This place used to be hit-or-miss but not it's a NEVER AGAIN. The last time I walked in, the place smelled like there was dead rodent hidden in the vents for weeks. No joke, I almost walked out but I live across the street and had eaten there many times without getting sick, and I already ordered my food anyway. The food was disgusting. I WAS SO MAD. It was around 830 and my Pupu for one tasted it was an hour old. The chicken fingers were dried out. The boneless spare ribs were bone dry. The rangoon was cold. They always say "10 Minutes" so I know it's not fresh, but this last time was the final straw! GoodBye Mei Lee! read more

I came here because it was one of the last places open around, and I didn't want to drive super far. Some of the food is just ok, some others are decent. Pork fried rice was flavorless and dry. Boneless spare ribs were very good! They were well sauced and very flavorful, better than I expected. Soup was ok but it needed salt so I added some. Also, it was overpriced in my opinion for the quality and amount (over $25 for 3 things). Very easy to find, convenient location with a big parking lot. I would probably only come here again as a last resort. read more

Oh my goodness, this place is just awful! I asked if I could switch out the shrimp from my meal since I'm allergic, and the rude woman actually yelled at me. Can you imagine? I decided to try something else, hoping the food would be better, but it wasn't. The noodles were soggy and tasteless, and the chicken was barely cooked. Honestly, everything about this place is just dreadful. I won't be coming back, that's for CERTAIN. read more

Best Chinese food in Salem Massachusetts Great price, delicious, fast delivery! Great service read more

You'll get better food elsewhere. I threw away the leftovers, and I'm typically the leftover queen. It's just not very good quality food and the general gau's was not crispy, it was soft/chewy. Hate to give a bad review to a local place, but I can't recommend this one at all. read more

2 times in a row now, I pay on line. Delivery man comes expecting a payment. He calls restaurant asking manager if I paid and she has no idea! I give her my credit card number. He leaves yelling at me... No more, No more, No more! Damn right No More! Clueless people. I have learned my lesson!! I do not recommend read more

Got the lo mien based on another person's review. It was very bland.... Won't go back..........

I'm a big fan of Mei Lee's beef lo mein. I'd go so far as to say it's the best I've ever had. It's tasty, has fresh veggies that flavor it well...celery, onion,beansprouts, sno peas, mushroom, slivered carrot for color. The beef is marinated, tender, and flavorful. Theirchow mein has all the right ingredients, but I wish it was chopped up,more finely....that's simply a matter of taste, though, not a reflection on the quality of the product. I've tried a few other items...wonton soup is good...boneless ribs sweet and tasty, Don't know much about the rest of the menu,msince I go for the basics for takeout. If you want good old Chinese takeout, try it....you'll go back for more. read more

I called to ask if their pad Thai was gluten free and they didn't even know what gluten meant. I asked if they could check with the cook and they told me the cook didn't know either... their cooks don't even know what they put in their own food or they are too lazy to ask for a customer. Poor quality food and terrible customer service. read more

Not the best for authentic Chinese but passable and meets the need if a Chinese hangry feeling overcomes you. Lobster sauce and the pupil platter? Don't mind if I do! Check out this Yelp review for Mei Lee Express! https://www.yelp.com/biz/mei-lee-express-salem?hrid=Vp7xi7G3tAgRr7ZESR-mHQ&utm_source=ishare&utm_campaign=ios_review_share_postreview read more

I struggle with Chinese food having them remember the hot mustard one of my favorite condiments with this food I specifically stated extra extra hot mustard. receive my delivery no hot mustard called to explain and was told it's in the bag it's in the bag there was no hot mustard in the bag asked to speak to the owner manager called me back and said the owner said he'll refund your money but he wants his food back. So I packed everything up, took a picture and his employee came by gave me my $31 back and took the food, even the Ziploc bags that I scraped my plates on to prove there was no hot mustard on them poor poor way to address his situation never go back there. read more

Mei Lee Express - Food they told me to pack up because they failed to deliver my order properly and would not compensate me - Chinese Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

The food was good but they give you little portions. In other Chinese food places they are not stingy at all when it comes to food but this place gives you a little bit of food. Other then that the food was tasty but nothing special. read more

Mei Lee Express - a meal in a styrofoam container - Chinese Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

They are my go to restaurant for Chinese takeout in Salem. I like their hot and sour soup.

