China Bowl Express

This place is a little hidden gem. Great Chinese for a cheap price! Drive thru = double points! Everything is made to order so sometimes it can be a little slow but totally worth the wait.

Food was terrible had the king pao chicken and the beef and broccoli. Even steamed rice was bad.

We have gone to the drive thru several times. Each time the lady taking our order has been rude, sarcastic, and impatient. We like that we can order multiple entrees. The soups are in a pint container. But I do not recommend the hot and sour soup. It had an over powering taste of vinegar. The egg rolls, Rangoon, and soups are all sold separate and do not come with the meals. We will return only because there aren’t many Chinese restaurants open late on a Sunday.

If you need any proof S.A. has too many crappy Chinese restaurants then look no further than China Bowl Express. You would think that a meal here would be cheap, 2 entrée combo for $.6.59 right? Well think again since they love to nickel and dime you for every thing like drinks and egg rolls. China Bowl Express hits you up an extra $ 1 and some change for a crappy, generic egg roll as well as $ 1 and some change for a drink so expect a meal for one to run you about $ 12 which is a bit more than you’d pay at your average Chinese restaurant here in S.A. I got the Thai curry chicken which had more veggies than chicken and orange chicken which had a crappy and sweet sauce that tasted nothing like the orange chicken I’ve had at Panda Express or at other Chinese restaurants and it wasn’t hot enough either. The fried rice is bland and flavorless. Food here is so awful I had to go next door to Chacho’s to order a margarita to wash away the awful taste and forget about the experience here. I knew there’s a reason why I avoided coming here to begin with.

I wanted to go this restaurant the other day. I used my GPS, which I inputted Panda Express. It said Panda Express, but when I arrived, there was China Bowl Express. I decided not to try it at that time, because I was really hungry and didn’t want to take a chance on something unknown.
I went today during lunch, I was the only customer inside, I could hear someone at the drive-​thru. I usually gauge a restaurant I don’t know, by the lunchtime crowd. The Mexican restaurant next door was very busy at the drive-​thru.
I could tell from the outside that they had took over something else, which to me is not a good thing. When I entered through the dining room, it smelled like old clothes. I began to have reservations, but I continued on. They have a buffet set-​up but I only saw the rice and noodles laid out. I thought I was early, I asked a young lady if they were open yet? She said yes, they would make it as I ordered it. I wish they had the different types of food laid out, so I could see how they look and how they make it.
I decided on orange chicken and thai curry chicken «only» because they had a «1 pepper» rating. Not spicy at all to my taste. The orange chicken was okay, not enough to have me going back. The Thai chicken was not what I expected and just okay. Luckily, it only cost $ 7.
I was hoping this would have been at least to the level of Panda Express, since it is close to where I live.

What used to be a Burger King with an elaborate outdoor play area has become somewhat of a secret spot for reliably fresh, tasty, and cooked-​to-​order Chinese food. Despite its prime location and clear visibility at the corner of Bandera & Poss, China Bowl loses the crowds to neighboring Mexican restaurant Chacho’s. Yet, the longevity of China Bowl is clear indication that they’re doing something right, no matter how much less «happening» the place appears to be.
Having grown up in Leon Valley, my parents and I frequented this place (and its then massive playground) when it was still the neighborhood’s bustling Burger King. Upon my return, much of China Bowl’s makings has remained unchanged, save for new paint and décor. On that note, the overall appearance of the building is nothing to write home about — its exterior screams «Hole in the wall?!» and interior «Vanilla?!» — which, now that I think about it, explains why so few patrons actually dine in and opt for takeout instead. Don’t get me wrong… inside it’s bright, clean, and well-​kept; however, there’s simply nothing to compel you to dub China Bowl as your go-​to hip eatery, as you’d probably do with a local sushi bar or hofbrau + beer garden.
A big surprise is just how cheap China Bowl’s prices are. For a 2-​entrée plate with fried rice and/​or chow mein, plus egg/​spring rolls or CRAB rangoons… ~$ 8 is all you’ll lose. Portions are plenty, and taste/​quality is great, quite frankly. Moreover the employees are as friendly, patient, and efficient as can be; even drive-​thru service takes but 4 minutes total.
All in all, China Bowl’s a good value. I highly recommend their not-​too-​saucy Specialty Mango Chicken, paired with Black Pepper Beef. I’ll definitely be back, not in a rush, but at least when I’m in the area.

