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    The Mandarin Restaurant

    3.7 (107 reviews)
    ModerateChinese
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    The Mandarin Restaurant Photos

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    THE MANDARIN RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Quiet
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - The Mandarin Restaurant

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    Sweet and sour fish
    Steven U.

    Dinner with friends for me, is always a win. But sometimes, when the restaurant is amazing as well, it's a double win! We met up at this place because a friend recommended it...and we wanted to try. Boy, was it good! I happened to be a little early, and the nice lady who works there (Elisa/Lisa) was very nice. Even though I was there alone waiting, she brought me ice water and hot tea...so sweet. She was attentive the whole dinner...it's so refreshing to have great service with your meal. Full disclosure, the items we ate don't automatically scream authentic Chinese cuisine, but all the food was delicious. We had... Fried dumplings Boiled dumplings Fried oysters Jiajiamen (black bean over dry noodles) Spicy crispy shrimp Bittermelon w beef Fried chicken wings Sweet and sour fish The dumplings were very good. Crispy, boiled, doesnt matter...I would get them again. Plump and juicy...these dumplings went down very easy with vinegar and soy sauce. I'm kinda particular about oysters and these were perfect for me. Great oyster taste, but very crispy and hot. They came with their own dipping sauce....yummo! The spicy crispy shrimp was my favorite. A little sweet, a little heat, and a lot of crispy. Oh man what a combination! It was a 3 out of 10 (and I'm a wimp) on my spicy scale, so there was just enough heat to enhance the flavor. The big surprise was the fried chicken wings. Unbelievably crispy and seasoned to perfection. It was hard to eat just one. I don't normally eat chicken wings...and I really don't eat them at Chinese restaurants...but these are a must try. Definitely a crowd pleaser. We also had spicy cured pickles that came with one of the dishes. Wow. So flavorful and they complemented the food so perfectly...sort of addictive. Thanks to my friends, I think I have found my favorite non-Chinatown Chinese restaurant. I will definitely be back to try other dishes!

    Front entrance
    Paul C.

    ***4.5 STARS*** When peeps in my office also found out I'm a foodie, they often share with me their findings. However, they do not document their experiences, so I have to remember or take notes of what's good and at where. One of them was The Mandarin, a northern Chinese cuisine restaurant at Imperial Plaza. I've passed by this restaurant many, many times as I get my haircut from the salon just next door. My hair stylist has mentioned about this place to me but never made the effort to give them a try. Re-opened in 2007, The Mandarin is a husband-and-wife team from Taiwan who serves delicious northern Chinese style cuisine and boasts non-usage of monosodium glutamate (MSG). To be on the safe side, I wasn't too sure how large is the restaurant and how busy they may be, I called ahead and made reservations for a table of 5. We arrived at 630pm to an empty restaurant. The interior was tasteful with Chinese décor and ornaments here and there, but it was a little gloomy. We studied the reviews and glanced at the limited photo gallery on Yelp, where it was challenging on what to order. I had jotted down dishes of interest where the list grew to a whopping ten items. The wife was very friendly and quite efficient in taking our order. I read my list one by one and she repeated our order perfectly. Seems like the back of the house is run by her husband and our food came out one by one. Photos were snapped and it was time to dig in. THE VERDICT: We found the food delicious. Made to order, our dishes were brought out temperature hot. Some dishes were just okay for us but family favorite was the spicy garlic shrimp. Amazing flavor and texture contrast in this dish. Loved the crispy exterior and the bits of garlic and peppers. It was so good that I ordered another one. Chicken wings were also spot on. Executed beautifully. Crispy, juicy and seasoned well. The Zhajiangmian was also notable. The staff advised us the noodles and dumpling wrappers are all house made. Great texture and bounce, the bean sauce was robust and clung to the noodles and enjoyed the crunch of the vegetables. The noodles in the Jjamppong were also good texture. Accompanying broth was just okay. We loved the boiled dumplings and liked it better than the fried potstickers. To be frank, we weren't impressed with the eggplant with tofu, sweet and sour pork and jellyfish. They looked promising on the plate but no wow factor when we sampled them. Service was above average, perhaps we were the only patrons while dining there. There was a phone call for a carryout order and a family of 3 arrived early and sat on the other round table with a reserved sign sitting on top as we left at 745pm. Overall, a pleasant first experience at The Mandarin where family is game for another visit. There are other items on the menu that we would like to sample. NOTE: Validated parking in the Imperial Plaza parking garage.

