Gourmet Garden Menu

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  • Kevin H.

    I lived in China for one year and I traveled from one end of the country to another, eating lots of different kinds of noodles. My favorite is stir-fried noodles, so I had high hopes for Gourmet Garden. I got the lunch special, which was chicken Lo Mein (fried noodles) with a spring roll. It was a pretty good deal for $6. It was simple, oily and very tasty. The portion was generous. It fed me for two meals, and I'm quite gluttonous. Like many Chinese restaurants, it's not very healthy. You get that hollow feeling a couple hours after eating like you just ingested a box of packing peanuts. You're full but under-nourished. Still, the quality and value are great for Ann Arbor, where most Asian fare is sub-par and rather pricey.

    (4)
  • Mary Jo W.

    My family and I eat here often and have for years. I think their food is consistently yummy, and you can't beat the value of their luncheon specials!

    (5)
  • D W.

    it's the standard kind of chinese fare you find in the greater ann arbor area. The sauce for all the dishes essentially are the same (corn-starch based) though they taste somewhat different. I would rate this place better than lai-lai which I've visited for dinner (never for dim sum yet).

    (2)
  • Betsy W.

    Gourmet Garden has always been my family's go-to for Chinese take-out. It can be more in the pricey side but the food is good quality. Be prepared to wait for your take-out though because they are often busy. I love their Lo Mein, Duck, and Orange Chicken.

    (4)
  • Sara G.

    A hidden gem in Ann Arbor. Or maybe I just got lucky (I'm kinda surprised reading the other reviews on this place!). This place is worth a trip just to get The Scorpion drink. On the menu it says its for 2 people, but 4 could share this thing easily. It comes in a funky shaped bowl with a candle burning in the center and they just basically pour the whole bar in it. Its so ridiculous its awesome. I had the classic beef with broccoli but my date had the Lo Mein and I thought that was better. No. Actually, the truth is, I thought that it tasted the best to mix the Lo Mein with the beef with broccoli and that was like greasy, cheap, Chinese goodness.

    (5)
  • Maria L.

    I'm one unhappy customer. ate here last night & was given food poisoning for xmas. boo! on to the dining (pre-sickness): overpriced & small portions. to their credit, I did arrive @ closing time. however, that's no reason to give me the following crappy (possibly literally) food: I asked for a vegetable I always get in chinatown in chicago. I don't speak chinese, but I usually get my point across when I ask for it. - instead I got the standard tofu (i asked for that) & veggies. GET THIS: since they either had no sauce left or didn't want to make some, they put this concoction in a pool of EGG DROP SOUP! who knows how old that was! I know its a bad night to eat out but this was atrocious.

    (1)
  • cj n.

    I've been many times with success, and I eat a lot of Chinese places. Even for an after-funeral thing where everyone left happy about the quality and price. The parking is superb. My colleagues can't get enough visits. Lunch specials are about $5-7 and include soup, rice, entree. My favs are Chili Shrimp (actually kind of sweet), Shrimp and Scallops in Garlic Sauce, Ginger Chicken with Green Beans. I often pack up a takeout lunch or two to take home for dinner to the family, since dinners are several dollars more. They serve BROWN rice as an option. The vegetable rolls are WAY better than anywhere else and better than their spring rolls. The staff are way sweeter than some downtown places and I generally have my water glass filled so many times it is ridiculous. The last time I was there was my only poor service and I could tell the ladies at the front agreed he was an anomaly.

    (4)
  • Shayne D.

    Disclaimer: I'm not Chinese and I don't know anything about authentic Chinese food. That said, I really like the food at Gourmet Garden. There's not much ambiance but the staff is very friendly and efficient. Someone else said they food is very salty but I've not found that to generally be the case. And I love the hot and sour soup.

    (4)
  • Mae S.

    This is our main source of Chinese take-out. Reasons: --easy parking, --a variety of menu items, --good dumplings and moo-shu (which kids and some adults prefer to almost anything), --helpful phone service, --Prompt order completion. For eating in, it has a large dining room, and the decor is low key. The fish and seafood specials are good, though I don't think they would still be good if you ordered them as take-out : you should eat them while they're hot.

    (4)
  • Erin G.

