C.I. Chu’s Mongolian Barbeque
4540 E Broadway Blvd, Tucson, AZ, 85711
C.I. Chu’s Mongolian Barbeque Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Tucson for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
4540 E Broadway Blvd
Tucson, AZ, 85711 - Phone (520) 881-4798
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
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H P.
i went here for lunch recently and was not impressed. they try hard, they really do, and service was good. but it is all about the food, after all... ingredients are not very fresh, and sauces are watered down. i added quite a bit of the chef's sauce as well as garlic, ginger, sesame oil and teriyaki sauce. still my dish was underseasoned. and i usually don't eat salty. that is one of the problems of mongolian bbq, you don't know exactly how much sauce to put in to create the flavor profile you desire. i usually want the chef or cook to decide that, because they know how much sodium and strong flavor each sauce has the best. and a few different kinds of noodles would be appreciated, such as egg noodle, rice noodle, thick and thin. as it were, only one kind of noodles, thick chow mein noodles, which have ok texture but are dense and fill up the bowl too quickly with too much volume. the bowls are also too small, they need to provide larger bowls because the food cooks down quite a bit. an average mongolian grill, nothing special or extraordinary, but with a few changes could be vastly improved.
(2)Jessica L.
This place was fairly busy when I went to dinner here. This place is alright, I think it's one of the more inexpensive all-you-can-eat Mongolian BBQ places in Tucson. Everything was just meh though. So Meh.
(3)Steve S.
Great selection for bowls, wish there were some instructions on what to do and where to go. The sesame bread was good, but the egg drop soup leaves something to be desired. Will definitely be back to try some other dishes and give then another try.
(4)Ayla R.
I am a sucker for Mongolian BBQ and since I was on this side of town and had a long lunch, I popped into this gem. The selections of veggies while you built your bowl were great. Good variety and very fresh. Their sauces were pretty basic, but I am not a sauce girl, so that was fine by me! You get a choice of rice, soup and a slice of their sesame bread. I passed on the bread, but enjoyed a cup of their Zen Garden Vegetarian Soup. It was simple, but I was happy that there was was a veg option. The price is pretty average for a restaurant like this. Some may say $10 is a pricey lunch, but for a healthy, customizable lunch I see a bargain.
(5)Vanessa T.
I love this place! They are always very nice and I love the food. The vegetable soup is really good. I've never had a problem with them giving me a to go box either which I see they say they don't do. Don't even not give me a to go box, I will never come back
(5)Jackie V.
Seriously found my new favorite asian restaurant! :) Its a self serve Mongolian bbq, so you build your own bowl of noodles, veggies, meats and sauces. Everything was so fresh and delicious. For $11.99 you get all you can eat. You also get a choice of different soups and brown or white rice, but the best side was the sesame bread. It was so light and crispy. The staff was super friendly and checked on us constantly throughout our meal to make sure we had everything we needed. Will definitely be back soon!
(5)Jeff C.
I had a mixed opinion of this place. The food ingredients included a great selection of meats and vegetables. One of the noodle choices with whole wheat which was unique and something I have not seen and other places like this. I was pretty disappointed by the sauce choices compared to other places like this. I've seen a much better variety of sauce choices elsewhere and there are no dry spices at all. The one thing that I missed at the food bar compared to other places was sliced potatoes.
(3)Torrey B.
One of the many places I love going to eat. The food is filling and is just to your specifications. The obvious problems of sauce mixes and such as mentioned in other reviews are negligible when you find your dream mix. Was planning on giving a higher review until I watched an employee remove his shoes and stand on a table in the corner while hanging a large fan from the ceiling. That's a little eh when it is a surface that's going to have food on it
(3)Jevon C.
Enjoyed the setup and food. Very tasty but a little over priced for me. I liked the fact they keep a water jug at the table for you. I don't like the fact they have a tip jar at the register. All that person did was put rice and soup in a bowl for you.
(4)Nancy S.
This is the first low rating I have given and I have been writing reviews for some time. I met a dear friend for dinner tonight and was looking forward to a great evening. The food was okay but I felt for the quality it was very overpriced. The real reason for the low rating was the way I was treated. The woman who served me was rude and I even caught her in a lie. All I can say is I will never return! I will go to the many wonderful places in Tucson that serve amazing food and treat me like a customer.
(1)Jason P.
This is the best Mongolian Barbecue in Tucson! The only reason for 4 stars was because it took the cook a while to cook our meal. This restaurant reminds me of my childhood in Phoenix. They offer an all-you-can eat dinner version, as well as a standard one-size-one-bowl option at lunch. The price is very reasonable, and the sesame bread is amazing! They let you create your own sauce with some staples (garlic, fish sauce, soy sauce, etcetera) and offer some recipes for classic sauces using they're ingredients. The meats all looked good and sanitary. There's a seafood option, but I haven't tried it. The veggies look fresh and clean.
(4)Jason N.
Another restaurant that would have been a borderline five-star review just a couple of years ago, C.I. Chu's Mongolian Barbeque is a place that still serves edible Mongolian cuisine (at times), but at a fraction of the quality it used to provide. I have tried a multitude of Mongolian BBQ joints in my lifetime and this one is merely passable. You are permitted to assemble your own dish before they BBQ it. You can choose any of the available ingredients and pile them on as needed. You have to be cautious, however, as there are instances where they do not allow you to take any food home, even if you avoid all-you-can-eat. So, if you're famished, go bonkers. Pile on the veggies, the pork, the chicken, the beef. The sauces they provide are pretty ace as well. Nevertheless, once your food is consummated, it is simply nothing more than passable. There have been moments where it has been exquisite, but over the previous year or two the food quality has seemingly deteriorated. not than it's inedible, but it no longer inspires multiple future trips. The service is good. There is beer. It's clean. But something about the completed product leaves much to be desired. Perhaps I have just been unlucky, but C.I. Chu's hasn't been the same to me in eons.
(3)Sam B.
The place was clean. We got there at 11:15 am on a Sunday and they hadn't opened the doors yet. Yes, we were "those"people. The food was great and fast- but that's what I'd expect when me and the people I came with are the only people in there. The vegetable choices were fresh and there was a nice variety. It would be nice if they had more than two options for noodles.
(4)A P.
We'd never been here before, had driven past it several times, and decided to try it. We had no idea of the set up... so here's how it goes. When you walk in, you don't sit down. Instead you grab a bowl and put things in it that you want to eat-- this is nice since you get to choose what you want to eat. You mix up the sauces and then give the bowl to the guy at the end of the line who cooks it for you. Then you pay, get rice and bread, and then get to eat the food that you pretty much mixed yourself. Overall we weren't super excited about this. Essentially you're making your own food (but paying full price for it). And ours didn't taste that great because we didn't know how much of the sauce to put in and in what combination. Also all the food gets cooked on the same surface, so if you're vegetarian and the guy in front of you is having beef, the food is getting cooked on the same surface, and everyone's different blend of sauces is all getting kind of mixed up too. In the end our food looked the same--the same shade of brown but with different ingredients so it tasted just a bit different from each other. As far as the taste went, it was okay, not great, since we didn't know what sauces to add or in what proportion. FYI-- I did follow the guidelines on top of the buffet but the taste wasn't that good. Also, it's overpriced. We've paid the same amount before in other restaurants that are full service and that have much better tasting food. If you have to do half the work yourself, I feel the price should be a bit lower. One good thing-- all 3 staff members we interacted with were very polite and helpful, which is definitely good. Overall it was a bit of a let down, but we also didn't know what type of restaurant it was before going, so that was part of the issue too. We might try this place one more time just to see if we have a better experience but we're in no rush to go back.
(2)Zariena D.
We went here as a family and paid $8.99 per bowl during lunch time. The bowls are a reasonable size, but if you have a big appetite I'd recommend the "All you can eat for $11.99" be forewarned though that if you decide to box up your leftovers after 4pm they won't give you a to-go box. They do have organic/whole wheat noodle options (for those trying to get slimmer in '14) and they have a few options of sauces you can create yourself. The sesame bread is delicious and so is their soup. My only gripe is that we walked in like fools not knowing whether to pay first then get our food or vise versa. The hostess had to come to our rescue and tell us what their routine was. They should have signs indicating what to do. We'll be back though!
(4)Kellijae A.
The restaraunt itself is clean, not cluttered and the food quality is good. However... THIS IS A SELF SERVICE PLACE! !! Yes you prepare your food and they cook and deliver to your table. But you get your own silverware and napkins, refill your water and any other drinks ordered and have to practically flag down the waitress to get her to clear your dishes. If that's your thing then eat here. But if you like the kind of place where they will refill your drinks and provide silverware - this isn't it.
(2)Joy P.
I'm giving this place 5 stars because it made me go into a food coma. Their selection is excellent and you can never go wrong on piling up your bowl with all that yummy goodness. Their server is very attentive and made sure your needs are well served. The guy who works the cooking station had some organizational skills and knew exactly which order is which. We'll definitely come back to this place.
(5)Jen L.
I desperately wish there was a location on the north side of town. This is my favorite Mongolian bbq joint in town. There aren't many options, but there are a few things that set C.I. Chu's apart: 1) Bigger bowls. Everyone knows that creating a super stack is part of the fun of Mongolian bbq, but there are some places that have microscopic-sized bowls, making it more of a necessity than a fun challenge. Here, you get a hefty-sized bowl that lets you stuff yourself to your heart's delight. 2) Base ingredients for your sauce. I've been to others where you choose from pre-made sauce mixes and it's not the same. I haven't gone wrong with the sauce recipes at C.I. Chu's and I can adjust as needed... more of this, less of that. There's less mystery about what exactly is going into your stir fry. Tip: Grab your meat FIRST before the veggies to make sure you get a solid amount. It's near the end of the line and if you load up on other stuff beforehand, you'll only end up balancing a few slivers of meat atop your overflowing pile. Meat first, then go back to the beginning for veggies to make for a more balanced mix.
(5)Sarah J.
