Lee Chen Chinese Cuisine
230 Winthrop Ave, Lawrence, MA, 01843
Lee Chen Chinese Cuisine Menu
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Address :
230 Winthrop Ave
Lawrence, MA, 01843 - Phone (978) 689-9888
- Website https://www.leechenma.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
- Mon : 11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Chinese Cuisine
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
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Ribblet N.
You just cannot compare the staff here with most any Asian restaurants anywhere. Clean and professional, attentive - heck, they even come back to your table to see if you need anything. Its like they want you there. Amazing. A lot of things they cook aside your table before serving you. So, I ordered the Chicken Soong and the waiter comes and prepares it at the table side, its basically a lettuce wrap, he scoops the chicken (bits with peppers), rolls it into the lettuce and places it on a plate for individual servings. Anywhere else, they would have placed the components on your table and walked away. I was impressed and then at another table they had something cooking. Really makes me want to order a wide variety of stuff, just to see how they serve it. Also, ordered the hot and sour soup. Was excellent and as expected it should taste. Ordered some scallops and peppers, thats not the name of it, but basically the ratio of scallops to onions and peppers were 1/3. They were the tiny scallops and were ok - not great. Overall, if its date night and your partner likes Chinese (this place is a winner).
(5)John R.
The food here is beyond amazing, I'm a very picky person when it comes to Chinese, this place blows mostly every other Chinese Resturant in the area out of the water. Fresh food, seasonal vegetables in all their dishes, the waiters are excellent and if you get the MooShi they will even make your roll ups, they use three spoons and fingers never touch your food, it's pretty awesome to watch them put it together. They are worth the drive from anywhere. Love this place!!
(5)Diane K.
Delicious!!!!!!! Great portions.. Nice menu.. Food very fresh. Have eaten there on a few occasions.. Never disappointed!!
(5)Merton F.
This place is wonderful extremely friendly and attentive staff. Very fast. The Dragon & Phoenix is simply amazing.
(5)Erika O.
Love love love their food!!! Have no complaints...every time I go it get take out the food is amazing!! I would definitely recommend this place!
(5)Linda H.
Thank you for gluten free Chinese food that tastes "normal". Loved it. I will be back. I had take out, but the atmosphere looked nice, will come back with the family. Staff was very pleasant.
(5)William H.
up scale very nice . We had clams in garlic sauce and ribs to start . then house fried rice ,shrimp with garlic sauce . and beef with pea pods all were very good
(5)Jess W.
Consistently good Chinese food that is really quick for takeout and tastes simple but fresh. They are really accommodating with any allergies. I especially like the chicken fingers (which I normally detest at other Chinese restaurants) bc they're smaller in size and aren't covered in super thick batter. Take out normally only takes 10 minutes and service is efficient and they always get my order right!
(4)Kristin K.
We've never been disappointed by Lee Chen. Their veggies are fresh and different (mostly zucchini, red peppers, pea pods and water chestnuts...YUM) than any other place. The sauce in the Prawn or Chicken Amazing is just awesome and their boneless ribs are completely trimmed of any nasty fat. I don't like their chicken wings, but everything else I've had (scallion pancake, egg rolls, teriyaki, crab rangoon) are fantasmagorical!
(5)Katniss S.
Lee Chen has your standard suburban selection of chinese fare here, but it is done very well and that makes all the difference. Best chinese in the area; always fresh and quality ingredients. Can't go wrong with a meal at Lee Chen.
(4)Kelvin V.
Great place. Food is always fresh and service is amazing. They are very attentive and quick. Best Chinese food I ever had
(5)Randee P.
Very Good! Ordered Mongolia Steak w/mushroom, rice & won soup! Nice servers, quick refill drinks.
(4)Cathy H.
