ugh when i was a kid this was my family's go to place to eat fried dumplings. I work down the block and thought id come by to try the dumplings and some sweet and sour chicken. when i say the sweet and sour chicken was downright disgusting - and they completely changed which dumplings they used :( very sad read more

Have never eaten in this place but ordered many times and have been happy with order and quantity.

Our go to spot for American Chinese food. Crispy beef is a clear standout. Our second order swings depending on how we're feeling. I love sweet and saucy so orange chicken is usually a no-brainer. Whenever we're hankering for something fast and tasty, Chen's gourmet is fast, easy choice. read more

Tempura vegetables have very heavy flour covering, old recipe was very light. Pork Pejing very fatty! Cut out the fat! read more

This is the most bland Chinese food we've ever had, unfortunately. Ordered Kung Pao tofu and General Tso tofu...both somehow "watered down" and lacking flavor. Kung Pao didn't have any spicy ness at all! Do not recommend! $15 for an entree like this is ridiculous. read more

Chen's Gourmet Restaurant - H11. Kung Pao Tofu Dinner - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Yep. I just found my go to spot. It's been 3 and a half years of searching high and low for good Chinese food in the DMV. DC seems to be where I found the type of dishes I was looking for. This is a true mom and pop shop. Lots of options and for a decent price given the amount of food you get. read more

Chen's was practically next door to the place we stayed at while in DC. One evening we felt like snacking on something hot and savoury, so tried them out. We went for the beef chow fun, as this is a pretty basic dish that all Chinese places should be able to do well. Chen's version was a little disappointing with fairly tough, flavourless meat, and the whole dish overall somehow short on taste. The noodles were soft and fresh, though, and our dinner portion generous. I'll give Chen's the benefit of the doubt since we visited just once and ordered a single item from their varied menu. read more

Although I have yet to experience the full array of options (including a fake meat option for pretty much every standard Chinese restaurant dish--very exciting for someone who does not eat meat!), what I have tried is great. The General Tso's vegi (fake) chicken ($12.50 dinner) is definitely one of the best faux-meat dishes I've ever had and might fool even the most savvy carnivore. Con: not as spicy as I would've hoped. The veggie prawns, however, are not quite as convincing as the faux meat...If you eat shrimp, avoid them (they remind me of gelatin). If you are a veg-head, give em' a shot! That being said, the Vietnam spicy shrimp and broccoli with basil and jalapenos ($10.50 dinner) offered just the kick I was looking for! Pro: it was packed with large shrimp (unlike a lot of Chinese takeout that tends to disappoint once one realizes there really were only three shrimp in the whole container). My favorite so far: the spinach and bean curd soup (and yes, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it)! It is uncomplicated, comforting, and chalked full of spinach and thin slices of tofu in a mild yet tasty clear broth. Absolute perfection and great if you're fighting a cold. It gets better: it's only $2.50 for a pretty decent container! The portions are large and cheap (about $6.50-8 for lunch and $8.50-12 for dinner) Another upside: despite being a carryout spot, they actually have several tables inside and a nice, but still small, raised outdoor seating area that is actually quite cute. read more

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Whenever I try a Chinese restaurant for the first time I order the same set of anchor dishes to test if I'll return: braised eggplant, Szechuan string beans, and vegetables with tofu. I enjoyed everything I ordered from Chen's, and will be back to try more of the menu. Dishes were flavorful but not overly sauced; some dishes use more oil than others but it was all appropriate for the style of cooking. I was especially excited to see an extensive vegetarian menu including mock meat options - I usually have to go to Rockville for this! I ordered for pick up and my food was packaged nicely and right on time, piping hot still when I returned home. The restaurant space is small, just a few tables inside and outside that would seat 2-3 people. The woman I picked up my food from was very sweet and noticed that I was new to the restaurant, which was a lovely personal touch. Food 4, Service 4, Ambiance 3 read more

