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Hercules, CA

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Willow Garden Chinese Restaurant

3.4 (186 reviews)
InexpensiveChinese
Closed • 11:00 am - 9:30 pm

Willow Garden Chinese Restaurant Photos

WILLOW GARDEN CHINESE RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Willow Garden Chinese Restaurant

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spicy eggplant
Donna N.

my go to for salt n pepper tofu !! Tofu is always fresh & available, nice size cubes deep fried w/sauteed jalapeno, yellow & green onions !! usually ready in10 minutes !! The owner, Cindy, is so friendly & down to earth I always look forward to chatting while waiting for my food !! Good flavor & ample portions & reasonable prices !! Plus generous lunch specials Mon- Fri, $12-$13 !! The dining room is small but neat, no frills, I think most of her business is take out !!

Fried Rice and Chow Mein from Combo Special
Erick L.

Had a Combo Special with includes a soup of the day, egg roll, fried rice, chow mein and an entree for $19.99, which was excellent value for the portion size. You get a plate full of fried rice and chow mein and a small container of your entree. BBQ Pork Fried Rice and Chicken Chow Mein were excellent as usual but the General Chicken was way too sweet. Flavor and color was very different from any General Chicken I've had. Still yet to find an entree I like there.

Word won ton
Eddie C.

This is a small eatery with limited seating. The food is ok. Cantonese cuisine that didn't have a truly authentic taste. The service is friendly the portion are also ok. Next time? Too many good options nearby.

I was told they close at 9pm
Steve D.

844 Willow Ave Ste A8 Hercules, CA 94547 Willow Garden Chinese Restaurant is located in the Willow Shopping Grand Ave Center, right next to the Willow Ave ramps for I-80. I was there after work on July 5. It was around 8:30pm, and I was told they close at 9pm. So I quickly looked over the menu. I decided to just order my favorites, and see how it turns out. I ordered to-go: - Wor Won Ton Soup - Beef Chow Fun The Wor Won Ton Soup was very good. It had 9-10 plump dumplings. Lots of meat, maybe 2 shrimps, and veggies. The broth was very rich and savory. The Beef Chow Fun, initially seemed very good. The beef and the noodles were soft and easy to eat. The flavor was perfect. But the bottom of the takeout tray had a layer of mushy noodles. It's like someone had scraped the wok. I have never experienced this before. I get that it's the end of the day, but mushy chow fun? Okay, maybe. The restaurant itself is a no-frills place. Maybe 5-6 tables and a service counter. The staff were nice. I understand it's the end of the day. But you're still open for business. Would I return? Yes! Menu has lots of good dishes, including claypots and salted fish chicken fried rice! I would have to eat here to give a better review. Easy to get to from I-80 freeway. Lots of parking in the plaza lot.

Combination Chow Mein.
Steve G.

The food is pretty tasteful if you are looking for a quick bite for lunch / dinner. I tend to order the combination chow me-in & honey walnut shrimp which never disappoint. Just wish the vibes were more welcoming & utensils were given with my order ! but overall great food spot for Rodeo!

Crispy Pan Fried Noodles - yummy
Rachel M.

This year I'm looking to try places near me that I haven't been to before and decided to come here after a failed attempt to go to the "hot and new" Salvadoran place in the plaza. Glad I did because I got a huge portion of delicious homestyle crispy pan fried noodles for $13.25. No frills- the plate was piping hot, noodles were crispy, and the sauce, veggies and proteins (chicken, shrimp and pork) were good too. There was so much I was able to save some for lunch the next day. There were a few customers that picked up to-go orders but overall it seemed like a slow Friday night for the owners (guessing it's a couple). Inside there are a few tables and a TV so maybe it's geared for a takeout spot. The lady working in the front was pleasant but seemed a bit bored as she browsed her phone. They offer forks right away (no chopsticks) when dining in. Surprised this is the vibe but perhaps there is just a lot of other competition in the plaza. Well at least I know where to get my fix for affordable tasty Chinese food nearby and don't have to worry about lines!

Veggie fried rice
Neench1

I've been a regular customer for this restaurant for years, here is my genuine opinion on this Chinese restaurant. 1. The lady was very nice, she seems to have English as a second language but still she gave excellent service and we have had wonderful conversations even if her English isn't the best. 2. The food is absolutely wonderful, I normally order the Mongolian Lunch special and some tea and it comes out in 15 minutes most of the time, and even take out time is as short or even faster, but yet is the most satisfying meal I've had every time I get it. Everything is wonderfully handmade deliciousness 3.the ambience is as expected for hole in the wall restaurants but the service lady is a wonderful conversationalist and I have a great experience every time I talk to her, and everything feel authentic to southern culture. Overall I heavily recommend the restaurant, this are some of the reasons I come nearly every week. The food is wonderfully authentic and delicious. The service is wonderful every time and is the highlight of my day.

Eugene K.

If you're looking for delicious Chinese food this is the place to go. A small hole in the wall family owned spot, with amazing family. This place will satisfy your Chinese food craving for sure.

Combo plate- with sweet and sour pork

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Reviews are mixed. Many praise the flavorful Chinese dishes, friendly and fast service, and generous portions.