Lee Chen's is, by far, one of--or--the BEST Chinese restaurants I've ever been to. The restaurant is clean. Chairs, settings, tablecloths, are meticulously positioned. The facilities are clean and beautiful. The hostess and waitstaff are professional and courteous, and always attentive to your needs. They are also professionally dressed in black and white attire, wing collars, bow ties, and vests. Your water glass is always kept full and, if you should glance around the room, the hostess or waiter rushes over to see if you need anything. For all the years I've been coming here with family and friends, we have never had a bad experience. You can always expect consistently wonderful tasting, fresh food, and superior service. If possible, we enjoy going for lunch (11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.) when you can order combination plates at bargain prices. Lunch includes your main entree, choice of rice, and appetizer or soup. And don't forget there's an endless supply of ice water and hot tea. You can buy any other kind of beverage or hard liquor, but we usually stick with the water and tea. Everything's so good. I LOVE their Hot and Sour Soup... it's to die for! We always order an appetizer of 6 pan-fried Peking Ravioli (I believe it was $5.95). Today for lunch, I ordered L6: Hunan Chicken ($7.25), while my husband ordered his favorite L26: Prawn Amazing ($8.25). These prices are 25 cents less than it shows on the menu... but that's what we were charged. A fabulous entree NOT on the lunceon menu is Moo-Shi Pork. The waiter prepares the first ones by filling each pancake, adding a strip of plum sauce, folding it with the wide serving spoons, and placing on the dish of each person enjoying this selection. They will present other meals in a similar fashion, mostly for the dinner crowd. It's not necessary, of course, for a combination lunch plate. One time for lunch, my daughter and I split a Pu Pu Platter for 2. This easily would have fed 4 people -- way too much food -- but it was fun to order. We shared extra food with our companion diners... and there were still leftovers. If you're not normally a fan of boneless spareribs because they're tough and fatty, these are worth a try. They're the leanest I've come across in any Chinese restaurant. It's the quality of the food that's so wonderful. You don't get fatty, tough, or gristly meat. I was shocked to see anything less than a 5-star review for Lee Chen's. I can't remember exactly when they opened for business, but I'm guessing it's getting close to 20 years.
(5)Erika C.
fresh food and mean drinks. what's not to love?
(4)Mercedes T.
I really enjoyed their garlic eggplant, moo shu pork, crispy shrimp, beef and broccoli, chow fun, crab rangoon, and chicken and asparagus....... their meats are so soft and tender! I don't know how they got their beef that delicious and tender. Just ate here twice this week.
(5)Mara R.
Three cheers for Lee Chen!!! They have Gluten Free Chinese Food that is super delicious!!! My husband, daughter, and myself ate there last night and had a very enjoyable meal. I especially had a great meal because I was able to eat Chinese food and not get sick because of gluten or any cross contamination. The entire staff was also wonderful and was very attentive to our young daughter. We will definitely be back!!
(5)C N.
Very good food - would try again. I had been here years ago and the food was just ok but they have improved vastly since then. Nothing was greasy or over cooked. I got the twice sautéed pork and my wife got the ginger chicken with string beans. Both dishes had great flavor and were moist. Special props to them because we showed up late on a Sunday night, we could have had a bad experience. The only reason I didn't give them 5 stars is the portion could have been a bit larger for the price.
(4)Beka B.
Easily the best Chinese food in the area. Even though I usually order out I have eaten there and it is a bit more upscale than most Chinese restaurants. The food is fresh and cooked well. They have never messed up my order and the staff is very attentive. I would highly recommend giving it a go if you are in the area.
(4)Rubina H.
Not bad. Grabbed food here while visiting family. Had simple fare like fried rice, boneless pork ribs, lo mein, and chic wings. All was above average for a non-West Coast, suburban Chinese place. Staff was very friendly and professional.
(4)Sarah B.
Every dish we ordered, fried rice, chicken fingers, crispy orange beef, was outstanding, but the highlight of the meal was the crunchy fried wontons we were given to munch on while waiting for the food. The pupu platter was excellent, and the server checked up on us exactly when we needed him - even though the restaurant was busy. Liquor license not required to enjoy.
(4)Katy M.
I have always had a good experience at Lee Chen's. They probably have the best Chinese food in the area. Always a great place to go to with friends and share dishes.
(4)CJ M.
Decent food but our entire group of 10 people had bad gas and diarrhea on Saturday. They are very nice and attentive so I give them that.
(3)Ian W.
