It's been a bit since I have last visited. Went Friday evening and was surprised to see a remodel that was not all the way done. I'm excited to see their completed project. We sat in the main dining room with one other couple. Service was friendly and since we have been here many times before we ordered quickly. I was disappointed that our dishes were slow coming out and not together but when arrived each dish was full of flavor and temperature appropriate with good portions. We ordered appetizer chicken wings, a chow main dish and lemon chicken. The chow main was brought out first without the other dishes for at least 10 minutes. I expected the appetizer dish first or at least to arrive with the other dishes all at once or within a short time in order to enjoy together. It was late so I did not address this. The waitress never said our other dishes were soon to come or were being prepared . I actually thought they were forgotten. I was about to ask when she finally brought the wings and said they take a long time to cook. I understand that but it should Be said up front so you know it's not Going to arrive first and can decide to wait to order your other dishes or not. The lemon chicken was brought out soon after the wings. We had already eaten the chow Main as we were not going to wait as it would Have been cold. The flavor of CGR food is very good but I was not fond of how the dishes came out. I do plan to return and I will address the timely arrival of my order so I can enjoy a cohesmeal together. I think this was a communication problem that can be corrected. Give CGR a try you won't be disappointed with the flavor. read more

I came here a few weeks ago with my mother-in-law after we finished shopping at Trader Joe's, and I'm really glad we decided to stop in. The food was delicious and the service was impeccable, but what stood out to me the most was the atmosphere. It had such a calm, traditional feel that made the whole experience so relaxing. It wasn't loud or rushed, it felt like the kind of place where you could sit, enjoy your meal, and have a good conversation. The portions were generous, which makes it a great place to come with family. Even weeks later, I still remember how much we enjoyed it, and I'd definitely come back. read more

Met a friend here for lunch and it was just okay. The interior is very nice and the service wasn't bad, but the food was just eh. Ordered: Wor won ton 2/5: The won tons were okay but the soup was bland and the veggies uninspired. I've never had celery in my soup! Bits of celery, water chestnuts, and bamboo shoots. Some chicken. It felt like a mish mash of the day's leftovers! Seafood fried rice 3/4: This was actually decent. I was surprised to find a piece of fish in the fried rice which I think I can honesty say I've never had before. The flavor and color of the rice was good but the "seafood" was skimpy. I think skimpy seems to be the common theme here. Again, the inside of the restaurant is nice and relaxing but the food is eh. read more

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Well, my friend recommended we meet up for lunch here and I wasn't all that excited because most of the Chinese restaurants I've been to lately the food all taste the same... But and I mean, but... I was pleasantly surprised by the varied flavors and taste and portions of this Restaurant ! We had the sweet-and-sour and the Kung pow chicken and the green beans plus potstickers and I must say I highly recommend this restaurant. We got there around 11:30 and there is parking right in the front and were greeted warmly and everything was clean and our server was most attentive... Highly recommend. read more

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Since our favorite place on the boulevard closed down, we've been in search for a good Chinese restaurant. One of my friends at Church recommended this place and I'm glad that she did. We have been in search for a good tomato beef, chow mein, Hong Kong style for the longest time since our go to place in Chinatown closed decades ago and there has been a price gouging of one of the places in Cv we used to go all the time. We were able to try the tomato beef chow mein Hong Kong style here and to our delight, it's one of the best tomato beef chow mein we've had! The portions are more than generous, the price is reasonable, beef is tender, and it's delicious and just how I remembered our tomato beef chow mein to be in the past. AND they give fresh hot homemade mustard if you ask. The only thing I wish they did was put the sauce on the side bc by the time we get home, it's all soggy and we miss out on the crispiness of the noodles. We also tried the wor wonton. They were generous w the ingredients, but broth is a bit bland and it was just ok. Ordered take out several times here and never seems to be that many people. Will be looking forward to trying out other dishes. read more

