The Riksha

So when you order cashew chcicken spicy the spice should be in the sauce not just sprinkled in. It was not bad but man they caked that dry red pepper on top. Overall ok i guess

Yummy food and the lady is really nice. I have eaten here 3 times now. I love the fact that he puts green onion in the fried rice. It makes it taste so good. The chicken lo mien is also really tasty.
Only downfall for me is that they only accept cash.

On one hand, it’s basically a Chinese-​American restaurant that looks and tastes like it’s straight out of 1980. The décor, old-​school menu board, gratuitous amount of soy and egg, low prices, blissful ignorance of credit cards, and selection of Chinese-​American standbys all bring up a certain faux nostalgic feeling.
On the other hand, it’s basically a Chinese-​American restaurant that looks and tastes like it’s straight out of 1980.

I’ll say it flat out: this is a top three on my list of favorite cashew chicken dishes in the area and sits solidly at the top of my list for general chicken.
I used to work at a place relatively close to The Riksha, and a coworker and I got in the habit of going there. As a result, I ate here once a week for four years, and not only did I never get tired of it, but I still go back any time I’m close to the area. The cashew sauce is light, perfectly complements the breading on the chicken, and is great for dipping side items. The general chicken is not sweet at all, and since the cook adds the peppers by hand, you can specify anywhere from mild to insanely spicy. There are other items on the menu, but I don’t see why anyone would ever order them when these two dishes are so good.
This is one of the places I recommend to friends or out of towners, and the first thing I say is «I swear you won’t get sick.» The décor hasn’t been updated in a long time, the chairs and tables are as basic as you can get, and the building is showing its age. But like I said: I’ve literally eaten here hundreds of times without issue, and for what it’s worth, nobody who followed my recommendation has reported back with any either. I’m sure the fact that you can get a complete lunch for less than $ 4 contributes to the feel of the place.
The same cook has been in the back every time I’ve been there, and it seems to be a family rite of passage to run the cash register for a few months or years since it’s a bit of a revolving door. The quality of service is dependent on who is behind the register and how busy it is, but it is normally on the friendly side and has never crossed into actual rudeness for me. It’s just one of those small, family-​owned hole in the wall joints.
I’ve established that I love the food, but as noted by other reviewers, there are some annoyance which keep me from being able to give The Riksha five stars:
— White meat costs extra.
— Soda refills cost a quarter (yes, you read that right).
— Limited seating means you might not have a place to sit if the lunch rush is heavy.
— Payment is cash-​only.
I will continue to frequent The Riksha as often as possible and recommend it as one of the shining examples of Americanized Chinese food in Springfield. I’ll just have to drop by the ATM first.

I’ve only been a few times, and it’s a bit of a pain to run and get cash, but I think this place is perfectly tasty. I’m sure not all of the vegetables are actually, factually fresh but they seemed fresher than some of the other Chinese places in town. It’s not life-​changing food, maybe, but it’s a perfectly nice local fixture with character and decent food.

This was the first Chinese restaurant I experienced in Springfield when we moved here in 1997, and it remains a staple. The General Chicken is very spicy and flavorful — my favorite in town — and like Stewie G., I get the dark meat. Tender and tasty.
Another plus: They don’t precook anything. The Crab Rangoon and egg rolls are cooked up fresh when you order them, making them nice, hot and crisp.
I also love the couple who run the place. They are friendly and work very hard to please. The American Dream personified.
Just remember to bring your cash! No checks or credit cards accepted.

I love this place. It is only a 5 min walk from my loft, so that’s a plus. It’s not fancy, but it’s cozy. I usually get the daily cashew or sweet n sour special. It includes 2 wantons and an egg-​roll. Portions are large, food is tasty, and the price is great! What more could you ask for?
Also, the review from Dan C comments «Chinese restaurants that charge you extra for all white meat (why would you serve anything else?!)» I always get the dark meat. A lot of people get white meat because it is leaner, but the dark meat has more flavor!

I used to eat here all the time as a kid, but hadn’t been for at least 15 years, so I decided to go back and give it another shot. Bad idea. I’m sure the Riksha’s staying power can be attributed to their incredibly low prices, but in this case, you definitely get what you pay for. I’m always suspicious of Chinese restaurants that charge you extra for all white meat (why would you serve anything else?!).
The menu features typical Chinese fare, but I stuck with Cashew Chicken — the staple by which any Springfield Chinese restaurant should be measured. Not good. The chicken was grisly, the rice was half steamed, half fried, and the egg roll was cold and had a pronounced fishy taste. If you’re looking for Chinese food downtown, this is unfortunately your only choice, so I’d suggest driving a little further to Korea House, or even further to Little Saigon (the best Chinese food in Springfield).
Also, be warned, they do not accept credit cards, so make sure you have cash on you.