Lee Chen is one of the better Chinese restaurants I've been to in the Merrimack Valley. They offer takeout counter service and a full service dining room. I stopped here for lunch takeout very recently and decided to order the L26 Prawn Amazing ($8.50) served with vegetable fried rice and hot & sour soup (add $0.50). The food was ready and packed to go in very prompt fashion, in about 5 minutes after ordering. Each of the food items were packed in separate packaging and not all together like a typical combination meal. The Prawn Amazing dish had tender jumbo shrimp in a sweet & spicy sauce with fresh snow peas, zucchini, onions, peppers, & water chestnuts. The pint of vegetable fried rice (light color) had a soft texture with peas, carrots, onions, and egg. The hot & sour soup had a good spicy flavor which had eggs, vegetables, bamboo, bean curd, and sliced fresh mushrooms. The food was very good overall.
(4)Jackie N.
Our waiter was Super strange! We attempted to ask about the amazing prawns...but instead of a description he told us that it was shocking and occasionally amazing... And eccentric!! No joke! Sesame chicken was good but a few of the other dishes were odd... The waitstaff was very attentive... Water glasses filled every two minutes!
(3)Kay S.
I went to Lee Chen's for the first time tonight. I have driven by this place 1,000 times before and never stopped. I am so happy that I did tonight! I read the Yelp reviews and decided to give it a try. Chinese food is such a hit or miss, i've tried many between Andover and Haverhill and am often dissapointed. Chinese food is a treat so I want to enjoy it! Walking in, the restaurant was quiet and clean. The staff was very friendly and enthusiastically engaged in conversation. Considering the fact that it was my first visit, I have limited knowledge of the menu items but everything I ordered was delicious. Best lo mein I have had in awhile!
(4)Kenny J.
I've tried the Sesame chicken with white meat , the House Fried Rice, Peking Ravioli, and Amazing Chicken. I'd recommend any of these dishes. I were do take out. It was ready within 10 minutes of placing my order. The restaurant is very clean, the service is very nice . That is very wonderful restaurant. I really like so much.
(5)Linda R.
Their food was delicious. We ordered the same things that we get in other restaurants, lobster sauce, sesame chicken, etc but this was a little different and better. The service was excellent and the restaurant looked very clean. It's a little more expensive than other places but worth it.
(5)Ranley K.
We arrived in Lawrence super late and got hungry the night before our race. We asked the front desk and they said that Lee Chen was still open. We hurried downstairs and drove over thinking it would be closed any minute. We walked in and noticed that the place was empty except for a huge party of 10-12 people. We asked the guy at the counter when they closed and they said 15 minutes ago, but a the big party came in so they have to stay open. I felt bad, but not many places would actually allow that! Two thumbs up from me! The next night we went there after our race for very early dinner. I won't lie, but the portions are somewhat small for the price we paid. Don't get me wrong, it was good, but I was expecting a little more. For some reason, they were quick with refilling our water, but super slow with our tea. How does that work out? Haha Bottom Line: This may be the only time I ever write such an in depth review about an Americanized Chinese restaurant. Service was good, nice people, prices were ehh (-1), location was great (since we lived 200 meters from the place), portions were also ehh (-1).
(3)Molly M.
I really love Lee Chen's. It has to be one of my most fave restaurants. From the tea to the dumplings to the rice its as good as it gets.
(5)Bob D.
It's definitely the best Chinese restaurant in the area. It does a lot of take-out business but doesn't deliver. That's too bad because they'd be our go-to place if they offered delivery. The menu is more "Chinese" than their local competition, but doesn't quite go as far as you'd want if you're used to places in Boston, etc. I found the prices a little high for what they offered.
(3)M C.
Love their food and fast/friendly service. They never take more than 10-15 minutes to have your food ready. Their chicken fingers are the best I've had (and I've tried a lot of Chinese restaurants). I have yet to try anything from Lee Chen that I didn't like. Dinner here is a bit expensive, I never seem to spend less than $30 for fried rice and a couple of appetizers - but it's well worth the money.
(5)Shea R.
