Mandarin Express Chinese Restaurant
15209 Frederick Rd, Rockville, MD, 20850
Mandarin Express Chinese Restaurant Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Rockville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Rockville for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Rockville for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
15209 Frederick Rd
Rockville, MD, 20850 - Phone (301) 251-0615
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Opening Hours
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Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : No
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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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Andrew K.
I came here for lunch and 5 of the 7 tables that were seated had ordered the cross bridge noodles. Apparently this is what this place is famous for so I tried it. It has shrimp, pork, chicken in a big bowl with white noodles and some kind of broth and it tasted pretty good but I don't think I could eat this all the time. For $8, it is more filling and a little bigger than pho but I'd still rather have pho. We also tried the bbq pork ribs which is really burnt and tastes ok to me. The snow pea vegetables was good but too salty and the chicken with brocoli was ok. Basically this place to me is like a sit down version of fast food chinese food except they have this famous cross bridge noodle that makes them stand apart.
(3)Max M.
I've been picky about Chinese food for awhile especially in the DC area, and this place has the best delivery I've had in a long time. I convinced my parents to try it and they loved it. Very good Orange Chicken, made the correct way. The servings are big, but the pricing is pretty solid. I would highly recommend this place to someone looking for a cheap alternative to fast food Chinese and honestly have never had a complaint.
(4)Julie Z.
Over all the Chinese restaurants I've been to in Rockville, this is still one of my favorite of all. Their cross-bridge noodle soup is great! Also make sure to try their deep fried Maryland crabs!
(5)joe w.
I highly recommend the Cross bridge noodle soup which is like modified version of Pho. The crispy tofu is excellent. This restaurant is not near the metrorail but is well worth an extra drive. Wait service can be a bit task saturated. There can be a line if one arrives later for dinner. This restaurant is a great value for the money.
(3)Joanne T.
I have been coming here for the Cross Bridge noodle many years and love it. The spicy crispy tofu is also a must-order item. They are perfect place to go in Winter time.
(5)Angela E.
Good food delivered in 35 minutes and reasonably priced. Enjoyed the chicken & broccoli with pork fried rice.
(3)Carolina N.
I followed the advice of the other Yelpers and got the Poke and Shredded Bean Curd and it did not disappoint! Relatively inexpensive, and fantastic Crab Rangoon's. Just wish they had their menu on line. I just ordered standard Chinese fare off the top of my head since I had no menu :(
(4)Mr. S.
We order delivery and take out from here all the time and I love it - pretty good food for a standard Chinese takeout place.
(4)Meggie C.
i recently just tried this place b/c my friend wanted to go. it was a small little restaurant with a few tables. the soup was very good. i also ordered the beef with bamboo shoots, although it was alot of bamboo it was pretty good. would deffintley go back and try more dishes.
(3)Lam Ngan L.
Crossbridge noodle and fried tofu is all I need from this place.
(4)Dave C.
Excellent authentic chinese food. 5 stars for the price and the consistency of the food. I moved away from the Washington DC area, but every time I visit this place is a "must stop at" eatery.
(5)Jennifer F.
I love the cross-bridge noodle!!!!
(5)Eric W.
The X-bridge Noodles are a must. Surprisingly the KungPao chicken is very good too. Im a fan of it since it isnt full of "filler" and has tons of chicken!
(4)Nicole L.
This modest restaurant specialized in Yunnan style cuisine, I wouldn't say a comprehensive spread but in particular the soup noodle dishes (speaking my language!) and some specialities. It's a very small restaurant located in the same decrepit strip as the awesome il Pizzico italian restaurant. The capacity was about 15-20 pax at the maximum. We were just unsure what to order, our server was a very nice lady with a delicate chinese accent, she recommended that we try the Cross-Bridge Rice Noodles. At first I thought it was the extra thin chinese noodles called mian xian but it turned out to be my favorite thick rice noodles - It made sense being that Yunnan was located in the far Southwest region of China, bordering Vietnam served similar noodles type like the ones used in Ban Bo Hue. Except Cross-Bridge noodles was served in a light broth with chicken and shrimp. If you turned and looked, almost everyone was having the Cross-Bridge noodles. It was very good indeed, the thin slices of chicken and large fresh shrimps in a light broth. Even though we weren't thinking about pigging out we were curious to try the spiced squid and 3 meat dumplings. The spiced squids were absolutely amazing - lightly batter and flash fried, the squids were tender and crunchy at the same time, here's another example of great execution on a simple dish. The dumplings were fresh and the dipping sauce slightly different from Mama's Bistro, subtle hint of vinegar and a mixture of hot chili sauce, sesame seeds and peanuts. We were very happy to stumble upon this restaurant for lunch it surpassed our expectations and certainly lifted us out of a sinking mood.
(4)r y.
We have never been to the restaurant but have had take out several times. We really like the Cross Bridge Soup - it soothing and filling. The tofu puffs are sweet and spicy and the squid while not super tender is flavorful. I did nto like the baked tofu dish, but that was a personal preference. Overall, great tasting food at a decent cost and super convenient. Just right for a busy family like ours.
(4)Ellis X.
The food is ok--traditional hot and sour soup, fried tofu and soft shell crab. The owner of the restaurant has a great room for improvement in customer service. Bathroom needs an upkeep.
(2)Marc L.
Amazing food. You must consume the: 1) Crispy Fried Tofu 2) Spicy and Salty Shrimp and Scallops (yum) 3) Rice Cakes 5) Pork and Shredded Bean Curd 6) Cross Bridge Soup
(4)Elizabeth W.
I am wondering why it took me so long to actually come here. This place is fantastic! It seems like everyone I know (who is Asian) has been here, except me! Not fair! The food is fantastic! When I got there and told my group that I had never been, my friend who is also a foodie and a much better cook than I, suggested I try the cross bridge noodle soup. Since I had heard of it and was told it was fabulous, I decided that was what I was getting. We also got the spicy crispy tofu and the spicy fried squid. Both dishes were so delicious and completely fattening. I think I devoured my soup in like 2 seconds. OK, not that fast, but I was definitely finished first. The broth in the cross bridge soup is to DIE for! It really is really good! Someone suggested that is was because of the white pepper. I'm not sure, but I know it was good! I almost want to give this place 5 stars. I'm so seriously tempted to do it. I think I will save it for another visit. The service was good. I'm so glad the waitress suggested we get the squid. They were also pretty nice when we asked to switch tables because a 5th person showed up and we were at a 4-top. They didn't complain at all or grumble or show the least bit of unhappiness. Thank you, kind Chinese people!
(4)Gislle T.
Their noodle tastes good, but not fresh and clean. I ordered fish one time, and I can tell the fish is not fresh. This time is even worse! Look at the box and the noodle of the pic. How dirty it is!!
(1)Sam L.
For what it's worth, I'm somewhere between an authentic and an American Chinese foodie. I love my oyster omelet, beef tendon, intestine, pork blood, and liver, but another side of me loves beef stir fry ho fun, bourbon chicken, and coconut shrimp. Mandarin Express seems to have both. At a glance, they have some authentic choices like the cross bridge noodle soup, various other types of noodle soup, and authentic appetizers. Then there's an American section with sweet and sour chicken, and *fill in random meat* with brown sauce. On a compromise, we ordered a cross-bridge noodle soup, a seafood noodle soup, and spicy crispy tofu. My taste buds may have been tainted by other food types, but the cross-bridge noodle soup wasn't seasoned, and it may have been meant for that to happen. While I love a clear rib noodle soup (no seasoning required, as the meat flavor is abundant in the soup), the cross-bridge noodle soup isn't that. The seafood noodle soup was basically egg drop soup with noodles and various meat ingredients. The girlfriend didn't like the seafood one, and I didn't like either noodle soup, but we both agreed that the spicy crispy tofu was fantastic. For the prices ($6-8), the noodle soups will definitely fill you up. Though I will come back for the spicy crispy tofu, and maybe try their dumplings next time.
(3)Phi N.
Uhh... I'm not sure what people see in this cross bridge soup. It is pretty bland. It's kind of like a hotpot but with less options. The fried tofu appetizer was bomb though. If I ever come back, I am definitely getting that again, and trying something else on the menu.
(3)Weiwei U.
The service was horrible !!! It ruins our whole lunch experience !!! Never go back again
(1)JJ R.
Food was not good today. I ordered moo shi chicken and asked for less sauce on the chicken. I know that this dish has a brown sauce, but the server insisted that moo shi chicken does not come with sauce, but against my better judgement, I trusted what he said. The moo shi chicken was drowning in brown sauce. With the addition of sauce, you would think there would be some flavor but the moo shi chicken was as bland as can be. The chicken was tender though. I also ordered the egg drop soup, which had a burnt after-taste, and the egg rolls, which were also slightly burnt. The egg rolls were very oily, soggy, and lacked flavor. The egg drop soup is practically indelible. Also, I first ordered shrimp rolls, which they do not have. I then ordered the spring rolls, and the server had to remind me this they only contain vegetables. I guess he assumed several things about me based on how I was dressed, how I look, etc. This guy was also American, so there really was no need for his condescension. Mind you, this place is a hole in the wall. I know I sound like a prick right now, but he was a bigger one. What makes matters worse, when I opened the bag when I got home, one of the hoisen sauces that come with the chicken had spilled, so most things inside the bag was covered with the plum flavored sauce. The cover was not pressed on tightly enough! Also, there was no duck sauce in the bag. I don't like dishonesty and shoddy food.
(2)Roberto N.
What brings us back here is the Cross Bridge noodle soup. Its a huge steaming bowl with chicken, shrimp, pork, Chinese watercress, bean sprouts, and white pepper on it; to my tastes, I added a little salt and some soy. To the Asian palette, however, I'm told it's just right. As a side, we got the shredded pork with dried tofu, which has a great great flavor, and a good texture to boot. That dish is one Ill order again and again!
(4)Denise L.
Unimpressed... Friendly service, quick order prep and clean presentation but the chicken and broccoli left a lot to be desired. No flavor at all.
(2)Muriel H.
This is by far my FAVE takeout spot. I have been going here for 5 years now and whenever I am in the Rockville area and I am craving takeout, I go here. Last night my hubby ordered his usual General Tso's Chicken, I got my wings and fried rice, and I added the spicy calamari. It was so good! I want to go back to try the soft shell shrimp that I did not know they served until my order was already ready. They are not stingy on the sweet and sour sauce or the hot pepper which I love. I just wish that they still had the sweet brown sauce that I used to get with my wings but you can't win them all!
(4)Michael R.
My absolute favorite chinese restaurant anywhere. I moved to this area 2 years ago, ordered here by chance soon after moving in & have become a weekly takeout customer! I cannot say more about their Crispy Tofu Appetizer, its almost exclusively what I order as my meal (They know me as the crispy tofu guy), but everything else i have had there has been great too! The family who runs the restaurant couldn't be nicer or more hardworking-they have accepted last minute pickup orders when they didnt have too, which is greatly appreciated. ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND!
