Great food! Great price! A lot of options! Most are authentic! Amazing workers and environment!

Fabulous food. Fabulous service. And just overall SO good. My friend and I decided that we wanted to get authentic Chinese food in the area, so we decided to check this place out. We got the tofu & vegetables with rice... we also got the tempura broccoli and everything was so flavorful and SO good! I am definitely gonna come back to try the other dishes. So far, my fave Chinese joint in Seaside. read more

This place is the definition of a hidden gem. Tucked away in a random corner, it's easy to drive right past it and never think twice. From the outside, it doesn't look like much, and inside it's tiny tiny. maybe 6 to 8 tables total. Honestly, it could use some updates or a bigger location, but don't let any of that fool you. The second you walk in, you get that old-school family restaurant feeling. The kind of place that's been around forever, where the same family is working every shift and knows half their customers by name. No room for a Togo box hidden storage, no trendy décor, just people focused on making great food and taking care of their customers. The owner was incredibly kind and even brought us a complimentary order of their veggie rolls to try. They were absolutely delicious and such a thoughtful touch that made us feel genuinely welcomed. And the food? Absolutely incredible. Every single thing we ordered was packed with flavor, fresh, and cooked perfectly. Not one dish disappointed. It's the kind of restaurant that reminds you why local family-owned spots are worth supporting. If you're looking for fancy, this isn't it. If you're looking for some of the best food around in the Monterey area, this place is a 10/10 and well worth the visit. Don't judge this place by its location or appearance, the food speaks for itself. read more

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Whether or not you're looking for legit Guangzhou style Chinese food, you're in for a treat. This was my first visit, these are my first impressions. Clean place. Small parking lot. Friendly, courteous staff, fast service and freshly crafted to order. No stale heatlamp stuff here! A warm, lovely scent of fresh food greets you when you step inside! Not fancy, but it fit the bill! I ordered "Jim's Special Wonton Noodle Soup" #174, with the Mei Fen noodles. Helen threw in breaded mushrooms & beef plus a couple egg rolls. It was a lovely surprise. Fresh & crisp, soft inside and exploding with flavor. When Helen walked in with the Wonton Soup, I was wowed by the generous meat portions and all the right ingredients. The broth had the slightest hint of classic seasonings and maybe the tiniest touch of Chinese hot mustard?... which I love!! They don't skimp, big portions! The only "downside" (if you wanna call it that) is that canned drinks are between $3 & $4, which I suppose is quite normal these days anyway. I usually drink water (or table tea) with Chinese food, so I was unfazed, but commenting on that for info only. Overall, GREAT. Highly recommend! I'll be back! read more

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Stopped in for an order of hot n sour soup to go. While I waited in the tiny place I could tell every table were regulars. And I can see why. The soup was chock full of veggies (I love how they sliced the carrots lol), and most importantly lots of tofu. Broth was perfect. Probably the best hot n sour soup I've ever had, and I've tried many. The lady running the show was so sweet and basically knew everyone by name. I asked if fried wontons came with the soup and she brought me a huge bag for free with sweet and sour sauce. And the chips were hot when she brought them to me! This is my new Chinese place. Yum! read more

Small whole in the wall the packs a punch. Came in craving Chinese after a long day and this place had good reviews. We ordered wor wonton soup. It came with lots of wonton and broth was good. It did lack the veggies but the abundance wonton made up for it. I got the rice plate which I chose fried rice and sweet and sour pork with the sweet and sour sauce on the side. I figured would have left over so didn't want it to get soggy. The portion was huge and the pork was good. Was not over battered nice and crispy and still moist. Fried rice was also flavorful. GF got the kungpao chicken and it was yummy too and lots of chicken and peanut like that had no celery. Oh and the give complimentary fried wonton and eggroll. read more

