Canton Inn ruined me for cashew chicken. I can't eat cashew chicken anywhere but here. I have been eating here for thirty years, since I was a kid. The quality and has remained consistent. I don't care if you normally order sweet and sour, if you stop at Canton you HAVE to order the cashew chicken - not knocking their sweet and sour, everything on the menu is fabulous (especially crab rangoons)... but seriously, try the cashew chicken. read more

Canton Inn - Chinese Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

We only eaten their combo meals, and they are a great value. The food is very good in our opinion. And there's not a surcharge for all white meat. read more

Great food. Great service. Good price! And they were open late on Christmas Eve!!!!!

Stopped in to this little spot and had the General Chicken. I ordered mine extra spicy as I was informed before I went it is not too hot as a standard order. Extra spicy was good but not overwhelmingly hot. The crab rangoon could be a little sweeter but had a nice amount of filling and fried just right. read more

This is my Fiance' fav Chinese grub in Springtown, the general chicken is pretty good I must say. But they seriously have to clean or get rid of that fish tank, I have no idea how they stay in business with those poor guppies staring at you through the green water. read more

I was in Springfield, only been there once before, and I know of nowhere to eat and nothing to do. I had heard tons of rave about Springfield's version of chinese food, especially the Cashew Chicken. SO I typed chinese into yelp and browsed around, coming across Canton Inn which has multiple rave reviews for Cashew Chicken. How could I not try it after reading such magical things about it? So I tried it. I was not impressed. Apparently Springfield's version of chinese food is a very bastardized version. I can't even begin to describe the deep fried, gravy smother, "chinese" mess that I ate there. And yes, I will admit, I ate it. It was edible. it wasn't the worst thing I have ever eaten. But I felt like this would be Mississippi's version of Chinese, and would be served with a side of mashed potatoes and cornbread. It's definitely more southern comfort food than anything. Aside from the food, the place is TINY! Only a few grimy tables available. A nasty looking fish tank greeting you first thing. And a layer of greasy residue over every surface imaginable. The staff was nice and pleasant, but they should really hire an outside cleaning crew to come in and disinfect this place from head to toe. Next time I am in Springfield, I'll skip out on this one. read more

Tiny building, cheap Chinese food and a dirty fish tank, those are all the things I remember about Canton Inn when I briefly lived in Missouri. It was a frequent place to visit for some surprisingly good, artery clogging pseudo-Chinese food. It is in an unassuming building, sandwiched between a Wendy's and an auto mechanic. Without the sign out front, you would never know it's there. The actual restaurant is small, and offers only a few tables to sit at. I heard that years ago, the building used to be a Dunkin Donuts, and it's easy to tell. Right in the middle of the dining area is a big fish tank, which looks like it hasn't been cleaned since the Clinton Administration. The fish also look a bit unhealthy, and it's quite honestly disgusting. The bathrooms are small and not the cleanest, but do the job. But the big deal of course, is the food. According to many, cashew chicken was invented in Springfield, and this is one of the many restaurants that serves it. For the uninitiated, it is basically fried bits of chicken with mushroom sauce poured over the chicken with rice. It shouldn't taste good at all...but it is surprisingly delectable, and very, very cheap. The chicken and rice plate here is $5.50, and they give you a big enough serving to fill you up. I also have tried the General Tso's chicken and the orange chicken, and both are also tasty. Egg rolls and Crab Rangoon are good also, though nothing to really write home about. It's pretty much your generic decent Chinese food. Definitely not the best I've ever had, but by far the best I've had in Springfield. So try it out, but don't come in thinking it's legendary like some locals do (Cashew Chicken isn't THAT good, and I know plenty of people who hate the stuff). But do come in with an open mind and expect what you pay for, and you'll enjoy yourself. read more

