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Cathay House

3.5 (141 reviews)
ModerateChinese
Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

Order Cathay House Takeout or Delivery

Cathay House Photos

Business Info

CATHAY HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Quiet
Casual
Good for kids
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Cathay House

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Reviews With Photos

76. Lo Mein
Camarra B.

I've been eyeing this place for awhile. I seen a few pictures that convinced me and the food smells really good. However, I was deceived in my opinion. I ordered the Lo Mein with shrimp and it was okay, I didn't really enjoy it like I thought I would. The shrimp could've been seasoned just a bit more. The noodles weren't that bad, but it could've been better. It all had a strange taste, especially afterwards. But that's my personal opinion, I recommend you try it for yourself if it looks interesting to you.

Egg Drop Dark and funky, Soup.  Nasty with a back taste of something that smelled like stinky feet!  I've NEVER had e soup like this! Awful!

When the old owners sold out the business, they were probably laughing all the way to the bank! These "new" owners don't know how to properly prepare any of the dishes they offer. My husband ordered Moo Goo Gai Pan...or was it Chow Mein?? Guaranteed, awful! Half was cold...I'm talking, cold! The "fried" rice was nothing like the traditional recipe...Just a plain dark gooey brown rice...no flavor, no veggies...nothing. I ordered Lemon Chicken...and Egg Drop soup. Greasy chicken...the soup was a dark yellow and stunk like nasty feet! I swear I've never seen anything like it! We REALLY tried to find something good about it all but couldn't. We just said nothing...paid the $37.11 + $5.00 tip (wasn't the waitresses' fault) and we left...NEVER going back. We have tried it TWICE now... Second time around, still awful. We've been coming to Cathay House since the 1960's, so we KNOW how it Should be! This "ain't" it...sadly.

COMBINATION LO MEIN Delicious! Contained considerably more li mein than meat.

1st time guest @ CATHAY HOUSE. The food was very very good! Lo Mein Servings abundant! Will Definitely be repeat customer. Thanks

Pineapple fried rice

Cathay House has amazing service and the food is delicious! We had the orange chicken which was sweet and spicy with a citrus kick, one of the best I have ever had. We also had the pineapple fried rice. It came out in a half of a pineapple. It was sweet and yet had lots of umami. There were three types of protein and lots of pineapple. It was balanced really well and just delicious! It's a hidden gem and local favorite in Waco. Do not miss it!!!

Pu Pu Tray, that includes with 2 eggrolls
Michelle S.

Food is good Except egg drops is greasy and tasteless.. Thanks to Pu Pu tray I enjoyed and the Happy House (Gulf shrimp, scallops, beef, chicken breast and roast pork blended with broccoli, napa cabbage, mushroom bamboo shoot water chestnuts, baby corn and carrots in a brown sauce) Tender and the seafood in it is not overcook.

Menu
Warner Kimo S.

Not your best. Better in desert small towns with authentic. The dishes are salty as they must use a lot of soy not oyster sauce. Server was clueless. We ordered small though and had a lot. Noodles fair but meat and veggies way salty. Taking the Pork noodles home to mix with more upgrade.

Which I got a picture of all the food but I don't usually leave reviews!
Samantha H.

Best Chinese food I've had in Waco so far. I'm from Chicago and moving to Waco has been difficult as far as the food scene goes. I've tried a few other places and am always disappointed. Cathay house was a nice surprise! The reviews stopped me from coming here for a long time but this place deserves way more than 3.5 stars. Went during the lunch special (Tuesday-Saturday 11am-3pm) and the amount of food you get for less than $8.00 is insane. Szechuan chicken came with fried rice, egg roll and soup for $7.95! General tso's chicken came with all the same extras for $7.35! They also put some fried dough type deal and dipping sauce on the table for free before you order. We added a bubble tea to the Oder and it was great as well ($4.25). The food has good flavor and is cooked properly. Seems fresh and came out hot. The ambiance could use an upgrade but the service was very good, prompt, and kind. My go to from now on when I'm craving Chinese. P.s. egg drop and wonton soup were great. P.s. p.s. As we were walking out we noticed this sign. I support it!! This is a small business, the owner was our server. For the amount of food they provide you at that price you can afford to leave them a tip. If you don't want to, don't go! Nobody wants to work for free.

