This is my favorite Chinese cuisine place in Monterey. I usually order Chef's Special items, which include Sichuan Style dishes. This time, my partner and I got the Sichuan cold noodles, fish soup with pickles, and eggplant in garlic sauce. The noodles are a great texture, and the sauce super flavorful with a little sweetness and numbing spice. The fish in the soup is super tender, cooked to perfection. The soup has a little spice, but it's mild and balanced with the pickled veggies. The eggplant has so much flavor, sweet and umami. We also love ordering the Dandan noodles, cumin lamb, and shredded potato. These dishes are very similar to ones we ate while visiting the Sichuan province in China. They offer all of the familiar favorites as well like chow main, fried rice, and Mongolian beef (but I highly recommend trying some specials). The service is friendly and efficient. The food comes out quickly. You can also easily order for pickup on their website. The inside of the restaurant is cozy with plenty of seating. I will continue eating here whenever I'm craving Sichuan flavors (which is often). read more

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Super good food very fast service they move some tables together so we can have large group of 8 people together The salt and pepper fish is amazing good value The ginger beef is very tasty and good quality of beef They have some parking in the back and you can enter through the back door so that helps if you can't find parking on the main street Simple, classic good vibe exactly what you want from classic Chinese restaurant nice decoration simple paintings on the wall. Everything is the definition of a good restaurant. read more

Full Moon Mandarin Cuisine - We had big party and they made it very good - Chinese Near Me - Monterey, California

If you want a quiet place to escape the chaos of Alvarado Street, this is it- especially on a Tuesday! Chinese food is so slept on and you might not expect to find it here in Monterey. But there's a reason that Full Moon has been a staple in downtown for so many years. The food is quite good, and the prices are especially decent if you bring a few friends and split the bill! For families, coming here won't break the bank but could definitely be a nice treat! read more

We were going to eat at Rosines, but they had a one and a half hour wait. Walked across the street, and found this excellent Chinese restaurant. The waiter was really good. Friendly and immediately assured me that the tofu soup was made with vegetable base. That was so important for me. And it was delicious. I also had the Jasmine tea and tofu soup which was excellent. Service was quick and food came piping hot. They have three sizes and that was good so I could order a personal size. My husband had the chef's special fish soup .. the quantity was enough to feed three comfortably. He also had the broccoli beef and loved both his dishes. read more

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I was really disappointed with the Full Moon Kung Pao Chicken. The dish was loaded with whole dried chilies and whole Sichuan peppercorns, to the point that I was repeatedly chewing on them as if they were part of the protein. Sichuan peppercorns create a strong numbing effect and are typically infused into oil and strained out. Leaving them whole -- especially in delivery, where they soften and blend in -- made the dish unpleasant and impossible to eat. I picked out several tablespoons of chilies and peppercorns (photo attached), and there were even more removed earlier. This wasn't about spice tolerance; it was about execution. I would not order this again and wouldn't recommend it unless you specifically enjoy chewing whole peppercorns and dried chile pods. read more

Full Moon Mandarin Cuisine - Inedible chile pods - Chinese Near Me - Monterey, California

Food was good. Fresh. Friendly. Great lunch prices compared to the other Chinese place in town. Could use an update inside.

This place is amazing!! We were walking around and decided to go to this place! I would definitely recommend the barbecue pork fried rice, Mongolian beef chow main! There isn't many mandarin places that are good but DEFINITELY RECOMMEND going here! read more

Amazing flavors. Chrysanthemum tea very delicious and warming, nutty herbal flavor. Pickled fish soup is amazing. Mu shu pork with pancake is amazing, good texture with wood ear mushroom. Service is very focused on getting the food right. Family friendly, warming and nutritious comfort food. read more

I've enjoyed this food. It's always been delivered so I can't say anything about service or ambience. I did mess up on order. That was my bad but food's been consistently good.. read more

