ORIENTAL EXPRESS Writing review like this are tough. In Topeka, this is a restaurant that is at least trying. But it is a restaurant that caters to - settles for - and work for Topeka. But it doesn't work for me. Well, not quite. So, I have to say up front - I live in San Francisco, with more Asian restaurants than American. I have lived in Asia for 7 years. And I travel to China every 12 weeks. So, I get to say, I probably know Asian food. Japanese. Chinese. Thai. And Korean. But you don't need my experience to determine what this food is all about. When I asked the waiter at Oriental Express about the authentic nature of the food. I give him great credit. He was honest. He told me that Oriental Express caters to the American Taste. "It is not authentic" he said. In order to do that, you have to visit the authentic sister restaurant over in Lawrence. He did, however, say there were a few bright spots. They have sushi. And, having lived in Japan, if you want creative "California style sushi rolls" - you probably won't find better in Topeka. As well, I asked for the best thing on the menu. He told me to eat the Galbi. These are the BBQ Korean short ribs. You get a plate of barbequed meat, white rice - and the best item on the menu for authentic taste. On the other hand - there were some huge disappointments. The New Drunken Noodles - described as "thai stir fried fresh glat rice noodles, with eggs, bell pepper, onion, tomoato and basil leaves" was really not good at all. It was 80-90% noodles, over sugared, low on taste just unpleasant. Most of the other Chinese places in town would do better by just stir frying longer. The chicken lo mein was barely sprinkled with chicken. It did have a little more flavor than the Drunken noodles, but it was tastes to the point that a dinner colleague decided he would add hot mustard and sweet and sour sauce just to give it taste. In the end - either stick with a sushi roll. Get the Galbi. Or drive over to Lawrence for a more authentic version of Oriental Express. read more

Oriental Express - Galbi - Korean BBQ spare ribs. - Chinese Near Me - Topeka, Kansas

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I used the online ordering option, which was very convenient. The food was ready when I got there and that's something I really appreciate. However, the good mostly stopped there. I ordered the General's chicken with fried rice, crab Rangoon and egg drop soup. Egg drop soup- really good and wished there was more of it. Crab Rangoon- good filling and cooked nicely. Fried rice- good flavor. General's chicken- Here's where the problem was for me. While the sauce was good, the chicken tasted old and was dry. I had high hopes for it, especially after eating everything else, and was disappointed. I'm willing to try it again, but it is not my go to place. read more

I adore this place! The menu is varied and the food is consistently delicious. The staff is friendly and takes good safety precautions with masks and social distancing. I love the atmosphere, it is always a go-to of mine for sushi in Topeka, and their hot and sour soup and fried dumplings are some of the best in all of Kansas in my opinion. I highly recommend giving it a try read more

I had delivery of Kung Pau chicken from this restaurant. It was delivered on time, looked good and tasted good. Good dinner. I will call them again Not the best Kung Pau chicken I have ever eaten but not bad. read more

We get take out here. They have a drive up window. Love the sweet and sour chicken and beef and broccoli. We especially love the appetizer platter. read more

Great food at an amazing price! Went on a lunch break once which was one hour and had plenty of time to eat with my co-worker and get back to work in a timely fashion. Food was very good and people were super friendly! Can't wait to go back! read more

I can't understand the good reviews here lol. I have tried many similar places in Topeka and didn't really need to complain to much. I ordered online the chicken friend rice, crab Rangoon and wonton soup. The rice has white rice chunks mixed in ...??? The chicken is bland with no flavor. The crag Rangoon actually scares me a little lol I'm not sure if should finish them they taste different than any Rangoon I've ever had . I haven't made it to the soup yet but normally wonton soup is not so dark so I'm concern and will approach cautiously. Update...the soup is definitely different but the most bearable thing out of all of it. read more

Oriental Express - Chinese Near Me - Topeka, Kansas

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Great food! Great lunch menu. My kids love their egg drop soup. We order ahead and pick up. They are efficient.

