Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    First Chinese Express

    3.1 (110 reviews)
    InexpensiveChinese
    Open • 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Order First Chinese Express Takeout or Delivery

    First Chinese Express Photos

    Business Info

    FIRST CHINESE EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - First Chinese Express

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Ali B.

    This was my first visit to the restaurant and my first impression is they need some improvements with customer service and restaurant appearance. Pros: I was greeted when I entered the restaurant; the cashier/waitress/cook assistance was polite, the tables, chairs and floor were in good condition, the menu had a good food selection and the prices were reasonable, I ordered the Mongolian beef and the meat was tender and had good flavor. Cons: there was a stack of flat boxes in the corner of the restaurants dining area, no AC so the front door was left open, the cashier/waitress/cook assistance was not very friendly when I had a question about an item on the menu, my order was carry out and it took about 15-20 minutes to prepare, ten minutes into my wait a 4 or 5 year old child ran from behind the register counter and pretended to be an airplane running in and out of the shop blocking the door way entrance and making a lot of noise, the area behind the register was not very neat. I would like to visit this spot again because the food was good and maybe she (the cashier/waitress/cook assistance) was short staffed that day which is why she was doing everything.

    My order from doordash.
    Chanda W.

    I just spent $82 via doordash including tip. I knew it was a gamble and I take ownership for that, but I was feeling adventurous. I lost this bet. The house chow mein was soggy and bland. The orange chicken was heavily battered (think excessive Tammy Faye Baker eyelash thick) which made it even harder to be palatable when it was hella soggy and industrial strength sweet (and I have a sweet tooth!)--and, yes, I know orange chicken is sweet! The Mongolian beef so sweet = "Do I feel a cavity coming on?" The mapo tofu was the most palatable, but why so sweet? Again, I don't mind sweetness in my Chinese food but, dude...c'mon, this is not okay. How y'all gonna murder food like that?? The egg FY was the next palatable; yet, the bbq pork sauce accompanying it was a pure travesty. Seriously, man, my food soul died a little inside. I'm with the one reviewer and will have to trash this order not because I'm wasteful, but because it simply is not palatable...and I eat cold pizza because I like it, stale chips, and semi-flat soda when lazy--this says a lot. I am not a too picky piggy. To be fair, I could rinse the beef, noodles, and tofu then re-cook them with edible seasonings, but that defeats the entire purpose of using doordash. Now I'm thinking of how many whoppers I could've gotten with the same amount of money. Yes, I love cold whoppers too. Save your money. Trust my hedonistic tastebuds, please. I tell you no lie. Don't do it. (I attached a pic of my doordash order associated with this unsolicited review.)

    two pastries on a napkin
    Rosalind J.

    Horrible horrible food !!! Do not eat here ordered shrimp egg fu young!!!! Oh my god no egg in. The patties . They made a flour dough like patty that is tasteless no beans sprouts , egg or anything . I called and complained she said that they way we make it . Bad food and overpriced online . They also charge there customers for a online service that they ordered to use, but told me they I paid more because I orders online . They have no idea how to run a business. Should be out of business if you cheat your customers out or money and the food it bad !!! Don't eat here order from someone else. If you want shrimp egg fu young I'll make you some , went home to make my own . Lost all my money on food I just could not eat !!!

    the front of a chinese food restaurant
    Rachel P.

    Worst food ever. Took over 15 minutes and tasted undercooked and gross. I definitely don't recommend the teriyaki chicken but really just don't go here. The egg rolls are also very bland- just an egg roll wrapper stuffed with raw cabbage, no meat or flavor.

    Mandarin Chicken
    Will H.

    Food lacked taste. Not sure if the restaurant purposely doesnt salt their food for health reasons but everything with the exception of the pork fried rice was bland. The combination egg foo young came looking like a breaded crab cake instead of an omelette. Mandarin Chicken was breaded and soggy. I would not recommend and wont even keep the left overs.

    Good sweet and sour pork

    See all

    4 months ago

    I had their house fried rice. It was pretty amazing. The inside seating is scarce and the service is okay.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 days ago

    Decent Chinese spot for fast Chinese food. I used to come here a lot back then when I was near by. Friendly service. Good amount of parking.

    Helpful 11
    Thanks 5
    Love this 8
    Oh no 2

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Marc S.
    64
    29
    2

    2 years ago

    Food was tasteless and boring no flavor at all. You just have to take your order to go no dining inside

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    I like the food, Great spicy chicken wings. The service is good. The lady is friendly.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Aj L.
    155
    51
    43

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ali B.
    1962
    751
    7717

    11 years ago

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 3
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Yuwan M.
    122
    20
    9

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Rachel P.
    72
    44
    61

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Will H.
    223
    8
    5

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Ray B.
    118
    367
    1121

    8 years ago

    Helpful 10
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of R C.
    0
    1
    0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Arlene M.
    116
    34
    5

    7 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Paola W.
    51
    73
    10

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    6 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Raaz T.
    0
    76
    52

    7 years ago

    Thought I'd give her another chance. Her attitude is still trashy and the food matches.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    14 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 5
    Oh no 0

    16 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - First Chinese Express

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Chinese 49,531 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Oodles By The Noodbar - Garlic Butter Noodles

    Oodles By The Noodbar

    4.5(284 reviews)
    1.2 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.

    Photos
    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

    See all

    Trio Pork Over Rice

    First Chinese Express - chinese - Updated September 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...