I had been eyeing up Chino Bandido for months. I live in Surprise and was looking for an opportunity to get over to the Phoenix area and try them out. Finally had a free day and went for lunch. A large restaurant in a strip mall with plenty of parking. When you order you have many choices between proteins , rice , burrito or quesadilla . You can have it either in a combo bowl or rice bowl. I like Carnitas and tried a combo bowl. I had a Carnitas burrito , the Gringo quesadilla , Chicken fried rice and Black beans. It comes in a metal takeout tin. I asked if the Carnitas had onions in it because I'm sensitive to them . The server ( nice guy) said the Carnitas had some but I could have something else if I wanted to. I gave it a try. Both , the burrito and quesadilla had scallions in them. Not a fan of them but I ate it. You get a nice portion of food. Everything was fine . For me a return trip is not in the cards. Too far from my house and the food was average . read more

Oh, how we miss Chino Bandido! In 2014 the Chandler location closed and we were dumbfounded. We have made the trek to the N. 19th location when it was still in operation but it is a bit far for us. Then in June of 2021 they closed their 1000 SQ feet location and reopened their new 6000 SQ ft location in July on W. Bell Ave. Chino cult fans were celebrating! My daughter and I finally made the 40 mile drive to their "new" location last month. We saw a bigger kitchen, lots more seating and decor that includes quirky yellow and lavender walls that only Chino fans would understand. ;) Their unique taste combinations of Chinese and Mexican foods are still one of a kind that build their business. Your meal may not be served pipping hot but for $14.40 the filling entrees are hard to beat in my opinion. Pick two proteins, two sides AND you can have one of your proteins put into a burrito or quesadilla. I like it when the quesadilla comes out toasted on the edges and soft in the middle. One of their super fresh cookies are still included when ordering a combo. Their snickerdoodle cookies are ones to make my daughter's mouth water when talking about them! I recall their chocolate volcano cookies being my fave! Both are fresh and a large size. The staff are still friends and deliver your order directly to your table. We stuffed ourselves and reminisced over the good times we've had at the three Chino Bandido locations in the past. It is good to see a local owned family business thrive again! read more

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Great place to get some good food that has some kick to it. The service is always amazing, and the they are pretty quick with the orders. The inside is big and spacious with plenty of seating. A must try for some Mexican-Chinese influenced food. read more

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It was fine. Sort of in the middle of nowhere and clearly a bumping lunch spot for co-workers to get a little bit of... Chinese food... and Mexican food... for cheap? Everyone differs in what to order, but the Jade Red Chicken and the beans and rice with a quesadilla seems to be the go-to. The flavors of each item separately is solid, but mixing them together feels like when I used to mix sodas at fast food places for fun--it was a unique experiment, but Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, Coke, Sprite, and Lemonade don't go together. Neither does sweet and sour chicken and quesadillas. read more

The Jade Red Chicken & Jen Pork are still a hit for me, so while in the area, I had to make a stop. Chinese-Mexican Fusion made to order. I did the 2 meat & 2 base Chino Combo. Had the chicken fried rice and the jerk fried rice. After placing my order, I spaced that I typically do a burrito for my pork, but also realized I was good and not super hungry. I do wish they had Coke instead of Pepsi, as Pepsi Zero just isn't as popular or hit like Coke Zero... & I needed to have a kick to my drink. Welcomed by the staff and the service has always been good, as they do a great job keeping the tables clean for guests. I spent ~ $20... got my food and did a double take at the portions I got. Food was good, but overloaded with rice and not enough of the chicken & pork. Maybe that's why I didn't get the burrito, i wanted to see "how much" I was really getting :-). Would like to see the portions be more to match the amount I spent, but can't ignore that it was still good. And yeah, I tore up my snickerdoodle cookie!! read more

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i seriously can't believe the jade red chicken is GLUTEN FREE !!! chino is an absolute phoenix staple & i was so happy i didn't have to give it up. every time i go, it gets better. read more

