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Cathay House

3.5 (145 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

Free starter. Fried wontons - very good
Nadia B.

Let me tell you I had big expectations and was disappointed. The ambiance and the service was great. Our food came out really fast, but it was 1/2 cold and 1/2 warm - not hot. I had pepper steak and was asked white rice of fried rice and I said fried rice - well, it was definitely not the traditional fried rice. It was rice in soy sauce or beef broth all brown with no veggies or egg - very salty for sure. My daughter did try the mochi dessert and that was good. Also the kids chicken tenders and fries were really good. Not sure if I'd go back although the menu was big it would have been better to have a smaller menu with big fresh family sized portions.

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

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.

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!!!

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Reviews are mixed. Many highlight the flavorful, fresh food, good value pricing, and friendly, attentive service.

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3 years ago

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3 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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4 years ago

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7 years ago

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7 years ago

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5 years ago

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5 years ago

Food is wonderful and portions are HUGE!! Easy to order and pick up. Eating in is great, too. Service is fast and accurate.

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5 years ago

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6 years ago

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11 years ago

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8 years ago

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6 years ago

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8 years ago

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6 years ago

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9 years ago

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6 years ago

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4 years ago

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4 years ago

We've ordered from here a few times while in town. The combination rice is so good & the hot sour soup is the best I've ever had.

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7 years ago

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7 years ago

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5 years ago

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7 years ago

Not only was the food absolutely amazing, the service was incredible. Such a sweet family ran restaurant. Definitely will be back!

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9 years ago

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5 years ago

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7 years ago

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4 years ago

If you order from the special Szhehuan menu you will get authentic Chinese dishes that are amazing.

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7 years ago

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Page 2 of 4

Ask the Community - Cathay House

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Cha Community - Braised pork rice box - Best Lunch in Town!

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4.7(60 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.

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Wei Tasty Asian - E8 Broccoli with chicken and steamed rice

Wei Tasty Asian

2.8(52 reviews)
4.2 mi

Wei Tasty Asian is fine, but it's not necessarily anything special, especially now that they've…read moreraised prices. I'm a little confused about this because in store their prices remain the same with fried rice at $6.99, but online, fried rice costs $8.99, so I believe they're in the middle of a price change. Despite the 3-star rating, I do come here fairly often. I like their dumplings, both fried and steamed, and their fried rice is fine but often lacks flavor. I usually add several packets of soy sauce. I also like their egg drop soup. My friends have all enjoyed Wei Tasty. Something else of note is that I believe this isn't a local Waco business. Wei Tasty Asian has two more storefronts, one in Dallas and one in Carrollton. If you want to support local, I'd recommend Fortune Cookie, Yaki, Bangkok Royal, or The Blasian Asian, though I believe Wei Tasty is still the lowest priced of all of those, even if they're raising their prices. Ordering online gets you 10% off. When you try to order online, there is an option for curbside pickup, but I don't believe they do curbside. My friend said she tried to have her food brought to her curbside and she ended up just having to go inside the store to pick it up. I've always just gone inside. Ultimately Wei Tasty Asian is fine if you're in the mood for some run of the mill Chinese food, but I'd recommend trying one of the local places listed above instead!

Just really not good…read more Cashew chicken and black pepper beef...the meat did not give stir fry, it gave boiled. The sauce was super liquidy. Both of these were SOUP rather than a sauced stir fry. See attached video. The shrimp...shell STILL ON. Gross. The fried rice was tasted like boiled rice with soy sauce added. We've been craving some good Asian food, but sadly, this was just not it. Picked up to go. Husband said service at the counter was okay. We are not planning to return

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Cathay House - chinese - Updated October 2026

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