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    Tasty Inn Express

    4.3 (116 reviews)
    InexpensiveChinese

    Tasty Inn Express Photos

    TASTY INN EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Tasty Inn Express

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    5. Vegetable Dumplings
    Stephanie S.

    my new fav restaurant!!!! today I tried the vegetarian honey mock chicken, Mongolian mock beef, tofu chow mein, and vegetable dumplings and wow!!!!! I split everything with my dad and we still have a full meal for both of us left, there was so much food for such a good price!!! everything tasted SO good, I can't even choose a favorite!! the customer service was so good and the lady working the front answered all my questions and was so helpful. I will definitely be back! there's so many more vegetarian options on the menu I'm excited to try!!

    Business storefront
    Angelina C.

    This is a family owned business inside of the Grossmont Mall Food Court area. The staff was lovely and happy to explain new menu options to me. The food is also cooked fresh so expect a wait time of about 10 minutes. Everything smells delicious. If you're in a hurry, they said you can also call ahead and pick up when your order is ready to go. What I ordered: a combo with orange chicken, kung pao beef, and honey walnut shrimp, with half fried rice and half noodles, with two veggie egg rolls on the side. The walnut shrimp was mainly pineapple chunks, but the other two entrees were good! Eggs rolls too.

    2 entree meal + a medium sodapop.
    Anani M.

    Delicious fried rice. I ordered chicken & mushrooms + shrimp and mushrooms. Affordable 2 entree & a side, for $9.75 (+ $1.25 for the shrimp seafood price.)

    Hong Kong style noodles with chicken

    Love this place I love their Hong Kong style noodles! I call in to order for lunch since I work nearby and they always have it ready when they say they will usually 10min I've had their sweet and sour chicken before as well and that's really tasty too. That have a lot of choices I just stick to what I like Good food, I recommend!

    Two item combo plate with broccoli beef, orange, chicken, and chow mein. (angled so you can get an idea of the portion, this is half eaten).
    Samantha D.

    This place is solid for Chinese food. Especially in this area. Honestly, there aren't a whole lot of great taste in Chinese food places in La Mesa or East County. It's located in the food court, and it appears to be family owned. The same friendly woman helps my son and I, every time we come. At times I will enjoy for portioned entrées with another Mom friend and her child. The portions are great, especially for the price. My favorite tends to be either orange chicken, broccoli, beef, and chow mein combo. They offer some other great combination items though. The photo that's posted, the orange chicken and broccoli beef are half eaten so if that gives you a better idea on Porsches... The price for the combination plate was $10.88. Not bad at all! I generally just get a two-item combo plate. They are fairly fast, and they have a sign saying "cooked to order". I don't mind if it takes a couple extra minutes. Generally taste fresh every time. They're chow mein noodles are pretty solid, the brown sauce that the broccoli beef is cooked in is perfectly savory, and they're orange chicken is perfectly crispy and sweet! Definitely worth stopping in for this place whenever we come to Grossmont Center mall.

    Grossmont Center Food Court
    Cacey T.

    Wow. Usually Chinese food inside a food court is not that good. Usually it's just a meal you buy out of convenience while shopping at the mall. Tasty Inn Express is Chinese restaurant inside a mall that you plan to go to even though it is inside a mall. I ordered the honey chicken and the meat was cooked perfectly. It was tender, not to sweet and made you feel like you were eating at a 5 star gourmet restaurant. I definitely will be eating here again.

    1. Vegetable Egg Roll 6. Chicken Dumplings 26. Orange Chicken

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Fresh. Hot made to order. It was very quiet since it was around 7pm. Definitely recommend.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great portions and the food is always fresh. Local owned and recommend the salt and pepper chicken

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Tiny portions and could have tasted better. Go try Lucky Chinese. I would even pick Panda over this place

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    The service is superb! The Singapore rice noodles and the beef fried noodles is what we have tasted in Hong Kong.

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    2 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Better than most if not all Chinese food in the area. Good for fast food. Very friendly staff.