Ah, to be back in the S-Field! Whenever I get back to Springfield I always make a stop here for the General Tso's Chicken. It is awesome! Their egg rolls are crispy on the outside and full of flavor on the inside. you almost need both hands to hold these mammoth sized egg rolls. Their Cashew Chicken is still the best hands down. How I miss Springfield Style Cashew Chicken...... I've been going to Canton since high school and they have never let me down. Where else can you get a full meal for $5.00 or less! They've been serving tasty cheap eats forever. *Love the Oscars in the fish tank......classy!!!! *Free condiments.....even more classy!!!!! read more

I ordered several items from Canton Inn today (04/06/2020). I used the carry out and live 8 minutes from the restaurant. One of the main items was the Sweet and Sour Shrimp. I have ordered this meal many times before but today I was completely disappointed with the meal. The shrimp was smaller than usual, did not appear to be recently cooked, and was inedible. The shrimp was tough and small. It appeared to be previously cooked and was terrible. Not the quality expected. Poor! Worst meal since I have eaten there for over 10 years! read more

What else? Springfield Cashew Chicken! This place was busy in the middle of an afternoon - as in too late for lunch and too early for supper. That alone told me something, and the food and value for the price backed it up. Bon apetit! read more

Canton Inn - Cashew Chicken Combo Meal - $5.50! - Chinese Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

I lived in Springfield from Aug 2005 - Jul 2009... I literally ate some general's chicken from Canton 2-3 times a week. Now I live in Austin and I crave this place all the time. This dish is incredibly unique compared to other versions of General's or General Tso's chicken. It's not nearly as sweet but packs all the heat! Tip - go for the 'all white meat' chicken and ask for extra sauce. You won't regret it. Also the crab rangoon is pretty legit. read more

Always really good food. I don't think I've ever had a bad dish from here. I know they've won several awards for their chicken... and they deserve 'em, too, because this is one of the best Chinese joints in Springfield. I just wish they'd use some of that mountain of cash they're making to expand their dining area. It's itty bitty! read more

Great Springfield Cashew Chicken at a very reasonable price. Food was quick to arrive, was very tasty and piping hot.

Still the champ for best Springfield style cashew chicken and Chinese food! Canton Inn has been a staple for over 20 years because they simple do it the best. They adapted to the pandemic - be sure to support a Springfield tradition! Been away for 7 years. Stop by every time I visit for a taste of what I can't get anywhere else! Love Canton Inn!! read more

So convenient across from the Bass Pro Shop their daily special of cashew chicken is a great price. Their combo comes with crabrangoon wow so much cream cheese. Worth stopping read more

First and foremost, the cashew chicken along with all the hype around it was a slight disappointment. The chicken is deep fried without much seasoning and the sauce was more like a bland gravy. It tasted like an inferior version of turkey with gravy on top. The white rice had a strange flavor to it, as if the rice cooker had not been washed right. Portion was large. I tried my best to like it, I really did. I was so excited too. But in the end, the cashew chicken dish at Canton Inn was just OK at best. Best part was actually the cashew. But if I was just rating the dish, I would have given the place 3 stars. The service brought it down to a 2. Right outside, you see the daily special, 3.95 for the cashew chicken with rice. But AFTER ordering, I was notified that the daily special was for a junior size. So the cashier asked me whether I wanted white meat (extra .75) or dark meat but did not remember to ask if I wanted junior or large. The people who work there are nice, but it's these small little things that weakens the restaurant as a whole. I wish I loved this place and the dish, but I Canton-derstand the hype. read more

I gotta hand it to Canton Inn, their cashew chicken special is probably the best deal in Springfield. It comes with an egg roll, a decent helping of chicken, rice, and two crab rangoons - all for like, $5.50. That being said, there's simple good and bad about Canton Inn. The good: the service is great. My friends and I came in on Saturday night at exactly 9:59 (they normally close at 11 pm) without realizing it was Chinese New Year... a little insensitive, I know. They were closing at 10 that night to celebrate, but let us take our orders to-go despite our insistence that we were happy to leave. Most of us have worked in food service or do currently, so we know how annoying that stuff is. Still, we really appreciated their selflessness. Another thing that's good: the food! Well, okay, pretty good for the price. Despite being so cheap, it doesn't feel horrid in your stomach. The egg rolls have a refreshingly unique flavor, the chicken is quality white meat, and it's generally not as bad as it could be, considering the other Chinese options around. Don't get me wrong, it's mostly obligatory, but the deal is good. The bad: Canton's dining room is kind of gross. There's nothing appealing about the grimy fish tank or the super-dated brown floors that are reminiscent of an early 1990's McDonald's. The entire building is just old, which made me distrust the food coming out for a long time, but don't let the overall icky appearance deter you if you're on the hunt for a cliché SGF-Chinese hybrid meal for cheaps. read more