    Fried prawns, potstickers, beef and broccoli, dumplings, scallion pancake
    Elaine L.

    This little hidden gem is the best! We visited this centrally located spot during our trip to Oahu. It is a mom and pop owned shop with delicious, fresh, and authentic Chinese food. Our favorites were the potstickers were so fresh and crispy (they make them homemade!) and the beef and broccoli. We went for dinner. The service was also super fast - they were super attentive so great to grab a quick bite for lunch or takeout. It is really clean inside and a very welcome environment. Highly recommend!!

    Outside
    S M.

    Today I got to try the Hot Sweet and Sour Pork with Rice and House Soup included, which were all tasty. Also, the service was very friendly and helpful.

    Bitter melon with pork
    Brennan H.

    Came here to try them out as I was craving bitter melon and this place had it on the menu. It's a small restaurant that is run by a husband and wife. The lady was super nice and friendly. We came during lunch on a weekday and it had one other person waiting for take out and no one dining in. We ordered our food quickly and the lady quickly gave the order to her husband in the kitchen and then rang the total up. Food was ready in about 10 min. The pot stickers were delicious - lots of filling and cooked well. The soup that came with the meal tasted like a mix between egg drop soup and hot and sour soup. I personally liked it a lot. I got the bitter melon with pork. I liked it, but wish there was a little more black bean in the sauce. Overall, it was nicely done and was flavorful with bitter melon that wasn't that bitter. I also got the jajiangmien (black bean noodles). The noodles were perfect and the sauce on top was tasty. Overall, it's a solid choice and I will be back again next time i'm craving chinese!

    House soup (comes with meal)
    Crystal R.

    Located on Cooke Street next to Cooke Street Market lies this little husband and wife operated restaurant. Since this place is within walking distance from my place, I figured to give this place a shot and I am so glad that I decided to venture here! There is street parking available and if the street is full, there should be parking located in the building. This place isn't your typical Chinese restaurant where you and your party is served family style. Instead, this restaurant focuses on individual servings. The menu is located on the table and each entree listed comes with rice and house soup (egg drop soup). It's not all individual serving; you can order appetizers for your whole party to share. Each item is made to order and the husband usually cooks it for you while the wife is providing excellent service. The meals served here are decently priced and it fills your tummy up. I'm surprised that they don't have much traffic as they should be as their dishes are made with care and are quite flavorful!

    Outside
    Ryan G.

    I've gotta be honest, I've only ordered 1 thing here: the Mongolian beef with fried rice. It always hits the spot. They pair the plate with a nice coup of egg drop soup (I like to pour it over the beef and rice, add hot sauce and hot mustard). The location is easily accessible with street parking out front. The owners are always very sweet and welcoming.

    Pan fried chive pancake
    Kim B.

    Absolutely been coming here forever but haven't actually eaten for a few a years. Same owners and same delicious tastes. Ambiance is cheerful but the food is great love that. Service is fast and our food came out pretty quickly. Didn't take all the pics of how much food was ordered. However it was incredible.

    Garlic shrimp with chili sauce

    There's no reason this place should be dead at lunchtime on a Wednesday! Staff is sweet and respectful, soup and entrees are filling and delicious! No skimping on flavors over here! The restaurant is clean and service is prompt.

    Menu from 3/17/2023
    John C.

    Love the spicy garlic chicken! My favorite dish. Normally come by for take out whenever craving. Other great dishes, but sucker for my favorite.

