Food, service and ambiance - all excellent! Plenty of parking. Prices good too. Yum:)
Cory C.
I'll say this, if you only order the spare ribs off of the appetizer menu, you'll be completely satisfied! I ordered lo mein and the ribs together. The noodles came out quickly and were 2/5. Nothing special. But when the ribs came out I was shocked! So many and so big! Absolutely delicious sauce! Growing up in BBQ heaven, these are easily some of the best ribs I've ever had! 9/10!!! Order the spare ribs!
Old Whovian
Tried this place on a whim, great atmosphere! Food was delicious and prepared incredibly fast even though the place was near capacity! Prices were beyond reasonable especially for quantity and quality!Vegetarian options: Lots of mushroom dishes my veggy friends
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rocky R.
Finally, China is open. I ordered twice last month, and the food was delicious. We ordered the spice green beans and shrimp Lo me both times. Next time, I plan on dining Inside because it looks lovely inside, I'm hearing there may be a beer and wine license down the road. Welcome to the neighborhood!!
Maria G.
Delicious food, ambience, staff is very friendly, very attentive , the own of the restaurant made a personal appearance to the table. Made our experience personal talked to us made us laugh even went as far as giving us a brief history of how his restaurant came about. The food was very tasteful, filling , authentic and most of flavorful. Will definitely recommend his restaurant
Diana L.
The food was flavorful, available and fresh and hot. The serice was friendly and attentive. We will be back!
E equals mc2
Greetings, Super Foodies of San Diego! It's food-critic extraordinaire, Captain 619, here to report on a hidden culinary gem that I've unearthed right in our backyard. Brace yourselves as I unleash the secret identity of this superhero of a restaurant - it's none other than Chin's Gourmet in El Cajon!Now, I've embarked on epic food adventures across the globe, from the bustling streets of Hong Kong and China to the vibrant Chinatowns of San Francisco and Los Angeles. But, I kid you not, Chin's Gourmet has swooped in and saved the day, surpassing them all!Tucked away at the crossroads of Avocado and Chase, this modest mall location might not seem like much at first glance. But once you step inside, it's like being transported to a food sanctuary, a haven for true culinary superheroes.Our superhero of a server, Queenie, attended to every detail with grace and finesse, making us feel like we'd just been rescued from a food disaster. And then, out of nowhere, the owner, Mr. Chin, swooped in! He showered us with generous samples of his signature black pepper chicken, a dish that will now forever be my kryptonite.My taste buds went on a rollercoaster ride with each dish we ordered. The sweet and sour chicken was a symphony of flavors, the fried rice a harmony of textures, and the pan-fried noodles a melodic crunch that resonated with each bite. The egg drop soup with corn was a soothing balm, a warm hug on a cool evening.The food here is not just food, but a celebration of flavors, a testament to Mr. Chin's dedication to bringing authentic Chinese cuisine to our community. It's a place where food heroes are born, and taste buds are saved.So, my fellow food superheroes, if you find yourself in El Cajon, make sure to make a pit stop at Chin's Gourmet. This is not just a restaurant, it's a culinary lair where comfort food waits to whisk your taste buds on a journey of joy.Happy feasting!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Trina ..
Everything was amazing!!! FINALLY a great Chinese restaurant in San Diego!! 10/10 recommend! We're already planning our next date night here
Marci S.
I 100% recommend this restaurant. I was introduced to it by a coworker and tried the Szechuan shrimp for lunch. And it was the perfect amount of food and it was off the chart full of flavor. So I took my family there for our weekly Friday night family dinner. There were eight of us that went. This is served family style where you order a main dish and everybody shares that dish. Being that there were eight of us we ordered quite a bit of food so we all could try different things. Here's a list of some of the things that we tried. For appetizers, we tried the eggrolls, salt and pepper chicken wings, cream cheese wontons, and golden fried shrimp. We also had the egg flower soup with veggies. All of the appetizers were amazing. They came out hot and fast. Next we put our order in for our main dishes. You have the option of getting steamed rice or fried rice. Here is a list of things that we ordered again all of which was very good. There were no complaints from anybody. And there were plenty of leftovers for those that wanted to take something home. Szechuan shrimp (which was my favorite, the flavors were outstanding) Spicy honey shrimp Kung pao chicken Tangerine, crispy chicken Mongolian beef Lo mein house special noodles with beef and chicken Pork chop suey and House fried rice The restaurant is clean, The atmosphere is quiet and upscale for El Cajon. The staff were amazing. They checked on us throughout our meal to make sure that we had everything that we needed. They made sure that our food came out hot and cooked to order. We had somebody at the table that could not have mushrooms, and they made sure that there were no mushrooms in anything that we ordered. Even if on the menu it said they were included in the dish. I wish I had taken pictures of everything because it all looked as good as it tasted. I hope you give it a try and give it a good review.
Julia U.