(5)Lenna L.
This is a cute family own traditional cuisine restaurant. They are famous for their cross bridge noodles soup. The noodle soup comes in huge bowls. Like all noodles soups, sometimes the broth can be different, but overall this place has been pretty consistent. the place is tiny, seats about 8 or 9 tables. This is no fancy restaurant, but it feels very hommie. Some reviews did mention the soup being blant, like I say, there are good soup and bad soup days, plus it really is personal preference, some people prefer their food a little blant because it's more healthy (not too much salt and msg), some prefer alot of flavor. My bf didn't like the noodle soup the first time he had it, saying it was blant. but the second time we went, he liked the soup. Also I like getting the soup cooked, you have the option of getting the raw version.
(4)Karena J.
Decor/food/service: It's like eating at a Chinese grandmother's house! Delicious homemade authentic food at excellent prices! -Pork with Winter Vegetable Soup: even though Cross bridge noodle is popular here, I always order the Pork with Winter vegetable soup (under Yunan specialties) - it has a flavorful brown pork broth with chewy hand made flour noodles, sautéed pork strips with authentic asian pickles. Mmmm... like my mom's homemade soup. Tastes kinda like a pork dumpling deconstructed. -Great service when dining in or getting delivery. We have ordered delivery and they offered the coupon special without me even noticing there was one that I could use. Once, when we dined in, a suggestion was made to change the type of dumpling for a great special. Always friendly and helpful! -Egg rolls are very good but I wish they had just a little more pork. -Dumplings are house made, full of savory meat and flavorful with a nice dough wrapping. -Tofu with veggie soup is a great healthy low carb low fat soup (light broth with fresh carrots, snow peas and broccoli). - Decor is bright and dated in a small restaurant with about 7-8 tables, but who cares when you get amazing food for a great low price and friendly service?
(4)Elizabeth S.
I came here to try the Crossing the bridge noodle because I've never had it before. There is an awesome story that comes with this noodle dish: "A imperial scholar was studying for his exams, he would have to cross a bridge in order to go to his studying place. His wife, would bring noodle soup for lunch, but found out by the time she crossed the bridge, the noodles got soggy. So she separated the noodles and broth in separate containers. When she crossed over the bridge to her husband, she would put the noodles in the boiling broth and got warm good non soggy soup". I think this story was really cute, but anyways, back to this place. Got the Crossing the bridge noodle and impressive but still a little bland. I did like the flavor but it was missing something. The broth wasn't that hot, so I wasn't sure about cooking raw meat in warm temperature. But nevertheless it was good for a cold winters day. The homemade dumplings were really good. You can tell that someone put their love and heart into making those dumplings, and it turned out very good. Overall, good service, good food, and you know this place is good when everyone in the restaurant speaks Chinese.
(4)Casey K.
This is going to be a short and sweet review, which is very indicative of my steamed chicken and broccoli lunch on the fly from Mandarin Express. This was my first time ordering from here and I will for sure be back to try their noodle soups and other items. My steamed chicken and broccoli was phenomenal. It was great hearty pieces of chicken that took on the steamed broccoli taste wonderfully along with perfectly cooked bright green broccoli spears. I am a stickler for broccoli because it is my favorite vegetable, so I get a little peeved when I am served discolored and soggy over cooked broccoli, which was completely not the case here. I can only imagine how their amazing noodle bowls must taste if they can make a simple dish like steamed chicken and broccoli so well. Will be back soon and with a review of my next visit.
(4)Tian J.
Fat lady married to the chef thinks she runs the place - would make up numbers on your bills hoping you won't check. Quality of dishes going down the drain over the years. Long story: Been a regular to this place for 5 years as my office was close-by. I started bringing the girlfriend there They make a hearty and bland signature noodle soup and a more interesting sour spicy noodle. The noodle soups were decent in their best days, but the quality of the dishes vary day by day - one day you would get a great tasting bowl with fresh vegetables and the next visit you might get rock hard noodles with soup totally off. The owner and her sister are both pretty nice and greet you with a warm smile and small talk, but the fat lady working there acts like you owe everything to her (husband, who is one of the cooks). I've noticed in a couple occasions where they would make up numbers on your bills and add a tax on it to make it look legit. I would usually just let it go as I trusted that they were, as they said, honest mistakes. Today my bill was again higher than expected. The owner isn't there so the fat lady openly told me because I usually pay $1.80 tip on my $13 noodle, that's not enough for her so she secretly add a couple dollars to my bill and refuse to remove it. I've been a loyal customer for 5 years and never paid less than 12% for the tip. Today is the last day me and my SO will go there. Shady business practice, never improving environment, dish that makes you think you're eating at a different restaurant everyday (now mostly bad days) warrants the 1 star. I don't usually write reviews but this place needs a wake-up call.
(1)Yiping C.
When I go, I only order 3 things: 1. The cross bridge noodles: Its packed with meats and veggies and the broth is just right. 2. The fried tofu-cubed-looking-things: If you like eating fried tofu and things the size of chicken nuggets, then this is your dish! Its fried just right, not too hard & crispy. 3. The water: Not much taste, and plenty of Ice.
(4)A.R. P.
Why did the chicken cross the BRIDGE? Easy...to become part of a classic Chinese dish! But, no...not to become part of moo goo gai pan, or sweet & sour chicken, or kung pao chicken, and, not, even to become part of General Tso's chicken (despite the military glory inherent in that). No, it was to become part of Cross-Bridge Rice Noodle Soup (which is, arguably, the best known dish from Yunnan). Yunnan? Yes...Yunnan. Mandarin Express, lo and behold, actually features specialties from Yunnan...this rather obscure southwestern Chinese province that borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam. Yunnan cuisine draws flavors from a range of traditions as the province is home to an array of ethnic minorities and culinary influences. From this mix, Yunnanese leans toward gentle, mildly spicy flavors. As for the Cross-Bridge Noodle Soup, it is clearly the most ordered dish at Mandarin Express. Each time I have visited, almost every diner is eating this soup. It is like going to Popeye's and seeing people eating chicken. What else would they be eating, right? And, naturally, what else would I be ordering? The soup consisted of a very fine, delicate chicken broth that was slightly yellowish but that was overall clear in appearance. In the broth was a pile of rice noodles (the round variety), which to those more familiar with Vietnamese soups, is virtually identical to the ones used in bun bo hue. To the broth itself, diners must add in thinly shaved pieces of meat and vegetables. So, the waitress brought out chicken, raw shrimp, bean sprouts, and raw watercress (which are all delivered to the table on a separate plate). There is a famous story about the origins of this soup that involves a Chinese scholar who had a penchant for studying on a little island (in a lake) in order to find the necessary peace and solitude to concentrate. He had a dear wife who would bring him noodle soup each time that he studied there. Apparently, she would have to "cross" a wooden bridge in order to reach him...and, thus, the tasty noodles that she prepared gained the now famous designation. In addition to this origination story, the name of the dish is also associated with diners adding the raw ingredients to the broth, which is analogous to their bringing the various meats and vegetables across an imaginary "bridge" into the broth to be consumed. Besides the famous cross-bridge rice noodle soup, Mandarin Express carries many other soup selections. Therefore, we coordinated our orders so that we could try a variety of soups. The Yunan [sic] Style Pork Rice Noodle Soup, another popular item, consisted of the same broth (with added scallions and bean sprouts in place). However, diners do not add any additional meats or vegetables to this broth. Instead, a generous dollop of pork, which was first lightly stir fried with bean paste and which ultimately rested atop the soup like an artificial island, was added to the broth in the kitchen prior to the soup being served. However, the end result was a bit dry, in a "pasty" kind of way (as if the bean paste had not been melded with any kind of emulsifying liquid in order to moisten or lubricate the final dollop of pork). The pork itself, cut into slivers, was itself a bit flat in flavor and did not compensate for the dryness of the bean paste very well. The final soup that we tried was the so-called Traditional Yunan [sic] Hot & Sour Rice Noodle Soup. This soup was easily the most complex of the soups. The base chicken broth, which was complemented by the presence of generous chili flakes and pieces of Chinese sour cabbage, a smattering of bean sprouts, and a helping of green onions, delivered a kick. In this soup, the pork was thoroughly integrated into the soup. Although not as intense or multi-faceted as it could optimally be, this soup was nonetheless satisfying. A final dish of Rice Cakes Yunan [sic] Style rounded out our meal. It consisted of a platter of coin-sized rice cakes that were stir fried with those now familiar slivers of pork. The final product featured bits of scallions and sour cabbage. The coins of rice cakes tasted starchy and gummy, but the sauce was savory. The restaurant itself is very small and confining. It is essentially a tight rectangle of space that can accommodate eight square tables (for 4 diners) and one round table (for 5 diners). When the restaurant is full (which, seemingly, is often), the result can be a bit claustrophobic. The dining room staff consists of two women (one of whom is the owner's wife). The owner's son, dressed in casual street clothes, helps out too while dad is in the kitchen--cooking, stir frying, and ladling the signature broth to create the various permutations of soup.
(3)Jacqueline C.
Do they not take credit cards anymore? I went back in September and we spent around $40 (I bought carry-out for my husband as well as ate-in with my sisters.), the server asked me to pay cash please. There was also another guest behind our table and they asked him to pay cash too, but he only had credit card. They let him pay with that. Really? Unless there's a sign on the front door that says cash only, I'm not paying cash. That one visit made me not want to go back anymore. I'm not sure if they have different chefs on weekdays, weeknights, or weekends, but my husband went back on a weeknight to buy their crispy tofu. It was disgusting: barely any sauce on the tofus and the sauce tasted different. If I want to eat bland tofu puffs, I'll go buy a bag at the grocery store. But I've only gotten their hot & sour noodle soup. It tasted different towards the end of this past summer. Their Lu Chiang spareribs is good too (It's the salt and pepper pork chops, but in small ribs form.). Their combination platters aren't that great. They give you a huge portion of rice though... I've had better elsewhere. It's also supposed to come with eggrolls, didn't get them with our orders. Their hot & sour soup is meh; I've had better elsewhere also. There was also a roach in the back corner... Not surprising, but it was gross when you're sitting on the other side of the room looking right at it. It was probably dead, but come on, clean it up.
(3)Win D C.