I'm so happy someone referred me to this place. It's one of the best sushi joints in Topeka. Granted there really aren't too many places to choose from, but since I've tried most of them I can safely say, this is the best we've tried in this city, by far. The restaurant is clean and the staff speaks enough English to make ordering fairly easy and they're nice. We ordered several rolls and dishes. We were very pleased with all but one. The lunch prices were very fair for the amount of food we received. We'll definitely be back! read more

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By my opinion, the best and most authentic Asian dishes I have had, definitely large portions but did not take away from the quality. The sushi selection was not only fresh but extensive, great service and cleanliness, my first recommendation to anyone!! read more

DO NOT LEAVE DRIVE THRU WITHOUT PHYSICALLY CHECKING YOUR ORDER. The bags are tied but if they short you food, which happened again, they want to argue about compensation. Not only did I have to wait over 20 mins, shorted food no compensation. NEVER GOING BACK... CUSTOMER BEWARE. read more

This place was alright. Nothing amazing. I had the pad Thai which was on the somewhat soggy side. My guest and I shared some crab Rangoon which was good. He had the orange chicken which was delicious. The place however wasn't clean. If you're that slow the staff should be sweeping and mopping. Crumbs and trash on the floor and the restaurant smelled like moth balls. read more

Spring rolls are amazing. Fuji Plum wine is really good, it's very sweet. We got the Tofu with Vegetables(we're vegetarian). The tofu was soft, but was pretty good. It was like a Chinese chicken noodle soup. Chinese fried rice is also really good. The server was very friendly and attentive. read more

Oriental Express - I meant to take a picture of the Spring Rolls before I ate them.. But I forgot. They're so good! - Chinese Near Me - Topeka, Kansas

As a rule, I am a bit wary of places that attempt too many culinary paradigms. Originally, I ate at Oriental Express with some hesitation and would have gone somewhere else if it hadn't been Christmas Eve. Two days later, I ate there again with enthusiasm and would have again if my vacation had been longer. Alright, so first off, this isn't the world's greatest Asian food. It is an express, a fast food place with a bit more class. If you're expecting gourmet, you'll be disappointed. On the other hand, they do everything well; Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai has all been great. Lunch portions come with rice, choice of soup, a few pieces of tempura veggies, and an eggroll or crab rangoon. Some of these sides are uninspired, possibly from-frozen, but the soup and tempura were both delicious and better than I've had at much more expensive eateries. The second time we went we ordered these in the appetizer sizes and they were massive. The 5 dollar tempura appetizer was literally heaping and came with three different sauces (though, ironically, no tentsuyu or tempura sauce). Everything I tried was at least good, but my favorites were the Korean dishes, Bulgogi and Spicy Pork. These were absolutely stellar. Richly flavorful, with just a little heat and that classic Korean barbeque flavor that melts in your mouth and is complemented beautifully by the onions and peppers. Fantastic stuff, and much cheaper here than anywhere else I've had. Other, more standard, offerings were good as well. The Sesame Chicken, for example, was nice and crispy with a great sauce that was sweetly sesame flavored without being cloying. We tried the sushi, too, but sadly just one roll. (We were still skeptical when we ordered.) We got the Yummy Roll which turned out to truly live up to its name. If I remember correctly, it was a spicy tuna roll deep-fried. Really, it's the deep-fried part that makes it. The warm, crunchy, cream-cheesy and fishy taste to it may sound weird, but it absolutely works. I almost ordered another one to take home. The sushi menu is very extensive and has a lot of innovative creations that I can't wait to try. The portions of the rolls aren't huge, but that gets balanced by the relatively low prices. Oriental Express is a fantastic place for a cheap but delicious Asian meal. With tons of options, great portions, and fantastic service, everyone should find something here they can enjoy. It has definitely earned a spot on the short list of places I will patronize every time I visit Topeka. read more

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In a time crunch one evening and craving pad thai, I call ahead to pick up at their drive-thru window. The drive-thru was very easy to use and the employee was very friendly. Unfortunately, when I got home and started in on my dish....I was disappointed. The frozen pad thai that I heat for 3 minutes in the microwave tastes about the same. Next time, I'll take a few minutes and drive across town for the good stuff at the Thai restaurant. Sad...cause I want this place to be good 'cause it's so darn convenient!! read more

