Chen Express is always a great choice for Chinese food. I always get their hot and sour soup with house fried rice. The food is very tasty and fresh and cooked to order. The restaurant is always clean and the staff is always nice. Can't go wrong with Chen! read more

Always delicious Chinese food. Great service. Friendly staff, warm and welcoming. Light and bright casual ambiance.

My kiddos were craving Shrimp Lo Mein and I wanted Wonton Soup, so I picked the restaurant I knew could do both well. I was not disappointed. We ordered a few extra dishes to have leftovers for the next couple days. We also ordered Shrimp Fried Rice, Sweet and Sour Chicken with the sauce on the side, White Rice, and a side of Fried Rice. The portions are generous. I'm so glad the rice and lo mein dishes were light on the oil and the soy sauce. I can't stand it when the predominant flavors are oil and soy sauce. I want to season it myself with soy sauce. It's unfortunate that the soy sauce packets included are the clear-packet, fake soy sauce. I have plenty of the real stuff, so it didn't affect my dining experience. I can't vouch for everything on the menu, but the the lo mein, fried rice, and wonton soup were exactly what we wanted tonight. This is our go-to restaurant when that's what we want to eat. read more

See all

I am surprised at the number of stars that Chen Express has. I love this place! I accidentally ordered from here online when I thought I was ordering from another restaurant. Very happy with the mistake and this is my go to Chinese restaurant now. You can not beat their Mongolian beef anywhere in read more

I experienced friendly service during my visit. My order consisted of house lo mein, sweet and sour chicken, and crab rangoons. First of all, the portions are very large. I split the food with someone and we had no chance of finishing it all. The prices are pretty standard for the Mountain Brook area. You could probably get cheaper elsewhere, but paying for location is part of it. Beyond that, I didn't think the food had much flavor. I really wanted to give this a higher rating because everything else was great, but couldn't make myself do so. The house lo mein was my favorite dish and it was even lacking in flavor compared to other restaurants. read more

Since work recently placed me near Chen Express, I have been sampling some of their menu options and overall have not been disappointed. Chen Express is not unlike the other asian "fast food" places in town. Located in Crestline Village across from Urban Cookhouse and Otey's, Chen Express has been around for a long time and serves average to above average food. They're next door to Zoe's in a strip mall type shopping center so their dining room leaves much to be desired. A little cramped with about 8 small tables, sometimes you have to wait outside during these COVID times. Their service when dining in is prompt and efficient. Their take out business is consistently busy as they are quite popular in the area. There's a small ordering counter with a refrigerated case behind them which holds their water bottles and sodas. These are the dishes I have tried so far: Egg drop soup: 7/10, good amount of eggs used. Hot n Sour soup: 7/10, love the mushrooms and tofu pieces. Wonton Soup: 8/10, nicely made fresh pork wontons. House Special Soup: 8/10, scallops, shrimp in a pretty good chicken broth. Curry Chicken: 7/10, a little overloaded with onions, but good amount of curry and tasty. Moo Goo Gai Pan: 8/10, fresh broccoli, tender chicken strips in a white sauce. Can't go wrong with moo goo. Chicken with Broccoli: 8/10, can you tell I like broccoli?!? Beef with Broccoli: 8/10 see above. Pepper Steak: 9/10, one of my favorite dishes. The combination of sweet and salty... yom yom. Shrimp fried rice: 8/10, large portion. Nicely seasoned. Shrimp lo mein: 8/10, again large portion. Stir fried nicely with veggies. Singapore rice noodles: 9/10, my most ordered dish here. Rice noodles stir fried with veggies, your choice of protein, lots of curry powder. Seasoned perfectly! Yom Yom Yom. I will have to branch out and try some other dishes. They are traditional in the sense that their menu mirrors most other chinese take out places, but I wish they also offered a non-traditional menu. Chen Express has been here awhile and isn't going anywhere. It is a favorite among many near and far including myself. read more

Terrible health rating and it shows. Added teriyaki sauce and they charged $8....$8 for sauce. Oh, and the food stinks too.

I have been coming to Chen Express for years! The food is well made, and delicious. My favorite is Moo-Shu Chicken, but everything I've tried is great. They have a wonderful lunch menu as well. The dining area is very small, only 6 or 7 tables, but it is very clean and neat. Wings, egg rolls, spring rolls, fried rice, all great. And their to go orders are huge!! read more

This place is GOATED. Or as the kids say. Greatest of all time! I love their food! Gotta try to EGG ROLL

SO DISSAPOINTED. Haven't eaten from Chen in a while. Always LOVED their food, but this time NOPE. Having company, ordered over $100 worth of food Tuesday for Wed delivery. First mistake. Was delivered 30 mins later, same day. The WONDERFUL delivery person noticed the ticket had correct date (3rd) and returned food to store. I did remark, will I get NEW food tomorrow(?) and was told yes, wrong order would be eaten or thrown away by staff. Next day (Wed) called to confirm order would be placed and delivered around noon. It was!! Second mistake. I can't prove it, BUT EVERYTHING fried in the new order (specifically the Appetizer Platter) was left over from the day before. IT WAS DRIED OUT, TOTALLY INEDIBLE!!! every bit was thrown away. The other three dishes appeared to have been reheated and did NOT look OR taste like the Chen I remembered. I was totally embarrassed and thoroughly disappointed. CHEN made the error....why did my company and myself have to suffer the consequences??? read more