Chen's Gourmet Restaurant - Szechuan eggplant and steamed dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Not bad at all...I told them I wanted a lot of green veggies and chicken with spicey sauce. The chicken tastes real and they did all of this for $7.75 including tax with a bottled water! nice read more

Chen's Gourmet Restaurant - A little outside seating! - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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very average at best, i needed a quick meal food miso soup-good, nice portion and i like the broth spicy prawn-not much veggies, also it was full of onions; i did like the spicy sauce, the shrimps like a chemical taste off, so far im not sick , woohoo! service great, no issues price good for the portion size, not for the quality parking -street i did take out overall- meh read more

I am granting Chen's three stars solely due to one dish: their Pad Thai. Now I am no connoisseur of Pad Thai but the mediocrity of this dish was heavily apparent. Heavily. The noodles were dry and generally flavorless. I needed an ample dosage of Sriracha just to make them edible. What is more, the noodles had a strong fish flavor, implying they put a little too much fish sauce in their Pad Thai recipe. This comment may be out of left field but their kitchen also looked abhorrently dirty. I nearly lost my appetite from one glance inside of the kitchen. I am not sure whether or not I will come back to Chen's but I know one thing for sure: do not get their Pad Thai. read more

Chen's Gourmet Restaurant - Would not recommend the Pad Thai - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Fantastic takeout. Tons of vegetarian options including ones I've never heard of before. The owner is so sweet and I'll definitely be coming back! read more

If you are so busy that you can't answer the phone, hire someone. I had to drive to this place to get an update on my order. Atrocious sevice. Order has still not been delivered after being ordered an hour and a half ago. I live 1.7 miles from this place. Might upgrade this after tasting everything. Hope it's still hot. Edit: food actually arrived, and was at least warm-ish. Pretty bland. Good peanut sauce. It's understandable to be busy. However, it's hard to understand how you can be unreachable in this industry. read more

Coworkers and I order from Chen's with some regularity given that they will deliver to work. We find the food pretty consistent and tasty. I love love love fake mmmmeat, and Chen's offers a number of these dishes. I feel like a good standard bearer is always General Tso's [fake] Chicken. When I see mock meat on menus, I like to order this dish, because then I can compare and contrast other mock meats more accurately. It's a science, don't ask. My gold standard is (and will always be, apparently...) Sunflower's, but it's nice to be able to check out the competition. The chef at Chen's MAKES all their mock meat in-house, tho, and *that* I find pretty cool. Chen's vegi Tso's is solidly decent and relatively affordable at $8.50 for a regular portion ($12.50 for a "large"). Sauce isn't cloying, has a pleasant not-too-thin-not-too-gloppy consistency, and a good amount of heat and spice. "Meat" had a nice, fairly approximate chicken texture. Breading isn't too thick. Broccoli isn't cooked to death, but might be cooked a leetle less. I've also tried the vegi crispy beef, which is pretty good, too. The sauce on this dish is slightly too thick and sweet for my taste, but the "beef" is delicious and it's served with nice ribbons of carrot. The Vegetarian Yu Shaing Beef with mushrooms, broccoli, and celery is mouth-numbingly hot with nicely textured pieces of vege beef. I like the brown rice -- tho you can select white or fried, and I always appreciate an option. It's nutty and al dente. However, after I eat I usually spend the rest of the afternoon sucking down bottles of water, trying to ignore my terry cloth tongue, and generally feeling parched and arid. A touch too much MSG in the dishes, but now I hydrate first! My coworkers take advantage of Chen's *very* affordable Lunch Box deals: your choice of 15 or so entrées, brown/fried/white rice, and soda/bottled water for $6.50, tax included. Alas, none of the vegi meat dishes is included in the box specials, tho Chen's always adds a bottle of water for me in the delivery despite not ordering from their special lunch menu. That is a thoughtful little touch that I much appreciate. Chef Chen's Chinese is good, if standard, but their high-quality veg meat is what sets them apart for me. read more