    We went to Gourmet Garden for a birthday, and I was almost dreading it based on some reviews here. However, I was very pleasantly surprised! Since we were a large group, we got several different dishes to pass, and I have to say everyone liked everything, for the most part. Kung pow shrimp was tasty (but not spicy--chili sauce rectified the situation), Triple Special (chicken, shrimp, beef, stir-fried with Chinese basil, onion, mushrooms, water chestnut in ginger sauce) was fantastic, Chicken and Broccoli (though an old standby) was delicious, Sizzling Pan-Fried noodle was only so-so. We got soup before the meal, as someone else mentioned, there was corn in the egg drop soup---very odd. Wonton soup was good though, and potstickers are some of the best I've ever had. Beer and drinks were nice to have, too. Wait staff could have been faster/more attentive, but all in all we very much enjoyed it. It was very affordable too, especially passing dishes like we did.

    (4)
  • Christopher Y.

    Very nice place for Asian food! Huge portioned food great for sharing. I had a little bit of everything here from fried fish to low mien to duck, everything was great no complaints here!

    (5)
  • Jackie L.

    Really good food and service. Complimentary hot oolong tea and crunchy noodles with sweet and sour. We split a steamed veggie dumpling. Clearly homemade and amazing. We ordered a garlic eggplant and sesame tofu. Both were amazing. We added asparagus to the tofu. The broccoli and asparagus were perfect. Like amazing. Would absolutely come back.

    (5)
  • Liz P.

    So I give this place a 3.5/5, used to be a 4 or a 5, though. I came here for lunch last Friday. I used to go to school at UM and my parents LOVE this place, so they'd take me here. It was pretty empty when I arrived. I spied the crispy wontons and duck sauce sitting on a table nearby me (like a table full of them) and kept eyeing it, but no one brought them to me, I had to finally ask. Pros: free hot tea (if you like tea, which I don't, usually), the lunch prices are SUPER inexpensive. Fast/good service. Their wonton soup is in a beef broth which I have yet to find anywhere else, it's unique and I like it. Cons: I should have ordered the garlic chicken, I got the cashew chicken and it was just okay. That is probably just my taste, though. My friend got the garlic chicken and liked it. Because this place isn't downtown, I don't get here that often anymore. I'd like to go back sometime soon but we'll see if I'm in the area or not.

    (4)
  • Cantonite P.

    A very high-quality Americanized Chinese restaurant that probably could do some traditional style dishes as well, if ordered or frequented by Chinese diners. I came in after a slight detour and was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food, even for a $5.60 lunch special. The atmosphere is quaint, not really anything out of the ordinary. And they do have a bar. My lunch consisted of some fried wonton skins (complimentary), and wonton soup. The soup was quite good with some mass-produced wontons but the broth was savory and hit the spot (i have a little bit of sniffles). Then my Sweet and Sour Chicken came out and it was excellent. Big chunks of good quality white meat chicken, perfectly battered and the sauce on it was sweet, but not cloyingly-so and the right bit of tart. The pineapple, green pepper and onion were also tender and provided a good veggie contrast. The fried rice was eh, but it's more of a vehicle to deliver the fried goodness. Even right now a half hour I ate the whole thing, I don't feel that greasy queasiness I get after other much-more lower quality Chinese places. I will probably come here and try some different items again for sure! If you have to get some carry out in this area, definitely come here first and not Panda House. You will be much happier with the food quality, I guarantee it.

    (4)
  • Sue B.

    Really awful meal. Sweet and sour sauce insipid. Hot and sour soup lacked any heat and had a strange aftertaste. My meal, shredded pork and bean curd in bean sauce was listed as spicy, but actually lacked almost all flavor. There was no "character" to any of the food; I'd rather eat the Chinese food at the mall! The menus were grungy, too. Not returning.

    (2)
  • R G.

    Typical American Chinese food of my youth. Excellent service, good food and reasonable prices. Egg drop soup excellent, won ton soup a little chewy. Beef, chicken and shrimp dish tasty. All the free hot tea you can drink.

    (4)
  • Nicolo D.

    The interior's fine, and the service was quite nice, but our food simply wasn't very good. Particularly, the tofu ("Bean curd") was soggy and damp, in an unconvincing sauce. The dumplings were pleasant enough, though, and the fried rice wasn't bad. Your mileage may vary, but we're not going back here.

    (2)
  • Eric A.

    Nice place. Great for takeout. Everything you'd want for a typical Chinese place. My only grievances about this place is that I think it's a little over-priced and the service isn't the best.

    (3)
  • Margaret V.