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    3 years ago

    That food was just nasty. I would not even give it to my dog! The food tastes like oil. Old oil at that

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    6 years ago

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    Page 1 of 3

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    Golden Bay Asian Food - Orange Chicken

    Golden Bay Asian Food

    4.6(231 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    •$$

    I live in east county and the Chinese is pretty limited, I seen a review on TicTok so I said why…read morenot!!!! The food was amazing me and my family got Shrimp and Veggies -the shrimps were full size, house noodles, crispy beef( which I recommend to anyone !) I'm craving it again and it's only been 3 days lol salt and pepper green beans , and the egg flower soup! Few bowl drive soda and a boba. Everything was just about $100 bucks. The seating limited but it looked like lost people order to go anyway. I will definitely be returning to this place! The staff was really nice and friendly

    Guys... I traveled far for this spot. I have a lot to say too... First of all, I never found myself…read morein La Mesa until this place. As usual, i stumbled upon a Tiktok video of a young gentleman who got the crispy beef and salt & pepper shrimp! OMG... I just had to try the shrimp. They didn't have shells so I thought, perfect. Even better. I can pop them in my mouth easily lol. We arrived close to noon on a Saturday. Appeared busy with to go orders being prepped and customers eating but the workers were attentive any way with seating us. There is even outdoor seating, perfect if you want to bring your furbaby. We also were given a small bowl of wonton chips on the house to start. That was nice :) Service was definitely 5/5 for me. The young worker with the glasses was very nice and was quick with everything. I loved that she had the customer's best interest. Without her, we wouldn't have known that we can do the lunch special (I assumed because it was a Saturday, that we couldn't), or that an item not listed on the lunch special menu was included, or that we can sub an additional eggroll for the soup. As if her customer service wasn't already top tier, the girl is fluent in Spanish! We were shocked, but honestly, great to know for those who only speak Spanish, she's got you :) I also wanted to mention that there was somebody's kid hanging out but I thought it was the sweetest thing how he would grab candy from the front and gave them to customers when they were seated. The menu is big! Lots to choose from. We just ordered off their lunch special menu. I actually do not know the time frame for the lunch menu but we came on a Saturday. It was nice that they offered their lunch menu on the weekend. Currently, their lunch special is priced at $14.95. Comes with your choice of Egg Flower Soup or Hot & Sour Soup, Steamed rice or Fried Rice, and an egg roll. However, if you do not want soup, ask for an extra egg roll :) We tried both soups, both were good. Even topped off the soups with the wonton chips they give you. Anyways our order was: Orange Chicken, Salt and Pepper Shrimp, and Crispy Beef for the lunch special. Crispy Beef was NOT listed on the lunch special menu however, since I was just going to order an entree of it, the nice waitress asked if we would like it as a the lunch special. Yes, since you cannot beat the price for the amount of food you get. EVERYTHING WAS DELICIOUS! I will say, though the S&P shrimp is delicious, it leans more on the saltier side. But, your girl will order this over and over as long as I have a good amount of water. I love the flavor regardless, and it is crispy. The crispy beef was crispy and delicious too; great flavor on it. The orange chicken, was exactly how it should be. Order it if that is your go to Chinese food order. Eggrolls were just veggie rolls but honestly, not bad. Perfect veggie rolls actually. I would order these items again. Bottom line, this is now my favorite Chinese restaurant. Lunch Special is the way to go, amazing price. Amazing food. I will be back and I want to try more items off the menu!

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    Golden Bay Asian Food - Inside

    Inside

    Golden Bay Asian Food - Kung Pao Chicken and Fried Rice.

    Kung Pao Chicken and Fried Rice.

    Golden Bay Asian Food

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    Tasty Mandarin - Mongolian Beef 蒙古牛

    Tasty Mandarin

    4.6(554 reviews)
    12.7 mi•Otay
    •$$

    Food is outstanding without exception. Everything I've ordered has been phenomenal. Never a bad…read moremeal. The service is stellar. If Jay is your waiter, you will be treated well. The ambiance is simple but classic.

