Chopstick Express

Pretty authentic Chinese food. It’s pretty small but not that bad. The older lady working there is very sweet and is the cashier and kind of the waitress. She’ll serve you drinks and rice while a cook comes out with the dishes.
We ordered the «da pan ji» which isn’t listed on the menu but instead, on one of the papers on the wall. It’s about $ 26 but it’s huge! The dish has noodles, chicken, potatoes and some peppers and onions. It’s delicious and leaves your tongue tingling with the spice!
Come hungry, leave happy

Nice lil lady was workin the front. I think she probably owns the joint.
Anyways the 3 item lunch special is hella cheap. Its like 6 – 7 bucks. Even though the choices are a lil lacking, i think its still a decent deal if u go in when theres more choices.
Food–
Szechuan style beef: A more accurate description would be the Szechuan style water boiled beef. It wasnt exactly what I was expecting, but it was solid.
Since ive never actually had the dish before I cant totally comment on how well it was executed but taste-​wise it was aite.
Chengdu style cold noodles: I also never had this dish before. I enjoyed the taste for my first try. Then again im not super picky. Ill hafta try this dish elsewhere before I can make detailed comments.
Overall, this seems like a decent place for Chinese and I would probably stop by again. BTW im pretty sure american chinese isnt their forte and would advise ordering that kinda stuff here lol.

Very small restaurant and not very good environment. Fast food dishes at noon taste good and authentic Chinese style. The price is also fair to go. But dinner dishes are very small but really expensive. We ordered a two person dish called «chicken on big plate». The plate is quite big truly but the amount of food is not big at all. There is very little chicken nuggets but a lot of bones. The potato and onion chips are also hard to find either. It’s not enough at all for two persons. And it tastes too spicy even for spice lovers. The price is really high but it’s definitely not worthy. It’s a very unpleasant dinner experience and we feel really disappointed. We will never come again.

The 4 stars is solely for the quality of the food. Otherwise, place is a mess. Food came out an hour later, complete chaos and not the cleanest place. They close early and don’t deliver and the place is tiny. But it was delicious, and we have had Chinese all over this country, the rest of the world, and in China. I literally cannot wait to go back. Oh and the manager was very nice, watching her interact with the guy coming from the back to take the plates and deliver dishes was like watching a performance.

this is our second time in this restaurant. the food is very delicious. if anyone is up for good spicy food .
however, they need to hire more staff and improve serving time. for the delay (45 mins for 3 dish to arrive) I had to cancel my 2^nd dish. I didn’t get a discount nor an apology.

I only had their lunch «fast food»…and it is usually very good. They can get really busy and you end up with either no place to sit (peak hour) or many items gone (later). The flavor is really good and authentic. I heard the dinner menu is even better but I have yet to experience that. The eggplant dish is a must try.

Tucked between a diploma shop and a shoe store, Chopstick Express is a hole in the wall with a view of Old Main directly across College Ave.
I’ve unknowingly passed CE many times in fact it nearly took me a semester to realize this little Chinese restaurant sat on the busiest street in State College.
When I walked in I realized I was the only non-​Asian there but don’t think I mean that as a bad thing. I figured CE had to be authentic if it was full of Asian students enjoying their dinner. I sat at a little table in the center and looked out at Old Main across the street. The owner brought me napkins and a fork. Right after that, she went to another table and handed two girls chopsticks. I wasn’t offended but I wanted to eat the way everyone else did in the restaurant so I asked for chopsticks.
I’m really no Chinese food expert and my go to entrée is almost always General Tso’s Chicken. But tonight I had a «when in Rome» kind of attitude. I resisted ordering my favorite chicken dish and instead ordered the Shredded Pork with peppers. My meal was brought out pretty quick and I really enjoyed it. The peppers had a little kick to them and the pork was great! I totally recommend. I’ll definitely go back and try the Ma Po tofu or Chicken and peanuts as I’ve heard great things.
I left with a good full feeling, not like the usual full feeling after you eat 2lbs of General Tso’s and pork fried rice. I’d especially recommend CE to any Penn State student that is looking for something other than Uncle Chen’s. I know many students love their Chipolte but CE is a great and quick place to stop when you’re sick of the dining hall meals or cooking for yourself at your apartment.

First time there, went around 1:30pm. I had the lunch special two items and rice. General Tso’s was ok but what was really off putting was a Chicken and Pepper dish that had broken off pieces of bone mixed in. It’s like they straight cut up a bone chicken and mixed in some peppers. I could tell something was wrong when the first bite, I had to take out a bone of my mouth. They say they told me it was like that, but I disagree. Someone who had just been there returned her food for the same reason while I was there. Environment wasn’t the best either. Poor lighting, didn’t see any signs for anything about food or pricing.

It’s raining and we walked all the way from our apt. to the restaurant trying to get some food for dinner, they said that they open till 9:30pm tonight but because it was raining their cooks went home already, an hour before their closing time. Every time I visited before they either ran out of ingredient or messed up the orders, this time they are opening without having cooks in the back of the house. Horrible restaurant, will never come back!