The food here is delicious and you make your dish to your exact preferences! You can't go wrong. My boyfriend and I love going here because it allows us to eat healthy while eating out. You walk in, grab a bowl, and fill it up from a buffet of choices! Noodles - they even have a wheat option. Vegetables - they have it all. MEAT - don't get too excited and fill up your whole bowl with veggies before you get to the good stuff! They charge the same no matter what's in your bowl so get your meat's worth! I loooove spicy food, too. They have several recipes for the sauce that you can follow. I always do the spicy option and triple the pepper scoops. On top of the yummy meals, they have amazing egg drop soup, rice, and complimentary bread. Oh, and the service is awesome, as well. They bring the food to your table after it's cooked, you're greeting coming in and thanked when leaving, and everyone that works here is very friendly. Just try this place!
(5)Evan B.
When it comes to the world of Mongollian BBQ I think I may be spoiled as YC's was my first and still the best nearly 15 years later. C.I. Chu is all you can eat for dinner and the price is not terrible for a dinner, There are some unique twists, The soup and rice is given from behind the counter, there is a neat sesame flat bread to much on while your food cooks . As for the veggies on the line they were unimpressive Have seen fresher and wider variteies and I did not like the noodle options.
(3)Dirk T.
The menu is straight forward, but it is part of the experience. You get to put together your own bowl the way you want it, including the sauces. They have helpful signs to assist the customers with putting together familiar flavors. You do get a lot of food for your money, so be hungry.
(5)Kelley P.
We love this place and have been coming here for years, but to charge me $30 for one adult and one 11 year old is a little crazy. And no to go box after 4 PM either. Not happy about this. : (
(4)Dee G.
youtube.com/watch?v=jPPh… My vid review link at the above good spot kinda cofusing when u walk throw the door but easy once you get it and they explain to you. you hand pick your own toppings and they cook it for you. you cant go wrong with that. and you also get a side of flat bread, soup, and rice. -Grap
(5)Drea G.
The food is pretty good, and I like that they have the soup, rice, and bread with meal; but it would be nice to have more sauces to choose from. Not the best I've been to, but not disappointing either!
(4)Alfonso T.
Soup, sesame bread a side of rice and you the cook! Well kinda. You choose the ingredients. My dishes are are ways delicious, but what can I say... I have great taste. I always enjoy coming here. So does my out of town family, it's become somewhat of a tradition when they visit and I don't mind. With a great selection of fresh veggies and meats you always have a different plate. I stick to chicken and steak on the protein side. I always avoid any seafood unless I can dip my toes in the ocean at the same time so I'll leave that seafood adventure to those more daring than I.
(5)Emily S.
omg we all LOVE this place. Every time I come home to Tucson to visit we go here. The food is DELICIOUS and the sesame bread is so fresh. LOVE IT.
(5)Amanda P.
Pleasantly surprised by this place. I've never tried a "make your own food" kind of place so it was fun though confusing at first. The waitresses were kind in explaining everything to us. I really like having the options to make your own sauce or use one of their recipies---it's a lot of fun to put things together like that. I sort of feel like a kid doing it and it's enjoyable. Pretty good options but I would like some more veggies. Sesame bread is really, really good. Also, we didn't have trouble with the staff---my mom wanted more teriyaki in her noodles but we only bought one bowl; I asked the girl at the cashier if she could get up and get more teriyaki and she said, "I'll just bring you a little bowl of the actual teriyaki since the kind on the bar is watered down for the sauces." It was very nice of her (though my mom ended up putting too much on her noodles, of course). This place was a lot of fun and I look forward to bringing my family here to have fun playing with our food.
(4)Joanne L.
We went here for the 1st time last week as we got a voucher from resturant.com and thought it would be worth a try. From the moment i stepped inside i knew this wasnt going to be what I was expecting but we decided we were going to give it a try anyway. We were greeted right away and expained the pricing structure u can pay by the bowl or you could do all you can eat... we went with the all you can eat option as it was only slightly more expensive.... service from the start was great I wish I could say the same about the food.... The meat was frozen which put me off right away.. (i am not a bginner to Mongolian BBQ we used to go to 1 in NM that was AMAZING and the meat was always FRESH AND NEVER FROZEN) And none of the vegtables looked overaly fresh and the sauces looked very watery.... we were given complimentry rice (a choice of white or brown) soup and sesame bread.... The rice tasted old, the soup not very good at all but I must say the bread was amazing very fresh and tasty.... I was also disappointed that they dont offer a childrens menu at all and my little ones wouldnt eat the food we got for them so I would advise if you have little children who dont eat this kind of food then dont go with them..... again the Mongolian BBQ we used to go to had several other options for children so I just assumed that this place would to.... umm I learnt my lesson on that one!!! I wouldnt go back here there are to many other great places on Broadway that I just wouldnt feel the need to have to!!
(2)Angelina M.
I was so excited for mongolian barbeque because I had it for the first time in california and I loved it. This just wasn't as good and I was a bit dissapointed. I may go back because it's a nice change of pace, but I'm not sure.
(3)Lenny G.
Was very good. I usually go to the mall the get it but. But this place was good also. Very clean. Food was good. Free soup and flat bread.
(4)Josh P.
Great stir fry options and nice big bowls. Really like the warm sesame bread that comes with every meal. Egg drop soup is really good too.
(5)Rachel L.
I love the food at CI Chu's! It's a self serve mongolian barbeque with a ton of selection. I also love their selection of beer. I'm on the paleo diet, so I love that I can just choose vegetables and meat. My only suggestion is they not put corn in their egg drop soup. That's gross.
(5)Eleana H.
This place is legit... legitly bad.. I have definitely experienced better. The veggies in the line up were kinda "stale" looking (the chopped veggie ends were dried out), and although I only added one spoonful of chili oil+ 2 spoonfuls of teriyaki sauce my noodles were extremely oily. I didn't even end up finishing my food because I was kinda grossed out. The "egg drop" soup with canned corn kinda turned me off as well.. I wont be back ever again.
(2)J. Y.
Some of the reviews here complain about quality going down over time. I disagree. We were there 11/28/14, and it was the best we've ever had there. Maybe they have been reading Yelp and accepting constructive criticism. I noticed some new items, and some details done a little differently and better than in the past. Service has always been excellent. I have never been disappointed. They are probably my favorite dining experience in Tucson.
(5)Amir A.
I think that the main problem I had with this place was that I came in with high expectations from other self-serve Mongolian BBQ places. Comparing this place to others, like Genghis Grill (which is now closed) is comparing night and day. Let me explain: The sauce selection is miserable, with little explanation as to the actual flavors. Your options of actual sauces are "Chef's sauce", teriyaki, Soy, and Chile, with options of cooking wine, sugar water, ginger in water, and garlic in water as other "sauces". Comparing this to other places is an issue, with others often having 2x the sauces, including descriptions as to the types of meat they go with best and a description of their flavors. They have the space for 2x the sauces by simply removing duplicates. The meats were the worst part, by far. The meats were frozen-solid, super thin slices that had little to no flavor or texture. I don't know how they could, given the meats come in almost-paper-thin slices. Chicken and beef end up tasting basically the same, and again, there's no marinade or real options on any of them. The "seafood" was an assorted seafood menagerie that looked honestly dangerous to eat. The texture of the cooked meats varied from powdery when cut across the grain to stringy when cut with. The vegetables also presented a problem, in particular with cooking them. I'm not sure if the issue is with the cooking process or the cooks themselves, but it seemed that meat was the main choosing factor for cooking time. Putting spinach and broccoli in my food was a mistake - the spinach came out so wilted that it seemed like small dark-green balls, while the broccoli was raw for the most part, and cold in others. This is just one example; my girlfriend's mushrooms also came out raw. I think offering better meats would likely alleviate this issue. The soups were another problem, but I can only review the egg flower soup - it was bad. Really bad. The crappiest hole-in-the-wall Chinese place will make better soup. Bland, flavorless, and boring. Lastly, the price was an issue. If you come in any time after 4:00 PM, you're immediately priced for All-you-can-eat, whether you want it or not. At 11.99 for an exponentially mediocre (bordering on bad) stir-fry bowl, this is a bad deal. If you go in on a low-carb diet and just want large amounts of vegetables and meat, I guess this isn't the worst option if you don't care about flavor or texture. It's just kind of ridiculous that no one tells you that it'll be all you can eat. The only sign we saw was on our second way through, and the sign was very small on the corner of the glass. There was another sign at our table, but it doesn't exactly help given you get seated after your food is paid for. If the food was really good, maybe 11.99 would be worth it, but no matter how much food I can get, I still don't think I'll ever go back here again unless they made a major change.
(2)Tammara W.
I love this place! When we first started going I had no idea how to spice up my veggies and meats, but I finally I decided not to be such a hardhead and use the sauce tips they have available. I can make an awesome lo carb bowl everytime now and I can't get enough! Mongolian BBQ is the best and I appreciate their meats are frozen so I don't have to worry about room temperature meats like some of the other places I've gone to. I actually crave eating here. You have to get there early if you show up for lunch. They get busy very fast!
(4)Dalio D.
One of my fav lunch places!! Cheap n delicious! You basically make ur own bowl with a different assortment of vegetables, chicken, beef, pork n some times when available, lamb. You season it with traditional asian seasonings n they cook it for you. Si if its nasty, u cant cook lol the sesame bread is delicious!! N they have the best brown rice I ever had!
(5)Karen M.
While this is nowhere near as good as tableside teppan cooking, CI Chu's still manages to deliver tasty fresh food - for about 1/3 the price of teppan. Most of the ingredients are what I would consider healthy and since you're choosing your own, you can avoid anything that doesn't strike your fancy. The ambience is typical mid-range Chinese restaurant, perhaps somewhat dark, nothing too fancy but not a cafeteria, either. Comfortable. I chose a "seafood" themed meal, it was a somewhat dubious mix of unidentifiable bits and pieces, but tasty. Hubby's thin shaved beef was a safer and delicious choice. (You can choose any combination you wish, it's set out like a salad bar. I agree with other diners who suggested starting with the proteins, it's easy to fill up that bowl before you ever get there.) If there was a downside, it's that they dump your selections out on a flat wok and cook them all together. The finished vegetables were a bit soggy and overdone by the time the meat was cooked. Next time I might just take a second bowl of uncooked vegs back to my table. Or perhaps if I took up vegetables separately I could ask for less cooking time. And, um ... as far as I know, there isn't an all-you-can-eat restaurant in the country that gives out to-go boxes. This doesn't seem like a reasonable criticism to me. Update: Went back 5.21.14, same basic review but cooked better this time, not soggy. I'd give 3.5 stars if I could.