Chino Bandido - Machaca - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Something about this place speaks to me...maybe it's the cool panda with the sombrero and revolver off the hip holding chopsticks, maybe it's the variety of flavors here, maybe it's the humbleness of the food not being pretentious. Maybe it's Guy Fieri staring at me while I eat my food. I came in and have heard of it but I really did not know what to expect. They allow you to mix around their flavors but overall I got the bigger Chino combo which allows me to select two meats and two bases. I chose the Jade Red (orange chicken) and the Emerald chicken (Hainanese chicken) for my two meats and for my bases I had the jerk fried rice and beans. It came out in like 5 min which was very impressive but the ambiance of this place made me feel welcome. There's a large panda in the corner too. First glance it comes out in this tin plate that I think they could have packed it a bit more - the people I came with said they used to pack it a bit more too. However, it looks really good. The emerald chicken was Hainanese chicken so really cool offering for like a faster restaurant but it was definitely dry. Good onion and ginger flavor though so very impressive. The jade red reminded me of an inferior orange chicken from Panda Express. If it was fresh I think it'd be better but it wasn't as crunchy. Good flavor on the sauce though. Rice was great just wish there was more and the beans were very tasty as well perfectly seasoned. Despite the shortcomings, I thought everything tasted good. It wasn't trying to be anything it wasn't and it's not pretentious. It tasted like Chinese takeout but better to me. read more

Chino Bandido - Chino Combo - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

When I come to phx from California this place is one of my go to stops. Fast easy and friendly staff. I know most like the jade chicken which is good but I'm somehow drawn to the emerald chicken. It's just my style and I always end up ordering two because I always come here hungry. To top it off they give you a snickerdoodle cookie which is excellent but I never get to eat it there because I'm always so full. Great snack tho when I get back to wherever im staying. Highly recommend and although I should try other items I'll stick to my go to emerald chicken ! read more

Chino Bandido - Inside - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I travel across the valley for this gem. I love the Mexican Asian fusion. The portions are huge. The staff is always very knowledgeable of menu items and give great recommendations based on your spice preference. My favorites are the hand grenade, chicken and jerk chicken along with the jerk fried rice. The black beans are so yummy. The snickerdoodle cookie is my little treat at the end of the meal that I look forward to every time. The food has been consistent ever since I have been going to this restaurant for 15+ years. read more

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Coming back on here for another review because everyone needs to come and experience the wonders of Chino Bandido. The new location is bigger than the original, with a lot of tables to pick from. It's order and sit down and the food comes out so fast. The order is a white rice combo of emerald chicken and jade red chicken with black beans and then an order of black beans to take home. I can't have the fried rice sad because it looks amazing BUT I'm so happy I can have their fried jade red chicken !! It's a fan fave and for good reason - perfect chew and crunchy and savory and satisfying. The emerald chicken is refreshing. They load up the combos and I have enough for another meal. The black beans are heaven on earth, I tell everyone and anyone to get them. I never tire of the beans. The combos come with a cookie that I can't eat but that's a bonus. Everyone has been nice when I've ordered! read more

Chino Bandido - Emerald Chicken and Jade Red Chicken and Cuban Black Beans with white rice. LOVE - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I love this place. The staff were so friendly and they have taken the confusion of ordering away from the customer. There are so many combos you can do. But if you love Chinese food and Mexican food, this is the place to be. I did the combo plate on this visit with jade chicken in a quesadilla and gringo chicken. My two sides were chicken fried rice and black beans. The quesadilla option was a winner for me. I do like their burrito style too, but I'll save that for next time. Jade chicken had a little heat but for me, it was perfect. The gringo chicken would be good in a wrap or quesadilla. Just like it says, cooked in basic spices. My companion got the bbq pork in a quesadilla and teriyaki chicken on the side with refried beans and chicken fried rice. Another great meal. He would probably swap out for pork fried rice or white rice on another visit. The location is very large and a great ambiance inside. It was nice being spread out. We came after the lunch rush so quieter until dinner. Don't forget to have the best part of all, a free Snickerdoodle. read more