Like many others have said, this is very good American Chinese food. It's fresh, not greasy or overloaded with MSG, it's tasty and always served hot. It's a little pricey, but you have to take into consideration the location - and honestly, I don't mind paying for the convenience of stopping on my way home to pick up food I know everyone will love. My personal favorite is the Moo Shu Pork - the pancakes are delicate, the plum sauce is on point and the pork/cabbage mixture may have a bit more cabbage than I'd like, but dang it, it's good for me. My daughters love the chicken fried rice, beef lo mein, Mongolian Beef and Sesame Chicken. Personally - ugh on the Sesame Chicken, but the Mongolian Beef rocks. I also LOVE the steamed dumplings - the sauce they're served with would make plain white bread taste exotic. Their egg rolls are great, much like the ones at Joy Young's all those years ago. The soups are exceptional - I've had all of them and I cannot pick a favorite. Each one is delicious and unique - please do try them, you'll be so happy you did. I'm a fan! Keep up the great work!! read more

I ordered sesame beef and it was a sugary dish like sweet and sour chicken. The beef was breaded and came in a think sweet sauce. This is not what I expected, especially when paying $13.50. We also ordered curry chicken and it seemed like they forgot the salt, there was no taste and it had super small slivers of chicken. I think we will go back to Happy Wok next time. read more

Good quality Chinese take out place. They prepare the food quickly. The service is friendly. This restaurant did a lot to make sure their customers would not catch COVID by rearranging the furniture and stuff, which I appreciate. read more

Disappointingly bland. Ordered delivery and the order was right including all menu items and drinks. Food was hot. The egg rolls, wonton soup, egg drop soup, fried rice, and Kung Pao chicken lacked flavor. It all tasted extremely bland, like it needed salt and seasonings. The sesame chicken was better. In addition, the $5.95 soup prices are outrageous. Recommend looking elsewhere. read more

Conveniently close, well priced, and apparently delivers!! All HUGE factors for Chen Express being in the four-star category. I would not drive across town for this Chinese food. But since it is close by, it is our go-to take out place now. The falls in the category of most Chinese take-out places. Small dining room, that is mainly taken up by people waiting on their orders to take home. The menu is nothing special. Once again as typical as you can expect. But we do want to explore the soups a little more when it isn't so hot outside. Their egg rolls are decent. Their shrimp fried rice is pretty good and STOCKED with shrimp. And their Mongolian Beef is on point. Not the best I have ever had. But the best I have had in this area of Birmingham. Between the amount of shrimp and Mongolian beef, that is what completes this four star review. Obviously paired with the convenience factor. read more

This is our favorite chinese- I order it every time we visit. They deliver extremely fast- usually 15-20 munutes.

Chen's Express always comes thru. Great food, quick and to the point. Eat here at least twice a month and haven't been disappointed.

This is the best quick pick up for a Chinese food! The steamed dumplings are delicious. The sesame chicken is my fave. The egg rolls are perfectly crunchy! Whether you are picking up or getting delivery the service is good. The Chen family is fantastic and goes above and beyond to make sure they are serving fresh, delicious food. If you haven't tried this place, you should! I always go to/use the location in Crestline Village but there's another one in Mtn Brook too! read more

These guys always get it right...Mongolian Beef and Spring rolls always delicious and pickup is fast and efficient!

I used to love this place. So when I'm hungry for Chinese, this was my go to. Until tonight. ok. So. Food was ok. Portions were huge. Atmosphere... Abysmal. Unless you enjoy 2 teenage girls yelling into their phones (speaker phones) about their Mother's back pain. If you are thirsty and want a refill...take road flares because the staff has their nose so deep only their phones that you'll die of thirst before they notice anything. Get a professional staff or at least kids that can pay attention....and realize that nobody wants to hear them yell into their speaker phone. In the end. Stay away!!! read more

Best & easiest delivery! Food is always hot & delicious. Spring rolls & steamed dumplings are yummy

it's Chinese takeout. I got veggie lo mein and a spring roll. The lo mein was okay, definitely not the worst but definitely nowhere near the best I've ever had. Pros: -portion sizes are huge, even for Chinese takeouts -everything come with rice, including the noodles Cons: -it's extremely difficult to find/get to -it's in mountain brook (ew) which means parking is a royal pain -it's on the pricy side for Chinese takeout, probably because it's mountain brook, and there are definitely better and cheaper options in Birmingham. read more

Pretty basic Chinese restaurant. Not bad for what it is, a quick convenient spot for on the go meal. read more