(3)Tamica S.
I went to C.I.'s last weekend after a long morning of Christmas shopping. My boyfriend is a vegetarian so eating out is very hard for us so when we stumbled across this place I thought we'd found a keeper. I thought that the price was pretty okay for what you get. We both did the one bowl option and it was like $8. I loaded up and followed one of the recipes for mixing the sauces. Our food was done in no time and it was pretty good. Just as my boyfriend was giving me a hard time for always going to high priced fancy places when we got a good meal for $8 my stomach issues started. Shortly after we got home his did too. When I talked about my experience at work the next Monday two people there said that they have the same issue. We decided that it works well as a diet option as everything exits your body fairly soon after eating it. But as a restaurant, I wouldn't recommend it.
(3)Rachael W.
One of the most interesting aspects of this place is that you get to build your own sauce by mixing ingredients like garlic, sesame, sugar water, and ginger. Fun--though there's definitely a margin for error if you make something that isn't as tasty. Mix wisely, people. Your meal comes with warm sesame bread, rice, and soup, which is a nice touch, as well. I liked the vegetable soup especially well. I wasn't wow-ed, especially because I had a bit of a strange aftertaste from my meal, but this place is solid.
(3)Jess S.
I'm not sure if we'll go back, but I'm glad we tried it. In addition to the bowl, the price includes soup, sesame bread and rice. The bowl was a decent size.
(3)Aishan S.
I probably can't get a good recipe for the sauces to make a decent bowl here. This restaurant is a bit pricey for the tastes they offer. I did like the bread, but with Mongolian BBQ, it's hit or miss... and this was a bit of a miss.
(3)Elyse P.
Holy wow. I don't know what magic I happened to put in my bowl, but the end result was SO good. I think there was a mix of bean sprouts, banana peppers (omg, I love banana peppers!), edemame, water chestnuts, beef, a variety of veggies, and then the spicy sauce. Loved the recipe cards to help make the sauce - I'm no chef, so trying to determine how to make a sauce would not have gone well. The place was busy, but the line move quickly and we had no problem getting a table. The soup and sesame bread were nice touches. And I left comfortably full with leftovers. Can't wait to go back. Hoping my bowl of amazingness wasn't a fluke!
(4)Shawna H.
Good food and fun for kids, a little expensive if you go after 5:00, recommend for a healthy lunch!
(4)Justin B.
Yet another tucson trip (4th visit here go work ) and yet another happy customer.. I dont know why maybe its my lack of experience of mongollian grills but LOVE this place and the staff is always friendly ..
(5)Adam F.
The description for the four stars hits the spot: Yay! I'm a fan. Located in the unique shopping center that is essentially on the southwest corner of Broadway Blvd and Swan Road, C.I. Chu's Mongolian Barbeque offers a unique take different than most places in Tucson. At lunch you have the option of paying just for one trip, but for dinner hours the only option is the unlimited one. That is fine by me because my taste buds crave the multiple trips. The prices are a little high, but it is well worth it. Like the other reviewers described, you get a bowl and make put whatever you want in it. The combination possibilities appear limitless with so many choices! I The best part is standing there watching them cook your food. Everything I have tried is delicious, from the noodles to the seafood; the vegetables to the sauces. Accompanying your dinner is complimentary miso soup, rice, and bread. One can also purchase dessert if you need to satisfy that sweet tooth. From the cashiers to the cooks, service here was great. Friendly and informative. If you are looking to try something new and/or desire a dining experience that combines fresh food with fun, this is a place you must try!
(4)Matt P.
One star may seem harsh, the food was mediocre at best and the service/restaurant policies are horrendous. I have eaten here for lunch several times over the years but tonight's meal will be my last. I arrived around 7 pm, it's a make up your bowl and we cook it concept. A one time trip to the ingredient bar is $9 while a All-You-Can eat option is $13. Signage at the buffet is small print and no one greets you at the door to explain the "rules". I filled my bowl headed to the register and I said I just wanted one bowl. The almost impossible to hear cashier/waitress said only the all you can eat option is available after 4pm. I told her I don't want that and she said she'd give me a box for my second bowl. $14.50 with no drink plus they wanted a tip. After I ate my first bowl, I had my second bowl made and had a few bites. I was ready for my box. The other almost silent waitress, suddenly very audible, said I couldn't have one it was against policy. I told her what the other girl said and she told me that was "impossible" because the girl knew better and had worked there a very long time. I went to the register to confront the girl who denied she made me that offer. I told her she lied with my voice raised a bit and the dominant waitress handed me the smallest box possible. I packed my bowl and left. Ironically, I even tipped them, a self service restaurant.
(1)Michelle A.
I have eaten here a few times; after today I will never return! The food is expensive, for two people at lunch...it was $30 before the tip. We each only had one bowl. I have never spent that much on a lunch without having leftovers. I always have a lingering bad taste in my mouth after leaving there. I have tried different combinations...figuring that it was something I was doing. Same nasty taste everytime. Staff are usually polite, but today the female there was a witch! I will not be recommending them to anyone and will definitely not eat there again.
(2)Alissa P.
Come hungry..lots to choose from. 2 types of noodles..vast array of veggies...meats..notes to tell you how to find your perfect sauce...only issue with this buffet...utensils need to be constantly wiped down...they are sticky...you get bread and soup.....great place
(5)Kathy N.
Go ahead, rub my belly for good luck, wealth and prosperity because I walked out of C.I. Chu's Mongolian Barbeque like a fat little Buddah. I love a good Mongolian BBQ place and C.I. Chu's is pretty solid. Walked in for lunch and L & I were immediately greeted by a very friendly woman who asked if we'd been there before. We replied in the negative and quickly got the run down on how our experience would flow. Grabbed our bowls and stepped up to the line. Loved the assortment of vegetables but would have enjoyed a few more Asian inspired items like snow peas, baby corn, radish, water chestnuts and fresh chilies. The meats (chicken, beef & pork) weren't fatty and were thinly sliced. A sea food option is on the table as well but I didn't see what was in it. I liked that there were a couple of sauce recipes and I decided to try one - Spicy Szechuan. Tasty however I made it more to my liking with an extra scoop of hot chile oil and added plenty of ginger. Our meals were served with soup, rice and sesame bread. I went with the hot and sour soup and while it was tasty, it could have had more heat and sour. Service is very friendly and helpful and I'd definitely come back when I want a LOT of food. So much food that Buddah now has dinner for tonight!
(4)Pablo H.
Well, my 1 star review is not for the food, I've been eating here for years and have always been pleased with my meal. My 1 star is for my most recent dining experience. I, as well as many people I'm sure, like to enjoy a peaceful meal when dining out. On my visit today however, I was finding it difficult to enjoy my much looked forward to break from my hectic schedule. Another diner across the room was on his blue tooth hands free mobile apparatus, engaged in an apparent argument of some type. He was so loud, his voice carried over the voices of the other diners closer to me. I've always found it to be very annoying when in a restaurant, or any public place for that matter, to be subjected to listening to another persons phone conversation. As I'm sure you all have observed yourself, someone on a cell phone is talking much louder than if they were talking to someone standing next to them in the same room. When exposed to rudely loud people on their cell phones, I'm thinking "I wish you would shut the hell up" or "Why don't you take that conversation outside". Now here's where it gets interesting... The diner on his phone gets up to refill his drink, I'm thinking "God I hope he's finished with his meal and is soon leaving" Well, he was finished with his meal, and left the dining area, but didn't exit out the door. He went back behind the counter to continue working. Now, I don't know who he is, and I don't care. He could be the owner, and I don't care. He could be the manager, and I don't care. He could be an employee, and I don't care. Again, I don't care who he was. What I do care about is..."ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? SITTING THERE CARRYING ON WITH THAT LOUD CONVERSATION, PREVENTING YOUR CUSTOMERS FROM ENJOYING THEIR MEAL IN PEACE??? WHAT A RUDE SELFISH INCONSIDERATE PERSON YOU ARE"!!! Kindest Regards!
(1)Rachel R.
Easy place to get to with how ever you want you dinner to be. Fill up a bowl with noddles, veggies, meat and pour on the sauces you want, then take it up to the "grill" and they cook it for you. In no time you have your food to enjoy. I reacently got take away and enjoyed it very much. I did not like the egg drop soup. It was very bland and I never do like it with corn. Other than that it was a nice place to go.
(4)Matthew J.
In a pinch this place will work to fix your need a for a quick Mongolian bowl. Although the meat selection was a little slim :(
(3)Tia H.
My first experience with Mongolian BBQ was in downtown Denver at a place called BD's, which I {heart}...like a lot! So when I came across CI's in Tucson I got all happy on myself. Went in a saw a familiar set up. They had a variety of meats and veggies to choose from, as well as sauces. But that is pretty much where the similarities started and stopped. While the service were was decent, I was underwhelmed with the food. I saw several meats that were frozen and some of the veggies were not fresh and crisp. The sauces didn't have the depth of flavor I was used to at BD's. Also, I was disappointed that they would not let you put your noodles in a separate bowl. They charged me extra for the noodles. Which is not a biggie, just not something I was prepared for or accustomed to. If you like Mongolian, give it a try. Just don't go in with super high expectations. I am glad I went but I don't have any desire to go back.
(3)Jordan B.
Absolutely, positively, the best mongolian place ive ever eaten at- and i hit one per week, on average. As a bigger guy who needs huge portions, this place was incredible..
(5)Christine L.
I enjoy this place a lot!!! Especially on days where I am starving because I can just get their all you can eat and be full after the first bowl, but I still go up for seconds since I paid for it. I'm giving this place 4/5 stars because when I was there, I SPECIFICALLY asked them to not cook my food with one of my friend's food because she had mushrooms in hers and I'm highly allergic to them. Which the chef did not even bother to cook my separately. When I received my food, there were mushrooms inside my bowl when there shouldn't be any at all. They also have a really rude waitress there. Well she works more of the cash register, but she was giving us attitudes because we were taking our time to decide which soup and rice to take. We spent about a minute to decide and she was rushing us to hurry when there wasn't even a line. But other than those 2 things, I'm happy with this place and the food!!