So I'm not going to reiterate all the great reviews here because, quite simply, I agree. Yes, it's a hole-in-the-wall (which was recently renovated, mind you, to a better hole-in-the-wall), the service can be rough around the edges, but the food is authentic (Yunan, that is) and delicious. We've been eating here for around 5 years and had most of the main dishes, with the Traditional Yunan Hot and Sour Noodle Soup being our fave. My review serves to highlight the family-owned aspect of the restaurant. As some have observed, the father is the chef, the mother is the manager/server, and the two sons (now in college) are also part-time servers. While I will agree the service can be rough around the edges, I want to give props to the sons who have done a great job smoothing these edges, serving dishes with a smile and courteousness you see more often at non-asian establishments. I guess I'm a little sentimental since I saw them grow up and are now really helping their parents out with the business. No, we aren't related or even family-friends. Just regular patrons that know when to give credit when credit is due. Props!
(5)Thomas W.
I love Fu Jook! The Cross-Bridge Rice Noodle soup is outstanding! You can cook it yourself or have them do it. I prefer for them to cook it making the vegetables a little less raw. The watercress, large shrimp, and wonderful noodles make for a bargain feast at $8. Add chili and you have a great meal!
(4)Shushu F.
I am surprised they have the Yunnan Rice Noodle but the owener is actually from Shandong.... Being a Yunner, I have to be a little bit picky....The incredient is just good ( actually nobody use shrimp for over bridge rice noodle). The soup is tasty, but when i got home, my mouth is so try and i realize maybe they put too much MSG... But it is good to know there is a place selling Yunnan Rice noodle..and I am definitely going to try the sour spicy one !
(3)Deborah N.
Very plain interior. Located in the same crowded and nondescript strip mall that houses the wonderful Il Pizzico. Yeah, everytime I've been to Il Pizzico I've been so obsessed with getting in there and devouring I never even noticed a Chinese place practically next door! Leave it to Yelp to clue me in! This place has all the "regular" (read boring) Chinese dishes that one might find in any old Chinese place. But it's got the something extra that brought me in - Yunan specialties. Wasn't even familiar with the Yunan region but I guess the cuisine is quite rare here in the US? If I weren't so ignorant I could tell you more. Instead I recommend Google. I'm here to talk about what I ate: I tried the Yunan Hot and Sour soup. It was a big bowl of hot and sour noodle soup. Very different from "normal" hot and sour soup one expects in a Chinese restaurant. Wish I could tell you how but I cannot. Can't say I would get it again but that's only because I want to eat my way through the rest of the Yunan menu. I would say my pre-class meals in Rockville just got a whole lot more interesting!
(4)Natasha S.
Ok, I give up. I have attempted to order again from here. The food has not good and flavorful. I'm not sure why this place has great reviews and why everyone loves it. Is there something I am missing? I don't find the food that great. The more Yunnan dishes are actually very mediocre and some dishes - primarily the more simple Americanized dishes like Shrimp with Broccoli is just plain awful in taste and quality. I have given them at least 6 chances and ordered something different each time, but something just don't catch my taste buds here. I have tried the Yunnan specialties, and haven't found anything worth my while. While the first time I had the dumplings, I thought they were good. The second time, I didn't really care for them as much. For dumplings, stick to China Bistro. Definitely a lot of better places to go to for Chinese food in the area - not here. Prices are great, service is good. But the food itself, I just cannot find what the hype is about.
(2)Jeff B.
Great food , good prices, quick delivery ! Great dumplings and soups. Staff is very accommodating. Must try Hunan Beef.
(4)Monica G.
This place is horrible. The food is bland and mediocre at best. I never get the same food on each order. The beef and chicken are extremely low grade and fatty. I made the mistake of ordering chicken wings and they came white on the outside and pink on the inside. When I called to complain I was told that they use fresh oil and that the chicken was supposed to look like that. Avoid at all cost~!
(1)Wei Z.
When I go to a restaurant I judge it on service, taste and presentation. The service here was god awful. That alone, you will not see me here again. The taste of the food overall was salty. The crispy chicken was not crispy. They over salted and over sauce a simple dish. What's going on guys? Number 3. Presentation. Oh man this was just sloppy. The broccoli I got looked bad and has been sitting around for days. People eat with their eye. Learn to plate good please.
(1)Bernard R.
Another Chinese restaurant near by my company. So let's say some facts: Their cross-bridge rice noodle soup is very good. It tastes same as the one I got in China and in Chicago Chinatown. Their hand made Dumplings or Chinese Ravioli are above average among restaurants. There are too few parking place there, no street parking on 355, and several business in the same plaza shares or fight for around 30 parking places. There are always a lot of people and long waiting in peak lunch hours. I have experienced 30+ min long waiting in a working day noon. Work days evening should be fine without parking issues and waiting issues Their waiter and owner are not so professional if you take American restaurants like Red Lobster as the measurement of standard. They are not rude but they really lack some common sense of how to serve customer well in this country. Yes, they persuade you change table when they have some customers want to sit in group. For this part I agree with Robert, they tend to pick Chinese customer to move to another table. Maybe they thought people from same country and use same language as theirs are 'easy' to communicate with. For this reason, thumb down and I leave only 2 stars though their food worth 4-5 star.
(2)Kathy C.
Great cross bridge noodle soup and soft-shell crabs! The lady was who serves is not easy to communicate with, however. Late into my meal she just kind of wandered over and put a bowl of rice on the very corner of my table next to me. About 10 minutes later she came back and took it and gave it to a table behind me. Seriously, what is that??
(3)Lucy B.
This place was a real find! It is not real attractive inside, I think a hole in the wall is a great description. But, sometimes some really great food comes out of those holes! Anyhoo.. I found this place on yelp and decided to pick up some take out. The young man that took my order was extremely helpful, polite and just really friendly. He offered me tea as I waited. I ordered yunan pork noodle soup, it was fantastic! I usually like all my food to be spicy, like, if its not spicy sometimes I don't see the point in eating it. But this soup was weirdly so satisfying. The flavors sort of did a dance in my mouth! We also ordered combo fried rice, some dumplings, some beef dish and then because I ordered enough food to feed a small army they had some sort of deal where if you spend this much you get something from the menu, so, we also got free lo mein. It was all really great! Next time, I'm ordering from the comfort of my own couch as I learned delivery is free. Hooray!
(5)Lucy X.
If anything, the "cross-bridge" noodle soup here is amazing! Authentic Yunan food and I don't know anywhere else that has it. Ask for them to give it to you uncooked so you can "cook" it yourself, which basically means that they give you a hot bowl of soup broth and you put all the raw meat, veggies, and noodles (which is the only thing that has already been cooked) in. The broth is very tasty and the perfect density--not too thick and not thin. The few pieces of shrimp and slices of chicken that it comes with is not an overwhelming amount either, which is good. Besides that, the other dishes I've tried so far are really good as well. The spicy fried calamari is the best fried calamari I've ever had. It's perfectly fried and not oily at all (unlike the kind they serve at some of the American restaurants I've been to). Also, the sweet/spicy fried tofu is perfectly fried too and very yummy. You'd think ordering all these "fried" dishes would be too much, but not at all! That's what I mean by it's "perfectly" fried--you can barely taste that it's even fried. Overall, a great place to grab lunch with one or two other friends. They also have a variety of "Americanized" Chinese food like orange chicken, pineapple chicken, etc, but I highly suggest to try the traditional dishes before anything!
(5)Beth T.
I have been ordering for years. Food is great. I love the dumplings. One time when I ordered delivery they called me back to ask if I forgot to order my dumplings! I have watched the 2 sons grow up and they are always polite and helpful. I would recommend to anyone.
(5)Cynthia L.
Small, quiet, family owned restaurant with limited seating. I come here to eat (or carry out) one thing: Guo tiao mi xian (Sorry I don't know how to literally translate this...it's basically noodle soup). Hot, northern-style soup with crispy veggies and fresh noodles...on a chilly day is nothing short of delicious. On another occasion, my family and I came here as a big party. For dessert, the chef threw together wok-made caramel over apples, which the server then asked us to dip into cold water (to cool down the caramel) before eating. I thought it was completely too weird for me to taste, but it turned out to be one of the best things here (crispy apple with light warm caramel? who doesn't love that)....its a shame they don't have this on the menu or offer it regularly. This place is worth trying if you're in the area.
(4)Ruth H.
Gads. The Cross Bridge noodle is that insidious, slithering succubus that leads the weight conscious men (or women) to sin unknowingly. I mean, from all appearances, the dish screams healthy, or at least balanced; but appearances are deceptive. At first glance, how could you go wrong diet-wise with a plate of veggies, two slice of meat, a few shrimp and some noodles? Well, it is not until I downed the whole bowl that I realized that the layer of chicken fat/grease floating above the soup is what makes the noodle so good and what keeps the dish hot enough for you to cook the raw ingredients table-side. I had the sinking feeling that I may as well have eaten a bucket of fried chicken; yet, I could not bring myself to complain about such a satisfying dinner. The eternal struggle between the foodie and skinny mini wannabe continues. Service is prompt and courteous.
(4)Kat F.
I ate here last night by recommendation from my boyfriend's mother (they're Cantonese). It's a really small Chinese restaurant with about 10 tables (mix between mostly 2 seated tables, a few 4 seated tables, and 1 round table for 6). Because of the small space, it never gets too loud, even with the TV on. We ordered a Spicy Fried Squid dish, Fried Tofu, a wide rice noodle dish with beef, and the Cross Bridge Noodle. I don't know the names because it was ordered by my boyfriend's mom in Chinese, sorry :-/. The fried squid was really good, not hard and rubbery, and it wasn't too spicy either. We ate that quickly enough. I actually really liked the Fried Tofu. The cubes of tofu were covered in a salt and pepper concoction, mixed with green onions and (i think) garlic. The outside was super fried and crunchy, while the inside was nice and soft. The rice noodle dish with beef was okay, not anything very special here. I mainly focused on eating the other dishes instead. The Cross Bridge Noodles was pretty good in my opinion. My boyfriend didn't seem to like it. So what happens, is they give you a plate of raw shrimp and chicken with bean sprouts and some vegetables. Then they bring out a hot bowl of yellow broth to put all of the ingredients into as well as a bowl of cooked noodles to also put into the broth. My boyfriend tried the broth as we were putting in the ingredients and thought it tasted like chicken noodle soup. He never tried it again after that. After we let the ingredients cook/flavor out into the broth and vice versa, I tried it. It tasted okay, but it did need a little more flavor, so we added some soy sauce. It didn't really get it's flavor yet until I decided to put some of the fried tofu into the soup. For some reason, the flavor was greatly enhanced for both the soup and the tofu. I have tried their dumplings once. They were okay, but I still prefer China Bistro's dumplings.
(3)Wendy t.
Their Cross Bridge Noodles is amazing and would choose it over Pho any day. Their salt water duck are also to die for. Other places make it too salty but theirs is just right! Love this place!
(5)Brandy P.