Living not far away it is beginning to be our go to place for chinese food. It seems on par with other restaurants however is carry out. Not eating meat I depend on seafood and substitutes of meat dishes with tofu. You also can wander next store to Crosby's for ice cream if you want desert. read more

BEST CHINESE FOOD IN SALEM. Always fast delivery, the food is fresh & the price is right. Lo mein is loaded with fresh vegetables which is why it's my go to. Pan fried dumplings are always a must here as well. Perfect for Saturday night Chinese delivery. You won't be disappointed. read more

I would have to disagree with LF's review. The things she had an issue with at this place, I would not expect from them. A more fancier restaurant maybe, but not at an average Chinese place in a plaza despite how small issues she had would seem. I've had their General Gau's chicken and I requested it extra crispy and extra spicy. I do not know the issue she had with it as it is prepared mostly the same at other restaurants I have been to in Mass and out of state. I gave this place three stars for their food and menu, and another star for their service and friendliness. The food is average. It's not bad by no means, but don't expect some extravagant meal. Everything is fast, simple and quick. On the plus it tastes good as well and the portions are large size. Even their lunch menu. It is worlds different from the previous owners as I ate here a lot living near by. Under the old owners, the food wasn't always fresh and didn't always taste good. It was a consistent issue. Not with the new owners. I would agree that their chicken teriyaki is a bit big portions and I have gotten it a bit to garlicy. I request that they add less garlic and they do it for me. I would say this place is consistent with their food and it doesn't taste bad at all. I would highly recommend going to them. They don't really do anything different than most regular Chinese places, but that isn't such a bad thing. Prices and decent, food is good, and there are large portions. I would recommend at least trying them once and seeing for yourself. read more

Food's decent, delivery's fast, not open late though. Sorry I haven't more to write. I was drunk when I ordered and distracted when I ate :) read more

This place is disgusting. My girlfriend got orange-flavored beef from Happy House last night. Several hours later she got stomach cramps and was up vomiting all night and all morning. I wish we'd read these Yelp reviews earlier. I hope I can prevent other people from eating there. I wish Yelp would let me give NO stars. UPDATE: I want to clarify that this review was written after visiting this location when it was named Happy House. I have not visited this location since the name changed to Mei Lee Express. I don't know if it was just a name change or a change in management as well so this review may no longer apply. read more

This place used to be decent when they first opened. Not so good now. Ordered pupu platter for two. Comes fried rice free, also won ton soup last weekend 1/10/15. I picked up the order at the store. The guy cooking is wearing a gray cook shirt. Ahh really its white but its sooo dirty its gray. I have a bad feeling about the food now. Get back home to eat and find that the fried rice has a weird grayish color to it. I should have photo it. My girlfriend was gonna eat it but I told her not to! The pupu platter was pretty greasy. Boneless spare ribs where all fat, the egg rolls are made with just shredded white cabbage more like a spring roll super greasy, had one bite tossed that! Weird cinnamon taste to the steroid laden chicken wings. Over battered chicken fingers greasy nasty. Tossed it all! The won ton soup was tasteless water based creation with two pea pods and couple pieces of over cooked bok choy....BAD! Sorry Mei Lee your food is gross! Never going back! read more

GREASY! It was like they just soaked the chicken fingers in cold oil! No flavor! Rice was decent. boneless ribs were too sweet and fatty. crab Rangoon was extra dry! read more

Ordered a few appetizers for lunch- sooo good, Perfectly cooked and arrived hot. Delivery was exceptionally fast, and the driver was very courteous. Will order from here again! read more

My favorite Chinese food restaurant in salem. Boneless spareribs and chicken fried noodles. Call ahead and order to pick up.