    Soup
    Tara L.

    not your typical chinese restaurant. we went here for lunch, and when looking at the menu everything was individual plates (main and starch). not family style like i was expecting. i got the steamed fish (one of my faves at chinese restaurants), my coworker got the orange chicken with chow funn. my entree was pretty standard. half of a fish (not a whole fish) served with a bowl of rice. it also came with a cup of egg drop soup. both were served super hot, so do not dig in right away unless you can handle the heat! (temperature) my coworkers entree however was so strange. it was literally chow funn WITH orange chicken. everything was mixed together in the same orange chicken sauce. it wasnt orange chicken with a side of chow funn like we expected. that being said, it was also just chow funn noodles. no veggies, no others meats mixed in, just plain white noodles. needless to say it was not as appetizing since the whole thing was sauced up, and the sauce itself was super garlicy. he only ate maybe half. good place to go if you want chinese food and youre dining by yourself, because the plates are smaller and all come with a starch. not so good if youre expecting family style shareable chinese entrees. i also did not see any chinese chicken salad on the menu, which was surprising to me since thats a usual staple.

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    5 years ago

    I love that they refuse to use MSG! After eating here I feel great unlike other places with similar menu.

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    Yi Xin Cafe

    Yi Xin Cafe

    4.4
    (464 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$
    Takes reservations
    Catering service

    What rock have I been living under? My first time here to celebrate my birthday with someone dear…read morefriends. Yi Xin Cafe does not disappoint! True Hong Kong style Chinese food! The food took me back to my days of travel to Hong Kong in the 90s. The stand were the salt, egg, fried chicken wings, as well as the curry crab, and the fried green beans with minced meat with sambal! Definitely I must try. Also, the Hong Kong MilkTea was excellent with a cute little frozen tea, teddy bear on it. Thoroughly enjoyed ourselves celebrating the service was excellent! Our server made great recommendations. I will definitely be back. Lots of parking available this place can get quite crowded so my recommendation would be to go in between lunch and dinner.

    I had been looking forward to eating at Yi Xi Cafe my entire trip because I kept hearing about…read moretheir Singapore chili crab and salted egg yolk dishes. Unfortunately, it was one of the biggest disappointments of my vacation. The Singapore crab completely missed the mark. Instead of the rich, savory, slightly sweet and spicy flavor I was expecting, it tasted like it was covered in plain tomato sauce with very little seasoning. There was no depth or authentic flavor at all. The salted egg yolk wings were just as disappointing. They were incredibly bland and lacked the rich, buttery, savory salted egg flavor that makes this dish so popular. I honestly don't understand why these are recommended as signature dishes. I came in with high expectations based on the reviews, but left wondering why anyone would recommend such bland, overly saucy food. There are far better places to experience authentic Singapore-style flavors. Worst meal of our trip.

    Photos
    Yi Xin Cafe
    Szechun spicy JJ chicken pot
    Szechun spicy JJ chicken pot
    Impressive presentation that served with sizzling sound, but the beef was too well done & on the tough side.

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    Impressive presentation that served with sizzling sound, but the beef was too well done & on the tough side.
    Golden Eagle Chinese Restaurant

    Golden Eagle Chinese Restaurant

    3.8
    (548 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    This is an old school Chinese restaurant that locals know about. Janey told me to meet her here…read moreand I had never been and she was surprised. It's quaint inside, but again, old school, so you'll see some boxes stacked in the corner. Janey got there first and said the man working was kinda unfriendly. But I think it was more about not knowing who we were, and like I said, lots of locals that frequent. The woman working was really nice! I just let Janey order. We started with some delicious hot n sour soup. The fried rice was really good! Loved the crispy skin duck! The gau gee mein had a great assortment of vegetables! And the sauteed choy sum(?) was good! Overall, really good local Chinese food! Though the interior is nice, it was a little warm even with the AC. The setting sun was just hitting the windows and even with the filter, it was warm. Other than that, great place to come to! Mahalo Golden Eagle!

    Another great meal at Golden Eagle !…read more Had their Seafood cake noodles for the 1st time - yum ! The seafood was cooked perfectly and the cake noodles done very well. The gravy a bit thin but loved the veggies added to the dish. I so enjoyed this noodle dish Wu one ton mein - good soup lots of veggies and one ton was good too! You can never miss the dishes are always done well and portions good. Severs are nice and they keep your water filled and tea hot !