    I rarely leave negative reviews, but our experience at Tasty Malatang Chinese Cuisine was…read moredisappointing because of the customer service. According to the restaurant's posted hours, they close at 10:00 PM. My family and I arrived around 9:15 PM, expecting that we still had enough time to order dinner. As soon as we walked in, the server immediately told us they were already closed. My mother politely pointed out that the posted closing time was 10:00 PM and simply asked if the kitchen happened to close earlier than the dining room. Instead of explaining the situation professionally, the server responded in a very rude tone: "Well, you guys can eat and order, but at 10:00 PM you need to be gone and out the door." Another employee then stepped in to back him up, making the interaction feel even more uncomfortable. I completely understand how the restaurant business works. I've been around the industry long enough to know that kitchens often stop taking orders before closing or that staff are trying to finish cleaning at the end of the night. If they had simply said, "We're sorry, but our kitchen is already closed," or even, "We can still serve you, but we're finishing up for the night," we would have completely understood. There was no reason to speak to us disrespectfully. What made this experience frustrating is that we never came in with an attitude or demanded special treatment. We were polite from the moment we walked through the door. We simply asked a reasonable question based on the restaurant's posted business hours, and instead of receiving a courteous explanation, we were met with unnecessary hostility. Customer service is just as important as the food. A welcoming attitude can make guests want to return, while a rude interaction can overshadow everything else. Unfortunately, this experience left such a negative impression that I won't be returning. I also would not feel comfortable bringing my family or recommending this restaurant to friends because everyone deserves to be treated with basic respect. I hope management takes this review as constructive feedback and reminds their staff that even when it's close to closing time, a little kindness and professionalism go a long way.

    Photos
    Tasty Mandarin - Salted Pepper Chicken Wings 椒盐鸡翅

    Salted Pepper Chicken Wings 椒盐鸡翅

    Tasty Mandarin - Honey Walnut Shrimp 核桃虾

    Honey Walnut Shrimp 核桃虾

    Tasty Mandarin - Menu Page 1/4

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    Menu Page 1/4

    Oodles By The Noodbar - Garlic Butter Noodles

    Oodles By The Noodbar

    4.5(284 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    •$$

    I came in person recently with 9 friends. They were able to accommodate us even though we were just…read morewalking in. The woman was super friendly even though it was a little chaotic. At first, she said the order only could be done on 1 bill. And then later she compromised with 2 bills, 5 people per table. That was nice of her! I just had 2 coffees before entering so I decided to skip ordering Thai tea. But they had a large drink menu, of fruit teas and more. My friend had the lychee tea which was very large and looked super refreshing! They also came by often to top off our waters which was nice. To eat, I ordered the $16.99~, Cashew Chicken Stir Fry with White Rice. It came with onion, green onion, carrots, zucchini, bell pepper, and cashews. The carrots were beautifully cut, but a little too crunchy for me to properly enjoy in the stir fry. Everything else was delicious! I think this could definitely be shared between 2-3 people. It was a lot for me, even after a large hike. The sauce was flavorful and not overly salty. I didn't ask for any spice level, but I think I'd choose mild or medium next time. My friends ordered-- - $12.99, Dirty Fried Chicken: This had a blitz coating of lime, mint, and spices. And it was decorated with thinly sliced green onions with a side of sweet chili sauce. The chicken was hot and plump, not dry, and very much mouthwatering! Would recommend. - $14.99, Thai Grilled Chicken Salad: Grilled Chicken Breast on a bed of mixed green salad, carrots, and cucumbers with peanut dressing. It reminded me a little of chicken satay~ it smelled and looked incredible. I think I might order it next time, when I want something light and fulfilling after a hike. - $11.99, Cream Cheese Avocado Wontons (6PC): These came out piping hot and when you took a bite they were oozing. It was very creamy and when you dip into the plum sauce it's a delectable bite. A nice appetizer to share with the table. - $16.99-$19.99 (depends on what protein you get), Pad Thai: This proportion was manageable for one person. The restaurant used thin rice noodles, but it didn't clump excessively compared to other restaurants. The prices are what you'd typically see at a Pan-Asian restaurant, a few dollars more than what you'd want to spend. But these kinds of restaurants, in my opinion, are for enjoying with others. So, if you're sharing food and all that-- the price is worth it (esp with the quantity that is given). Next time, I would probably order one of their noodle dishes rather than rice. Oodles by the Noodbar has such a large and diverse menu so I would highly recommend coming in to try them out.