(4)Ambrosia R.
My husband and I tried this place on a whim when we discovered our original destination (a nearby Mexican restaurant) to be closed. On the whole, it was a positive experience. The restaurant was clean, the staff cheerful, the food fresh (always important with Mongolian BBQ-style places) and quite tasty. The hot & sour soup was a little skimpy on the "hot" part, but a bit of the provided sriracha sauce fixed that right up. Also, they had lamb meat available, which is a big plus in my book. Normally they'd have earned themselves a solid four stars, but unfortunately, the value for our money just wasn't up to par. Dinner runs $11 a person, which with tax and gratuity came out to $30 for the two of us - for that price, the experience was a tad underwhelming (I'd expect at least table service, rather than the cafeteria-style checkout line). However, dinner is all-you-can-eat, so for people who eat a lot in one sitting, $11 for an endless bowl might represent an excellent value. I would definitely recommend this place to someone very hungry who enjoys high-quality food. But since I can't even finish one bowl in a sitting, and take-out boxes aren't allowed, it didn't feel worth the money to me.
(3)Kelly B.
I love eating the food here! It's fresh and they cook it right in front of you!!
(5)Joe N.
I'm not sure what some of my fellow yelpers are looking for in a mongolian BBQ. I've yet to visit one that didn't have all of the ingredients out for you to fill a bowl with and bring to the cook to serve you. That's the point of such a place. You fill your bowl up with the veggies, fruit, meat and sauces that you enjoy then let the guy with the giant chop sticks cook it for you. I love this place and have been here many times. I like the endless combinations, healhty food and tasty sauces. The sauces are "watered down" to help it permeate through all of the food. Just add an extra scoop of some of them to get stronger flavors. It's tasty. They also give you sesame bread, white or brown rice and a choice of two soups. This is basic fare and good. Their iced teas are pretty good as well and they have some beers including a couple imports. The only complaint I have is that it is a bit overpriced given the cafeteria style of it. I'd charge closer to 8 per person for all you can eat. Other than that, its a nice, healthy place to eat.
(4)Jennifer W.
I am a huge fan of Mongolian BBQ, but this place was not for me. The food looked and tasted old and some of the meat on the buffet line was frozen. I didn't finish my bowl and left hungry. I'd never go back.
(1)Julia R.
This is a great place for a unique, custom lunch. My friends who are normally ambivalent about Asian food in general really like this place, since you can put together whatever you like and skip the stuff you're not a fan of. The veggie and meat selection is pretty good, they have all the usual ingredients for Mongolian BBQ. My only quibble is that the sauce selection is a bit of a crapshoot; with so many sauces, you never quite know what you're going to end up with, even if you pick flavors you think you'd like. Even if you fail, though, there's plenty of Rooster Sauce to help pick things up. Even the "small" size bowl is a huge portion, and I almost always end up taking half of the food home for lunch the next day. I can't possibly imagine tucking away at the "all you can eat" special! For a reasonable price for a sit-down place, it makes a great stop for a weekend lunch when you're out and about, especially if you're tired of regular take-out fare.
(3)Danny S.
I went here for my first time today. My first thought when I saw all the ingredients laid out was, "What does this have to do with Mongolia?" As far as I know, Mongolian cuisine is traditionally centered around meat, dairy, and potatoes. The food on offer at C.I. Chu's seemed more in line with American Chinese offerings, perhaps with a leaning towards Vietnamese. And for most people, that's probably okay, because the fat-intensive meals traditional to Mongolian cuisine would probably be relatively unappealing, as would some of the cooking techniques. Anyone up for meat and vegetables cooked in the chest cavity of a goat, with a side of deep fried dumplings? Didn't think so (and if you are, then we should hang out). But even though I know that no one but me wants REAL Mongolian food, I still felt a little cheated! I really liked being able to choose my own ingredients, though I suspect that if I didn't cook this kind of food myself, it might be more imposing. They had a lot of choices of cooking liquids, including a chef's sauce, sugar water, cooking wine, and some other stuff. They had some weird minced garlic and ginger in what looked like that juice that comes in the jar when you buy minced garlic that way -- weird but okay. To be honest, I don't think I got the formula quite right (either that, or the Chef's sauce was just kind of lame). So watch out for that. On the other hand, the service was really good -- both of the employees with whom I interacted were incredibly friendly and helpful. They offer you a choice of soup and some sesame bread with every meal, and while the soup was pretty underwhelming, I thought the bread was good. And ultimately, the stir fry was pretty good too (imperfect cooking liquid mixture notwithstanding). My friends seemed to enjoy their meals as well, including a girl who insisted that she wasn't that hungry before we got to the restaurant but finished everything on her plate. One warning I'd offer anyone planning to go there: They give you a choice between one bowl of stir-fry and all-you-can-eat, and the latter is only a little more expensive. In my opinion, the one-bowl option is overpriced considering what it is, and I'd probably go somewhere else rather than come back for that. But given how small of an increase in price gets you the all-you-can-eat option, it seems to me that they're actually offering a pretty good deal on that. So show up hungry! I'm giving this only two stars because I honestly didn't think it was remarkable, and given all the other options in Tucson, I probably wouldn't actively recommend that someone come here. But I wouldn't recommend that someone NOT come either. I'm suspecting that I'll eventually end up going back and trying the all-you-can-eat option; I'll revise my review when that happens. And I'll also try to get the cooking liquid thing right while I'm there -- I'll post the resulting recipe here if I succeed.
(2)Justin D.
Typical Mongolian style restaurant with lots of options and a fun twist on dining.
(3)Andrea G.
The better of Tucson's Mongolian BBQ offerings.
(4)Teddy S.
Best Mongolian BBQ, food/taste/friendliness of staff/cost, PERIOD. The food selection along with the sauces were *perfect*. This place was an hour away from where I stayed in AZ for 4 months, but I needed to go here every chance I got!
(5)Matt D.
I'm a fan of this place because I like to play this game where you pile your raw food as high as humanly possible in the little bowl. There's a good variety of veggies and noodles to place in your bowl. I'd probably prefer the meat to not be frozen, but it seems easier to handle that way. Make sure you follow the posted recipes for the sauce otherwise you're asking for a disaster. You get a bowl, a cup of soup, a side of rice, and piece of this bread I've never had before that's really, really good. The rice is consistently dry, but there's something about that hot, steaming bowl of Mongolian yummyness that makes me a fan of this place. It's a bit expensive, especially if you go for the all-you-can-eat. I would give this place 3.5 stars, so I'm roundin' up.
(4)princessaja g.
I never had Mongolian BBQ before till i came to this spot. I loved it . You walk up and fill your bowl with as much stuff as you want, meat and all and then you hand it to the chef and let him do his magic. Their sesame bread is sooo good I always get an extra piece. " A Must Try"
(4)Travis T.
Decent Mongolian barebecue. I've had much better. The "seafood" is a joke. Only 4 meats to choose from and they are frozen, not fresh. No seasonings to mix in. Sauces looked water down. Food was good, but could have had much more flavor with better sauces and some seasoning.
(3)Jennifer S.
My first experience with Mongolian BBQ was in Westwood, CA -- home of the UCLA Bruins. I loved it. Then the versions at the mall food courts popped up in CA, and it was decent. CI Chu's is great! Cleaner than the one in Westwood. More selection than any of the others I've been to. I love having tofu as an option, even though I'm not a vegetarian. I love the soup and the bread that come as part of the meal. It's never been crowded when I've been there. (By the way, I prefer the one on Broadway to the one on Tanque Verde, service-wise. The food is just as good.) The only downside is that it is a tad pricey -- I only go when I'm totally starving, since you can't (usually?) take doggy bags.
(4)Steve Z.
While something of a "typical" Mongolian barbeque, the ingredients offered seemed rather low end, particularly the sauces and flavorings. The owners here might want to visit the Impress Hot Pot over on First Avenue for a sampling of higher quality self-serve sauces and flavorings. The service here w particularly good and attentive, with nice and peppery hot and sour soup and a yummy flat bread.
(2)Matt P.
Selection compared to BD's in Denver is horrible. Meat is frozen then sliced. Seafood is pretty much disgusting. Sauces taste the same and are all plain. Soup doesn't taste authentic. The list goes on and on. Service was always good and the bread is descent thats about it.
(1)Sean O.
I wrote a scathing review for the wrong Mongolian BBQ restaurant. I apologize.
(5)Scott P.
Pretty good and fun getting to pick your own makings. The Stir fry is fair but the bread and tea is great. Good for groups with picky eaters as they can pick their own ingredients. Service was pretty good and was friendly. Price is decent. Give it try for a fun relaxing place to eat. I will be back.
(3)Tiffany T.
mongolian bbq is the bomb. so good such a good deal.
(5)Andrew S.
Way too expensive, now I might have a bias being an avid fan of YC's Mongolian in Phoenix, but it's just better in so many ways. The bowls here are much smaller and the price is much higher, now granted you get all you can eat here, I'd still like to see a lower price. And with all that food I really don't need a side of rice and soup, make them optional. Now the food was pretty tasty, wish they had more sauce options, but still good and cooked nicely as you wait. I'd go back to pig out with some buddies but probably wouldn't take a date or my parents. We were the only people in here!
(2)Clinton T.
Good chance I got food poisoning here and spent 30 min in the worst bathroom later that night because of it. Eat at your own risk...tasted good on the way in...you know the rest.
(1)Kevin L.
I have visit this location 4 times so far, all during business trips to Tucson. The selection for food is just ok. However, their food are usually fairly fresh and the price is reasonable. (around $10 per person for AYCE). One draw back is the speed of service. During rush hour, it is a good idea to give the chief your next plate before you finish your first one because it can take upto 25 minutes for them to cook the meal for you.
(3)Anthony G.
I was skeptical about there being a good Mongolian barbeque place in Tucson but when I ate there the food tasted great. It costs $8.99 for a bowl up until 4 pm where from then on you can only get the all you can eat option which is around 11-12 bucks. It provides the typical things you see in a mongolian barbeque, beef pork noodles and a ton of other things as well as sauce combinations. With your bowl you get this bread that comes with it as well as soup. The restaurant also offers free refills if you choose to buy a drink. The service is pretty decent, too. Overall this is a good resteraunt and I would recommend anyone who has never tried it to give it a try, it's a unique experience.