Walked in and got greeted right away. Everyone there was so nice and made us feel welcome. We ordered the beef chow mein which had a great smoky flavor. Some fried rice that was delicious. Also the kung pao tofu was amazing! Lots of sauce and not too spicy. We will be back! read more

One of the most authentic spots I've tried...chef's are both old school chefs from China...great service too...a true gem read more

Full Moon Mandarin Cuisine - Chinese Near Me - Monterey, California

We are looking for a place to stop on our drive and found that full moon mandarin cuisine has some great vegan options. The food was absolutely delicious and we were so happy to get what we ordered. We tried the Mandarin tofu which was delicious and got another dish with green beans and garlic, which was amazing. I forget the last dish we got, but we also really enjoyed it. I think it was a vegetable tofu dish. It is a little on the greasy side, but overall still delicious. Inside leaves much to be desired they have these LED lights that would not stop flickering which we're driving us all nuts. The bathroom and hallway to get to the bathroom is a little bit creepy, but happy that it was clean and usable. read more

Food: Wor wonton soup was good. Fried rice was fine. We ordered a chicken dish without spicy sauce. We had a mild spicy taste on it. I'm sure it was good if you liked spicy. Ambiance: Ok...a little dated, but clean. Service: Ok...Waiter didn't do what we ordered. I focused on soup, but my friend was disappointed at order. We took extra food home. It would have been nice if waiter packaged leftovers. Service must be beyond requesting. read more

I doordashed this restaurant, and maybe if I went into the restaurant my rating would be different, I'm unsure. The food was cold, and seemed as if it had been sitting previously to me ordering it. I made the order, and the doordash driver confirmed it, was at the restaurant within 7 minutes of ordering, and they had already picked up the food. So there wasn't enough time to cook sweet and sour chicken, sesame chicken, fried rice, white rice, Lo mein noodles, egg rolls, and wontons. The food was stale tasting, and we did not enjoy it enough to eat it. I tried another chance weeks later, and unfortunately had the same issue with stale food. I am hopeful to have the opportunity to eat inside and maybe have a different experience! read more

Our first time eating at this restaurant and let me tell you the food is delicious. The staff is really nice and they customize the chow mein for my picky eater. The restaurant is pretty big and cleaned. There is parking in the front and back of the restaurant. read more

The food was absolutely delicious! Fresh and hot! Very flavorful. The service was great! Very nice clean restaurant! Our server was friendly and very attentive! read more

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my wife and I stumbled on this gem next to a music shop. they food was amazing... and the staff were really polite and attentive. since then every time we are in Monterey. we go there. although it has been a few years since I've been up there. Our experience was great family owned , mom and pop shop. it was stormy last time we went and the owner actually walked us to our car , with his own umbrella to keep us dry. very nice people. respectful and kind. most of all the food was amazing. we ended uo going there all week while I was on tour. read more

There were some issues on the bill which whey fixed right away. Otherwise the food and service was quite good! The food was delicious.

老闆玩陰的沒母一樣. The restaurant secretly collected tips twice. Check the bill carefully. Check the bill carefully. Check the bill carefully. Check the bill carefully. Check the bill carefully. Check the bill carefully. read more

Amazing food! Always fresh. The lunch special comes with a great salad, soup and an egg roll with your lunch. It is very clean and the staff is so nice. I would give it more stars if I could. read more

The food is the best Chinese food in the area to my palate (I grew up in the Yokohama Chinatown). The service is always friendly and good. The decor is a couple of steps above the other local Chinese restaurants. read more