After reading the rave reviews of the cross bridge noodle soup, I decided to try it. If you like Pho this doesn't compare to it, you will be disappointed. The lo mein is really good!!! Overall I think that the food is good.
(3)Wesley Y.
Cross Bridge noodles are great anyone who says other wise doesn't know what their talking about and shouldn't eat here. the noodle broth is chicken not like pho which is the beef base the yunan specialities is where the best dishes are hidden would come back anytime it is a small restaurant and sometimes it does take a little while to cook. Great place for carryout
(5)I G.
This isn't the closest Chinese restaurant to our house, but the food is great and they delivery quickly, so they are our go to place when we order delivery.
(5)Joyce T.
I gave this place 4 stars because not everything is as good and when i say that I mean the "American style Chinese food" (I'm sorry I tend to find this style of food lack of the grace of Chinese food and sadly almost every Chinese Restaurant has them on the menu.) They have couple of specialties that you CANNOT MISS~! 1st, is the famous cross-bridge noodle (I like it raw w/o the bean sprouts) I always put the sliced meat in first then the veggies and put the shrimp last because that way you don't over cooked the shrimp =]] 2nd, is their fried tofu. I have to say those fried tofu are the best~! Dunno how they do it but the spicy sweet soy sauce syrup goes really well with the fried tofu~ if you haven't tried it, it is a MUST TRY. 3rd is their fried chicken wings~ Well most people would wonder how is it a specialty. But when you have it you would understand. The chicken wings are well marinated and juicy too~! You have the choice of 6 wings with fried rice or 8 wings w/o fried rice. =] Last is their home made dumplings..... they have different flavors. you can try different flavors and find your favorite one. But do avoid the fish flavor.
(4)Eddie D.
Here's something different. This Chinese restaurant does not specialize in Mandarin, Sichuan, Taiwanese or Cantonese. Is Yunan food! Beside the Yunan specialties, they also carried your typical Chinese American food. This is another hole in the wall restaurant that probably had about ten tables. The service was prompt and friendly. We order the Yunan Style Pork Rice Noodle Soup, which I found the noodle to be quite different and good, is like spaghetti noodle but with a snap, the pork was tasty along with the chives. The Rice Cake Yunan Style was very tasty, stir fried along with pork and sour cabbage. Both dishes were under $6 each, you can't beat that. Definitely be back and try other Yunan Specialties.
(4)Cleveland J.
LOOK AT YOUR BILL CAREFULLY!!! We returned to Mandarin express on only our second visit today and did so with fairly high expectations. We ordered a combination fried rice of vegetables ($7.25)and shrimp and a crispy tofu ($6.25)to be serve with some extra sauce, if it's was not too much trouble. Our host agreed and we then completed the order with the vegetable steam dumplings ($6.25). When the billed arrived it was $26.95 including taxes, $7.00 more. Hoping it was a simple mistake we requested that the bill be checked. She was obviously displeased. She adjusted it by a dollar and insisted that the difference was for the sauce and vegetable fried rice even though there was never any mentioned of a price difference. She stated that the sauce was $1 and the vegetables were $3 ( still over by $3). By this time her attitude had become increasing rude and condescending. Realizing that there was no winning we left a $4 tip and was about to walk out when she had the audacity to ask if we were leaving a tip. You could just imagine what I was thinking! The meal might have been enjoyable but its pleasure was quickly lost with the unprofessional and uncourteous service. We would have likely left her a $10 tip but what she did felt dishonest. Needless to say we will not be returning.
(2)Sheri G.
I just got the kung pao chicken. It was salty, not spicy at all and it was the fattiest chicken i have ever eaten. Not impressed at all
(2)Spammich P.
I'm a little rough on Chinese Food. I'm pretty rough on food, period. When I'm not rough on food, I'm eating it. Overview: This restaurant, as a sit-in, is one of the better Chinese restaurants/ diners around. Don't expect much when you walk in. You can practically count the amount of tables on one hand. It has a very home-like feel to it. I almost took my shoes off before making myself comfortable. Service: The service is prompt and adequate. Do not expect top notch, 5-star, Ritz Carlton service. Go into this place with time to chill, and expect to enjoy the meal, unless the place is busy. They take your order, communicate with the kitchen, ensure your water is full, and check on you once or twice. It's not overbearing. Food: Of all the Chinese establishments my wife and I have been to, this is not one of the best. KIDDING. The food here is outstanding. For the Rockville/ Montgomery County - this little hole is fairly good. If your a General Tso's, Sesame Chicken, Orange Chicken, and Mongolian Beef kind of person. Stop being so boring and step out a bit. Try the various noodle dishes. Try the pork dishes. ...This place is definitely one of the better places to munch on Chinese Food.
(3)Jessica P.
For the second time, we are very impressed with the food here, which is fresh, fast, and delicious! And again, we could not finish our plates. We walked out both times with tabs for less than $20. This is a very unassuming place when you first pull in. If you are Caucasian you will be in the minority here. The spice meter runs pretty high unless you order one of the tasty make-your-own noodle bowls.
(4)Jen C.
This is the quietest restaurant I've been to, as all the patrons are slurping away at the same bowl of noodles: Cross Bridge. Can't say this is the most attractive stop either, but it seems that everyone comes here with the same business of downing a satisfying, hot bowl of soup noodles. The Cross Bridge Noodle is a clear broth, light bowl. Traditionally, this comes with raw ingredients (pork and chicken slices, vegetables, shrimp) and an extremely hot bowl of soup noodles...start adding the raw ingredients, and "cross" everything with your "bridge"--or, chopsticks. When you order, they'll ask you if you prefer raw or cooked. We were starving so opted for the latter, but I'm curious to taste how different it is cooking on your own. CBN is best paired with their crispy tofu (per Yelp's recommendation) and fresh Chinese watercress (a seasonal green). The texture of the tofu is the same as you'd get with stinky tofu, minus the stink and with some heat and sweetness. Can't say it's the healthiest treat, but it balances well with everything else. Stick with these on the menu and you'll have yourself a satisfying hot meal. This has become my replacement pho....
(4)Robert C.
I've been to Mandarin Express quite a few time. I must say my experience there hasn't been all that bad until this 1 day. I came in that day to eat by myself. Since the place's somewhat empty, they sat me down in a bigger table. However, after I ordered and got my food already, they asked me to move to a smaller table. Even though it's rude for someone to ask you to move after you started eating, I did move because I figured that a larger group probably needed the large table. BUT I found out that I was simply moved for a single white man. He was eating by himself just like I did, so why the heck did they move me to a smaller table? Just because I'm a Chinese just like the owners doesn't mean that they could treat me any less. I started yelling at them for a good 1/2 hour and they didnt have any comeback for me aside from "We're sorry." This is the freaking 21st century and no one should endure that kindda treatment. All skin colors should be treated the same. Obviously the owners never got that memo. I will NEVER ever come back to this dump, I'm bringing my business somewhere else!
(1)Marouf A.
Good food! I take out often from here...they are quick & good service as well. I wish the location was better due to parking constraints.
(3)Christopher S.
Tues 8/27/13 12PM Crossing the Bridge Noodles...this soup is addicting! At first, the slices of raw chicken and pork were a bit alarming, but when the soup came out, everything made sense. The soup was boiling hot and rich in flavor. This small, hole-in-the-wall restaurant also offers some of the cheapest dumplings in the Rockville, MD area.
(4)Wendy S.
Wish i could get them 0 star. Be aware their napkin charge 50 cent if u use extra. They refused to let us use 2 credit cards even minimum credit card charge is $10 and our bill is $35. Will never go again. Their cooking oil is so disgusting.
(1)Janet H.
I don't get what the hype about the Cross Bridge Noodle Soup here is all about. I've had it twice and I don't know.. it's just okay to me. Very strong MSG and white pepper powder tasting soup. It's almost $8/bowl and honestly I think I'd rather spend that on Pho and it would probably cover my tip too. You can try it though.. maybe you'll like it? I work pretty close by and we order delivery from here pretty often for lunch. They have a pretty big selection for lunch specials and at a pretty good price. Kung Pao Chicken, Szechuan green beans, Crispy beef... are some of our usual orders and they are not bad for the price. I would definitely recommend their lunch specials. Great price and big portions :) BTW, they are really a take out place because its soooo small inside..
(3)Bill P.
FIVE FLAVOR chicken......enough said!!!!! One of my fave dishes of thousands of restaurants I've partaken in in the DC area. I've had it 12 times and it ROCKS!!!!! Savory sauce delectable pieces of chicken bell peppers onions baby corn and black currents YUM ME!!!!!! Very Mom and Pop and I usually get to go but the families that sit at the 10-15 seat place are having a great time.....Dad in kitchen Mom expedites and junior (12 year old son) rings up the orders VERY PROFESSIONALLY everytime, Dumplings are very good too but do take 20-25 min. to cook. If you are driving from Rockville or Bethesda towards Gaithersbuirg this is a MUST_STOP!!!!!!!!!!!tptowarsdsarock
(5)Marcus N.
This little place is pretty good. The fried squid dish is like crack and you can get "real" chinese food here. How do I know? Everytime I've gone, 95% of the other people in this small place are talking in chinese. That's a good sign.
(4)jo d.
This is one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in the area. The food is authentic, down-to-earth home-style dishes and fresh Yun'nan noodle soups. When I need something to warm me up on a cold day, a fast and good lunch, or a cozy place to sit and have a meal with a good friend, I can always count on this place for the food. Service is average, price is very reasonable. I highly recommend the Yun'nan noodle soup and any dishes that you don't recognize otherwise on a Chinese takeout restaurant's menu.
(4)Jen L.
This restaurant is unique because they serve Yunnan cuisine. Yunnan is a very Southern province in China that borders Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and India to the south. I had never tried Yunnan cuisine before, but I found the food flavorful and savory. The soup almost reminded me of Pho, but not really.... and Chinese. Try the eggplant dish with lot's of sauce. The prices are reasonable.
(4)Omar R.
The Cross Bridge Noodle Soup rocks here!
(4)Yiping C.
When I go, I only order 3 things: 1. The cross bridge noodles: Its packed with meats and veggies and the broth is just right. 2. The fried tofu-cubed-looking-things: If you like eating fried tofu and things the size of chicken nuggets, then this is your dish! Its fried just right, not too hard & crispy. 3. The water: Not much taste, and plenty of Ice.
(4)A.R. P.