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The customer service was top tier! The ladies working were so kind, welcoming, and very attentive. The building was very clean and well organized. They had a highchair available for little ones. I tried the sweet and sour chicken special with half and half of chicken fried rice and chowmein noodles. Shrimp dumplings. Crab Rangoon, and she even gave me a complimentary dish of chicken wontons! The food was made fresh as I ordered it. It was very very very fresh and crispy! I am use to my fried rice and noodles having more garlic and sauce flavor, whereas these were more dry and vegetable tasting. For the way they make theirs, it's very good and traditional. I looovee their red sauce - I was so happy that it was not the orange duck sauce (not a fan of duck sauce at all). The crab Rangoon has a very great crab flavor and the perfect texture. I 100% believe you should give this place a try! Their menu has a LOT of great options! Their specials are very large in portion! I can't wait to come back and try new menu items! read more

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Absolute BEST Chinese restaurant in California! And I've tried them all over SoCal, Central, and NorCal over my last 20 years living in California...including the Bay area. Jim's is top notch! A hole-in-the-wall, family owned/operated restaurant with delicious food. The ambiance was cozy and intimate; we were greeted and served warmly; never were we rushed even though we sat down for dinner 40 minutes before closing. From the "Specials" we ordered the Sesame Chicken with fried rice and BBQ Pork Vegetable with chow mein. The servings were huge, prices were fair for the portion size, and the taste...OMG! The sauces were so tasty and abundant, the vegetables were fresh, and the way they bread/fry the chicken made it light & crispy. It was all so good! And while we didn't order any appetizers, they gifted the two of us with 4 Crab Rangoon and 4 Sesame Balls. It was completely unexpected and such a nice surprise. They were both delicious; nothing was greasy. Oh, and they have the best tasting sweet & sour sauce! You have to keep your eyes open to find this amazing spot! It's tucked away in a mini-plaza next door to tailor shop and State Farm insurance at the other end. Parking in front is tight, but you can also park on the side of State Farm where it's much more open. We pass through Seaside a few times a year. Jim's Chinese Restaurant will definitely be on a return list each time we come through. For superb Chinese food and warm hospitality, go here! read more

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Wow, soooo disappointed with the quality of food that we received today from Jim's. We stopped in today and ordered 5 dishes to get a sampling of food for lunch. I met Helen the Owner today. What a great lady. Not enjoying her food is very disappointing and difficult for me to write because I wanted to like it. Additionally, she gave us hot tea while we waited and also a large sampling of fried appetizers for free. You see what I mean... what a gracious Owner. First, the beef chow fun noodles had a very strange flavor, like the noodles were old and tainted with a bad taste and smell. It was inedible. The chicken fried rice also tasted old like it was left over from previous days. The mandarin chicken, salt and pepper prawns, and pot stickers were just okay. I loved hearing Helen's story about the restaurant and their 26 years in business. However, it might be time to call Gordon Ramsey's show, Kitchen Nightmares, and clean the kitchen up and get a fresh perspective on getting back to what made them last 26 years. We won't be back to Helen and Jim's Chinese restaurant, unfortunately. I'm not sure how long a business can continue serving the food like we had today and keep customers coming back. read more

We had a nice experience here before going down to the Refuge Day Spa. It was the perfect balance of calories and saltiness we needed before heading into a sauna and massage. I don't think I would drive down to Carmel just to go here, but if I had a hankering for Chinese and was in the area I would return. read more

What an absolute gem of a restaurant my gosh. The service is attentive and kind, the portions are HUGE and the flavors are soo good. The restaurant is also super clean and smells good as soon as you walk in read more

Jim's Chinese Restaurant - Orange chicken and chow mein - Chinese Near Me - Seaside, California

My boyfriend and I came to Monterey Bay to spend our anniversary weekend together! We have been up and exploring all day, and at the end of the day we were starving!!! We came across this incredible place after the initial restaurant we wanted to go to were closed. Best. Turnout. Ever. The ratings don't do its justice to cover how sweet/welcoming/ and hardworking the staff are! Not to mention the food, it's incredibly delicious!! We were surprised that one of the lovely staff gave us appetizers to tryyy! My bf and I were so touched for this gesture This spot has become A MUST when visiting the area!! read more