The food is really good and the service is fast and friendly. I've ordered before on Door Dash and enjoyed the food but wanted to eat in this time to get a better feel for the place. There's nothing fancy about the restaurant, but it's pleasant enough and seemed pretty clean. I did notice it was kind of chilly in the restaurant, so if you run cold, make sure you have a jacket or sweater. We had chow fun, double cooked pork and Madarin fried chicken. The double cooked pork was a little spicy but not too hot for our taste. The fried chicken was nice and crispy, even with the sauce and more of a sweet spice than actual heat spice. And the proteins in the noodles were nicely cooked, the shrimp was plump and the chicken was nice and tender. The noodles were cooked through, but not mushy like rice noodles can be at times. I will definitely go back. There are several items on the menu that aren't standard on Chinese menus in the US and I'm looking forward to trying a few of them. When I have ordered in the past, I ordered one of their two kung pao chickens. The one I ordered was Sichuan, and was meat, chilies and peanuts. Though I would love to say how great it was, I have to admit that I think I've hit an age where I can't handle that kind of heat anymore. The first time I had it, I thought "this is perfect, but very spicy" the second time I had it I cried. I will be trying their other version next time I want kung pao, it has more veggies and I suspect, less heat. Both the gentlemen who were working were friendly and helpful and I couldn't believe how fast the food came out. I'd actually give them 4.5 if I could. read more

I ordered from Uber Eats last night because the description of the meals was very well described on the full moon website however I was astonished, but the meals were 98% noodles with very limited and minimal condiments versus the description on the menu. Also Live in Texas part-time I am accustomed to having utensils and napkins delivered with my food this operation put two boxes of noodles in a bag without anything else. Therefore, although Uber eats was a great delivery and the food was hot. I was very disappointed. It's hard to pay $50 for $.20 worth of noodles without even a hint of beef or vegetables. A picture can tell 1000 lies. read more

The food was very tasty and came out quickly. We came in and there was only 2 other tables beside our own and they attended us quickly and politely. The restaurant was very clean and modern but casual. I would definitely come here again. read more

Full Moon Mandarin Cuisine - Eggplant in Garlic Sauce, chow mien, Shrimp Fried Rice, Dry Sauteed String Beans - Chinese Near Me - Monterey, California

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5 Stars We had a wonderful dining experience at Full Moon Asian Chinese Cuisine! We ordered the hot and sour soup, chow mein noodles, Kung Pao tofu, and garlic chicken--everything was absolutely delicious. I'm vegan and really appreciated how easy it was to customize my food. The server was incredibly kind, friendly, and helpful, making sure everything met our dietary preferences. The flavors were rich and comforting, just like homestyle Chinese cooking should be. My family and kids enjoyed every bite. It's rare to find a place that balances flavor, warmth, and service so well. We'll definitely be stopping by again the next time we're in the area. Thank you for the excellent food and hospitality! read more

Full Moon Mandarin Cuisine - Kung pow, tofu, plain chow mein noodles, hot and sour soup, garlic, chicken, and chili oil sauce - Chinese Near Me - Monterey, California

This restaurant has been here for over 20 years and with the recent owner for 10+ years. I picked up the sweet and sour chicken lunch special which came with salad, egg roll, and soup. It was just OK overall. The chicken was a little stringy and I was not a big fan. read more

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I've been to this place twice. Don't know why they have low stars but these guys make good food and very courteous. Come back here all the time. read more

What a great experience here. From the moment we walked in Nicolas greeted us and took great care of the entire time we were there. Food was amazing and delicious. Hot and sour soup a must as well as well as the won tons in spicy sauce. Absolutely a must visit if you are in the area. Great job!! read more

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Food is delicious, decently priced, big servings! Staff courteous, attentive, polite. Cozy space, but order was to go. Recommend this place! read more

The staff has a great attitude and the food tastes great, tastes very authentic 五星好评.

Looks and smells good. Would've been nice if they sent some utensils. I'll try something else next time.