China Garden Restaurant - Tomato Beef Pan Fried Noodles - Chinese Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Reasonable prices, good portions and friendly people working here. Ambiance is enhanced with some plants that are strategically placed to make the dining room more comfortable. I believe this to be a good value. Everything these days is so expensive but I never remember this place to be. I've been countless times over the past 10 years and keep coming back for takeout or for dinner in. Was first recommended this place by a friend Tony from church - he's was more local to this place 15 years ago before I moved here maybe 9 years ago. I drive past everyday and go to the TJs across the street often. Portions are generous and the meats are cooked well. Tender - I don't know what they do but most Chinese places have great ways to tenderize meats. I like to sit near the many windows and like that they showed interest in the interior and did the most they could with it given what they had for space. read more

I got order #2 for dinner because supposedly the lunch was over !which was fine .The food I ordered tasted like it was leftover from lunch !I have eaten from here plenty of times, before the pandemic .I would never go back or recommend this place again terrible !I have to go find something else to eat !Not a happy customer at all read more

China Garden Restaurant - Shrimp fried rice ,sweet and sour pork ,Kung Pao Chicken everything so dry .I put some in my plate to try !NO THANK YOU! - Chinese Near Me - Castro Valley, California

The sesame chicken was very good! Perfectly cooked and nice and saucy. Honey walnut shrimp was also very good. Nice and crispy and delicious. I enjoyed the wonton soup as well. The garlic chow mein was tasty but I didn't taste much garlic. All in all I was very happy with this place and I have to say it just might be my new go to for Chinese food. read more

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The restaurant is nice inside. The Mongolian beef was just okay, nothing special. I also got the thai iced tea but it was atrocious. It was way too sweet, I couldn't drink more than a few sips. I would maybe give this place another chance. read more

We always order takeout from here and it always makes us feel better. The woman that works there is so sweet. Our go-to is the broccoli beef, chicken chow mein, any soup, and sesame chicken. Our absolute favorite is the sesame chicken! read more

Decent Chinese food, impeccable service and the place is very nice and clean! I'll be back!

Good chow mein and decent lunch specials. Nothing bad nothing great either. Parking not a problem very busy intersection.

Service was horrible and food was subpar at best. From the moment I got there, I was ignored then dismissed as I placed an online order and the hostess assumed I was picking up a DoorDash order because she didn't ask for my name or order number. After seeing other folks, who were there after me, get their orders, I asked for an update and she looked at a bag that was there since I entered and just handed it to me without any apologies for running late or not confirming with me. When I got home, the food was room temperature and the flavor was just okay, especially the salt and pepper spare ribs where there was no pepper taste and it was mostly bones. Never ordering from here again. read more

A Trader Joe's employee was in to get food on their break. Somehow the order got mixed up and there was confusion about if the order was to go or not. The TJ's employee was treated badly. So badly that my son and I walked out (we had not ordered). The food is good. But you can't treat people like that. Go somewhere else. read more

Ayer mandé a mi hijo y a mi sobrino a comprar comida a este lugar y ellos ordenaron la comida para ir a recogerla, para comer en casa. Y la verdad que ellos ordenaron chow mein no tenía sabor pero dije (bueno si le pongo chile tal vez ayude un poquito) y le puse y más o menos le dio sabor. Pero lo peor estaba por venir , cuando abro la caja donde estaba el Mongolian beef me llevo la sorpresa que sólo venían cuatro pedacitos de carne y lo demás era pura cebolla entonces dije yo ordené Mongolian beef o cebolla beef!!! me molesté mucho porque siento que a veces cuando uno ordena comida para llevar a casa la gente no hace bien la comida pensando en que cuando uno llegue a casa ya no va a regresar a reclamarles y eso fue lo que hice yo no regresé a reclamarles porque vivo un poco retirado del restaurant. Pero aquí les comparto una foto. Gracias por leer mi triste anécdota. read more

China Garden Restaurant - Éste es el plato de Mongolian beef pero no veo mucho la carne - Chinese Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Solid Chinese food with a great variety of items. I mainly do takeout, but have used dine in service as well which was also good. Parking is fair. read more

Spacious, clean, quick service, and especially tasty cuisine! Ordered the chicken salad, which was plentiful and had a nice semi-sweet dressing. Plus fried rice with broccoli chicken that were good entrees as well. read more