The food at lee Chen is not bad overall, there portions aren't that good either. The service sometimes is not too good which doesn't always make for a good experience. There have been various times where the waiters have not been the nicest. One day we came and had some drinks, the waiter told us that we needed to order food too so we were forced to buy something even though we were only trying to have drinks. Another time I came to eat here and I asked the waiter for something off of the regular menu even though it was earlier in the day, he told me that the kitchen was too busy so I couldn't get anything besides what was in the small menu. Mind you the restaurant was not even half way full. While I was ordering our waiter thought I had ordered enough food and told me, "no don't order more that's enough food" it will be a while before I come back here. Not too impressed.
(2)J W.
Tastiest menu, courteous service, fast, very reasonable, addicting. I've gone dozens of times and cannot wait to return again. Best Chinese food around. Please try it!
(5)Matthew M.
Very Over rated place I want my appetizers well done and when I got them they where a greasy mess yuck and I couldn't eat any of it so I call and they didn't seem to care well they lost a customer
(1)Blair A.
I've had Lee Chen twice. Once for take out and once dining in. I like the fact that they give you a lot of the fried wrapping pieces to dip into sweet and sour sauce. Those fried pieces/chips are the BEST PART of Americanized Asian food to me. Their hot and sour soup was forgettable, but we tried the pork and asparagus dish and it was delicious. Definitely big enough to split between two people. I've had better spring rolls other places so I wouldn't order those again. The crab rangoon, though, were pretty spot on! They serve you hot tea if you dine in and that was a nice touch. I have friends say that their drinks are STRONG and actually pretty good, so go for that if you're a drinker. Overall, 3 stars. I'll update my review when I try a few more dishes and see if they hold up or get better.
(3)Big D.
I think the quality of Lee Chen's food is better than other Chinese restaurants in the region because it is less greasy and the grade of the meat is higher.
(4)Matthew A.
Finally an above average sit down Chinese restaurant without the scary-n-seedy lounge. I have been wanting to try this place out for quite some time. We got there on Friday night about 8:00 and the place was packed. I took Sean M.'s advice and we started with the pork dumplings with the spicy peanut sauce. I found their was just way too much sauce which over powered the dumplings. The scallion pancake was crisp and delicious! I ordered the Hunan chicken which came with a spicy sauce and vegetables of pea pods, mushrooms, and sweet red bell peppers. The entrees came with white rice. The service was spot on and also water boys were always lurking about wanting to fill your glass. The entire meal with 2 entees, 2 apts and 1 scorpion bowl came to $40
(5)Mitchell S.
We are regulars at Lee Chen. We love the food and the services . We Order take out ones a week. Keep up the good work! See you soon
(5)Julia E.
H3 dish had WAY too much sauce! Otherwise I hear good things. Tea is excellent!
(3)Susan W.
Great Chinese food. We have been ordering from here for years. The best around. Everything tastes fresh. The prices are reasonable. The to go luncheon specials are a great deal. One lunch can last for two meals! Love it.
(4)Danielle L.
Great food, not greasy like most chinese places. Clean, excellent staff (very, very friendly). A little pricey but worth the peice of mind knowing how clean it is (and the kitchen probably is).
(4)Rob L.
By far the best Chinese food in the area. I am a big fan of the Chicken Mushi and the Tangerine Chicken. Very friendly staff and well worth the trip. I really wish that they would deliver.
(4)Changun S.
+: very clean, attentive and polite wait staff -: food is typical Americanized Chinese food...but with that being said: food was overall fresh and good Comment: we would rather eat here than Panda Express at the mall :)
(3)Chris C.
Good food, great service, fast with orders. It's really nice to dine in. Good interior. If you order out, they're wicked fast. I have no complaints. Try their moo shu pork (not sure if I spelled that correctly, and if the spell check caught it), It's wicked good. My gf did say it's somwhat salty, but she has been eating really healthy, and I think anything with a hint of salt, she'll notice. I personally didn't notice it being salty. Try this place out.
(4)Bill G.