Such a great Chinese Restaurant! I have been looking for Chinese Restaurant for quite a few days after I went back to Cal and this is the best! read more

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Very surprised by this nondescript place on Alvarado. Service was excellent and attentive. I went in for lunch to try the lunch special. The restaurant was clean and had a few patrons. I ordered the steamed dumplings, garlic eggplant, and chicken chow mein lunch special which comes with egg foo soup, salad and an egg roll. This was a lot for one person but I wanted to take it home as nothing tastes better than cold Chinese food later. The steamed dumplings were good - a little doughy but a slightly healthy option than pot stickers. The chicken chow mein tasted fresh and was not greasy. The garlic eggplant was so good- perfect balance of sweet and slightly spicy (very mild). I also got jasmine tea which compliments the whole meal. A much fresher and better option than Panda Express- I just wish I had a bigger appetite. Parking is so-so. Usually the back streets are less crowded. My number 1 Chinese restaurant on the peninsula. read more

Found myself at a Chinese restaurant for Christmas dinner. It was open. And I was hungry. The restaurant was partially empty and I was sat near the register looking at all the craziness that pursued. It became clear this spot was about to be super crowded. Food delivery people were showing up to pick up deliveries and the staff was running around. A nice waiter moved my purse and hat to a chair and said, "Take your time." Creating a welcoming atmosphere for me dining alone on Christmas. I was a bit worried as the table was sticky, the menu was a bit dirty too. And a glass of wine was too expensive. But the food was delicious. The steamed pork dumplings had a good amount of flavor and filling. The side sauce I think was a ginger sauce, had the perfect tang for the dumplings. The beef chop suey was nicely seasoned with beef, bean sprouts, carrots, broccoli and onions. Also some other veggies. Yummy! A side of rice perfect to soak up the sauce. I did have leftovers and the pork dumplings were good as cold breakfast in bed. Although it took a little longer to get my order taken once it was I had an enjoyable dinner. The menu is huge. Later in the evening there an absolute crowd outside of people waiting to get in. Happy I beat the rush! Self care dinner! SYOY. read more

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The best Chinese food on the Peninsula! No question Authentic fast and fair. But some extra for leftovers. read more

I was here November 2019. I am back again 3 years later. This time enjoying the Spicy fish, Buddha's feast and a big hot bowl of wonton soup. Love the spicy fish. Crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside. It is spicy, and not for anyone who does not like spicy. The Buddha's feast was a nice plainer compliment to the spicy fish. The wonton soup hits the spot for a cold monterey night. Will definitely return to try more of their sichuan dishes. read more

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My husband and I love stopping by Full Moon for dinner whenever we take a day trip to Monterey! Our favorites are the mapo tofu and Buddha's delight. The flavors for both are amazing. We are both Taiwanese American and have had our fair share of disappointing Chinese food, which made me a little skeptical of here at first, but Full Moon is so delicious. The service is great too. We've only ordered to-go from here (we usually have our dog with us) but would really love to dine in sometime as well! The takeout is always packaged well and I really appreciate how much care they put into making sure that nothing spills, especially because our typical order involves liquid. Would recommend trying Full Moon! read more

Hands down the worst Chinese food either of us have ever attempted to consume in all of our considerable and combined experience (and we LOVE Chinese food). $75 worth of food had to be tossed in the trash and we're still hungry. It was bizarre: one dish sickly sweet; another aridly dry; the soup a weird flavor found in no province of China known to humankind. We actually felt like we were being punked. For instance, the Chongqing Spicy Chicken was more akin to heavily fried KFC that had been chopped, air dried and then tossed with a bunch of super hot chopped red peppers. Bone dry and fried chopped chicken (pictured). That was literally the dish. Nothing else, no sauce, nada. Lastly, pretty sure there was a hefty side of MSG in everything--my head is pounding. Give this one a WIDE BERTH. read more

Full Moon Mandarin Cuisine - We decided to rechristen this one: Chopped Day Old Colonel Sanders (AKA Chongqing Spicy Chicken). - Chinese Near Me - Monterey, California

We had spring rolls as an appetizer - delicious! For entrees we had sesame chicken, orange chicken, and shared the fried rice. First time and we will for sure be back! The service was great. Very attentive staff. Not too loud/very comfortable restaurant experience. read more

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I ordered them though DoorDash and the food was gross. The egg rolls were hollow and mushy, and the almond chicken was bland slop. The best thing was the rice. I would not get this food again. read more