The cashew chicken is great, but the real gem is the chicken noodle soup! A massive bowl of noodles, green onions, and sliced chicken breast. It's an off - menu item and we'll worth the trip to Springfield. read more

Canton Inn - Chicken Noodle Soup - Chinese Near Me - Springfield, Missouri

I ordered #7 General Chicken (all white meat) and an order of Crab Rangoons. The Crab Rangoons were average; all I could taste was the cream cheese. The General Chicken was ok. The sauce was overwhelmingly garlicy. I like garlic, but it dominated the flavor killing out all the other flavors. It wasn't a bad experience, but for the $9.15, Dragon Express, ThaiXpress, or Chopsticks would be a better meal. read more

Delicious cashew chicken, egg rolls & I was so glad that the crab rangoon were not oniony. They refill your fountain drink if you'd like. Not far from Bass Pro. Nice little place. read more

Like the food and the prices but the drive thru is so consistently slow we quit going.

I don't know why the commenter who felt the staff was rude; I have never once experienced anything like that, and I'm there once a week - perhaps THEY were the rude ones. read more

Love this place! We drive from Republic to eat there. Food is always fresh and delish!! Excellent prices. Not a fancy place but it is clean. Never have had an issue with their food...its the best! My friends from KC Mo drive down just to eat cashew chicken from there! read more

The last few times I have ordered my food ahead it doesn't pay off and the the quality has severely decreased I have been a long term patron but they have loss me read more

This place easily holds the top spot for best place to eat in springfield in its respective price range. You can get a cashew or sweet and sour chicken dish with rice for only $3.82 plus tax with the 10% student discount. The food is a fair sized portion, enough to make an adult guy satisfied. The chicken is average maybe even a little above for springfield Chinese. The atmosphere is acceptable for what you get. This place is really my favorite for a quick lunch. Honestly any of the reviews criticizing this place has no grounds to do so because you are receiving what you pay for. In this case there is nowhere in springfield that is even kinda close to what you can get here for 4 bucks. read more

Best cashew chicken in Springfield. Hands. Down. I've lived here my entire life, so I've tried them all. Peking House is a close second when it comes to great Cashew Chicken. Overall, Canton Inn always tastes fresh and unique. They are the ONLY place in town that makes their egg rolls on site. They are the best egg rolls in town as well. They aren't bought in bulk, then dropped in oil to be served. They hand make the mixture and hand-roll them as well. So fresh and tasty. You won't be disappointed. read more

A classic cashew chicken joint. They truly know how to make it. Love how good it is. Location is good. Small place though.

Our family favorite since I was a kid! Every piece of chicken is cooked to perfection; none that are too chewy and the breading is always fresh and crunchy on the outside. Plus, they have the best cashew sauce. We have made some good memories in those old booths. read more

As far as Cashew Chicken goes, I have become a bit of Cashew Kitty Snob. In trying it all around town, there are maybe three or four that get it right and this place is one of them. I can't describe exactly what makes a good cashew chicken dish but they know what to put in it. After eating there for 15 years they still got it. read more

This will be short. I walked in and ordered my dinner and while the cashier was running my card, I saw the cook drop some egg rolls in the oil and then rub his forefinger and then his thumb across his nose. He then proceeded to pick his nose and flick his booger. No, I'm not making this up. I wish I was. I was very hungry. I told the two up front that I wanted a refund and I was not eating their food. They then voided the transaction. After that, the guy up front told the cook something in their native language, but the cook never even washed his hands. The two customers behind me thanked me for saying something about it and we left. I used to like this place. Well, somewhat. read more