Yeah, I'm really giving this place a two big thumbs up! Haven't had any luck finding some of my favorite foods since moving to Kansas from Oahu. The menu here is EPIC! The staff are friendly! We got our food quick considering we came in at the end of the lunch rush. Two lunches cost less than $15. Wife and I both really liked our food. Cooked to order, hot, and FLAVOR! Yes. Thank you. Plus, lunch came with soup which we are only accustomed to seeing at dinner. None of that bland, cold, reheated from a box, Buffett Food like those other Topeka places. read more

We have been to this restaurant several times. Service isn't always spectacular but we have never been dissatisfied with the food. It's small but service is fast. We'll be going back again and again. read more

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If you judge a book by its cover, you'll miss this jewel. The Chinese food here is the top shelf. Yes - you can get Korean, Japanese, and some Thai as the name implies but make no mistake - their Chinese is what they do best. Fried rice, Lo Mein, and General's Chicken are the front liners. More food and better food for the buck than any other place in town. Service - it's hit or miss. I've had incredible service. And I've had bad service. The food, on the other hand, has always been incredible. The To-Go portions are HUGE! read more

I simply love this place. People have commented on the exterior looking like a gas station, truth be told it used to be. Don't let that stop you from the wonders within. The beauty of this restaurant is not that they do any one thing perfect, but all the things they do they do well. Want great Thai food? Try Tip Tum Thai. Want good Thai food with some sushi and your guests wants Korean? Now you're talking about Oriental Express territory. Also, they happen to boast the best bang-for-your-buck sushi in Topeka. It's really good, and very reasonable on the wallet. I personally love the yummy rolls. Does that say I have an American taste? Probably. Do I care? Not in the least. It's wonderful! The place is kept very clean and the customer service is good. So come on already, what are you waiting on? Give them a try! read more

I don't know what happened tonight but this was NOT a good experience. Egg Drop soup...some clump of something floating on it....looked like something not dissolved??? Combo LoMien only beef and chicken in it, old noodles perhaps???? Fried dumplings, so dry hardly edible....what happened?? This is subpar and totally disappointing...new management??? Two thumbs down! read more

This review is solely on the Pad Thai. I have yet to try anything else on the menu, but I've heard nothing but good things and look forward to trying them. However, my experience this evening with the Pad Thai was absolutely dreadful. I'm a sucker for Pad Thai, but what I received here was nothing more than a mediocre version of one of my beloved favorites. In fact, I've made better in my own kitchen. It was quite heavy on the fish sauce while lacking in the glorious Thai seasoning, and it missed that savory goodness Pad Thai is supposed to offer. I'm afraid it tasted nothing more than a soggy pile of fish inners. Perhaps it was a bad night for the cooks, but I do not plan on risking it a second time. read more

Do not recommend ordering online from Oriental Express, especially for delivery. Their delivery is no longer in house, they use Menufy for the online ordering and Door Dash for the delivery. Horrible experience. Better to call them direct and pick it up. read more

So, met a friend here for lunch... And when I drove up I thought to myself " this cannot be the place". Don't judge a book by its cover definitely applies to this hidden gym! We started off with some hot tea and crab Rangoon bc it was super cold inside.. The crab rangoons were fabulous-- actually had flavor. Then the sushi.. We got the spicy salmon roll , futo maki roll , and the super crunch roll , California roll, white tuna and tuna rolls. Couldve done without the last three but the fish was fresh and the staff was very pleasant. read more

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We just ordered combination fried rice, combination sweet and sour and appetizer platter. Aall fried stuff but especially sweet and sour had a very bitter after taste. Tasted like the oil was old. My husband and I said it at the same time. I keep trying this place as location is convenient, but it's just not been good. I need to eat something to get the bad taste out of my mouth. read more

I love eating hear the staff is super friendly professional and the place is unusually clean the food is great as well and if you're looking for a good Chinese food in this small city definitely go here read more

This is the only place my husband and I order takeout from!!! Friendly staff, quick service. Fantastic food!!!