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First time visiting Phoenix Steeple and I gave the combo bowl a try. I chose carnitas in a quesadilla (loved that this was even an option!) and paired it with the jade red chicken, jerk rice, black beans, and their special snickerdoodle cookie. The jade red chicken was the standout crispy, deep-fried, and similar in flavor to orange chicken, but not spicy. The snickerdoodle cookie was soft and delicious (thankfully not hard, hard cookies are a dealbreaker for me!). That said, the jerk rice and black beans didn't vibe well together, a bit too sweet and mismatched for my taste. The carnitas were under-seasoned, but the crispiness of the quesadilla helped save it. Service was great, I was greeted right away, offered suggestions, and even able to try some samples. You order at the counter and then grab a seat to wait for your food. There's a dog-friendly patio, which I always appreciate, but unfortunately, it's in direct sunlight with no shade so not ideal for my pup on a warm day. My friend ordered the veggie quesadilla, which surprised me in the best way. It tasted like a fresh veggie salad wrapped in a tortilla. She also had the chile relleno with refried beans and chicken fried rice, which I ended up liking more than my own combo. Overall, it's an interesting Mexican-Chinese fusion spot, and I'd definitely come back to try different menu items. read more

Chino Bandido - Chile Relleno, quesadilla veggie, Refried Beans, Chicken Fried Rice - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Love this place, a local classic. The jerk fried rice is the best! I recommend the Diablo chicken and Jerk chicken. They have a variety of choices and it's unique and tasty food. read more

We travel to Phoenix from So Cal and always stop at Chino Bandido. The Jerk fried rice, jerk chicken and Jade Red Chicken are an excellent combo with the black beans. We love their new location and they always have good service. Highly recommend and we will see you again soon. read more

FINALLY!!! It's sadly been several years since my last visit to Chino Bandito. Thankful, that all changed this week when I found myself on that side of town for a 5k. The new location on Bell is quite nice and feels much larger than the previous location on Greenway. It's also nice and bright with an ample amount of seating. During today's visit, I tried a few different things: Jerk chicken, Jade Red chicken and Diablo chicken. Everything was just as I remembered... Delicious! All the food had great flavor and wasn't overly spicy. I recommend getting the jerk fried rice and black beans with your meal (you won't be disappointed). It's always nice to finish the meal with a cookie and today was no exception. Volcano cookies for the win! If you have been thinking about giving Chino Bandido a try, I would strongly advise you to do so. read more

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Our favorite place in Arizona. My son and I hit it every year when we are down for Spring Training. Fun and fabulous food. I love the chili rellenos oozing into the spicy fried rice. It's the best! read more

I've going here since they only had one location. This new location is pristine, very clean and spacious with a lot of sunlight. The food is delicious, one of the MUST TRY places in the valley. I love the jade red chicken and pollo diablo. They also give you a snickerdoodle with every meal. The staff are all very kind and helpful, and the food comes out pretty fast. I will never stop going here. read more

Chino Bandido - Jade Red Chicken, Machaca - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I've been to Chino before when it was at their old location, first time at this new location. Service is always very friendly, even if you're indecisive. The new location is bright and "refreshed" in comparison to the old location. It also looked pretty clean. Now the food: I literally always get jerk fried rice and black beans as my 2 sides. They have other options, like refried beans, plain steamed rice, chicken fried rice, but I prefer my same sides always. You can also choose to have your protein done in a quesadilla or burrito. Also, it comes with a cookie! If you get the combo you can get 2 sides. My fattie self always gets the combo. For the actual proteins I change it up, today I got the pollo Diablo & emerald chicken. The emerald chicken is mild in flavor, it appears to be a "healthier" option as it's not deep fried, seasoned with ginger and green onions. Pollo Diablo is fried, and it's a peppery onion kind of sauce. Super flavorful. It might be spicy for some palates, but not mine. Mini mini had the jade chicken bowl. It's deep fried chicken that's sweet with a hint of spice, with some steamed rice. She said she's glad she got it and loved it. For my honey I got him the carnitas and machaca with jerk fried rice and black beans. The carnitas are delicious, it's exactly how you want your carnitas to taste, not overly seasoned and a mild but delicious flavor, and they have tomatoes in it too, so skip it if you hate tomatoes. However, the tomato flavor is not overpowering. The machaca was in a quesadilla. Always a good choice because who doesn't like shredded beef in a quesadilla. Ask for hot sauce. It's basically little cups of mild salsa, with just a little kick. Yum. Today's cookie option was snickerdoodle or volcano. We got both kinds. Free cookie with your meal order is always a plus. You don't even have to ask for a cookie they just ask you what kind. The volcano cookie is chocolatey and soft and chewy. The snickerdoodle is chewy and cinnamon-y. Yassss. Will we be back? Obvi. This places has been a staple for me since I was young. It's also been on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives, so if you want to visit places from the show, come here and stuff your belly. read more