Every Friday night we have dinner with family (5-12) people depending on everyones schedules. This week we decided to have it here since it came with a high recommendation from the planner of the family who ate here for lunch recently. This was everything we ordered. Mongolian beef, chow mein noodles, crispy tangerine chicken, kung pao chicken, Szechuan shrimp, spicy, honey shrimp, pork chop suey, house fried rice, salt and pepper chicken wings, cream cheese wontons, egg rolls, golden fried shrimp, and egg flour soup. the servers were very attentive. They brought out items in sessions, soup, appetizers then main meals along with steamed rice. They were quick to clean the plates as we went. There were no complaints. It was a unanimous vote from all family members. Chin's is definitely on our list of approved eating establishments from here on out.
I read the reviews and decided to try Chins Gourmet (take-out). The food was too sweet -- we order Kung Pao Chicken and the dish had mushrooms, no peanut or cashew (as their picture shows), and the sauce was watery. We also order Sweet and Sour Pork - it was just okay. We've eaten at several Chinese restaurants around the Convey District -- we just deal with the traffic and pass on this restaurant.
Don Johnson
Great new Chinese place in El Cajon. Lots of interesting new dishes to try.Dietary restrictions: You can get vegetables for an extra charge if you are low carb and want to skip the rice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Szechwan Braised String Beans with or Without Pork, Shanghai Steamed Dumplings 8
John K.
Went to Chin last night. Our second trip. We had the sizzling rice soup, which was amazing as always. This is only the second place we've been able to find it had it. The other restaurant that had it has long been out of business. Service seemed a little slow this time, but we still good. The ambience is out of a Chinese restaurant, and was extremely busy in comparison to our first trip. The food was outstanding had great flavor. We had the crispy beef and the tangerine chicken. And the mixed beef chicken shrimp with vegetables was something new for us and we didn't get to try it since my father-in-law kept it to himself this time lol. The hot teawas better than most, and the people were extremely friendly as always.
Pamela Hardaway
Went for lunch and a food, service, and atmosphere was excellent. We ordered dumplings for an appetizer and they were excellent. We ordered the scallops hun hun, kung pao shrimp, and vegetable chop suey lunch specials. The egg drop soup and egg roll that comes with them were fantastic. Our new go to Chinese restaurant. I live in Serra Mesa and it's worth the 20 minute drive out to El Cajon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Egg Drop Soup, Shanghai Steamed Dumplings 8
P H.
Went for lunch and a food, service, and atmosphere was excellent. We ordered dumplings for an appetizer and they were excellent. We ordered the scallops hun hun, kung pao shrimp, and vegetable chop suey lunch specials. The egg drop soup and egg roll that comes with them were fantastic. Our new go to Chinese restaurant. I live in Serra Mesa and it's worth the 20 minute drive out to El Cajon.
Food, service and ambiance - all excellent! Plenty of parking. Prices good too. Yum:)
I'll say this, if you only order the spare ribs off of the appetizer menu, you'll be completely satisfied! I ordered lo mein and the ribs together. The noodles came out quickly and were 2/5. Nothing special. But when the ribs came out I was shocked! So many and so big! Absolutely delicious sauce! Growing up in BBQ heaven, these are easily some of the best ribs I've ever had! 9/10!!! Order the spare ribs!
Tried this place on a whim, great atmosphere! Food was delicious and prepared incredibly fast even though the place was near capacity! Prices were beyond reasonable especially for quantity and quality!Vegetarian options: Lots of mushroom dishes my veggy friends
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Finally, China is open. I ordered twice last month, and the food was delicious. We ordered the spice green beans and shrimp Lo me both times. Next time, I plan on dining Inside because it looks lovely inside, I'm hearing there may be a beer and wine license down the road. Welcome to the neighborhood!!
Delicious food, ambience, staff is very friendly, very attentive , the own of the restaurant made a personal appearance to the table. Made our experience personal talked to us made us laugh even went as far as giving us a brief history of how his restaurant came about. The food was very tasteful, filling , authentic and most of flavorful. Will definitely recommend his restaurant
The food was flavorful, available and fresh and hot. The serice was friendly and attentive. We will be back!
