One of the smallest Chinese places you will see in btown but its a gem of a place. The food is amazing and the portions are huge. Like for 2-3 people type huge. Very affordable for the amount you get. To top it off, the people that work there are so kind and helpful. I'm just disappointed I found this place in my senior year. read more

Don't let the name fool you, this is not a fast food Chinese restaurant. They have a very extensive, authentic menu that includes a good amount of vegetarian options which can be made vegan by asking them to hold the oyster sauce. The wait for your food will probably be longer than you expect because it is a small, home-cooking kind of operation, but it is worth it. Portions are huge! read more

Best Asian cuisine in Bloomington. Amazing food, speedy! The House Special Fried Rice is so addictive and, as other reviews have mentioned, the beef stew is quite delicious and aromatic. read more

Ate here again after a long stay away. Tried the dumplings, amazing! This is really some of the best chinese food around. Wooooo hooooo

Greasy salty msg loaded food. Not particularly authentic. Dining room is disgusting. Cash only is a pain.

Yum! I really enjoyed my house special fried rice and Kung Pao shrimp. This is the place to go to when you just want to wear your jammies, watch a show, and eat that classic Chinese takeout. Very comforting. DON'T FORGET CASH!!! They don't do cards so cash it is! Lastly, I need to comment that the woman working there was so full of smiles, generous, and relaxed. I'll go back just because she was so fun. read more

This was my go to place for Chinese food in Bloomington. May not be visually pleasing in the actual restaurant, but I never had complaints about the food. I could never stray away from the spicy shrimp. Definitely a great place to eat on a college budget. read more

I've been eating here since I was a kid. great service. Nice people all throughout the buisness. Good food. Some of the best Chinese food I've had. It is an affordable and family friendly restaurant. read more

Cheap Chinese...you get what you pay for. I had chicken and broccoli and Kung pao shrimp. The shrimp tasted nasty, like it was not fresh and did not even resemble shrimp. Only had two bites, I passed because I didn't want food poisoning. The chicken Brocoll I was gross! Cheap or not I do plan to go back! read more

I got through the four years of college by visiting Lucky. You will see lots of native Chinese people eating here, meaning it's a authentic and delicious! The rice is unlimited and they have an underground menu you can order from. Tell them what you would like and they might just make it happen :) love the mapo tofu here! read more

All in all, it was pretty gross. I got the General Tso's Chicken, and it was absolutely caked in some dark brown snot (seriously, it had the consistency of snot) that wasn't very sweet, salty, or spicy. It just was. It adhered to the chicken and also itself, so that it stayed together like some sort of gelatinous goo, eventually coating the ends of my chop sticks. I only used the rice, which was caked together so that I couldn't pick out individual grains, to soak off the sauce, and even then I could only finish half the food. That being said, the chicken itself was alright and I liked whatever batter/breading they use (it stuck to my teeth--I like that in good bad Chinese food), but it didn't make up for the overall badness of the meal. Lucky Express's saving grace is that it only cost six dollars for a big plate of food (I got the small serving; it was huge), but that doesn't matter when the food is gross.. Not bad: gross. I also couldn't read their menu. Cheap Chiniese food can be bad and still awesome if it doesn't revolt you. I couldn't stomach Lucky Express. Yelp has sincerely misled me. I can't imagine why this place got four and a half stars. read more

Well it has some really tasty dishes like spicy tofu pork, whereas some are too oily or cheesy to handle. But it's cheap, and always incredibly fast. Still a place for a quick lunch. read more

Tried this place for the first time, and had an amazingly delicious chili chicken, at prices 1/3 less than the excellent Golden Harbor in Champaign and 20% less than the authentic restaurants I frequent in Boston. I'll be eating here for a few days until I head out of town. read more

While the food here is okay, pretty typical of quick Chinese food, the two young women who were taking orders were incredibly rude. Especially the younger Chinese woman who usually works the register. She was nasty to another customer and myself, so much so that I probably won't be returning to this place. I get that she wants to go back to her homework, but at least treat your customers with a bit of respect. read more

Not just the best authentic Chinese food in Bloomington; probably the best in Indiana. Hats off! Bring some cash, cuz they dont take plastics. read more

General Tao Chicken was over cooked and not very good cuts of meat. It was basically inedible. Do not go here expecting good Chinese. It's pretty horrible read more

I would never forget this restaurant. When I first time arrived in Town in 2013, there are not so many Chinese restaurant here. However, this one just makes me feel amazing. This place always have wonderful food and the price is quite reasonable. read more