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2 months ago

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3 months ago

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7 months ago

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11 months ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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8 months ago

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4 months ago

Tasty food wonderful people great place. I loved the food. Was delicious. My whole family loved it.

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8 months ago

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1 year ago

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6 months ago

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11 months ago

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

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1 year ago

It was soo good i forgot what i ordered but this place is always amazing. The service is fast and quick

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

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9 months ago

Really like this place close to my house combination fried rice is really good. My favorite is the Mongolian beef.

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3 years ago

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11 months ago

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

This place is our go to fast Chinese Food. We always order for pick up and the food is always ready when I get there.

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1 year ago

The price is right for very good Chinese food the best ever.the service so kind. The place so awesome.

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5 years ago

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2 years ago

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Ask the Community - Willow Garden Chinese Restaurant

Does the place serve a lunch menu all week?

Yes the Lunch Menu is always here every week Monday - Saturday!

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China Delights - SOUP & CHIPS

China Delights

3.8(278 reviews)
2.9 mi
•$$

I have been having some major deep fried whole rock cod with sweet and sour sauce withdrawals…read more Since our longtime family Chinese restaurant closed its doors after being open since basically forever, I have yet to find another place that comes remotely close to filling that void. Enter China Delights. This was our first time here and while it wasn't my beloved whole rock cod, their fried whole flounder with a soy based sauce was good enough to stand in its place. The fish was fried crispy enough that you could eat the fins while the flesh remained tender and moist. The sauce wasn't too bad either. I enjoyed that fish so much that I probably could have eaten the entire thing by myself without an ounce of shame. And then our waitress gave me the information I needed to hear: if I want whole rock cod, call the day before to let them know we're coming and they'll have it ready. HUGE WIN! You don't have to tell me twice. Another thing I was happy to see was a variety of mu shu options on the menu. We went with the pork and were not disappointed. And bc my husband had his own craving that needed to be handled, we ordered the half roasted duck. And that wasn't too bad either. The staff tonight were warm and attentive. Not once did we feel unattended to, but we also never felt rushed. Sometimes that balance gets lost and they did it well tonight. So is it possible that we may have stumbled onto the promise of a new family go to spot? Possibly. They've apparently been open for over 20 years already, and I hope they stay open for another 20 bc finding an old-school Chinese restaurant that still serves some of these classic dishes is getting harder and harder. Now I just need to remember to call the day before bc that whole rock cod and I have some unfinished business.

This is a really good sit-down Chinese restaurant that's reminiscent of the ones my family would…read morereserve for big milestones such as wedding receptions, baptisms, and birthdays. I love that the restaurant is spacious and that there's an essence of coziness to the space. The service here is decent -- there have been multiple times where my party has had to ask for things because food or drinks were coming out too slow or were forgotten. There's definitely room for improvement in that arena. Food is delicious here, and I particularly love the sweet and sour pork! House fried rice and beef broccoli here is also amazing. Although I've had better honey walnut prawns, the ones here are still good (just pricey considering I prefer other places over it). Portion sizes are huge, even for sharing among 3-4 people. I recommend eating here with a fairly large group - you get your best deal when sharing the cost (and eating) together.

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China Delights
China Delights
China Delights - SHRIMP EGG FOO YOUNG

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SHRIMP EGG FOO YOUNG

China House - Chicken Fried Rice

China House

3.0(348 reviews)
2.1 mi
•$$

Came here today with my mom and kids and we ordered the orange chicken, chicken chow mein, chicken…read morewonton soup and roast duck and it was really delicious. Highly recommend and the portions were amazing for 7 people.

I think the "3-star" Yelp average is correct for this place…read more On a Saturday evening, I drove up to Pinole just to try the Hung Tao Yee Won Ton Soup at China House. It was near 5pm, and the dining room was empty. They said most of the orders were for takeout and delivery. So I was seated right away, and they offered me hot tea. So I ordered the Hung Tao Yee Won Ton Soup, and also "Salt 'n Pepper Prawns" as listed under House Specialties on their menu. For $15.95, it's a huge bowl of soup. It could be enough for 2-3 people. Hung Tao Yee Won Ton Soup is fried won ton in thicken egg drop soup. I added pepper and a splash of soy sauce, and it was perfect. Grade (4/5). However, the Salt 'n Pepper Prawns were not perfect. They were served deep fried, with jalapeño pepper slices. I asked for "in-shell." So they were deep fried with the shell still on. That usually means they'll have more flavor. These prawns were mushy and had a slightly fishy aftertaste. This suggests that they were frozen and not fresh. China House didn't season them enough to mask the off-taste. Other restaurants add a coarse salt and maybe a dipping sauce. The batter coating tasted fine, but the prawn itself wasn't good. Grade (2/5). Service was prompt and attentive. Restroom- 1 Women's restroom, and 1 All Gender. China House has a big screen TV, and they were showing a basketball game ( NY vs Houston). Free off-street parking lot