Ordered lunch special Mongolian beef over rice. Costed close to $18 which I thought was kind of crazy. When I brought it home, found that it was all onions very very little meat and the worst Rice you can imagine. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would give it a negative 5 .... Waste of money read more

Food was decent. Vegetables were on the larger side, I prefer smaller bite size pieces personally. The flavor just wasn't there for me. Everything was very bland. The salt and pepper fish was a little too fishy tasting to me if that makes sense. The chow mein my 7 year old LOVED. I truly believe this place is kid friendly flavoring if you have picky eaters. Service was excellent and attentive. Area is large and accommodating. They have a cute bar area that wasn't staffed at the time but wouldn't mind coming back for a drink when I have no kids. We got 5 à la cart dishes 2 soft drinks and that put us at $109, which fed 6 people and we havr some left overs. My kids devoured the fried rice before I got a picture. I absolutely love cashew chicken but I wasn't really a fan of it here unfortunately. Nothing was gross but definitely just too bland for me. Overall, I would say for groups/parties etc this place would ideal. read more

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Great place for a big group/family gathering. Fast service, good food and great price.

Having read the comments--and having sat aside in the restaurant myself that very day--I can certainly understand the issue. If a venue is designed for dine-in service, yet every customer who walks in requests takeout only to end up sitting anywhere in the dining area eating straight out of white bags, it genuinely dampens the dining experience for those who have come specifically to eat in. If you absolutely insist on eating out of your white takeout bag, the lady there suggested that you could sit in a corner off to the side; alternatively, she offered to transfer your food onto a proper plate for you to eat, and then pack it back up for takeout once you were finished. read more

I rec'd two large scoops of caold, day old rice. As I was moving in to my new apartment, I did not have pots or pans to heat it OR a microwave. Intended to ask for a partial refund, but I'm busy living my life. All I can do is leave this review. I question the integrity and honesty of an business accepting my $45 and then sending out cold (HARD) rice. I ordered a very spicy entree and it was inedible w/o rice. read more

I want to share a deeply disappointing experience my wife and I had at China Garden in Castro Valley on September 21, 2024. This was not just an issue of bad customer service--it exposed unethical and potentially illegal practices involving undisclosed fees and deceptive pricing. We used to live in Castro Valley a few years ago and often ordered food from China Garden through DoorDash. We loved their food, so when we found ourselves back in the area after moving out of state, we decided to order from them again for pickup through DoorDash. After placing the order and arriving at the restaurant, we decided we were too hungry to wait until we got home, so we thought we'd just dine in instead. The Issue: Undisclosed Service Charge When we entered the restaurant, which was nearly empty except for a group of diners and some workers prepping vegetables, I politely asked if we could eat inside instead of picking up the order. A staff member said that was fine, but she immediately mentioned that the prices would be different. This confused me, as we had already paid for the food through DoorDash. When I asked her to clarify, she said that we'd have to pay a service charge to dine in, even though the food was already paid for. This made no sense. We had already paid more than their in-store prices through DoorDash, and we were planning to tip generously anyway, but the idea that we would be charged a hidden service fee just to sit down in a nearly empty restaurant was ridiculous. Pricing Discrepancy Curious, I picked up a menu to see if they had any mention of a service charge or different prices for dine-in versus pickup. To my surprise, the prices of the two items we ordered were actually lower on the in-store menu than what we had paid through DoorDash! So not only had we paid more on DoorDash, but the restaurant was attempting to charge us even more to eat there. This was simply unjustified. Lack of Transparency and Disrespectful Behavior I politely asked the staff member why there was no mention of the service charge on the menu or posted anywhere in the restaurant. Her response? She pointed vaguely toward the wall where they had health permits and a few other signs, but none of them mentioned a service fee. When I pressed further, she finally pointed to a sign that read, "We reserve the right to refuse service to anyone." This response was completely irrelevant and dismissive. I wasn't asking about their right to refuse service--I was asking about a hidden fee that they were trying to impose on us. When I explained that this wasn't fair and asked again where the service charge was disclosed, she became evasive and giggled as if my questions were amusing to her. This was incredibly disrespectful and frustrating. Deceptive Actions with DoorDash After this back-and-forth, my wife and I decided not to dine in because the staff's attitude and refusal to provide a proper explanation left a bad taste in our mouths. I asked her to cancel our order since we didn't want to support a business that treated customers this way. She refused to cancel the order herself and told me I would need to contact DoorDash to get a refund. Fine, I thought--no point arguing anymore. But as we were leaving, something even more deceptive happened: the restaurant marked our order as "ready for pickup" on DoorDash--right after telling us they wouldn't be making the food! This was done purely to avoid the cancellation, making it seem like the order was completed when it wasn't. Fortunately, I contacted DoorDash, explained the situation, and they refunded us in full immediately. But this deceptive practice was a final insult. Violations of California Law China Garden's actions aren't just frustrating--they violate several California consumer protection laws. Here's why: Violation of SB 478 (California Senate Bill 478) California Consumer Legal Remedies Act (CLRA) Civil Code 1770: False Advertising Conclusion: Dishonest Practices and Poor Customer Service What could have been a pleasant meal at one of our former favorite restaurants turned into a frustrating and disappointing experience. China Garden not only tried to charge us hidden fees without any prior disclosure, but the way their staff handled our simple questions was disrespectful and unprofessional. This kind of behavior, combined with the illegal and unethical practice of adding service charges without notice, makes me strongly question the integrity of this business. If you decide to dine here, beware of hidden fees that are not mentioned on the menu, and be prepared for unprofessional treatment if you dare to ask about them. I have filed a complaint with the California Department of Consumer Affairs and plan to report this incident to other consumer protection agencies. Transparency in pricing is not optional--it's required by law, and I would expect better from any business, let alone one we've supported in the past. read more