My favorite real Chinese restaurant in Bloomington. I have been here many many times and it never disappoints. Favorites are potatoes with mala sauce, crispy tofu, and bok choi with garlic sauce. It's a total hole in the wall, so don't go expecting any element of ambiance at all. A++ read more

Lucky USED to be the one! For Chinese students at IU, the dishes taste like "home" as they were so authentic and DELICIOUS. Ever since its change of owner in 2011, things have changed a bit. I do miss the old Beijing couple, although the wife cashier/order taker can be quite impatient. I had always been kind of scared to order from her. It's like ordering from her was adding trouble for her. For those of you who were embarrassed by the husband yelling at the wife. The wife actually yelled at the husband too. That's Beijing people, they are sarcastic and loud and sound mean sometimes but they ARE actually nice, just deep down. They were just loud. And these are way off the topic... There still are a couple items that I like a lot. But overall they just don't taste as fresh as they were before, especially the meat dishes. My friends and I would agree that Lucky has become "just another ok Chinese restaurant". I wanted to give it a three star. But I know I am holding too high of a standard. I still love it for the overall taste, authenticity, and price. And I believe it will improve. So a four star. Things to recommend (for now, speaking for a Chinese stomach, so non-Chinese should decide for yourself whether you should try): "Suan Rong Sheng Cai" (garlic lettuce), "La Zi Ji" (spicy chicken), "San Bei Ji" (chicken with three cups of special sauce, not spicy), "Ma La Nan Jin Bao" (spicy beef stew), & last but not least, the milk tea. I've heard good things about "Mapo Tofu" (spicy tofu) and "Yu Xiang Qie Zi" (fish flavored eggplant) but I haven't tried them myself. Still, cash only. read more

It's definitely the best Chinese restaurant in Btown. Foods here is a little bit sweet but tastes awesome. I don't remember the English names. read more

I have come back to this place numerous times, because the food is incredibly tasty! It is a drawback that it is cash-only, but the prices are very good for the large quantity of food provided. I have been told by many Chinese friends that this place is very authentic, and I certainly believe it! I just question the cleanliness, as I see the same dirty rag being repeatedly used to wipe off the wok before the next dish is prepared. I also have received that horrible knotted stomach feeling consistently after eating here. I would go with 3.5 stars, if this was an option, as the food is quite tasty but it definitely lacks in other ways such as sense of cleanliness. I often skip this place due to this reason despite enjoying the flavor of the food immensely. read more

Hidden gem of Bloomington, amazing food! Have to try number 145, tufu with ground pork

dang this place is cheap and good. atmosphere is as dingy as all the best, hole-in-the-wall, authentic,greasy, msg-laden restaurants as it gets man. this is the real deal. For those who will never get the chance to visit China, this will be your closest cultural experience. idk how they rated this place as 2 dollar signs?? it's really dirt cheap. $4.50 for a huge plate of general's chicken with a can of soda and unlimited rice for lunch? come on.. menu in english and chinese is on the wall. if you are nervous, stick to chicken or get someone to help you out. be savvy and look around.. if you like what you see someone eating, ask that dude what he's got. not the most polite, but it's better to get exactly what you want than trying to fudge around and end up with a pot full of frogs legs right?? also, try to go with friends and eat communal style. that way you get to sample more dishes and figure out which are your favorites. you know you'll be back soon. it really does not get more authentic than this in Btown. Thank God for Lucky Express! read more

Chinese food here is good. It tastes good. It's not like most other Chinese restaurants that only have western style Chinese food.

Definitely the best Chinese food in the town....And I say it as a Chinese!! And the MILK TEA is REALLY NICE!!!

best chinese food in indiana !!! i love lucky express. this is what chinese food and a chinese restaurant is all about. go and have a try! cash only! truest chinese food in indiana !!! read more

First like 5 times, BEST chinese food EVER! We were seriously hooked for a while... then everything started to really taste the same... like the same exact sauce, adn the pepper beef changed... not sure how/why but it wasn't as good. Also the spicy-ness changed. I dont think its a different chef ever, but it just wasn't the same... still I would recommend this for the best chinese food in Bloomington (it seems the most authentic at least and they cook it right in front of you... the chef's pretty fast, but he does often yell at his wife/assistant, and it makes it very awkward for those standing there). read more

This place is good, but I don't think I'd return. We had a seafood stew which was extremely fresh and tasty, as well as chili chicken, which was ok becuase it was very salty and the chicken was very fatty. Also we ended up spending about $23 for both the chicken and stew, which for a Chinese place with terrible "ambiance" is pretty high. Combine this with being cash only I give this place a meh and 3 stars... read more

This restaurant was my favorite restaurant before, but I think their recipes have changed over time, now most things I order are too spicy for me, but I still like the price and amount here, can't be beaten by other Chinese restaurants read more