Why did the chicken cross the BRIDGE? Easy...to become part of a classic Chinese dish! But, no...not to become part of moo goo gai pan, or sweet & sour chicken, or kung pao chicken, and, not, even to become part of General Tso's chicken (despite the military glory inherent in that). No, it was to become part of Cross-Bridge Rice Noodle Soup (which is, arguably, the best known dish from Yunnan). Yunnan? Yes...Yunnan. Mandarin Express, lo and behold, actually features specialties from Yunnan...this rather obscure southwestern Chinese province that borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam. Yunnan cuisine draws flavors from a range of traditions as the province is home to an array of ethnic minorities and culinary influences. From this mix, Yunnanese leans toward gentle, mildly spicy flavors. As for the Cross-Bridge Noodle Soup, it is clearly the most ordered dish at Mandarin Express. Each time I have visited, almost every diner is eating this soup. It is like going to Popeye's and seeing people eating chicken. What else would they be eating, right? And, naturally, what else would I be ordering? The soup consisted of a very fine, delicate chicken broth that was slightly yellowish but that was overall clear in appearance. In the broth was a pile of rice noodles (the round variety), which to those more familiar with Vietnamese soups, is virtually identical to the ones used in bun bo hue. To the broth itself, diners must add in thinly shaved pieces of meat and vegetables. So, the waitress brought out chicken, raw shrimp, bean sprouts, and raw watercress (which are all delivered to the table on a separate plate). There is a famous story about the origins of this soup that involves a Chinese scholar who had a penchant for studying on a little island (in a lake) in order to find the necessary peace and solitude to concentrate. He had a dear wife who would bring him noodle soup each time that he studied there. Apparently, she would have to "cross" a wooden bridge in order to reach him...and, thus, the tasty noodles that she prepared gained the now famous designation. In addition to this origination story, the name of the dish is also associated with diners adding the raw ingredients to the broth, which is analogous to their bringing the various meats and vegetables across an imaginary "bridge" into the broth to be consumed. Besides the famous cross-bridge rice noodle soup, Mandarin Express carries many other soup selections. Therefore, we coordinated our orders so that we could try a variety of soups. The Yunan [sic] Style Pork Rice Noodle Soup, another popular item, consisted of the same broth (with added scallions and bean sprouts in place). However, diners do not add any additional meats or vegetables to this broth. Instead, a generous dollop of pork, which was first lightly stir fried with bean paste and which ultimately rested atop the soup like an artificial island, was added to the broth in the kitchen prior to the soup being served. However, the end result was a bit dry, in a "pasty" kind of way (as if the bean paste had not been melded with any kind of emulsifying liquid in order to moisten or lubricate the final dollop of pork). The pork itself, cut into slivers, was itself a bit flat in flavor and did not compensate for the dryness of the bean paste very well. The final soup that we tried was the so-called Traditional Yunan [sic] Hot & Sour Rice Noodle Soup. This soup was easily the most complex of the soups. The base chicken broth, which was complemented by the presence of generous chili flakes and pieces of Chinese sour cabbage, a smattering of bean sprouts, and a helping of green onions, delivered a kick. In this soup, the pork was thoroughly integrated into the soup. Although not as intense or multi-faceted as it could optimally be, this soup was nonetheless satisfying. A final dish of Rice Cakes Yunan [sic] Style rounded out our meal. It consisted of a platter of coin-sized rice cakes that were stir fried with those now familiar slivers of pork. The final product featured bits of scallions and sour cabbage. The coins of rice cakes tasted starchy and gummy, but the sauce was savory. The restaurant itself is very small and confining. It is essentially a tight rectangle of space that can accommodate eight square tables (for 4 diners) and one round table (for 5 diners). When the restaurant is full (which, seemingly, is often), the result can be a bit claustrophobic. The dining room staff consists of two women (one of whom is the owner's wife). The owner's son, dressed in casual street clothes, helps out too while dad is in the kitchen--cooking, stir frying, and ladling the signature broth to create the various permutations of soup.
(3)Ellis X.
The food is ok--traditional hot and sour soup, fried tofu and soft shell crab. The owner of the restaurant has a great room for improvement in customer service. Bathroom needs an upkeep.
(2)Lenna L.
This is a cute family own traditional cuisine restaurant. They are famous for their cross bridge noodles soup. The noodle soup comes in huge bowls. Like all noodles soups, sometimes the broth can be different, but overall this place has been pretty consistent. the place is tiny, seats about 8 or 9 tables. This is no fancy restaurant, but it feels very hommie. Some reviews did mention the soup being blant, like I say, there are good soup and bad soup days, plus it really is personal preference, some people prefer their food a little blant because it's more healthy (not too much salt and msg), some prefer alot of flavor. My bf didn't like the noodle soup the first time he had it, saying it was blant. but the second time we went, he liked the soup. Also I like getting the soup cooked, you have the option of getting the raw version.
(4)Karena J.
Decor/food/service: It's like eating at a Chinese grandmother's house! Delicious homemade authentic food at excellent prices! -Pork with Winter Vegetable Soup: even though Cross bridge noodle is popular here, I always order the Pork with Winter vegetable soup (under Yunan specialties) - it has a flavorful brown pork broth with chewy hand made flour noodles, sautéed pork strips with authentic asian pickles. Mmmm... like my mom's homemade soup. Tastes kinda like a pork dumpling deconstructed. -Great service when dining in or getting delivery. We have ordered delivery and they offered the coupon special without me even noticing there was one that I could use. Once, when we dined in, a suggestion was made to change the type of dumpling for a great special. Always friendly and helpful! -Egg rolls are very good but I wish they had just a little more pork. -Dumplings are house made, full of savory meat and flavorful with a nice dough wrapping. -Tofu with veggie soup is a great healthy low carb low fat soup (light broth with fresh carrots, snow peas and broccoli). - Decor is bright and dated in a small restaurant with about 7-8 tables, but who cares when you get amazing food for a great low price and friendly service?
(4)Elizabeth S.
I came here to try the Crossing the bridge noodle because I've never had it before. There is an awesome story that comes with this noodle dish: "A imperial scholar was studying for his exams, he would have to cross a bridge in order to go to his studying place. His wife, would bring noodle soup for lunch, but found out by the time she crossed the bridge, the noodles got soggy. So she separated the noodles and broth in separate containers. When she crossed over the bridge to her husband, she would put the noodles in the boiling broth and got warm good non soggy soup". I think this story was really cute, but anyways, back to this place. Got the Crossing the bridge noodle and impressive but still a little bland. I did like the flavor but it was missing something. The broth wasn't that hot, so I wasn't sure about cooking raw meat in warm temperature. But nevertheless it was good for a cold winters day. The homemade dumplings were really good. You can tell that someone put their love and heart into making those dumplings, and it turned out very good. Overall, good service, good food, and you know this place is good when everyone in the restaurant speaks Chinese.
(4)Tian J.
Fat lady married to the chef thinks she runs the place - would make up numbers on your bills hoping you won't check. Quality of dishes going down the drain over the years. Long story: Been a regular to this place for 5 years as my office was close-by. I started bringing the girlfriend there They make a hearty and bland signature noodle soup and a more interesting sour spicy noodle. The noodle soups were decent in their best days, but the quality of the dishes vary day by day - one day you would get a great tasting bowl with fresh vegetables and the next visit you might get rock hard noodles with soup totally off. The owner and her sister are both pretty nice and greet you with a warm smile and small talk, but the fat lady working there acts like you owe everything to her (husband, who is one of the cooks). I've noticed in a couple occasions where they would make up numbers on your bills and add a tax on it to make it look legit. I would usually just let it go as I trusted that they were, as they said, honest mistakes. Today my bill was again higher than expected. The owner isn't there so the fat lady openly told me because I usually pay $1.80 tip on my $13 noodle, that's not enough for her so she secretly add a couple dollars to my bill and refuse to remove it. I've been a loyal customer for 5 years and never paid less than 12% for the tip. Today is the last day me and my SO will go there. Shady business practice, never improving environment, dish that makes you think you're eating at a different restaurant everyday (now mostly bad days) warrants the 1 star. I don't usually write reviews but this place needs a wake-up call.
(1)Jen C.
This is the quietest restaurant I've been to, as all the patrons are slurping away at the same bowl of noodles: Cross Bridge. Can't say this is the most attractive stop either, but it seems that everyone comes here with the same business of downing a satisfying, hot bowl of soup noodles. The Cross Bridge Noodle is a clear broth, light bowl. Traditionally, this comes with raw ingredients (pork and chicken slices, vegetables, shrimp) and an extremely hot bowl of soup noodles...start adding the raw ingredients, and "cross" everything with your "bridge"--or, chopsticks. When you order, they'll ask you if you prefer raw or cooked. We were starving so opted for the latter, but I'm curious to taste how different it is cooking on your own. CBN is best paired with their crispy tofu (per Yelp's recommendation) and fresh Chinese watercress (a seasonal green). The texture of the tofu is the same as you'd get with stinky tofu, minus the stink and with some heat and sweetness. Can't say it's the healthiest treat, but it balances well with everything else. Stick with these on the menu and you'll have yourself a satisfying hot meal. This has become my replacement pho....
(4)Robert C.
I've been to Mandarin Express quite a few time. I must say my experience there hasn't been all that bad until this 1 day. I came in that day to eat by myself. Since the place's somewhat empty, they sat me down in a bigger table. However, after I ordered and got my food already, they asked me to move to a smaller table. Even though it's rude for someone to ask you to move after you started eating, I did move because I figured that a larger group probably needed the large table. BUT I found out that I was simply moved for a single white man. He was eating by himself just like I did, so why the heck did they move me to a smaller table? Just because I'm a Chinese just like the owners doesn't mean that they could treat me any less. I started yelling at them for a good 1/2 hour and they didnt have any comeback for me aside from "We're sorry." This is the freaking 21st century and no one should endure that kindda treatment. All skin colors should be treated the same. Obviously the owners never got that memo. I will NEVER ever come back to this dump, I'm bringing my business somewhere else!
(1)Marouf A.
Good food! I take out often from here...they are quick & good service as well. I wish the location was better due to parking constraints.
(3)Christopher S.
Tues 8/27/13 12PM Crossing the Bridge Noodles...this soup is addicting! At first, the slices of raw chicken and pork were a bit alarming, but when the soup came out, everything made sense. The soup was boiling hot and rich in flavor. This small, hole-in-the-wall restaurant also offers some of the cheapest dumplings in the Rockville, MD area.
(4)Wendy S.
Wish i could get them 0 star. Be aware their napkin charge 50 cent if u use extra. They refused to let us use 2 credit cards even minimum credit card charge is $10 and our bill is $35. Will never go again. Their cooking oil is so disgusting.
(1)Jacqueline C.
