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    Chinatown Express

    2.8 (1.6k reviews)
    ModerateChinese
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Order Chinatown Express Takeout or Delivery

    Chinatown Express Photos

    Business Info

    CHINATOWN EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Chinatown Express

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    Chili oil
    Cam A.

    Came after a basket ball game one of the few places that was open . As someone coming from NYC . This food was very subpar and I was very underwhelmed. I got the shrimp chow fun. It contained a generous amount of shrimp, but the flavors fell flat.

    Linda O.

    The food remains respectable. However, the last time I was in, there was a change in atmosphere. At CE, fish tanks are found at the front area, to showcase their live seafood offerings. As I looked at them upon arrival, a staffer barked at me: "Don't touch anything". I was taken aback. The service that I received following this was equally as abrupt, too. I dislike lowering ratings, but the manner in which I'm treated is important. I admit that I miss Liu Shing, owner/patriarch, who was both maitre d' and supervisor for a long time. It was nice to converse with him. His hospitality infused the restaurant with good vibes. It seems his era is over.

    Flank Skin with White Turnips Casserole
    Omara R.

    There are only two things I ordered from this restaurant: roasted pig and the casserole. This time I ordered flank with turnips, it was tender, juicy, deep, thick,rich flavor super balanced with all the spices.

    Pili S.

    We were in the area for a hockey game at the Capital One Arena and came here for dinner. It was recommended by friends and when we walked in on Saturday at 5-5:30 pm, the packed place also solidified that this was a good decision. Ok. The roast duck is something to talk about. I've eaten roast duck ( Cantonese Style) all of my life. This was one of the most flavorful and juiciest pieces of duck I've ever had. We also ordered half Peking duck... because that's how we roll. I am used to the duck being served with the skin separated from the meat and with bao to place the goodies in instead of a pancake style. The next time I'll just try to order bao on the side. For a party of 4, and 4 entrees, we felt that the bill was reasonable. Especially as Peking duck is usually a big ticket item splurge! I don't pay attention to decor in a Chinese restaurant...I just care about the food!

    Lo5 Veggie Mein
    Aarti B.

    Authentic Chinese food with hand-pulled noodles, good vegetarian options! The stringy Singapore noodles with flavorful with curry seasoning and a mild spicy kick! The Veggie Lo Mein was a bit bland and dry, and wish it was more saucy. The crispy veggie roll was tasty. While both dishes didn't blow me away, the Singapore noodles was my pick of the 2! The portions are large, great leftovers for another meal! It's a good value - under $20 for a dish that doubles over for 2 meals. It's pretty quiet for lunch during the weekdays and don't need a reservation. The food is fast and you can be in and out in under an hour. It's a great, casual spot to grab some grub with colleagues!

    Peaking duck
    Eric S.

    This place has been a Chinatown mainstay for years. Walk by and watch them making Noodles and dumplings in the windows. They recently reopened from a renovation and the place is nicer than ever. It feels cleaner and brighter. It's a full menu. The noodles are made in house. Some of the seafood is swimming in tanks by the door. The service is okay. The prices have gone up, but that's par for most restaurants in DC.

    N9 - Duck and wonton noodle soup
    Angela S.

    This restaurant has been a staple to every DC chinatown visit. They have a very wide menu, making it a place for everyone. We enjoyed their hand pulled noodles and duck soup, although the broth of the soup was not as special. The staff was great at accommodating our large group of people.

    Pork Fried Dumpling
    Ches D.

    Tried this restaurant over Labor Day weekend after seeing whole cooked ducks hanging in a window out on the street. It was packed on a Sunday afternoon around 1pm. Service was quick and everything came out fresh and hot. The Peking duck came with thin slices of green onion and flour tortillas and was very flavorful. The leek and pork fried dumplings were different, with a thick doughy texture. The hunan chicken was perfectly spicy, and the chicken with mixed vegetables were in a gravy sauce that went well with white rice. The best item I tried was the roast pork noodle soup! The dish was flavorful and light. Definitely recommend trying the Hong Kong lemon tea! Ambiance was nothing special, just a normal Chinese-style restaurant.

    Brian M.

    I've visited D.C. four times and I've found my way to Chinatown Express on three of those trips. Ok, the place doesn't look like anything special but looks sure can be deceiving. The food is so flavorful and they have a great selection of. dishes. Aside from some handmade noodles, how about Peking duck or perhaps a fish prepared right from the aquarium. The servers hustle with not a lot of space and the place is usually quite busy. Great food in the heart of D.C. Chinatown. I'm happy to make Chinatown Express a stop when in the neighborhood.