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To be honest, didn't really expect too much from this place but it was better than I expected and for the price, what you'd get is a lot and they were giving out free chocolate chip cookies on that Saturday we went! However, food isn't something you'd get from restaurant, but it's fast and when you want something easy and affordable yet still not so fast food like, I think this is the place! read more

Chino Bandido - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

So disappointed, who ever took over the business is not keeping true to the original recipes. My emerald chicken which is basically golden ginger scallion sauce over chicken was not a sauce at all. It was chopped up ginger and scallions on top of over boiled rubbery chicken. read more

Came back almost 7 years later and loved it. Ironically I had the same things as before and it was so delicious. I need to visit more often.

I was staying at the Hilton Tapatio for a few nights, and one of those nights, I went out for something to eat. I remembered that Chino had moved locations awhile ago, and it was pretty close to the hotel. I stopped on by. I went with a 2 item bowl with black beans, jerk fried rice, jerk chicken, and jade red chicken in a quesadilla. Water to drink, and of course the snickerdoodle cookie. How was it? Still as good as before. Everything just works! I mix my fried rice with the black beans and go to town. Portion sizes are still great, jade red chicken is still sweet and crunchy and delicious, jerk chicken has some nice spice to it, and the cookie is always a nice finishing touch! I enjoyed my meal so much, that I took my Mom back here about a week later. Chino Bandido, twice in one week. How lucky am I? Lol! This place has always been great, and still is! Bomb food and huge portions! Love it! read more

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Always good!! We've been going to Chino for 15+years. Unique combinations of really good food. Large dinning room. Walk up order they will help you with selecting item just let them know you're a newbie. The jade red chicken is kinda like a sweet spicy chicken. They use corn starch instead of flour to coat. I like the black beans they are spicy. Our family also likes emerald Chicken it has spring onions and ginger sauce so good. Over the years we've had many of their items all good. Bathrooms are clean food is always fresh. Price is about $11 a plate w rice and beans. They have different kinds of rice all good. Everything is good from here. read more

LOVE IT, WISH IT WERE CLOSER. I ATE: JADE CHICKEN, CHICKEN FRIED RICE, the uh red PORK one, JERK CHICKEN, and REFRIED BEANS. SO GOOD! Yes I was suspicious at first, and yes I expected a low-quality steam-tray Chinese experience, and yes the place was empty and huge...but Chino Bandido really impressed me. The flavor is unique and elusive of description and now I'm craving it as I write this review from Mesa, Arizona. More than a gimmick...seriously impressive. They give you a snickerdoodle with your meal, which I ate with a smile. ORDER TORTILLAS with your meal because they don't come with it. I respect this food. Such good flavors in an unassuming building and foil tray. I will be back my whole life. read more

I love the black bean burritos. If I lived near here, I would eat here every day. There's plenty of space and everyone is casual. It's a real place for real people to eat real interesting and unusual food. read more

They do not deliver. Great food but it's inconvenient for those of us who work long hours

