pork, chicken egg rolls don’t get the egg rolls because it’s. Just not good and fried ribs everything was. Alright. Total came up to about 6.18 not bad at all.

Good thing it was cheap or I’d be pissed.
Instead I’m just sad.
Sweet and sour chicken had a consistency not of chicken and the BBQ pork was cut so thick I thought I would lose a tooth gnawing on it.
WHY?!
Yuck.

It is not gourmet-don’t let the name fool you. But for the price it can’t be beat. I like the mongolian beef-​you can actually taste the hoisin sauce in it. The kung pao chicken also has an excellent sauce, unlike the kung pao from the Ly-​Luck and the Flower Lounge down the street on Mac Arther Boulevard.
I also like the short ribs, teriyaki chicken and BBQ pork.

I can’t believe the low rating people give this place. My wife and I have been regular customers for over 15 years. This is one of our favorite restaurants in Oakland. We routinely bring our family and friends here. I’ve never heard a discouraging word from any of them or anyone else eating there. The food is out of this world delicious. The location and ambiance is delightful.
The restaurant is located in the heart of the Diamond district’s White upscale Yuppie neighborhood right across the street from a Whole Foods Market and is sandwiched (no pun intended) between a Subway Sandwich and Starbuck restaurants.
The great aspect of this Chinese food venue is its Buffet style – à la «Panda Express” – layout and simplified «American» friendly menu. Essentially you chose one of the several numbered plate options that come with or without rice or chow mein staples and then one to three of the entrees on display under the spit glass. The host fills your plate as you wish and the line moves you to the cash register where you pay. There is plentiful comfortable seating, or you can take out.
The establishment offers a free complimentary filtered self-​serve water fountain and ice bar for drinking. There is always a stack of clean plastic drinking glasses available. There is also a giant gold fish aquarium and the usual «ample-​bodied», Red God shrine looking over the tables for an unmistakable Asian establishment atmosphere. The tables each are fully stocked with red hot Chinese chili sauce bowls and soy sauce dispenser condiment sets.
The two things that we love most about this place is price – much cheaper than «Panda Express” – and simplicity – by placing the food in plane sight one doesn’t have to worry about what the Chinese name of the dish is, or how its going to look or smell after its cooked. One just points to the food that appeals to their mood and is served. The hosts are so nice. They love to help educated their guests by asking, for example, «You mean the mo shu Peking pork with string bean in roasted garlic sauce or the sauteed beef and broccoli with red chili?» Essentially telling you the name of the dishes your pointing at to help you learn the names. (Oakland’s all about sharing Cultures.) I usually just reply, «Yep! That one!» or, «no, the one in front.» LOL Best of all, if you’re really hungry, except for the line in front of you, there’s no waiting! Point and eat.
We find this place perfect for groups, family’s, gatherings, or just an intimate meal. Its great for brunch, lunch or dinner. The food is out of this world good. I’ve always given their chef the highest kudos for flavor and versatility. I have almost always received two meals for the price of one.
Some suggestions.
If you drive there be aware there is a large free parking lot behind the restaurant you will find if you turn at the corner where the Starbucks is located. You’ll have to walk around the block though, there’s no entry from the rear. Don’t be discouraged, its a very safe area and not a long walk.
When you order, get a plate with as many entrees as you think you might like. Order the food to go. even if you’re going to eat there. You’ll get a bigger helping, and you can use the container later because you probably won’t be able to finish the meal.
Don’t order a soda, avail yourself of the free water, its healthier, and easier to wash down the salty food.
Go easy on the chili sauce, its five star hot. Make sure you fill a couple of glasses of water before you try it.
If you like fried chicken be sure to try the fried chicken quarters if they’re available.
Order the fried chicken and the egg rolls separately – they’re worth paying extra and they’re best bagged separately. (Don’t forget to ask for the sweet and sour sauce if you order the egg rolls.)
Catering.
They also offer catering services if you order several hours in advance. (They prefer a days notice.) They will prepare enough delicious food to feed 50 – 100 people for $ 200 -$ 300 depending on the dish and the order size. We’ve used their catering service twice now and will definitively repeat. I don’t know if they deliver, I’ve always picked up the order myself. (Be careful, they fill the aluminum trays the servings come in to the top and they can leak. Transporting over a plastic sheet is recommended.)
Be nice to the staff, they are all good, friendly, hard-​working people; and I consider them an Oakland Treasure!
Chow

Although the food was edible, it tasted fine, the guy serving was bad-​tempered, and I would not count on the freshness of the ingredients. The cost is reasonable, absolutely, but somehow his attitude and the feel of the place in general leads me to believe they would buy the cheapest (and potentially nastiest) raw ingredients. Will not return.

What another reviewer said is true: It’s not gourmet.
That being said, I thought this place was fine. For what it is, I’ve had better (Chinese fast food off a steam table). Also, the prices are just a tad higher than some of the other local places…
… Still, the interior is decent with ample seating, the service is relatively friendly, and the food was pretty good.
I do have to say that the box of mixed vegetable stir fry with shrimp didn’t really have much shrimp in it when I poured it out onto my plate at home. I wish it had since the little shrimpies had a great flavor!
Being as I have other steam table favorites in Oakland, I’ll probably not come here as often as I will mostly just visit them. It’s still nice to have a another decent one close to home, thought.
I’d say «A-​OK.»

Stopped by for a quick bite after work and ordered the two item plate with white rice. I opted for the spicy chicken and the lemon chicken. Both were drenched and over sauced. Although the food was piping hot, the artificial sauces really did not taste good.
Customer service was good and the place was clean but I doubt I would come back.

It is what it is. Cheap Chinese take out. They have a decent variety that doesn’t change day to day. If you go at the wrong time, the food looks like it has been sitting around a bit too long.
However I still think it’s a small step up from Panda Express and probably go there once a week. Like I said, it’s cheap and also conveniently close to where I live.
Plenty of parking in the back.

Tonight I realized I didn’t have anything to eat for dinner at 8pm. Not good yo. Not good.
Headed down the street for a small serving (more than enough) of spicy chicken for only $ 1.81. Cooked up some rice at home and I’ve got a pretty damn cheap, albeit totally unhealthy, meal.
Its Chinese fast food people. It is what it is, don’t overanalyze it.
peace, love, and good booze ~ chase

First time there… hair in my potstickers. Right on top, big thick black one.
That was also my last time there.

the food should be eaten right away. if taken home, the food will cool and harden, making it less appetizing.
had the 3.49 special with the fried rice and egg roll as a prerequistie. i choose broculli beef as my entrée.
the egg roll was freshest of the bunch. crunchy with bland vegetable filling. the roll was dusted with white pepper. the fried rice was bland with peas and carrots and a few baby shrimps. the brocculi was ok but the beef was tough. i noticed the chicken dishes has chicken chopped into small pieces.
if you aren’t hungry, avoid this place..