This is a place I go to often, but there are only a few things I order and they are consistently good. ---Kung Pao Chicken (Now they know I want it without peanuts) ---Pork fried rice ---Scallian pancakes Once with a friend I ventured and ordered 'Garlic Shrimp...', really nice. Pretty clean and tidy restaurant, I love that part of it. I prefer to eat there rather than take-out, somehow it seems the takeout is made differently, eat in has always been better.
(4)Jean A.
Gourmet, fresh food. Fair prices on alcohol. Clean white tablecloths! Fast service.
(4)Dan P.
Really no criticisms here. Local knowledge says this is the best Chinese food in area. Food is consistently excellent. Fast take out. If you eat in service is attentive, food is hot, and arrives quickly. Not cheap. Kid friendly.
(5)Devon B.
My family has done many post-Chrismas dinners here, since about 2003 or so. At first I found it a bit too fancy for my taste, but I have grown to like it. The location, well, its near the Showcase Cinema is grey depressing Lawrence. (The building looks like it may have been a Pizza Hut at one time; I don't know that for a fact, though.) But inside is brightly lit with a minimum of distractions (No TV, as someone else already said). The service is fast and courteous. And the food is definitly top-notch. Having grown up in Salem NH, I am used to the 'greasy spoon' Chinese food experience, with lots of grease and indigestion. Lee Chen, however, seems to use higher quality ingrediants and avoids frying the living crap out of everything. Sure that adds to the price, but if you have the $$ to spend, its worth it. I can't rate the drinks because drinking is something I save for after dinner, but they do serve up a good Coca Cola. Best of all, is, when they give you your plate of fortune cookies, instead of that weird birdseed candy, they give you Andes Creme de menthe chocolates. That alone makes this place worth seeking out. Definitly recommended. Edit: My brother has assured me that this was, indeed, a Pizza Hut, since he and a friend visited it often when they were in high school. (Prior to 1994.)
(4)Jessica R.
Lee Chen offers excellent chinese food that is unmatched, by far! Highly recommend ordering take out or eating here. Very nice atmosphere, clean, fresh and open. Their food has this authentic quality that I hadn't experienced before eating here. Everything is good - try their lettuce wraps with chicken if you want something healthy. Mmm. Enjoy! They're located on North Andover border by the Market Basket/TJ Maxx plaza.
(4)Lynn M.
By far my favorite Chinese restaurant in the suburbs. The food is fast and delicious, service is outstanding, the place is spotless, and the staff is really nice. I recommend going and getting the spicy green beans, General Tso's chicken and the cold noodles in sesame peanut sauce.
(5)Megan S.
My first Chinese food in over three years and it was a success! Ordered takeout from here for lunch. Called in the order and it was ready and waiting when I arrived (about 10 min. drive). Price was pretty decent (ordered three lunch specials, a full serving of Ginger Chicken and Crab Rangoon). Crab Rangoon could have been fried a little crispier, but I'm picky about that. Filling was delicious and there was a lot of it. Pretty cheesy, not crabby, that that's just fine by me! Lunch portions were just the right size for lunch. Spring rolls were a little anemic. Brown rice was delish. I would (probably will very soon) go here again!
(4)Jenna M.
Lee Chen is a great Chinese food restaurant. The service is extremely well-mannered and very accommodating. I have done both eat-in and take-out also. The food has always been excellent. My favorite dish is the Chicken Amazing, fresh tasting with a little zip to the sauce. My kids rave about the Crab Rangoons @Lee Chen's! I love their chicken fingers, not all with that big puffy batter so common at other Chinese food places. You know what I mean, more batter on the chicken fingers than chicken.
(4)Anthony L.
i have nothing bad to say about this place. a very clean, americanized chinese restaurant. everything was good, only reason it didn't get 5 stars is because well i've had better ;) will be returning when i'm too lazy to drive to chinatown
(4)Dave C.
Decent food. And sadly the best I've found so far now that China Tea House isn't around.
(2)Dan R.
Good food, quick service. The food is fresh and not over seasoned. Great classic Chinese food dishes...great for take-out. Does not deliver, but worth the drive over. Easily in the top 5 Chinese food restaurants in the Merrimack Valley!
(4)Audrea E.