Maybe a decade since we dropped in. This location is new and much bigger. And the food remains incredible. Their Chile relleno remains a masterpiece in excess, almost like a chicken fried chile relleno more than what you might be expecting. Next time through Phoenix, we are definitely returning. read more

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I have been wanting to try this place for years and was so excited I was in the area. I thought Yes! Finally!l so ready to bite into the famous red jade chicken and what a disappointment:( I got their combo plate with white rice and black beans with red jade chicken and a chili relleno. Well the chicken was meh, and dry and chewy. I don't know what all the hype is about. Everything else was meh too. I think my hopes were too high. Even their hot sauce was a let down. It was lacking in flavor, more like a mild salsa. Asked but they didn't have chili oil. Just the bland salsa. You order at the counter, and it's quite confusing at first. I don't like that they don't have any prices on their menu. Combos are $13.05 and anything with an asterisk like fried rice is an additional $1.10. Drinks are self serve too. You grab a table and the food is brought out to you when it's ready. Tried hubby's pork and it was dry too. I love Guy Fiery and just like me, I think it's the only reason people are curious to try this place. I would've been much happier with a meal from Panda Express. read more

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The egg foo young was just ok. It lacked authentic flavor and was a bit skimpy. The black beans were more of a paste. I was grateful for the non-fried gf options. The Machaca and Carnitas were incredibly tasty! As a gluten intolerant person I brought the meat home and made tacos with corn tortillas I already had. I ordered takeout, but the service was timely. I'll be back for the machaca and carnitas. read more

This place used to be really good, I feel like the quality has gone down slightly. I still enjoy going there when I'm in town. read more

Chino Bandido - Teriyaki Chicken Emerald Chicken - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

I really liked this place and have been wanting to try it for a while now after it was featured on Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives. It's a very unique concept of Asian and Hispanic Fusion homemade cuisine. The Jade Red Chicken is probably their most popular item and highly recommend getting it in quesadilla form (so good!). I also did the Chino Combo where you get two proteins and two bases and got that with the Jade Red Chicken and Machaca with bases of jerk fried rice and black beans which I was told by the employees is one of their most popular combinations. You get a free homemade snickerdoodle with a combo and they are so fresh and good. Definitely want to visit again to try the emerald chicken. You order your food at the counter and the food comes out pretty fast and there are plenty of tables to sit at. read more

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Chino Bandido is a local fave restaurant still owned by the same owner who opened it back in 1990. The flavors are Mexican and Asian fusion with a bit of Jamaican. It's also one of many local places that have been featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dive with Guy Fieri. Walk up and order either a bowl, which is 1 protein and 1 base, or the popular combo of 2 proteins and 1 base. For protein you have a variety like teriyaki chicken, machaca, egg foo young, chile relleno, etc. The base options include different beans, rice, or multiple types of fried rice. With the combo you can turn your protein into a burrito or quesadilla. The place gets busy... for good reason! I walked up to order and pay and my food was brought to my table within 3 minutes. I looked through reviews to pick some of the most popular items. My lunch was chicken fried rice with the favorite Jade Red Chicken and Machaca made into a quesadilla with sour cream (as suggested by the helpful worker taking my order). Mmmm....the flavors were wonderful. It was also a large portion of food so I had plenty to take home. Plus, everyone gets a snickerdoodle cookie too. I don't know what took me so long to try this local spot but I'm glad that I finally did! read more

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I had seen this restaurant on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives so was looking forward to my meal. I was so disappointed! I got a combination plate of their famous jade chicken, Jen red pork, refried beans and jerk fried rice. Both chicken and pork were very tough and I could not finish my meal. The jerk fried rice was pretty bland and disappointing too. read more

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First time eating here since the move from the old location and it did not disappoint. The Jade red chicken was phenomenal and the bbq pork was fantastic. Chino Bandido is a must-try for a local spot in AZ. There's no other place like it. The spicy black beans are packed with flavor and the fried rice was served perfectly seasoned. It had been a long since I've visited but the staff was friendly and the food didn't miss a beat. read more

