Sun Mei Restaurant

noticed Sun Mei has closed and some former customers are pining for their korean dishes.
i’ve tried za ja mein and noodle dishes at Sun Mei and Mandarin Garden (1740 monument) in Concord. they cook the dishes about the same.
get your korea food fix at Mandarin Garden (925)686−4442. closed Tuesdays.

Sun Mei is closed for good. I will always miss their amazing pot stickers.
Haven’t tried the new Chinese place that moved in yet.

Food is pretty good but the service /​staff leave a lot to be desired. While we’ve only ordered take out, both occasions were met with being hung up on after spending 5 minutes on hold.
If they can’t handle customers over the phone, why would I want to dine in and have to tip terrible service?
Is it really that hard to find good service anymore?

Red bean noodle delicious. the noodles were nice and thick and the sauce had a very savory flavor to it.
Korean style beef was actually Chinese black pepper beef, not bulgogi style like you would expect, it was still super tender and juicy yummy, with plenty of onions
Combo seafood soup was great as well. spicy slightly and strong shellfish flavor with plenty of seafood. the broth went great with the thick noodles
Eggplant was the best eggplant i’ve had ever with yummy garlic and spices. not like the usual greasy/​meaty tastes
service from the owner was great. she was a sweet cute older lady. unfortunately when we went it was her last day and ownership will be switching. supposedly it will be the same menu plus additional items. i just hope that the cook will be the same person!

Food here is simple and delicious. I don’t order the generic dishes from the menu, aka the «Americanized» Chinese food. I can just go to Panda Express for that. The dishes that really stand out are (and you have to trust me):
1. Sauteed Chinese Eggplant (i think that’s what it’s called)
2. Honey Walnut Prawns
3. Egg foo young (not on the menu) — comes out crispy and delicious with delicous brown sauce over it (soy saucey, sugary, really good). Ask for sauce on the side if you don’t like it so saucy.
Now onto the dishes that set this place apart from all the other Chinese restaurants in the area:
Things I love, because I am Chinese from Korea descent:
1. Hand pulled JA-​JANG noodles. This is black bean sauce noodles. I love it here. Try this dish, the noodles are chewy and fresh. You can tell the difference with hand-​pulled noodles, as compared to regular noodles.
2. Spicy seafood noodle soup (aka JAM BONG) — also hand pulled noodles. Spicy rich seafood broth. Perfect for a cold day. It’ll definitely make you sweat and steam up your glasses (if you you are four-​eyed. lol).
3. BRAISED CHICKEN WINGS!!! If you love the chicken wings from San Tung restaurant in San Francisco, these are JUST AS GOOD, if not better. SO delicious. Lightly sauced/​braised and fried to crispy perfection.
I’m giving this place 5 stars because I love the items on their «SECRET MENU.» It’s like In-​n-​Out burgers secret menu, where only the «cool» kids know about it. Just kidding. I’m sharing this secret with you so you can be cool too! Haha. No really though…
I don’t know why the owners (who are super nice btw) don’t advertise their secret menu more? Maybe because they think the Walnut Creek crowd is less adventurous with trying «new» food than the city-​dwellers. Just be advised that if you name it or describe it and they can make it, THEY WILL COOK IT FOR YOU! And cook it well, might I add.

This is for the jiajiangmyun.
The jiajiangmyun is NOT true to Korean-​Chinese jiajiangmyun. It’s definitely more Chinese than it is Korean. Instead of the al dente, ricey slurp-​able «true» K-​C jiajiangmyun noodles, the noodles here are way too thick and clumpy. The noodles are similar to the ones used in chow mien versus those hand-​cut knife noodles of K-​C shops. It just tastes way too artificial.