    I can't say that there is anything better or worse than other Chinese restaurants I've been to in the Ann Arbor area. I ended up getting take out and it was quick and the staff were nice. If you wanted to eat in, they have a nice bar with wine, beer, and cocktails. I ended up ordering chicken with broccoli and a side of crab ragoon. The chicken and broccoli had very large pieces of fresh broccoli and chicken. The sauce was nicely spiced. A little tangy, but not too bad. The crab ragoon were ok. Nothing fantastic. They have a nice selection of vegetarian, chicken, meat and seafood dishes. I would reccomend!

    (4)
  • Marie L.

    Full disclosure: I'm not a fan of Americanized Chinese food. That said, this place is great. The staff is insanely friendly and attentive and the food is fresh and delicious. The prices are great (SO inexpensive). They have lunch specials every day until 3pm that start at $5. They also have a full bar with seats, if you prefer to go that route. They have some fun $5 cocktails on the menu, too.

    (4)
  • Kitty C.

    Food and service were kinda eh. I came in with my partner for lunch, and I had the sweet and sour lunch combo. The food was unmemorable, which is better than horrible. The service was negligible-- the minimum mechanics. We were among three tables, and there was a clear lack of communication among the wait staff-- we were asked five times in five minutes if we were ready to order-- if I'm still looking at the menu, I'm still deciding. After that, never saw a server again, and was not asked how my food was. I found out recently that Gourmet Gardens is on the books for some pretty serious pay violations, which may explain the apathy of the servers. mlive.com/news/ann-arbor…

    (2)
  • Aaron L.

    Maybe Gourmet Garden was a decent Chinese place a long time ago -- if so that era has come and gone. The dining room doesn't look like it's been updated (cleaned?) for a decade or more. We got takeout once, it was barely edible. The ingredients tasted like they were on the edge of expiring. Steer clear! This would be a great location for a good Chinese restaurant, so hopefully someone will buy out the current owners and start over.

    (1)
  • Lindsey G.

    Very friendly staff, very good food. Very affordable. It is nicer on the inside than on the outside! My daughter & I enjoyed the broccoli chicken & crab Rangoon. I'd recommend it!

    (4)
  • Jay R.

    The lo mein is so good! I can always dig the fried rice, but their snack chips and sauces are good too. Great location plus they have excellent seating.

    (5)
  • Pete P.

    Just went to Gourmet Garden for dinner. Place was packed but we were seated within 5 minutes. Ordered General Tso's, Mabo-Tofu, & Beef in Spicy Tea sauce. All the dishes were served piping hot, and in good time. The service was a bit inattentive after that/ We had to make a point to someone for water re-fills, which is a big turn-off in my book. Otherwise, everything was A-OK!

    (3)
  • Steve S.

    At a time when Chinese food increasingly means either a generic buffet or fast food, it's nice that Ann Arbor still has a number of places where you can sit down and order off a menu. As for this place: Pleasant if slightly dated surroundings ('90s peach and white decor), on the slightly more formal side as Chinese places go. Service was fast, professional, and courteous. The bar makes an acceptable Mai tai. As for food, the menu has lots of different and interesting dishes, but I went very conventional: egg drop soup, spring roll, house fried rice. Soup was fine, spring roll plump and above average, rice looked fresh but had a taste and texture that made it seem like it (or at least some of the components) had been sitting around and reheated. I had had them modify the ingredients slightly, so I think the ultimate dish was prepared to order, but still... It didn't taste bad, just not hot, fresh, and still glistening from the wok. Soup and egg roll came out almost immediately and the rice about two minutes later, which was too fast. I'd like to give it another try when I'm in the mood to order something a little less conventional.

    (3)
  • Joan B.

    I REALLY enjoyed this place. Had it pegged as "Old school Chinese", which isn't always a bad thing, but the menu has some real surprises. Had Crispy Duck, House Special Lo Mein, Sesame Pork, Pan Fried Dumplings - all VERY good. Then got Shrimp Stuffed Eggplant Dumplings to go, since I couldn't resist, but my friend can't eat shrimp - they were GREAT. I will definitely be back, wish they were closer to me.

    (5)
  • Sam G.

    The quintessential local Chinese restaurant, don't expect anything too lavish. My family has been going to this restaurant for years. The food is always top notch and very reasonably priced. Favorites are bean-curd and vegetable soup for 2, shrimp with broccoli, hunan chicken

    (5)
  • Josephine M.

    Love their large varieties and price. We find their lunch fairly reasonable. We often ordered pan fried dumplings, shrimp fried rice, ginger chicken with green beans and dynasty chicken. Besides white rice, brown rice can be substitute without additional cost. In general, they have good customer service and quality is quite consistent.