(4)Adam F.
The description for the four stars hits the spot: Yay! I'm a fan. Located in the unique shopping center that is essentially on the southwest corner of Broadway Blvd and Swan Road, C.I. Chu's Mongolian Barbeque offers a unique take different than most places in Tucson. At lunch you have the option of paying just for one trip, but for dinner hours the only option is the unlimited one. That is fine by me because my taste buds crave the multiple trips. The prices are a little high, but it is well worth it. Like the other reviewers described, you get a bowl and make put whatever you want in it. The combination possibilities appear limitless with so many choices! I The best part is standing there watching them cook your food. Everything I have tried is delicious, from the noodles to the seafood; the vegetables to the sauces. Accompanying your dinner is complimentary miso soup, rice, and bread. One can also purchase dessert if you need to satisfy that sweet tooth. From the cashiers to the cooks, service here was great. Friendly and informative. If you are looking to try something new and/or desire a dining experience that combines fresh food with fun, this is a place you must try!
(4)Matt P.
One star may seem harsh, the food was mediocre at best and the service/restaurant policies are horrendous. I have eaten here for lunch several times over the years but tonight's meal will be my last. I arrived around 7 pm, it's a make up your bowl and we cook it concept. A one time trip to the ingredient bar is $9 while a All-You-Can eat option is $13. Signage at the buffet is small print and no one greets you at the door to explain the "rules". I filled my bowl headed to the register and I said I just wanted one bowl. The almost impossible to hear cashier/waitress said only the all you can eat option is available after 4pm. I told her I don't want that and she said she'd give me a box for my second bowl. $14.50 with no drink plus they wanted a tip. After I ate my first bowl, I had my second bowl made and had a few bites. I was ready for my box. The other almost silent waitress, suddenly very audible, said I couldn't have one it was against policy. I told her what the other girl said and she told me that was "impossible" because the girl knew better and had worked there a very long time. I went to the register to confront the girl who denied she made me that offer. I told her she lied with my voice raised a bit and the dominant waitress handed me the smallest box possible. I packed my bowl and left. Ironically, I even tipped them, a self service restaurant.
(1)Michelle A.
I have eaten here a few times; after today I will never return! The food is expensive, for two people at lunch...it was $30 before the tip. We each only had one bowl. I have never spent that much on a lunch without having leftovers. I always have a lingering bad taste in my mouth after leaving there. I have tried different combinations...figuring that it was something I was doing. Same nasty taste everytime. Staff are usually polite, but today the female there was a witch! I will not be recommending them to anyone and will definitely not eat there again.
(2)Ayla R.
I am a sucker for Mongolian BBQ and since I was on this side of town and had a long lunch, I popped into this gem. The selections of veggies while you built your bowl were great. Good variety and very fresh. Their sauces were pretty basic, but I am not a sauce girl, so that was fine by me! You get a choice of rice, soup and a slice of their sesame bread. I passed on the bread, but enjoyed a cup of their Zen Garden Vegetarian Soup. It was simple, but I was happy that there was was a veg option. The price is pretty average for a restaurant like this. Some may say $10 is a pricey lunch, but for a healthy, customizable lunch I see a bargain.
(5)Vanessa T.
I love this place! They are always very nice and I love the food. The vegetable soup is really good. I've never had a problem with them giving me a to go box either which I see they say they don't do. Don't even not give me a to go box, I will never come back
(5)Alissa P.
Come hungry..lots to choose from. 2 types of noodles..vast array of veggies...meats..notes to tell you how to find your perfect sauce...only issue with this buffet...utensils need to be constantly wiped down...they are sticky...you get bread and soup.....great place
(5)Kathy N.
Go ahead, rub my belly for good luck, wealth and prosperity because I walked out of C.I. Chu's Mongolian Barbeque like a fat little Buddah. I love a good Mongolian BBQ place and C.I. Chu's is pretty solid. Walked in for lunch and L & I were immediately greeted by a very friendly woman who asked if we'd been there before. We replied in the negative and quickly got the run down on how our experience would flow. Grabbed our bowls and stepped up to the line. Loved the assortment of vegetables but would have enjoyed a few more Asian inspired items like snow peas, baby corn, radish, water chestnuts and fresh chilies. The meats (chicken, beef & pork) weren't fatty and were thinly sliced. A sea food option is on the table as well but I didn't see what was in it. I liked that there were a couple of sauce recipes and I decided to try one - Spicy Szechuan. Tasty however I made it more to my liking with an extra scoop of hot chile oil and added plenty of ginger. Our meals were served with soup, rice and sesame bread. I went with the hot and sour soup and while it was tasty, it could have had more heat and sour. Service is very friendly and helpful and I'd definitely come back when I want a LOT of food. So much food that Buddah now has dinner for tonight!
(4)Steve S.
Great selection for bowls, wish there were some instructions on what to do and where to go. The sesame bread was good, but the egg drop soup leaves something to be desired. Will definitely be back to try some other dishes and give then another try.
(4)Jackie V.
Seriously found my new favorite asian restaurant! :) Its a self serve Mongolian bbq, so you build your own bowl of noodles, veggies, meats and sauces. Everything was so fresh and delicious. For $11.99 you get all you can eat. You also get a choice of different soups and brown or white rice, but the best side was the sesame bread. It was so light and crispy. The staff was super friendly and checked on us constantly throughout our meal to make sure we had everything we needed. Will definitely be back soon!
(5)Jeff C.
I had a mixed opinion of this place. The food ingredients included a great selection of meats and vegetables. One of the noodle choices with whole wheat which was unique and something I have not seen and other places like this. I was pretty disappointed by the sauce choices compared to other places like this. I've seen a much better variety of sauce choices elsewhere and there are no dry spices at all. The one thing that I missed at the food bar compared to other places was sliced potatoes.
(3)Torrey B.
One of the many places I love going to eat. The food is filling and is just to your specifications. The obvious problems of sauce mixes and such as mentioned in other reviews are negligible when you find your dream mix. Was planning on giving a higher review until I watched an employee remove his shoes and stand on a table in the corner while hanging a large fan from the ceiling. That's a little eh when it is a surface that's going to have food on it
(3)Jevon C.
Enjoyed the setup and food. Very tasty but a little over priced for me. I liked the fact they keep a water jug at the table for you. I don't like the fact they have a tip jar at the register. All that person did was put rice and soup in a bowl for you.
(4)Nancy S.
This is the first low rating I have given and I have been writing reviews for some time. I met a dear friend for dinner tonight and was looking forward to a great evening. The food was okay but I felt for the quality it was very overpriced. The real reason for the low rating was the way I was treated. The woman who served me was rude and I even caught her in a lie. All I can say is I will never return! I will go to the many wonderful places in Tucson that serve amazing food and treat me like a customer.
(1)Jason N.
Another restaurant that would have been a borderline five-star review just a couple of years ago, C.I. Chu's Mongolian Barbeque is a place that still serves edible Mongolian cuisine (at times), but at a fraction of the quality it used to provide. I have tried a multitude of Mongolian BBQ joints in my lifetime and this one is merely passable. You are permitted to assemble your own dish before they BBQ it. You can choose any of the available ingredients and pile them on as needed. You have to be cautious, however, as there are instances where they do not allow you to take any food home, even if you avoid all-you-can-eat. So, if you're famished, go bonkers. Pile on the veggies, the pork, the chicken, the beef. The sauces they provide are pretty ace as well. Nevertheless, once your food is consummated, it is simply nothing more than passable. There have been moments where it has been exquisite, but over the previous year or two the food quality has seemingly deteriorated. not than it's inedible, but it no longer inspires multiple future trips. The service is good. There is beer. It's clean. But something about the completed product leaves much to be desired. Perhaps I have just been unlucky, but C.I. Chu's hasn't been the same to me in eons.
(3)Sam B.
The place was clean. We got there at 11:15 am on a Sunday and they hadn't opened the doors yet. Yes, we were "those"people. The food was great and fast- but that's what I'd expect when me and the people I came with are the only people in there. The vegetable choices were fresh and there was a nice variety. It would be nice if they had more than two options for noodles.
(4)Josh P.
Great stir fry options and nice big bowls. Really like the warm sesame bread that comes with every meal. Egg drop soup is really good too.
(5)Rachel L.
I love the food at CI Chu's! It's a self serve mongolian barbeque with a ton of selection. I also love their selection of beer. I'm on the paleo diet, so I love that I can just choose vegetables and meat. My only suggestion is they not put corn in their egg drop soup. That's gross.
(5)Eleana H.
This place is legit... legitly bad.. I have definitely experienced better. The veggies in the line up were kinda "stale" looking (the chopped veggie ends were dried out), and although I only added one spoonful of chili oil+ 2 spoonfuls of teriyaki sauce my noodles were extremely oily. I didn't even end up finishing my food because I was kinda grossed out. The "egg drop" soup with canned corn kinda turned me off as well.. I wont be back ever again.
(2)J. Y.
Some of the reviews here complain about quality going down over time. I disagree. We were there 11/28/14, and it was the best we've ever had there. Maybe they have been reading Yelp and accepting constructive criticism. I noticed some new items, and some details done a little differently and better than in the past. Service has always been excellent. I have never been disappointed. They are probably my favorite dining experience in Tucson.
(5)Jason P.
This is the best Mongolian Barbecue in Tucson! The only reason for 4 stars was because it took the cook a while to cook our meal. This restaurant reminds me of my childhood in Phoenix. They offer an all-you-can eat dinner version, as well as a standard one-size-one-bowl option at lunch. The price is very reasonable, and the sesame bread is amazing! They let you create your own sauce with some staples (garlic, fish sauce, soy sauce, etcetera) and offer some recipes for classic sauces using they're ingredients. The meats all looked good and sanitary. There's a seafood option, but I haven't tried it. The veggies look fresh and clean.
(4)Kellijae A.
The restaraunt itself is clean, not cluttered and the food quality is good. However... THIS IS A SELF SERVICE PLACE! !! Yes you prepare your food and they cook and deliver to your table. But you get your own silverware and napkins, refill your water and any other drinks ordered and have to practically flag down the waitress to get her to clear your dishes. If that's your thing then eat here. But if you like the kind of place where they will refill your drinks and provide silverware - this isn't it.
