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    Emerald Chinese Cuisine

    3.5 (61 reviews)
    ModerateChinese, Seafood, Noodles
    Open • 11:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 2 months ago

    Emerald Chinese Cuisine Photos

    EMERALD CHINESE CUISINE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Emerald Chinese Cuisine

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    BBQ RIBS
    Dollyrose V.

    This place is winning. Whether you are up or down Emerald is the fuel that will keep going while chasing that jackpot! The initial dining area was decent - not exactly fine dining. The food is always great. BUT the remodel - wow. It has been elevated to an elegant Asian cuisine dining experience. The decor is spectacular. The service is always excellent at the many food places.

    Warren T.

    I decided to come to Jamul casino on NYE. Emerald happened to be one of the few dining options we opted to try. I would say they didn't disappoint. The portions are flavorful and generously large, all priced modestly. The thai style fried rice was delicious with the seafood crab meat and shrimp. I think it has a unique taste compared to other fried rice dishes. The orange chicken was crunchy, with succulent juices. The duck noodle soup was decent in flavor. Finally, we gobbled up the Szechuan eggplant quite rapidly. That must have been our fave. In the end of the meal, we had a lot of leftovers. So we decided to eat the duck noodle soup clean, since it's difficult to pack that home. Again, unexpectedly large portions for a modest price.

    Chicken and veggies
    Maria T.

    First time this restaurant is inside of Jamul casino. Very clean and friendly staff. Food was very tasty I got chicken with veggies grilled and it coming with white rice . The menu is extensive like 3-4 pages. I recommend this restaurant ahh they have to go outside. Good job! Carlos was my server very friendly!

    Banh Mi
    Ana A.

    Aside from the amazing food ( must try to the banh Mi) what makes this place so desirable is the customer service . For years Leonila has waited on us , always smiling , her customer service is top notch!!!! She remembers repeat customers and if she doesn't know you she will sure strike up a conversation and make you remember her ! Her smile is infectious ! 5 Stars all Day !!!

    Order from kiosk
    Myphuong L.

    We have tried almost every item on this menu and keep coming back to the bbq fried rice. Every time we have food credits, we use it all up on bbq fried rice. It is the best fried rice out there. Yes, fried rice is super easy to make but their version is so addictive. The rice that they use is short grain rice and it's dry not wet which makes it the perfect fried rice. The seasoning has a bit of sweetness and tons of bbq pork. You can place your order on the touch screen kiosk or walk up to the window to place your order. There's also 8 milk tea flavors.

    Tracy M.

    The food is amazing at Emerald Chinese. It is fairly new here and we are happy to have a new Chinese restaurant nearby. The service was cheerful. The ambience was very, very beautiful.

    Rachel L.

    Food is great! Service can use a lot of help.. The ambiance is nice, loud but then again, it's located inside Jamul Casino. Nothing much more to say besides the salt & pepper mussels & calamari are yummy.

    Menu
    Michelle M.

    When in Jamul Casino, this is a great place for your Asian food fix. You can dine in or take your food to go. The food is decently priced. If you are a casino player you can get a discount. Portions are decent and the quality is also decent. Since this is a casino, the ambiance is always a bit noisy or loud. If you're not in the mood to sit down, they can take your orders outside a kiosk stand to the right of the outside. They serve boba and Vietnamese coffee here if you decide you want something sweet. My recommendations: Angus pepper beef Salt and pepper squid Vegetables

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    1 year ago

    I had excellent service from Sowena tonight she was Albert attentive to my requests. Definitely will ask for her next time.

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    3 months ago

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    1 year ago

    I love this place! Food is fantastic, drinks are great and the employees always go above and beyond shoutout out to Rozette you rock!!!

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    1 year ago

    Cyndy is by far the best server at Jamul Emerald Chinese Restaurant. She always greet me with a big smile and I get my food right away.

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    3 years ago

    Surprised such good Chinese food at the Jamul casino. Love the salt and pepper wings, pad Thai and fried rice. Recommend

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    Cassie J.

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    1 year ago

    One of a kind chinese cuisine with great food, plus factor is to have a accomodating setvet name Nimfa. p

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    1 year ago

    The lead cook Named Francis T,he was the one who cooked the beef Asparagus and the taste is absolutely delicious.I will come back for sure.

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    1 year ago

    Service was great. Food was good. Thanks to Christina, our Emerald server. She did an amazing Job.