Jim's Chinese Restaurant - Appetizers!! - Chinese Near Me - Seaside, California

The service was good and the wonton soup was alright. The noodles, appetizers, and actual food was bland, watered down, and I'm flabbergasted you would call this authentic Chinese food. Let alone the awards the restaurant has received ?! Like how read more

I want to say how much I loved this place but also need to be fair If you want massive portions, solid Chinese food made in a family restaurant then look no further, but the story doesn't end there for us Jo and I checked out yelp and figured this scored so high we would give it a try... My staple favs are Tommy's Wok and recently superseded by the Great Wall.. We were excited !.. We ordered the fixed for 2 #A to see whats what.. and then the problems began 1... They bought the dishes out slowly and 1 by 1 over a period of maybe 45 mins and what turned out to be wrong and the wrong order 2... Starters first of which the fried prawns were delicious 3... Then came a noodle beef dish, no serving spoon etc but we ate it only to learn it was not ours and they put it on the wrong table. 4... Then came orange chicken which the chicken was overcooked inside so tasty but missed 5... then the rice arrived, then another beef dish 6... then finally the soup that should have been after the starter... 7... Oh actually and then a prawn dish arrived... So basically the service was all over the place, threw us completely so we ended up scratching around a couple of dishes and bringing home a box of cartons which will certainly be a lunch and another dinner. The people here were lovely, I really want to support family run businesses and the food has great promise but tbh it was a disaster of a meal for us. People being nice and friendly - 10/10 Bang for the buck 12/10 Food taste - 7/10 Ambience - 5/10 Service 2/10 Am not sure if we will try this place again as there are loads of solid alternatives and it didn't tip past either of my top 2 choices on this adventure... I am sorry not to wax lyrical but have to keep it real ! We did meet a super mum and son from Pismo when we were there so if you are reading this ... I hope you got to the butter house... read more

Great restaurant. Very generous amount of food, friendly service, reasonable prices. The Kung Pao chicken tasted very good and fresh. read more

Jim's Chinese Restaurant - Crab wontons - Chinese Near Me - Seaside, California

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So good and such great prices! The wonton soup is wonderful and the pepper fish is amazing. read more

Jim's Chinese Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - Seaside, California

So this is a long overdue update. 11years. My family and I used to frequent about twice a month for years because of our in-laws living so close. Not so much now. Nothing for me has changed much, maybe some interior decorations and chairs. I didn't see Jim but his wife Helen was working both the kitchen register. She's super nice. Not a destination or even close and it's not close to fancy. It's a OG, strip mall family ran restaurant. Last words...that's it! read more

Jim's Chinese Restaurant - Mongolian beef - Chinese Near Me - Seaside, California

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One of the best Chinese food restaurants I've ever eaten at small quaint, but the food was amazing

**Jim's Chinese Restaurant: A Hidden Gem Worth Seeking Out** Hands down, Jim's serves the best Chinese food in Seaside. Tucked away like a well-kept secret, this spot feels like stepping into a friend's warm, inviting home--complete with that effortless hospitality that makes you want to linger. The portions are generous enough to share (or savor solo for days), and the flavors? Absolutely out of this world--bold, fresh, and perfectly balanced in every bite. If you're craving authentic comfort food without the fuss, do yourself a favor and discover Jim's. You won't regret it! read more

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Amazing food. Amazing service. Food came out quick and delicious. Quick and very friendly service. Some of the best Chinese food I've had. I created a yelp account solely so that I can give my praises online to this place. read more

Jim's Chinese Restaurant - Mandarin chicken with chow mein. - Chinese Near Me - Seaside, California