    It had been a while since I'd been back, so I stopped in recently with a friend and our kids. We…read morewent during a pretty quiet part of the day, about an hour and a half before they close between lunch and dinner service. Normally I've seen this place get pretty busy later in the day, but there were only a couple of other tables when we arrived and eventually we were the only table there. We started with the Dirty Fried Chicken Wings and Cream Cheese Avocado Wontons. Both came out pretty quickly, hot and fresh. I've had the wings before and they're still good--the sweet chili sauce gives them a nice little kick. The cream cheese avocado wontons were something different for me and I really liked them! They're more dense and packed than your typical cream cheese wonton, and the avocado adds a nice change in flavor. The plum sauce paired well with them too. I normally get the fresh salad rolls when I'm here (they're a good size and the peanut sauce is delicious), but decided to switch it up this time. For my entrée, I ordered the Golden Crunch Curry Udon, which has been one of their specials for a while now. I've had it before and enjoyed it, so I wanted to try it again. The crispy chicken katsu was a really good portion and cooked well. The curry itself seemed a little less flavorful than I remembered, though. I know yellow curry isn't necessarily supposed to be super spicy, but I felt like it could've used a little more of a kick. There were also only a few pieces of potato and carrot, so I would've liked a little more of those mixed in with the udon. Still good overall, and definitely no shortage of chicken! We also ordered the Garlic Butter Noodles with grilled lemongrass pork shoulder for the kids to split. This has been one of our go-to dishes for years and is a great option for little ones who don't eat spicy food. When these noodles are on point, they're REALLY good--the garlic butter/oil has tons of flavor without being overpowering. I've noticed over multiple visits, though, that they can be a little hit or miss in that department. This batch was on the lighter side flavor-wise. I may ask for a little extra garlic oil next time because when they're flavorful, they're easily one of my favorite things here. The pork shoulder still had great flavor, although a couple of pieces were a little chewy this time. The sweet sauce they serve alongside it is SO good with the pork. My friend ordered the Mi Goreng, level 5, and requested it without shrimp. Unfortunately, it still came out with shrimp, which was disappointing since she'd specifically asked for it to be left out. Aside from that, she really enjoyed the dish and said it had tons of flavor. As far as service, I'd say it can still be a little hit or miss. Everyone was kind and friendly, and our food came out fairly quickly, hot and fresh. It appeared there was only one woman working the front, so they may have been lightly staffed. That said, considering we eventually became the only table in the restaurant, I would've expected a little more checking in/refills, especially with the mistake on my friend's order. The restaurant itself is generally clean. The bathroom could use a little more attention at times, including on this visit, but nothing that would stop me from coming back. Overall, Oodles is still one of our favorites in La Mesa. There really aren't a ton of solid, good-quality Asian spots in the immediate area, so I'm glad they're here. There were a few inconsistencies this visit, but the food was still fresh, portions were good, and there are enough things on the menu that we genuinely enjoy to keep us coming back.

    Photos
    Oodles By The Noodbar - Counter decor

    Counter decor

    Oodles By The Noodbar - Trio Pork Over Rice

    Trio Pork Over Rice

    Oodles By The Noodbar - Trio Pork Over Rice

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    Trio Pork Over Rice

    Tasty Inn Express - chinese - Updated September 2026

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