(2)A P.
We'd never been here before, had driven past it several times, and decided to try it. We had no idea of the set up... so here's how it goes. When you walk in, you don't sit down. Instead you grab a bowl and put things in it that you want to eat-- this is nice since you get to choose what you want to eat. You mix up the sauces and then give the bowl to the guy at the end of the line who cooks it for you. Then you pay, get rice and bread, and then get to eat the food that you pretty much mixed yourself. Overall we weren't super excited about this. Essentially you're making your own food (but paying full price for it). And ours didn't taste that great because we didn't know how much of the sauce to put in and in what combination. Also all the food gets cooked on the same surface, so if you're vegetarian and the guy in front of you is having beef, the food is getting cooked on the same surface, and everyone's different blend of sauces is all getting kind of mixed up too. In the end our food looked the same--the same shade of brown but with different ingredients so it tasted just a bit different from each other. As far as the taste went, it was okay, not great, since we didn't know what sauces to add or in what proportion. FYI-- I did follow the guidelines on top of the buffet but the taste wasn't that good. Also, it's overpriced. We've paid the same amount before in other restaurants that are full service and that have much better tasting food. If you have to do half the work yourself, I feel the price should be a bit lower. One good thing-- all 3 staff members we interacted with were very polite and helpful, which is definitely good. Overall it was a bit of a let down, but we also didn't know what type of restaurant it was before going, so that was part of the issue too. We might try this place one more time just to see if we have a better experience but we're in no rush to go back.
(2)Zariena D.
We went here as a family and paid $8.99 per bowl during lunch time. The bowls are a reasonable size, but if you have a big appetite I'd recommend the "All you can eat for $11.99" be forewarned though that if you decide to box up your leftovers after 4pm they won't give you a to-go box. They do have organic/whole wheat noodle options (for those trying to get slimmer in '14) and they have a few options of sauces you can create yourself. The sesame bread is delicious and so is their soup. My only gripe is that we walked in like fools not knowing whether to pay first then get our food or vise versa. The hostess had to come to our rescue and tell us what their routine was. They should have signs indicating what to do. We'll be back though!
(4)Alfonso T.
Soup, sesame bread a side of rice and you the cook! Well kinda. You choose the ingredients. My dishes are are ways delicious, but what can I say... I have great taste. I always enjoy coming here. So does my out of town family, it's become somewhat of a tradition when they visit and I don't mind. With a great selection of fresh veggies and meats you always have a different plate. I stick to chicken and steak on the protein side. I always avoid any seafood unless I can dip my toes in the ocean at the same time so I'll leave that seafood adventure to those more daring than I.
(5)Emily S.
omg we all LOVE this place. Every time I come home to Tucson to visit we go here. The food is DELICIOUS and the sesame bread is so fresh. LOVE IT.
(5)Amir A.
I think that the main problem I had with this place was that I came in with high expectations from other self-serve Mongolian BBQ places. Comparing this place to others, like Genghis Grill (which is now closed) is comparing night and day. Let me explain: The sauce selection is miserable, with little explanation as to the actual flavors. Your options of actual sauces are "Chef's sauce", teriyaki, Soy, and Chile, with options of cooking wine, sugar water, ginger in water, and garlic in water as other "sauces". Comparing this to other places is an issue, with others often having 2x the sauces, including descriptions as to the types of meat they go with best and a description of their flavors. They have the space for 2x the sauces by simply removing duplicates. The meats were the worst part, by far. The meats were frozen-solid, super thin slices that had little to no flavor or texture. I don't know how they could, given the meats come in almost-paper-thin slices. Chicken and beef end up tasting basically the same, and again, there's no marinade or real options on any of them. The "seafood" was an assorted seafood menagerie that looked honestly dangerous to eat. The texture of the cooked meats varied from powdery when cut across the grain to stringy when cut with. The vegetables also presented a problem, in particular with cooking them. I'm not sure if the issue is with the cooking process or the cooks themselves, but it seemed that meat was the main choosing factor for cooking time. Putting spinach and broccoli in my food was a mistake - the spinach came out so wilted that it seemed like small dark-green balls, while the broccoli was raw for the most part, and cold in others. This is just one example; my girlfriend's mushrooms also came out raw. I think offering better meats would likely alleviate this issue. The soups were another problem, but I can only review the egg flower soup - it was bad. Really bad. The crappiest hole-in-the-wall Chinese place will make better soup. Bland, flavorless, and boring. Lastly, the price was an issue. If you come in any time after 4:00 PM, you're immediately priced for All-you-can-eat, whether you want it or not. At 11.99 for an exponentially mediocre (bordering on bad) stir-fry bowl, this is a bad deal. If you go in on a low-carb diet and just want large amounts of vegetables and meat, I guess this isn't the worst option if you don't care about flavor or texture. It's just kind of ridiculous that no one tells you that it'll be all you can eat. The only sign we saw was on our second way through, and the sign was very small on the corner of the glass. There was another sign at our table, but it doesn't exactly help given you get seated after your food is paid for. If the food was really good, maybe 11.99 would be worth it, but no matter how much food I can get, I still don't think I'll ever go back here again unless they made a major change.
(2)Tammara W.
I love this place! When we first started going I had no idea how to spice up my veggies and meats, but I finally I decided not to be such a hardhead and use the sauce tips they have available. I can make an awesome lo carb bowl everytime now and I can't get enough! Mongolian BBQ is the best and I appreciate their meats are frozen so I don't have to worry about room temperature meats like some of the other places I've gone to. I actually crave eating here. You have to get there early if you show up for lunch. They get busy very fast!
(4)Tamica S.
I went to C.I.'s last weekend after a long morning of Christmas shopping. My boyfriend is a vegetarian so eating out is very hard for us so when we stumbled across this place I thought we'd found a keeper. I thought that the price was pretty okay for what you get. We both did the one bowl option and it was like $8. I loaded up and followed one of the recipes for mixing the sauces. Our food was done in no time and it was pretty good. Just as my boyfriend was giving me a hard time for always going to high priced fancy places when we got a good meal for $8 my stomach issues started. Shortly after we got home his did too. When I talked about my experience at work the next Monday two people there said that they have the same issue. We decided that it works well as a diet option as everything exits your body fairly soon after eating it. But as a restaurant, I wouldn't recommend it.
(3)Rachael W.
One of the most interesting aspects of this place is that you get to build your own sauce by mixing ingredients like garlic, sesame, sugar water, and ginger. Fun--though there's definitely a margin for error if you make something that isn't as tasty. Mix wisely, people. Your meal comes with warm sesame bread, rice, and soup, which is a nice touch, as well. I liked the vegetable soup especially well. I wasn't wow-ed, especially because I had a bit of a strange aftertaste from my meal, but this place is solid.
(3)Jess S.
I'm not sure if we'll go back, but I'm glad we tried it. In addition to the bowl, the price includes soup, sesame bread and rice. The bowl was a decent size.
(3)Elyse P.
Holy wow. I don't know what magic I happened to put in my bowl, but the end result was SO good. I think there was a mix of bean sprouts, banana peppers (omg, I love banana peppers!), edemame, water chestnuts, beef, a variety of veggies, and then the spicy sauce. Loved the recipe cards to help make the sauce - I'm no chef, so trying to determine how to make a sauce would not have gone well. The place was busy, but the line move quickly and we had no problem getting a table. The soup and sesame bread were nice touches. And I left comfortably full with leftovers. Can't wait to go back. Hoping my bowl of amazingness wasn't a fluke!
(4)Shawna H.
Good food and fun for kids, a little expensive if you go after 5:00, recommend for a healthy lunch!
(4)Justin B.
Yet another tucson trip (4th visit here go work ) and yet another happy customer.. I dont know why maybe its my lack of experience of mongollian grills but LOVE this place and the staff is always friendly ..
(5)Joy P.
I'm giving this place 5 stars because it made me go into a food coma. Their selection is excellent and you can never go wrong on piling up your bowl with all that yummy goodness. Their server is very attentive and made sure your needs are well served. The guy who works the cooking station had some organizational skills and knew exactly which order is which. We'll definitely come back to this place.
(5)Jen L.
I desperately wish there was a location on the north side of town. This is my favorite Mongolian bbq joint in town. There aren't many options, but there are a few things that set C.I. Chu's apart: 1) Bigger bowls. Everyone knows that creating a super stack is part of the fun of Mongolian bbq, but there are some places that have microscopic-sized bowls, making it more of a necessity than a fun challenge. Here, you get a hefty-sized bowl that lets you stuff yourself to your heart's delight. 2) Base ingredients for your sauce. I've been to others where you choose from pre-made sauce mixes and it's not the same. I haven't gone wrong with the sauce recipes at C.I. Chu's and I can adjust as needed... more of this, less of that. There's less mystery about what exactly is going into your stir fry. Tip: Grab your meat FIRST before the veggies to make sure you get a solid amount. It's near the end of the line and if you load up on other stuff beforehand, you'll only end up balancing a few slivers of meat atop your overflowing pile. Meat first, then go back to the beginning for veggies to make for a more balanced mix.
(5)Sarah J.
The food here is delicious and you make your dish to your exact preferences! You can't go wrong. My boyfriend and I love going here because it allows us to eat healthy while eating out. You walk in, grab a bowl, and fill it up from a buffet of choices! Noodles - they even have a wheat option. Vegetables - they have it all. MEAT - don't get too excited and fill up your whole bowl with veggies before you get to the good stuff! They charge the same no matter what's in your bowl so get your meat's worth! I loooove spicy food, too. They have several recipes for the sauce that you can follow. I always do the spicy option and triple the pepper scoops. On top of the yummy meals, they have amazing egg drop soup, rice, and complimentary bread. Oh, and the service is awesome, as well. They bring the food to your table after it's cooked, you're greeting coming in and thanked when leaving, and everyone that works here is very friendly. Just try this place!
(5)Evan B.
When it comes to the world of Mongollian BBQ I think I may be spoiled as YC's was my first and still the best nearly 15 years later. C.I. Chu is all you can eat for dinner and the price is not terrible for a dinner, There are some unique twists, The soup and rice is given from behind the counter, there is a neat sesame flat bread to much on while your food cooks . As for the veggies on the line they were unimpressive Have seen fresher and wider variteies and I did not like the noodle options.