This place is a true hidden gem -- a real "hole in the wall" with phenomenal service and absolutely fabulous food. Hands down, this is the best Chinese food I've had in the Monterey area. They have special house dishes that are full of flavor, healthy, and served in very generous portions, all at very reasonable prices. The chef always comes out to greet guests and make sure everything is perfect, which makes dining here feel like eating at a family's home. The atmosphere is cozy, warm, and welcoming. I highly, highly recommend Jim's Chinese Restaurant -- once you try it, you'll keep coming back. read more

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there on 6-13-26. This was my favorite Chinese food ever now it's the worst Chinese I've tasted. I asked if Jim is still cook,was told he's in back prepping now n Helen is the cook now for unknown reasons. I'm sorry Helen but crabcakes were burnt, rice tasted like canned,n mushroom chickenwas chopped into cubes bland, no flavor at all. My trips to Monterey always had a stop there, not anymore. My respect for Jim n you Helen is the ONLY reason I didn't ask for my money back! read more

Fast, friendly, generous & yummy! Amazing customer service! The lady who I assume is the owner is very kind and generous. So sweet!! Don't sleep on this place, check them out! read more

I placed a phone order at Jim's Chinese Restaurant and was helped by the kindest, most patient person. My feral kids were so loud in the background, and she handled it with so much grace and understanding. I truly appreciated that. I ordered the beef and broccoli and the orange chicken special. When I arrived, I was immediately greeted, and the service continued to impress. While waiting, I saw other dishes people had ordered and honestly wished I could try more because everything looked so good. We were visiting and staying in a hotel with a tiny fridge, otherwise I definitely would've ordered more. I believe the owner came out to go over my order with me and showed me everything. The portions are huge. She even added a few extra items for my kids after hearing them in the background, which was incredibly thoughtful and sweet. As a new mom of three, I felt like dining in with the whole crew might've been too much, but now I wish we had. The environment felt so warm, friendly, and welcoming. Such a kind gesture, great food, and a great experience overall. I'll definitely be back next time we're in town. read more

Jim's Chinese Restaurant Jim's is the ultimate hole-in-the-wall hidden gem--you'd probably drive right past it without noticing, and that's exactly why it's so special. This place feels like a well-kept secret, and once you eat here, you'll want to keep it that way. The food is downright delicious. Everything tastes fresh, authentic, and homemade. Flavors are spot-on, nothing overly greasy or Americanized. Best of all, the portions are massive--one entrée can easily feed two people (or leave you with leftovers for days). Great quality and incredible value. What really makes Jim's stand out is how it feels like eating at someone's home. The staff is incredibly warm and welcoming; they treat you like family from the moment you walk in. They make you feel completely at home in the coziest, most unpretentious way. I can't recommend this place highly enough. If you want outstanding Chinese food served with genuine heart, skip the big chains and come to Jim's. Just don't tell too many people--let's keep this gem a little secret a while longer! read more

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Food amazing Service 10/10 super hospitality Ambiance small cozy family feel Great food totally worth it real ingredients made from scratch amazing place to grab some food I will 100% be going back. read more

After a friend talking so highly of this place we had to check it out. Staff was welcoming, and the place is small but cozy inside. All the food was great ESPECIALLY the veggie rolls! Speedy service, would recommend. read more

Jim's Chinese Restaurant - Orange chicken and white rice - Chinese Near Me - Seaside, California

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Fantastic. The service is great, the food is great. I ordered the mushrooms, pork fried rice, and beef hunan, and it's all very tasty. It's kind of hole in the wall, so spotting the location might be an issue, but worth it read more

Jim's Chinese Restaurant - Chinese Near Me - Seaside, California

Don't let anything about this place intimidate you from coming in and grabbing a bite. Their hospitality was amazing, table service delightful, and atmosphere warm welcoming with the delicious aroma of food in the air. If you're craving Chinese food in Monterey, the this is the place. Diego likes the chili oil, and they gave us free egg rolls and crab ragu read more

Came here because of the high reviews I read. Let me say don't let the size and location keep u from coming. Customer service is 5 stars along with the food. The staff make u really feel welcome as if you were family. read more

