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    China Express

    3.4 (107 reviews)
    InexpensiveChinese, Fast Food

    China Express Photos

    Business Info

    CHINA EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - China Express

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    Szechuan Chicken?? This held its shape right out of the container. Very weird.
    Molly C.

    Don't trust any menu you see online for this place. We looked at Yelp, their Facebook page, and even started an online order (abandoned because it was going to charge a $4.50 "service fee" -- and it was for pick-up, not delivery!!), and they all showed the same prices $1.25 for wonton soup, $8.25 for each entree and it said everything was served with white rice. Uh, no. When I called in the order, I learned that the rice was extra. Okay. This is California. I've learned in the 2.5 weeks since we moved here that everyone charges for rice. No brown rice here. That stinks, but again okay, not a deal breaker. The guy quotes me $17.00 over the phone. The math didn't add up, but figured he forgot to add in the rice. I'd square that up when I picked up my order. Uh, no. I get there and he says, "Oh. I forgot to add in one of your entrees. Your total is $27.00." What? How is $1.25+$8.25+$8.25+$2.00 $27.00?? Well, they charged me $5.75 for wonton soup (a large, which I didn't even see as an option online and did not want!!). I told them that every menu of theirs online showed $1.25 for soup. They said that was an old menu. ALL of them?? That's crap. False advertising!! So, I got a small soup and paid way too much $3.95 and feel like I got totally ripped off. Everything else tasted okay. Nothing great. This is the 3rd Chinese restaurant we've tried in Novato since moving here and is a very distant 3rd in the ranking. Celery in chicken with mixed vegetables? Ick. Still looking for a Chinese food place that can hold a candle to what we used to get in Columbus, Ohio. Who would have thought that Ohio could kick Cali's butt for Chinese?? Might be sad, but it's completely true. If the owners of this place ever travel to Columbus, they should stop by General Tso's on Godown Road. They know what's up!!

    Fresh, ready made Chinese food !
    Antonia M.

    The staff here is very friendly. There is a large assortment of ready made Chinese food for anyone who is in a hurry to get a quick bite to eat. The food is pretty good quality; the best Chinese fast food you can get in Novato. We usually order a large portion of chow mein and the won ton skins (without meat). The chow mein is pretty good and doesn't have a lot of onions in it. It is quite tasty and not too greasy. We usually purchase a quick lunch here at least twice a month. This place definitely beats Panda Express !

    This is the bone

    I would not leave a star if I did not have to. I ordered from here a few weeks ago. I found a giant bone in my food. It could have been from the following dishes: Garlic chicken Teriyaki chicken Black pepper chicken Someone seriously could have died. Shut this place down! Not to mention they are incredibly misogynistic!

    Fried rice and Chow mein with Kum pow and teriyaki chicken!
    John J.

    Read the good and not so good review for China express but decided to give it a shot anyways because I was starving and really just wanted something to fill my stomach plus there were more good than bad reviews. I have to say I was not disappointed one bit! The food tasted good and was priced reasonably for the portion. Stomach satisfied mission accomplished !

    Don't buy this Chinese food NO MORE

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    12 years ago

    Not sure why this place has good reviews. Food was soggy. Greasy. And came back up as quickly as it went down.

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    14 years ago

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    15 years ago

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    15 years ago

    MARTIN! You Rock! Made my delivery so much fun and the food was YUMMMMMY! Much Mahalo!!!!!!

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    15 years ago

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    9 years ago

    My favorite Chinese food in town. Definitely try the mixed vegetables with steamed white rice if you want to go healthy.

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    11 years ago

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    16 years ago

    Really great fresh food and they deliver for free! Friendly service!

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    16 years ago

    Near my workplace, this place is a favorite of mine when I have some money to spare. Absolutely friendly service and delicious food!

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    13 years ago

    This place is GREAT! Fast fresh and cheap, the friendly staff is what sealed the deal for me!

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    8 years ago

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    14 years ago

    Best Chinese take out in Novato....delicious, authentic, and affordable. Customer service is top notch!!!

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    13 years ago

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    Page 2 of 3

    Ask the Community - China Express

    Do they use MSG in their cooking?

