Food 4/5 Service 5/5 Ambiance 4/5 QQ Express is probably the definitive safe haven for college students with high quantities of cheap, delicious food. Think Panda Express but better - more authentic flavors and options to choose from (including mapo tofu) make this place stand out. I was fond of all of the options I got - two different chicken options and a beef one - and thoroughly enjoyed their rangoons. QQ is (unironically) an underground gem for a cheap meal. If you're a UW student - you almost HAVE to try it out. You just might find your favorite meal for the exam grind! read more

QQ Express - Bigger Plate 003. Crab Rangoon (8)（蟹脚） - Chinese Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

You're one of Madison's 50,000 students and you need a place near campus to eat Chinese food for a reasonable price. It's here. Quick service. read more

This place is so good. Great variety. Fresh food. Quick service. Meats are very saucy. The amount of food you get is SO MUCH. Two adults can share one. The dumplings were just okay, but that's okay because they have a lot of other options. There is very limited, or actually nonexistent parking, so we did have to walk a bit. read more

Friendly people, good food, amazing price. Cool shop too. Perfect for a quick dinner with friends.

The best deal on delicious Chinese food you will find anywhere. This place is literally a college students dream, you can eat here just once a day for like $10 and never go hungry. The food is also amazing, anyone on here saying that it's bad probably just got something they hate, didn't try any samples, and never came back, because all of their food is SO GOOD. There is plenty of indoor seating that stays nice and toasty even in winter. Service is also incredibly quick and the people who work here are super sweet. 11/10 best spot on campus read more

QQ Express - Mongolian Chicken, Crab Rangoon, Lo Mein, Honey Chicken, Orange Chicken, Fried Rice, all for $20 - Chinese Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

The quantity of food you get is insane. It's 2 whole meals for like 12 dollars. Mix of typical American Chinese takeout with more traditional stuff too. Rated too low. Shoutout QQ Express read more

The first time I ate there it was great, food tasted good and the price couldn't be beat. The 2nd time, a week later, and it was so greasy and gross, I couldn't eat more than three bites. Both times were right when the store opened for the day. Early June 2024. read more

Small, easy to miss - but shouldn't be! The staff is so friendly each time I pick up our takeout. We usually order online and it's ready within 15 minutes. We love the dinner specials - chicken lo mein, chicken broccoli, and beef broccoli. Also fans of the egg rolls and crab rangoon! Very popular on campus, but surprised they're not busier. Good place for students to sit and hangout or study at night (not too loud). read more

I'm always looking for spots to grab lunch between classes while I'm on the west side of campus and today I decided to try out QQ Express. I was pretty excited because it had good reviews and I usually love places like this. Unfortunately, I was pretty underwhelmed. The spot itself is pretty cool and the service was good, but none of the tables were clean. They give really generous portions, but the quality is just not there. I had a plate with fried rice, chicken and broccoli, and General Tso's chicken, and the chicken and broccoli was some of the blandest I've ever had. In addition, the General Tso's chicken was incredibly tough and had no heat to it, and the sauce tasted like sweet and sour sauce. The fried rice was also bland, and the whole meal tasted way too oily. Sadly, I don't think I'll be coming back here. read more

QQ Express - Build Your Own Lunch Special - Chinese Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

Alright. I am normally so so picky about cleanliness of food, but I have been CRAVING Panda Express and there are none close to me. All I wanted was cheap Chinese and honestly this hit the spot. I was pleasantly surprised by portion sizes and the cleanliness considering the price I paid. I downed my sweet and sour chicken in seconds, but did get a little weirded out by the fried rice. Crab ragoons were just what I needed and the egg rolls were spot on. Perfect cure for a hangover. read more

I want to love this place so much. The atmosphere, the prices, and the quantity of food are all great, but the quality just isn't there. The place is a hole in the wall that you almost miss when you walk by. It's downstairs and dark which makes it have an authentic feel. And maybe I got the wrong things, but I didn't love the food. The fried rice is average, as was the chicken and broccoli. The problem was with the black pepper chicken. I'd seen other people rate it highly on here, but it's not that good. The meat is too fried to the point that you can hardly taste any chicken. On top of that, it is EXTREMELY sweet. The sauce ran into my other items and overpowered my entire meal. I will come back and order something different... just hoping the other dishes are better. read more

See all

I had black pepper chicken and it was so tough and dry. Mostly fried skin and grizzle. Service was good and portions were large. But this is the worst quality Chinese I've had. It serves low grade meat to hungry college students read more