Just moved into the neighborhood and are trying out new places, so we strolled into Sun Mei. There were literally no customers there, but it didn’t disuade us to at least give it a shot, plus we got there a bit on the early side. The Mongolian beef was excellent, as was the won ton soup. But the best part was how courteous and friendly the staff/​owner was! He introduced himself, and as he didn’t have others to wait on, engaged us in a great conversation, and a bit of his backstory. It was great, because it made me feel like one of those hometown shops where everybody knows everyone.
I’ll definitely go back, and I should note that while it was empty when we got there, there was a steady stream of people coming in to pick up from take-​out, and as we were leaving it started to fill up.
Good food, and really great people are what helps to welcome you to a new place.

We have visited this restaurant for years. The customer service is impeccable here. We have thrown a birthday party here before, and were able to reserve the back portion of the room with the hanging curtain form the ceiling. It was all the seclusion that we needed.
We love the fact that this restaurant has the best jia jiang myun in the area. We usually order it and other stuff when we are here. It’s not on the menu, but it is delicious, it takes a lot of effort to make, and they usually have the ingredients to make it.
I love this restaurant.

Their Northern Style Vegetable Garden is so fresh and light, and the Vegetarian Spring Rolls are gigantic and filling. Delicious!
In addition to Chinese food, they also serve some Korean dishes, all of which my mother adores. She was born in Seoul, so I’m pretty sure she knows what she’s talking about. ;)
Plus one star for their stellar service. The owner lady is so sweet.
This is probably the best food you’ll find in that Walgreens plaza. Get some.

I’ve been to this place a couple of times recently for their lunch specials. I’ve been either the only or one of 2 tables being served, even at 12:30.
Service is friendly and fairly quick. It should be quick with no one else in the place.
I’ve tried the Mongolian Beef and the Kung Pao Chicken. Neither was spicy, or even seemed spiced at all — in fact the fried rice was more flavorful.
No, I didn’t eat the peppers themselves, but there should be more do a dish listed on the menu as «hot and spicey» than a half dozen charred peppers seemingly thrown in as an afterthought.
I’ve not been to a Chinese restaurant before that offers a lettuce salad with the lunch, but this one does. I’m not sure what the white cream dressing is, but it tastes okay with a little tartness, but not much.
Is it too much to say the iceberg lettuce is the most flavorful dish I’ve had there? Actually, the hot & sour soup is pretty good. At least it’s hot and sour, something that can’t be said for all the places that serve it.
Really, I’m giving it the second star for the service.

It was okay; the Chinese Dumplings were very good, though… highly recommend. And my friend’s honey walnut shrimp looked great.
Definitely not the best Chinese I’ve ever had, but quite adequate as a quick place for lunch somewhat close (within walking distance) of where work is.

3.5 stars I think. This is only to judge the champpong and jja jjang myun, which was pretty good compared to the other places within the area. I honestly have no complaints, the jja jjang myun noodles were perfectly cooked, they gave plenty of sauce (enough to make jja jjang bap at the end) and the sauce had a lot of nice fat shrimp! The champpong was good, the noodles great– the soup was good– and they weren’t stingy with the assorted seafoods they usually put in there. The only thing I would complain about was that it wasn’t spicy enough, but I like all things EXTRA spicy so it wasn’t bad.
I don’t have any complaints about their service– typical chinese-​korean restaurant service.

Not even close to being one of the best Chinese restaurants I’ve frequented, but they have some solid good food.
My usual orders:
Chicken Lettuce Wraps — crisp lettuce wraps filled with chopped chicken breast, water chestnuts, misc. Veggies, and an oyster-​type sauce.
Combination Chow Fun — thick rice noodles with chicken, beef, shrimp, and bok choy.
Broccoli Beef — what you normally see at any other Chinese restaurants.
Wor Won Ton Noodle Soup — chicken, shrimp, bok choy, and pork wonton dumplings in a chicken broth.
They have decent lunch specials with fried rice, salad, a meat entrée, with a side of hot and sour soup. These specials range from $ 6.95−9.00.
The service here is very friendly and polite.
Overall, decent restaurant.