    Most places use some but not enough to harm anyone. Flavor taste much better imo

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Ming Yen

    Ming Yen

    4.0(360 reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    "Ming Yen" is a chinese restaurant in downtown Novato that serves Americanized-Chinese food. I had…read morea nice early dinner here. It probably would of been better if it wasn't near 90*F outside. It didn't appear like they have AC, since all the doors were open. This restaurant looks new on the outside, but looks "old-school" on the inside. The only thing missing was.....chopsticks on the table. I ordered: -Tomato Beef Chow Mein, $15.95, serves two. Very good Tomato Beef Chow Mein. Every piece of beef was tender and easy to eat. The chunks of tomato, bell pepper and onion were in small bite sized pieces. Perfect for eating with chopsticks. The sauce was tangy and lightly sweet. What was missing was the "Wok Hei." Aka...."the breath of the Wok," it's the unique smoky aroma that adds a special flavor to stir fry food. - Salt & Pepper Fried Chicken Wings, $17.95, 9 wings. To be clear, these are "flats." Fresh, juicy, and fried crispy good. Seasoned in coarse salt, chili pepper and onion. My waiter/server gave me a small dish of chili oil to enhance the heat level. Overall, a nice first time experience.....4-stars. I would like to return and try their Wor Won Ton Soup. ------------------------------------------- Notes: Some of the menu photos don't match the dish. All-Gender restroom is clean and large Free off street parking in rear Located in downtown Novato, across the street from shopping center.

    Biggest rip off We ordered veggie pot stickers and there…read morewere no veggies nothing but dough We told them and they agreed saying that's how they come Well a sucker is born every day and I am the sucker They should not have charged us or better yet why is it even on the menu Worst Chinese place I have ever been to!

    Photos
    Ming Yen - Near Entrance

    Near Entrance

    Ming Yen - Mongolian Beef Chow Mein

    Mongolian Beef Chow Mein

    Ming Yen - Storefront

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    Storefront

    China Palace - Egg Rolls

    China Palace

    3.3(394 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Best chinese food around. Love their fried rice and lo mein. Their chicken in any style is great.read more

    I'd give a -100 if I could. After being a happy customer here for years, we had an awful experience…read moreyou should know about. On 12/24/25, we couldn't get through their regular phone number quite a few times due to a busy signal. We then placed a Door Dash order at 4:50pm. After the app updating the delivery time several times, the order was suddenly "cancelled by the restaurant." We were really looking forward to our dinner for two hours, so you can imagine our disappointment and scrambling for alternatives on Christmas Eve. We did receive a refund for the exact amount that was charged to the credit card. We had decided to try the restaurant again on 12/31/25. Again, we couldn't get through. So I went in person to place the order to ask why the restaurant cancelled our 12/24/25 order. I've never heard of a confirmed order being cancelled before. They said they "cancel Door Dash orders at 6:30pm. A lot of people were disappointed, too." I said but we had placed our order at 4:50pm. I couldn't understand his reasoning. We decided to never use them again. Despite our terrible inconvenience and decision to never dine here again, we decided to place an order today 12/31/25 at 4:19pm for pick-up in person, so I could ask in person what happened on 12/24/25. They said today's order would take 25-30 minutes. It was ready at 4:37pm. That was redeemable, but we still don't understand what happened on 12/24:25 and don't feel confident that it will never happen again. So I imagine the lesson learned is beware of placing Door Dash orders at this restaurant! See photos for proof of our experience.

    Photos
    China Palace - Buffet for private party

    Buffet for private party

    China Palace - Couldn't be bothered to fold these into real Rangoon. And the flavor, bleh.

    Couldn't be bothered to fold these into real Rangoon. And the flavor, bleh.

    China Palace - Sweet Mixed Mushrooms with Snow Peas

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    Sweet Mixed Mushrooms with Snow Peas

    China Village - House Special crispy noodles Hong Kong style ($13.75)

    China Village

    3.5(156 reviews)
    2.5 mi
    $

    This is my favorite Chinese restaurant in the county!! I recently moved across town and was sad to…read morelearn that they do not deliver to my home. Today, I had the opportunity to go in person to order and pick up food while my dog was getting groomed next door. I ordered snow white garlic chicken, steamed rice, and egg rolls. While waiting, I got the call that my dog was ready to be picked up. I let them know I'd be back. As I was waking up to take my dog to the car, the lady at the cash register saw me and came running out with my other! That's incredible service!! The food was still piping hot when I got home. That's how close I live, yet I'm one mile out of their delivery zone. That's probably a good thing, because I'll treasure the meals more when I have to "work" to pick it up. Great food, excellent service, and I hope that someday they'll deliver to ALL of Novato.

    Called multiple times and was hung up on, when my husband tried he was also hung up on and when…read morecalled back to say that if he was hung up on he would place a complaint. She said "cool, thanks" then hung up. We weren't being rude, just trying to place an order. We didn't even get a chance to talk to anyone. We've had their food in the past and it's been good, but staff and customer service has really gone down hill in the last two years.

    Photos
    China Village - I haven't been here for years.   So clean.

    I haven't been here for years. So clean.

    China Village - Fortune cookies and soy sauce packets

    Fortune cookies and soy sauce packets

    China Village - Waiting area.

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    Waiting area.

    China Express - chinese - Updated May 2026

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