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    Chen Express II

    4.5 (86 reviews)
    ModerateChinese
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:30 pm

    Chen Express II Photos

    CHEN EXPRESS II ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Dogs allowed
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Chen Express II

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    Sesame chicken, lunch portion

    This place is well deserving of their high rating on Yelp! I had to have an MRI in the area and my husband and I stopped in for lunch on a weekday. They were steady but there was still a table available for us to sit. The service was incredibly friendly and efficient. We both got the lunch sesame chicken with soup and added on an egg roll. The sodas are in bottles but not overpriced at $2.50 each. The total was $38 not including tip for two of us which, in 2026, is reasonable. I got the hot and sour soup and my husband got the egg drop. I didn't try his but he said it was wonderful but the hot and sour may have been the best I've ever had. It had just the right amount of kick, the mushrooms were big and fresh and perfectly cooked, and it was steaming hot! The egg roll was fantastic, and if you are a hot mustard fan definitely ask for a ramekin instead of the packet. It's super hot and made my nose run but the flavor was incredible. The sesame chicken had very light breading, was juicy, large in portion and piece size and all white meat. I think I managed one bite of fried rice before I was full but it was cooked perfectly. Some of the reviews complained about the lack of music playing or art on the walls but truly the friendly service more than makes up for it; I don't go out to eat to listen to their background music, anyway. We will make a point to come back any time we are in the area.

    Mandarin Chicken
    Joshua K.

    Chinese takeout at its finest. With a healthy claim of no MSG inclusion, this local spot is sure to see repeat business. Offering primarily a takeout experience, this restaurant was clean, fast and friendly with the standard menu offerings you're accustomed to at Chinese restaurants. An immediate standout was the personal touch of plastic wrapping the hot foods to keep the warm and prevent spillage in transit. The chicken in the fried rice was well seasoned and stuck out as better than any CFR we've had previously. The mandarin chicken had a subtle kick with generous portions of chicken amongst the onions and green peppers. The eggroll had a perfectly crisp exterior and a pro is to dip it in their yum yum sauce (must be requested) Crab Rangoons were on par with competitors in the area. Overall, Chen Express II is a great spot to get a takeout dinner for the family that is sure to fit the pallet of everyone.

    Chicken Fried Rice
    Shameka C.

    Portion size alone, I would give five stars. I ordered the Chicken Fried Rice with an egg roll and the rice was plentiful. It was not a bad meal. However, it was something about the chicken that I didn't care for. I am not sure if it was the texture or what. I don't mind trying this restaurant again but maybe ordering the Shrimp Fried Rice if possible and an extra egg roll. The ladies at the counter were very welcoming and appear to really get to know their regular customers. I observed their interactions while waiting for my food and that was a good feeling.

    Menu 03-24
    Becca S.

    Best Chinese in Birmingham! The service is always top notch. The House Lo Mein, Sesame Shrimp, Wonton Soup, and Hot and Sour Soup are favorites. The homemade hot mustard is a must try if you like heat!

    Fried rice
    Will B.

    We used to live near the original Chen Express and loved it. Their delivery was predictable timing wise always and we knew the food we were getting. This new location we have only used once and they only have carry out. Not far from. But just different from our last situation. The food was really good. I would say a step down from our one experience. But we will see with time. Because this is a long term stop for us and the first try was pretty good. Got to give it more than one chance. Mongolian beef was great. Rice was decent. Like I said, we will try many more times since it is our one place. But it wasn't up to the expectation we had with our old location. We will see!

    General Tso's Chicken dinner size
    Torey W.

    Google did not mislead on this recommendation. Fresh made to order and seasoned perfectly for those that like robust flavor. Not too greasy or too salty or too hard or too overdone...they know how to cook and they care about how the customer perceives the taste. Definitely coming back for more and keeping my leftovers.

    Fried Rice

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    8 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    10 years ago

    Best Chinese for the price! Mongolian beef is great!

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    10 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    13 years ago

    Delicious food at reasonable prices in a convenient location. Def going back.

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    Super Oriental Market and Red Pearl Restaurant - Chicken and mixed vegetables with rice

    Super Oriental Market and Red Pearl Restaurant

    4.1(527 reviews)
    5.9 mi
    $$

    This restaurant is a gaming favorite. Red Pearl offers the most delicious and authentic Chinese…read morecuisine. Our faves are the boba tea and double crispy chicken. The ambience is so elegant and relaxing. We always have amazing and friendly service after eating our meals we frequent the market for Filipino snacks.