Great food, cooked fresh to order. Staff is friendly. Combination fried rice is amazing. My son is crazy for the sesame chicken and egg drop soup. The crabmeat Rangoon are delectable.

Great Chinese food at a reasonable price. Open until 10pm Monday-​Saturday. Closes at 9:30pm on Sunday. You get a lot of food for what you pay.

Truly enjoyed them. they are a mom and pop place but their food did not lack quality/​quantity. They even deserve a good rating because they offer a 2-​entre meal that they STUFF for under $ 7. Plus when I went there it was clear that they don’t make your meal until you order it. I loved their chow me in noodles they were perfect thicker than most but one of the best I’ve ever had. And they are open till 10:30p
Their teriyaki sauce is great because it is thick and sweet, unfortunately they put the chicken and the sauce separate and by doing so the meat became dry. my recommendation is to soak each piece in the sauce because it will give you a perfect bite.
I will admit though, it does taste like food court Chinese which I prefer, but honestly I do not like to eat Chinese food very often, but their noodles are very hard to pass up.

My boyfriend and I love it! Good low price and filling food! It’s comparable to any Americanized Chinese food restaurant such as Panda Express, but prices are way better and all the food is cooked to order! You don’t see it lying around under a heat lamp. And all the workers are nice and friendly. We appreciate the fast service too! Yum yum!

Friendly staff! The food was made to order! Great pricing! So much better than Panda Express! Delicious Chinese Fast Food!

A friend recommended this place. But i have to say this is the worst tasting chinese place i ever been to, would not recommend to anyone

Always good fresh food. Sort of a hidden gem. Always make it thru the drive thru in about 5 minutes always consistent food and service. Never had anything to complain about here.

You cannot go wrong with this place! Good, cheap chinese plates with awesomely big portions. I call it the Panda Express Killer. Give it a try!

Food is great! !! Chowmein bowl is excellent. Love eating here. Very fast drive through service.

Pro: The place is very convenient, quick, and consistent. They give you plenty more than other places with out more charging.
Con: The food all taste like it was frozen and thawed out from a wholesaler. The interior looks faded and run down.
Bottom line: If you’re tired and this is your neighborhood place, it’s worth a stop.

The best pepper steak. The food is very flavorful and some of the best tasting Chinese food I’ve had (American Chinese). I’ve never dined in but the take out is great. This is a must try.

When I want lemon chicken I go to China Bowl Express. Not only are they cheap but to me they have the best lemon chicken in the city. China Bowl does their lemon chicken tempura style so each bite size piece is nice and fluffy. I normally get the 2 entrée plate and asked for double lemon chicken with Chow Mein instead of the rice. I couldn’t tell you if their rice is any good but I can vouch for the noodles they are delish. The servings are huge and the price is right around $ 7 a plate.
The only real negative thing that I can say about China Bowl Express is that the building is an old converted Burger King and the one time I dined in I couldn’t stand the smell. The building smells old and they keep the a/​c so cold that you smell a slight musty mildewy aroma. For all the years I have eaten the food from China Bowl Express I had always utilized the drive through except for the one time I dine in. I recommend using the drive through and take their delicious chicken home to enjoy.

Love their fresh foods cooked to order. My fav — Jalapeño beef, hot and sour soup, string bean chicken and pineapple pork ribs!
This is not a place where every dish is prepared with soy sauce in bland flavor. Here, all have their unique tastes. Try it!
We tried to get the chef’s secret recipe for hot and sour soup. All we can get are real tamarind juice and chicken stock. No wonder it tastes different from any other restaurants. Sorry, chef, I think people will appreciate some secrets about fresh ingredients. :)

Hands down, my favorite chinese food restaurant… EVER! The food is delicious and always fresh!!! Everything I’ve ordered has been mouth– watering… I’ve yet to be disappointed. Their combination fried rice is my favorite dish to order because of the abundance of meat and seafood in it. Not to mention– it’s delicious! All of their dishes have really good sized portions and all for an affordable price.
And to put the icing on the cake, the staff is very friendly and nice. Couldn’t ask for better customer service. You should definitely try this restaurant– you won’t be disappointed!