I can't speak to all of the food, however the Singapore noodles and egg rolls were sub par in taste. Both dishes were nearly tasteless and lacked seasoning and vegetables. read more

Chen's Gourmet Restaurant - Singapore noodles - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Went back and had a nice kung pao tofu. Very satisfying meal for a low price (and, as a bonus, a round number with tax included). Given the paucity of Chinese food in DC, it is useful to have a decent carryout place. read more

My biggest concern moving to a new city, or even new neighborhood, is where i'll be able to find good chinese delivery again. thankfully, i found this place on yelp. the delivery was right on time, if not a little speedy, and the portions were generous. Oh yeah, and the food tasted great too. I had the general tso's chicken. i can see myself becoming a regular of this place. Some restaurants make theirs too much like orange chicken, or they use bad chicken, or they have bad breading. This place got everything just right. read more

Before I get into my issues with this restaurant, it should be noted that I placed my delivery order through GrubHub and when I voiced my complaint, GrubHub helped facilitate a full refund for my order. I pass this place daily and have never eaten here, but tonight I finally decided to place an order and unfortunately, I wish I hadn't. Not only did they disregard my delivery instructions, but when the food arrived the entire bag reeked of cigarette smoke. I'm all for peoples' right to smoke or what have you, but I had to put the delivery bag and everything it came with outside because the stench was so overpowering and off-putting. My husband and I were starving - after waiting over an hour for delivery (but I'll let them have that one because it was a Friday night and I understand it's busy). We dove into the food and after taking a couple bites each we just stopped eating and tossed it all. I hate wasting food and did my best to try and eat it, but it was useless and we knew we'd never want another bite. I love crispy beef and I rarely find a take-out place that has it, so I jumped at the chance to get it. The beef was the exact opposite of crispy - the contents of the bowl was half sauce and the beef was completely soggy. Not only was there WAY too much sauce, but it reeked of vinegar so badly I could barely take a bite. Even after throwing it away we could still smell the scent of vinegar in the other room. My husband got his usual, beef with broccoli. The dish was sad and bland and it was almost entirely broccoli. I read other peoples' reviews that said there was no flavoring in the food and decided to go against their warnings because this place had 4 stars, but they were completely right. We also got veggie spring rolls and they seemed great on the outside, but their flavor was unusual and definitely not what we were hoping for. All I can say is that this was a complete waste of time and money and I will never order from here again. read more

A solid 4 stars for Chen's. We generally get delivery at our office, and we love the lunch boxes. A selection of entrees with a side of rice (white, brown, or fried) and your choice of canned soda (Coke products), all for just $6! Delivery has been iffy. We order all the time, and there was at least one time that the delivery was well over an hour wait. I think they had said something about being short on drivers that day, but we were starving! The food is good. Not the best Chinese I've ever had, but good. I've tried the Hunan Chicken (a little spicy), Sweet & Sour Chicken (the sauce is a little heavy on the citrus for my tastes, but I still like it), and the Beef & Broccoli (probably the best of the three). The beef is a good quality and not too chewy. Broccoli is crisp and fresh. Sauces are delish. All in all, a tasty and very filling meal. read more

Best Chinese food I've had in several years... Certainly the best I've found in DC. I stumbled upon this place when a friend of mine was ordering delivery and asked if I wanted some. It is officially now my go-to place for Chinese. The General Tso's is especially noteworthy. As mentioned below, it was not too spicy but definitely rich. I will disagree slightly with the claim that it was thin, because one of the things I really liked about it was that the sauce in my order was pretty thick (but a good thick, not a disgusting, coagulated type of thick - just a good, flavorful sauce!) . Anyhow, if you are anywhere in the NW/Upper NW area looking for Chinese takeout, you are doing yourself a disservice if you go somewhere besides Chen's. read more

Great quality take out. I always get my usual order of sesame chicken. There are tables for eating and waiting. read more

