Back when I was at Ohio State for undergrad, I went to Mark Pi's at the (old) union a lot....and I mean A LOT. I've discovered that the taste, quantity of food, and methods of preparation really vary from location to location. This one is pretty average, but they're close to where I live. I'm a big fan of the tofu and the Hunan or Szechuan chicken. No place to park unless you catch an open meter in front, or go to the garage for $1/hr.
(3)
Lifecoach N.
My meal was great. Perfect amount of food for what I wanted. Not too oily just right. First time eating here but I'm sure I'll be back eventually. Perfect lunch-type Chinese restaurant for all of your classic dishes. Not enough cashews on my cashew chicken.
(4)
Lloyd M.
Not very impressed. I know this is "fast food" but I've had better Asian fast food. Ordered the sesame beef and 2 spring rolls. The beef was dry and crusty and the rice was overly sticky (even for sticky rice). The spring rolls were the best part of the meal, even though they were exceptionally small. Unless someone else is buying I won't be eating here again.
(2)
Lisa S.
I used to frequent the Mark Pi's Express that was in the basement of the old union at least twice a week. I remember how exciting & satisfying it was to get that heavy styrofoam container almost overflowing with delicious, steaming hot Chinese food for about $6. Well, the old union is gone & so is the old Mark Pi's. The food is still pretty good, but the amount of food you get is stingy. Today was my first visit to this location, but I've been to the Grandview location several times over the years & it was more or less the same experience. I always get the same thing...hot pepper chicken extra spicy. There was about 75% rice & 25% other stuff. I had to ration out the chicken & veggies sparingly to make sure that most of my bites weren't all rice. Very disappointing. I will stick with Tai's & Lotus Grill for delicious Chinese at a value & only go to Mark Pi's when my stomach is craving nostalgia. Times have definitely changed.
(3)
Chris W.
Food was not over-priced, but the quality was only decent or marginal -- not really a step up from food court options like Panda Express. Does have lots of options and was served quick. Much better options for Asian around this area.
(2)
Steve G.
Not bad prices, but it was a bit of a let down. I had Mark Pi's once before, and it was pretty good. This time I ordered the chicken lo mein and spring rolls. The lo mein was really greasy and oily, but I had to remember it is fast asian food. On the other hand, I don't think there's any excuse for the size of the spring rolls. They were each perhaps 3/4-1 inch in diameter, and maybe 4 inches long. That's not a spring roll, that's a pencil stuffed with some cabbage and deep fried. Even $1.50 is too much for those tiny things. Service was okay though and the food didn't take long to come out. Overall, it's still an option for if I'm in the area and craving asian, but I'll pass on the pencil rolls.
(3)
Olivia S.
I used to eat here when I was a freshman at OSU, and I did not want to eat in the cafeteria. The food is definitely better than cafeteria food. I usually ordered the vegetable deluxe plate. They give you a very generous portion of vegetable and rice. Sometimes they put too much sauce on the place, but it's not too big of a deal - especially since it make cheap rice easier to eat. The service has always seemed to be very good. The only complaint that I have is that sometimes I feel gross after eating here. Not gross like, "Oh I am a pig; I ate too much." It's more along the lines of, "Wow, I am suddenly digesting food very fast." This may seem like too much information, and it could just be my weak stomach. My sister did not have the same problem, and my boyfriend just falls asleep for several hours. So, it's probably just a personal problem. They give pretty large quantities of food, and it is good for the price.
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.
Annie L.
Back when I was at Ohio State for undergrad, I went to Mark Pi's at the (old) union a lot....and I mean A LOT. I've discovered that the taste, quantity of food, and methods of preparation really vary from location to location. This one is pretty average, but they're close to where I live. I'm a big fan of the tofu and the Hunan or Szechuan chicken. No place to park unless you catch an open meter in front, or go to the garage for $1/hr.
(3)Lifecoach N.
My meal was great. Perfect amount of food for what I wanted. Not too oily just right. First time eating here but I'm sure I'll be back eventually. Perfect lunch-type Chinese restaurant for all of your classic dishes. Not enough cashews on my cashew chicken.
(4)Lloyd M.
Not very impressed. I know this is "fast food" but I've had better Asian fast food. Ordered the sesame beef and 2 spring rolls. The beef was dry and crusty and the rice was overly sticky (even for sticky rice). The spring rolls were the best part of the meal, even though they were exceptionally small. Unless someone else is buying I won't be eating here again.
(2)Lisa S.
I used to frequent the Mark Pi's Express that was in the basement of the old union at least twice a week. I remember how exciting & satisfying it was to get that heavy styrofoam container almost overflowing with delicious, steaming hot Chinese food for about $6. Well, the old union is gone & so is the old Mark Pi's. The food is still pretty good, but the amount of food you get is stingy. Today was my first visit to this location, but I've been to the Grandview location several times over the years & it was more or less the same experience. I always get the same thing...hot pepper chicken extra spicy. There was about 75% rice & 25% other stuff. I had to ration out the chicken & veggies sparingly to make sure that most of my bites weren't all rice. Very disappointing. I will stick with Tai's & Lotus Grill for delicious Chinese at a value & only go to Mark Pi's when my stomach is craving nostalgia. Times have definitely changed.
(3)Chris W.
Food was not over-priced, but the quality was only decent or marginal -- not really a step up from food court options like Panda Express. Does have lots of options and was served quick. Much better options for Asian around this area.
(2)Steve G.
Not bad prices, but it was a bit of a let down. I had Mark Pi's once before, and it was pretty good. This time I ordered the chicken lo mein and spring rolls. The lo mein was really greasy and oily, but I had to remember it is fast asian food. On the other hand, I don't think there's any excuse for the size of the spring rolls. They were each perhaps 3/4-1 inch in diameter, and maybe 4 inches long. That's not a spring roll, that's a pencil stuffed with some cabbage and deep fried. Even $1.50 is too much for those tiny things. Service was okay though and the food didn't take long to come out. Overall, it's still an option for if I'm in the area and craving asian, but I'll pass on the pencil rolls.
(3)Olivia S.
I used to eat here when I was a freshman at OSU, and I did not want to eat in the cafeteria. The food is definitely better than cafeteria food. I usually ordered the vegetable deluxe plate. They give you a very generous portion of vegetable and rice. Sometimes they put too much sauce on the place, but it's not too big of a deal - especially since it make cheap rice easier to eat. The service has always seemed to be very good. The only complaint that I have is that sometimes I feel gross after eating here. Not gross like, "Oh I am a pig; I ate too much." It's more along the lines of, "Wow, I am suddenly digesting food very fast." This may seem like too much information, and it could just be my weak stomach. My sister did not have the same problem, and my boyfriend just falls asleep for several hours. So, it's probably just a personal problem. They give pretty large quantities of food, and it is good for the price.
(2)