Chen Express - Local artists! (5th graders from Crestline Elementary) - Chinese Near Me - Birmingham, Alabama

Waited an hour for delivery and when we called were told they forgot our order but that we could come get it ourselves in about 30 minutes. Don't offer delivery if you can't actually deliver. We used to order at least twice a month but won't be ordering from them ever again. read more

Ok. So Like Food: YUMMIEST It was SOOOOOOOOOOO GOOD! I got the sesame chicken. My husband got the General Tso. Can we say pipping hot!!!? The chicken had sauce...it wasn't in the least bit dry, and warmed up the next day like a bright shining star. My Chinese go to place. Customer service: The girl I talked to on the phone was nice, but when my husband went in to get the food...he said the guy that was cleaning was rude, and was not pleasant! I hate that happened. That's why it's only four stars. read more

I grew up eating this Chinese food, and, unlike most of my childhood favorites, has continued to be my go-to delivery since then. Delivery is SO fast, always 15-20 minutes before the estimate, and the delivery man could not be kinder. He's chatty, but super nice. I like to get the Mongolian beef. It is always a huge portion with well-prepared meat. It comes with white rice, which is the perfect vessel for the yummy sauce. I also get the egg roll, which is exactly what you want out of a American-Chinese egg roll. It's perfectly browned, crispy and delicious. All in all, if you want American-Chinese food, this is your place. If you want more traditional Chinese food, try nearby Red Pearl or Mr. Chen's in Hoover. read more

Great local Asian food that we keep going back to! They have a great variety of everything you would want from a place this like and they serve it up in humongous portions. I think the last time I went here I was able to eat the same meal about 3 times. read more

When I lived in Birmingham this was my go-to delivery place for Chinese. They are fast, the food is always right, and there is enough to last one person for about a week. Seriously. There is a $15 minimum to order delivery, but for what you're getting it's worth spending close to $20 for delivery. read more

I love Chen Express and was so sad to be moving further away, but I'm excited to give Chen Express II a try. If you're looking for Chinese takeout with good flavor and big portions for a good price, Chen Express is the place to go. I can seriously make 3 meals out of one order. Whether I walk in or call ahead for takeout, my food is always out fast. The employees are always friendly and attentive. This was a solid go-to for finals week when I had zero time and needed easy calories. read more

Our meal wasn't here after 2 hours so we called and they accused us of stealing the food we paid for off our own front stoop. Then tried not to refund us for food we never received. Lol. Worst customer service. read more

Huge portions and always delicious. They deliver so it is always my hangover go to. They always quote me a 45 minute wait and show up 20 minutes early. They once messed my order up and gave me a coupon for next time. I love the chicken in garlic sauce! read more

best chinese in birmingham ! huge portions , fresh & speedy delivery !! look no further for your crab rangoon , lo menu, chow mein, chicken friend rice , sweet and sour pork , chicken , yumminess at your door! This my friends , is the WINNER !! read more

This place is the best around! Super fast delivery and the food is great! Best orange chicken I've ever had. My wife and I eat here a few times a month and it's always great. read more

I really like that they use only white meat chicken and that they give you a generous amount!! I really appreciate that!!!

I've been going to this restaurant since I was in high school with my family. I now go today on my own. The staff is always very friendly, service has always been quick, and I've always enjoyed my food. The lunch special is a great value. I usually get Mongolian chicken, which is fantastic. Excellent egg drop soup and egg rolls as well. Family friendly atmosphere, but great if you don't have kids as well. read more

First of all, let me state that the Chinese cuisine is freshly prepared and delicious. But there are two main issues I have with this restaurant. #1 - No website and no online menu (fortunately there is Urbanspoon). #2 - They will not divide delivery orders into separate checks, which is a problem when ordering while at work at the many nearby businesses. While I am disappointed they don't accept American Express, they are not alone in this and I don't hold it against them. In the future we will probably just order from Shangri-La (also nearby) read more

The food was good once we got it. Waited almost 30 minutes longer than we were told, then were handed the wrong food. We called them back, they demanded we bring in the old food unopened to exchange it for the correct order. So, an hour and two trips later, we finally got the correct order with no real apology or compensation. read more

I have tried a few items and everything has been fantastic. I got broccoli and beef and it was very tender and tasty. I also have got the orange chicken and kung poa beef and chicken. I love the wonton soup because its not too salty or greasy. The family dinner meal is a good deal. The crab rangoons are definitely the best ive had. Finally they deliver. Always fast and hot. read more

This place is freakin awesome. Come here once a week for lunch. Egg roll, delicious soup, and huge, awesome portion for like $6. The best! read more

We've eaten take-out meals from Chen Express a couple of times since moving to Homewood last summer. In these various meals, we've had fried wontons, fried dumplings, sweet-and-sour chicken, pork with garlic sauce, wonton soup, and hunan pork. I could drink the sauce that comes with the fried dumplings. The counter staff are friendly, and the kitchen staff package everything well to avoid spills. All of the food has been excellent, and the prices are great! read more