Do they not take credit cards anymore? I went back in September and we spent around $40 (I bought carry-out for my husband as well as ate-in with my sisters.), the server asked me to pay cash please. There was also another guest behind our table and they asked him to pay cash too, but he only had credit card. They let him pay with that. Really? Unless there's a sign on the front door that says cash only, I'm not paying cash. That one visit made me not want to go back anymore. I'm not sure if they have different chefs on weekdays, weeknights, or weekends, but my husband went back on a weeknight to buy their crispy tofu. It was disgusting: barely any sauce on the tofus and the sauce tasted different. If I want to eat bland tofu puffs, I'll go buy a bag at the grocery store. But I've only gotten their hot & sour noodle soup. It tasted different towards the end of this past summer. Their Lu Chiang spareribs is good too (It's the salt and pepper pork chops, but in small ribs form.). Their combination platters aren't that great. They give you a huge portion of rice though... I've had better elsewhere. It's also supposed to come with eggrolls, didn't get them with our orders. Their hot & sour soup is meh; I've had better elsewhere also. There was also a roach in the back corner... Not surprising, but it was gross when you're sitting on the other side of the room looking right at it. It was probably dead, but come on, clean it up.
(3)Win D C.
So I'm not going to reiterate all the great reviews here because, quite simply, I agree. Yes, it's a hole-in-the-wall (which was recently renovated, mind you, to a better hole-in-the-wall), the service can be rough around the edges, but the food is authentic (Yunan, that is) and delicious. We've been eating here for around 5 years and had most of the main dishes, with the Traditional Yunan Hot and Sour Noodle Soup being our fave. My review serves to highlight the family-owned aspect of the restaurant. As some have observed, the father is the chef, the mother is the manager/server, and the two sons (now in college) are also part-time servers. While I will agree the service can be rough around the edges, I want to give props to the sons who have done a great job smoothing these edges, serving dishes with a smile and courteousness you see more often at non-asian establishments. I guess I'm a little sentimental since I saw them grow up and are now really helping their parents out with the business. No, we aren't related or even family-friends. Just regular patrons that know when to give credit when credit is due. Props!
(5)Kathy C.
Great cross bridge noodle soup and soft-shell crabs! The lady was who serves is not easy to communicate with, however. Late into my meal she just kind of wandered over and put a bowl of rice on the very corner of my table next to me. About 10 minutes later she came back and took it and gave it to a table behind me. Seriously, what is that??
(3)Deborah N.
Very plain interior. Located in the same crowded and nondescript strip mall that houses the wonderful Il Pizzico. Yeah, everytime I've been to Il Pizzico I've been so obsessed with getting in there and devouring I never even noticed a Chinese place practically next door! Leave it to Yelp to clue me in! This place has all the "regular" (read boring) Chinese dishes that one might find in any old Chinese place. But it's got the something extra that brought me in - Yunan specialties. Wasn't even familiar with the Yunan region but I guess the cuisine is quite rare here in the US? If I weren't so ignorant I could tell you more. Instead I recommend Google. I'm here to talk about what I ate: I tried the Yunan Hot and Sour soup. It was a big bowl of hot and sour noodle soup. Very different from "normal" hot and sour soup one expects in a Chinese restaurant. Wish I could tell you how but I cannot. Can't say I would get it again but that's only because I want to eat my way through the rest of the Yunan menu. I would say my pre-class meals in Rockville just got a whole lot more interesting!
(4)Natasha S.
Ok, I give up. I have attempted to order again from here. The food has not good and flavorful. I'm not sure why this place has great reviews and why everyone loves it. Is there something I am missing? I don't find the food that great. The more Yunnan dishes are actually very mediocre and some dishes - primarily the more simple Americanized dishes like Shrimp with Broccoli is just plain awful in taste and quality. I have given them at least 6 chances and ordered something different each time, but something just don't catch my taste buds here. I have tried the Yunnan specialties, and haven't found anything worth my while. While the first time I had the dumplings, I thought they were good. The second time, I didn't really care for them as much. For dumplings, stick to China Bistro. Definitely a lot of better places to go to for Chinese food in the area - not here. Prices are great, service is good. But the food itself, I just cannot find what the hype is about.
(2)Jeff B.
Great food , good prices, quick delivery ! Great dumplings and soups. Staff is very accommodating. Must try Hunan Beef.
(4)Monica G.
This place is horrible. The food is bland and mediocre at best. I never get the same food on each order. The beef and chicken are extremely low grade and fatty. I made the mistake of ordering chicken wings and they came white on the outside and pink on the inside. When I called to complain I was told that they use fresh oil and that the chicken was supposed to look like that. Avoid at all cost~!
(1)Wei Z.
When I go to a restaurant I judge it on service, taste and presentation. The service here was god awful. That alone, you will not see me here again. The taste of the food overall was salty. The crispy chicken was not crispy. They over salted and over sauce a simple dish. What's going on guys? Number 3. Presentation. Oh man this was just sloppy. The broccoli I got looked bad and has been sitting around for days. People eat with their eye. Learn to plate good please.
(1)Bernard R.
Another Chinese restaurant near by my company. So let's say some facts: Their cross-bridge rice noodle soup is very good. It tastes same as the one I got in China and in Chicago Chinatown. Their hand made Dumplings or Chinese Ravioli are above average among restaurants. There are too few parking place there, no street parking on 355, and several business in the same plaza shares or fight for around 30 parking places. There are always a lot of people and long waiting in peak lunch hours. I have experienced 30+ min long waiting in a working day noon. Work days evening should be fine without parking issues and waiting issues Their waiter and owner are not so professional if you take American restaurants like Red Lobster as the measurement of standard. They are not rude but they really lack some common sense of how to serve customer well in this country. Yes, they persuade you change table when they have some customers want to sit in group. For this part I agree with Robert, they tend to pick Chinese customer to move to another table. Maybe they thought people from same country and use same language as theirs are 'easy' to communicate with. For this reason, thumb down and I leave only 2 stars though their food worth 4-5 star.
(2)Lucy B.
This place was a real find! It is not real attractive inside, I think a hole in the wall is a great description. But, sometimes some really great food comes out of those holes! Anyhoo.. I found this place on yelp and decided to pick up some take out. The young man that took my order was extremely helpful, polite and just really friendly. He offered me tea as I waited. I ordered yunan pork noodle soup, it was fantastic! I usually like all my food to be spicy, like, if its not spicy sometimes I don't see the point in eating it. But this soup was weirdly so satisfying. The flavors sort of did a dance in my mouth! We also ordered combo fried rice, some dumplings, some beef dish and then because I ordered enough food to feed a small army they had some sort of deal where if you spend this much you get something from the menu, so, we also got free lo mein. It was all really great! Next time, I'm ordering from the comfort of my own couch as I learned delivery is free. Hooray!
(5)Lucy X.
If anything, the "cross-bridge" noodle soup here is amazing! Authentic Yunan food and I don't know anywhere else that has it. Ask for them to give it to you uncooked so you can "cook" it yourself, which basically means that they give you a hot bowl of soup broth and you put all the raw meat, veggies, and noodles (which is the only thing that has already been cooked) in. The broth is very tasty and the perfect density--not too thick and not thin. The few pieces of shrimp and slices of chicken that it comes with is not an overwhelming amount either, which is good. Besides that, the other dishes I've tried so far are really good as well. The spicy fried calamari is the best fried calamari I've ever had. It's perfectly fried and not oily at all (unlike the kind they serve at some of the American restaurants I've been to). Also, the sweet/spicy fried tofu is perfectly fried too and very yummy. You'd think ordering all these "fried" dishes would be too much, but not at all! That's what I mean by it's "perfectly" fried--you can barely taste that it's even fried. Overall, a great place to grab lunch with one or two other friends. They also have a variety of "Americanized" Chinese food like orange chicken, pineapple chicken, etc, but I highly suggest to try the traditional dishes before anything!
(5)Beth T.
I have been ordering for years. Food is great. I love the dumplings. One time when I ordered delivery they called me back to ask if I forgot to order my dumplings! I have watched the 2 sons grow up and they are always polite and helpful. I would recommend to anyone.
(5)Cynthia L.
Small, quiet, family owned restaurant with limited seating. I come here to eat (or carry out) one thing: Guo tiao mi xian (Sorry I don't know how to literally translate this...it's basically noodle soup). Hot, northern-style soup with crispy veggies and fresh noodles...on a chilly day is nothing short of delicious. On another occasion, my family and I came here as a big party. For dessert, the chef threw together wok-made caramel over apples, which the server then asked us to dip into cold water (to cool down the caramel) before eating. I thought it was completely too weird for me to taste, but it turned out to be one of the best things here (crispy apple with light warm caramel? who doesn't love that)....its a shame they don't have this on the menu or offer it regularly. This place is worth trying if you're in the area.
(4)Ruth H.
Gads. The Cross Bridge noodle is that insidious, slithering succubus that leads the weight conscious men (or women) to sin unknowingly. I mean, from all appearances, the dish screams healthy, or at least balanced; but appearances are deceptive. At first glance, how could you go wrong diet-wise with a plate of veggies, two slice of meat, a few shrimp and some noodles? Well, it is not until I downed the whole bowl that I realized that the layer of chicken fat/grease floating above the soup is what makes the noodle so good and what keeps the dish hot enough for you to cook the raw ingredients table-side. I had the sinking feeling that I may as well have eaten a bucket of fried chicken; yet, I could not bring myself to complain about such a satisfying dinner. The eternal struggle between the foodie and skinny mini wannabe continues. Service is prompt and courteous.
(4)Kat F.
I ate here last night by recommendation from my boyfriend's mother (they're Cantonese). It's a really small Chinese restaurant with about 10 tables (mix between mostly 2 seated tables, a few 4 seated tables, and 1 round table for 6). Because of the small space, it never gets too loud, even with the TV on. We ordered a Spicy Fried Squid dish, Fried Tofu, a wide rice noodle dish with beef, and the Cross Bridge Noodle. I don't know the names because it was ordered by my boyfriend's mom in Chinese, sorry :-/. The fried squid was really good, not hard and rubbery, and it wasn't too spicy either. We ate that quickly enough. I actually really liked the Fried Tofu. The cubes of tofu were covered in a salt and pepper concoction, mixed with green onions and (i think) garlic. The outside was super fried and crunchy, while the inside was nice and soft. The rice noodle dish with beef was okay, not anything very special here. I mainly focused on eating the other dishes instead. The Cross Bridge Noodles was pretty good in my opinion. My boyfriend didn't seem to like it. So what happens, is they give you a plate of raw shrimp and chicken with bean sprouts and some vegetables. Then they bring out a hot bowl of yellow broth to put all of the ingredients into as well as a bowl of cooked noodles to also put into the broth. My boyfriend tried the broth as we were putting in the ingredients and thought it tasted like chicken noodle soup. He never tried it again after that. After we let the ingredients cook/flavor out into the broth and vice versa, I tried it. It tasted okay, but it did need a little more flavor, so we added some soy sauce. It didn't really get it's flavor yet until I decided to put some of the fried tofu into the soup. For some reason, the flavor was greatly enhanced for both the soup and the tofu. I have tried their dumplings once. They were okay, but I still prefer China Bistro's dumplings.