I ordered the diablo chicken, red jade chicken, and pork fried rice. The meal was decent overall, with the standout being the snickerdoodle dessert. Keep in mind that drinks are not included, so a double entree with a drink will cost you approximately $20. If I do decide to return, it would mainly be for the delicious cookie. I would recommend giving this place a try at least once. read more

Fun idea, neat flavors, seemingly inconsistent. I went with my friend from the area who loves this place, but he warned me that it can range anywhere from mediocre to incredible depending on the day. The jerk chicken and Jade red chicken were well spiced, but very overcooked. The fried rice had a unique flair of Caribbean inspiration, but was also pretty dry. Sticking with the theme of the day, the cookies were also underwhelming. You order at the counter and they bring out your food so the service was still fast and the staff were friendly. That, along with the reputation of Chino's, will warrant me trying it again, but it didn't live up to expectations. Not this time, at least. read more

Chino Bandido - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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One of our friends saw this place on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives and wanted to check it out. We came on a weekend around lunchtime, and it wasn't too crowded. The menu was pretty big, and the fusion concept was interesting, although I'm not sure how well Jamaican, Mexican, and Chinese flavors go together. I ended up getting the red jade chicken with rice, and each order also came with a cookie. The chicken was crispy and tasted like what you'd expect from orange chicken, but the snickerdoodle was too hard for my liking (the volcano cookie was better). This place reminded me a lot of Panda Express, with slightly higher quality meat. This place had reasonable prices and pretty big portions, and parking was easy. Not sure if I would come back, but this would be a good place for a quick, cheap meal! read more

Chino Bandido - Red Jade Chicken - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

What can I say about one of my all time favorite restaurants? I have been dining at Chino Bandito since 1998 when it was on Greenway. Every friend & family member that I have sent there has thanked me and raved about how delicious and incredible this feast of Chinese, Mexican, Jamaican infusion is! Let you taste buds be the judge. After enjoying your meal you will ask yourself right away, when am I coming here again?! These well prepared, heartfelt, beautiful combos & bowls are mix & matched to your choosing. They have a tasting bar so that you can sample from their exceptional menu before you order. I've tried so many that I can't remember. My go-to is the Jade Red chicken w/ an egg foo young casadilla, their original black beans & pork fried rice. A cookie always comes with dessert. Snicker doodles, peanut butter or lava cookies are sweet and savory treats, cooked in house like everything. The staff is so friendly you feel like you are in your family's kitchen. The portions are worth every penny! I always have enough left for 2 meals. They have a lovely selection of drinks & free refills. I always get the passion fruit tea. No wonder Guy Fieri raves about Chino! Support you long time Mom & Pop eateries like Chino Bandito! They are family oriented and support all those in the service industry. You won't regret it! This food snob guarantees it. Grab some chop sticks and go to town on a combo like a wild animal...a sophisticated one of course read more

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We just moved to the area and looked on Yelp to find a restaurant for date night. This one looked intriguing, Chinese/Mexican fusion. Place was easy to spot. Going inside the place was huge and very clean. When we were deciding what to order, our server said that we could sample the meat. So we tried the jade chicken and BBQ pork. The jade chicken was flavorful and the pork was a little dry, but tasted okay. My wife had the pork burrito and fried rice on the side. I ordered the Jade red chicken, just the one side which was plenty enough for me 'cause I could barely finish it. The chicken could have been a bit more crunchy but I enjoyed the whole meal. My wife enjoyed the burrito, you have to pay extra to add anything else since it only comes with the meat. We will definitely be back My wife read more

Chino Bandido - Jade Red Chicken - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

One of my favorite restaurants of all time. Red Jade Chicken is iconic! From such humble beginnings to being a well known establishment that people often after flying into Phoenix goto directly (ok maybe me) the team at Chino does it right every time. They offer hundreds of combinations for your meal, give you sampled if you want to try something, and always leave you with an amazing cookie. Always seating available which is perfect because their food comes out fast and hot. read more