    (4)
  • Michael S.

    I used to go here years ago, when I lived on the west side of town. I found it convenient recently, so I decided to go back. Not much had changed. The service was quick and friendly. The food was well priced and pretty damned good. We got two meals from our one each. My order was messed up, but caught before it came out of the kitchen. My SO was served hers when it was ready and mine was not far behind. Should the opportunity present itself again, We'll definitely go back!

    (4)
  • Melissah L.

    I've been coming here since I was a little girl. My parents know the owners and we have always gotten exceptional service. In concurrence with the rest of the reviews, I would have to agree with the outdated decorations and unattractive exterior, but the food is some of the best Chinese food in Ann Arbor. All of their dishes are fresh and flavorful-- some of my favorites include Mongolian beef, chicken lo mein, fried dumplings. Food is not overly greasy or salty, and prices are reasonable. Recommend, recommend, recommend!

    (4)
  • Mike C.

    I've been ordering here for several years and love the online ordering through the yelp app.

    (5)
  • Jack B.

    I will probably never dine at Gourmet Garden again. The service was lousy and the restaurant really needs some cleaning. The walls are filthy and/or in need of repair. I cannot recommend this restaurant for dining in. Their food is good, though. Try it as a carry-out. You may just like it. Ambience: Tacky / Run down Service: Lousy Food: Good

    (3)
  • Shirley H.

    They have the best Kung pao chicken in town and I'm completely convinced the owners hate it when I go. The past few times I've gone, I probably went at a time that wasn't so great for them..45 min before closing time or during dinner time. I like to take my time eating and usually meet up with a friend I haven't seen for awhile. Every time I've gone, I feel like I've been given the stink eye and somewhat rushed to leave. I always get the kungpao chicken and ask for it to be extra spicy. The reason why I loved it so much was the spiciness...but the last few times I've gone, I've been greatly disappointed =(

    (3)
  • Alexandra I.

    Much nicer than I was expecting. It has a little bit of a more upscale feel, but there's no need to dress up or anything. I saw some people in sweats and some people in a bit more of a snappy casual dress. I don't think the staff really cares what you're wearing! They bring tea to the table, free tea. It was actually really good too. The prices were reasonable (but I wasn't paying, so I may be a bit biased). I had chicken fried rice and it was kind of burnt tasting and too oniony. But still very edible, and those two things aside pretty good. The General Tsao's chicken was really good too. We got medium spice and it really wasn't too spicy at all. I would love to go back and try other stuff! I recommend it!

    (4)
  • Peretz H.

    Gourmet Garden is a very welcoming, sort of old school, Chinese restaurant. We order vegetarian when we eat out, and although there are not a ton of veggie dishes, those that are on the menu are full of flavor, well prepared, and full of fresh veggies. Tofu dishes are distinct from one another, both in terms of sauces and texture.

    (4)
  • Bonnie M.

    Don't try to visit the exotic mixed drinks of your youth @ the gourmet Garden. Cheap liquor & watered down mix. Food is good.

    (3)
  • Bob M.

    We have eaten here twice and both times had an overall positive experience. The menu has an excellent selection of special dishes in addition to the usual suspects. The meals are nicely presented and the portions are generous. I gave three stars based on additional factors: ambience and service. The decor is tired and the restaurant seems somewhat dark and dreary. The service on both occasions seemed discombobulated : dirty dishes were allowed to accumulate on the table, drink refills needed to be repeatedly requested rather than offered, and on one occasion there was an extremely long wait before anyone even approached our table. Definitely worth checking out/ returning but the service could use some polishing.

    (3)
  • Eliza B.

    This was excellent. Better than most of the Chinese places we've gone to in Chicago. My husband thinks it is the best Chinese food he's eaten since we were last in San Francisco. I can't recall the specific dishes we ordered and the menu online is on the fritz so I can't look it up... I guess we'll just have to go back and eat some more so I can finish my review. Oh darn.

    (5)
  • Win W.

    POSITIVES - Relaxing atmosphere - Food was more than decent (I would give them a 7 out of 10) - Waiters/waitresses quite friendly - No parking problems - Good variety of dishes NEGATIVES - a bit dark - the rice was ok but not great

    (4)
  • Colleen Z.