Absolutely run-​of-​the-​mill in most every way, except two. The food was slightly better than average and the service was substantially worse.
Sun Mei looks and feels like every other cookie-​cutter Chinese place out there. Same paper zodiac place mats, same menu, same chairs and tables. Sun Mei feels like it came out of some Chinese restaurant factory.
It took a few minutes for me to be seated, as no employees were on the floor when I arrived. There were diners, but no waiter. After I was seated, the menus came, and then the waiter took our order, and dropped off the food, and only came back twice: once to refill the water and once to take the check. He never said anything to us.
The food was decent — better than par, about 3.5 stars. However, the rest of the night and next day I was thirsty without mercy. I had three glasses of water with dinner, a couple quarts more that night, and almost a gallon the next day and could not get rid of my thirst.
On the balance, Sun Mei is nothing special. I’m giving it two stars because the two-​star definition is «Meh, I’ve experienced better.» And that’s true.

The food has a delicious taste that is not overwhelmed by salt. The owner has a diverse Chinese menu but you should also ask him for the Korean menu. They have various dishes available that include Zam Pong and Tang Sae Yuk!
Given that it is also hard to find a decent dinner for 2 people for under $ 30. these days, the combo meals they offer are a great deal for the quality of the food you get.

YOU HAVE TO BE NUTS!!! I went to a location where the sun doesn’t shine and found a place where it’s supposely says, it is. Walnut Creek for a business trip was ok, but when lunch came. Finding a place to eat in Walnut Creek sounds easy, but trust me. It WASN’T!!!I Must had walk for one hour fourty minutes before I choice to eat here. NUTTY GOOD THERE! Not only is this place kinda hidden, it was the only restuarant cheap enough to eat lunch at. Finding this place is very hard, it’s besides a Red Ribbon, Walgreens, Quiznos, and Starbucks. Located at the intersection of North Main Street and Treat Blvd/​Geary Road in the Walgreens shopping center next to Starbucks Coffee.
Lunch Hours: Mon — Sat 11am to 2:45pm
(Includes Soup of the Day, Steamed or Fried Rice)
Most of the meals on the menu is similar to the rest. Still there is a good Royal Family Lunch
(Served only for Two or More People)
$ 13.65 Per Person
Appetizers: Egg Rolls & Silver Wrapped Chicken
Soup: Hot & Sour Soup or Won Ton Soup
Entrees: (One Choice Per Person)
1. Cashew Nuts chicken
2. Broccoli Beef
3. Lemon Chicken
4 A Mongolian Beef
5. Sweet & Sour Pork
6. Prawns w/​Assorted Vegetables
Fried Rice or Steamed Rice
or Gourmet Lunch
(Served only for Two or More People)
$ 15.65 Per Person
Appetizers: Fried Prawns, Egg Rolls,
& Silver Wrapped Chicken
Soup: Woh Won Ton Soup or Sizzling Rice Soup
Entrees: (One Choice Per Person)
1. Prawns w/​Honey Glazed Walnuts
2. Chicken w/​Fresh Vegetable
3. Sizzling Seafood Plate
4. V General Tso’s Chicken
5. Chinese Steak on Sizzling Plate
6. Braised Spicy Fish
Fried Rice or Steamed Rice
Dinner Hours: Mon — Sun 4:45 to 9:15pm
Same food, but they do have a wine menu
House Wines
Chablis by Glass 2.50
Chablis by ½ Carafe 5.00
Chablis by Full Carafe 9.50
Sake 3.00
Plum Wine 3.50

White Wines
Kendall-​Jackson «Vitner’s Reserve» Chardonnay 6.00 Glass 22.00 Bottle
Camelot Chardonnay 4.00 Glass 14.00 Bottle
Kendall-​Jackson «Vitner’s Reserve» Sauvignon Blanc
5.00 Glass 18.00 Bottle
Beringer White Zinfandel 3.50 Glass 14.00 Botlle