The two things I liked most about this place were the price and quickness. My colleague called ahead and our order was ready in about 10 minutes. For about eight dollars my lunch combo came with a large portion of General Tso Chicken, Fried Rice, a huge eggroll, and crab ragoon. I loved the sauce the General Tsos had and the fried rice was tasty. It was not my favorite eggroll as I prefer more cabage in mine. The crab ragoon was bitter than most I have had, but I still enjoyed it. Oriental Express is most definitely one of the better Chinese Restaurants in town. read more

I have been here a few times, but this is specifically about our last meal there. My husband spent $10 on tuna rolls and they were tiny and sad and "tasted like how fish smell." But my Pad Thai tasted like delicious boxed Pad Thai. It wasnt the best I ever had from a restaurant, but it was better than the stuff i can make so I'm into it. read more

Easy to find Beautiful decor Clean private restrooms Friendly staff WONDERFUL FOOD! We had shrimp egg foo young, Mongolian beef, and combination lo mien entrees with hot and sour soup. Washed it all down with cold Tsing Taos. Huge portions! Each entree was a feast of sight, smell, and taste. Our beers were served immediately, soup shortly thereafter, and hot entrees after we finished our soup. The entrees were so hot and fresh! We will definitely return! read more

Oriental Express - The food looked so fantastic, I forgot to take a picture 'til I was done! - Chinese Near Me - Topeka, Kansas

Not the best Chinese Restaurant. I would recommend another location if you are a big fan of Chinese. Not expensive, but again. Honest review here. read more

I would definitely give a thumbs up, as I've always enjoyed the food here. Fast service and ample portions are a plus too.

This place is very good and would be good place for family to dine in and the dumplings and chicken are very good

I like this place, the food is usually pretty good, but a couple times I've gone I wasn't impressed with this restaurant. I've had two things that I have a small issue with, the first was once when I ordered General Tso's chicken, either the meat was off or it wasn't chicken (but I'm sure it wasn't beef or pork either). The second and bigger issue has been not cleaning the poop vein in their shrimp when I've ordered shrimp fried rice. I feel like a properly cleaned shrimp is an easy fix, but that's why they only get three stars, although everything else is pretty good. read more

I would definately eat here again. On the outside, you would expect nothing that great, but when you walk in, short of the drop down ceiling, the decor is well thought out. It looks like a casual dining experience toned to the food that they serve. As for the food, it's pretty good. I've had the sushi and it's prepared fresh, so give it some time to come. I had one of their curry dishes and the only thing I wished was a little more spice, but it was a solid dish. Overall it's worth going to and grabbing a bite. The pricing isn't high at all unless going for their specialty dishes or sushi. read more

We love Oriental express! It is a great go to and delivery is sometimes a nice option. Staff is always very pleasant and the food is Excellent. read more

Since Asian Cafe has closed, Oriental Express was the new location to go to. It has been quite some time since I had been to oriental express (probably 5 or so years), so I was more than willing to see how similar they were to Asian Cafe. As expected being they were owned by the same individual, the food still tastes the same and it is DELICIOUS. There is not better place in topeka that beats their value on the lunch combo. Insane amount of food for an unbeatable price. Do not hesitate to stop here, as it is without a doubt the best place to get asian cuisine! read more

They have some really good food here and have never been disappointed. Lo Mein is good, fried rice is good, crab ragoon is good and have had many other things from there that is excellent. They have a HUGE Sushi Menu, that have always been good as well. They even have a drive thru if you don't want to sit down. read more

This was an amazing place. The edamame was great, sushi was great, bulgogi beef was fantastic, green beans with chicken was phenomenal. Miso soup has little chunks of delicious tofu. I marked this as a favorite because whenever I'm in town I'm going here. The staff was so nice and friendly and fast. 5 stars isn't enough for this place. I'd suggest a michelin star or two. read more

Oriental Express never disappoints. The Yum Yum Roll is to die for...fried, creamy "sushi". Yum! The pan fried noodles and sesame chicken are always on spot. The service is good, but sometimes awkward. Take out is great because they package everything up nicely. I also love the cleanliness. The last I knew, this is a baby restaurant of Jade Garden. read more

Moo shu pork was rancid, my sister ate 2 bites and got sick. The rest of the meal was good.