We order from here every once in a while when we are feeling like Chinese food and want to order takeout close to home. We've never had a bad experience, and we've never had a great experience. It is a good price given the large portion sizes- if you order an entree, you will probably have another meal's worth of leftovers. I would not go for the dining out experience or ambiance as it feels a bit like a cafeteria, but for takeout it is fine- exactly what you might expect from a quick Chinese restaurant- and we typically like what we order, typically the sesame chicken and crab rangoon. The fried rice is a bit too salty for me, but the entrees come with the white rice and I usually enjoy it. Online ordering is an improvement that makes it quicker and easier than over the phone. read more

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Almost ashamed to say this but this was my 1st time trying China Star despite it being in my hometown. Met my friend here because she likes the place and I was so glad I tried it. They have an extensive menu but when I saw Happy Family on there, my decision was made. Love happy family with the variety of seafood and meat. I got house special fried rice to take home for my husband. It also was tasty. This restaurant appears to be run by a family. Always like to see that. read more

China Star - My friend's combo plate- next time I try it - Chinese Near Me - Columbia, Illinois

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A pretty average Chinese restaurant with dozens of standard menu items to choose from. Several lunch specials offer a good value: an entree and side with fried rice for under $6.50. Beef and broccoli were satisfactory with generous meat mixed in with the veggies and rice. Chicken fried rice and crab Rangoon were included. The Rangoon were wonderfully light pastries stuffed with cream filling and served hot. Accommodating staff: They worked with us on a special request. Clean, bright dining room. read more

I ordered the general tso chicken very good. the crab ran goon it was very hot but good the little girl was grumpy i get the vibe shes working for her parents and had no desire to be there no small talk was given even though i gave a large tip..... i would not rate the service on her. after all we have all been there "working for mom and dad" I would go back. my belly is full now i'm wondering if eating so much was a good idea i have just enough for lunch but i'm thinking i'll still be full and yes i'll be eating the fortune cookie next so i can feel totally guilty for gorging myself any way for give my spelling i stopped caring about that 40 years ago be safe read more

I moved to Illinois several months ago and was happy to discover China Star, which is my new go-to place for carryout Chinese. Their egg rolls are maybe the best I've had. I do not like crab rangoon, but family members who do pronounced them excellent. Good noodle dishes, full of flavor. Great sesame chicken and other such traditional entrees. One thing to note--the rude service is almost laughable. I put up with it only because the food is good and the location is convenient for me. But do not expect to be greeted, welcomed, or thanked for coming there. Here's your food. Now move along. read more

Called to order and car nav said I'd be there at 9pm closing or a minute earlier but they can be off a minute or two. Told they close at 9 and don't stay a minute later and the young lady went on and on about this. Ordered two large orange chicken anyway bc I had 3 starving men to feed. Got there on time and they hadn't started my order!!! So I had to wait about 10 minutes. When I got back to the hotel they had broccoli in the orange chicken--wtf? Thought maybe how they do it down there but didn't recall it online. Checked the copy of the menu I picked up and nothing about broccoli...maybe they ran out of chickens. So if you like rude people and a lot of broccoli... read more

Run of the mill hole in the wall Chinese food. Traveling for work and hadn't gotten the "lay of the land" yet so I went in and ordered chicken with vegetables (no white rice). Was told it would be about 8-10 minutes. It was only about 4 minutes and my food was ready to go. Got back to the hotel (only two blocks away) and when I went to eat it it was very warm but not hot. And the pieces of "chicken" were long, rubbery, and unlike any chicken I'd seen. Heck one of the pieces looked like part of the chickens comb!!! I ate it all with no bad after effects. Probably will try a different place next time. read more

Child labor, rude attitudes and food that's still frozen!! The broccoli is still frozen. The fried rice is a poor excuse for fried rice. Just chicken and onions. Fried dumplings are the worst I've ever had....... but the worst part about this place is the child labor!! So I'm wondering when did the state of IL make it legal to have a 10 or 11yr old child run the front counter of a restaurant and clean the tables? The last time I checked there is a legal age requirement to work. While I am all for teaching children responsibilities, this is a very uncomfortable experience. I asked a few questions about the food since this was my 1st time here...... this child is very rude and so was the man that stepped out of the kitchen. Then again, if I was 10 I'd want to be doing things children do and not working. I'm surprised the people of Columbia have not complained about this establishment to the authorities. I will not be back. If I wasn't with others I would have just left. Shame on you people for allowing this place to do this. SMH!! read more

China Star - Worst fried rice ever. So bland. - Chinese Near Me - Columbia, Illinois

I get food from here at least 2 times a month The food is always good They have a young lady that works the desk she is pretty young. And she is so rude read more

This restaurant is a giant disappointment. My first piece of advice is don't order anything with beef. The beef is such poor quality. I found it fatty and tasteless. The service is awful. Young woman , probably family and in high school, is very very rude . She acts as if your presence is a huge inconvenience to her. I asked her what vegetables were in a particular dish and her answer was Chinese vegetables. When I pressed her, she provided no further information . Why not just say I don't know, let me find out for you? Instead she just said, do you want it or not? I ordered from this place multiple times hoping that the next dish I ordered would be better . I love Chinese food and this is the only place in town . Sadly I had to give up . The last time I ate there I had to return the food and ask for a refund. ​​​ read more