Red Wines
Kendall-​Jackson «Vitner’s Reserve» Cabernet Sauvignon 7.00 Glass 25.00 Bottle
Camelot Cabernet Sauvignon 4.00 Glass 14.00 Bottle
Kendall-​Jackson «Vitner’s Reserve Merlot 7.00 Glass 25.00 Bottle
Camelot Merlot 4.00 Glass 14.00 Bottle
Inside it was pretty normal size location. I DID SEE A SQUIRRAL WITH HUGE NUTS OUTSIDE.
I walk into it, and quickly got my food on. I was so hungry. I got hot tea: nothing worth noting, other than that. The salad was just as tasteless. The food I got was Chicken Cashew Nuts. So I was nuts for Chicken Cashew Nuts in Walnut Creek. Lol. Try saying that three times fast. The food was great, I will give them that. Also had Sour Soup. I don’t get it, why does every Chinese place serve me the same soup???
I don’t think I made a good deal. My easy cheap meal came out to be: $ 8.05. Yeah, thanks :(
Over all: It’s ok, but I wanted more bang more my buck. I didn’t get it. IT’S FELT LIKE I GOT HIT IN THE NUTS!

I live around the area and was excited that a quick and dirty Chinese restaurant was close by. One day when I was sick and visiting Walgreens next door, I decided to satiate my Chinese food craving.
I had made it to the lunch hour and was seated promptly. Since I got there later in the afternoon, the restaurant was a little emptier (not too empty) and service was attentive. I ordered the sweet and sour pork lunch special and some hot tea.
I got my fresh hot tea (you can tell it’s fresh when the tea first starts light-​colored and then turns darker as you continue eating), salad and hot and sour soup. Salad lettuce was fresh but had some kind of watery mayonnaise as the dressing that gathered at the bottom of the bowl. Not impressed. Hot and sour soup was really sour and not very tasty. I ended up only eating a third of each. The server/​owner quickly cleared the plates.
A couple of minutes later, a full platter of sweet and sour pork arrived. I had waited probably a total of 5 minutes, so I was kind of surprised to see it come out so quickly. After eating a few bites, I realized that they must’ve deep fried the meat earlier in the day and just microwaved it. The meat was slightly crispy but not freshly fried, and the watery, sweet sauce completely doused the meat. It wasn’t incredibly impressive, but I did eat the whole thing because I was so hungry.
To be honest I was pretty disappointed. For 7 bucks I would’ve expected a little more. Or would’ve gone to Panda Express instead.

When I worked up the street I used to come here all the time for lunch.
Conveniently located and I think occasionally over looked by most people.
They have recently remodeled and took the obnoxious pastels away for a more modern paint scheme and updated furniture. I actually am in love with the updated themes.
The food has gotten an upgrade too. Not the greasy Chinese fare that I have had before. Fresh crisp veggies and lightly oiled noodles for my Vegetable Chow Mien. Some of the best I have had.
The Honey Walnut Chicken was pretty darn good too. A different take from the normal Shrimp dish. We really enjoyed it.
Our Sweet and Sour Pork was cooked first and the Red Sweet & Sour sauce came on the side. It was nice because you can choose how saucy you want your meat.
Pot stickers were good. Like I said they were on the lighter side and this was the one dish I wished was still greasy. I liked them though.
This is my regular Walnut Creek Chinese food destination.

This place is pretty damn good. They do put a lot of oil on some of their dishes, but if you ask to have light oil, it makes a whole world of a difference.
The main reason I get take out from here is because of the Spicy Chow Ma noodle soup. This is a great dish, not too many places in the east bay have this soup, hard to find. Give it a try if you like spicy seafood soup!

Greasy. Flavorless. Overpriced.
All the above would have netted it 2 or maybe 3 stars.
Serving me a rotten eggroll was just wrong though.
I keep searching for a decent Chinese takeout place in Walnut Creek, but keep coming up empty handed.