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$80 worth of food and I didn't even get free rice what restaurant doesn't give free rice with $80 of food now? Also do not order anything battered and fried or all you will get is batter no meat! Chow Fun was good but half onions and greasy... hard pass for me on ordering again. read more

After shopping at Trader Joe's across the street. We decided to stop by here around 3:30 PM. Since the lunch special hours were over we decided to order just two dishes. We ordered seafood fried rice and a salt and pepper squid. They were both delicious. Even though I was getting full I just couldn't stop eating. Service was very good also. Will definitely go back and try some other food. read more

China Garden Restaurant - Seafood fried rice and Salt & Pepper Squid - Chinese Near Me - Castro Valley, California

Ugh. Avoid this restaurant at all costs. Food quality has gone straight down hill. When you order for delivery it arrives cold and the packaging has leaked everywhere. And for the ridiculous prices they charge, you'd expect more. AVOID AT ALL COSTS read more

It's been my favorite Bay Area Chinese restaurant since 2005! I love this place. The food always tastes fresh and is so tasty. The prices are mostly okay. Not as cheap as some places, yet much higher quality food. The inside has a nice pleasant theme. Service can be slow when it's very crowded. But good wait staff. Highly recommend. read more

It's just honestly very bad. All the food is bland and very obviously of bad quality. The sweet and sour pork was all fat and no pork. Should be called sweet and sour fat. The chow mein was the worst chow mein I've ever had in my entire life, I wish I was exaggerating. No flavor at all, service was poor. Tip was pre added to the bill. The portions weren't even that big for the price. I'm so sad. read more

Food was unbelievably, astronomically bland. Tried adding soy sauce and chili oil to the chow mein and that only made it worse. Cheap cuts of meat, very chewy. Restaurant was nice but service wasn't the best, they were kinda rude and rushed; they charged a tip automatically. Somehow the tap water was better than all the food in here. I knew seeing only caucasian people in here was a red flag. read more

Food is good. Servings are generous. Plenty of choices to accommodate many different tastes. Nice space.