Just got back to the car and the best part of that meal is that my car is still warm. That was the most deliciously flavorful fried napkin I've ever thrown out. I love cheap Chinese, I'll defend my favorite spots all day long because at least I can swallow their food. Nothing about the food I just ate resembled anything close to meat. Everything tasted the same and it all looked the same sitting in their trash can. You pay for the environment here. The staff was kind and the portions were good and it was a decently clean quiet place under University Ave but I quite literally, and I cant emphasize this part enough, was unable to eat $19 of my $21 meal because when you chew it, it wads up like a napkin. QQ I wish you the best in the scam you're running but I want my money back. read more

Solid place for Americanized Chinese food. We've tried a few restaurants in the Madison area and haven't been able to find a good Chinese place that had good quality food for a fair price. The general tso's chicken was great, very crispy and the sauce did not make the chicken soggy whatsoever. The lo mein was good and the vegetables were great quality. The fried rice was the best we've had in Madison and we also enjoyed the white rice that came with the chicken entree. Overall the food was great quality and the price was definitely fair for what we ordered. Side note: Staff were wearing masks properly and sanitizing their hands every time they touched something. We appreciate how considerate everyone seemed! We were also offered hand sanitizer after signing the receipt! Great job, QQ! read more

Okay for the price. Lunch is $7.39 for rice and two items which is a pretty good deal. I got the pepper steak and mapo tofu. Tofu quality seemed good, but tasted pretty bland. The pepper steak tasted pretty good too, but they kinda skimped out on the meat, since I got like 4 small pieces of beef and a heap of onions. The place was very busy after game day, I'll be back to try different items. read more

The quantity to price ratio at this place is absolutely ridiculous (in a good way). I'm a pretty big eater and am the last person to take home a doggy bag of leftovers, however, without fail I've managed to go home with another meal after stuffing myself full each and every time I've visited QQ's. The location is great, I really like the diversity in their selections, and the overall atmosphere and environment is pretty cool considering it's on a college campus. I've had a bunch of fun lunches and dinners with friends at this place! read more

3.5 stars. It is exactly what you look for sometimes. Cheap, fast, greasy Chinese take-out. I am very impressed how they prepare for the lunch crowd rush. I came in with a group right before the lunch rush. They have a table of waters prepared as well as silverware, napkins, etc. I had the lo-mein and two types of chicken here and it is exactly what you expect from a joint like this. Extremely greasy but flavorful chicken. I was surprised that the lo mein was not as greasy as I was expected and was almost dry even. They do have a lot of options though so it's a great, visual and fast way to get food. I can tell it's a popular place and offers exactly what college students crave sometimes. I think they have a well organized place. It's unassuming and I wouldn't expect to get a seat here if you go during busy hours. Portions are large and I will definitely come back for when I'm craving this type of food. read more

Good quality and especially a good amount of food for the price. Chicken broccoli is a 10/10 always

It's so bad that it's good, so wrong that it's right. Admittedly a fat-packed grease fest, QQ will disrupt any sort of diet you have going on. But when they serve up this mean of a peanut chicken, there's no turning back. Yes, the workers are impatient or, put more kindly, efficient, but this is often a plus on days where I'm looking to grab a quick bite between classes. In terms of the food, my favorite is for sure the aforementioned peanut chicken. It's deep fried chicken that's then coated in a strong peanut butter flavored sauce, so what's not to love. Also classic QQ is the Ma Po Tofu. I appreciate tofu preparation at places like these considering I am a failure at making it taste good at home. Their version is a tad spicy and certainly hearty in the protein department. They're generous on the portion sizes, and the food is cheap and stick to your bones tasty. QQ, you've got a fan. read more

I gotta say this place is a hole in the wall. I wouldn't say this is authentic Chinese food but it is Chinese American like Panda Express. I would like to make that distinction before writing the rest of this review. Having had my fair share of Chinese American food in California and here in Madison, this place has a aspect that I really like. Their food does not drench in grease. Other Chinese American restaurants have so much grease and that really turns me off from wanting to eat it. Therefore, I do think this place has some of the best I ever had in awhile since it's not super greasy, big portions, cheap price, nice interior design and unique entrees (peanut butter chicken, etc.) However, I do agree with the other reviewer that the black pepper chicken is cut too small so it feels like eating tempura instead of chicken. Overall, still recommend this place because I don't hesitate to go back when I have a chance. read more

I've driven by this restaurant so many times heading downtown, and I finally had a chance to try it and was impressed. I ordered the 2 entree meal ($6.91) with lo mein. For the two entrees I ordered the Peanut Chicken and General Tso. The General Tso was breaded chicken tossed in a deliciously thick tangy sauce. Although I enjoyed the General Tso, my favorite was the Peanut Chicken. The chicken was crispy and tender with a distinct hint of peanut which I thoroughly enjoyed. Service was not only kind, but also speedy. In addition, the portions were very generous which is always appreciated in my book! QQ Express hits the spot for fast, inexpensive Chinese take-out. Since it's so convenient and tasty, I plan to come again! read more