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Following the Great Tradition of our current Executive Branch, Aus gets One Birthday Yelp Pardon... This is an amazing restaurant. Friendly. The Best Customer Service. Very Positive and Fun environment. Food is Delicious! read more

Worst Chinese food I've ever had. I don't know how this place has such good reviews. Their orange chicken was just god awful it had some horrible lemon-orange sauce on it and the chicken was flavorless and chewy. The fried Prawns looked like they came from a box (perhaps Costco?). Over-priced garbage.. what a waste of money. Just terrible. Ended up throwing most everything out. The rice was "okay" but whatever soy sauce they hand out was nasty. I have no idea why anyone in their right mind would rate this place above 1-star. read more

This place has the best customer service I have ever been too, especially Meghan. she helped me and my family out alot. The food was also amazing! read more

3.5. It what you expect. High reviews because there's not much competition around. Very nice people. Nothing that made me say wow. Just middle of the road. read more

Least expensive quick real Chinese food on the peninsula. OK quality vs her local competitors, not gourmet level, but ample quantity and lots of fresh crispy cooked vegetables in each dish. Large variety of dishes. Good for catering events. Owner treats repeat customers well. If your take out order is running late, she'll usually add small appetizers to your order to thank you for your patience. Very small seating area. Table service is quick. Family owned & operated. Lunch & dinner menu combination orders are a good value. read more

We just love Jim's Chinese, a little hole in the wall, mom and pop restaurant serving great Chinese food. Their lunch and dinner specials are reasonably priced and we are always greeted with some free appetizers. There are only a few tables in the restaurant but they also do a lot of to go orders. read more

Called for to go, based on previous reviews which warned about the strip mall location being out of sync with how good the food was. It IS a hole in the wall, but clean and orderly. Maybe 4 tables, and a standard look through window to the kitchen. Very friendly and engaging lady took the call, the order and got it together when we arrived. Ordered sweet and sour chicken, ginger onion pork, vegetable chow mein. WOW. Best sweet and sour chicken I've had in years, and I'm including FanTan Cafe in Victoria, BC. Chicken cut very small so nice and crispy, sauce not overpowering. The chow mein was what I always thought was lo mein, (yay!) with larger noodles, beautifully flavored and lots of vegetables. Ginger onion pork just delicious. She 'gifted' us some honey pork on top (since we loved it, good sales technique) as well as a small container with tempura fried sweet potato, crab Rangoon and something that resembled a beef taquito. All of this was really, REALLY good, and pretty large portions. Hard to explain, but it tasted fresh, lovely flavor melds, and 'clean'. We will order from here every time I'm in the area. Might even make a special trip. It was that good. read more

Jesus, don't tell anyone about this place. It's fantastic, but there are six smaller-than-usual tables, only one or two people cooking, two hustling waiters/servers, and one amazing mamasan running the show. They really should expand. We ordered the special for 3, and it was great. It was flavorful, fresh, and had huge portions. read more

Friendly owner and a pleasant wait staff. This is a small place. We made a reservation but perhaps didn't need to as we visited on a weeknight. There were four of us and each one of enjoyed our meals...we had a large soup to share and we each ordered separate dishes. Everyone was pleased. Thank you again to the cook/ owner for her pleasant welcome and attentiveness to our group. read more

We made a last minute trip to Monterey to check out a car. I was looking for a good Chinese food in the area and found this place with high ratings. Plus, it's open all day. I knew it was gonna be a hole in the wall. There was a ton of pictures of dishes on the wall. I ordered the Mongolian Beef but forgot what my husband ordered. He doesn't like me taking a pic of his food. They also served us free wontons which were tasteless and not crispy. My Mongolian Beef was just so-so. I've had better. The service was very attentive, the owner even took our order. She was clanging her pots loudly in the kitchen, though. Afterwards, we visited relatives who live in the area. They told us that we should have eaten at the Chinese restaurant right next to the dealer we visited. Oh well. read more

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