    I will most definitely try this place again !!…read more They had many dishes right up our alley not americanized. So if you want boring food this place is NOT for you. We got so many things to start with Coconut water rice cake. Yes it does have the consistency of a sponge cake. It was good! I also got some Panda red bean buns. Cute and also good! For drinks: Sake, Taro bubble milk tea, and a Thai milk tea. We tried Winter Melon and clam soup For my entree I got Chicken with Lotus root which I enjoyed, My husband got crispy intestine . (My husband said he has never had it done that well-clean taste ) I tried it and it was ok. My son got the Szechuan style sautéed brisket and he ate it up ! To go yep we got sautéed pork belly and eggplant, pork, & basil . Both were also good. The waiter worked his bum off and we gave him a good tip. The only complaint were the young boys working up front who weren't friendly and acted like working was killing them. Why I didn't give you a 5! Otherwise you would have deserved it !!! All the food was delicious! Now on to the market - I like this better than the hometown market why they have many things I haven't seen including Jin noodles I have been looking everywhere for!!!! We bought many things to try including cucumber, orange, and what I thought was Mango potato chips. Nope it was abalone ! Not so good but the orange was good Of course Jin noodles , tiramisu mochi, banana milk rice snacks(yum) , tamarind drink, orange pepper spice, and chili crisp Our cashier though was joyless . Would I go back to both ? Yes I would!!

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    Super Oriental Market and Red Pearl Restaurant
    Super Oriental Market and Red Pearl Restaurant - Delicious Dumplings

    Delicious Dumplings

    Super Oriental Market and Red Pearl Restaurant

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    New China - Chicken Fried Rice

    New China

    4.3(84 reviews)
    7.1 mi
    $

    Always been a great take-out/family restaurant! Still going strong! Been going there for almost…read more30 yrs! The next generation has been keeping it well! Big portions family style take out and dining in! The eggrolls are great too! Never had something that disappointed! Fast callin take out service! They can have a line out the door at times, but it is worth it!

    This place has always been my favorite...Affordable huge portions, comforting old school tastes…read more But my pick up order was a waste of money this go around. My moo goo gai pan had barely any chicken in it. There were huge chunks of vegetables and it was way too starchy. It was like they were trying to compensate for the lack of protein in it. I haven't ordered from them this year, but I did tonight. Listen the economy is rough for everyone but I paid $15 for this chicken and they used maybe 1/8 of a chicken breast in it. Not cool. Hate to leave the negative review, but I need to warn people that they're using filler food to complete the orders and charging more. What's not cool anywhere these days is paying more and getting way less than just a few years ago. All of us are working hard to earn money and it just feels so disappointing to not get what you pay for, especially when you're paying more than you used to. I don't know who to blame for this. If I wanted a carton of vegetables I would have eaten a frozen bag for $2.50 tonight.

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    New China
    New China - Menu Cover

    Menu Cover

    New China - Menu Pages

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    Menu Pages

    Mein Bowl - Tempura Shrimp Roll

    Mein Bowl

    3.9(17 reviews)
    5.2 mi

    I grabbed a quick meal at Mein Bowl in the Hill Student Center, before a class and the experience…read morewas just as I wanted. The energy inside was lively, full of students and guests chatting about their days, studying, and bouncing around really. It felt like the heart of UAB campus. When it came to my food I did have to come back after small time break because the lo mein (my go-to). After I came back to place my order, I got half lo mein and fried rice with teriyaki chicken as my protein. The lo mein was worth the wait! It was my first time trying the teriyaki chicken and I definitely will be ordering again! The atmosphere made the meal even better, energetic, social, and full of those random, conversations you only hear at the Hill! I would end this by saying Mein Bowl is a convenient and dependable spot when you're on campus and need something fast.

    Although Mein Bowl isn't usually the first place that comes to mind when I am on campus and need a…read morequick bite, the lines are always way too long at any other restaurant. I noticed the line at Mein Bowl was empty and decided to give it a try and am so glad I did! I got orange chicken, white rice, and some crab rangoons. Everything tasted fresh and the portion size was great I had leftovers that I ate for dinner. The service was so quick compared to the experiences I've had with other places on campus. The staff was so kind and welcoming. I had a few questions and needed some recommendations and the chef was so informative and nice. I definitely will be stopping by Mein Bowl again hoping to try their sushi next time, I cannot believe I never thought to go there in the first place!

    Photos
    Mein Bowl - Fried rice, lemongrass chicken, steamed vegetables

    Fried rice, lemongrass chicken, steamed vegetables

    Mein Bowl - Fried rice with general tso chicken, chicken dumplings, and an egg roll.

    Fried rice with general tso chicken, chicken dumplings, and an egg roll.

    Mein Bowl - Krispy Krab sushi roll

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    Krispy Krab sushi roll

    Chen Express II - chinese - Updated May 2026

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