Came here for lunch on my fourth anniversary, we always have Chinese since that was our first date, looked at yelp and decided on Lee Chen. The food was really good and well priced for the amount. The service was really good, the first time my boyfriend tipped over 20%
(5)Nancy C.
Excellent food, excellent service, clean and friendly. Luncheon specials are a terrific value. Worth the trip.
(5)David P.
I used to love this place & recommend it to all of my friends. The last couple of times that I've gotten take out however, the food was horrible. It's a shame because they used to be so good but now they're going down hill.
(1)Bark M.
I go here for the hot and sour soup and ginger beans. More of an upscale dinner experience but lunch was pretty good and casual. The food appears to be cooked fresh and is quite tasty and not overwhelming.
(4)Jeffrey H.
Not my favorite Chinese joint in the burbs, but definitely worth stopping by. A nice dining room with plenty of seating, feel free to come in groups, share a bunch of dishes, and booze it up. You can share a scorpion bowl if you want, but not with me, I'll have my own, kthx. Oh, and there's a Friendly's ice cream window within walking distance, just sayin'
(4)Chris L.
I haven't been to Lee Chens in a while, but we do like their Chinese food. I would definitely recommend a reservation if you are going on the weekend for dinner. Even with a reservation we have had to wait for a long time on several occasions to get seated. Nice casual family atmosphere and they can accommodate groups of 6 to 8. Service is fair, although I had a few visits where I was slightly annoyed at the speed and they forgot some of our requests. We get take out now on occasion, but have never used them for delivery.
(3)Dave B.
Lee Chen is a bit above average in the world of Chinese food. They have a nice selection of specialties you might not find in some other Chinese restaurants. Typical fast service. Decent prices. They have the difficult to find lettuce wraps. Large clean & modern dinning room. Almost a bit too open. They have a bar but its not the place to sit around & have a few or meet some friends. No TV. Not very big & its sits dead center & raised above the dinning room. Kinda puts you on display. Strange parking set up. Easy to get to, its right off of rt 495. Not my first choice. But not bad at all.
(3)Shawn F.
Despite its unassuming exterior, Lee Chen actually offers one of the nicer environments for Chinese dining that I've experienced. The decor is muted and classy, and the only Asian thing about the interior design is the large, dollar bill-covered Buddha statue sitting on the front desk. Crisp white tablecloths are out in full force during dinner service, and most of the staff, even the busboys, sport tuxedos. The restrooms are among the cleanest I've ever encountered. And if you care enough to check, you'll even find that the wooden blinds are from Hunter Douglas. Sadly, the food at Lee Chen doesn't always live up to the setting in which it is served. Your best bet is to go when it's not too busy, as most of the poorer experiences we've had have come on the busiest nights. Even later in the evening on a Saturday would work. Some of the best among Lee Chen's offerings aren't on the menu, but if you get a particularly savvy server, you can special order them. For example, we've taken the sea bass that is usually reserved for the overly sweet crispy whole fish and asked that it be steamed. Capital D Delicious. Other not-on-the-menu items that should please fans of authentic Chinese food include the sauteed Shanghai baby bok choy, and the dried tofu with celery and sliced pork (I think). If you're not that willing to venture off the beaten path, then I recommend the sauteed string beans (very crisp and fresh, with a little bit of spice), and the asparagus soup with crab meat. Both may be found on the regular menu. If like the food at Lee Chen, then you're in for a pleasant dining experience. The servers are unfailingly polite, and there are waiters who stalk tables, waiting to refill water glasses. The owner hails from either Taiwan or Hong Kong, I don't remember which, and has been at the restaurant most nights that I've visited.
(4)Anya S.
I both ordered for take out and went there with my family. Both times the food was really good. I eat Chinese food with caution, I usually get sick from it, but not from these guys. The portions are pretty big family style, plus it was a fun food adventure for my 3 year old.
(4)M R.
Lee Chen does a great job with large groups. We have gone multiple times with groups of 30. They are fast, high quality and get food and drinks out very quickly.
(4)Minda H.