Everything was cold and undercooked. Took one bite and had to stop eating immediately. Probably would've gotten sick if we actually did eat it. This was my first time ordering from here. I will not be back. I can't even believe they sent it out the door. Money wasted because they closed before I got home and noticed. I'm not even disappointed I'm completely pissed about it the whole situation. EVERYTHING I ORDERED WAS TERRIBLE! read more

Great chicken fingers Huge! House fried rice is also very good

I called in soup, arrived 10 minutes later and waited 15 minutes. For soup. That's just ok. Nah.

Best, freshest Americanized Chinese food I have ever had. Always fresh, always delicious, always prompt delivery. Can't say enough about this place. Oh yeah, great delivery guy as well. read more

I have not tried much food from their menu but I have to say their chicken rice soup was delicious! I was sick & needed to eat something & decided to get some soup as it was 945 pm & I had just gotten out of the hospital. I bought two large soups & had one before laying down for bed. I thought mmm this was really good but maybe I was just really hungry! The next night I looked forward to eating the other soup & I was very happy it tasted as delicious as the night before! I'll definitely be back. read more

Usually alright, but not CONSISTENT. They do have rather cheap lunch specials, and some alright dinner specials, but the food always seems like it was sitting around when you get these. Try getting a normal menu item and it comes out fresh... Sometimes the Kung Pao dishes are spicy, some times they aren't. Sometimes the fried rice is damn good, sometimes it tastes like mall food. The soups are pretty good-I like the hot & sour here. Great for a flu! Having taken my chances with the Happy House many times, I would have to say that they have one thing here that stands out...the LO MEIN. Real good. But yeah, it is a classic north shore hole-in-the-wall. The interior reminds me of those Chinese spots on Centre Street in Jamaica Plain, just without the bulletproof glass. read more

Used to eat here all the time when it was "happy house" and loved it. Unfortunately the new management lacks consistency when preparing dishes, and seems to be eliminating ingredients to cut costs. Order a vegetable lo mein for example. Most other restaurants give you a mix of noodles, peapods, waterchestnuts, carrots, green onion, celery, mushrooms, brococoli, beansprouts, green or red pepper chunks and possibly baby corn , watercress or green beans mixed in with the noodles. What does a large vegetable lo mein consist of here? Mainly Noodles with sauce, a single mushroom half, 3 shreds of carrot, 2 snowpeas and a few pieces of onion. "Vegetable" should be in parenthesis on the menu. And don't bother asking for extra vegetables, they charge you a dollar for each vegetable you want added then only throw in a single piece of broccoli or two small mushrooms. Ka-ching! Regarding consistency, this is really what makes or breaks any restaurant at its core. The food quality I get at mei lee express changes unpredictably from visit to visit for the same menu item. One day the food will be juicy, tender and delicious, the next it is dry, under spiced and blande with half the ingredients of the previous day. All in all I don't expect this place to stay in business very long if they keep going the direction they are going and don't make a few necessary changes to the way they operate. read more

We hadn't been here since they were Happy House. We won't be back. Although not the worst Chinese food we've had, it was far from the best as the rest of these reviews seem to think. The crab rangoon was decent. It was lightly fried and chock full of cream cheese but a little light on the crab. The General Gau's chicken was a big disappointment. No heat whatsoever, and while some might appreciate the large chunks of tender white meat, the soggy coating was a turn off. The biggest fail was the egg foo yung. The only meatless option was mushroom (really, they couldn't just make it vegetable and throw in some carrots and pepper?), and the gravy was a giant tub of thickened soy sauce. WTF? Seriously? Soy sauce on egg foo yung. I had to make my own gravy for it. The white rice was surprisingly moist and fluffy, so it seems they can do something right. But frankly, I can make my own damn rice so there's no reason for us to go back. read more