I've always wondered if QQ Express was related to QQ Asian Buffet. But either way, although it doesn't say much, QQ Express is better than QQ Asian Buffet. The food here is okay at best. There are more authentic dishes here than at QQ Asian Buffet. And like its all-you-can-eat counterpart, the food here can be greasy, but at least it is really cheap, so that's a plus. The other good thing is that if you're in a hurry, you'd be able to get your meal pretty quick here. The owners chose the correct business name because express is definitely an applicable description for this place. read more

This is an absolute FAVORITE of the UW Madsion Engineeing campus and the students at-large love the restaurant. Not the highest of quality foods, but you get a gigantic and I mean huge portion of food. Personal favorite is the peanut chicken. It's sweet and crunchy and literally covered in peanut butter. read more

Very good food , decently fast service , the workers on the line are beyond amazing and they stuff your plate till it can't hold anymore . Prices are perfect for what you get ! Will be back often :) read more

Cheap but delicious! Highly recommend. Fried rice tastes good and the food size is real large. For spicy chicken, it's not spicy. That is the only problem. read more

I think when you go to a Chinese fast food restaurant, you know what you're getting yourself into. Perks: -always very nice customer service when I've been (although I can't say I'm a regular by any means) -giant portion sizes for the price Downside: -it's Chinese fast food... Overall, I have respect for this place. I have a more sensitive GI situation so I'd rather get a sandwich at Subway next door, but I get the appeal of this place completely. If you're looking for easy, fast, cheap, a lot of food, you'll get it. read more

Is there a way I can give QQ's 10 stars? I work at Union South and going there for take-out is my favorite part of the job. Also, they are soooooooooooo generous! I can get several good meals from just one of their portions. Now for the taste of everything...NOM, NOM ;) read more

Note to self: do not under any circumstances eat at QQ Express. Not even if you've got a craving for Chinese food, not even though it's quite affordable, not even though it's a closer location than some other options. I've eaten here twice. I've felt terrible after each time. 0/10 , do not recommend. read more

Ordered shrimp fried rice which had no flavor and tasted as if there was no soy sauce at all but it smelled super fishy. Shrimp was chewy in texture only took one bite. Order beef lo mein which was slimy and again had no flavor what so ever. Dumplings had freezer burn marks and the texture was awful. The Singapore rice noodles tasted only of heavy curry and again the chicken and beef were both slimy and tasted old. Mongolian beef consisted of a lot of fatty pieces of meat and more white onion rather than anything else. Egg rolls had freezer burn. The special fried rice which includes beef and shrimp was absolutely flavorless with chewy shrimp and slimy beef. I think the only way to get food with flavor is to order the dinner platters as everything we got when I order individually was absolutely awful. Never again. I just wasted $70 and I'm still hungry as none of the food was edible. Very disappointing. I would have contacted the restaurant about my issues but by the time my son and I realized it when we went to sit down to eat the restaurant had closed already. This was not the meal that I wanted to have with my son after dropping him back off to college. This was disappointing to say the least and I would like a portion of my money back. The food is in the trash and we ordered Ian's pizza instead. You need to do better than this for customers who are ordering full portions and not specialty pick 3 plates. read more

QQ Express - Freezer burned old slimy food. - Chinese Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

QQ's is not just a place to eat food. It is a philosophy. It is a lifestyle. It is a light at the end of that very dark tunnel that all real thinkers have gotten to. I think it is fair to say that the majority of UW - Madison STEM majors owe their success and ability to make it through those late study nights solely to QQ's. Anyone who doesn't like this place doesn't truly understand the beauty and balance of intelligence and religious reverence. Shame on those who think they understand this place and can give it anything less than a 10/5. read more

Food is very hit or miss. The peanut butter chicken is too sweet and the pepper chicken is usually dry. The sesame chicken is overwhelming sometimes. I always get lo mein and chicken and broccoli since it's usually pretty consistent. read more

I'd basically given up on good Chinese food in Madison until QQ Express opened up just earlier this week. During the week, the entree selection offers way more options than you'd see at a some place like Panda Express. The weekday specials are also very reasonably priced, and offer way more variety and volume for a dollar more than the Subway located next door. But what keeps me going back is the amazing quality of the food, and the variety on the menu. The Black Pepper chicken has pepper so fresh it's actually still spicy. And I've had the peanut chicken 2 out of the last 3 days. On weekends, they also have Dim Sum until 3pm. read more