Greetings, Super Foodies of San Diego! It's food-critic extraordinaire, Captain 619, here to report on a hidden culinary gem that I've unearthed right in our backyard. Brace yourselves as I unleash the secret identity of this superhero of a restaurant - it's none other than Chin's Gourmet in El Cajon!Now, I've embarked on epic food adventures across the globe, from the bustling streets of Hong Kong and China to the vibrant Chinatowns of San Francisco and Los Angeles. But, I kid you not, Chin's Gourmet has swooped in and saved the day, surpassing them all!Tucked away at the crossroads of Avocado and Chase, this modest mall location might not seem like much at first glance. But once you step inside, it's like being transported to a food sanctuary, a haven for true culinary superheroes.Our superhero of a server, Queenie, attended to every detail with grace and finesse, making us feel like we'd just been rescued from a food disaster. And then, out of nowhere, the owner, Mr. Chin, swooped in! He showered us with generous samples of his signature black pepper chicken, a dish that will now forever be my kryptonite.My taste buds went on a rollercoaster ride with each dish we ordered. The sweet and sour chicken was a symphony of flavors, the fried rice a harmony of textures, and the pan-fried noodles a melodic crunch that resonated with each bite. The egg drop soup with corn was a soothing balm, a warm hug on a cool evening.The food here is not just food, but a celebration of flavors, a testament to Mr. Chin's dedication to bringing authentic Chinese cuisine to our community. It's a place where food heroes are born, and taste buds are saved.So, my fellow food superheroes, if you find yourself in El Cajon, make sure to make a pit stop at Chin's Gourmet. This is not just a restaurant, it's a culinary lair where comfort food waits to whisk your taste buds on a journey of joy.Happy feasting!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Everything was amazing!!! FINALLY a great Chinese restaurant in San Diego!! 10/10 recommend! We're already planning our next date night here
I 100% recommend this restaurant. I was introduced to it by a coworker and tried the Szechuan shrimp for lunch. And it was the perfect amount of food and it was off the chart full of flavor. So I took my family there for our weekly Friday night family dinner. There were eight of us that went. This is served family style where you order a main dish and everybody shares that dish. Being that there were eight of us we ordered quite a bit of food so we all could try different things. Here's a list of some of the things that we tried. For appetizers, we tried the eggrolls, salt and pepper chicken wings, cream cheese wontons, and golden fried shrimp. We also had the egg flower soup with veggies. All of the appetizers were amazing. They came out hot and fast. Next we put our order in for our main dishes. You have the option of getting steamed rice or fried rice. Here is a list of things that we ordered again all of which was very good. There were no complaints from anybody. And there were plenty of leftovers for those that wanted to take something home. Szechuan shrimp (which was my favorite, the flavors were outstanding) Spicy honey shrimp Kung pao chicken Tangerine, crispy chicken Mongolian beef Lo mein house special noodles with beef and chicken Pork chop suey and House fried rice The restaurant is clean, The atmosphere is quiet and upscale for El Cajon. The staff were amazing. They checked on us throughout our meal to make sure that we had everything that we needed. They made sure that our food came out hot and cooked to order. We had somebody at the table that could not have mushrooms, and they made sure that there were no mushrooms in anything that we ordered. Even if on the menu it said they were included in the dish. I wish I had taken pictures of everything because it all looked as good as it tasted. I hope you give it a try and give it a good review.
Every Friday night we have dinner with family (5-12) people depending on everyones schedules. This week we decided to have it here since it came with a high recommendation from the planner of the family who ate here for lunch recently. This was everything we ordered. Mongolian beef, chow mein noodles, crispy tangerine chicken, kung pao chicken, Szechuan shrimp, spicy, honey shrimp, pork chop suey, house fried rice, salt and pepper chicken wings, cream cheese wontons, egg rolls, golden fried shrimp, and egg flour soup. the servers were very attentive. They brought out items in sessions, soup, appetizers then main meals along with steamed rice. They were quick to clean the plates as we went. There were no complaints. It was a unanimous vote from all family members. Chin's is definitely on our list of approved eating establishments from here on out.
Restaurantji Recommends
I read the reviews and decided to try Chins Gourmet (take-out). The food was too sweet -- we order Kung Pao Chicken and the dish had mushrooms, no peanut or cashew (as their picture shows), and the sauce was watery. We also order Sweet and Sour Pork - it was just okay. We've eaten at several Chinese restaurants around the Convey District -- we just deal with the traffic and pass on this restaurant.
Great new Chinese place in El Cajon. Lots of interesting new dishes to try.Dietary restrictions: You can get vegetables for an extra charge if you are low carb and want to skip the rice.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Szechwan Braised String Beans with or Without Pork, Shanghai Steamed Dumplings 8
Went to Chin last night. Our second trip. We had the sizzling rice soup, which was amazing as always. This is only the second place we've been able to find it had it. The other restaurant that had it has long been out of business. Service seemed a little slow this time, but we still good. The ambience is out of a Chinese restaurant, and was extremely busy in comparison to our first trip. The food was outstanding had great flavor. We had the crispy beef and the tangerine chicken. And the mixed beef chicken shrimp with vegetables was something new for us and we didn't get to try it since my father-in-law kept it to himself this time lol. The hot teawas better than most, and the people were extremely friendly as always.
Went for lunch and a food, service, and atmosphere was excellent. We ordered dumplings for an appetizer and they were excellent. We ordered the scallops hun hun, kung pao shrimp, and vegetable chop suey lunch specials. The egg drop soup and egg roll that comes with them were fantastic. Our new go to Chinese restaurant. I live in Serra Mesa and it's worth the 20 minute drive out to El Cajon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Egg Drop Soup, Shanghai Steamed Dumplings 8
Went for lunch and a food, service, and atmosphere was excellent. We ordered dumplings for an appetizer and they were excellent. We ordered the scallops hun hun, kung pao shrimp, and vegetable chop suey lunch specials. The egg drop soup and egg roll that comes with them were fantastic. Our new go to Chinese restaurant. I live in Serra Mesa and it's worth the 20 minute drive out to El Cajon.