    Gourmet Garden has been my place to pick up egg drop soup when I am sick. Most of my meals have been at lunch. GG offers quite a few dishes for lunch at a very reasonable price, $8 or so. But tonight, tonight we had a fabulous meal. For starters we had hot & sour as well as wonton soup. Both arrived hot and were extremely good. Then came the crab ragoon appetizer, six delicate pieces cooked to perfection. Yum. Our main course was #31, Double Sesame Delight, a dish that combined a sweet and sour type sauce with chicken, shrimp and vegetables. The chicken and shrimp were sauteed and perfect. No shrimpy smell or taste as the shrimp was wonderful. The vegetables were amazing. As a matter of fact, I pulled out a water chestnut to share with my husband because I couldn't believe the fabulous taste. Hubby agreed with me. Oh and the dish had red peppers that tasted like they were just picked from a garden out back and cooked. This dish was GREAT. To top it off we each had a Tsingtao beer with dinner.

    (4)
  • Kevin S.

    Great Chinese Food but a bit on the pricey side.

    (3)
  • Julia B.

    LOVE this place!! It's a fabulous, quick, delicious place for a bite. Very reasonable price, and they do a great scallion pancake. Try that, and the dumplings. The soups are good, worth trying, but only if you're starving. The entrees are reasonably priced, and I like the beef with spicy tea sauce. Shrimp with asparagus, and golden crispy shrimp (guilty pleasure!) are fantastic. Try it out!

    (4)
  • Laura J.

    This is the place you have always wanted to find! Great food, reasonable prices. The spicy dishes are really good. Soup broths are very good. Of particular note was the. Fried Dumpling, served upsidedown to keep the crisp bottoms crisp. Shows great care for presentation and quality! Party of 5 for lunch. Entrees sbiut 6.50 EACH. Service was very good.

    (5)
  • Erin H.

    At here recently for the first time after a co-worker took me - it's been a haunt of her families for years - and it was great. It totally reminds me of the higher end Chinese place in Royal Oak The Peking house! On my friend's recommendation we got the eggplant shrimp and OMG it was delicious. The soup was tasty, the tea was too and the service was top notch. A nice quiet place off the beaten path.

    (3)
  • Marika K.

    Hands down, my favorite Chinese restaurant, and I've been to a ton of different ones. I don't live in the area anymore, and I've been searching for a place that has anything even close to Gourmet Garden, but everything still falls short in comparison. Every time I visit my parents back home, I try to stop by and get some chicken and shrimp combination. I find myself craving it randomly.

    (5)
  • Adam S.

    This place looks to me like a good chef just stopped caring. There are still some good flavors and nice ideas on the menu, but the restaurant is dark and drab, the parking lot is covered in litter, and the wait staff is nice but inattentive. This same inconsistency comes through in the food. One appetizer is good; another tastes like it has been in the steamer all day. It's really a shame because you can tell that the place could be turning out some really good food...

    (2)
  • Khara Q.

    What a pleasant surprise! The exterior and even interior of the restaurant is very unassuming, but the food was EXCELLENT! My fiance and I order the lunch special and were VERY pleased with our selections of General's Chicken and sweet and sour chicken with white rice and fried rice. The chicken was fried but not greasy and everything was FRESH. The waitstaff was very courteous and efficient. I highly recommend this restaurant!

    (4)
  • Becki B.

    It's easy to still remember that this location used to be a Ponderosa. Actually, I usually just refer to it as the Chinese Ponderosa and people know where I mean. They have my favorite shrimp fried rice. I can usually get a large carry-out and eat for the better half of a week. I've also dined in here with friends. It never seems to be too busy, and the service has always been friendly and prompt.

    (4)
  • Sarah W.

    Your average Chinese food. In a clean spacious restaurant. Many of the dishes taste the same. We ordered a tofu stir fry dish which has to be returned because they cooked it with corn starch, completely different then usual. But they happily corrected it for us. It did taste much better when it was redone. But I still find that you need to add chili paste to everything for better flavor. And for all of you that like a bread basket or some sort they give you deep friend wanton skins with sweet and sour dipping sauce.

    (3)
  • Richard F.

    Everything was salty. It's too bad too, because the place looks nice and the menu was appealing. But after three salty meals, I have concluded that this is just their style.

    (2)
  • Bryan K.

    I go strictly for the hot n sour seafood soup for two and eat it as a meal usually. Best soup around hands down! No one comes close... it's stuff with real scallops, lobster, shrimp, crab and all the originals of regular hot n sour soup but it's in a white broth instead of brown.

    (4)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:30 am - 10

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : Yes
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch
    Parking : Private Lot
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : No
    Wi-Fi : No
    Has TV : No
    Waiter Service : 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.

Gourmet Garden

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