If you need art-lined walls, a wine list, and a bathroom attendant in order to enjoy a meal then this isn't your restaurant. If you're on the hunt for great Chinese food regardless of the decor or ambiance, then look no further. Lucky Express is a no-frills, cash-only, hidden gem with plenty of options for omnivores, vegetarians, and vegans alike. They have a great lunch deal for $5, but the menu is pretty limited - I recommend coming here for dinner and trying something from their HUGE standard menu. It's written with Sharpie and taped to the wall, and I wouldn't want it any other way. read more

This is by far the best Chinese restaurant in Bloomington. If you are up for authentic Chinese cuisine, you would do well to either order off the menu or speak with lady cashier/waitress/order taker. A personal favorite is the Mapo Tofu dish. The buffet selection for lunch is fairly limited to about 6 dishes, all served with rice or lo-mein and comes with the soup of the day; which is usually egg drop soup (MWF) or hot and spicy soup (T,Th). The decor and seating is very simple and limited. Parking is very limited due to the location of this restaurant and they only do a cash-only business and does not accept credit/debit cards. For these reasons alone, I give it 4 stars instead of 5. read more

Tasty and authentic and one of the best Chinese place in town. The dishes here are of the more flavory kind, so even though it seems the owner is from Southern China I guess Northerner will enjoy the type of cuisine here a bit more. (I'm from the North.) Anything spicy would be a good choice, but I particularly like their twice-cooked pork (huiguo rou) and spicy shredded bamboo shoots (mala sun si). read more

Overall just happy with the good here. Especially for the price, you couldn't get much better. The only negative experience I have had is that they don't offer soup! I'm big on hot and sour soup and this is not the place to fulfill that craving but who cares. You can get 3 meals for under $20 that will last you the next 6 meals. The portions are huge and the food is good. I'm happy. My fiancé is happy. They will continue to have our business. read more

The price was not as attractive after the first few visits but the food is decent, delicious with authentic Chinese milk-tea!

I don't know why more people don't know about this place. The only downside is that you have to use cash but the food is consistently good and the menu is longer than you can imagine. Super chill hole in the wall place. I get the honey chicken and the rice is always super good and soft. Cheap prices and short waits read more

Our cashier mentioned that they had recently changed owners when we asked for a particular dish that had been recommended here on Yelp, as the expansive menu posted on the wall was rather confusing and hard to read. So I'm not sure if the quality is quite the same as so many other reviewers have raved about. Personally I was very disappointed. Sub-par food served on disposable plates. Chow Bar is definitely still my go to for Chinese/Asian fusion cuisine. Much more accessible and professional. read more

Must bring ur cash, they accept only cash. Otherwise u walk 2 blocks in freezing night to find an ATM. Food is good, ambience ok.

Great authentic Chinese food. Best value in Bloomington.

Lucky Express is one of the best Chinese restaurants in Bloomington, IN. And the location at 307 E. 3rd Street .Most of Americans think Chinese food just sweet and sour, it is wrong and there many cuisine and tasting of real Chinese food. Lucky is good at making spicy Szechuan food, so you need to notice how many peppers of dish when you watching the hand writing menu on the wall. I order Spicy Wok-Fried Chicken with Chilis (Lazijiding) every time. It's smokier and spicier. The cooker will chop up chilies and adding some special sauces to mix with chicken. Then use a bowl of oil to fried chicken until chicken's color turn to golden. Finally, taking out of fried chicken and stir-fry with lots of Szechuan red pepper. It's delicious, the fried chicken taste is crispy, a little hot and salty. The Lazijiding's price is about $7-$9, actually Lucky's food is very cheap. I think the main reason is they accept cash only. Thus, don't forget bring cash when you visiting this restaurant. Lucky has lower price comparing with other Chinese restaurant in Bloomington. Usually, my friends and I order five or six dishes when we going to the Lucky, we average pay $10 per person. In addition, there are no waiter serve to customers and can take out. When you come to Lucky, first thing is you need to order with the wife of the boss and finding seat by yourself to wait. They will announce that your food is ready, next thing is you have to pick up you food, take rice and tableware by yourself. And don't forget to clean you table when you finish eating and pay money. About the ambience, the restaurant is clean and quiet. Moreover, the owner of Lucky is a middle age couple who are very friendly. But I don't like the lampblack will cover my hair and clothes when the cooker is frying food. I have to take a shower after visiting the Lucky Express every time. And if you are plan to go out with friends after eating Lucky, I will advise you change a clothes avoid embarrassment. read more

They have some very authentic Chinese food, but the environment is ... close to awful.