Chen's Gourmet Restaurant - tables and chairs outside - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Great local Chinese place. I ordered the curry fried rice with chicken. I wasn't expecting much but it was great. Next time I'm in the mood for Chinese, I'll know where to go. No other options as good in walking distance. read more

Chen's Gourmet Restaurant - Curry fried rice - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Definitely one of the best Chinese food restaurants. (You MUST try their General Tso's Chicken.) I've been buying lunch from Chen's since late 80's and always encountered very good and tasty food. Until recently (a year ago or so) I frequently went there to buy lunch on weekends for the entire family, since overall cost was not much more expensive than the alternative, home cooking. Unfortunately the prices went up and I don't do it as often. Well, given the fact that all food prices went up, although disappointed, I appreciate that Chen did not decide to sacrifice prices rather than food quality. (Note, that although I gave 4 stars, if I had to rate this carryout only against other Chinese restaurants, I definitely would give 5 stars.) Update: the prices of other similar food venues seem to catch up with the prices in Chen's Gourmet Chinese Carryout. read more

The meatless general tso's chicken was amazing. I'm not a vegetarian and I still loved it. I also got the general tso's made with chicken and it wasn't any better. read more

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I ordered: Sweet and sour Chicken: Good but I agree with the other reviewer that it's a little too citrusy for my taste. First I thought I had spilled some lime on it but then I realized that that's how they make it. It was not bad, just unusual but tasty. General Tso's Chicken: This one was my favorite. the sauce was thinner than I'm used to and that was great, because it was moist and rich. Not too spicy but just about the right amount and the broccoli was fresh and not overcooked. I give this dish 5 stars. Shrimp Fried Rice: Very good, nice texture but some of the shrimp had some left over shell, not a big deal but could be annoying. Veggie Eggrolls: very tasty and not overwhelming. small enough to be an appetizer but filling enough to be a good small meal. It's really a carryout place, there is a table inside and a bunch of tables outside, and I could see seating being an issue. Next door I saw a restaurant called bamboo that looks to be chinese as well. I'll try it an review it soon. read more

Consistently the best. Their Kung pao "veggie chicken" is a great meat-free option. Be sure to get the crispy beef or sesame chicken. Also friendliest delivery drivers and fast pick-up available. read more

Food smelled off and tasted even worse. One star for adhering to social distancing guidelines.

I've been trying to find Chinese I like in DC for years, ever since my old favorite restaurant closed down. I'd settled on City Lights for awhile as a "not awful" place I could call on reliably when I was badly in the mood, but decided to kick of my search again. I called the Sichuan Pavilion first, based on it's good recommendations here, and was told they wouldn't deliver to me. That was ok, I'm a bit far from them (although still within reason) and they're not obligated to deliver everywhere, but they managed to come off as pretty rude when telling me no. Anyways: Chen's Gourmet Chinese Chen's was the next spot I called tonight, and it was almost as far. Instead of (rudely) turning me down though, whoever I was talking to was really polite and said that since it wasn't busy, they'd be able to give it a shot. The deliver itself took just over an hour. Not fast, but it seems pretty reasonable to me based on a bit of extra distance. I think the prices are very fair. They're cheaper than a lot of the other Chinese places around for similar serving sizes. I ordered the Szechuan chicken and Kung Pao chicken. The sauce on the Szechuan was different from most Chinese places around. It wasn't cloying or thick at all, which was nice but it actually came off as just a bit too thin. There was a nice amount of kick to the dish though. I wouldn't call it hot at all, but it had a little zest. I was really struck by how many vegies were used. And not the terrible canned mini corn etc of some other places. There may have been a bit too high a vegie to chicken ratio, but it was nice to have them there. The kung pao was fairly well put together, but shared the trait of being a bit light on sauce/flavor. It wasn't overloaded on vegies, so this isn't something that happens to all their food. The kung pao had a nice texture though.. the meat in both dishes was nothing special, but I felt it was a touch better than some of the other chinese restaurants around. I'd totally order it again (I'd order the first dish too, though). The lightness of the sauce in both dishes, and excess of vegetables in the first, left me feeling like I hadn't eaten badly. I'm not sure to what extent that's true, but it was nice. Verdict: Not the end of my search, but a winner. Staff: Very Polite and helpful. Price: Quite Reasonable. Food: Slightly better quality than average, but slightly less flavor. Not bad flavor... just "less". Misc: Possibly healthier than other Chinese delivery? read more