QQ Express is one of my all-time favorite places to go for comfort food. Their lunch and dinner meal price is definitely worth it. However, unless you order off their menu, the food is by no means "authentic Chinese food." But it is great Chinese-American food. My favorites are the general tso's chicken, thai peanut chicken, and the string beans. Their portions are super dense and really filling. If you're not STARVING, 6-7 dollars is definitely good for two meals. read more

Large quantity, good food, perfect for a college student or anyone who is really hungry

Great place for a really quick lunch and in my opinion MUCH better than Subway next-door. I work nearby, and I often go here because in 2 minutes and for $6 I get a rather large portion of tasty Americanese food. I also like that the default isn't steamed rice but you can choose from a base of steamed rice OR lo mein or fried rice in case you're not overly interested in the healthiest possible lunch... Which BTW, if you want healthy, maybe don't come here because it's pretty greasy - I'm a fan! I'd give it 5 stars because it lives up to what it is - quick and cheap Americanese food. However, I think it could have more flavor and some of the dishes could be more spicy. After the first few bites it does tend to get a little one-dimensional. A little soy sauce and some sriracha goes a long way though :). read more

Lets see. Service sucks. Food is alright. Prices are fantastic. Music is weird. What more can I say? It's not going to be the best chinese food you've had. It's CERTAINLY not going to be served with a smile or a hint of dignity. But you can get a LOT of food for under $8 and it's at least 99% edible (I found a pretty rotten looking carrot bit in the fried rice, but other than that, it was A-OK) I've been here a few times. Most recently, I had the peanut butter chicken, pepper chicken, and the general tso's chicken. General Tso's chicken was the highlight of the meal and was very tasty. Peanut butter chicken was one of the grossest things I've ever eaten. There is nothing inherently wrong with it - it was just WAYY too sweet and tasted like it was coated in sugar. Pepper Chicken was pretty good. I'd overall recommend the General Tso chicken though - it was very flavorful. I ordered it over a bed of fried rice - which was almost tasteless. I much prefer it to their lo mein, however. Overall - not the best Chinese restaurant; not by a long shot. If you're on campus and looking for cheap eats and don't feel like venturing over to State Street - QQ to the rescue! read more

If you're looking for realllllly good Chinese food this probably won't be your first choice. But if you're a college student on a budget, like I am, you're going to LOVE this place. They give you SOOOO much food for really cheap, and it's definitely better than the dining hall Chinese food. I get the General Tso's chicken every time. It is so good, and I always have some leftover for the next day. The service is always quick and friendly. This place is the perfect college student restaurant!! read more

There's this movie called Big Trouble in Little China. Kurt Russell plays a truck driver with a mullet and a best friend that owns a Chinese restaurant. I know the movie is set in 1980s San Francisco Chinatown, but I like to think that it's actually QQ Express. QQ is quintessentially Chinese American. This isn't the Chinese American at the mall, but Chinese American with loud ladies yelling "next?!" over and over through a busy lunch service. There are steam trays full of food, but they're constantly being emptied and refilled. It's not appealing to Americans. They are unfazed. The lunch line is full of fobby* kids and engineers. None of them care, or, if they did care, knew how to express it. The food is kind of the same way. Chinese American. I watched a youtube video about Asian parents complaining about things. "American food is too sweet". This food is definitely too sweet. I wonder if someone in the restaurant could put together something amazing, but since I only have thirty minutes between classes, I will never find out. *Sorry read more

Cheap, a ton of food, and fast- that's why I will keep coming back to QQ when I don't pack my lunch. Even when it is packed with the student lunch crowd, I can be in and out within 5 minutes. Don't' expect niceties and sweet hellos.. more likely you would be yelled at "next dish" to select what you want next, but it is okay- fast and efficient! Servings are huge. I'm a small eater and a QQ lunch serving of two dishes + rice/noodles can last me 3 meals. Food is okay, greasy Chinese food, the kind that tastes even better the next day. I like the black pepper chicken, and egg plant dishes a lot. read more

QQ Express - Two dishes + rice/noodles for $6.91 - Chinese Near Me - Madison, Wisconsin

See all

After what felt like ages working on a project, we walked our of CS to go get a sub. But I realized I needed something hot and spicy on this frigid and windy evening. And also cause I was super hungry. So we went to QQ. And boy was it hot... and spicy... and filling. I couldn't even finish half of my plate! Pepper chicken has to be the best option there. Didn't really buy into the Peanut Butter Chicken. Almost akin to pineapple on a pizza. It didn't taste bad, actually it tasted pretty good but boy did it make me loathe myself afterwards. All that oil and sodium... Go here if you're hungry and want a quick greasy meal. read more