(3)Jennifer F.
I love the cross-bridge noodle!!!!
(5)Eric W.
The X-bridge Noodles are a must. Surprisingly the KungPao chicken is very good too. Im a fan of it since it isnt full of "filler" and has tons of chicken!
(4)Wesley Y.
Cross Bridge noodles are great anyone who says other wise doesn't know what their talking about and shouldn't eat here. the noodle broth is chicken not like pho which is the beef base the yunan specialities is where the best dishes are hidden would come back anytime it is a small restaurant and sometimes it does take a little while to cook. Great place for carryout
(5)I G.
This isn't the closest Chinese restaurant to our house, but the food is great and they delivery quickly, so they are our go to place when we order delivery.
(5)Wendy t.
Their Cross Bridge Noodles is amazing and would choose it over Pho any day. Their salt water duck are also to die for. Other places make it too salty but theirs is just right! Love this place!
(5)Brandy P.
After reading the rave reviews of the cross bridge noodle soup, I decided to try it. If you like Pho this doesn't compare to it, you will be disappointed. The lo mein is really good!!! Overall I think that the food is good.
(3)Joyce T.
I gave this place 4 stars because not everything is as good and when i say that I mean the "American style Chinese food" (I'm sorry I tend to find this style of food lack of the grace of Chinese food and sadly almost every Chinese Restaurant has them on the menu.) They have couple of specialties that you CANNOT MISS~! 1st, is the famous cross-bridge noodle (I like it raw w/o the bean sprouts) I always put the sliced meat in first then the veggies and put the shrimp last because that way you don't over cooked the shrimp =]] 2nd, is their fried tofu. I have to say those fried tofu are the best~! Dunno how they do it but the spicy sweet soy sauce syrup goes really well with the fried tofu~ if you haven't tried it, it is a MUST TRY. 3rd is their fried chicken wings~ Well most people would wonder how is it a specialty. But when you have it you would understand. The chicken wings are well marinated and juicy too~! You have the choice of 6 wings with fried rice or 8 wings w/o fried rice. =] Last is their home made dumplings..... they have different flavors. you can try different flavors and find your favorite one. But do avoid the fish flavor.
(4)Eddie D.
Here's something different. This Chinese restaurant does not specialize in Mandarin, Sichuan, Taiwanese or Cantonese. Is Yunan food! Beside the Yunan specialties, they also carried your typical Chinese American food. This is another hole in the wall restaurant that probably had about ten tables. The service was prompt and friendly. We order the Yunan Style Pork Rice Noodle Soup, which I found the noodle to be quite different and good, is like spaghetti noodle but with a snap, the pork was tasty along with the chives. The Rice Cake Yunan Style was very tasty, stir fried along with pork and sour cabbage. Both dishes were under $6 each, you can't beat that. Definitely be back and try other Yunan Specialties.
(4)Cleveland J.
LOOK AT YOUR BILL CAREFULLY!!! We returned to Mandarin express on only our second visit today and did so with fairly high expectations. We ordered a combination fried rice of vegetables ($7.25)and shrimp and a crispy tofu ($6.25)to be serve with some extra sauce, if it's was not too much trouble. Our host agreed and we then completed the order with the vegetable steam dumplings ($6.25). When the billed arrived it was $26.95 including taxes, $7.00 more. Hoping it was a simple mistake we requested that the bill be checked. She was obviously displeased. She adjusted it by a dollar and insisted that the difference was for the sauce and vegetable fried rice even though there was never any mentioned of a price difference. She stated that the sauce was $1 and the vegetables were $3 ( still over by $3). By this time her attitude had become increasing rude and condescending. Realizing that there was no winning we left a $4 tip and was about to walk out when she had the audacity to ask if we were leaving a tip. You could just imagine what I was thinking! The meal might have been enjoyable but its pleasure was quickly lost with the unprofessional and uncourteous service. We would have likely left her a $10 tip but what she did felt dishonest. Needless to say we will not be returning.
(2)Sheri G.
I just got the kung pao chicken. It was salty, not spicy at all and it was the fattiest chicken i have ever eaten. Not impressed at all
(2)Thomas W.
I love Fu Jook! The Cross-Bridge Rice Noodle soup is outstanding! You can cook it yourself or have them do it. I prefer for them to cook it making the vegetables a little less raw. The watercress, large shrimp, and wonderful noodles make for a bargain feast at $8. Add chili and you have a great meal!
(4)Shushu F.
I am surprised they have the Yunnan Rice Noodle but the owener is actually from Shandong.... Being a Yunner, I have to be a little bit picky....The incredient is just good ( actually nobody use shrimp for over bridge rice noodle). The soup is tasty, but when i got home, my mouth is so try and i realize maybe they put too much MSG... But it is good to know there is a place selling Yunnan Rice noodle..and I am definitely going to try the sour spicy one !
(3)Marc L.
Amazing food. You must consume the: 1) Crispy Fried Tofu 2) Spicy and Salty Shrimp and Scallops (yum) 3) Rice Cakes 5) Pork and Shredded Bean Curd 6) Cross Bridge Soup
(4)Spammich P.
I'm a little rough on Chinese Food. I'm pretty rough on food, period. When I'm not rough on food, I'm eating it. Overview: This restaurant, as a sit-in, is one of the better Chinese restaurants/ diners around. Don't expect much when you walk in. You can practically count the amount of tables on one hand. It has a very home-like feel to it. I almost took my shoes off before making myself comfortable. Service: The service is prompt and adequate. Do not expect top notch, 5-star, Ritz Carlton service. Go into this place with time to chill, and expect to enjoy the meal, unless the place is busy. They take your order, communicate with the kitchen, ensure your water is full, and check on you once or twice. It's not overbearing. Food: Of all the Chinese establishments my wife and I have been to, this is not one of the best. KIDDING. The food here is outstanding. For the Rockville/ Montgomery County - this little hole is fairly good. If your a General Tso's, Sesame Chicken, Orange Chicken, and Mongolian Beef kind of person. Stop being so boring and step out a bit. Try the various noodle dishes. Try the pork dishes. ...This place is definitely one of the better places to munch on Chinese Food.
(3)Jessica P.
For the second time, we are very impressed with the food here, which is fresh, fast, and delicious! And again, we could not finish our plates. We walked out both times with tabs for less than $20. This is a very unassuming place when you first pull in. If you are Caucasian you will be in the minority here. The spice meter runs pretty high unless you order one of the tasty make-your-own noodle bowls.
(4)Meggie C.
i recently just tried this place b/c my friend wanted to go. it was a small little restaurant with a few tables. the soup was very good. i also ordered the beef with bamboo shoots, although it was alot of bamboo it was pretty good. would deffintley go back and try more dishes.
(3)Lam Ngan L.
Crossbridge noodle and fried tofu is all I need from this place.
(4)Nicole L.
This modest restaurant specialized in Yunnan style cuisine, I wouldn't say a comprehensive spread but in particular the soup noodle dishes (speaking my language!) and some specialities. It's a very small restaurant located in the same decrepit strip as the awesome il Pizzico italian restaurant. The capacity was about 15-20 pax at the maximum. We were just unsure what to order, our server was a very nice lady with a delicate chinese accent, she recommended that we try the Cross-Bridge Rice Noodles. At first I thought it was the extra thin chinese noodles called mian xian but it turned out to be my favorite thick rice noodles - It made sense being that Yunnan was located in the far Southwest region of China, bordering Vietnam served similar noodles type like the ones used in Ban Bo Hue. Except Cross-Bridge noodles was served in a light broth with chicken and shrimp. If you turned and looked, almost everyone was having the Cross-Bridge noodles. It was very good indeed, the thin slices of chicken and large fresh shrimps in a light broth. Even though we weren't thinking about pigging out we were curious to try the spiced squid and 3 meat dumplings. The spiced squids were absolutely amazing - lightly batter and flash fried, the squids were tender and crunchy at the same time, here's another example of great execution on a simple dish. The dumplings were fresh and the dipping sauce slightly different from Mama's Bistro, subtle hint of vinegar and a mixture of hot chili sauce, sesame seeds and peanuts. We were very happy to stumble upon this restaurant for lunch it surpassed our expectations and certainly lifted us out of a sinking mood.
(4)r y.
We have never been to the restaurant but have had take out several times. We really like the Cross Bridge Soup - it soothing and filling. The tofu puffs are sweet and spicy and the squid while not super tender is flavorful. I did nto like the baked tofu dish, but that was a personal preference. Overall, great tasting food at a decent cost and super convenient. Just right for a busy family like ours.
(4)Janet H.
I don't get what the hype about the Cross Bridge Noodle Soup here is all about. I've had it twice and I don't know.. it's just okay to me. Very strong MSG and white pepper powder tasting soup. It's almost $8/bowl and honestly I think I'd rather spend that on Pho and it would probably cover my tip too. You can try it though.. maybe you'll like it? I work pretty close by and we order delivery from here pretty often for lunch. They have a pretty big selection for lunch specials and at a pretty good price. Kung Pao Chicken, Szechuan green beans, Crispy beef... are some of our usual orders and they are not bad for the price. I would definitely recommend their lunch specials. Great price and big portions :) BTW, they are really a take out place because its soooo small inside..
(3)Andrew K.
I came here for lunch and 5 of the 7 tables that were seated had ordered the cross bridge noodles. Apparently this is what this place is famous for so I tried it. It has shrimp, pork, chicken in a big bowl with white noodles and some kind of broth and it tasted pretty good but I don't think I could eat this all the time. For $8, it is more filling and a little bigger than pho but I'd still rather have pho. We also tried the bbq pork ribs which is really burnt and tastes ok to me. The snow pea vegetables was good but too salty and the chicken with brocoli was ok. Basically this place to me is like a sit down version of fast food chinese food except they have this famous cross bridge noodle that makes them stand apart.
(3)Max M.
I've been picky about Chinese food for awhile especially in the DC area, and this place has the best delivery I've had in a long time. I convinced my parents to try it and they loved it. Very good Orange Chicken, made the correct way. The servings are big, but the pricing is pretty solid. I would highly recommend this place to someone looking for a cheap alternative to fast food Chinese and honestly have never had a complaint.
(4)Julie Z.
Over all the Chinese restaurants I've been to in Rockville, this is still one of my favorite of all. Their cross-bridge noodle soup is great! Also make sure to try their deep fried Maryland crabs!
(5)joe w.
I highly recommend the Cross bridge noodle soup which is like modified version of Pho. The crispy tofu is excellent. This restaurant is not near the metrorail but is well worth an extra drive. Wait service can be a bit task saturated. There can be a line if one arrives later for dinner. This restaurant is a great value for the money.
(3)Joanne T.