Excellent folks, excellent food. For was both flavorful and spicy. Best Chinese food I’ve ever had, I’d say.

To find authentic Chinese food in state college is rare, but I found it. This place is both affordable and delicious.

Really like this hole in the wall. Nice owners, great prices (especially for lunch), spicy food. Just make sure to bring cash!

Yup. I tried the «ma po tofu» and was so disappointed. Maybe I built it up too much? Idk. Either way, it was not good.
Initially, it’s salty as can be. Once you get passed that, there’s a hint of sweetness. After that is the spice. And don’t forget the glime/​liquid fat its drenched in.
Please, someone explain this to me. Otherwise I’m done with this place.
update:
explanation: that’s how it’s supposed to taste. I’d say its worth trying because my friends did like it

Not a big fan of the owner. The tables are not very clean either.
The food is okay (more authentic perhaps) though.

Legit Sichuan in State College! I got the Sichuan tofu (but medium because I’m a wuss!) which came with white rice & a soda (they were out of soup) for $ 8 & my boyfriend got the shrimp & chicken delight (which he says «was delightful») with fried rice & a soda for $ 8. There weren’t any veggies with my tofu dish so I stole some of his & they were very tasty. The sauces were great, the portions are huge, and the wait for our to-​go order was only long (about 30 min) because we ordered during the Homecoming Parade & it was packed! Definitely a spot we’ll try again as there were plenty of tofu & veggie options to choose from & it’s affordable.
Cash only which is a drag — just be sure to check your $$ supply before heading over.

For Central Pennsylvania, this is a great place for hot & spicy Sichuan cuisine. I recommend the Sichuan tofu dish. Don’t let the disposable plates & silverware turn you away, this is likely as good as it gets for (Sichuan) Chinese food in rural PA. This hotness shall be missed when I leave town.

I always miss this place after two years left there. It’s such authentic and so yummy. I didn’t find anywhere else so far in all other big cities can cook something like them. Yes, it’s really a shabby, small restaurant and don’t even serve in decent plate, but the food is amazing and I love it!

Chopsticks Express is probably the best quick lunch place at Penn State.
It’s authentic, quick and easy. You get 3 side orders/​rice for around $ 5 or 2 side orders/​rice for around $ 4.
Again, cash only so go to the nearest ATM before you get there.
I wouldn’t recommend the dinner too much because it’s expensive and usually the same food served during lunch.

Definitely not a fluke. From now on, I’ll stay away from the dinner/​student specials.
We ordered two dishes for takeout. First was beef fried ho fun, wide but thin noodles with beef and a bit of vegetables in a soy based sauce. Second was ma po tofu (fried tofu with beans in a red pepper sauce: spicy). Both were delicious, and in large portions. We don’t eat much, but with both dishes together it was enough for two meals.
Delicious.

Behold people! With this, I pronounce Chopstick Express as the one and only authentic chinese cuisine restaurant in State College, Pennsylvania. No, I am not kidding. I am dead serious. Yes, they don’t care about you if you can’t chew authentic chinese cuisine, you can just scram and eat at Hunan Wok instead. This is a place only for them craving for authentic and original chinese cuisine.
One tip, don’t come for lunch. Because they actually serve americanized chinese dishes during lunch. Okay, I am not lying. I am just saying the first paragraph for authentic dinner experience. I actually also wonder why Golden Wok and Chopstick Express decided to be crappy during lunch and outstanding during dinner. Are they vampire owned or something?
Putting jokes aside, lunch is mediocre. You will come in, choose between 2 entrée + rice or 1 entrée + rice, fast food style. They have several kinds of dishes warm and ready. You choose and it will be tossed on a plate with rice. You pay and you sit and you eat and you go home. Personal experience, I am not a fan of CE if they only exist during daytime. I am not coming back to CE for lunch ever.
Now, night falls and CE has become an entirely different experience. You come in and the lady will seat you. You will be given a menu that doesn’t exist during daytime and you can order up. It will take some time for the food to be served, but believe me that it worths every minutes and seconds of your hunger. Last time, my friends and I ordered some chicken dishes and tofu dishes. I was dumbfounded. In that second I felt like I was transferred back to my home country where authentic chinese dishes can be found everywhere. I cried, maybe.
I was happy and I was satisfied, very satisfied. We paid up and we went home, happy and content. Our wallet was also happy, because they are not expensive at all. For this kind of food, I would pay more. But I didn’t have to, so I am happy.
The only downside of CE is man-​power and space. I know that there are 2 ladies serving you during lunch and dinner time. They are the only ones from CE that will interact and communicate with you. I don’t know how many people down there in the kitchen. Maybe none, or maybe one. That’s why it is usually taking longer for you to wait for food to be served on your table. Space wise, this place is too small. It is not good for too many people as you will have to move around tables and chairs to make a table for all of you. But, it doesn’t change the fact that this is the only place that can offer you authentic chinese cuisine in state college.
If there is some improvement for space, I would update and give CE ⁵⁄₅ stars. I didn’t give full mark because of the place that is too small. But I am not complaining at all.