Shrimp Lo Mein

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3 months ago

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8 months ago

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7 months ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

I did a pickup. The food was great and the waiter met me at the door with my order. 10/10, will eat there again

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2 years ago

Great tasting & Fresh. One of my favorite restaurants in Waco & I eat out a lot! Its cheap and the servers are very friendly too.

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1 year ago

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

Best food ever! This is definitely a little gem! The service was outstanding. We will definitely make this one of our regular restaurants!

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2 years ago

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

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6 years ago

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6 years ago

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3 years ago

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3 years ago

A great go to for Chinese food when in Waco! I enjoyed Beef with mixed vegetables. It was unmute with good portion sizes.

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3 years ago

Very good food and nice staff! We were served during a tornado warning and the hostess offered to guard us from the tornado lol.

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6 years ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

I love the food here! It is reasonably priced, service is friendly and attentive, and the restaurant has great vibes! Cool place!

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3 years ago

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Ask the Community - Cathay House

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Curry Up & Wok This Way

Curry Up & Wok This Way

3.9
(71 reviews)
3.8 mi
$$

I've been knowing about this place for years, but as of recent years I have started eating here…read more There's not many Thai places in Waco, but I would say that this is one of the best Thai places you'll find in Waco. I've been able to try a few of their dishes, like the Pad Kee Mao, and as of recently, their Pad Thai, which I had with shrimp. Every time I've had food from them I have been very impressed. There are foods that I would have been hesitant to try in the past because of unfamiliarity, but thanks to how they make everything taste, I'm eager to try everything. I really love their shrimp pad Thai. It was the best pad Thai that I've had so far! I'm not a huge dessert fan, but they have nice desserts such as the banoffee and fruit sando. If you are a banana pudding lover or a fruity dessert lover, I recommend you try that. They also have great appetizers as well!

I went to Curry Up & Wok This Way (cute name!) while I was visiting Waco. It's in one of the…read morecorners of the Union Food Hall. There are a few tables and chairs that are clean though a bit uncomfortable. Service was great - everyone working was really friendly! They had a dessert banoffee pie in a cup that was fantastic. As for my meal, I ordered the green curry with tofu and veggies. It was incredibly sweet. This is my go-to order, and I've never had one this sweet. It wasn't pleasant. It was also unclear if it was vegetarian or not (with fish sauce or not). My boyfriend got a noodle dish and really enjoyed it! I would say it's hit or miss - with the other options in the food court, I may try something different if I return!

Photos
3/2/25
3/2/25
Shrimp Pad Thai
Shrimp Pad Thai
Pas See Ew

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Pas See Ew
Cha Community

Cha Community

4.7
(57 reviews)
3.6 mi

Everything about this place was so so good food and drinks amazing 10 out of 10 unfortunately I…read moredon't live in Waco but if I did, I'd be there all the time. I will definitely try to stop by as often as I can when I'm traveling through!! here's an updated menu for this location as well as some pictures as of the interior! Service was also very good!

Drink: I ordered a large peach green tea with boba, no ice,…read moreand it was fantastic. The tea was brewed beautifully , fresh, balanced, and not syrupy sweet like some other boba spots. The boba itself was perfectly chewy and just sweet enough to complement the drink, not overpower it. I also really appreciated that, even with no ice, they filled my cup completely to the top. Simple, thoughtful detail and it makes all the difference. Service: The staff here was genuinely kind and patient. I asked a few questions about sweetness levels and tea bases (I'm mindful about sugar intake), and they answered every one with care, no judgment, no pressure, no upselling. They made the drink exactly how I ordered it and didn't try to push other menu options on me. That respect and attentiveness go such a long way. Ambiance: Cha Community has such a warm, creative vibe, red brick walls, cozy coffeehouse energy, indie music, local art, and stickers that make the space feel personal and loved. The whole café smelled amazing, and you can tell they've put heart into the details. It's the kind of place that feels like a little pocket of calm and connection in the middle of the day. Overall: Highly recommend stopping here if you're in Waco. The experience was night and day, proof that quality, care, and consistency matter more than anything else. Refer to my Poppa Bear review if you want the comparison, but honestly, just come to Cha Community first.

Photos
Cha Community
Pork dumpling box with white rice and cucumber
Pork dumpling box with white rice and cucumber
Live plants are always good.

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Live plants are always good.

Cathay House - chinese - Updated June 2026

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