I should state up front that I'm not really that into Cantonese style Chinese food and so don't frequent Chinese restaurants all that often. So I'm guaging my experience here with that of other Chinese places, and not with any other type of cuisine or restaurant. Lee Chen does a solid job with their menu, and are willing to alter cooking styles or ingredients to please (as another reviewer has suggested). As Chinese food goes, it was a pleasing experience, and probably will go back, at least for take out, in the future. Food was refreshingly served steaming hot with tasty sauces that complimented rather than overwhelmed. One big complaint, however. the MUSIC playing in the restaurant is absolutely AWFUL. Enough so to deter another dine-in experience. REALLY REALLY BAD music! April 2008 UPDATE: The no longer have the really bad music. It's just classical mix now - much more enjoyable!
(4)Patricia K.
Great food,excellently prepared and wonderful service. Lee Chen's is the CLEANEST restaurant in the Merrimack Valley!!!
(5)Julia H.
Hands down, Lee Chen has the best vegetable pan-fried noodles in town. Their brown sauce is to die for! I find the food here fresh, not overly greasy, and affordable. The one drawback is that they don't deliver, but as long as I plan in advance, I am happy to do Take-Out.
(3)Riccardo D.
Lee Chen's is not your typical Chinese restaurant. What sets them apart from others is their customer service and the quality of their food. First, the customer service. The waiters are amazingly attentive and there is an army of helpers that will insure your beverage glass will not remain empty. The owner is normally standing guard at the restaurant's entrance. He is unfailingly polite and gracious. The food: the difference here is the freshness and quality. This isn't the place to go for bonfire lit poo poo platters. The serving sizes are normal, meaning one entree can feed 1-2 people. The food does not give the appearance that it's being hauled out of a vat in the kitchen. I held several company events here and even with large groups the service remained consistently efficient and pleasing. Chinese-American restaurants are everywhere and it doesn't take too much effort to deep-fry an eggroll. Lee Chen's is in a class by itself in Lawrence area.
(4)Busy L.
This is not a place to come if you want Polynesian style PuPu Platter, lobster sauce, chow mein type food. This is more of a Mandarin style if you want to get General Gao's chicken, Kung Pao, Hunan, etc. Food is decent and decor of the dining room is nice. Portions are average and not huge. Price is a bit higher than others but worth it if you want Mandarin style food.
(3)Brian B.
For the money Lee Chen is a great restaurant. By far one of cleaner dining environments, the wait staff and servers were very attentive. The food is surprisingly cheap for the quality but portioned well. I like being able to eat what is in front of me without being stuffed and I can eat a modest meal here. They have vegetarians general gaus chicken which my friends are fond of, and most of the time why i find myself there. I believe they have their formula down for price and quality, I found the food to be above average. Veggies are always super fresh and I'm never disappointed with the meat quality either. Taken what is around for selections in the area this place definitely sticks out of the pack. I'd say good for couples and families. They could have a better bar set up but the drinks there are good.
(5)Mogel P.
Easily the best Chinese food in the area. I've never had a bad meal and they are always on time and super professional.
(5)Jennifer D.
The best chinese food restaurant you will find in Lawrence by far! The only one in the area that can even begin to rival it is the China Blossom and even then it's close. If you would like to sit down and have chinese food they actually have a very nice and tastefully decorated restaurant. But if you're like me and only eat chinese food sitting in front of your TV on a boring night then this is also a great idea! The food is delicious and the people are friendly and easy to order from!
(3)Celeste S.
Horrible business practice - if you live in Lawrence and you order food for delivery be prepared to not only spend $60 but also be asked for a driver's license. Not everybody in Lawrence is on Section 8 or a scammer! Not that I need to interview to get Chinese food!
(1)H P.
Always perfect! very attentive. Water glasses always refilled. food is spectacular! Delicious all the time! We never hesitate to reccommend you to friends and family!
(5)John B.
Growing up my mother worked at a Chinese restaurant as a waitress and I basically ate there all the time. I've also traveled all over the country and been to many Chinese food places and this is my favorite! Although the dining room is small the food and drink are great! The service is friendly and I have never been disappointed. There is also plenty of parking in the back. My favorite dish is the happy camper. Oh ya ... I'm getting hungry. The crab rangoons are also the best I've ever had.