I'm disappointed every time I go here. They eliminate ingredients to cut costs: no pineapple in the sweet and sour sauce, no pork in the fried wontons, no scrambled egg in the fried rice. And the entrees are different from other restaurants. The General Gau's chicken isn't battered and fried like it traditionally is prepared. The chicken chunks are larger but not fried, and covered in so much garlic that it's barely edible. The chicken in the sweet and sour chicken are large but bland, and the sauce is more sour than sweet. The egg foo yung is greasy and falls apart. They have a few decent appetizers, but every time I decide to give them another chance and order something new, I am always disappointed. The food was better under its previous owners when it was Happy House. The new owners seem very nice, but the food isn't up to par. read more

We've been looking for a good Chinese restaurant in Salem for a while. We had a favorite several years ago that closed and it seems like every place we ordered from left us disappointed. A friend of ours recommended Mei Lee after I had posted on Facebook about how bad out latest choice was. We finally have a new favorite in Salem. The fried rice is lighter than most. Not dark brown from being soaked in soy sauce. Really good crab rangoon. The General Gau's was tender and flavorful and just the right amount of heat to it. The pork lo mein needed a little more sauce to it but I'd rather have to add something then have it drenched. The pan fried dumplings have a good amount of filling and were very good. Overall we are very happy that we tried Mei Lee. Until now, when we wanted good Chinese, we would go out to Su Chang's or one of a couple other places because we felt we could get anything good delivered. Now we are happy that we can get good delivery. read more

Very friendly folks, just opened under new management. I particularly like the Mei Lee Fried Rice - really great deal and some of the better fried rice I have had. read more

Great place for American Chinese food. Fast and clean! They always add more spice when we ask for it. The beef chow foon and crab rangoons are decent. I also like the cantonese noodles, ginger chicken, beef with oyster sauce and general gau chicken. Just realize you are ordering American Chinese food. They are always very nice. read more

I am not one to write negative reviews.....but this time beats everything. We hadn't been here in awhile and figured we would try and help a local restaurant. OMG! First of all idk what happened to the price.......$70+ for 3 meals....the thing that pissed me off the most was that we actually tipped too. I don't have a problem with the price as long as the food tastes ok, but this was by far the WORST, WORST asian food i have ever had in my life. It looked like the food was cooked 2 weeks ago, dry, no taste and cold. Needless to say we will not be coming back........ read more

They seem to keep changing ownership. The food quality and quantity get worse every time. Did take out last night. It was dreadful. I think this will be the last time. read more

I love this place. The price is good, and my food gets delivered in a reasonable amount of time and is hot. I have to get my food customized because of food intolerances, and they always make it the way I ask. I'm picky about where I eat and I love Mei Lee Express. read more

So fresh! I have been getting take out for years and I am rarely disappointed. I just found my new favorite - Seafood Delight. Large shrimp and scallops. No skimping here. read more

Truly tasty food and excellent quality! We are rather choosy about restaurant food and often left unimpressed or ambivalent about our experiences. We are very pleased to have found Mei Lee and the best local source for consistently tasty Chinese Food. The beef lo mein is outstanding with a good, clean flavour and lots of tender meat. The noodles are of a different texture than the usual and quite delicious. The crab Rangoon is outstandingly delicate with a noticible crab component unlike most offerings elsewhere that seem to feature no more than some sort of crab-ish extract. The chicken fingers are large and actually contain tender pieces of chicken with an excellent chicken to batter ratio. Their chow mein is light, fresh and so delicious that I would return for this alone, I will never again accept the gloopy, pasty,overcooked versions with which , am regrettably overly familiar.. we have tried quite a few of their offerings and been consistently impressed, I recommend Mei Lee to my fellow Chinese Food afficianados and this has become the location which they unanimously return. read more

Honestly one of the better take out style Chinese places I've eaten at. The product is quality and is prepared well. Wait time of less than 10 minutes if its not busy. For what you pay and what you get it's tough to beat. read more