The young girl who takes the orders has a bad attitude. Not only did she get the same order wrong twice she then over charged me. She is way to busy on her tablet. My wife's meal was good my meal was good but bland. Had to add a little spice to it . read more

Ugh, i feel like i am so far behind in reviews, how will I ever catch up! This place occupies the former Mr.Chu's in Columbia- by Schnucks- I cannot express how happy I am that they replaced with another chinese place. A town is NOT a town without and chinese place!! and China Star-- hits it on the head!! Not only is China Star BETTER than Mr.Chus- they also remodeled- I couldnt be happier with the new place- Everything I had from here was soo good, and HOT. The Gen Tso's chicken was awesome, and not too spicy. The crab ragoon was nice and stuffed, and had good flavor. I will never love a chinese places as much as I love China King in Fairview Heights. However.... i will say, this is a very close second! I will stick to this place, and they have a loyal customer in me! read more

First time here and just "average" Chinese food. I probably wouldn't come back unless nothing else was open. I wanted to stay away from fried food so I ordered Kung Pao Chicken. The chicken has breading and fried so that ruined my dinner. I didn't eat much. I have never had Kung Pao Chicken with the chicken that way and It was soggy and not hot at all. Mongolian beef was good but nothing special. The Egg drop soup with Wonton had too much cornstarch so the soup was too thick and slimy and the dumplings were waterlogged. That's about it. read more

New Chinese place by Bully's BBQ in columbia il centre. I had been to other Chinese places similar to this one, (green china in ofallon mo) green china in ofallon is known for huge sweet crab rangoons. China Star had the Same Sweet crab rangoons just smaller. Very good! Sesame chicken was good & Mongolian beef was good with lots of meat. Egg roll was ok. Very small. This place will become known for their crab rangoons as well. I wouldn't hesitate to order take out from there again soon . Mm sweet crab rangoon :) read more

China Star - a sign for a chinese restaurant - Chinese Near Me - Columbia, Illinois

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We've been ordering from here for years. The food is always hot, fresh and tasty. The only reason for the 4 instead of 5 stars is the rude counter service. A very young girl answers the phone and works the counter and you can definitely tell she doesn't want to be there. Sullen, short and rude. I think we will start going to Thai House more often. They're much more friendly than this place. read more

The food is really amazing. And service is fast and great. But one thing I would really like is a calorie count on all the items on the menu. read more

the food was great always is! but the young lady working the counter and answering phones is always unbelievably rude! she's the reason china star is loosing service as it seems. read more

Food is always fresh and restraunt is always clean. What else do you need from a chinese place in America.

Good food every time, Crab Rangoon is rock star . People are nice and very helpful. Defiantly will go back over and over.

Service was quick and easy. Food came out very fast. Their egg rolls are wonderful. Crab Rangoon is amazing. Great flavor and texture. Will definitely go back!!!! read more

Didn't order because I was told the wait to receive any food while dining in was 40 minutes. How are you, as a business, going to let your times get up to 40 minutes on a Thursday evening? Mind you there were about 10 people inside the restaurant, so it wasn't busy. The marker poster board was trashy. The styrofoam cups hanging from the walls are also cheap and trashy. There is little to no artwork on the walls. Overall, it seemed like a cheap, dirty, restaurant and that was only after being inside the place for 5 min. Here's a tip: NEVER let your times get to 40 min. Your longest wait should be half that! read more

Fast, affordable, and good. Call ahead and they'll have your order ready in no time. Can't speak to the whole menu but the sweet and sour chicken is top notch. Prices are reasonable compared to any other similar place. Great lunch specials as well, with tons of options! read more

Excellent food. To go orders are usually ready in 10-15 minutes from call being placed. The prices are very reasonable.

I got the Hunan Pork w/chix fried rice and eggroll. Fried rice was very good which is a surprise from most Chinese restaurants like this. Hunan pork was good too. Ordered late, about 8:45 pm and was hot and fresh. Eggroll was mediocre. read more

Run of the mill Chinese fast food.

i eat there often and my food is always ready in 10 and it just makes my week!! i work at a restaurant too and customer service is super draining plz stop bashing this girl, she's super sweet! notice she's the one usually at the till so plz tip too! they have taken great care to make their restaurant as safe as possible during COVID and it is greatly appreciated! read more

This place is sooo not good. Gave it a few chances... And no more! Meat always seemed undercooked and floppy. Sauces not very flavorful. Take a few extra minutes and go across the river for better Chinese food. read more

Decent food but the customer service placing a takeout order as well during pickup made it a miserable experience. The female who took our order was rude and abrupt. When paying a 10 or 11 year old girl (turns out she took our order as well) never said anything in greeting, please, thank you or you're welcome. Very unbusiness-like much less well-mannered. I can totally agree with Lisa's review; drive 10 minutes across the river to Hunan Peking and be treated like a customer AND great food. read more

I've had them several times and the food always meets expectations. It's always hot and delicious! But there's nothing special about it which is why it only gets a 4 star rating. read more