    Authentic food with excellent service! Food came out timely and the water pitcher was very convenient for refilling our glasses.

    09 General Tso's Chicken Combo
    Jay T.

    One of my favorite places to eat lunch in DC. Everything I have tried has been great. The service is good. I would eat here often if I lived in the area.

    Rashad S.

    Duck was outstanding. Nice people inside. Great location for event food before a game

    Sampling of Duck, Pork, and Pork Belly

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    7 months ago

    Food was good and so was the service. ambience leaves much to be desired. It's the people that make the experience not the place

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    8 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Used to come here before Caps games when I lived in the area! Now I come every time I'm in DC. Great place - love the redo!!!

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    10 months ago

    Service was amazing, the ambiance of the store was authentic, and the food was delicious and plentiful.

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    1 year ago

    The food was good and prepared quickly! The sweet and sour chicken, ribs, and eggplant were delicious.

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    Page 2 of 41

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    I rate restaurants within their category and concept. I am not comparing a local Chinese restaurant…read moreto a Michelin star dining experience. If a place delivers strong execution, quality flavors, and exceeds expectations for what it is trying to be, that earns a top rating from me. Chili Wok did exactly that. We recently visited Alexandria and had an excellent meal from start to finish. Everything we ordered was flavorful, well prepared, and arrived tasting fresh and intentional. The soup dumplings were a standout. The wrappers held together nicely, the filling was savory and juicy, and each bite had that satisfying burst of broth you hope for when ordering them. The fried rice was also very well done. It had great wok flavor, proper texture, and did not feel greasy or heavy, which is where many places miss the mark. The sweet and sour ribs were another highlight. They had a great balance of sweetness and tang, with tender meat and enough texture to keep them interesting. A dish that can sometimes feel one note was handled really well here. Beyond the food, the overall experience was strong. When every dish lands and nothing disappoints, that says a lot about the consistency of the kitchen. Overall, Chili Wok delivered exactly what I hope for in this category: flavorful food, solid technique, and an enjoyable dining experience. Easy 5 stars, and I would gladly return.

    Avoid- waste of food, money & time!…read more Family wanted to try order out from them. I ordered the Ginger Chicken. It was container of boiled bok choy, boiled white meat chicken, and tasted of some cheap raw garlic. It was so bad it made the white rice taste bad. Zero ginger flavor at all. Zero. Made me sick to my stomach. I lost my appetite it was so bad. So I threw it out. Will never order from them again.

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    Soupy Dumpling & Fancy Cuppa Bubble Tea - 5. Spicy Wonton In Chili Oil

    Soupy Dumpling & Fancy Cuppa Bubble Tea

    4.5(123 reviews)
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    I found this place on tiktok and I love soup dumplings, soup and boba. This place has it all!…read more Coming inside there's a counter where you can order drinks and food to go but if you plan to dine in, you just sit down at any available table and order from the QR code. The restaurant I very clean and the decorations are really pretty. We ordered soup dumplings and noodles and our food was ready really fast. I ordered the veg spicy and sour noodles and they come with an egg and crispy pieces of corn and a lot of boi hot which I love. The flavor was spicy with a hint of lime for the sour flavor. My husband ordered the beef noodle soup and he said it tasted amazing. Our chicken soup dumplings were full of flavor and a lot of broth inside. This place is really similar to Yu noodles which is one of my favorite places so if I'm ever in the area again I would go to this place for soup dumplings. Our server was really sweet as well.

    Stopped by for dinner and had a good time overall. Seat yourself at an open table and place your…read moreorder using the QR code. Our order was brought out faster than I expected, with our mains coming up before the apps. Although not as spicy as I was hoping for, the spicy mapo tofu with noodles was really good. Of course I had to add ground pork for a few dollars more! To drink I had the strawberry fruit tea (50% sugar), which was good and refreshing. I also tried the pan fried dumplings and spicy wontons in chili oil. Both were just okay. I'll be back when I'm in the area to try out additional items.

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    Han Palace Woodley Park is a convenient location for the surrounding area since most traditional…read moreChinese restaurants are near downtown DC or elsewhere. This is a much needed addition to the Connecticut Ave corridor which lacks authentic Chinese restaurants and especially Dim Sum (brunch small plates). I hope that there are more choices like this in the near future for this surrounding area which lacks good traditional Chinese restaurants. The parking can be daunting since it still is in DC, might have a bit of a walk but that is everywhere in DC. The food was fast and had some unique choices that are not on a standard menu.

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