(3)Dalio D.
One of my fav lunch places!! Cheap n delicious! You basically make ur own bowl with a different assortment of vegetables, chicken, beef, pork n some times when available, lamb. You season it with traditional asian seasonings n they cook it for you. Si if its nasty, u cant cook lol the sesame bread is delicious!! N they have the best brown rice I ever had!
(5)Karen M.
While this is nowhere near as good as tableside teppan cooking, CI Chu's still manages to deliver tasty fresh food - for about 1/3 the price of teppan. Most of the ingredients are what I would consider healthy and since you're choosing your own, you can avoid anything that doesn't strike your fancy. The ambience is typical mid-range Chinese restaurant, perhaps somewhat dark, nothing too fancy but not a cafeteria, either. Comfortable. I chose a "seafood" themed meal, it was a somewhat dubious mix of unidentifiable bits and pieces, but tasty. Hubby's thin shaved beef was a safer and delicious choice. (You can choose any combination you wish, it's set out like a salad bar. I agree with other diners who suggested starting with the proteins, it's easy to fill up that bowl before you ever get there.) If there was a downside, it's that they dump your selections out on a flat wok and cook them all together. The finished vegetables were a bit soggy and overdone by the time the meat was cooked. Next time I might just take a second bowl of uncooked vegs back to my table. Or perhaps if I took up vegetables separately I could ask for less cooking time. And, um ... as far as I know, there isn't an all-you-can-eat restaurant in the country that gives out to-go boxes. This doesn't seem like a reasonable criticism to me. Update: Went back 5.21.14, same basic review but cooked better this time, not soggy. I'd give 3.5 stars if I could.
(3)Dirk T.
The menu is straight forward, but it is part of the experience. You get to put together your own bowl the way you want it, including the sauces. They have helpful signs to assist the customers with putting together familiar flavors. You do get a lot of food for your money, so be hungry.
(5)Kelley P.
We love this place and have been coming here for years, but to charge me $30 for one adult and one 11 year old is a little crazy. And no to go box after 4 PM either. Not happy about this. : (
(4)Dee G.
youtube.com/watch?v=jPPh… My vid review link at the above good spot kinda cofusing when u walk throw the door but easy once you get it and they explain to you. you hand pick your own toppings and they cook it for you. you cant go wrong with that. and you also get a side of flat bread, soup, and rice. -Grap
(5)Drea G.
The food is pretty good, and I like that they have the soup, rice, and bread with meal; but it would be nice to have more sauces to choose from. Not the best I've been to, but not disappointing either!
(4)Pablo H.
Well, my 1 star review is not for the food, I've been eating here for years and have always been pleased with my meal. My 1 star is for my most recent dining experience. I, as well as many people I'm sure, like to enjoy a peaceful meal when dining out. On my visit today however, I was finding it difficult to enjoy my much looked forward to break from my hectic schedule. Another diner across the room was on his blue tooth hands free mobile apparatus, engaged in an apparent argument of some type. He was so loud, his voice carried over the voices of the other diners closer to me. I've always found it to be very annoying when in a restaurant, or any public place for that matter, to be subjected to listening to another persons phone conversation. As I'm sure you all have observed yourself, someone on a cell phone is talking much louder than if they were talking to someone standing next to them in the same room. When exposed to rudely loud people on their cell phones, I'm thinking "I wish you would shut the hell up" or "Why don't you take that conversation outside". Now here's where it gets interesting... The diner on his phone gets up to refill his drink, I'm thinking "God I hope he's finished with his meal and is soon leaving" Well, he was finished with his meal, and left the dining area, but didn't exit out the door. He went back behind the counter to continue working. Now, I don't know who he is, and I don't care. He could be the owner, and I don't care. He could be the manager, and I don't care. He could be an employee, and I don't care. Again, I don't care who he was. What I do care about is..."ARE YOU KIDDING ME??? SITTING THERE CARRYING ON WITH THAT LOUD CONVERSATION, PREVENTING YOUR CUSTOMERS FROM ENJOYING THEIR MEAL IN PEACE??? WHAT A RUDE SELFISH INCONSIDERATE PERSON YOU ARE"!!! Kindest Regards!
(1)Aishan S.
I probably can't get a good recipe for the sauces to make a decent bowl here. This restaurant is a bit pricey for the tastes they offer. I did like the bread, but with Mongolian BBQ, it's hit or miss... and this was a bit of a miss.
(3)Amanda P.
Pleasantly surprised by this place. I've never tried a "make your own food" kind of place so it was fun though confusing at first. The waitresses were kind in explaining everything to us. I really like having the options to make your own sauce or use one of their recipies---it's a lot of fun to put things together like that. I sort of feel like a kid doing it and it's enjoyable. Pretty good options but I would like some more veggies. Sesame bread is really, really good. Also, we didn't have trouble with the staff---my mom wanted more teriyaki in her noodles but we only bought one bowl; I asked the girl at the cashier if she could get up and get more teriyaki and she said, "I'll just bring you a little bowl of the actual teriyaki since the kind on the bar is watered down for the sauces." It was very nice of her (though my mom ended up putting too much on her noodles, of course). This place was a lot of fun and I look forward to bringing my family here to have fun playing with our food.
(4)Joanne L.
We went here for the 1st time last week as we got a voucher from resturant.com and thought it would be worth a try. From the moment i stepped inside i knew this wasnt going to be what I was expecting but we decided we were going to give it a try anyway. We were greeted right away and expained the pricing structure u can pay by the bowl or you could do all you can eat... we went with the all you can eat option as it was only slightly more expensive.... service from the start was great I wish I could say the same about the food.... The meat was frozen which put me off right away.. (i am not a bginner to Mongolian BBQ we used to go to 1 in NM that was AMAZING and the meat was always FRESH AND NEVER FROZEN) And none of the vegtables looked overaly fresh and the sauces looked very watery.... we were given complimentry rice (a choice of white or brown) soup and sesame bread.... The rice tasted old, the soup not very good at all but I must say the bread was amazing very fresh and tasty.... I was also disappointed that they dont offer a childrens menu at all and my little ones wouldnt eat the food we got for them so I would advise if you have little children who dont eat this kind of food then dont go with them..... again the Mongolian BBQ we used to go to had several other options for children so I just assumed that this place would to.... umm I learnt my lesson on that one!!! I wouldnt go back here there are to many other great places on Broadway that I just wouldnt feel the need to have to!!
(2)Angelina M.
I was so excited for mongolian barbeque because I had it for the first time in california and I loved it. This just wasn't as good and I was a bit dissapointed. I may go back because it's a nice change of pace, but I'm not sure.
(3)Lenny G.
Was very good. I usually go to the mall the get it but. But this place was good also. Very clean. Food was good. Free soup and flat bread.
(4)Jessica L.
This place was fairly busy when I went to dinner here. This place is alright, I think it's one of the more inexpensive all-you-can-eat Mongolian BBQ places in Tucson. Everything was just meh though. So Meh.
(3)Rachel R.
Easy place to get to with how ever you want you dinner to be. Fill up a bowl with noddles, veggies, meat and pour on the sauces you want, then take it up to the "grill" and they cook it for you. In no time you have your food to enjoy. I reacently got take away and enjoyed it very much. I did not like the egg drop soup. It was very bland and I never do like it with corn. Other than that it was a nice place to go.
(4)Matthew J.
In a pinch this place will work to fix your need a for a quick Mongolian bowl. Although the meat selection was a little slim :(
(3)Christine L.
I enjoy this place a lot!!! Especially on days where I am starving because I can just get their all you can eat and be full after the first bowl, but I still go up for seconds since I paid for it. I'm giving this place 4/5 stars because when I was there, I SPECIFICALLY asked them to not cook my food with one of my friend's food because she had mushrooms in hers and I'm highly allergic to them. Which the chef did not even bother to cook my separately. When I received my food, there were mushrooms inside my bowl when there shouldn't be any at all. They also have a really rude waitress there. Well she works more of the cash register, but she was giving us attitudes because we were taking our time to decide which soup and rice to take. We spent about a minute to decide and she was rushing us to hurry when there wasn't even a line. But other than those 2 things, I'm happy with this place and the food!!
(4)Ambrosia R.
My husband and I tried this place on a whim when we discovered our original destination (a nearby Mexican restaurant) to be closed. On the whole, it was a positive experience. The restaurant was clean, the staff cheerful, the food fresh (always important with Mongolian BBQ-style places) and quite tasty. The hot & sour soup was a little skimpy on the "hot" part, but a bit of the provided sriracha sauce fixed that right up. Also, they had lamb meat available, which is a big plus in my book. Normally they'd have earned themselves a solid four stars, but unfortunately, the value for our money just wasn't up to par. Dinner runs $11 a person, which with tax and gratuity came out to $30 for the two of us - for that price, the experience was a tad underwhelming (I'd expect at least table service, rather than the cafeteria-style checkout line). However, dinner is all-you-can-eat, so for people who eat a lot in one sitting, $11 for an endless bowl might represent an excellent value. I would definitely recommend this place to someone very hungry who enjoys high-quality food. But since I can't even finish one bowl in a sitting, and take-out boxes aren't allowed, it didn't feel worth the money to me.
(3)Tia H.
My first experience with Mongolian BBQ was in downtown Denver at a place called BD's, which I {heart}...like a lot! So when I came across CI's in Tucson I got all happy on myself. Went in a saw a familiar set up. They had a variety of meats and veggies to choose from, as well as sauces. But that is pretty much where the similarities started and stopped. While the service were was decent, I was underwhelmed with the food. I saw several meats that were frozen and some of the veggies were not fresh and crisp. The sauces didn't have the depth of flavor I was used to at BD's. Also, I was disappointed that they would not let you put your noodles in a separate bowl. They charged me extra for the noodles. Which is not a biggie, just not something I was prepared for or accustomed to. If you like Mongolian, give it a try. Just don't go in with super high expectations. I am glad I went but I don't have any desire to go back.
(3)Kelly B.
I love eating the food here! It's fresh and they cook it right in front of you!!
(5)Joe N.