I have been coming here for the Cross Bridge noodle many years and love it. The spicy crispy tofu is also a must-order item. They are perfect place to go in Winter time.
(5)Angela E.
Good food delivered in 35 minutes and reasonably priced. Enjoyed the chicken & broccoli with pork fried rice.
(3)Carolina N.
I followed the advice of the other Yelpers and got the Poke and Shredded Bean Curd and it did not disappoint! Relatively inexpensive, and fantastic Crab Rangoon's. Just wish they had their menu on line. I just ordered standard Chinese fare off the top of my head since I had no menu :(
(4)Mr. S.
We order delivery and take out from here all the time and I love it - pretty good food for a standard Chinese takeout place.
(4)Dave C.
Excellent authentic chinese food. 5 stars for the price and the consistency of the food. I moved away from the Washington DC area, but every time I visit this place is a "must stop at" eatery.
(5)Bill P.
FIVE FLAVOR chicken......enough said!!!!! One of my fave dishes of thousands of restaurants I've partaken in in the DC area. I've had it 12 times and it ROCKS!!!!! Savory sauce delectable pieces of chicken bell peppers onions baby corn and black currents YUM ME!!!!!! Very Mom and Pop and I usually get to go but the families that sit at the 10-15 seat place are having a great time.....Dad in kitchen Mom expedites and junior (12 year old son) rings up the orders VERY PROFESSIONALLY everytime, Dumplings are very good too but do take 20-25 min. to cook. If you are driving from Rockville or Bethesda towards Gaithersbuirg this is a MUST_STOP!!!!!!!!!!!tptowarsdsarock
(5)Marcus N.
This little place is pretty good. The fried squid dish is like crack and you can get "real" chinese food here. How do I know? Everytime I've gone, 95% of the other people in this small place are talking in chinese. That's a good sign.
(4)jo d.
This is one of my favorite Chinese restaurants in the area. The food is authentic, down-to-earth home-style dishes and fresh Yun'nan noodle soups. When I need something to warm me up on a cold day, a fast and good lunch, or a cozy place to sit and have a meal with a good friend, I can always count on this place for the food. Service is average, price is very reasonable. I highly recommend the Yun'nan noodle soup and any dishes that you don't recognize otherwise on a Chinese takeout restaurant's menu.
(4)Jen L.
This restaurant is unique because they serve Yunnan cuisine. Yunnan is a very Southern province in China that borders Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, and India to the south. I had never tried Yunnan cuisine before, but I found the food flavorful and savory. The soup almost reminded me of Pho, but not really.... and Chinese. Try the eggplant dish with lot's of sauce. The prices are reasonable.
(4)Omar R.
The Cross Bridge Noodle Soup rocks here!
(4)Spice Master Duck Q.
The menu has too many items. If you go there, go there for the Hot and Sour Noodle Soup (å°é”…米线). Other items are not authentic and not very tasty. Definitely avoid non-Yunnan dishes. For example, Sichuan Doubled-Cooked Pork (回锅肉) is nothing like the real thing, it is closer to Hong Kong-style Roasted Pork (å‰çƒ§è‚‰). Even Yunnan stir fry dishes were off. The Sour Bamboo Beef (é…¸ç牛肉) was quite sweet and not very sour. Also most important, nothing is spicy.
(2)Jeffrey C.
With great regret, I have to bump this down to 3 stars, for one reason. For the majority of people looking for dishes other than cross-bridge noodles, my 4 star review will stand for you. For all the regulars who go for the sole purpose of having a great bowl of cross-bridge, I am sorry to say that they have changed their noodles for soft, mushy, inferior noodles. This changes the game quite a bit for Mandarin Express regulars.
(3)Casey K.
This is going to be a short and sweet review, which is very indicative of my steamed chicken and broccoli lunch on the fly from Mandarin Express. This was my first time ordering from here and I will for sure be back to try their noodle soups and other items. My steamed chicken and broccoli was phenomenal. It was great hearty pieces of chicken that took on the steamed broccoli taste wonderfully along with perfectly cooked bright green broccoli spears. I am a stickler for broccoli because it is my favorite vegetable, so I get a little peeved when I am served discolored and soggy over cooked broccoli, which was completely not the case here. I can only imagine how their amazing noodle bowls must taste if they can make a simple dish like steamed chicken and broccoli so well. Will be back soon and with a review of my next visit.
(4)Elizabeth W.
I am wondering why it took me so long to actually come here. This place is fantastic! It seems like everyone I know (who is Asian) has been here, except me! Not fair! The food is fantastic! When I got there and told my group that I had never been, my friend who is also a foodie and a much better cook than I, suggested I try the cross bridge noodle soup. Since I had heard of it and was told it was fabulous, I decided that was what I was getting. We also got the spicy crispy tofu and the spicy fried squid. Both dishes were so delicious and completely fattening. I think I devoured my soup in like 2 seconds. OK, not that fast, but I was definitely finished first. The broth in the cross bridge soup is to DIE for! It really is really good! Someone suggested that is was because of the white pepper. I'm not sure, but I know it was good! I almost want to give this place 5 stars. I'm so seriously tempted to do it. I think I will save it for another visit. The service was good. I'm so glad the waitress suggested we get the squid. They were also pretty nice when we asked to switch tables because a 5th person showed up and we were at a 4-top. They didn't complain at all or grumble or show the least bit of unhappiness. Thank you, kind Chinese people!
(4)Gislle T.
Their noodle tastes good, but not fresh and clean. I ordered fish one time, and I can tell the fish is not fresh. This time is even worse! Look at the box and the noodle of the pic. How dirty it is!!
(1)Sam L.
For what it's worth, I'm somewhere between an authentic and an American Chinese foodie. I love my oyster omelet, beef tendon, intestine, pork blood, and liver, but another side of me loves beef stir fry ho fun, bourbon chicken, and coconut shrimp. Mandarin Express seems to have both. At a glance, they have some authentic choices like the cross bridge noodle soup, various other types of noodle soup, and authentic appetizers. Then there's an American section with sweet and sour chicken, and *fill in random meat* with brown sauce. On a compromise, we ordered a cross-bridge noodle soup, a seafood noodle soup, and spicy crispy tofu. My taste buds may have been tainted by other food types, but the cross-bridge noodle soup wasn't seasoned, and it may have been meant for that to happen. While I love a clear rib noodle soup (no seasoning required, as the meat flavor is abundant in the soup), the cross-bridge noodle soup isn't that. The seafood noodle soup was basically egg drop soup with noodles and various meat ingredients. The girlfriend didn't like the seafood one, and I didn't like either noodle soup, but we both agreed that the spicy crispy tofu was fantastic. For the prices ($6-8), the noodle soups will definitely fill you up. Though I will come back for the spicy crispy tofu, and maybe try their dumplings next time.
(3)Phi N.
Uhh... I'm not sure what people see in this cross bridge soup. It is pretty bland. It's kind of like a hotpot but with less options. The fried tofu appetizer was bomb though. If I ever come back, I am definitely getting that again, and trying something else on the menu.
(3)Weiwei U.
The service was horrible !!! It ruins our whole lunch experience !!! Never go back again
(1)JJ R.
Food was not good today. I ordered moo shi chicken and asked for less sauce on the chicken. I know that this dish has a brown sauce, but the server insisted that moo shi chicken does not come with sauce, but against my better judgement, I trusted what he said. The moo shi chicken was drowning in brown sauce. With the addition of sauce, you would think there would be some flavor but the moo shi chicken was as bland as can be. The chicken was tender though. I also ordered the egg drop soup, which had a burnt after-taste, and the egg rolls, which were also slightly burnt. The egg rolls were very oily, soggy, and lacked flavor. The egg drop soup is practically indelible. Also, I first ordered shrimp rolls, which they do not have. I then ordered the spring rolls, and the server had to remind me this they only contain vegetables. I guess he assumed several things about me based on how I was dressed, how I look, etc. This guy was also American, so there really was no need for his condescension. Mind you, this place is a hole in the wall. I know I sound like a prick right now, but he was a bigger one. What makes matters worse, when I opened the bag when I got home, one of the hoisen sauces that come with the chicken had spilled, so most things inside the bag was covered with the plum flavored sauce. The cover was not pressed on tightly enough! Also, there was no duck sauce in the bag. I don't like dishonesty and shoddy food.
(2)Roberto N.
What brings us back here is the Cross Bridge noodle soup. Its a huge steaming bowl with chicken, shrimp, pork, Chinese watercress, bean sprouts, and white pepper on it; to my tastes, I added a little salt and some soy. To the Asian palette, however, I'm told it's just right. As a side, we got the shredded pork with dried tofu, which has a great great flavor, and a good texture to boot. That dish is one Ill order again and again!
(4)Denise L.
Unimpressed... Friendly service, quick order prep and clean presentation but the chicken and broccoli left a lot to be desired. No flavor at all.
(2)Muriel H.
This is by far my FAVE takeout spot. I have been going here for 5 years now and whenever I am in the Rockville area and I am craving takeout, I go here. Last night my hubby ordered his usual General Tso's Chicken, I got my wings and fried rice, and I added the spicy calamari. It was so good! I want to go back to try the soft shell shrimp that I did not know they served until my order was already ready. They are not stingy on the sweet and sour sauce or the hot pepper which I love. I just wish that they still had the sweet brown sauce that I used to get with my wings but you can't win them all!
(4)Michael R.
My absolute favorite chinese restaurant anywhere. I moved to this area 2 years ago, ordered here by chance soon after moving in & have become a weekly takeout customer! I cannot say more about their Crispy Tofu Appetizer, its almost exclusively what I order as my meal (They know me as the crispy tofu guy), but everything else i have had there has been great too! The family who runs the restaurant couldn't be nicer or more hardworking-they have accepted last minute pickup orders when they didnt have too, which is greatly appreciated. ABSOLUTELY RECOMMEND!
(5)Spice Master Duck Q.
The menu has too many items. If you go there, go there for the Hot and Sour Noodle Soup (å°é”…米线). Other items are not authentic and not very tasty. Definitely avoid non-Yunnan dishes. For example, Sichuan Doubled-Cooked Pork (回锅肉) is nothing like the real thing, it is closer to Hong Kong-style Roasted Pork (å‰çƒ§è‚‰). Even Yunnan stir fry dishes were off. The Sour Bamboo Beef (é…¸ç牛肉) was quite sweet and not very sour. Also most important, nothing is spicy.
(2)Jeffrey C.
With great regret, I have to bump this down to 3 stars, for one reason. For the majority of people looking for dishes other than cross-bridge noodles, my 4 star review will stand for you. For all the regulars who go for the sole purpose of having a great bowl of cross-bridge, I am sorry to say that they have changed their noodles for soft, mushy, inferior noodles. This changes the game quite a bit for Mandarin Express regulars.
(3)