Incredible selection of veggie mock meats. The delivery driver is always really nice. Reasonable prices too. Vegans and vegetarians should support this place! read more

Simple and unassuming neighborhood Chinese carry-out place. They have few tables, but they are good only for the warmer days. Food is obviously not five-stars quality, but it is solid and at an affordable price. They are fast at preparing orders and people are always very nice. Definitely one of the best Chinese places in the area! Our favorite is definitely General Tso chicken that is usually very meaty and not just breading as other Chinese places do. If you like spicy food, ask for their homemade chili oil! Peking duck is also solid and, as with all the dishes, they are quite generous with portions (they give you a full bag of pancakes!). Spring rolls and fried wontons are good, even if I would prefer a bit more meat. Noodles dishes are the most inconsistent ones; we had some exceptional lo mein, but also some mediocre ones. One thing to mention is the lunch offer. They have a large array of lunch boxes consisting in around half-2/3 portion of a dinner entrée, a rice side and a drink for around $7. Quite a deal! read more

I am not loving my take out chicken pad thai. It lacks flavor and yet the fish sauce tastes too fishy. Not sure I would try them again.

Not impressed at all. The dumplings were mystery meat, I couldn't tell what it was. The spring rolls were more like egg rolls filled with cabbage and half a piece of shrimp. Very disappointing, especially given the ratings others had given. Will stick to my usual from now on - Spring Garden. read more

Dinners are $9.50 plus tax. Delivery is free with $15 order. I ordered General Tso's Chicken (sweet, hint of spice) and Double Cooked Pork (clean taste with cabbage). This is a good delivery option in my area. read more

Hands down my favorite Chinese food in all of DC. Incredible Kung-pao chicken... though I have yet to have anything off the menu that didn't wow me. Great service... quick delivery. It won't disappoint you! read more

Pretty good stuff. I don't know why, but good chinese has been hard to find for me. Their General Tsao's chicken, lo mein and veggie tempura were all delicious and they delivered quickly. read more

As a long-time vegetarian, I was excited to try Chen's mock meats. I waited until i had a few successful orders of tofu and veggies first, to make sure the food was good. I just ordered their "Vegi General Tso's Chicken," took a bite, and walked back thinking they had messed up my order, and given me real chicken. They proved to me that it was, in fact, vegan, and I walked back home with my order happier than I have EVER been with mock chicken in my life. The girls at the front, as well as the cook, who spoke very little English were all in stitches about how amazed I was by the best imitation anywhere. In addition to the best tasting mock chicken on the planet, the service is great and fast, and the restaurant is clean and organized. Love it here!!! read more

Lunch was hot and tasty, but the delivery driver actually giving us a ride to the hospital and refusing to accept a penny for it was outstanding. And a great place for vegans, too! read more

Great little spot. First time I went I had General Tsos which was delicious and the chicken was very crispy. The second time I ordered kung pao chicken and was very disappointed, it was pretty tasteless. For DC, this place is promising and I will come back to try more dishes, or maybe just stick with the general tsos :) read more

Fast and efficient carry out. Dishes always hot. Love their rice, I don't know what they do differently it always taste great. Been ordering carry out for years and always happy. Really like their steamed dumplings. All the chicken dishes are good too. Their orders are fresh and large. Usually have enough for second meal. Good place for a quick satisfying meal. read more