I'm not sure what some of my fellow yelpers are looking for in a mongolian BBQ. I've yet to visit one that didn't have all of the ingredients out for you to fill a bowl with and bring to the cook to serve you. That's the point of such a place. You fill your bowl up with the veggies, fruit, meat and sauces that you enjoy then let the guy with the giant chop sticks cook it for you. I love this place and have been here many times. I like the endless combinations, healhty food and tasty sauces. The sauces are "watered down" to help it permeate through all of the food. Just add an extra scoop of some of them to get stronger flavors. It's tasty. They also give you sesame bread, white or brown rice and a choice of two soups. This is basic fare and good. Their iced teas are pretty good as well and they have some beers including a couple imports. The only complaint I have is that it is a bit overpriced given the cafeteria style of it. I'd charge closer to 8 per person for all you can eat. Other than that, its a nice, healthy place to eat.
(4)Jennifer W.
I am a huge fan of Mongolian BBQ, but this place was not for me. The food looked and tasted old and some of the meat on the buffet line was frozen. I didn't finish my bowl and left hungry. I'd never go back.
(1)Julia R.
This is a great place for a unique, custom lunch. My friends who are normally ambivalent about Asian food in general really like this place, since you can put together whatever you like and skip the stuff you're not a fan of. The veggie and meat selection is pretty good, they have all the usual ingredients for Mongolian BBQ. My only quibble is that the sauce selection is a bit of a crapshoot; with so many sauces, you never quite know what you're going to end up with, even if you pick flavors you think you'd like. Even if you fail, though, there's plenty of Rooster Sauce to help pick things up. Even the "small" size bowl is a huge portion, and I almost always end up taking half of the food home for lunch the next day. I can't possibly imagine tucking away at the "all you can eat" special! For a reasonable price for a sit-down place, it makes a great stop for a weekend lunch when you're out and about, especially if you're tired of regular take-out fare.
(3)Andrea G.
The better of Tucson's Mongolian BBQ offerings.
(4)Jennifer S.
My first experience with Mongolian BBQ was in Westwood, CA -- home of the UCLA Bruins. I loved it. Then the versions at the mall food courts popped up in CA, and it was decent. CI Chu's is great! Cleaner than the one in Westwood. More selection than any of the others I've been to. I love having tofu as an option, even though I'm not a vegetarian. I love the soup and the bread that come as part of the meal. It's never been crowded when I've been there. (By the way, I prefer the one on Broadway to the one on Tanque Verde, service-wise. The food is just as good.) The only downside is that it is a tad pricey -- I only go when I'm totally starving, since you can't (usually?) take doggy bags.
(4)Steve Z.
While something of a "typical" Mongolian barbeque, the ingredients offered seemed rather low end, particularly the sauces and flavorings. The owners here might want to visit the Impress Hot Pot over on First Avenue for a sampling of higher quality self-serve sauces and flavorings. The service here w particularly good and attentive, with nice and peppery hot and sour soup and a yummy flat bread.
(2)Teddy S.
Best Mongolian BBQ, food/taste/friendliness of staff/cost, PERIOD. The food selection along with the sauces were *perfect*. This place was an hour away from where I stayed in AZ for 4 months, but I needed to go here every chance I got!
(5)Jordan B.
Absolutely, positively, the best mongolian place ive ever eaten at- and i hit one per week, on average. As a bigger guy who needs huge portions, this place was incredible..
(5)Andrew S.
Way too expensive, now I might have a bias being an avid fan of YC's Mongolian in Phoenix, but it's just better in so many ways. The bowls here are much smaller and the price is much higher, now granted you get all you can eat here, I'd still like to see a lower price. And with all that food I really don't need a side of rice and soup, make them optional. Now the food was pretty tasty, wish they had more sauce options, but still good and cooked nicely as you wait. I'd go back to pig out with some buddies but probably wouldn't take a date or my parents. We were the only people in here!
(2)Danny S.
I went here for my first time today. My first thought when I saw all the ingredients laid out was, "What does this have to do with Mongolia?" As far as I know, Mongolian cuisine is traditionally centered around meat, dairy, and potatoes. The food on offer at C.I. Chu's seemed more in line with American Chinese offerings, perhaps with a leaning towards Vietnamese. And for most people, that's probably okay, because the fat-intensive meals traditional to Mongolian cuisine would probably be relatively unappealing, as would some of the cooking techniques. Anyone up for meat and vegetables cooked in the chest cavity of a goat, with a side of deep fried dumplings? Didn't think so (and if you are, then we should hang out). But even though I know that no one but me wants REAL Mongolian food, I still felt a little cheated! I really liked being able to choose my own ingredients, though I suspect that if I didn't cook this kind of food myself, it might be more imposing. They had a lot of choices of cooking liquids, including a chef's sauce, sugar water, cooking wine, and some other stuff. They had some weird minced garlic and ginger in what looked like that juice that comes in the jar when you buy minced garlic that way -- weird but okay. To be honest, I don't think I got the formula quite right (either that, or the Chef's sauce was just kind of lame). So watch out for that. On the other hand, the service was really good -- both of the employees with whom I interacted were incredibly friendly and helpful. They offer you a choice of soup and some sesame bread with every meal, and while the soup was pretty underwhelming, I thought the bread was good. And ultimately, the stir fry was pretty good too (imperfect cooking liquid mixture notwithstanding). My friends seemed to enjoy their meals as well, including a girl who insisted that she wasn't that hungry before we got to the restaurant but finished everything on her plate. One warning I'd offer anyone planning to go there: They give you a choice between one bowl of stir-fry and all-you-can-eat, and the latter is only a little more expensive. In my opinion, the one-bowl option is overpriced considering what it is, and I'd probably go somewhere else rather than come back for that. But given how small of an increase in price gets you the all-you-can-eat option, it seems to me that they're actually offering a pretty good deal on that. So show up hungry! I'm giving this only two stars because I honestly didn't think it was remarkable, and given all the other options in Tucson, I probably wouldn't actively recommend that someone come here. But I wouldn't recommend that someone NOT come either. I'm suspecting that I'll eventually end up going back and trying the all-you-can-eat option; I'll revise my review when that happens. And I'll also try to get the cooking liquid thing right while I'm there -- I'll post the resulting recipe here if I succeed.
(2)Justin D.
Typical Mongolian style restaurant with lots of options and a fun twist on dining.
(3)Clinton T.
Good chance I got food poisoning here and spent 30 min in the worst bathroom later that night because of it. Eat at your own risk...tasted good on the way in...you know the rest.
(1)Kevin L.
I have visit this location 4 times so far, all during business trips to Tucson. The selection for food is just ok. However, their food are usually fairly fresh and the price is reasonable. (around $10 per person for AYCE). One draw back is the speed of service. During rush hour, it is a good idea to give the chief your next plate before you finish your first one because it can take upto 25 minutes for them to cook the meal for you.
(3)Anthony G.
I was skeptical about there being a good Mongolian barbeque place in Tucson but when I ate there the food tasted great. It costs $8.99 for a bowl up until 4 pm where from then on you can only get the all you can eat option which is around 11-12 bucks. It provides the typical things you see in a mongolian barbeque, beef pork noodles and a ton of other things as well as sauce combinations. With your bowl you get this bread that comes with it as well as soup. The restaurant also offers free refills if you choose to buy a drink. The service is pretty decent, too. Overall this is a good resteraunt and I would recommend anyone who has never tried it to give it a try, it's a unique experience.
(4)Matt D.
I'm a fan of this place because I like to play this game where you pile your raw food as high as humanly possible in the little bowl. There's a good variety of veggies and noodles to place in your bowl. I'd probably prefer the meat to not be frozen, but it seems easier to handle that way. Make sure you follow the posted recipes for the sauce otherwise you're asking for a disaster. You get a bowl, a cup of soup, a side of rice, and piece of this bread I've never had before that's really, really good. The rice is consistently dry, but there's something about that hot, steaming bowl of Mongolian yummyness that makes me a fan of this place. It's a bit expensive, especially if you go for the all-you-can-eat. I would give this place 3.5 stars, so I'm roundin' up.
(4)princessaja g.
I never had Mongolian BBQ before till i came to this spot. I loved it . You walk up and fill your bowl with as much stuff as you want, meat and all and then you hand it to the chef and let him do his magic. Their sesame bread is sooo good I always get an extra piece. " A Must Try"
(4)Travis T.
Decent Mongolian barebecue. I've had much better. The "seafood" is a joke. Only 4 meats to choose from and they are frozen, not fresh. No seasonings to mix in. Sauces looked water down. Food was good, but could have had much more flavor with better sauces and some seasoning.
(3)Matt P.
Selection compared to BD's in Denver is horrible. Meat is frozen then sliced. Seafood is pretty much disgusting. Sauces taste the same and are all plain. Soup doesn't taste authentic. The list goes on and on. Service was always good and the bread is descent thats about it.
(1)Sean O.
I wrote a scathing review for the wrong Mongolian BBQ restaurant. I apologize.
(5)Scott P.
Pretty good and fun getting to pick your own makings. The Stir fry is fair but the bread and tea is great. Good for groups with picky eaters as they can pick their own ingredients. Service was pretty good and was friendly. Price is decent. Give it try for a fun relaxing place to eat. I will be back.
(3)Tiffany T.
mongolian bbq is the bomb. so good such a good deal.
(5)H P.
i went here for lunch recently and was not impressed. they try hard, they really do, and service was good. but it is all about the food, after all... ingredients are not very fresh, and sauces are watered down. i added quite a bit of the chef's sauce as well as garlic, ginger, sesame oil and teriyaki sauce. still my dish was underseasoned. and i usually don't eat salty. that is one of the problems of mongolian bbq, you don't know exactly how much sauce to put in to create the flavor profile you desire. i usually want the chef or cook to decide that, because they know how much sodium and strong flavor each sauce has the best. and a few different kinds of noodles would be appreciated, such as egg noodle, rice noodle, thick and thin. as it were, only one kind of noodles, thick chow mein noodles, which have ok texture but are dense and fill up the bowl too quickly with too much volume. the bowls are also too small, they need to provide larger bowls because the food cooks down quite a bit. an average mongolian grill, nothing special or extraordinary, but with a few changes could be vastly improved.
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