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    Ask the Community - Emerald Chinese Cuisine

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    Oodles By The Noodbar - Garlic Butter Noodles

    Oodles By The Noodbar

    4.5(284 reviews)
    10.5 mi
    •$$

    I came in person recently with 9 friends. They were able to accommodate us even though we were just…read morewalking in. The woman was super friendly even though it was a little chaotic. At first, she said the order only could be done on 1 bill. And then later she compromised with 2 bills, 5 people per table. That was nice of her! I just had 2 coffees before entering so I decided to skip ordering Thai tea. But they had a large drink menu, of fruit teas and more. My friend had the lychee tea which was very large and looked super refreshing! They also came by often to top off our waters which was nice. To eat, I ordered the $16.99~, Cashew Chicken Stir Fry with White Rice. It came with onion, green onion, carrots, zucchini, bell pepper, and cashews. The carrots were beautifully cut, but a little too crunchy for me to properly enjoy in the stir fry. Everything else was delicious! I think this could definitely be shared between 2-3 people. It was a lot for me, even after a large hike. The sauce was flavorful and not overly salty. I didn't ask for any spice level, but I think I'd choose mild or medium next time. My friends ordered-- - $12.99, Dirty Fried Chicken: This had a blitz coating of lime, mint, and spices. And it was decorated with thinly sliced green onions with a side of sweet chili sauce. The chicken was hot and plump, not dry, and very much mouthwatering! Would recommend. - $14.99, Thai Grilled Chicken Salad: Grilled Chicken Breast on a bed of mixed green salad, carrots, and cucumbers with peanut dressing. It reminded me a little of chicken satay~ it smelled and looked incredible. I think I might order it next time, when I want something light and fulfilling after a hike. - $11.99, Cream Cheese Avocado Wontons (6PC): These came out piping hot and when you took a bite they were oozing. It was very creamy and when you dip into the plum sauce it's a delectable bite. A nice appetizer to share with the table. - $16.99-$19.99 (depends on what protein you get), Pad Thai: This proportion was manageable for one person. The restaurant used thin rice noodles, but it didn't clump excessively compared to other restaurants. The prices are what you'd typically see at a Pan-Asian restaurant, a few dollars more than what you'd want to spend. But these kinds of restaurants, in my opinion, are for enjoying with others. So, if you're sharing food and all that-- the price is worth it (esp with the quantity that is given). Next time, I would probably order one of their noodle dishes rather than rice. Oodles by the Noodbar has such a large and diverse menu so I would highly recommend coming in to try them out.

    It had been a while since I'd been back, so I stopped in recently with a friend and our kids. We…read morewent during a pretty quiet part of the day, about an hour and a half before they close between lunch and dinner service. Normally I've seen this place get pretty busy later in the day, but there were only a couple of other tables when we arrived and eventually we were the only table there. We started with the Dirty Fried Chicken Wings and Cream Cheese Avocado Wontons. Both came out pretty quickly, hot and fresh. I've had the wings before and they're still good--the sweet chili sauce gives them a nice little kick. The cream cheese avocado wontons were something different for me and I really liked them! They're more dense and packed than your typical cream cheese wonton, and the avocado adds a nice change in flavor. The plum sauce paired well with them too. I normally get the fresh salad rolls when I'm here (they're a good size and the peanut sauce is delicious), but decided to switch it up this time. For my entrée, I ordered the Golden Crunch Curry Udon, which has been one of their specials for a while now. I've had it before and enjoyed it, so I wanted to try it again. The crispy chicken katsu was a really good portion and cooked well. The curry itself seemed a little less flavorful than I remembered, though. I know yellow curry isn't necessarily supposed to be super spicy, but I felt like it could've used a little more of a kick. There were also only a few pieces of potato and carrot, so I would've liked a little more of those mixed in with the udon. Still good overall, and definitely no shortage of chicken! We also ordered the Garlic Butter Noodles with grilled lemongrass pork shoulder for the kids to split. This has been one of our go-to dishes for years and is a great option for little ones who don't eat spicy food. When these noodles are on point, they're REALLY good--the garlic butter/oil has tons of flavor without being overpowering. I've noticed over multiple visits, though, that they can be a little hit or miss in that department. This batch was on the lighter side flavor-wise. I may ask for a little extra garlic oil next time because when they're flavorful, they're easily one of my favorite things here. The pork shoulder still had great flavor, although a couple of pieces were a little chewy this time. The sweet sauce they serve alongside it is SO good with the pork. My friend ordered the Mi Goreng, level 5, and requested it without shrimp. Unfortunately, it still came out with shrimp, which was disappointing since she'd specifically asked for it to be left out. Aside from that, she really enjoyed the dish and said it had tons of flavor. As far as service, I'd say it can still be a little hit or miss. Everyone was kind and friendly, and our food came out fairly quickly, hot and fresh. It appeared there was only one woman working the front, so they may have been lightly staffed. That said, considering we eventually became the only table in the restaurant, I would've expected a little more checking in/refills, especially with the mistake on my friend's order. The restaurant itself is generally clean. The bathroom could use a little more attention at times, including on this visit, but nothing that would stop me from coming back. Overall, Oodles is still one of our favorites in La Mesa. There really aren't a ton of solid, good-quality Asian spots in the immediate area, so I'm glad they're here. There were a few inconsistencies this visit, but the food was still fresh, portions were good, and there are enough things on the menu that we genuinely enjoy to keep us coming back.