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    Seating area
    Seating area
    Sweet and Sour spareribs
    Sweet and Sour spareribs
    Soft gau gee mein

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    Soft gau gee mein
    On Dong Chinese Restaurant

    On Dong Chinese Restaurant

    4.0
    (387 reviews)
    1.2 mi
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    One of our go-to orders here is and always will be, their Sweet & Sour Pork (with the sauce on the…read moreside)! The pork is incredibly crispy and the sauce is light, tangy, and always hits the spot. It pairs perfectly with either a noodle dish or just a bowl of rice. I also love their Spicy Seafood Noodles. Tonight's portion was extra huge, and I still managed to finish it! The broth looks fiery, but it's actually light with lots of seafood flavor and subtle peppery notes. Definitely not as spicy as it looks- at least for me (one that usually prefers mild spicy). I also heard they make all of their noodles in-house, which means they are fresh and made with care. The service has always been friendly and efficient. Do note that you have to pay for parking, but we are usually in and out within the hour mark so it's not too bad.

    This restaurant has a new policy…read more We got here at 5:30 pm on a Sunday afternoon and were told that someone reserved several tables for 20 people. Parking on Sunday evening now costs $5 because you have to pay the overnight rate. We were told the wait would be 40 minutes. Three people came 15 minutes after us, and we were told they also had reservations. After we were seated, they told us that they now accept reservations from groups of five or more. With the higher parking fees and new reservations policy this restaurant might need to come off my recommended list.

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    On Dong Chinese Restaurant
    Dumplings
    Dumplings
    On Dong Chinese Restaurant

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    Lee Ho Fook Restaurant

    Lee Ho Fook Restaurant

    4.5
    (283 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    My wife and I had been craving good Chinese food for a while, so after finishing my workday in town…read moreand getting the suggestion from my wife that Chinese sounded good for takeout dinner, I crossed into Chinatown and tried Lee Ho Fook for the first time. The first thing I saw when I walked in was the owner making dumplings by hand. That immediately gave me the feeling I was in the right place. Growing up I watched my own Mom make our version of dumplings, so seeing that kind of care and craftsmanship felt familiar. The owner was warm and very welcoming, and as each dish was completed she brought it out fresh from the kitchen, which gave me a chance to taste the food while it was still steaming. It was hot, but I could not stop myself from sampling it :) Everything I ordered was delicious and clearly made fresh. I'll be honest though, watching the dumplings being prepared right in front of me was a real highlight. I'm sure that some of you out there can relate to this. I also had the chance to meet owner's mother and another gentleman who I believe may have been family, which added to the welcoming atmosphere. The restaurant is small, but it did not feel rushed. We had a good time talking story while the food was being prepared. It was a challenge for me to drive home with all that food in the back of my car. I was tempted to pull over and just indulge, but I remembered that I had to share it lol My summary? Good food, genuine hospitality, and a great first impression. I will definitely be back.

    Lee Ho Fook does one dish better than other places. Their minute chicken w cake noodles…read more They are a small husband and wife operation. The restaurant is small but kept clean. As longtime owners they have regulars who have their own favorites but even if you are a newcomer you will be treated cordially. I've seen solo diners come in and order won ton noodle soups and beef dishes. I've tried them but found they aren't nearly as good as several other places in Chinatown. The minute chicken is nicely charred and flavorful with a little gravy. Their cake noodle is one of the best in town. Combine them and you have their signature dish. If you enjoy cake noodles then almost other dish w the cake noodles will probably satisfy. But if it's your first time, or you want to try their best dish then minute chicken w cake noodles is the way to go.

    Photos
    Restaurant interior
    Restaurant interior
    Lunch @Lee Ho Fook Restaurant-; 3/30/2025. I Ordered one of my Fave,"Minute Chicken Cake Noodles!".Gravy separated also.So yummy their Food.
    Lunch @Lee Ho Fook Restaurant-; 3/30/2025. I Ordered one of my Fave,"Minute Chicken Cake Noodles!".Gravy separated also.So yummy their Food.
    Lunch from @Lee Ho Fook Restaurant; 3/27/2024. I ordered my Fave Minute Chicken Cake Noodle, w/the Gravy on the side.

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    Lunch from @Lee Ho Fook Restaurant; 3/27/2024. I ordered my Fave Minute Chicken Cake Noodle, w/the Gravy on the side.

    The Mandarin Restaurant - chinese - Updated August 2026

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