Mandarin House

Our inaugural dining experience here left us thoroughly pleased. The food surpassed our expectations with excellence on every plate. I opted for the Sizzling Chicken, while my husband indulged in the Kung Pao Chicken—both dishes were served piping hot and freshly prepared. Although the waiter was a bit abrupt, his service was excellent, and the overall quality of the food left us content. Without a doubt, we plan to return for another visit.

From the moment we stepped into Mandarin House in Bird Rock, La Jolla, we knew we were in for a culinary treat. The cozy and welcoming ambiance set the stage for what was an unforgettable dining experience. We started with the Salt and Pepper Wings and Fried Dumplings. The wings were a perfect blend of crispy and savory, with just the right amount of seasoning to tickle the taste buds. The dumplings were a delightful surprise, golden and crisp on the outside, with a succulent filling that melted in the mouth. The Crispy Duck was a showstopper, cooked to perfection with a crispy skin that gave way to tender, flavorful meat. But the real star of the evening was the Upside-Down Pan Fried Noodles. This dish was a masterful display of textures and flavors, combining perfectly cooked noodles with a mix of savory sauces and fresh ingredients. The service was nothing short of amazing. Attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable, the server made us feel like honored guests, ensuring that every aspect of our meal was perfect. In summary, Mandarin House is not just a restaurant; it's a culinary journey that delights the senses. Whether you're a local or just passing through Bird Rock, this is a dining experience you don't want to miss. We left with satisfied palates and the promise to ourselves to return soon.

Best Chinese food we've been able to find. The service is not as good on a busy night so try to go during less busy times. The atmosphere is a little bit throwback 50s/60s chintzy on purpose, so if you can't handle that, then don't go. It's a wonderful landmark restaurant that's been around forever in downtown La Jolla. It's great to see it still in business since so many places of old La Jolla are gone. Please keep this place going.

It was our first time dining her and we were not disappointed. The food was excellent. I had Sizzling chicken and my husband had Kung Pao chicken. Both dishes were hot and freshly made. The waiter was a bit abrupt but he gave excellent service and the food was very good so we were happy. We will definitely go there again.

It's a really nice place, fair pricing and food was good. I had orange chicken, it tasted very good and strong orange taste which I liked, but I'd rather it be crispy and it wasn't at all. It looked like it should be though. But it was very good. My wife had chicken with snow peas in a light sauce, she thought it needed salt. But that's it, pretty good overall and service was very good too.

Absolute BEST Chinese food I have ever had. We’ve loved everything that we’ve tried! Our typical order is orange chicken, kung pao beef, lo mein and egg rolls. We just tried the hot and sour soup for the first time today and it was amazing. We get take out from here often and I’ll literally be craving it the next day. Also the owners are so nice!