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China House - Dining room

Dining room

China House
China House - Dining room

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Dining room

Sue's Kitchen - Pad thai chicken

Sue's Kitchen

4.4(921 reviews)
3.4 mi
•$$

Amazing staff. Friendly very warm and Welcoming!!'…read moreSon and mom greeted me and offered me a menu. I Already knew what I wanted. Been coming here since they opened. Never met the owners though. Since I was ordering to go, I went ahead and made my order. Kao soy and Nam Khao. It was Sunday so it was quiet. Only two people eating inside at the time. Usually it's full!!! I spoke with the mom and son and we had a great conversation. Made me feel as if I was family. I loved that! Lovely intimate setting. Great for large party's or by your self as well. Great date spot for two! I highly recommend coming here for the food is really delicious! You'll be in Heaven

It's been at least 5 years since my last visit to Sue's Kitchen, so I'm glad to find that my fave…read moreThai spot in the East Bay is still open for business. While some of the dishes hit the sweet spot for me, others left me wishing for something different. Our group ordered 6 different menu items to share and everything came out in quick succession: Nam Khao, Yum Pla Muek, Khao Soi, Pad Thai, Som Tum Gai Yang, and Massamun chicken curry. Of these dishes, the star was the Nam Khao. I loved the crunchy little grains of rice and the fermented pork added a nice tangy flavor profile to each bite. It would've been great if the dish had more pork pieces in it though. Yum Pla Muek (squid salad) had a spectacular sweet and sour dynamics overall, but ratio of protein to veggies needed an improvement. Despite the name, the dish felt more like a scavenger hunt for squid pieces hidden inside the sea of cabbage. Khao Soi was great in that the broth leaned more on the clear side rather than being overwhelmingly drowned in coconut milk. Flavor-wise, it was delicious but a bit oversalted for my taste. Pad Thai is pretty decent. The sweet and tangy mix was definitely present and the noodles were cooked to perfection. Somehow, I felt like it was missing something within its aromatics profile. Perhaps the green onions should've been lightly tossed with the noodles at the end rather than sprinkled on top as a garnish. Som Tum was dissappointing in my opinion. Judging from the appearance of the papaya shreds, the preparation process might've skipped the authentic "tum" (pounded) part in the goold ol' stone mortar and pestle. The flavor was also a bit bland and the usual basic ingredients like peanuts, green beans, and dried shrimps, were nowhere to be found. Gai Yang (grilled chicken) pieces were pretty good. However, instead of steamed rice, they really shoul've included sticky rice to keep the dish's authenticity. I wouldn't recommend this dish if you're a die-hard fan of the original version. Massamun chicken curry was a bit too thin in the curry part. I didn't personally try this dish, but the general comments from those who did was that it was just mid. Overall, there's no doubt I'll be hitting Sue's Kitchen up again soon. Service there was quick, attentive, and efficient. Their price-point is also very reasonable for the portion size of the food. I'd recommend this place for anyone who wants quick and delicious Thai-Laotian food in a more quaint neighborhood of East Bay.

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Sue's Kitchen - Restaurant and Specials Board

Restaurant and Specials Board

Sue's Kitchen - Yellow Curry & Jasmine Rice

Yellow Curry & Jasmine Rice

Sue's Kitchen - Veggie spring rolls

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Veggie spring rolls

Thai Lao Restaurant - 25. Pad Thai with shrimp

Thai Lao Restaurant

4.2(172 reviews)
0.9 mi
•$$

I've never tried Lao food before until now. My team invited me to try the new Lao restaurant, and…read morethe food was more flavorful than I expected! I recommend the nam khao and pad kee mao. They're really flavorful with a nice spice! I'd love to order the Lao food! The rice sticker with mango is great and sweet! Reminds me of the Vietnamese dessert. The service is sweet and great! They have a deaf daughter. They speak English, Lao, and use some ASL. They cook the Lao food with heart. Please support their business! The interior is full of cherry blossoms and paintings of Laos and Thailand. They beautifully display Lao and Thai culture.

This area of Hercules is a hidden gem no doubt. Tucked away in a shopping center, there are so many…read moregood eats including Thai Lao. It's so aesthetically pleasing inside (see pics and video). The owner was there when we entered, and we were able to chat about Thailand and the Lao culture. So friendly and welcoming! Service was quick, efficient, and portions were ample for the lunch specials. We ordered chicken satay to start (comes with a nice helping of peanut sauce and cucumber salad), a pad Thai for the table with tofu, and a few lunch plates including the yellow curry, pad krapow, and spicy eggplant. Everything was packed full of flavor, and they bring a spice/sauce tray out to the table if you need to bring your dish up a notch. The lunch special comes also with a 2-piece appetizer like potstickers, egg rolls, and curry puffs which I thought was a nice touch. Plenty of shopping center adjacent (and free) parking, and wallet friendly. They serve Thai/Laos beer, wine, and a nice dessert menu. Would love to come back and try the Lao's menu including the papaya salad and larb.

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Thai Lao Restaurant
Thai Lao Restaurant - Delicious 28. Pad See Eew

Delicious 28. Pad See Eew

Thai Lao Restaurant - Chicken rad nah

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Willow Garden Chinese Restaurant - chinese - Updated October 2026

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