I'm really borderline as to what review to give Canton Inn. If this was where I live, then the rating would not be 5-star, but taking into account it's in Springfield... 4-stars will need to suffice. For starters, when I first walked in I wanted to see what the food was like so I took a quick glance around and saw the typical American-Chinese food. Some woman was taking forever ordering in front of me. I could easily see the girl taking her order get a bit irritated. Hell, even I was irritated and her seeming lack of knowledge of how to read a menu. Well, the other girl walked up and I heard the two of them say a few things in Chinese to one another. I chuckled and took a step back just waiting for this woman to finish ordering. Well, she kept asking questions so one of the girls picked up a pencil to ask me what I wanted. I stepped up and asking them a couple of blanket questions about the menu, but in Chinese. This totally blew both of their minds and the three of us had a good laugh... the woman still ordering was even more confused by this... They ended up calling over the guy who seems to manage the place (wish I had asked for his name... super nice guy... cute, too, haha). He recommended a dish for me and said he could have them make it a bit spicier and such for me. My family ordered your standard dishes, cashew chicken and general tso's. I sampled them and found them to be quite good in comparison to the other "Chinese" places here. The one place which trumps them in this category, however, is Golden Korean Restaurant. The dish I had was your typical chow mein. Well, typical meaning modified to accommodate available foods here. Overall, it was good, but certainly not the best I've ever had--just the best I've had in Missouri. So, would I come back? Yes. Are they Chinese? Yes, again. If you haven't come here, I would give them a try in comparison to all the other "Chinese" places in the area, I feel they do it a bit more justice. read more

This review is only for their famed Cashew Chicken - white meat. We went on a tour with family and found theirs to be the tastiest, crispest, and moist Cashew Chicken. Tied for the cheapest. 2nd was Hong Kong Inn and third was Chinese Chef. read more

There is an abundance of Chinese food in springfield but this is one of the best places to go! Food is great, my go to is the sesame chicken. Only 4 stars because the service is usually a little slower than I'd like but I'd rate the food itself 5 stars read more

Usage of cheap rice. Hard and not good quality. Mushrooms are canned. Too much sauce and not flavorful. The sliced beef tasted old and rubbery. Needs to invest in more quality items. Springfield has many Asian restaurants. Unfortunately I cannot recommend this one. read more

Surprisingly good! I usually get the general tso's but friends have enjoyed the sweet and sour and cashew. Good food, good prices.

My golly yes. Best cashew chicken I've had since Joplin's House of Yen closed down more than a decade ago. The sauce has actual flavor, not just a brownish salty consistency. It's awesome. I will come back, even though this place is a little bit ratty and crowded and the door was constantly opening & closing on a very cold day - I get it, people, everyone in Springfield needed to pick up delicious Chinese takeout! Awesome place, great prices...the wall of awards and accolades was a surprise to us until we took the first bite of our food, and then it made sense. My husband loved the sweet n' sour shrimp and we're both planning what to try next time. I'm kicking myself for waiting so long to give Canton Inn a try. read more

I rarely write negative reviews, but I really don't have anything good to say about this place. The rice is not your typical Chinese Restaurant rice...gross! I had sweet and sour chicken which I usually love, but not from here. Sadly, we won't be coming back here. read more

Cheap fast Chinese food! They have special Chinese menu that not many people know such as egg noodle soup. I love the taste of ribs but it was so tough to eat. They also have 6 fried chicken wigs for $3ish SO CHEAP!! read more

Amazingly good Cashew Chicken & Crab Rangoon!! One of the top 2 Chinese places in Springfield.

I personally didn't like the way their chicken was cooked and tasted, but their rice and eggrolls were very good. Service was nice and the establishment was clean. Fair prices and good location as well. read more