(5)Sean M.
Fleeing Fort Point condo conversions 6 years ago, my brother moved his Cabinet Making business to a loft in Lawrence near the river. On a recent visit he took me to Lee Chen, claiming it was "as good as Chinatown". He was in FP for 10 years, and he turned me on to King Fung, and Sushiya, so I trust his opinions on Asian cuisine. Lee Chen did not disappoint. The restaurant is located closer to Andover than Lawrence proper, near the rt 114 and 495 junction. First impressions are always important and the decor was very nice, think Brookline or Wellesley(or Andover), the room was bright and not over decorated. There is a small but cozy bar in the middle of the room. They give you complimentary fried wonton dough chips with a too sweet pinkish sauce(duck sauce?) before you order. We started with "Szechuan Dumplings in Sesame and Peanut Sauce". These were really steamed won-tons, the sauce was not very spicy and too thin, the wontons were pork filled and pretty tasty. Next, we had the Scallion Pancake, which was fried crisp and light and very delicious. We ordered 3 entrees, with the little pepper icon, indicating spicy dishes but, after the wontons I was skeptical. I wasn't sure what "Szechuan Style Bean Curd" would turn out to be so I looked at the waiter and said "ma-po-dofu?", which is what I wanted, and that's what we got. The tofu was bite sized and soft but not overly mushy. The sauce was a rich brown color, of proper viscosity, with barely visible red pepper flakes, and yes it was spicy enough for my taste. The Hunan Lamb was tender and perfectly cooked with jicama, bamboo shoots, bell peppers, mushrooms, and baby pea pods, in the mix. Even though that might seem to make the dish "too busy" there was a good veggie-to-meat ratio. Just as I use "Pad Thai" as a benchmark for rating Thai restaurants, I use "Chicken in Garlic Sauce" as a benchmark for Szechuan/Hunan cuisine restaurants. Le Chen does not claim a moniker for it's kitchen but I'm extrapolating from dishes on the menu. Disclaimers aside, this was one of the best Garlic Chicken dishes I have ever tasted. There was also the-busy-veggie thing with this dish, and the jicama was even better with the garlic sauce, yum. Having consumed three spicy dishes we had appropriate eye-brow perspiration working, quaffing Tsingtao seemed to help. If you prefer less spicy you should mention that when ordering. Summary: Food; is "as good as Chinatown" or better. Good date place : yes. Parking : adequate Credit cards: yes Restrooms: immaculate Full bar: check
(4)Steve N.
i was a big fan when they first opened up but it's been in a downward slide since the floods in that area closed everything for about a month last year (or maybe the year before). the food is now quite typical amer-chinese. nothing special at all. and if you try to sit at the bar to get your swerve on while waiting to place an order for take out they'll bug the snot outta you until you actually place that order. try Tea Garden in Groveland for better suburban chinese.
(2)Stevie P.
everytime i eat chinese food, i end up finding a hair in my food... like that time at lee chen....
(2)Chris D.
We actually went back with someone who "heard this was the best chinese in Lawrence," and they had to see for themselves...AND if this is the only reason you are coming here you would be correct. However to by pass Boston, to come here is a mistake. YES I know Boston and many other fine chinese establisments are a long drive away, but It's still a mistake... The food was lacking flavor, the past exquisite jucies are gone, anything chicken, are the same pre-cooked nuggets with a sauce dumped on. Dumplings were soggy on one side and burnt on the other. Care and quality have taken a back seat to the production line, and the OJ in the mixed drinks is no longer the best... it is off flavored from the local supermarket... that clearly has soured on the shelf. We watched them make it in the open bar. Wha Song in Methuen is now on par with Lee Chen on many dishi's, and Wha Song is a dump. Kowloon in Saugus is now on par with Lee Chen and KowLoon is a place to frequent because you don't know anybetter or you just want to get drunk. Either way there not worth the trip, it's only because everything else nereby is worse. Blue Moon, Joyce Chen, any chinese in town is better than subjecting your stomach to this! I would kill to be in San Fran or Hong Kong right now!
(3)