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    Oodles By The Noodbar - Counter decor

    Counter decor

    Oodles By The Noodbar - Trio Pork Over Rice

    Trio Pork Over Rice

    Oodles By The Noodbar - Trio Pork Over Rice

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    Little Thai Kitchen - Drunken Noodles, Cream Cheese Wontons, & Fresh Spring Rolls

    Little Thai Kitchen

    4.4(185 reviews)
    5.9 mi
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    Fresh Shrimp Spring Roll 10/10 - Vegetables taste really…read morefresh and have a good crunch - Nice hint of mint throughout the roll - Shrimp was fresh - Great peanut sauce to pair with the fresh rolls Som Tum(Papaya Salad) Hot 10/10 - Great spice flavor - Nice blend of sour, sweet and savory flavors - Fresh ingredients Pad See Ew 10/10 - Great blend of sweet and savory sauce - Beef was tender and soft - Vegetables are soft and absorbs the sauce nicely Panang Curry 9/10 medium spice - Curry is full of flavor, good balance of savory and sweet - Medium is not too spicy - soft sticky rice Thai Tea 10/10 - The perfect amount of sweetness - Does lean on the sweeter side - Large amount of Thai Mango Sticky Rice 10/10 - fresh cold sweet mango - Sweet condensed milk - Warm soft sticky rice - The right amount of sweetness Found this hidden gem in San Diego and was not disappointed! Went on a Sunday and it was not busy at all but had a steady stream of pickup orders. The food was absolutely amazing and tasted authentic. Every dish left us feeling satisfied and happy. The food came out really fast which was perfect because we're were really hungry. The waiter was very kind and really attentive to our needs. Brought out all our food and everything we needed to enjoy our meal. The atmosphere is very laid back and cozy. It had a mom and pop feeling to it.

    A bit disappointed with our delivery order. Thursday evenings are always busy due to after school…read moreactivities so we tend to go out or order delivery. It was our first time trying this restaurant and unfortunately, I will not return. We ordered a good amount of food. Yellow curry, pad see ew, pad Thai, dumplings and gyoza. I took the first bite of pad see ew and was immediately turned off. It did not look freshly made. The broccoli color was dull and all were mushy. The dish had a very sour taste. Unsure if reheated or just sitting for awhile. The noodles were mushy as well. The pad Thai had a similar taste so both were thrown out. Money wasted. I did enjoy the gyoza and dumplings. Both became my dinner and kids had Mac and cheese. My husband enjoyed the curry. I haven't seen the restaurant before outside of driving by otw to the gym. It's why we chose to order. Although some of the food was edible, I will not go back.

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    Little Thai Kitchen - Inside the restaurant

    Inside the restaurant

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    Ginger Noodle Bar - Drunken Noodle

    Ginger Noodle Bar

    3.1(149 reviews)
    13.5 mi
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    Stopped by for a UB40 concert and grabbed a quick dinner - shrimp pad Thai per the cashiers…read morerecommendation. Food was hot and very flavorful! Was it traditional Pad Thai? No. Was it good? Yes!! Seafood shrimps were somewhat on the smaller side, but they added plenty of them. For $20 I would say this was a slam dunk! Service was friendly and quick! Restaurant was very clean. Great seating with tables inside and outside, as well as counter top seating at the bar area that overlooks the line preparing the food. Pro tip: they only serve pop and beer. So if you want wine with your meal, you have to get it from another place inside the casino and they allow you to bring it into the restaurant.

    I understand I'm not a Platinum or Infinity Viejas Players Rewards Member, nor do I expect any…read morespecial treatment or preferential service. However, I do expect a restaurant to provide reasonable and accurate expectations for takeout orders. If the kitchen is experiencing unusually long wait times, cashiers should communicate realistic pickup estimates rather than quote times they cannot meet. On this particular Saturday evening, we placed a takeout order at Ginger Noodle Bar at 7:50 PM. Our cashier, Cheryl, advised us that our order would be ready in approximately 15 minutes. Unfortunately, our food was not available until 8:35 PM--about 30 minutes beyond the promised pickup time. The experience became even more frustrating as we stood at the pickup counter waiting for our order, repeatedly asking whether the dishes coming out of the kitchen belonged to us. When our food finally arrived, it was placed in the designated pickup area without anyone notifying us, despite us and another couple standing there clearly waiting for delayed orders. This lack of communication added unnecessarily to the frustration, especially since we were missing the live band performance on the opposite side of the casino while waiting. To be fair, the food itself was exactly as expected. We ordered the Bo Luc Lac and Kung Pao Chicken, and both dishes were served hot, fresh, flavorful, and properly prepared. The order was complete with plenty of napkins, chopsticks, utensils, and fortune cookies. Unfortunately, good food alone could not make up for the excessive wait time and poor communication surrounding our pickup. We ordered takeout expecting to enjoy our meal while taking in the casino's entertainment, but instead spent nearly 45 minutes waiting for food that was promised in 15. Because of this experience, I find it difficult to give a stronger recommendation, and future guests ordering takeout should be prepared for the possibility that quoted pickup times may not accurately reflect actual wait times.

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    Ginger Noodle Bar - Second row seats to UB40!  So much fun.  They have a bar area inside the concert section so you can also get beverages.

    Second row seats to UB40! So much fun. They have a bar area inside the concert section so you can also get beverages.

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    Emerald Chinese Cuisine - chinese - Updated September 2026

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