Located right across the street from Trader Joe's is the China Garden Restaurant. The dining area is very nice looking . They even have a bar inside. I placed a to go order for salt and pepper wings and spare ribs. I did notice a patron off to the side who had already been served, now I don't know what she was eating.... but whatever it was she had a pretty good amount of food on her plate! That's a good sign. This looks like a place that can get very busy because all their tables are very nicely decorated. And yes they do have lots of ample seating here. I will definitely come back for a sit down meal in the near future. read more

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We love this restaurant for eat-in or take out. Always consistent. Vegetables are always cooked perfectly with a nice crunch. The service is always good. The parking can be a little tricky getting in and out but it's worth it. read more

Yum! Wish I took a picture of the food but with two littles hungry I needed to get food on their plate. This is my first time here. The food was delicious we had sweet and sour, broccoli beef, potstickers, and white rice. All made fresh and hot. The restaurant was very clean and the staff was lovely. We will definitely be back. read more

We placed an order over the phone and they told us it would be ready In an hour, we got there in an hour and all of our food was hot and ready to take home! Super polite as well read more

Did the owner/cook change here?? The regular ladies at the counter weren't there either. I'm saddened to write this review because for over 10 years, this has been my favorite Chinese restaurant. I ordered some usual items that have been solid every time until today. Shrimp fried rice, didn't look or taste the same. It was yellow and not well mixed, totally different. Salt and pepper calamari was super puffy, overly breaded tiny pieces of cut up fillets. Not the golden light crispy juicy chunks of squid. Neither of the dishes were anything like they've had ever. It's like a whole other restaurant using the same name. Pretty disappointed. I really hope it was just an off day or the regular cook called out. If this is the new China Garden I'll have to find another go-to place :( read more

China Garden Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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Always amazing food and wonderful service. The food is definitely reasonably priced. Both dine in and take out food are delicious and the restaurant, while looking small from the outside, is comfortable. Our favorite place by far! read more

Food amazing, quick service Love this place! read more

China Garden Restaurant - Shrimp iron plate - Chinese Near Me - Castro Valley, California

I love coming here for lunch. The fried rice is my favorite, the noodles (chow mein) are meh, not exciting. The almond chicken is really good and we liked the s&s pork. Food comes out hot each time and service is pretty quick. Parking is odd and you have to watch out when pulling out. It's nice and sunny inside with lots of light. It feels nice and tables were spacious. We love coming here for lunch read more

A friend and I went to Castro Valley to visit Father Philip, OFM. He recommended China Garden because it was local and nearby. This was my first visit, a great opportunity to try it out. This place is nicely decorated with lots of sunshine coming through the windows. Lunch service is to the inside right on wood tables and dinner to the left on cloth and glass top tables. The place is very clean and airy. The hostess/server (I think Yuling) was polite and allowed us to pick a table. After we settled in, she brought large menus that reminded me of my high school yearbook. Inside, was a vast assortment from House Specials, Set and Family Dinners, Entrees over Rice, Clay Pot and something interesting called Iron Plate. The three of us focused on the Lunch Specials about 2 pages worth. We ordered Prawns over Fried Rice, Special #2 Almond Chicken and I chose Special #1 Sweet n Sour Pork. All Lunch Specials come with a small bowl of Hot Sour soup which was perfect on this cold day. It was just a little spicier than I like but still full of flavors. Our plates arrived looked great with generous amounts of fried rice, about half a plate. Food was tasty with no complaints but I sadly counted only 6 pieces of sweet n sour pork, however it did come with chow mein. Pot of jasmine green tea was $5 and a tea bag fee of 20 cents. Our total with tax was $49.10, paid $60. Overall, it was a very nice meal and lunch experience. Easy to have table conversations. Next time, I will have to try the Iron Plate choices. If you are in the area, I recommend you stop by China Garden. read more

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China Garden may have remodeled sometime in the last decade. they have a modernistic translucent all glass frontage. offerings: typical Chinese (Cantonese) food. eats. beef chow fun (10.95) -large portion, semi-tasty, no wok hay essence, almost bland except for salty -mostly tender sliced beef, bean sprouts, green onions, onions. -fulfilling with slight sodium aftertaste. 3.5 stars, good value, above average taste. food came out in less than 10 minutes. parking available in front or back, takeout only, no inside or outside dining. read more

China Garden Restaurant - Frontage - Chinese Near Me - Castro Valley, California

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